A Good List of Opinion Essay Topics

Some good opinion essay topics include: Should the voting age be changed? Should the driving age be raised? Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets? Should sexual education be taught at school? Should abortions be legal? Should there be a bike sharing program? Should America start using the metric system? Should there be free public Wi-Fi? Should you punish people who download music illegally? Should boys and girls be in separate classes? Intro on an opinion essay In an opinion essay, you express your thoughts on a given topic. It would seem that any work is an expression of one’s own thoughts. What is the essence of this kind of essay? In opinion essays, you need not just to reflect your point of view but also look at the proposed topic from different angles. Consider all aspects of the issue, write your opinion, and necessarily confirm it with confident arguments. An essay-opinion plan includes: Introduction. You specify the topic of reasoning. Main part. You express your opinion and confidently argue it. Here it is also desirable to consider the opinion opposite to yours and explain to the reader why you do not share this point of view. The conclusion. You sum up, finally formulating your point of view on the proposed topic. What to describe in essay? An opinion essay is the paper where you share your opinion on a certain issue. Therefore, one main idea is the foundation of reasoning, its core that is accurately formed, clear, and grounded from various opinions. Step one. Clearly form the idea you want to talk about. You can check the success of this step in the following way. Step two. Choose the arguments that support your idea and arrange them in the following order: very convincing – convincing enough – the most convincing. Useful reference on how to write opinion essay An opinion essay consists of the following: Thesis (that idea, opinion, judgment that you formed and which you are going to defend in your paper). Statements (your every statement should be regarded as a visual proof, achieved, and thus an authentic proof of your ideas). A conclusion (it talks once again about the thesis bringing it to a new level with the usage of forecasts, advice, recommendations, etc.). A desirable section of the reasoning is a brief intro, the task of which is to engage the reader in a dialogue, define the main idea and relevance of the issue. For instance, the the topic of the essay is â€Å"First Love†. The first thing you need to do is to create the thesis. If your thesis is â€Å"The first love happens in the life of every person and greatly influences the future†, the intro can be: â€Å"For teens, the first love is often the meaning of life, while adults only smile at it. However, in vain parents and acquaintances grin: according to psychologists, the first love hides the source of our adult happiness and misfortune†. Argumentation in the essay should be no more than two thirds of the whole size. It is best to have three arguments for a small paper. The best statements are those that are known to everyone such facts from history or at least those that can be easily verified using the specialized literature and documents. Good evidence will be statistical data, the events under discussion. In the practice of school essays, the weightiest argument is a literary work, not all, but that episode, the story line, the hero’s story that confirm your idea. To correctly choose statements, spell your thesis out every time you read it and ask it the question â€Å"Why?† For instance, here is another thesis related to the theme â€Å"First Love† – â€Å"To love means to become better†. Why? A personal experience can also be an argument but remember that such evidence is least convincing and it is well represented in the form of an extension to the main facts, known and authoritative. Then choose the arguments that support your idea and arrange them from the least convincing to the most convincing. Conclusion deepens the thesis and contains advice, rules or offers forecasts. For instance, no matter when the first love occurs in your life, it can make a person tough cynic, an unrecognizable romantic or a realist. The first one will be deeply unhappy: he cannot love, which means that he will remain alone. The second from the absolute optimism of love often turns to the same pessimism of â€Å"no love†. And only the third is able to find harmony. In order to have more people like this, adults, relatives, friends should be careful and serious about the feelings of adolescents and children. Essay samples for inspiration An opinion essay is a kind of creative work. Do not be shy of your thoughts. Don’t think your thoughts and opinions will be stupid. Pretend that you’re talking to a friend and sharing your opinion on the subject. Often, there are difficulties with writing the first sentence. You do not know where to start. In this case, the writing of the entry should be postponed. That is, first write the main part of the work, then the conclusion, and only then return to the introduction. In order not to be shy of your thoughts, it’s recommended writing anonymous essays in order to read them in the future for the whole class and make out your mistakes on your example. Everyone recognizes their own essay and is not afraid of the ridicule of fellow students or bad evaluation. You will understand what was incorrect in your work (in stylistic terms, in the logic of presentation, etc.). At the same time, teachers should not read even very funny excerpts from the works, especially with the indication of the author. After such an analysis, the student may have a persistent hatred for writing works. It should be noted that the key to good writing is reading books and communicating with adults. Talk more often sharing your opinion on certain things, discuss everything you see and hear, everything that interests you. Tips for writing Here are the tips to follow when writing an opinion essay: Stick to the structure of the essay. Once you have received the assignment, determine the type of essay and the plan by which you will write it. After that, come up with the title, the intro, several paragraphs of the main part, and the conclusion. Use a draft. Since there is not much time to write an essay use the draft. Outline your thoughts and arguments using short theses. This will allow you not to forget important thoughts while writing a final version of the text. Prepare for any topic. The essay shows not only your level of language knowledge but also erudition. Therefore, before preparing for the exam read the texts on different topics. Leave time for the check-up. Allocate the time so that at the end of the exam you have at least 5 minutes left to check the essay. Define the appropriate style. The style of writing an essay should be semi-formal or formal. Do not use slang and word abbreviations. Be concise. The essay is a short written work. Keep within the limits of the text. Give arguments. Each written thought should not sound unfounded. Support it with arguments, a vivid example, statistics, etc. Use the word-bundles. Introductory words for essays are important links that link sentences together, forming a logical chain of your thoughts. Use a variety of vocabulary and grammar. Avoid repetition of words, use synonyms and complex grammatical constructions. Present your thoughts correctly. Essay is a written expression of your thoughts on a particular topic. And here it is important not to forget about elementary delicacy. Write softly. Though you should write your thoughts on the issue, try not to use the structures such as â€Å"I’m sure that †, â€Å"I know that †, etc. List of topics for opinion essay If you’re at a loss about what topic to choose for your opinion essay, search online where you can find many interesting opinion paper topics to get an idea of what you can write about. How to choose a right topic? In order to choose the right topic for your paper, the topic should be interesting for you and you should have a desire to write about it and research it. Conclusion on an opinion essay Now you know how to write an essay perfectly. In order for this theoretical knowledge to bring you practical knowledge in the form of a high score on the exam, actively use them. Practice writing essays on different topics – this will be the best preparation for the exam.

Afterlife of the 3 major religions Islam, Christianity, and Judaism Free Essay Example, 1250 words

Ideas about the Afterlife in Judaism, Christianity and Islam Ideas about the afterlife play an importantrole in various religions including the world ones: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Afterlife is seen as something that has a direct relationship with the earthly life of a person. Regardless of their features, various religions admit the interdependence between the afterlife and the earthly life. The acts committed by a person during his/her earthly life affect his/her existence within the afterlife. Afterlife is regarded as a continuation of life on earth and its quality depends on the characteristics of human behavior within the framework of earthly life. In turn, the differences between the three religions are determined by the historical development of their theological ideas, making their concepts of the afterlife specific. These differences are manifested primarily in understanding the meaning of life after death and its connection with the earthly life. Analyzing the doct rine of the afterlife in Judaism, one should understand that in modern Judaism, the concept of the afterlife is not so important in comparison with similar concepts in Christianity and Islam. We will write a custom essay sample on Afterlife of the 3 major religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now In fact, â€Å"in modern times Judaism focuses more in the present world, where the relationship with God exists based on the commitment to humanity† (Houben). Perhaps this has led to the fact that the various streams of Judaism provide rather conflicting interpretations of the afterlife. As a result, the task of obtaining a common Jewish concept of the afterlife is rather difficult (Houben). Nevertheless, one can identify the main three versions of the doctrine of the afterlife, which followed one after another (Leff and Raphael). The first version existed before the creation of the first books of the Talmud. At that time, the Jews believed that after the death, the souls of all people - both the righteous and the sinners – go into the same country, which they called the â€Å"Sheol. † Sheol is a place where there is no bliss or torment. Being in Sheol, the souls of all the dead people were expecting the arrival of the Messiah and the decision of their fate. After the arrival of the Messiah, the righteous expected a reward in the form of a happy life in a renewed earth. The second variant of the doctrine of the afterlife existed from the time of the Talmud until the second half of the twentieth century. According to this version, the souls should wait for the Messiah to receive a reward since after parting with the body the souls of the righteous immediately enter the heavenly paradise called â€Å"Gan Eden. † In turn, the sinners were sent to hell, a place of torment.

A Brief Note On Sclerosis And Its Effects - 844 Words

June 13, 1939 could be considered a historic day in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) history. On June 13, 1939, society renamed ALS for one of ALS’s most famous victims of the time, Lou Gehrig. Before the dawn of the internet, Gehrig’s diagnosis and story was made public due to his fame. Today, aided by internet, people have the ability to tell their story regardless of social status. On March 28, 2012, April Moundzouris (n/d) was diagnosed with ALS. In an effort to raise awareness, Moundzouris wants to share her blog, the ALS Express. In a humanitarian effort, Moundzouris hopes to spread awareness about ALS and its encompassing effects. Moreover, she would like the blog to act as a resource for the newly diagnosed and their caregivers. Moundzouris’s blog can be examined through theoretical frameworks for illness. Subsequently, the study of her entries reveals patterns. Through examination of Moundzouris’s blog, it is seen that she is moving through Suc hman’s 5 Stages of Illness. 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West Indian Poetry Essay Example For Students

West Indian Poetry Essay Both poets have significantly presented their purposes and mission in and through their work. Eric Roach poems display his passion for the land and the people, both of which are so clearly West Indian. The poems The flowering rock and Poem, show Roachs way of thinking and involves the reader into what he sees. The poem The flowering rock was written either between the periods, 1938-1974. The title of the poem signifies that, out of something hard and inanimate, flourishes beautiful life, in the form of a flower. Roach may have written this poem to recreate a sense of self-worth in the people of the West Indies. Colonialism, however had replaced self-worth with self-contempt, establishing images of West Indians as dhotis or uneducated. One might suggest that it portrays a struggle between the West Indian African people and the culture of the Europeans. Even though the African people are in a struggle experiencing a state of suppression, they adapt to the changes. These individuals, in addition, do not allow the British influence to break their stride and take away their Joy. They envelop a positive mind-set and look forward to the future. In the poem, flowering rock, personification functions as a device of art. The words used, creates an image within the readers head, this therefore, evokes the intensity of feeling in order to clearly understand what concept the poet is trying to exhibit. For Roach, nature is his muse, or inspiration. He connects concepts and feelings through landscape. The stream water croons Cool rhythms among stones, a sense of easiness is awarded. More so, throughout the poem, there is a pattern of compare and contrast. Its seems like there is a comparison between two worlds. Our hearts break not Though they are ever broken, A froth of laughter Tops our sea of sorrows. This suggests that even though reality is painful, these people are strong. Its shows that despite the control of the British over them, the hardships they undergo, it cannot take away their spirit. There is much beauty that encompasses them and that beauty cracks the struggle. Our voices bear the tracery of tears, the burden of their cadence Our hope begin its orisons. In addition, the repetition of the word our, that occurs constantly within the poem sets up barriers for ownership. Our village girls, our hearts break, our voices, our symbol, our souls and our hope. The West Indian people have in spite of he pressures of the British influence and way of life, have made a way to show what is theirs and be proud even if it is not the greatest, it is who they are, it is their identity. The tone of this poem is proud, whereas the mood is one of aspiration. Roach does a great Job, with the use of his words and the incorporation of nature to bring across his message. The poem can take th e form of a story where you can relate, and connect with what the reader is saying. Roach, does hold back or sugar coat, his words. He shows that West Indian people though coming turmoil we are not damaged, our beauty is in our struggle. We as a West Mind diamond on the rough, regardless if we starve today, we are tumor Poem by Eric Roach is also another poem with which nature is us 23 poetry. In the flowering rock, he uses landscape but, in Poem an reptile (serpent) is his creative influence. The title Poem may Simi writing in which Roach expresses his feelings and ideas. The mood sense of payback, whereas the tone is satisfaction. In this poem, R e serpent, symbolic for the root of all evils that are faced by him, We and people of the world. A serpent has connotative meanings data pleasant due to their biblical encounter in the early story of create Serpents are seen as deceptive, sneaky, and venomous. The even serpent can act as the calamities of slavery, hate, racism, poverty society. Roach however, sees the serpent as the British colonizers, every infliction experienced by West Indians. The poem speaks of t the serpent undergoes shedding of the skin. The serpent in this pr vulnerable because it is at its weakest. It is a very intense, violent p It is like a self-imposed hell. Compare the changing attitudes/views on war between 'The Going of the Battery', 'The Send-off' and 'Joining the Colours' EssayThey hurt both the people and landscape of the country. In addition not only do these invaders have the a kill, but to target the hope and aspirations of the Gayness people, to become independent nation. The overall mood of the poem would be of sadness an The persona is making aware the terrible events his country is facing. Where tone of the poem is one of warning, the persona warns his people to be awe angers that surround you. Another poem by Martin Carter is Childhood o This poem was written in the sasss. The title of this poem speaks volumes. Is poems uses a lot of analogies. With reference to This is the dark time m the phrase Childhood of a voice is repeated within the poem. Martin Carte describing the voice of the persona as childlike. This poem one might sue about Martin carters persistence, devotion and active role to help his count to become inde pendent of the British rule. He has persevered and done all can do, yet no progress is made where he can witness the day his country g redeem. The familiar white street is tired of always running east, The sky arching over, The tree of always reaching up. Carter therefore is tired and feels a sense of defeat, the repetition of the phrase Childhood of a voice shows his petitions and actions falling on deaf ears. No action is taking place. People neglect to consider what children have to say as important. The persona also with frustration is still having hope. The light oppresses and the darkness frees. The day time is where people engage with each other at work, school and leisure. This is also the time to experience the strife, war and ignorance of the British rule. But the darkness is a time of rest and reflection in the comfort of their homes, night eases the mind to face yet another day. Though this period seems like a never-ending depression the persona hopes and pleads for a brighter tomorrow. But if only the rain fall, and the sky we have not seen so long come blue again. The mood of the poem is somewhat depressing, and the tone demonstrates a sigh of defeat. Both Eric Roach and Martin Carter are very observant poets. They both use nature, the landscape of their countries as their tool to successfully bring forth their sage. Flowers, rocks, mountains, trees are all elements of nature that we take for granted each day. Roach and Carter takes these simple things in life, which we can relate to and make profound thought provoking statements. These poets can be seen as historians, they write to bring awareness to the present and the future of what makes up our identity West Indians, their political and philosophical stance. Granted that both poets use the same inspiration they execute quite differently. Roach tends to be a more coded writer where his mission and message is hidden, whereas Carter is a more out right, in your face straight to the point poet, but uses his words tastefully, and also at times codes his work.

The JFK Assassination - Conspiracy Or Single Gunman Essays

The JFK Assassination - Conspiracy or Single Gunman Adolf Hitler, the Nazi dictator of Germany during World War II, once said, "The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it." Although this may sound ludicrous, we can see many example of this in the world's history. One example would have to be the John Fitzgerald Kennedy assassination. For over thirty years the people of the United States were led to believe that a single gunman shot and killed Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963, at 12:30 p.m... However, in this paper, I will dispute the ancient analization of the facts that show a single gunman was involved, and try to show that a conspiracy must have been present. According to the old facts regarding the case of the JFK assassination, Kennedy was killed by a single gunman. On November 22, 1963, at 12:30 p.m. CST (Central Standard Time), Kennedy was riding in an open limousine through Dallas, Texas. At this time, Kennedy was shot in the head and neck by a sniper. He was then taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Later, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine, at a nearby theater. By the next morning, Oswald was booked for the murder of President John F. Kennedy. Two days later, Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner, while he was being moved from the city to the county jail. At a glance, the above story sounds as if this should be an open-and-shut case. After all, according to the facts above, Oswald must have killed Kennedy. However, you must take a deeper look into this case. Many people who witnessed the murder of John F. Kennedy dispute the facts above, saying that they heard shots from places besides the book depository, and other things that may contradict what is stated above. One of these Marino, 2 witnesses, Abraham Zapruder, captured the entire assassination on his Bell and Howell eight millimeter movie camera. This movie, cleverly called the Zapruder Film, is the single best piece of visual evidence in this case. In order to more clearly understand the Zapruder Film, it is necessary to break it down into frames. The particular Bell and Howell movie camera that Zapruder was using ran at eighteen and three-hundredths (18.3) frames per second. When using this frame system, you must remember that all shots were actually fired several frames before the number that is assigned to them. For example, the fatal heard wound, called Z313, was probably fired at Z310, since it took 2-3 frames at 18.3 frames per second for the bullet to reach the victim. Also, you must remember that sound travels at about one thousand-one hundred (1,100) feet per second, or a little over half as fast as the Mannlicher Carcano's bullets. When keeping this in mind, it is expected that witnesses heard the shot at some point after the bullet passed. The following shows a break down of the frames of the Zapruder film: - The Presidential limousine first comes into view at frame 133 (the starting point of this timeline.) - The first shot at (or just before) Z187 would have passed through both Governor Connally and the President. Marino, 3 - The second shot, which passed above the limousine at Z284, missed the President and hit the curb near witness James Tague. This caused his minor would. - At Z313, the fatal shot occurs, which blew out major portions of the Presidents brain and skull. - A fourth shot occurred at Z323 (slightly 1/2 second after the fatal wound at Z313). Due to the proximity of this report to the one at Z313, as well as it's more distant origin, most witnesses were unable to hear this shot. Thus, the above is when the bullets hit either Kennedy or Connally, or passed through the frames of the Zapruder film (in the case of the second shot). Of the one-hundred seventy-eight (178) witnesses at Dealey Plaza, one-hundred thirty-two (132) said that they hear exactly three shots. If Oswald was a single gunman, it would have taken him at least 2.3 seconds to reload his Mannlicher Carcano rifle. However, the

Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay Example

Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay Example Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay Sports Gambling and Its Negative Impact on the Games We Love Essay In a time of peace – those years in between wars – there is no other activity that can elevate man’s thinking, inspire the average guy, and keeps a man talking endlessly for hours other than sports. In America sports is sometimes treated like religion. And for those who view it this way the more popular denominations are Basketball, Baseball, Football and Golf.Americans are dead serious in following the progress of their favorite teams and to increase their participation they not only subscribe to cable TV programming, buy expensive sports magazines, browse ESPN.com, and buy sports jerseys. A significant number of Americans bet on games. As a result sports gambling in the U.S. have become a serious problem. It is similar to addiction with a banned substance; no one can see its negative impact on the person until more serious self-destructive behavior emerges.BackgroundJust recently I came across this article in Yahoo.com about the highest paid athletes in the world of sports. I cannot remember the title of the said piece, the date it was written and who the author was but I cannot forget the names found on that list. The mention of big money is a sure way of getting somebody’s attention and I took a mental note of the following names, T. Woods, K. Bryant, A-Rod, S. O’Neil, B. Favre, L. James etc.I am sure that even without revealing their full names the reader has a good idea who these guys are. They are global celebrities and the mention of their names signifies the fact that the games they represent are recognized in every corner of this planet. As mentioned earlier sports is treated like religion in the U.S., meaning a considerable amount of time, money and efforts is spent just to participate in these events. And it does not matter whether the games are played by professionals or college athletes for many the thrill and excitement remains the same.There is no explanation needed as to why Americans love sports. For me sports like basketball and baseball are activities that can offer countless benefits. For some it is entertainment, the best way to chill is to sit back, relax and watch a game on a wide-screen TV. One way of releasing all that stress is to buy tickets and watch a game live. Rooting for a home team is like going to war except that everyone comes alive. If the home team wins those who are there to witness the game can come home feeling so good. And the feeling stays even after a few days. For others sports is a component of a healthy lifestyle that encourages exercise and the desire for a fit body.Baseball or basketball for that matter is more than a game for many Americans. Its purpose is more than entertainment or to give an excuse on how to spend the weekends and holidays. For many, baseball and basketball is like religion; one that an avid fan uses to aid him in the path to happiness. It helps get his mind pre-occupied, distracting him from the cares of the world. It gives him respite from the mind numbing repetitive work at the office or the manufacturing plant. For a few moments he does not worry about bills to pay and other mundane tasks. It can even help him forget about the evils in the world like the threat of terrorism.Paul Staudohar explains the effect of sports in the lives of people and he said, The games recall the playful, simpler times of spectators’ own childhoods and help keep them young (1991, p.190). It is therefore important to keep the traditions alive. The survival of this society can be assured if Dads can continually bring their sons to sports stadiums and together enjoy that magical moment. The son grows up to become a father and continues the tradition of bringing sons and daughters to see their sports heroes in action. The bonding between parent and child that occurs during these precious moments could not be described by words.But there is a growing problem that threatens to undermine all that is beautiful and beneficial about sports. This is the phenomenon of sports gambling or sports betting. At the onset one can easily enumerate a few of the negative impacts of sports gambling:1. encourages cheating e.g. game fixing;2. attracts organized crime; and3. bankruptcy and other money problems.Betting on GamesThere are many ways that an athlete can damage his or her career. Some of them would unintentionally harm their career by getting hooked on illegal substances or the practice of illegal activities. Another path that many athletes chose to follow on a self-destructive lifestyle is gambling. Staudohar, stated that There are three basic principal behavior problems in professional sports: violence, gambling and chemical abuse (1991, p.191). With prohibited drugs it is relatively easy to detect those who are suffering under its influence, but with gambling no one can be so sure until bankruptcy is announced and until game fixing is suspected.The difficulty in eradicating this problem can be explained by the pervasiveness of gambling. This is an interesting fact considering that it is illegal to bet on college and professional games in every state in the U.S. except for Nevada. In 1998 alone, $2.3 billion was legally wagered on sports in Nevada where 40 percent of the money was placed on college games. The amount is mind-boggling considering the fact that this is a highly regulated system the only place in the U.S. where betting is allowed. Now, be prepared to be blown away with the figures from the illegal side of sports gambling. With regards to illegal sports gambling made nationwide, it was estimated that the dollar amount soar as high as $ 380 billion (French, 2004, p. 108).With this kind of money floating around it is no wonder that everyone is turning a blind eye and basically ignores the problem. Aside from the overwhelming force of gambling there are other reasons why parents, teachers and even game officials condone the idea of betting. For them it is harmless and they justify gambling as a better alternative to drugs.Furthermore, it does not require the mind of a rocket scientists to understand the excitement that betting brings in to the lives of sports spectators. It is said that nothing becomes important unless something is at stake. And therefore in order to make the game more meaningful friends, family members or neighbors come together and place bets.With this kind of culture it is easy to go from innocent betting among friends into something organized that encourages systematic and regular betting on games that does not even involve the home team. When this happens it is a tell-tale sign of a compulsive gambler. They wager not for the simple fun of it but with the intent of creating a money-making scheme. This is where the problem begins and as mentioned earlier it has become a multi-billion dollar industry.Negative ImpactIn the world of professional athletes the Hall of Shame is littered with names that once were highly respected in their sport but now are ridiculed as a symbol of what is terribly wrong with U.S. sports organizations. These are professional athletes who seem to be never contented with their fat paychecks and continue to dabble in illegal schemes.But the problem concerning game fixing and the involvement of organized crime is not only limited to the pros. Collegiate level sports games is a major part in illegal sports betting in the country. Moreover the problem involves the players, game officials, students and all those who help perpetuate the said illegal activities.Myles Brand of the NCAA remarked that, Sports wagering is a double-threat because it harms the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of the sports (as cited in Rogers, 2005, p. 52). From this statement one can glean two major results of sports gambling and that is game fixing or manipulating game results to dictate point spread. This can also lead in the rise of gambling junkies among students. Compulsive gambling is like an addiction and instead of getting high, the gambling addict will continually have money problems in order to sustain his or her habit. For a student this is a very bad precedent, one that can seriously affect the rest of his life.The same thing applies to professional athletes. Game fixing and compulsive gambling are two major problems that needed to be eradicated to ensure the integrity of the sport. This can be fully understood by looking at high profile cases where careers where placed in jeopardy because of the lack of self-control when it comes to gambling. As a result the public slowly begins to lose interest and if things will continue to slide then there is a possibility that more and more people will abandon the game they once love.In the Major League Baseball and the National Basketball association two cases involving illegal gambling will be discussed. For basketball the recent headline-grabbing scandal of a referee involved not only in game fixing but possible collusion with the criminal underworld has created some major disturbances in the league.In baseball, the legendary career of Pete Rose was flushed down the toilet when he could not control the urge to gamble. It is a terrible waste to be sure but sometimes it is hard to understand why someone would give up something special in exchange for a few moments of exhilaration from placing a wager.Gambling in the NBATim Donaghy is a member of an elite group of referees. He works for the NBA. At the time that he was fired from the league he was only 40 years old and at the peak of his career. There is no doubt that that he is pulling in substantial paychecks considering that he is part of the crew that works on playoff games. Moreover, ESPN.com reported that he lives in a gated community.Without even considering the amount of money he pulls in every year from his dream job, Donaghy is in a position of influence being an NBA referee. But he literally gambled it all away, not only his job but his life and his family. He will live the rest of his life in ridicule and there are only a few places in this planet where his misdeeds will not be recognized. He will live the rest of his life with a negative label.His actions seriously damaged the credibility of the league and many are shaking their heads in disgust. One could just imagine what a die-hard fan would have felt after receiving the news that Donaghy influenced the outcome of games. There are a number of controversial games where Donaghy was part of the officiating crew. One could not help wonder if Donaghy played a part in manipulating the results.It really pisses me off thinking about those games. For a true basketball fan a crucial game involving his favorite team will be followed with much gusto and every possession and every play made during the course of the game is savored like an expensive Cuban cigar. Now, here comes Donaghy admitting to having a hand in influencing the outcome of games; it makes me feel like a fool, like a puppet on a string. It may have been better for me if I just watched WWF wrestling, at least I know from the onset that the game was scripted and rehearsed.Gambling in Major League BaseballIn the infamous Black Sox Scandal that shocked the world of baseball Stanley Teitelbaum in his book Sports Heroes, Fallen Idols, recounted the impact of the scandal:In September 1920 the world of organized baseball was rocked by the news that eight players on the Chicago White Sox had conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The White Sox were the stronger team on paper and were heavy favorites to win the series, but before the opening game in Cincinnati the odds had shifted drastically in favor of the Reds. It is likely the word has gotten around to the bookmakers that a fix was in the works. (2005, p. 33)One can just imagine the negative impact the scandal had on the game and it seems that the players had learned their lessons well. But less than sixty years later, news of impropriety once again stunned the Major League. Cincinnati Reds player and manager Pete Rose was banished from the game of baseball. There is nothing crueler that could be done to a future hall- of-famer.Pete Rose: All Time Hit KingWriters find no difficulty in praising Pete Rose’s talents. Fred McMane heaped this compliment on Rose:As a baseball player, Rose is the perfect example of the individual who made the very most of what he had. Although limited in natural skills, he worked hard to become one of the sport’s all-time great players. In addition to most hits, he owns the career records for games played (3,562), most at-bats (14,053), most singles (3,315), most seasons of 200 or more hits (10) [†¦] Not only was Rose baseball’s all-time hit leader, but he was a catalyst on three world-championship teams. (2000, p.4)Addicted to GamblingThe same tenacity he displayed every time he is in a baseball diamond, is the same passion he exhibited in his gambling. Apparently the habit got so serious that in the twilight of his career, after becoming the all-time hit king by breaking Ty Cobb’s record, Pete Rose got the surprise of a life time. On February 23, 1989 the commissioner’s office officially began the investigation into the gambling problem of Pete Rose. They hired the services of John Dowd, a tough, hard-nosed attorney who spent ten years in the U.S. Justice Department running after mob-related cases (Ginsburg, 1995, p. 243).Integrity of the GameMcmane wrote that Giamatti – head of Major League Baseball at that time – held a news conference a day after banning Pete Rose, where he said:The matter of Mr. Rose is now closed. It will be debated and discussed. Let no one think it did not hurt baseball. The hurt will pass, however, as the great glory of the game asserts itself and a resilient institution goes forward. Let it also be clear that no individual is superior to the game. (2000, p.9)It was not only that Rose participated in illegal gambling; Rose exposed the beautiful game into the dark world of game fixing. Ginsburg explains the severity of his offense that according to baseball rules the penalty for betting on games involving your own club was permanent expulsion from baseballStaudohar was able to explain it succinctly by saying:Virtually all productive enterprises depend on consumer markets for their viabilit y and economic growth. Industries tat produce goods and those that render services to the public tend to rise and fall in accordance with the consumer image of the attractiveness and reliability of their performance. Public image is especially crucial to the success of sports, because the consumption of this service is based on a derived joy from entertainment rather than biological need to sustain life. (190)In other words, the moment the fans suspect that there is something wrong with the system and that they are not getting what they are supposed to be getting – which is the pleasure of witnessing two teams competing at the highest levels, then they will stop coming to the stadiums and arenas. No one would spend his hard earned money for a farce such as a fix.Adam Epstein has this to say as to why league officials must uphold the rules against athletes betting on their own team, At the heart of sports gambling is the concern that games fixed by players, coaches, trainers, or others defeat the ideal that the outcome of a sporting event is left to chance and skill. A disturbing issue [] is the role that the athletes, coaches, and even sports officials themselves might play in altering the outcome of a game in order to profit from betting on a loss, or point spread (96).ConclusionSports gambling is like a two-headed monster that could not be easily slain. It is part entertainment and part money-making scheme. On the basis of these two factors alone, the fight against gambling is an uphill climb to say the least. Others may argue that betting on games is part of the whole spectator experience. There are even those who are saying that it is harmless and just done for fun.But the discussion made in the preceding pages points to another end result. Sports gambling is not as innocent as it may seem. It can lead the way for game fixing, other forms of cheating, addiction to gambling, and will result in a host of problems relating to money. There are two high profile cases that were reviewed, Pete Rose lifetime ban from Major League Baseball and Tim Donaghy’s expulsion from the NBA serves as a warning to the destructive effects of sports gambling.There is not enough space to show that this problem does not only happen to professional athletes and in the professional leagues. Student-athletes can be drawn into the vicious world of illegal gambling and their well-being can be seriously affected by compulsive gambling. Furthermore, sports gambling is not only limited to the misuse of funds. When game fixing or manipulation of games becomes the byproduct of athletes betting for or against their teams, the sport will be seriously affected.This disturbing issue will surely drive the fans away and if no action is taken every time an athlete or sports official tries to play around with the rules to serve his own selfish motives then it will surely bankrupt the Major League or the NBA. Pete Rose represented the world of the athlete and spo rts official while serving as a player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Therefore he must be made an example. It was too bad that he was a future hall-of-famer; it was too bad that he was the all-time hit king, but what was worse was that he gambled it all away by deliberately breaking the rules that was placed there to ensure the longevity of the game he loves so much.The same is true with Tim Donaghy. His actions placed the entire league in peril. An organization like the NBA was established after decades of painstaking work from the athletes and officials. With an act of impropriety Donaghy succeeded in tarnishing a professional basketball league and a game loved by millions all over the world.

The Food Culture of American Nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Food Culture of American Nation - Essay Example At start there were only three meal times, but later the healthy lifestyle promoters enforce the people to take four to five meals in a day. The quantity in each meal is reduced and the servings per day increases, this keeps the metabolism rate of the people high and it decreases the obesity. The latest concept in the food culture of America after fast food is lean meals or green meals.As Americans have seen how the consumption of fast food is effecting them, they are getting bit confused when they have to decide what to eat so there is constant battle between the organic food items as well as the natural food items. Eating habits and food habits make a very important impact on the social and political scenario of any country. The general attitude of Americans is lazy towards cooking healthy meals so they want anything that is quick, convenient and easy to afford and only one type of food item clicks your mind here that is fast food or junk food.Anything that looks yummy, fulfilling, and exotic and pleases aesthetically Americans are ready to spend their money on that food item. The new fast food for America is organic food these days as their food ethics are changing over time and they are moving towards healthy life style. The organic food is not cheaper or more tasty but it obviously is healthier. The food contains all the nutrients that are necessary to have a healthy mind and body.(Ray) mentioned in their book that around fifty million Americans are following the new American culture and food ethic now which is healthier. The author distinguished three groups on the basis of food consumption that are cultural creatives, moderns and traditionalists. [Rep99] has categorized two types of consumers in American food culture which are new green mainstream and the true naturals. These are very much similar to that of cultural creatives. The focus of the consumers is upon seasonally fresh, locally grown and minimally processed food items or you can say socially responsible food system. The burgers, Pizzas and spicy, oily foods are getting bit out of scenario in American culture and other green and low calorie food items are becoming part of dinner menus. While the diet and food culture in America is getting healthier, it is not same when it comes to Asia. The cooking methods, food ingredients and consumption trends in Asia are widely diversified. People believe in using more wheat, rice, oils, spices and herbs in their local cuisines. The focus is on the taste development instead of the consumption of balanced healthy diet. Ginger, Garlic, Onions, Tomatoes, red and green chilies are a necessity almost in every typical Asian dish. There is a large quantity of oil used which is not that beneficial but it improves the