Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Quotes for Engagement Toasts

Engagements are special because they signify that two people who share a caring relationship have decided to partner for life. This is cause for celebration, and youll likely find yourself at an engagement party at some point. Toasts are custom at events like these, so read on for tips and inspirational engagement toast quotes to help you craft the right speech. Tips for Great Engagement Toasts If you’ve decided to make your voice heard and give your own toast to the happy couple, there are some things to keep in mind. First, consider where you land in the proper order of toast-givers: parents first, then siblings, grandparents, close relatives, best friends, and other friends. Once you’ve decided where you fit into this order, you can start thinking about what you want to say. First and foremost, an engagement toast should be about the couple, though you can also talk about them as individuals. Think about your personal relationship with the pair and use that to inspire the anecdotes you tell or reflections you share. If you are a long-time friend of the groom-to-be, for example, you can talk about how he changed for the better after meeting his significant other. If you are the mother of the bride, you can talk about how happy you are to welcome her partner into the family. Since there can be a number of toasts, make yours unique by including your own perspective on the relationship. Lastly, remember that an engagement toast is not a lecture—keep it to two minutes to ensure the part keeps flowing. Famous Quotes for Engagement Toasts Use these uplifting quotes about love to inspire you as you prepare to make your engagement toast. Antoine De Saint-Exupery: And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye. Henry David Thoreau: There is no remedy for love but to love more. Bertrand A. Russell: Love is a little haven of refuge from the world. Amy Bushnell: Love reminds you that nothing else matters. Anonymous: Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning. Keith Sweat: You cant stop loving or wanting to love because when its right, its the best thing in the world. When youre in a relationship and its good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you feel like your whole world is complete. Janice Markowitz: If you have to think about whether you love someone or not, then the answer is no. When you love someone you just know. Edgar Allan Poe: We loved with a love that was more than love.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster - 2261 Words

â€Å"In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was ‘Arrrgh!’†. These famous lines taken from Piraticus 13:7 are the first words you will see in the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Many do not know what exactly Pastafarianism is, and so I am here to spread the Word! Pastafarians stand for all that is good, and are against all that is bad. What more could someone ask for? The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, while having existed in secrecy for millions of years only recently came into the mainstream in May of 2005. But what do they stand for, and what exactly are their beliefs? In May of 2005, an open letter to the Kansas School Board from concerned citizen Bobby Henderson sparked the mass intro of the Church of the†¦show more content†¦Then there’s Halloween, a time of remembrance of when Pirates walked the earth freely. A little known fact is that pirates were well known for passing out candy on this day but the practice dwi ndled as they became more and more persecuted. Next, on September 19th, is International Talk like a Pirate Day, in which pastafarians everywhere are encouraged to return to their pirate ancestor’s native tongue. Another important holiday is Friday. Every Friday, to be exact, is a holiday to the Pastafarians. On this day, they are to pay homage to their beer volcanoes and stripper factories. Finally is Holiday, which basically covers all the commercial holidays. To be a world religion, there are seven things that generally must be met. The first is the experiential aspect in which you look at what that started it all. Although the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster has existed for â€Å"millions, if not thousands† of years, the main point that brought it into the mainstream was Bobby Henderson’s letter to the Kansas School Board expressing his concern about their denial of his alternative theory. From that point on, Pastafarianism exploded into the mainstrea m, and since then it has only expanded and grown. In fact, according to them, you don’t even have to actually believe in the FSM to be a member. In their own words, â€Å"For the same reason that many in other religions don’t literally believe their scripture, you can be a PastafarianShow MoreRelatedThe Topic Of Religion ( A Focus On Pastafarians ) Rough Draft729 Words   |  3 Pagesaccepted our lord and savior, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, into your life? the man says, a colander on his head, with a vaguely pirate-esque accent. Another annoying pastalatizer arrived at your door. What do you say? Ignore him or hear him out? Is this man insane, or does he simply see you as someone to prank? Is this a game? Well, you re answer could be any of the above. In 2005, in a letter to a governor, a man mentioned a hypothetical Flying Spaghetti Monster, as a way to dispute creationismRead MoreChristianity : The Flying Spaghetti Monster1361 Words   |  6 PagesWell, At least it is Not the Flying Spaghetti Monster At this day and age, there are so many different religions and religious ideas. There is Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Agnosticism, and there is even the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. People all over the world, whether as a group or not, have faith in different beliefs. Most of the time, it depends solely on what region of the world they are in. In America, the religion that is predominant is Christianity. What do most peopleRead MoreCreationism in Public School Science Class Essay923 Words   |  4 Pagescreationists are. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism (Pastafarianism), and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence. People have the right to believe what they want, teach themselves what they want, but they do not have the right to teachRead MoreThe Battle Of Creationism And Evolutionary Theory869 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstood as fact. However, they are wrong in believing it is a matter that should be taught in the science curriculum of secondary schools of a municipality or state. Furthermore, the first amendment of the Constitution provides for the separation of Church and state. It does in order to promote equality and establish a distinction from the English rule the founding fathers were so vehemently against. The amendment itself reads, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, orRead MoreThe War of the Ants1689 Words   |  7 Pagescontact me to schedule another time.) Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow. -- Lawrence Clark Powell Required Texts (Prices are approximations based on Amazon.com listings) Henderson, Bobby, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (New York: Villard, 2006). ISBN: 0812976568. $11.16. Strunk, William, and E. B. White, The Elements of Style, 4th ed. (Needham Heights: Pearson). ISBN: 020530902X. $9.95. Swift, Jonathan, A Modest Proposal and Other SatiricalRead MoreScience Versus Pseudoscience : Science Vs. Pseudoscience774 Words   |  4 Pagesthree in my opinion belong to the pseudoscience category due to the lack of scientific evidence. They just seem to be theories or opinions some people choose to believe and they lack credible proof. 4) The parody religion called The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster uses a very interesting correlation between pirates and natural disasters: â€Å"You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct result of the shrinking numbers of PiratesRead MoreThe separation of church and state1200 Words   |  5 PagesThe separation of church and state has been a long debated topic in the history of America. Although founded upon Christian ideals, the framers of the Constitution explicitly outlined the government to function secularly, in what is commonly referred to as the â€Å"Establishment Clause†. When interpreting the Constitution in regards to religion, there are two primary philosophies. The first philosophy this paper will explore will be referred to as Positive Toleration. In general, the idea of positiveRead MorePhysics Of The Scientific Method926 Words   |  4 Pagessomehow communicate with the dead for example. Because this is specific to a person that you cannot observe (their dead), you have no way of studying this interaction through scient ific means. 4) The parody religion called The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster uses a very interesting correlation between pirates and natural disasters: â€Å"You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct result of the shrinking numbers of PiratesRead MoreTime For Equality : A Satirical Piece On Double Standards912 Words   |  4 Pagesgroups are discriminated against at all. The white population is undoubtedly equal with all other ethnic groups. The same could be said for all of the various religious affiliations too, the Christians are on the same level as the Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster. May His Noodley Appendage bless all of you my children! Sorry, for that al dente, yet off topic tangent. Back to complete equality. All of the Religions and ethnic groups are fine and all, but where real equality starts is in theRead MoreThe Doctrine Of God : The Justification For God1566 Words   |  7 PagesPascal counters this by claiming that a persons can control aspects of their life that can in turn affect their beliefs. For example, a person may feel incli ned to convert from atheism to Christianity. They begin reading their Bible daily, going to church actively, and they get baptized in their new faith. Since, this is Pascal’s actual claim he actually employs indirect doxastic voluntarism which cause no issue with his argument. Even at that critics are still not satisfied because they feel that

Monday, December 9, 2019

Naguib Mahfouz free essay sample

Born in Egypt, his country would become the setting of nearly all his works, however his intricate descriptions of the common man and women would give them a universal appeal. Living through periods of great political and economic upheaval in modern Egyptian history, his stories would often address the strife and turmoil that resulted from these periods. In order to avoid the censorship of the powers that he was often critiquing he would hide his messages in metaphors and allegories. Often spinning an intricate story of an average person any reader could relate to and giving them a challenge to overcome, though not always allowing them to succeed. However the protagonist is really Egyptian society as a whole trying to overcome the social and political challenges facing it, and similarly not always succeeding. In order to further discuss this I will draw from two of Mahfouz’s short stories; Half a Day and The Norwegian Rat. I choose these stories specifically as they are the most assessable in trying to understand Mahfouz’s style of using metaphor and allegory to discuss the social and political problems facing Egyptian society during his time. In Mahfouz’s â€Å"Half a Day† the author describes a child’s first day of school. The story begins with the boy’s father walking him to class. The father having to comfort the sacred and nervous child, but once in school the boy discovers new friends and enjoyment in playing and learning. It is not all enjoyable though, the strictness of those in charge and their unbending attitudes cause pain if you cross them. The story finally comes to an end with the boy leaving at the end of the day. On his walk home he notices first differences in his neighborhood and then how he himself has aged, and slowly the realization that time has completely passed him by. However the episode described is an allegory for how the masses are shaped and controlled by society and those ruling in particular. Once we turn of age we are taken and told by those in power what to do, who to marry, and what to believe leaving no chance for free will. The father even describes school to the boy. Factory that makes useful men out of boys† (pg. 5). Describing the school as a factory implies that the boy will become the man the teachers, or the ruling powers, want him to be not the one he wishes to become. At the beginning of the day the teachers, those leading and ruling society, explain, â€Å"Here too there are mothers and fathers. Here there is everything that is enjoyable and beneficial to knowledge and religion† (pg. 56). Telling the students that all they need to know is found within this school. The child finds latter that those who speak up or change their minds will be met with physical punishment from the teacher. The clearest example of the allegory comes in the last two sentences describing the school day, â€Å"Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves amid the worries† (pg. 57). This could just as easily be used to describe Egyptian life during Mahfouz’s time, living under an oppressive government. Life being a constant rat race to provide for yourself and your family, constantly afraid of being swept aside. Though there is only a tiny chance of reaching the top you still take opportunities and advantages where you can. This often brings you into conflict with others like you, leading to rivalries and fighting. This constant chaos of trying to persevere and make ends meet, gain advantage over rivals and competitors, and avoid the punishment of the â€Å"teacher† takes up all of one’s thoughts and abilities. Until finally realization comes that time has passed you by and you haven’t really lived life but spent it competing in a game you could never win. This description of being forced into a life of competition and chaos by those ruling Egyptian society at the time would have most likely brought immediate censorship on Mahfouz’s story and possibly punishment from the â€Å"teacher† upon him. That is why Mahfouz hides his message in the description of a child’s first day at school. This is brilliant as it is a topic so easily accessible. Almost all the people who would be able to read Mahfouz’s story would have had to gone to school to learn to read in the first place so it is fairly universal in its ability to relate to people. Once more many people can easily remember the dread of first going to school and meeting people who would soon become your friends. The excitement of learning new things and playing with new friends is something we’ve all experienced. However what appears to be a simple story of a first day at school takes on a new meaning when one focuses on Mahfouz’s subtle hints. Describing school as a factory that produces men also few people would describe school, especially elementary, as â€Å"exertion, struggle, and perseverance† (pg. 57) against ones classmates. The main warning comes at the end, after realizing that time has seemingly passed by him the boy, now man, looks upon a scene of chaos in his old neighborhood. He observes a fight between a taxi driver and his occupant, an immovable traffic jam, a fire truck seemingly unable to reach its fire, and many other frantic people coming and going. This provides a stark contradiction to the description of a picturesque neighborhood at the beginning of the story. Mahfouz, speaking out against the chaos and competition of modern society allows the man to state while watching the fire truck, â€Å"Let the fire take its pleasure in what it consumes. As if remarking, let this modern society burn what good is it if we cannot even appreciate and enjoy the time we have? The first story, â€Å"Half a Day†, dealt with the problems many Egyptians faced as a result of living in a society that stressed personal gain and competition. Though the ruling party of society might be part of the problem, enforcing and encouraging this system, they were not the whole of it. This next story, â€Å"The Norwegian Rat†, is a critique of the ruling party and warning against allowing the government to control you through fear. The story is set as Cairo is being infested by Norwegian rats which are bigger, meaner, and more dangerous than normal rats. The setting is an apartment building whose tenants are trying to keep the building free of rats. As time goes by the residents find they have to give up more and more, whether it be money, time, or liberties, in order to keep the building free of a pest that none of them has actually seen. The story ends with a government inspector coming to assess the apartment’s defenses. However upon offering the bureaucrat a meal some of the tenants notice he takes on the appearance of a Norwegian rat. Here Mahfouz is warning against allowing the government to control its population by promoting the fear of an invented or unrealistic enemy. In the story Mr. A. M. , a government minister living in the building, convinces the tenants that the only way to combat these rats is to follow the instructions of the government, â€Å"†¦Carry out instructions meticulously, both those that come directly through me and those that come by way of authorities† (pg. 127). Later when the tenants complain of the strain on their nerves it causes Mr. A. M. angrily asserts that they are in war and a tate of emergency, forcibly implying there is no room for argument or discussion. Another mechanism the government uses is to promote fear by propagandizing the rats, not only their size and abilities but allowing rumors to abound that they can destroy entire villages and convincing the tenants of an eminent attack. They then contrast this by assuring the tenants that the government is with them and also taking extra burdens to keep the people safe. The narrator, a tenant, describes the feelings of the tenants after the second meeting, â€Å"†¦We told ourselves that we were truly not alone in battle. Gratitude welled up in us for†¦ and our revered Governor† (pg. 129). This keeps the blame and anger off the government which is implementing and enforcing these policies, and places it on the rats. Propagating the belief among the tenants that the government is doing what it has to do for their own safety, initially at least. Mahfouz also gives a hint at what likely things people will have to give up and lose in order to feel protected by their government. After every meeting the tenants are asked to sacrifice more and more. In the story it’s the direct cost of defenses, paying for and feeding cats. The indirect costs the time spent defending and losing chickens, cats, possibly even human lives by leaving poison out. The last cost is comfort, having to seal all windows and doors and leaving them constantly shut. In the real world these can translate to extra taxes or war bonds to fund the defenses. The indirect consequences both economically and non-economically in having to take time from your life in order to combat the threat. And lastly the sacrifice of personal civil liberties in the name of defense and safety. Here Mahfouz is able to escape censorship by making his story so ridiculous. A city ever taking these kinds of measures to defend against rats in unbelievable, as is a rat that can destroy cities. Buying rat traps or keeping your apartment sealed off hardly seems like major sacrifices. However these things are metaphors of actual possibilities and real sacrifices. By keeping it silly Mahfouz is able to present the tale as a humorous story, requiring you to read deeper in order to understand the real message. In the very end this message comes out when the bureaucrat takes on the form of a Norwegian rat. Allowing the tenants to realize the enemy is ot some foreign invader but actually the very people who are propagating the fear of attack. Mahfouz is well known for his sympathetic portrayals of the common man and women and the struggles they often go through in society. These stories came in to form of a critique against society in general, as in â€Å"Half a Day,† or as a warning against an oppressive government, â€Å"The Norwegian Rat. † What is truly amazing is that he would often be able to address these critiques and warnings to the Egyptian people, by using a style reliant on metaphors and allegory, without censorship from the powers above. Truly Mahfouz’s insights were helpful and needed for a society that was going through the great upheaval of modernization. However even today they carry relevance, as Egypt is going through a similar upheaval and realignment of society it would be wise for Egyptians to take another look Mahfouz. It would be wise to use his stories, and their critiques and messages, as a guide to evaluate current decisions and to keep from repeating the same mistakes.

Monday, December 2, 2019

My Oedipus Complex free essay sample

By once again Larry’s attitudes such as jealousy, stubbornness and disrespect expose that his father is the real victim of the story. First of all, by the fact that Larry is just a five year old kid but his thoughts and actions of jealousy towards his father are unacceptable. It is true that a kid gets jealous when somebody has taken their beloved one’s attention away from them, but this is Larry’s father who just barely returned home from war. Larry clearly doesn’t understand much about his parents’ relationship after years being separated; so, they really miss each other and have a lot of stories they want to share. However, Larry just selfishly cares for himself by the thoughts â€Å"talking to Daddy† , â€Å"at teatime, â€Å"talking to Daddy† began again. † and â€Å"It was clear that she either genuinely liked talking to Father better than talking to me† and these details show that Larry compares the appearance of his father towards his mother is more important than him (160). We will write a custom essay sample on My Oedipus Complex or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Additionally, Larry asked his mother â€Å"Do you think if I prayed hard God would send Daddy back to the war? † indicates the lack of love to his own father and by the jealousy of his father taking his mother, Larry wants his father to be out of his sight (160). Second of all, the stubbornness of Larry really irritates his father. As a matter of fact, Larry always wants to find a way to annoy his father as the thought â€Å"Man for man, I was prepared to compete with him any time for Mother’s attention. † is glued in his mind since his father returned (160). Larry is a kid that doesn’t give up in the battle for his relationship with his mother by the detail of â€Å"for several time being I had forgotten about him, and for several minutes I sat bolt upright, racking my brains to know what I could do with him† (161). Throughout his ignorant thoughts, his physical actions to his father have proved he is one disturbing child in the family as â€Å"I couldn’t get comfortable, so I gave him several kicks that made him grunt and stretch† (161). At the moment where his mother told him to share a cup of tea with her in the morning, instead of giving it a sip, he drank the whole saucer â€Å"I wanted to be treated as an equal in my own home, so, just to spite her, I drank it all and left none for her. † (162) Last of all, Larry’s disrespectful attitude to his father is a big reason of why father is a victim in this story. Children who would say word â€Å"shut up† to his/her parent is very disrespectful; however, Larry does and he even screams at his father â€Å"Shut up, you. † and â€Å"Smack your own. . . Smack your own! Shut up! Shut up! † (164). He doesn’t see his father as his parent but he always competes with him as one of his friend. Despite that children have their rights to speak up; however, Larry is just a kid, he doesn’t reach to that age to find legitimate reasons to talk back to his parent like that. Additionally, that attitude is considered disrespect to any parents, and they would be hurt and very sad if their children behave ignorantly and rudely in front of them. Although the other side of Larry’s point of view is that Larry is too young to acknowledge and it is considered as neutral as a kid to have such rude behaviors towards the stranger s. On the hand, it is not his fault that he hasn’t been around with Larry since he was born. Larry’s father’s duty as a man is to protect the country and he could possibly scarify his life to not his family again if he falls on the battlefield. However, Larry doesn’t understand his father’s point of view but only selfishly cares about his. It wouldn’t be a family if parents and kids don’t love each other. Despite Larry hates his father, but he still shows some caring towards Larry as he bought a nice model railway for Larry on Christmas. In fact, Larry’s father doesn’t hate Larry, but he is just depressed of his child being acting all weird way to parents like Harry did. In conclusion, Larry’s father is a victim in the story because instead of having a warm family welcomes him from a war; he receives the opposite welcome. Especially Larry, who is his own son, dislikes him most of the time. Larry’s attitudes such as jealousy, stubbornness and disrespect have depressed not only his father but his mother who really cares about them. Work cited: O’Connor, Frank . â€Å" My Oedipus Complex† A World of Fiction, Twenty Timeless Short Stories, 2nd ed. New York Pearson Education, 2006. 157-173. Print