Sammys development through the story

â€Å"A&P†, composed by John Updike is considered as a commencement story. It centers around Sammy, an assistant and his involvement in the three young ladies and Lengel. The principle character, from the start is reliant on his family and their associations with endure. He was utilized by his dad and mother’s companion, Lengel and it is implied that his grandma affected him and that they were all the while seeing one another. Additionally, he was all the while living with his folks since his mom was the person who pressed his shirt for that day. With this reliance on his family, tragically, comes a value: he should do his best not to agitate nor disillusion his folks. Like most little youngsters, Sammy was interested, attentive and quite often ponders. With the appearance of the young ladies, Sammy from the start receives the typical reaction of a youthful, juvenile youngster and that was to respect the young ladies dependent on their appearance. Generally one not to submit botches, he was reprimanded by an old woman for his slip by. Rather than assuming liability for his misstep, he comforts himself by saying that the elderly person was a witch who had nothing better to do. In the initial segments of the story, he was as yet puerile and hormonally determined, particularly when he was with his companion Stokesie as they â€Å"checked out† the young ladies. For him to take such an unmistakable fascination and divert him from his duty accentuates the enticement that the girlsâ€or all the more explicitly, the â€Å"Queen†Ã¢â‚¬posed on him. The circumstance was then exacerbated since they began to stroll around with only their swimming outfits and divert everybody around them, and accidentally tempt individuals with their motions. The fantasy was broken when Lengel entered and began to advise them before everybody. The young ladies circumventing the passageways can be deciphered as a fantasy for Sammy; three appealing little youngsters strolling gradually around noticeable all around adapted room under the lights in their swimming outfits without any sea shores close by. It was incredible and fabulous; it was a fantasy for each hormone dynamic youngster. Indeed, even the way that they wound up in his path and the way that the â€Å"Queen† took out her installment resembled a â€Å"dream come true†. The development of the young ladies and the way that each part of them was accentuated appeared to be eminent. The pace of the story itself is by all accounts fanciful in nature, all observed in Sammy’s eyes. Lengel’s entrance from the outside breaks the fantasy; his passageway can be deciphered as reality returning. Truly, a kid like Sammy needs to reply to a definitive figure spoke to by Lengel. His chief represented obligation and the finish of youth dreams. Updike portrays that Lengel is the strict kind of man, one who trains Sunday school. He begins to scold the young ladies and humiliated them before each body. Sammy watches the young ladies express their purposes behind coming in yet Lengel still counsels them. In Sammy’s eyes, Lengel was being nonsensical and wanted to have things just two different ways: his way or one is a reprobate for not following. By then, the primary character understands that the circumstance is more convoluted than the young ladies not following approach. What Lengel did in Sammy’s eyes was a demonstration of intensity; utilizing his situation as administrator to scold the young ladies as well as humiliates them. Regardless of whether the young lady was just satisfying a task for her mom, he still didn’t tune in. Clearly the â€Å"Queen† made a special effort to purchase the container of herring snacks since the sea shore was miles and miles away. Likewise, the â€Å"Queen† appeared to be of a higher social class than Sammy; he sees this and understands the distinction between the them two. Before they left, the fundamental character made a demonstration of stopping, an aberrant method of telling the young ladies that he was holding fast and that he imagines that they were untreated decently. Tragically, as opposed to his optimal dreams of them considering him to be their legend, they left him to battle for himself. A sign of his development was appeared in the manner that he would not withdraw regardless of being separated from everyone else as he would see it since he has built up the feeling that one must proceed with one’s moves and make duty regarding them. He at that point gathered up the mental fortitude to scrutinize the expert for their activities. Lengel then disclosed to Sammy his own perspective on what happened, guiding another acknowledgment for the fundamental character. The acknowledgment is that not all things are high contrast and that individuals will in general have varying feelings and their own perspective, never understanding the damage that they cause others. Likewise, as opposed to what is normally educated, by and by, individuals will pick their own advantages and will think about the government assistance of others. Like on account of Lengel, the director imagined that they were the ones being humiliated by the young ladies and not the reverse way around. It was then evident that Lengel pulled this show of intensity since every other person was viewing and that he felt that the trustworthiness of the store was being compromised. In Lengel’s eyes, the young ladies were putting on an obscene act for everybody and even diverted his most trusty agent. However Sammy still held a portion of his reliance and hunger for endorsement since he quickly thought of his grandma and how pleased she would be of him in the event that she could see him now. Lengel then began to help Sammy to remember his obligation to his folks, a sacrosanct pledge that he was not permitted to break. In his change of development, he proceeded with his choice knowing the outcomes and altogether disclosed to Lengel that he comprehended what he was doing and that the supervisor was simply the person who didn’t realize what he himself was doing. By then, Sammy built up an alternate feeling dependent on what he saw and what his perspective was, motioning to the crowd that he was displaying a similar conduct as the grown-ups. He at that point begins to shed the garments that represented his reliance: the tie and the cover. However with his activities, Sammy still radiated that optimistic and innocent quality that empowered him to mind whether the young ladies were still there or that he can make a spotless exit since it was summer and he didn’t need to bumble around for his winter clothing. Over the span of the story, he has tended to the customers as â€Å"sheep†, letting themselves grouped into one point or the other. His portrayal takes life when the customers stood and never really shield the youngsters from Lengel’s obnoxious attack, not at all like Sammy who went to bat for what he had faith in. As Sammy left the store, Lengel is seen dealing with the â€Å"sheep† in his place, the individuals who were all the while ready to follow authority regardless of its second thoughts. The last progress at that point happened by then: Sammy understood that battling for what you had faith in would be hard and frequently times would leave you desolate and that since he has separated from himself from his reliance on his folks, he would need to make it out on the world all alone. This change is represented by Sammy remaining in the sweltering summer sun with nobody however the mother who is disappointed at her kids while the others are inside in the solace of the cooled A&P. Seeing Lengel with such an unforgiving articulation additionally made Sammy understand that the world has not been cordial to the elderly person either, and that he must be solid and be how he is simply to endure. He needed to forego different people’s emotions and put his inclinations first. From being a whimsical, hormonally determined spoiled kid, Sammy developed into a dependable man who isn't happy to withdraw from what he puts stock in once he sees foul play being submitted. Like a youngster, he proceeded with his choices and wouldn't be scared by dangers or enthusiastic coercion. However like a little fellow, he despite everything holds his vision and by one way or another had an inclination that the world was much progressively confounded that he thought and that only one out of every odd â€Å"right† thing was remunerated. Supporting what was correct will end up being troublesome in a universe of Lengels who all idea that they were the ones who were correct. If he somehow happened to decline to see foul play and stand up and restrict expert for what he had confidence in each and every time, at that point like his involvement with A&P, he will have no real option except to leave. Either that or he would need to be cruel as was Lengel. It is likewise fascinating to take note of that while Sammy was portraying the story, his folks imagined that it was dismal; yet Sammy himself barely cared about as though he acknowledged what unfolded.

Social Marketing Campaign for Youth Gangs Assignment

Social Marketing Campaign for Youth Gangs - Assignment Example This paper announces that the multiplication of posses is a national and neighborhood issue. The youthful times of posse individuals and coming about individual and aggregate degenerate practices make them a specific national concern. The essential age scope of pack individuals is somewhere in the range of 12 and 24 years, with the normal ages of 17 and 18 years. These are youngsters who ought to concentrate in school and being formed by society to go after their fantasies and highest possibilities. Rather, they are taking part in degenerate and criminal practices. States and neighborhood networks additionally experience a rising frequency of pack enrollment. This paper makes an end that in Atlanta, International Robbing Crew and 30 Deep are two of the biggest packs. They are for the most part engaged with medications and thefts. The writing on the social setting of posse participation contains various logical inconsistencies. Albert Cohen progresses a subculture hypothesis that looks to clarify why the young join packs. Specifically, a pack gives them the chance to have a place, to build up their feeling of manliness, to accomplish something that is â€Å"valuable†, or to battle white collar class society and authority follows the investigation of analyst Erik Erikson to comprehend group participation. Erik Erikson contends that character is a â€Å"developmental phenomenon† formed by the social conditions and inside formative procedures. A social and social foundation that accommodates the personality arrangement procedure and assists young people with accomplishing their human character needs is gainful to a strong charac ter development.

Economy of the Philippines Essay

The Economy of the Philippines is the 43rd biggest on the planet, as indicated by 2011 World Bank measurements and it is likewise one of the developing markets in the world.[24] According to the CIA Factbook, the evaluated 2011 GDP (buying power equality) was 391.1 billion.[5] Goldman Sachs gauges that constantly 2050, it will be the fourteenth biggest economy on the planet, Goldman Sachs additionally remembered the Philippines for its rundown of the Next Eleven economies. HSBC ventures the Philippine economy to turn into the sixteenth biggest economy on the planet, fifth biggest economy in Asia and the biggest economy in the South East Asian area by 2050.[25] Essential fares incorporate semiconductors and electronic items, transport gear, pieces of clothing, copper items, oil based goods, coconut oil, and natural products. Significant exchanging accomplices incorporate the United States, Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Germany, Taiwan, and Thailand. As a recently industrialized nation, the Philippine economy has been progressing from one dependent on farming to one dependent on administrations and assembling. The Philippines is one of the Tiger Cub Economies in Southeast Asia together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Contents| Macroeconomic patterns See likewise: Economy of Asia, Economic history of the Philippines (1973â€1986), Post-EDSA macroeconomic history of the Philippines, and Economic Crisis and Response in the Philippines The Philippine economy has been developing consistently over decades and the International Monetary Fund in 2011 revealed it as the 45th biggest economy on the planet. Anyway its development has been behind that of a considerable lot of its Asian neighbors, the alleged Asian Tigers, nor is it a piece of the Group of 20 countries. Rather it is frequently assembled in a second level of developing markets or of recently industrialized nations. Contingent on the investigator, this subsequent level can pass by the name the Next Eleven or the Tiger Cub Economies. It has not experienced the downturn on the planet economy that started in 2007. A diagram of chosen insights demonstrating patterns in the total national output of the Philippines utilizing information taken from the International Monetary Fund. Creation by area As a recently industrialized nation, the Philippines is as yet an economy with an enormous horticultural division; be that as it may, administrations have come to overwhelm the economy.[citation needed] Much of the modern area depends on handling and gathering activities in the assembling of gadgets and other cutting edge segments, normally from outside worldwide enterprises. Filipinos who get on to workâ€- known as Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWsâ€are a noteworthy supporter of the economy however are not reflected in the underneath sectoral conversation of the household economy. [edit] Agriculture The horticulture area makes up 12% of the GDP and utilizes 33% of the workforce. The sort of action ranges from little resource cultivating and angling to enormous business adventures with huge fare center, for example, major worldwide organizations like Dole Food Company and Del Monte Foods. The Philippines is the world’s biggest maker of coconuts creating 19,500,000 tons in 2009. Coconut creation in the Philippines is commonly moved in medium-sized farms.[30] By 1995, the creation of coconut in the Philippines had encountered a 6.5% yearly development and later outperformed Indonesia in complete yield in the world.[31] The Philippines is additionally the world’s biggest maker of pineapples, with 2,198 thousand metric tons.[32] Rice Production in the Philippines is imperative to the food flexibly in the nation and economy. The nation is the eighth biggest rice maker on the planet, representing 2.8% of worldwide rice production.[33] However, the nation is likewise the w orld’s biggest rice shipper in 2010.[34] Rice is the most significant food crop, a staple food in the majority of the nation. It is delivered widely in Luzon, the Western Visayas, Southern Mindanao, and Central Mindanao. Shipbuilding and fix The Philippines is a significant player in the worldwide shipbuilding industry with shipyards in Subic, Cebu, General Santos City and Batangas.[35][36] It turned into the fourth biggest shipbuilding country in 2010.[37][38] Subic-made payload vessels are presently sent out to nations where delivering administrators are based. South Korea’s Hanjin began creation in Subic in 2007 of the 20 boats requested by German and Greek delivery operators.[39] The country’s shipyards are presently fabricating ships like mass bearers, holder ships and huge traveler ships. General Santos’ shipyard is fundamentally for transport fix and maintenance.[40] Being encircled by waters, the nation has plentiful normal remote ocean ports perfect for improvement as creation, development and fix destinations. On the current working shipyards, two extra shipyards in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan area are being extended to help future locators. It has an immense labor pool of 60,000 affirmed welders that involve the majority of laborers in shipbuilding. In the boat fix division, the Navotas complex in Metro Manila is relied upon to suit 96 vessels for repair.[41]  Automotive The ABS utilized in Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo vehicles are made in the Philippines. Ford,[42] Toyota,[43] Mitsubishi, Nissan and Honda are the most noticeable automakers fabricating vehicles in the country.[citation needed] Kia and Suzuki produce little vehicles in the nation. Isuzu additionally delivers SUVs in the nation. Honda and Suzuki produce bikes in the nation. A 2003 Canadian statistical surveying report anticipated that further interests in this division were required to develop in the next years. Toyota sells the most vehicles in the country.[44] By 2011, China’s Chery Automobile organization is going to construct their get together plant in Laguna, that will serve and fare vehicles to different nations in the district if month to month deals would arrive at 1,000 units.[45]  Aerospace Aviation items in the Philippines are for the most part for the fare advertise and incorporate assembling parts for airplane worked by both Boeing and Airbus. English organization MOOG, is the greatest aviation maker with base in Baguio in the Cordillera district. The organization produces airplane actuators in their assembling office. Another British organization British Aerospace is to open assembling office in southern Philippines for the production of galleys utilized in airplane cabin.[46] In 2011, the complete fare yield of aviation items in the Philippines contacted US $3 billion.[47] Hardware Intel has been in the Philippines for a long time as a significant maker of items, including the Pentium 4 processor. A Texas Instruments plant in Baguio has been working for a long time and is the biggest maker of DSP contributes the world.[48] Texas Instruments’ Baguio plant creates all the chips utilized in Nokia PDAs and 80% of chips utilized in Ericsson mobile phones in the world.[49] Until 2005, Toshiba PCs were delivered in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Directly the Philippine plant’s center is in the creation of hard plate drives. Printer producer Lexmark has a production line in Mactan in the Cebu district.  Mining and extraction The nation is rich with mineral and geothermal vitality assets. In 2003, it created 1931 MW of power from geothermal sources (27% of all out power creation), second just to the United States,[50] and an ongoing revelation of gaseous petrol saves in the Malampaya oil fields off the island of Palawan is now being utilized to produce power in three gas-controlled plants. Philippine gold, nickel, copper and chromite stores are among the biggest on the planet. Other significant minerals incorporate silver, coal, gypsum, and sulfur. Noteworthy stores of earth, limestone, marble, silica, and phosphate exist. About 60% of all out digging creation are represented by non-metallic minerals, which contributed considerably to the industry’s consistent yield development somewhere in the range of 1993 and 1998, with the estimation of creation becoming 58%. In 1999, in any case, mineral creation declined 16% to $793 million.[citation needed] Mineral fares have by and large eased back since 19 96. Driven by copper cathodes, Philippine mineral fares added up to $650 million out of 2000, scarcely up from 1999 levels. Low metal costs, high creation costs, absence of interest in framework, and a test to the new mining law have added to the mining industry’s generally decline.[citation needed] The business bounced back beginning in late 2004 when the Supreme Court maintained the legality of a significant law allowing remote responsibility for mining companies.[citation needed] However, the DENR presently can't seem to favor the reconsidered Department Administrative Order (DAO) that will give the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA), the particular piece of the 1994 Mining Act that permits 100% outside responsibility for mines.[citation needed] Offshoring and re-appropriating As indicated by an IBM Global Location Trends Annual Report, as of December 2010[update] the Philippines has outperformed India as the world head in business process outsourcing.[51][52] most of the main ten BPO firms of the United States work in the Philippines.[citation needed] Total occupations in the business developed to 100,000 and add up to incomes were set at $960 million for 2005. In 2012, BPO area work swelled to more than 700,000 individuals and is adding to a developing white collar class. BPO offices are found primarily in Metro Manila and Cebu City albeit other provincial regions, for example, Baguio, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Clark Freeport Zone, Dagupan, Davao City, Legazpi, Dumaguete, Lipa, Iloilo City, and CamSur are presently being advanced and created for BPO activities. Call focuses started in the Philippines as plain suppliers of email reaction and overseeing administrations and is currently a significant wellspring of utilize

McCain and Obama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

McCain and Obama - Essay Example Coming up next is a graph which pinpoints the up-and-comers on issues which rotate around this political race. Each man strolls into the political race with a gigantic measure of ability and unique perspectives. Feels that clinical and individual social insurance bills are the motivation behind why individuals are petitioning for individual chapter 11; trusts in all inclusive human services; would command that all youngsters get medicinal services; would make a national protection program with the goal that individuals and private companies could buy moderate protection Supports bringing charges down to support private ventures; would cut the little corporate expense form from 35-25%;supprts giving tax reductions to organizations that put resources into hardware and innovation; needs a perpetual assessment credit for innovative work Supports charge motivating forces for organizations that keep occupations in the United States;believes that the NAFTA Agreement ought to be re-negociated;would put more cash in joblessness insurance;would give government cash to the states hit hardest by the lodging emergency;

Owens Struggle with Temptation - Literature Essay Samples

Owen Meany is a character who commands attention, not only because of his small stature and high-pitched voice, but also because of his blind and undying faith in God. Yet, even with his God-like qualities, Owen’s attraction to John’s mother, Tabitha, and cousin, Hester, continue to make Owen human, despite his belief that he is an instrument of God. In John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, the similarities between Tabitha and Hester represent Owen’s lifelong battle with temptation. One major similarity between Tabitha and Hester is the fact that they are both important parts of John’s life. In some ways, they represent the underlying jealousy that Owen has for Johnny. Owen, although he has two parents, is not nearly as loved as Johnny is by his mother. Because of this, Owen is constantly craving the attention of Tabitha who mothers him the way he never is by his own parents. Owen’s selfishness when it comes to Tabitha is seen later on when he refuses to part with the dummy that had belonged to her before she died. Similarly, Owen also experiences jealousy towards Johnny’s relationship with his cousins, who he frequently visits at Sawyer Depot. This can be see in the lines, â€Å"Owen was extremely irritable regarding the time I spent with my cousins†¦I thought he was jealous† (60). Owen and Hester’s relationship later on continues to leave Johnny isolated, as Owen often spends the night at her apartment rather than with h im. Owen’s selfishness when it comes to Tabitha and Hester represent a human side to him unlike his usual purity and almost god-like manor. Aside from being major parts of Johnny’s life, the two women are also similar in that they are both very attractive. Tabitha is often described as beautiful which can be seen in the lines, â€Å"Tabby Wheelwright looked like a starlet—lush, whimsical, easy to talk into anything† (38). Owen himself admits to finding Johnny’s mother attractive on several occasions. Often compared to a feline, Tabitha is not only beautiful, but manipulative as well. While she never purposely manipulates other people, they seem to be almost mesmerized by her charm. Her subtle ability to control people can be seen in the lines, â€Å"She had such a sweet-tempered disposition, it was impossible to stay angry with her. She never appeared to be as assertive as she was† (15). In a way, Owen accidently killing her represented his attempt to escape from his temptation. However, this is never truly achieved because of his lust for Hester later on. Like Tabitha, Hester is also v ery attractive. Even at a young age, Hester seems to radiate a sense of sexuality that gives her the nickname â€Å"Hester the Molester.† She contrasts Owen in that unlike his unrelenting child-like appearance, she appears to be an overly mature girl even as a child. Both Johnny and Owen find her very attractive and both lust for her. Because she is so aware of the affect she has on men, she is able to manipulate others in a way that is reminiscent of Tabitha’s subtle manipulation. The two women continue to draw out the sexual desires in Owen throughout his life. Another similarity between Hester and Tabitha is that they are both involved in a scandal. Johnny’s mother is often criticized for having a child before she is married. The fact that the father turns out to be Reverend Merrill represents an even bigger scandal in that it is as if Tabitha had seduced one of God’s workers. This can be seen again in the way Owen, who thinks of himself as an instrument of God, seemed to lust for her as well. His acknowledgement of her attractiveness is seen when he says, â€Å"Your mother is so sexy, I keep forgetting she’s anyone’s mother† (38). In one incident, Owen goes into Tabitha’s room and falls asleep in her bed, an action that represents his lust for her as well as her willingness to allow it. Although she remains a conservative and modest character throughout the novel, her scandalous past continues to come back up. Yet despite Tabitha’s illegitimate pregnancy, the most scandalous character of th e novel is Hester. Even at a young age, she is suspected of having sexual encounters with many men, which can be seen when it is said, â€Å"Hester was in much need of rescuing from the wildness within her† (265). Later on when she and Owen are suspected of seeing each other, Johnny continues to wonder whether or not they ever sleep together. The mystery and scandal that surround each woman represent the temptation that Owen continues to struggle with throughout his life. In A Prayer for Owen Meany, Owen’s struggle to remain sinless is often tempted by his lust for the characters of Tabitha and Hester. They help Irving to cast Owens battle with temptation in a particularly stark light, and to alert the reader to one of the most important complexities of the apparently principled Owens narrative.

Taxing Unhealthy Foods to Overcome - Free Essay Example

Obesity has been a rising issue in the United States in the last couple of decades. It is estimated that approximately 34% of adults and 15-20% of children and adolescents in the U.S. are obese. (Mitchell, 2011) In order to combat these rising numbers, there have been multiple propositions on how people can prevent becoming obese. Of course, programs have been utilized nationwide such as Lets Move, a program started by Mitchell Obama that targets school aged children. This program primarily encourages children to exercise daily in order to stay healthy and avoid becoming overweight.In order to become healthy, an individual must not only consistently exercise, but they must also eat healthy. By eating a healthier diet and drinking more water, people are able to avoid trans-fat or saturated fat that can cause them to become obese. In America, there is an overconsumption of junk food and unhealthy food as a whole because it is: convenient, relatively cheap, and tasty. Therefore, more people are consuming this type of food and becoming obese. One solution to reduce obesity, due to the overconsumption of junk food, would be to tax unhealthy foods in order to reduce their consumption. Americans should tax their unhealthy foods because it would encourage consumers to purchase healthier food, reduce the risk of diseases that are prevalent among people with obesity, and allow the future generation to live a healthier lifestyle. People with obesity are at a higher risk for other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. According to the CDC, more than 610,000people die from heart disease in the United States which means that is 1 in every 4 people. (CDC, 2015) By reducing the risk of obesity, people are able to avoid these cardiovascular diseases and reduce the mortality rates. Leading scientists and various researchers are now suggesting that by directing the attention to food consumption as a way to tackle the obesity epidemic, individuals will be able to become accustomed to eating healthier (Franck, 2013). The main idea behind the tax would be to allow consumers to choose a healthier food option because it is cheaper than junk food. Not only would the consumer benefit from the healthier option, but they will be able to save money on the purchase. This would also encourage a healthier lifestyle which can be passed on to future generations. On the other hand, individuals argue that taxing junk food is unnecessary because all people really need is to be educated on healthier food options. Education is an important tacticto improve peoples food choices, but it is a known fact that most people would choose cost over nourishment. Some parents are aware of the types of foods their children should be consuming, but because those types are foods are expensive to purchase they choose the cheaper option; this cheaper option can later affect the health of their children and even put them at risk for serious diseases. Of course, people would argue that food is food, and anything can be eaten in moderation but living a healthier lifestyle can improve the quality of life people live. This can also affect the amount of years people get to live and how they will be living their life. Although junk food offers some nutritional value, it mainly leads people to overeat because it is low in the necessary nutrition people need to carry out their lives. Moreover, this type of food carries empty calories which means it has no nutritional value and carries only unnecessary substances into their body. This tax is more than just making the government money. Some arguments address the fact that people in lower income homes would be greatly affected. This tax would not allow them to purchase the necessary amount of food needed in order to avoid starvation. It issaid to be unfair and citizens are stating they are not in favor of paying more taxes to the government. However, taxing junk food is bigger than the revenue it will entail or the government involvement, it helps creates a healthier future. If people with lower income levels eat unhealthy foods their whole lives, they will end up paying more in health care costs due to their susceptibility to costly health defects. This tax is a step towards building healthier individuals that are less susceptible to diseases. It would not only reduce the amount of unhealthy food consumption in America but reduce the costs of treating medical conditions and it will be adding additional revenue to the economy. By implementing a tax on unhealthy foods, the government can utilize this money to treat the health care costs of obesity. Therefore, the government can then lower the cost of healthier food options. By allowing junk food to be taxed, people are reducing their risk of becoming obese. As a result, they are less susceptible to becoming sick and avoiding unnecessary treatment by the health care system. In 2008, the medical costs associated with obesity and obesity-related illnesses totaled US$147 billion in the United States. (Finkelstein, 2009) Obesity is becoming an epidemic and it is due to peoples nutritional choices. Several other countries have already began taxing several food items in order to improve their public health. For example, in Hungary, a $.04 tax has been put in place on products with high fat, salt, and sugar in order to help cover the cost of health care. (Cheney, 2011) This has become beneficial not only for the Hungarian economy but also for the quality of life of their citizens. It has been proven before that taxing something unfavorable can reduce the consumption of it. For example, the 2014 Surgeons General Report suggested to increase taxes in order to reduce the use of tobacco products. The report stated that the large tax increased prices in tobacco products which actually depleted the use of tobacco each time it was implemented. (HHS, 2014) In this report, it stated that taxing cigarettes was one of the most effective tobacco control intervention and reduced smoking especially among the younger population. (HHS, 2014) If taxing cigarettes was effective to lower an unhealthy behavior, then taxing unhealthy foods can also have a similar result. People will choose to be healthy not only for the health benefits but also for the cost to feed themselves and their families. Overall, people should strongly consider taxing unhealthy foods not only to discourage the consumption of these foods, but to reduce the obesity rates in America. This tax can be the first step towards reducing the obesity epidemic that has been rising in the past couple of decades. This would encourage consumers to purchase healthy foods more often and be able to help future generations live a health ier lifestyle. Ultimately, opposing arguments against the tax should reconsider the benefits this would bring to the lives of many. Finally, this tax would encourage the consumption of healthier food options, improve their overall quality of life, and allow them to continue these habits for generations to come therefore reducing obesity rates.

The Philosophy of Avenue Q Lyrics - An Analysis

In traditional Punch and Judy shows, the anti-hero Punch insults, pesters, and beats his fellow characters, much to the delight of the audience. Punch and Judy shows were a glorious display of political incorrectness. Londons Covent Garden features a large plaque on the walls outside of St. Pauls church announcing it as the location of the the famous Punch and Judy Shows performed during the 1600s. Thats right, Shakespeares plays competed with puppet shows. Today, the tradition of puppets delivering obnoxiousness and social commentary continues with Avenue Q. The Origin of Avenue Q The music and lyrics of Avenue Q were created by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. The two young composers met in the late 90s while involved in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. Together, they have written songs for Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. However, they wanted to create a puppet-friendly show that was strictly for adults. With the help of playwright Jeff Whitty and director Jason Moore, Avenue Q was born—and has been a hit Broadway show since 2003. Sesame Street for Grown Ups Avenue Q could not exist without Sesame Street, the long running childrens show that teaches kids letters, numbers, and practical life-lessons. The premise of Avenue Q is that adolescents grow up without learning the truth of adult life. Like the puppet protagonist Princeton, many new grown-ups experience anxiety and confusion when entering the Real World. Avenue Q offers many practical life-lessons, too. School / College Doesnt Prepare You for Real Life With songs like What Do You Do with a B.A. in English? and I Wish I Could Go Back to College, Avenue Q lyrics portray higher education as an extended stay in the carefree land of adolescence. Princetons main conflict is that he is drifting through life, trying to discover his true purpose. One would hope that college would establish this sense of purpose (or at least a sense of self-sufficiency), but the puppet croons to the contrary: I cant pay the bills yetCause I have no skills yet.The world is a big scary place. The ensemble of characters, both human and monster, wistfully recall the days when they lived in a dormitory with a meal plan, a time when, if things got too difficult, they could just drop a class or seek an academic advisors guidance. This criticism of the education system is nothing new. Philosopher John Dewey believed that public education should proactively prepare students with useful critical thinking skills rather than just facts from books. Modern day critics such as John Taylor Gatto further explore the failures of compulsory learning. His book, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, explains why many people feel the same social/intellectual impotence lyrically expressed in Avenue Q. The Freedom to Find Our Own Purpose Princeton decides that he should seek his purpose in life. At first his quest for meaning is guided by superstition. He finds a penny from the year he was born and considers it a supernatural sign. However, after a couple a false-start relationships and dead-end jobs, he realizes that discovering ones purpose and identity is a difficult, never-ending process (but an invigorating process if one chooses to make it so). Steering away from lucky pennies and mystical signs, he becomes more self-reliant by the musicals conclusion. Princetons resolution to find his own path would be smiled upon by existential philosophers.The main component of existentialism is the assumption that humans are free to determine their own sense of personal fulfillment. They are not bound by gods, destiny, or biology. When Princeton laments, I dont even know why Im alive, his girlfriend Kate Monster replies, Who does, really? A rather existential response. There Are No Selfless Deeds Perhaps there are good deeds, according to Avenue Q, but there seem to be no purely selfless deeds. When Princeton decides to generate money for Kates School for Monsters, he does so because it feels good to help others. But he also hopes to win her back, thereby rewarding himself. The lyrics from Money Song explain: Every time you do good deedsYoure also serving your own needs.When you help othersYou cant help helping yourself. This bit of wisdom would please Ayn Rand, author of controversial classics such as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Rands concept of objectivism specifies that ones purpose should be the pursuit of happiness and self-interest. Therefore, Princeton and the other characters are morally justified in performing good deeds, so long as they do so for their own benefit. Schadenfreude: Happiness at the Misfortune of Others If youve ever felt better about your life after watching the miserable guests on a Jerry Springer rerun, then youve probably experienced schadenfreude. One of the Avenue Q characters is Gary Coleman, a real-life child star whose irresponsible family squandered his millions. In the show, Coleman explains that his personal tragedies make others feel good. Ironically, it becomes a virtue (or at least a public service) to be a wretched failure or a victim of calamity. (By the way, this would would be frowned upon by Ayn Rand). Characters such as Coleman and the recently homeless puppet, Nicky, improve the self-esteem of the mediocre masses. Basically, these lyrics make you feel better about being a loser! Heterosexual puppet Nicky tries to help the sexually repressed puppet Rod come out of the closet. He sings: If you were queerI’d still be hereYear after yearBecause you’re dear to me. A bit more devious (in a good way) is the song â€Å"Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist.† During this number, the characters proclaim that â€Å"everyone makes judgments based on race,† and that if we accepted this â€Å"sad but true† premise society could â€Å"live in harmony.† The song’s argument might be specious, but the audience’s self-deprecating laughter throughout the musical number is very telling. Everything in Life Is Only For Now â€Å"Spiritual† books such as Eckhart Tolle’s have been asking readers to focus on the present, to embrace â€Å"The Power of Now.† Does this message anger historians? Either way, this seemingly modern concept stems from ancient times. Long ago, Buddhists described the impermanence of existence. Avenue Q follows the Buddhist path in its final song, â€Å"For Now.† These cheerful Avenue Q lyrics remind the audience that all things must pass: Each time you smileIt’ll only last a while. Life may be scaryBut it’s only temporary. In the end, despite its zaniness and crude jokes, Avenue Q delivers a sincere philosophy: We must appreciate joy and endure any sadness we currently experience while acknowledging that all is fleeting. Learning this lesson can makes life seem all the more precious. Why Puppets? Why use puppets to deliver the message? As Lopez explained in a New York Times interview, â€Å"Theres something about our generation that resists actors bursting into song on the stage. But when puppets do it, we believe it.† Whether it’s Punch and Judy, Kermit the Frog, the cast of Avenue Q, puppets make us laugh. And while we are laughing, we usually wind up learning at the same time. If a regular human were on stage singing a preachy song, many folks would probably ignore the message. The creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000 once explained, â€Å"You can say things as a puppet that you can’t get away with as a human.† That was as true for MST3K as it was for the Muppets. It was true for the bombastically cruel Punch, and it is eloquently true for the ever-insightful show Avenue Q.