Colorblind Love Essay - 2639 Words

Colorblind Love I met my wife Aretha in the fall of 1997; she had just moved from Portland, Oregon, to my hometown of Portland, Maine. By Christmas we were dating, and before we knew it we were both graduating and heading to Boston for college. We’re now happily married and have a one-year-old baby girl. It sounds like a classic high school sweetheart romance, right? Well, to us, yes. But to many people, we’re â€Å"different†. These people’s views have nothing to do with our love, our relationship, or our daughter. They have to do with race. Yes, I’m talking about the mere color of our skin. My wife is Black and I am White. We’re both Americans, born on the same soil and raised within the same language and popular culture—all variables are†¦show more content†¦For centuries, harsh laws called â€Å"antimiscegenation laws† prohibited interracial unions and carried severe legal consequences for violations. Randall Kennedy, Harvard profe ssor and author of Interracial Intimacies: Sex, Marriage, Identity, and Adoption, says that in 1913 â€Å"Wyoming became the last state to impose a statutory impediment to marital miscegenation, [and] forty-one others had already enacted similar laws†¦ Every state whose Black population reached or exceeded 5 percent of the total eventually drafted and enacted antimiscegenation laws.† These laws were frequently enforced and although they varied from state to state, prison sentences for violations averaged from one to ten years. In 1887 Ohio became the first state to repeal its antimiscegenation laws. Kennedy notes that no other state followed for sixty-four years, until Oregon did so in 1951. But no year was more important than 1967. In that year a White man, Richard Loving, and his Black wife, Mildred Jeter, were arrested in Virginia because their District of Columbia marriage license was invalid within Virginia’s borders. Lower court judge Leon Bazile ruled that Loving and Jeter could choose between a twenty-five year exile from Virginia or elect to serve a one-year prison sentence. In his article â€Å"Far From Heaven,† columnist Michael Lind quotes Bazile’s ruling: â€Å"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow,Show MoreRelatedDesiree s Baby : Irony1392 Words   |  6 Pageseyes are gray, Armand, you know they are gray. And my skin is fair, seizing his wrist. Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand,† (Chopin 3) and also, â€Å"But Armand’s dark, handsom e face had not often been disfigured by frowns since the day he fell in love with her.† (Chopin 2). The baby association with darkness came when the baby was lying across Desiree bed, â€Å" Desiree’s eyes had been fixed absently and sadly upon the baby, while she was striving to penetrate the threatening mist that she felt closingRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour1283 Words   |  6 Pagesher life. Although she described her husband in a positive light, I do not believe she was happy and/or in love with him. My assumption is based on the fact that she demonstrated an incredible sense of relief when she thought he had passed on. A good example of this conclusion is the following quote: â€Å"And yet she had loved him – sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognizedRead MoreArmand And Desiree Aubigny : Blinded By Their Own Circumstances Essay1834 Words   |  8 Pagesnurtured by her adopted family, she cares little about her unknown heritage or bloodline—she knows her self-identity and cares little for what other’s think of her. Desiree is kind, young, and oblivious—almost childlike in her manner. She is excited about love and married life because it is all new to her. The prospected of being the wife of a wealthy plantation owner and a mother makes Desiree overjoyed; in fact, she described herself as â€Å"so happy; it frightens me† (Chopin 163). Moreover, Desiree is a motivatedRead MoreRacism1051 Words   |  5 Pagesfamiliar with this topic then the other two topics because I was the once who did the research for our group presentation about this. I came across numerous articles that were very eye opening to me. The first article I will talk about is called, Is Love Becoming Color Blind?. I really enjoyed reading through this article because it had personal examples from three different interracial couples. The first couple was Kristina Adamski and John Phillips, who were both in their early thirties. In theRead More Color blind by the Counting Crows Essay1030 Words   |  5 PagesI am colorblind Coffee black and egg white Pull me out from inside I am ready (repeat 3 times) I am taffy stuck and tongue tied Stutter shook and uptight Pull me out from inside I am ready (repeat 3 times) I am fine I am covered in skin No one gets to come in Pull me out from inside I am folded and unfolded and unfolding I am colorblind Coffee black and egg white Pull me out from inside I am ready (repeat 3 times) I am fine (repeat 3 times) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;TheRead MoreRacial Segregation And The Civil Rights Movement1407 Words   |  6 Pagesincreasing numbers, blacks adopted the dominant colorblind portrayal of society, which served to propagate an ideology of self-hate by wrongly placing the hegemonic culture as more righteous and respectable than African American culture. Black communities, whether explicitly or implicitly, were indoctrinated to reject their own racial identity and yearn for the alleged purity of whiteness, which in reality was a facade. All the while, this colorblind perspective completely concealed the racially-basedRead MoreRacial Predujice toward Minority Groups1564 Words   |  6 PagesRacial prejudice toward minority groups has been a problem throughout all of history. While overt racism and prejudice may be diminished from the days of our dark past, covert racism is very much alive. Society loves to embellish on how far the country has come in the fight against racial prejudice by highlighting significant events such as having the first black president. Yet there are still too many instances of subtle racism. In 2011, there were almost 700,000 incidents of stop and frisk policingRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Racism1326 Words   |  6 Pagesthe education and knowledge to understand that there are good and bad people in every culture. One isn’t born into the world hating another. According to Psychology Today, â€Å"Nearly all White mothers in their research study adopted a â€Å"colormute†/ â€Å"colorblind† approach when discussing a book that was either directly or indirectly about race†¦most chose not to discuss race at all.† (Olson 5) If we don’t educate out children to address the issues, we can’t prevent that judgment thoughts that will occurRead MoreArticle Analysis: Educational Demographics: What Teacher Should Know by Harold Hodgkinson1390 Words   |  6 Pagesculture and past. It’s really imp ortant for me as an educator and for the student to feel welcome. I like how the author said to be â€Å"culture fair instead of colorblind.† We also talked about this in class. Personally, I think it’s best to be culture fair, as each student is different and has many interesting aspects of culture. If I were colorblind, I would glaze over those diversities and miss out on such interesting aspects of my students’ lives. It’s so important to try to get to know each of studentRead MoreRacism : A Theological Reflection1580 Words   |  7 Pagesfor a solution, or what may be concluded as an avoidance, some Christian communities began to adopt a problematic colorblind rhetoric which exercises a, â€Å"See people as people, not a color† concept. â€Å"White Christians, especially, seem incapable of recognizing the contradictions of their utopian language and their distinctly and deeply racialized lifestyles and daily choices. Colorblind rhetoric prevents people from evaluating and dissecting the majority of their social relationships, the places they

Teams in the Workforce Essay - 2524 Words

Teams in the Workforce Introduction The working environment in the United States and in many other countries is undergoing tremendous change. The global marketplace, international trade, and the Internet have brought about a new way of looking at business. Competition has risen to levels never before attained. In order for businesses to succeed in such a competitive market, they must change their organizational structures and the way they conduct their work processes. However, change is difficult. People are the heart of any organization and in order to change people, it takes time. Collaboration is one of the new constructs that will replace hierarchy as the new inter-relational model in the workplace. These new work teams have†¦show more content†¦These are forming, conforming, storming and performing. During the forming stage, team members become acquainted with one another and learn the purpose for the team. Relationships between the members must be established and trust begins to form. Goals for the group are established and rules and expectations are clarified. In this stage, a leader usually emerges. During the conforming stage, the team focuses on creating a cohesive group. This is when members began to identify with the team and form a commitment to the team and its goals. A shared vision is an important factor at this stage of team development. The leader helps the team create their vision, develop its personality, and agree on its goals. If the team is progressing normally, it will then move into the storming stage. This can be a difficult time because at this stage, members often are faced with disagreements and conflict. In this stage, team members air their ideas, differences, opinions, and conclusions. The team leader will need all his or her skills to manage the team and refocus their efforts to foster win/win situations. If the leader is unable to do this, the team sometimes dissolves into chaos, abandons the project, and all the work they accomplished up toShow MoreRelatedCommunicating Effectively As A Team In The Workforce Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesCommunicating Effectively as a Team in the Workforce Abstract Behavior is a key factor in the performance and effectiveness of a team in the workplace. The ability to detect warning signs of conflicting personalities is beneficial in a strong team. Business owners should work with an employees personality and behavior to promote a positive and profitable work environment. Creating a focused, directed, and engaged team will build the connection between communication and personality styles insteadRead MoreHuman Resources : Developing An Effective Global Business Management Essay793 Words   |  4 PagesChallenges in Developing an Effective Global Business Management One thing is certain since the creation of the workforce, it is a constant developing and changing department within businesses. 30 years ago, not many people would have guessed that technology would have such a huge impact on business and the way it is conducted. Today, managers need to ask themselves how will the workforce perform and change within the next 30 years. Management theorist, Peter Drucker said, â€Å"The only thing we know aboutRead MoreLeadership Within The Multinational Environment973 Words   |  4 Pagesmanage the workforce and build a cohesive unit. Effective leadership in a multinational environment can be achieved by adopting four primary leadership styles a) enunciating a vision, gearing the workforce for a change b) building emotional bonds, c) leading others to greatness d) developing people for future responsibility. A leader in a multinational environment must recognize his/her own cultural limitations (Para 2 and 3, Rentfrow, 2007). He/ She must not be perceived by the workforce as an outsiderRead MoreHigh-Performance Teams1225 Words   |  5 Pagescan become a high-performance team. The purpose is also to examine the impact of demographic characteristics and cultural diversity on group behavior. This paper will illustrate how demographic characteristics and cultural diversity contribute to or detract from high-performance teams. High-Performance Teams A high-level of performance makes up the basis for groups and teams today. High-performance is a major focus for many organizations since group and teams have become more common among organizationsRead MoreOrganizational And Employee Culture Through The Great Game Of Life1463 Words   |  6 Pagesthe program is that a profitable organization will show growth as a result of satisfied customers, an engaged workforce and a leadership team that fosters a culture of empowerment. The program attacks employee engagement at the individual level. Each person that participates in GGOL is challenged to drive organizational change by first driving their own individual change. It encourages a team approach to complete physical tasks, some of which are extremely challenging to the individual person, oftenRead MoreAging Workforce Challenges1057 Words   |  5 PagesAging Workforce Challenges Stacy P Durham Southern New Hampshire University Abstract There seems to be many key issues that come along with an aging workforce. Not only do companies and management have to worry about losing qualified workers as they come into retirement age, they are finding out that the pool of qualified workers is getting smaller. Also, many of the retirement eligible workers are staying in the workforce. Management is forced to look at this aging population in a multitudeRead MoreBenefits Of Diversity And Inclusion1657 Words   |  7 Pagesare hot topics in today’s business world. While treating individuals fairly and equally is a social imperative, it is also extremely important to the success of a business. With the changing demographics of society and its affect on the American workforce, organizations must truly embrace diversity and inclusion. â€Å"For companies to succeed in the global marketplace, they must make the most of the full range of their people. Companies must attract and retain the right skills, the best minds, all theRead MoreLeading Intergenerational Teams Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesLeading Intergenerational Teams Workspace demographics now span four generations. A twenty-something hired this year can expect to find that they working with colleagues who are older than they are by fifty or more years. The reason for this is primarily due to labor shortages for trained personnel in many industries. In addition, many older workers are now delaying retirement due for economic or other reasons. Many of the baby boomer generation can now be expected to delay retirement into theirRead MoreCreating A Team Building Culture Option1479 Words   |  6 PagesCreating a Team Building Culture Option #2 One of the many responsibilities of company leaders is to ensure that their organization is able to compete and excel in the global marketplace. One way organizations are reaching this goal is though a shift in organizational culture. According to Thompson (2014), a company s culture can be defined as its personality or the way in which things are done. When an organization attempts to shift its culture from that of an individual contribution to a team environmentRead MoreLeadership and Management Essay1353 Words   |  6 Pagesmanagement can be stated as a pursuit towards an overall goal that is effective and efficient. Also management is the ability to integrate works from different workforces through planning, and organizing. Ultimately management is a theory that is put into practice by a team to create a successful organization. The individuals in these teams are known as managers. It is the job of these individuals to guide a company towards the goal. To properly manage it ta kes a set of functions to make the organization

Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect - 1422 Words

Child abuse is defined as the mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian (dictionary.com). The different types of child abuse are emotional, neglect, physical, and sexual; abuse each having unique signs for the specific type of abuse. Child abuse can have many effects throughout an individual’s development including the possibility of the repeating abuse to their own children when they have a family. According to the textbook â€Å"Human Development,† emotional abuse or maltreatment is the rejection, terrorization, degradation, ridicule, or failure to give love, emotional support, and affection (p. 207). Emotional abuse can have significant damage to the child’s mental and social development. Some ways parents are emotionally abusive†¦show more content†¦In some cases taking care of children can overwhelming especially for teen parents who do not have needed support or financial support for their children. This can often lead to neglect or emotional abuse. Parents who were abused themselves might not know how to care for children so they repeat what their parents did to them. (Saisan) All types of abuse have life-long emotional effects on the child. Abused children often have a lack of trust and problems with relationships. Saisan says, â€Å"abuse by a primary caregiver damages the most fundamental relationship as a child.† When that relationship is broken, it makes it extremely difficult for a child to learn how to trust people which can make it difficult to hold a relationship and have unhealthy relationships because the child grew up not knowing what a good relationship was. Strong feelings of being â€Å"damaged† or â€Å"worthless† also occur. This usually happens when a child suffers from emotional abuse when they are repeatedly told that they are â€Å"worthless, no good, stupid, etc,† so they develop into adults with that mindset. Also sexually abused children might grow up with the feeling of being damaged. Children may also grow up to have problems controlling or adjusting to their emotions. They might be afraid or not know how to express theirShow MoreRelatedWhat Does It Become Child Abuse?797 Words   |  4 PagesChild Abuse Is disciplining your child ok? To what extent does it become child abuse? Discipline your child is an everyday thing. What else would they know what not to do when your kick, slap, punch or even hot scolding bath/showers. It comes to the point where it needs to be controlled. There are other ways. Physical abuse Children are innocent human beings. Growing up they have to learn right from wrong. When they do something bad or not right you have to properly discipline them without hurtingRead MoreThe Child Abuse Prevention And Treatment Act1136 Words   |  5 Pagesdefine child neglect and abuse is both criminal and civil. The civil definitions that determine the grounds for intervention by State child protective agencies, at the Federal level, by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) January 31, 1974.By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America and Congress assembled this act may be cited as, â€Å"the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. Section 3 of the Law said† For purposes of this Act the term child abuse andRead MoreAssessing And Prevention Of Child Abuse766 Words   |  4 PagesPreventing Child Abuse The definition of child abuse varies by state. Although every definition of child abuse must meet certain federal minimum standards, a fine line can still exist between what constitutes abuse and what is a harsh but appropriate punishment. Generally, however, most recognized types of child abuse fall into four categories including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. It is a crime in every state to intentionally or recklessly cause injury to a child. AsRead MoreAbstract. A Strong Family Foundation Can Establish Positive1543 Words   |  7 Pagesincludes a parent and child having a good relationship. On the other side of the spectrum a family full of violence and child abuse can establish negative outcomes and consequences in a child’s well being and quality of life. The mental and psychological health of this child can be compromised due to not having a stable home. The objective is to research the relationship between child abuse and quality of life in abused children. Both male and female children will complete Scale of Abuse in Children andRead More Child Neglect Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pages Child Neglect This quarter at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, I am taking a class called à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Family Violence.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬? In this class, one of the most disturbing types of abuse that I have learned about is the neglect of children. Hard to detect and even harder to prove, it is the most common form of family violence between senior citizens who live with their families. In 1998 there were an estimated 903,000 victims of child maltreatment, and more than half (53 percent) suffered fromRead MoreChild Abuse and Neglect1678 Words   |  7 Pagestopic of child abuse is one of the hardest topics to write about. It is imperative to have a profound understanding of this topic and its consequences specially when working in the field of human services. Professionally and personally, I have encountered situations where child abuse is present. This reality has touched my life in many ways and these experiences continue shaping me as a human being and as social service provider. I will try to cover in this paper the subject of child abuse, its definitionsRead MoreChild Abuse And Neglect Of Children1291 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse and neglect are highly contested concepts, underpinned by and subject to a range of political and cultural factors particular to the society in which they occur. Therefore, child abuse and neglect are not phenomena that lend themselves to easy definition or measurement (Corby, 2006:79). This means that child abuse or neglect cannot be defined unless we take the cultural context into consideration, for what is considered to be abusive or neglectful in one society could be acceptable inRead MoreThe Society Of Prevention Of Cruelty907 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent types of abuse especially for when one wants to intervene. The aticle define the following definition as follows: family maltreatment- â€Å"minimal physical or sexual harm or endangerment† (Emery Laumann-Billings, p. 121) and family violence- â€Å"serious physical injury†¦psychological trauma, or sexual violation† (Emery Laumann-Billings, p. 121.) However, all types of abuse can have a psychological effect. Each state has their own policies and definitions for abuse and neglect. The National ResearchRead MoreNSTP 1 THESIS1479 Words   |  6 PagesIssue: Street People Children and Senior Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 3 Definition of terms†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 I. Topic: Children,Youth,Middle and Seniors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 A. Child abuse and neglect B. Children in institutional care C. Street Children, Child labor, Child Prostitution D. Aging in Place II. Topic: Contemporary Social Problems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦11 A. Poverty and Unemployment B. Gerontology / Elderly C. Homelessness D. Substance Abuse III.Clippings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦21 IV. Learning Derived†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreThe Key Aspects Of The Relationship Between Poverty And The Greater Economic Hardship1514 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween abuse and neglect and the greater economic hardship which will have an impact on poverty and how this affects the chance of a child being abused or neglected. Looking at the evidence it is clear to see that there is a strong link associated between poverty and a child suffering from abuse and neglect. Introduction and context According to NSPCC there are more than 50,000 children in the UK are abused and neglected annually, this estimates that there are 8 children suffering abuse for every

Peace Treaties and Feather Pens free essay sample

Can words and ideas take the place of guns and bombs? Can peace treaties and beautiful feather pens take the place of wars and casualties? Like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas K. Gandhi, I believed, conflicts can truly be settled with words and ideas. In addition, I believe that conflicts can truly be settled with a handshake, high-five, hug, or kiss. There have been many wars have been won through the use of artillery. But then there have been many wars that have been prevented with just simple words, ideas, and nonviolent actions. History has changed so much in these short years because of those simple words, ideas, and nonviolent actions. If history can be changed and conflicts overcome with peaceful ways why not take this route to achieve lasting peace. Many people when thinking of â€Å"peaceful people†, imagine hippies, peace signs, tye-dyed t-shirts, and colorful vans. Then there’s Woodstock with its psychedelic music, and the sunflowers in everyone’s hair. We will write a custom essay sample on Peace Treaties and Feather Pens or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But when I think of â€Å"peaceful people† I think of the firm believers and activists who accomplished the great movements throughout all of history by using nonviolent acts and peaceful protests to overcome the wars of unrighteousness. Mohandas Gandhi states: Of war, too, I need say nothing. It has always been more or less chronic since the rise of the Roman Empire; but there is now undoubtedly a disinclination for war among all civilized peoples†¦.We need not be afraid of ideals or of reducing them to practice even to the uttermost. Ours will only then be a truly spiritual nation when we shall show more truth than gold, greater fearlessness than pomp of power and wealth, greater charity than love of self. (338) He was able to lead his country with nonstop peaceful nonviolent actions that gained them the freedom that they deserved. Freedom? it is what everyone deserves and wants. But that freedom is not freedom without peace. That was what the Civil Rights Movement was all aboutto be free to live in peace with one another. With only street marches, sit-ins, and their voices, the people in this movement and now today there is freedom hand in hand with peace. One such â€Å"peaceful person† who helped greatly to begin and succeed in this movement was Martin Luther King, Jr. In his Letter from Birmingham City Jail, King speaks of peaceful actions and their rewards, â€Å"Over the last few years I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. So I have tried to make it clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends†(216). King wanted peace for his people so he fought for that with words and peaceful demonstrations such as sit-ins, marches, and of course his â€Å"I Have A Dream† speech. His words support his movement— the retaliation that was afflicted on the peaceful protesters did not come to what the retaliators believed was a moral endsegregation was terminated. Margaret Mead, Warfare: An Invention? Not a Biological Necessity, seems to agree with Kings logic, â€Å"There is a way of behaving which is known to a given people and labeled as an appropriate form of behavior† (277). Mead would agree with King that what the retaliators did to the peaceful protestors was not appropriate behavior and not the way of behaving. The way of behaving was in favor of the peaceful protestors and still even today labeled as appropriate behavior. The question is rather words and ideas can take the place of guns and bombs. Do words and ideas or guns and bombs cause deaths? Guns and bombs both cause death and are used in wars. In every single war in American history lives were loston both sides. In the early wars there were just guns then cannons and now atomic bombs which all contributed too many deaths. Those weapons are only used in war and words are never spoken in war unless to command the death of another human being. As Mead states, â€Å"warfaremen engaged in it and killed one another in the course of a war because killing is what is done in wars† (277). Mead wrote these words around the time of World War II. One may wonder if some words and ideas were exchangedmaybe even the signing of a Peace Treaty with a feather penperhaps an atomic bomb would have never been dropped and many lives spared. Just one word, idea, or peaceful action could have prevented such devastation. As a Japanese writer, Kenzaburo Oe agree s to a great extent. In his written work, The Unsurrendered People, he gives the readers a vision and front row seat of the very same devastation mentioned. Readers are able connect with Oe by recognizing him, through his words, as a true witness: â€Å"The recovery effort has continued for two decades, and continues even now.The atomic destruction of Hiroshima was the worst ‘deluge’ of the twentieth century.the twentieth century has become afflicted with cancer? the possession of nuclear weapons by various nations? for which there is no known cure†(290,291). All this could have been prevented, if words and ideas were discussed and exchanged and in turn opening up a new route that would have saved many lives. War itself is just revenge in the participants’ eyes. In the Leviathan, Hobbes writes, â€Å"For it can never be that Warre shall preserve life, and Peace destroy it† (110). War is fought with the intention of killing the life God has put on th is earth. There’s no other goal, purpose, or ending when it comes to war and only if peace is made will it end. Many may say that a war is necessary to preserve the lives of a country but still lives are being destroyed in another country. Hobbes goes on to say, â€Å"Evil: From whence arise Disputes, Controversies, and at last WarAnd consequently all men agree on this, that Peace is Good, and therefore also the way, or means of Peace, whichare Justice, Gratitude, Modesty, Equity, Mercyare good, that is to say Morall Vertues† (111). By only punishing the ones responsible for initiating war justice is achieved then allows the innocent lives to show gratitude for evading war and destruction. Being modest in the good decision made brings the equity from the ones that the war was evaded returning good for good. Lastly, mercy is given to all, no deaths are mourned and in turn making stronger alliances while bringing peace throughout. Without Peace we would not be able to do many of the things we do today. How can we function with chaos, hatred, anarchy, and war? No happiness would or can come from that. Would our families and love ones be safe? Would we have to keep looking over our shoulders and in turn not know the path we take? In Jean Bethke Elshtain’s, What Is a Just War? it states, â€Å"None of the goods that human beings cherish, including the free exercise of religion, can flourish without a measure of civic peace and security† (294). We would be at each other’s throat more than we are now if there weren’t those â€Å"peaceful people† that used words and ideas rather than guns and bombs. We would not even be human. Elshtain continues, â€Å"Without civic peace? a basic framework of settled law and simple, everyday order? human life descends to its most primitive level. By primitive I mean rudimentary, the bare minimum? we struggle just to stay alive† (295). Ours eyes and minds would focus only on how to keep breathing. Paranoia and suicide would walk this eartha dog-eat-dog world. Every man for himself. Not even unpeaceful words muttered just guns and bombs snatching life after meaningless life. This is the definition for war and the exact opposite is peace. Maybejust maybe there’s a small flicker of hope. Peace Treaties and Feather Pens seem to have slowly reemerged. Peace signs are everywhere now, more musicals are being made, high waisted clothing is back in style, and more â€Å"singing about your feelings† music seems to be at the top of the charts. Little gestures that are not recognized immediately but are the giant steps toward words and ideas and those oh so missed Peace Treaties and Feather Pens. But there’s the one gesture that receives recognition every time—Give [peace] and you shall receive [peace]. This notion is similar to the words and actions that King expressed. There is now peace among the people because of the peaceful words and ideas shown. No guns and bombs were used to achieve this great success and now that â€Å"war† is finished. The war that we now face could, should, and can be settled with words and ideasfrom looking at history in reality, peace seems to conquer all.