I Have Had Many Theater-related Experiences. Every Chapter That I Have

I have had many theater-related experiences. Every chapter that I have read in my theater book has allowed me to make a connection to my past experiences with theater performances. I have also seen many plays and could relate to things an audience sees by reading the book. My first theater experience ever is when I was in the Nutcracker. We did a ballet performance for this play. I was very young when I did this, but I remember my instructor always saying that we must make contact with our audience through movements. Since in ballet you can not talk, you have to express the emotions that you are feeling to the audience through movement. This was very difficult. I must say that acting with words is a lot easier than acting through dance. In chapter one of my theater book, I was able to make the connection of "theater" is "work" to my experience of work in a theater with school plays. I know that I did not work as hard as professionals do, but I did work hard. For three months, we practiced everyday except for Saturday and Sunday, from 3:30 to 6:30. I helped with a lot of the choreography, so that made my days even longer and harder. However, this was also an enjoyable work experience for me. While reading the passage, I was able to relate with some of the "theater times" because of my play director. My high school director was very talented in directing plays. He would talk to us as if we were professionals and made us put more into what we were doing. That would be impersonation. When the passage talked about art, I thought of my art teacher who would always design all of the sets and made them look so lifelike. When the passage said that there are more behind the stage workers than on stage workers, I knew that tha t is very true. We had the front and backlighting, the designing people, who cleared the sets and put on new ones, the directing and the building crews. I was able to relate most of the passage through my own past experiences. Chapter 3 talks about "the actor". I found this chapter very interesting. I found out that actors had to go to college too. I also found it compelling to learn that in the passage on page 76, under the picture, it talks about how playing "ordinary people" in a realistic play is often the biggest challenge for an actor. I can see how this can be true, but I never realized it before. I am usually very outgoing, and loud in real life, but if I had to act like that on stage, I do not know if I could. If someone asked you to imitate yourself, that would be very hard, since to do not always realize how you act. Chapter 4 talks about the "playwright". While practicing for my high school plays, I have always wondered who had written them. I still never found out yet because it really was not that important to me. After reading the paragraph about the playwright's career, it makes it a little more interesting to me to know about who wrote these plays that I was acting out. I ask the question "what made them write the way they did?" I really enjoyed the passage at the top of page 92, which talks about the American women playwrights. The first woman's name is Meagan Terry. She states that after the woman's movement, she left the business world that was meant for a man. She felt like there was a necessity to write about very strong women. I admire her for that. The second woman is Marsha Norman. She wrote the book The Second Garden, probably because of the time when she was working in a child's unit of a state mental hospital. Perhaps she thought about what would happen if one of these children e ver found themselves in a place that they could not get out of. That is probably where she got the ideas for her book. Chapter 5 talked about "Designers and Technicians". Some of this passage got me thinking about my

Free Essays on Love And Marriage In The Canterbury Tales

Love and Marriage in The Canterbury Tales The nature of love and marriage is presented several ways in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Written around 1387, it is a collection of stories written about the religious pilgrimage to Canterbury that many people often took in that time. There are two stories in the collection that best depict love, and contain two very different perspectives on the subject. In â€Å"The Knight’s Tale,† two knights fall deeply in love with the same woman, the fair Emily. Neither knight has spoken to her, but each is willing to fight to the death to win her love. It seems almost like an infatuation, because the two knights, Arcite and Palamon, fall deeply in love with Emily at first sight. To decide which of the two will be granted her love, they have a battle, each side with a hundred men. It is interesting though, how Emily does not wish to be married, but does not seem to be phased by the fact that blood is being shed over her. Maybe she realizes that her opinion is worthless, because even if she had something to say, no one would listen. When the battle rolls around, Arcite wins, but is killed when the Gods frighten his horse, causing him to fall off. Eventually, Palamon marries Emily, and they live happily ever after. The irony in the story is how neither Arcite nor Palamon has even spoken to Emily, but each is willing to die for her love. Their love is based entirely on Emily’s physical attractiveness. When Arcite first sees Emily his reaction nearly causes him pain; â€Å"Now, as he spoke, Arcite chanced to see/ this lady as she roamed there to and fro/ and at the sight, her beauty hurt him so.† The love is very superficial, and it surprises me that the story ends with Palamon and Emily living happily ever after. This does seem characteristic of the Knight’s personality however, which can be inferred from his description in the general prologue. He is described as possessing t... Free Essays on Love And Marriage In The Canterbury Tales Free Essays on Love And Marriage In The Canterbury Tales Love and Marriage in The Canterbury Tales The nature of love and marriage is presented several ways in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Written around 1387, it is a collection of stories written about the religious pilgrimage to Canterbury that many people often took in that time. There are two stories in the collection that best depict love, and contain two very different perspectives on the subject. In â€Å"The Knight’s Tale,† two knights fall deeply in love with the same woman, the fair Emily. Neither knight has spoken to her, but each is willing to fight to the death to win her love. It seems almost like an infatuation, because the two knights, Arcite and Palamon, fall deeply in love with Emily at first sight. To decide which of the two will be granted her love, they have a battle, each side with a hundred men. It is interesting though, how Emily does not wish to be married, but does not seem to be phased by the fact that blood is being shed over her. Maybe she realizes that her opinion is worthless, because even if she had something to say, no one would listen. When the battle rolls around, Arcite wins, but is killed when the Gods frighten his horse, causing him to fall off. Eventually, Palamon marries Emily, and they live happily ever after. The irony in the story is how neither Arcite nor Palamon has even spoken to Emily, but each is willing to die for her love. Their love is based entirely on Emily’s physical attractiveness. When Arcite first sees Emily his reaction nearly causes him pain; â€Å"Now, as he spoke, Arcite chanced to see/ this lady as she roamed there to and fro/ and at the sight, her beauty hurt him so.† The love is very superficial, and it surprises me that the story ends with Palamon and Emily living happily ever after. This does seem characteristic of the Knight’s personality however, which can be inferred from his description in the general prologue. He is described as possessing t...

International Dispute Settlement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Dispute Settlement - Essay Example This paper will even focus on the difference between municipal courts and methods for settling international disputes. Body Alternative Dispute Resolution ADR is an umbrella term used for various methods used to settle disputes in the international arena (August, 2009). These methods are used when two international parties end up disagreeing with each other; these methods are used when parties want to solve the dispute without going to courts. There are various advantages and disadvantages associated with this sort of dispute settlement process. International parties resort to this sort of dispute settlement because this method saves money. When dispute cases are taken to courts, a lot of cost is involved. These costs include: fees for hiring and deploying a lawyer, fees of creating and obtaining documentation and court fees. When ADR is used as a method to resolve dispute, cost of hiring lawyers and court fees is eradicated. This method is best for those parties who are in a conflic t in which too much money is not involved. When cases go to municipal courts, the cases catch the eyes of the public and media. Due to this the positive impression of good companies that trade internationally is hampered. This benefit of ADR secures the privacy of the parties involved and due to this method; companies do not have to be held accountable for sharing their private information with the public. Disputes that are taken to the court experience heavy amount of wastage of time, it takes years to settle a dispute in courts. In case of ADR, disputes end up being solved in as low as two to three weeks time period. The time period spend on solving a dispute through ADR is dependant on how soon parties are ready to sit with a panelist to resolve the conflict. Hen disputes are settled in courts, the entire process is controlled by the supreme one that is the judge. In ADR the parties have certain control over the process selection and selection of the panelist which is conducted a fter reviewing a list of experienced panelist. The main advantage of this type of dispute settlement is that this method can lead to a win situation for both the parties; this feature of ADR is rarely present in municipal court cases (August, 2009). There are several upsides of resolving dispute through ADR, but this method is not short of downsides. One of the major downsides of ADR is that it is not enforceable by law, this means that the parties have a free will whether to abide by the resolution or not. On the other hand, disputes resolved in the court of law are enforced and the law ensures that the parties involved abide by the decision. Secondly, equally justice may not take place because the stronger party may be able to direct the resolution in his favor which will result in a loss for the other party. The panelist of ADR might not have expertise equal to the expertise of a judge; therefore he/she might not be able to resolve the conflict in a highly professional manner (Au gust, 2009). International Tribunals ADR is a dispute solving method which is not processed under legal circumstances; on the other hand there are ways through which international problems can be resolved through judiciary procedures. These methods are recognized as international tribunals, there are various such courts including the WTO and the ICJ. The advantages of such tribunals are that

Gonorrhea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gonorrhea - Essay Example Neisseria gonorrheae can not survive for more than few seconds if taken outside the body. It does not live upon exposed skin. This bacterium requires moist conditions and temperature of the internal body in order to survive, grow and reproduce. The most suitable place for this bacterium to live in is vagina and cervix which is essentially the terminal point of uterus protruding into vagina. Neisseria gonorrheae also survives in urethra and rectum. Apart from these areas, neisseria gonorrheae can also be found at the back of throat which is the point of contact in oral sex. Symptoms: The disease shows no symptoms in the early stages in 50 per cent of the cases. With the passage of time, the patient experiences frequent urination, swelling, burning and redness of the genitals, discharge of a yellowish mucus from the vagina, and a lot of itching on and around the genitals. If adequate treatment is not taken in time, the swelling can aggravate to dangerous extent and lead to severe and e xtremely painful pelvic infection. The infection cases the ovaries and Fallopian tubes to swell up. As a result of the inflammation of Fallopian tubes, the patient acquires pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which is essentially a very painful pelvis infection. PID is not very unusual to occur.

The God Of Small Things

The God Of Small Things Intertextuality signifies the inter connectedness of one text with other texts and it reveals the presence of one text within the other and highlights the fact that no text can have an independent meaning. Every text takes something from the previous texts, and lends something to the future texts. Every text takes something from the previous texts, and lends something to the future texts. Intertextuality is the shaping of texts meanings by other texts. It can refer to an authors borrowing and transformation of a prior text or to a readers referencing of one text in reading another. (Wikipedia). The term intertextuality was coined by the poststructuralist theorist Julia Kristeva in her article Word Dialogue which was published in 1966. Intertextuality generally signifies that the literary works are not a closed network and are not autonomous in nature. Today, intertextuality is used frequently and it has become a part of our notion as one watching film or TV, reading novel , or experiencing art. Graham Allen describes the concept of intertextuality as one of the central ideas as he argues: Texts, whether they are literary or non-literary, as viewed by modern theorists, as lacking in any kind of independent meaning. They are what theorists now call intertextual. The act of reading plunges us into a network of textual relations. To interpret a text, to discover its meaning, or meanings, is to trace those relation [. . .] Meaning becomes something which exists between a text and all other texts to which it refers and relates (Allen, Graham., Intertextuality: New Critical Idio m Series. Rutledge Publications, London, 2000, p.1) The theory of intertextuality is developed by poststructuralist and postmodern theorists, has become an effective appropriation strategy for postcolonial writers. Postcolonialism is chiefly characterized by questioning and subverting the authority. Pramod K. Nayyar defines postcolonial literature as: Postcolonial literatures seek to address the ways in which non-European (Asian, African, South American, but also settler colony) literatures and cultures have been marginalized as an effect of colonial rule, and to find, if possible, modes of resistance, retrieval and reversal of their own pre- colonial pasts. (Nayyar K, Pramod., Postcolonial Literature: An Introduction., 2008, Dorling Kindersley publications, Delhi). The sense of interconnectedness between different cultures is particularly significant in the postcolonial context, a context which arises due to the meeting of cultures. Arundhati Roy uses global referenced intertextuality to such a great extent in her novel. Intertextuality as a device in literary texts can be deployed at different levels. Roy makes intertextuality a conscious motif and device. The remark made on the twins in the context of the Kathakali performance: Trapped in the bog of a story that was and wasnt theirs. That had set out with the semblance of structure and order, then bolted like a frightened horse into anarchy (Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. New Delhi: India Ink, 1997, p.236). Similarly, a rewriting of texts is suggested in the description of the twins as Hansel and Gretel in a ghastly fairy tale in which their dreams would be captured and re-dreamed (Roy, p.293). Roy makes extended references to texts as different as the popular film The Sound of Music (Roy, p.105-11), Heart of Darkness (Roy, p.125-26,199-200,305-06), Chemmeen (Roy, p.218-20), the Kathakali man and his Great texts like Kama Shabadam (Roy, p.218-20) and Duryodhana Vadham (Roy, p.229, 234). Many passing allusions are made to texts as disparate as popular soap operas like WWFs Hulk Hogan and Mr.Perfect (Roy, p.28), Shakespea res The Tempest, The Jungle Book, The Adventures of Susie Squirrel (Roy, p.58-59), Sinbad the Sailor (Roy, p.80), Julius Caesar (Roy, p.82-83), Ulysses and Penelope (Roy, p.157), the fairy tales about the Three Bears (180) or the Ugly Toad who turns into a handsome prince, Rumplestiltskin (Roy, p.182), Hansel and Gretel, and even literary texts like The Tale of Two Cities (Roy, p.61), The Scarlet Pimpernel (Roy, p.182) and so on (Roy, p.187), a recipe for making jam (Roy, p.195), and the boatsongs of Kerala (Roy, p.196-97). The contexts in which these texts are used are, in general, negative or pessimistic. Roy in her novel especially in the first few chapters used intertext to create an atmosphere of 1960s. She concentrated on fashion and culture to create that atmosphere. But the skyblue Plymouth with chrome tailfins was still parked outside.. (Roy, p.2). The reader will eventually realizes that the attributes from the 1950s belong to Kerala and its inhabitants and that many of the attributes from the 1960s the arrival of Sophie Mol with her mother Margaret. And then they were there, the Foreign Returnees, in washnwear suits and rainbow sunglassesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Maxis and high heels. Puff sleeves and lipstick. Mixy grinders and automatic flashes for their cameras(Roy,140). Chackos exwife Margaret and daughter Sophie Mol arrival to Kerala is a turning point to the novel. Ammu, Chacko, Estha, Rahel and Baby Kochamma get into the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ skyblue Plymouth with chrome tailfins à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Roy, p.2) to pick them up at the airport. The Plymouth car has many symbolic values. The Plymouth used to belong to Pappachi, Rahel and Esthas grandfather. Now that he was dead, it belonged to Mammachi, their grandmother (Roy,35). The grandfather was a man who lived according to the British colonisers rules. He was also a patriarch and harassed his family. However, Chacko has taken Pappachis role of being the man in the house. The fact that the car is now driven by Chacko, who is a self proclaimed Marxist, which symbolises the new Marxist rulers of Kerala. The car is thus a symbol of entrapment and also it symbolises the delay in modernity in Kerala. This delay in modernity is emphasised at the airport when the family waits for their guests from London. Estha, Rahel and Ammu are being resistant and suspicious of their guests. This is emphasised by the smell of London and the prosperity brought with the newcomers: Then, there, among the washnwear suits and shiny suitcases, Sophie Molà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦She walked down the runway, the smell of London in her hair. Yellow bottoms of bells flapped backwards around her ankles. Long hair floated out from under her straw hatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.(Roy, p.141). Sophie is a symbol of freedom and therefore a threat to old Keralan values. She represents a breath of fresh air with flapping trouser legs and floating hair. Uncle Chackos daughter is only a young girl and still a threat to Esthas and Rahels world. Estha was wearing his beige and pointy shoes and his Elvis puff. His Special Outing Puff. His favourite Elvis song was  ´Party ´.  ´Some people like to rock, some people like to roll,  ´he would croon, when nobody was watching, strumming a badminton racquet, curling his li p like Elvis.  ´But moonin ´an ´a- groonin ´gonna satisfy mah soul, less have a pardyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Roy, p.37). In order to make a good impression on Margaret and Sophie, Baby Kochamma is showing off, pretending she is not as behind the time as the rest of the family:  ´Elvis Presley, ´ Baby Kochamma said for revenge. ´ Im afraid were a little behind the times here. ´ Every one looked at Estha and laughed (Roy, p.145). However, the childrens attraction to Sophie Mol and the modern world is there: And the three of them, led by Sophie Mol, sashayed across the airport car park, swaying like fashion models, Eagle flasks and Made-in-England go-go bags bumping around their hips (Roy, p.152). Further on, in the tragic story, Sophie Mol drowns and at her funeral she is still surrounded by her London-ness: She lay in it (the coffin) in her yellow Crimplene bellbottoms with her hair in a ribbon and her Made-in-England go-go bag that she loved (Roy, p.4). Now her hair is in a ribbon. Modernity and change will perhaps never survive in Kerala. Estha and Rahels fear of losing their place in the family is partly explained by the The Sound of Music intertext. Before picking up Margaret and Sophie at the airport in Cochin, the Ayemenem family went to see The Sound of Music. However Chacko and Ammu had different views on the film: Chacko said that going to see The Sound of Music was an extended exercise in Anglophilia, while, Ammu said,  ´Oh come on, the whole world goes to see The Sound of Music. Its a World Hit( Roy, p.55). Rahel and Estha were on their way to Cochin to see The Sound of Music for the third time. They knew all the songs and to know all the songs is also imp ortant to the reader. this time the film would mean something special to the children. Estha and Rahel are scared of loosing their uncle to Sophie Mol and Margaret. They feel as if they are not good enough. In comparison with the children in The Sound of Music, no child would be good enough: Captain von Trapps seven peppermint children had had their peppermint baths, and were standing in a peppermint line with their hair slicked down, singing in obedient peppermint voicesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Roy, p.110). Estha is definitely not peppermint clean and he has been molested by the Orangedrink Lemondrink man. Shocked by this experience, Estha wonders if ever a Captain von Trapp, an uncle Chacko or a father could love him and Rahel. Estha imagined that Captain von Trapp had some questions of his own. (a) Are they clean white children? No. (But Sophie Mol i s.) (b) Do they blow spit bubbles? Yes (But Sophie Mol doesnt.) (c) Do they shiver their legs? Like clerks? Yes (But Sophie Mol doesnt) (d) Have they, either or both, ever held strangers soo-soos? Nà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Nyes (But Sophie Mol hasnt.) (Roy, p.106). Apart from Esthas comparison between him and the peppermint children in the film, there are also several images connected to Baby Kochamma. Baby Kochamma was in her youth very much in love with a Father Mulligan, working in Ayemenem. She decided, at a young age, to become a nun, while waiting for her love for him to be returned. However, the love was never returned and Baby became disillusioned. In The Sound of Music Julie Andrews or Maria is also a nun. The life in the convent does, however, not fit Marias personality and neither did it fit Baby Kochammas. They both escaped the convent life. Still, Baby Kochamma liked the early nun bits best in the film. Ammu explained to Estha and Rahel that people always loved best what they identified most with (Roy, p.98). Although Baby Kochamma escaped the convent life, she somehow still identified with the nuns. She is jealous of other peoples love and happiness, and especially Ammus: They [the nuns] had complaints to make to their Reverend Mother. Sweetsinging complaints. About Julie Andrews, who was still up in the hills, singing The Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music and was, once again, late for mass: She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee, Her dress has got a tear. She waltzes on her way to Mass And whistles on the stairà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ And underneath her wimple She has curlers in her hair! (Roy, p.99-100) These lyrics will lead the reader back to Baby Kochammas feelings about Ammu and Ammu, a divorced woman, who should feel shame and guilt over her failures, does the contrary and is in love. She subscribed wholeheartedly to the commonly held view that a married daughter had no position in her parents home. As for a divorced daughter according to Baby Kochamma, she had no position anywhere at all. And for a divorced daughter from a love marriage, well, words could not describe Baby Kochammas outrage. (Roy, p.45). Thus, within the interpretation of The Sound of Music the reader also has to know the intertext Let it Be by The Beatles in order to link Baby Kochamma to the nuns, Julie Andrews to Ammu and jealousy to love. Ammu is in love with the untouchable man Velutha. She has known him all her life and although he is untouchable, Ammus family has treated him with a certain amount of respect. However, this does not mean that they would accept a relationship between her and Velutha. Therefore, on some days , Ammu cannot help feeling happy, although sad about the fact that he is untouchable for her. She sometimes wakes up to the sound of music, just as anyone being in love does. Still, Ammu knows that the laws say Let it Be. However, as the reader delves further into the plot, Ammu is touched by the untouchable Velutha. Thus, the line I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me refers to their nightly meetings. Mother Mary is Baby Kochamma, speaking for the rules given by Christianity and Caste systems and yet, Mother Mary is also love, in the shape of Velutha. Through this maze of imageries the reader can understand how Baby Kochamma hates Ammu. The novel eventually develops into several tragedies where one of them is the horrifying ending of Ammus and Veluthas relationship and Veluthas death. There are many coinciding circumstances, although it is Baby Kochammas jealousy and personal disappointments that will have the most devastating consequences. In the film, Rolf is the oldest peppermint daughters boyfriend. He is a trustedperson, as if he belonged to the family. He becomes, however, a Nazi and betrays the family von Trapp. Sadly, a parallel between him and Baby Kochamma can be found. Baby Kochamma also becomes a betrayer, although she is one in the family (Roy, p.313-320). She turns from a nun into a betrayer. This imagery, it is also linking Baby Kochammas betrayal with a negative view on Christianity. There are again a multitude of messages cooperating on different levels in the intertext The Sound of Music. Uncle Chacko, the self proclaimed Marxist, who in a way is a betrayer as well. From being almost as a father to Estha and Rahel, he turns his back on them when Margaret and Sophie arrive. Uncle Chacko is thus a symbol of Marxist ideas and the Marxist government ruling Kerala at that time, a government picking the best apples from the basket of Marxism, just as Chacko does. The Love in Tokyo intertext was a successful Bollywood film released in 1966. The film plot involves forbidden love affairs just as in The God of Small Things. However, the most important symbol from this intertext is the two beads on a rubber band holding Rahels hair together: Most of Rahels hair sat on top of her head like a fountain. It was held together by a Love-in-Tokyo two beads on a rubber band, nothing to do with Love or Tokyo. In Kerala Love-in-Tokyos have withstood the test of time, and even today if you were to ask for one at any respectable A-1 ladies store, thats what youd get. (Roy, p.37) Rahel and Estha are twins. I get the impression from Roy that twins form a unit, and that when they are separated, they are just halves. They are Two beads on a rubber band (Roy, p.37). One of the many tragedies in this story involves Estha being sent away to live with his father, while Rahel stays in Ayemenem. The children do not understand the causes of all the tragedies and as children often do, they blame themselves. When they meet in Ayemenem again, they have not seen each other for twenty years. They have therefore not bean able to deal with their complexes of guilt and separation. As Rahel saw her brother in the bathroom, she thought of him: He was a naked stranger met in a chance encounter. He was the one that she had known before life began. The one who had once led her (swimming) through their lovely mothers cunt (Roy, p.93). Now, imagine the two beads, Rahel and Estha, being pulled apart as much as it is possible. As the rubber band is at its breaking-point and the puller has to let go, the beads will slip out of hands and by the force of the pulling, crash into each other: They were strangers who had met in a chance encounter. They had known each other before Life began. There is very little that anyone could say to clarify what happened next. Nothing that (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) would separate Sex from Love. Or Needs from Feelings (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Only that what they shared that night was not happiness, but hideous grief. (Roy, p.327-328) Roy uses intertextuality to a great extent in order to give the story a deeper meaning than what it encompasses on a surface level. However, since a deeper meaning can be found in most fictional work when analysing images and metaphors.

Low Savings :: essays research papers

Americans on average, save less than 1% of their after-tax income today compared with 7% at the beginning of the 1990s. U.S. citizens are saving less because, of the higher cost of housing and interest rates. Many homeowners believe that rising real estate values give them the necessary savings they would otherwise have set aside. The housing boom, like the stock market boom before it, allowed Americans to save without having to reduce consumption. As the value of their assets rise, people naturally feel richer. Consumer spending has held up not because incomes have risen, but because consumers have taken on more debt, mostly by borrowing against rapidly rising housing prices. The marginal propensity to consume is affected by consumer confidence and interest rates as they affect the rate of return on savings. With fewer dollars available as savings to banks and other financial institutions, interest rates are higher for both savers and borrowers than they would otherwise be. That makes it more costly to finance investment in factories, equipment, and other goods, which slows growth in the GDP. The lower savings rate meant a higher consumption rate, which stimulates more spending, more income, and thus more spending, in a self-feeding process known as the multiplier effect. People do not save for the sake of saving. They save to spread consumption over their lives. Also the U.S. has a consumer culture, with consumers always having to â€Å"keep up with the Joneses† Kids seem entitled to deserving goods that other kids own. Since consumers will be spending more rather than saving, equilibrium GDP will not be balanced. Unemployment and inflation will occur since low spending by investors does not balance the low savings rate of consumers. Our high consumption, low savings economy has worked only because our European and Asian allies have been willing to save and produce more than they consume.

The Debate of Proposition 8

Should sexual preference determine marriages? This is the ongoing debate our generation will have to address. California has been in the epicenters of this debate; as we witnessed voters oppose gay marriage in the elections of 2008. The success of Proposition 8 discriminated against those of homosexual orientation. Proposition 8 adjusted California’s marriage laws to prevent a change in language, favoring the majority of heterosexual America. As California’s constitution in article 1, section 7. reads, â€Å"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California† (California Marriage Protection Act). This perception of marriage adopted to be law is built upon gender identity ideals that men and women have to fulfill. Women are to marry that of the opposite gender and sex. Accordingly, the language used to describe marriage was contorted by gender ideals in the fight for Proposition 8. Those for Proposition 8 argued it would restore the defin ition of marriage. From this perspective, marriage is seen as a tradition that is natural and immutable. To the contrary, the argument against Proposition 8 states, â€Å"OUR CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION—the law of our land—SHOULD GUARANTEE THE SAME FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS TO EVERYONE—NO ONE group SHOULD be singled out to BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY† (Official California Legislative Information). Marriage is a right that cannot be exercised by all due to sexual preference. Gay and lesbians are discriminated based on societies resistance to amend the definition of marriage past sexual preference. Additionally, the language used to describe marriage and the roles of individuals, is a major outlining factor behind the issue itself. Analyzing the language used in both arguments allows us to delve further into this question and expose why Proposition 8 should have been abolished. Proposition 8 is simply a resistance to change in language in how we come to define marriage. â€Å"Typically, language changes as a result of social political and economic processes such as lifestyle changes, new experiences, counters with technologies and communication media, colonization, or migration† (Litosseliti 19). Although political action may try to slow down this historical ongoing change in language, just as the world changes, so will the language. Marriage will eventually cease to be defined by the standards of sexual preference. In such, the argument against Proposition 8 holds more validity than those in favor of it. Those opposed to Proposition 8 rely on California’s constitution promise for equal rights and freedom to every person, gays included. This allowed those opposed to use powerful words associated with civil rights such as, equality, dignity, freedom, and respect. These are portrayed to the audience from a gay language lending more of feminine like characteristics of care, nurture, and support. This gay language serves a purpose in relaying the message to oppose Proposition 8. As scholar Don Kulick believes, â€Å"†¦homosexual slang serves communicative functions, the most important of which is to ‘reinforce group cohesiveness and reflect common interests, problems, and needs of the population’ (Sonenschein 1969:289)† (Kulick 250). They used the gay slang as to draw attention from all gay and lesbians to feel connected. They refer to themselves as the â€Å"gay community†. This self maintained identity allows them to reach out to all gays and lesbians. For instance, there is a great example in YouTube, where the protest against Proposition 8 continues. In their advertisement they are promoting the Eve of Justice March for gay rights. In the video words displayed are â€Å"if you believe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  followed by the alternating words such as life, happiness, kindness, beauty, compassion, and love. These words of sentiment and support are a prime example of the gay language inducing activism throughout the gay community. â€Å"In constructing particular subject positions for the readers or viewers, advertisements play a role in constituting identities† (Litosseliti 108). The gay language so to speak allows them to create a desired identity for the gay community, which allows them to mobilize themselves within their civil rights movement. Additionally, the gay community has maintained a similar identity to heterosexual relationships on what role individuals play in a marriage. They believe in the similar manner as to what is expected out of a relationship. For instance in the official voters guide an example of daily interaction between spouses is descript as if to show they are not much different than a heterosexual marriage. The guide postulates, â€Å"When you’re married and your spouse is sick or hurt, there is no confusion: you get into the ambulance or hospital room with no questions asked. IN EVERYDAY LIFE, AND ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS ARE SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH† (Official California Legislative Information). The gay community displays the similarity of marriage interaction in daily life is the same as any other marriage would be. Marriage roles are portrayed to be similar, and the situation presented above uses words such as, hurt and sick. This invokes the audience to relate to the situation presented of care and nurture for one’s spouse. Although, there are some differences in the expected roles in a marriage, for only a single gender identity is shared between the spouses. For instance, in the role of a wedding usually both partners wear the traditional clothing used for their sex. Lesbians dress in wedding dress attire as the gay men wear the traditional suit. This infers that in a gay marriage their roles are different than that of traditional couples. It objectifies the image of two masculine or feminine figures in a relationship, demonstrating marriage is about love, and not fulfilling prescribed gender roles. The symbolic meaning of commitment is also displayed through the exchange of wedding bands. The gay community’s ideals on marriage are centered more around love than sexuality. Gays use this traditional wedding practice as a way to explicate the language of love, and equality in marriage. To the contrary, those in favor of Proposition 8 argue the need to restore the definition of marriage for the sake of protecting the children. They argue that marriage itself is traditional and the meaning needs to be reallocated for sexual preference. The argument is made that domestic partnerships give all the same rights as a marriage just the title is different. Further, the language used to describe gay marriage is severely negative. Gay marriages are described as â€Å"same-sex marriages† for the sole purpose of pointing out the sexuality of the marriage. We can distinguish this in the arguments presented that our children are to be protected from. The voter’s guide reads â€Å"It protects our children from being taught in public schools that ‘same-sex marriage’ is the same as traditional marriage† (Official California Legislative Information). The argument uses strong words such as protect and traditional as if gay marriage were a threat to our society. Those in favor of Proposition 8 question why they should have to deal with gay marriages when raising children. As I recall there was an advertisement on television during election warning people about societal issues our children will have to deal with. The commercial demonstrated a hild’s confusion as to why she had 2 daddies, yet mommies were the ones who made the babies. The child’s confusion of marriage sexual identities promotes gay marriage as a social issue in raising kids. Those in favor of Proposition 8 claim that gays are putting their adult desires first before the children. Derogatory terms are used in protests against those who oppose Proposition 8. In rallies across California supporting Proposition 8, such as the one on the left, implement the feeling of hate. The term fag implies a negative connotation upon the being homosexual. Additionally, the word depraved implies that the gay lifestyle is a social burden to America. Those who support the banning of gay marriage perceive this as a social problem of a minority group trying to change social culture. Gays should live private lives and not bring their lifestyle to the public arena and force society to change. Moreover, the argument against Proposition 8 holds a much stronger stand against those who support it. First, we must understand that language in society will always change and adapt to the needs of society. Marriage just as many other words will be redefined as society expands out of the two traditional gender roles. The gay community needs to be included as the law has to prescribe to everyone equally. As we see in the protest rallies, the movements’ association with civil rights of the blacks helps their argument gain solidarity. A popular slogan across protests was â€Å"Gay is the new Black†. I experienced protestors in Fresno, CA yelling this to supporters of Proposition 8. The correlation of the blacks civil rights display their desires and emphasize discrimination. In addition, supporters claim children will be confused as to sexuality preferences, yet sexuality preferences don’t usually profess themselves until puberty. In this adolescence the children will be able to cognate their own sexual preference. Those in support are simply trying to prevent gays from their prescribed rights. When have we ever heard of a vocabulary word that needed its definition restored? Marriage is defined differently by many societies and who are we to say that a minority group should be exempt from it. As the gay language further manifests itself with civil rights language, it will draw increasing support from the gay community as well as civil rights activists. Works Cited California Marriage Protection Act,  § 7. 5. Kulick, Don. â€Å"Gay and Lesbian Language. † Annual Review of Anthropology 29 (2000): 243-85. Litosseliti, Lia. Gender and Language Theory and Practice. New York: A Hodder Arnold Publication, 2006. Official California Legislative Information. 04 Nov. 2008. California Legislation. 05 Mar. 2009 .