Themis the Goddess of Justice

In Greek mythology, Themis was the personification of divine or natural law, order, and justice. Her name means justice. She was worshipped as a goddess in Athens. She was also credited with wisdom, foresight, and prophecy (her sons name, Prometheus, means foresight). She was acquainted with secret mysteries unknown even to Zeus. Themis was a protector of the oppressed and a promoter of hospitality. Law and Order The law and order that Themis venerated was in the sense of natural order and what was proper, especially as is related to family or the community. Such customs were perceived as natural in origin, though they would today be seen as cultural or social constructs. In Greek, themis referred to divine or natural law, while nomoi to laws created by people and communities. Themis Imagery Themis was depicted as a beautiful woman, sometimes holding a pair of scales in one hand and a sword or cornucopia in the other. A similar image was used for the Roman goddess Iustitia (Justitia or Lady Justice). Justice is blind. The depiction of Themis or Lady Justice blindfolded is more common in the 16th century and modern times. Blindness represents fairness and impartiality as well as the gift of prophecy. Those who see the future do not experience the present with mundane vision, which distracts from oracular second sight. Family Unit Themis was one of the Titans, a daughter of Uranus (the heavens) and Gaia (the earth). She was a consort or wife of Zeus after Metis. Their offspring were the Fates (the Moirai, Moerae, or Parcae) and the Hours (Horae) or Seasons. Some myths also identify as their offspring Astraea (another personification of justice), nymphs of the Eridanus River, and the Hesperides, or nymphs of sunset. Some myths propose for her husband the Titan Iapetus, with whom Themis was the mother of Prometheus (foresight). She gave him the knowledge that helped him to escape punishment by Zeus. In some myths, however, the mother of Prometheus was Clymene, instead. In early Greek depictions, another goddess of justice, Dike, would carry out the decisions of the Fates. Said to be one of the daughters of Themis, Dikes fateful responsibilities were above the influence even of the gods. Oracular Worship Themis followed her mother Gaia in occupying the Oracle at Delphi. In some traditions, Themis originated the Oracle. She eventually turned over the Delphic office either to Apollo or her sister, Phoebe. Themis shared a temple at Rhamnous with Nemesis, because those who ignore divine or natural laws must face comeuppance. Nemesis is the goddess of divine retribution against those who committed hubris (arrogance, excessive pride, and defiance of Olympus) in rejecting law and order. Themis in Myth In Ovids telling, Themis helped Deucalion and Pyrrha, the first human beings, learn how to re-populate the earth after the great worldwide flood. In the story of Perseus, the hero was refused help from Atlas, who had been warned by Themis that Zeus would try to steal the golden apples of the Hesperides.

Rhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr s Letter...

Possibly the three most important components a writer must understand are audience, genre, and rhetorical situation. When reading critically we become acquainted with these concepts therefore become better writers ourselves. While learning about rhetorical writing and composition we have analyzed Billy Collins â€Å" Commencement Address at Choate- Rosemary Hall† , Martin Luther King Jr’s â€Å"letter from Birmingham Jail† and Lloyd Bitzer’s essay on â€Å"Rhetorical Situation†. In this paper I will analyze and make connections between the concepts of audience, genre and rhetorical situation in connection to the fore-mentioned readings. In doing so I will focus on how each used these concepts as means to communicate their main ideas and purpose.†¦show more content†¦King uses strong rhetoric efforts and appeals to his primary audience with tone, knowledge, and religion. Dr. King’s tone in this letter varies but it was all done w ith a specific purpose- to move his audience. He starts the letter with a very calm and reflective tone. He states â€Å" Since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticism are sincerely set forth, I want to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms.† By addressing them in a calm manner he is easing them into his argument with respect making them more likely to engage. His tone shifts from calm to passionate and reflective. He states that â€Å"we know through painful experiences that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.† His tone is meant to demonstrate the struggle African Americans face. Through his passionate stand he is urging the audience to understand the main reason behind his efforts, hopefully moving them to action. He is also standing up for them as a leader working insufferably for change. Doctor King’s tone is incredibly passionate and outraged when he states â€Å"I wish you had comm ended the negro sit inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation†. I specially enjoy when he used a direct tone to point to his primary audience what they missed in their initial statement. Doctor KingShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr s Letter From Birmingham Jail1831 Words   |  8 PagesPersuasive writing is most effective when all three rhetorical appeals, Logos, Pathos, and Ethos, come together to form an indisputable argument. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X are two of the most influential figures of the past few decades; similarly, their work is summarized as some of the most persuasive and controversial of all time. The audience of both of their pieces, â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† and â€Å"The Ballot or the Bullet† include oppressed African Americans and the white oppressorsRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Martin Luther King Jr. s Letter From A Birmingham Jail873 Words   |  4 PagesAfter criticism from eight Alabama clergymen for his nonviolent demonstrations, Martin Luther King Jr. was compelled to enlighten them on the current issues plaguing the African American community. During his confinement in a Birmingham jail, King wrote Letter from a Birmingham Jail to address most of the clergymen s concerns about his protest. In his letter, King emphasized why his actions were not unwise or untimely and explained that now was the perfect moment to act. His studies and sermonsRead MoreLetter From A Birmingham Jail972 Words   |  4 PagesRhetorical Analysis: Letter from a Birmingham Jail Racism is part of America’s history. 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King’s eloquent appeal to the logical, emotional, and most notably, moral and spiritual side of his audience, serves to make â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail† one of the most moving and persuasive literary pieces of the 20thRead Moreâ€Å"Letters from a Birmingham Jail† Analysis of the Rhetorical Appeals1182 Words   |  5 Pagesemotion in the audience that compels them to leap out of their seats and take action. Martin Luther King Jr. attempted to do this when he wrote an open letter while in his jail cell after a peaceful debate against segregation. His lettered response was guided at a statement by eight white Alabama clergymen saying that segregation should be fought in court and not on the streets. King uses a combination o f three rhetorical appeals to accomplish his rhetor; ethical, logical and emotional. The three appealsRead MoreAnalysis of Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail962 Words   |  4 Pagesintangible, it is still necessary. Some forms of inspiration come as passionate love while others appeal as injustice. Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail was a response to A Call for Unity by eight white clergymen. His inspiration for writing the letter was the clergymens unjust proposals and the letter allowed him to present his rebuttal. Martin Luther King Jr. effectively crafted his counter argument by first directly addressing his audience, the clergymen, and then using logosRead MoreCivil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreaus Letter From A Birmingham Jail1605 Words   |  7 Pagesand The Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and taking a closer look at their rhetorical devices and strategy’s. In Civil disobedience by Henry David Thoreau shows us the need to prioritize some one’s wellbeing over what the law says. American laws are criticized mostly over slavery and the Mexican-American war. In Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† was written in response to a letter written by clergymen criticizing the actions of Dr. King and theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail1052 Words   |  5 Pagesracial discrimination is? A Rhetorical Analysis of Letter From Birmingham Jail It is known to all that Martin Luther King is a famous person in America, who strongly goes against the racial discrimination all the time. Here, in this letter, Letter from Birmingham Jail, it is easy for us to realize that racial discrimination appears and the non-violence action is still serious at that time. As a matter of fact, this letter is coming from the people in the Birmingham jail, stating their inner thoughtsRead More Martin Luther Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail Essay1241 Words   |  5 PagesRhetorical Analysis of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail In his essay Letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. disproves the assumptions of people that believe racism is acceptable when he compares the maltreatment of blacks to the inhumane treatment of the Jews by Hitler. King establishes a relationship with his audience by connecting on a level that is larger than the exploitation of African Americans rights. He forces his readers to think aboutRead MoreCritical Analysis: Letter from Birmingham Jail1191 Words   |  5 PagesCritical Analysis Essay â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† In arguing, writers use different techniques to effectively convey their message to their intended audience. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from Birmingham Jail was a response to A Call for Unity by eight white clergymen in which King’s presence in Birmingham and his methods of public demonstration were questioned. King’s letter was not only a response to his presence in Birmingham, but he also used the opportunity to address the

Is the Dream Act Constitutional free essay sample

The Dream Act is meant to keep upstanding citizens who are in the country illegally to gain access to citizenship with a form of penance. They can elect to go to higher education schools or join our militaries for at least two years. Will we one day be rudely awakened by this dream that has turned into a nightmare? There are two sides to every position and both have valid points that should be understood, studied and processed. Many illegal’s come to our wonderful country to find opportunity, a better life and themselves; in this wonderful country we call The United States of America. This is what America was founded on but yet with a growing immigration problem and lack of opportunities for actual citizens of our fair country has come to light and placed a hold on this bill. Can we handle a rush for citizenship, which would incur expenses and lack of security at our borders; will the loopholes destroy the actual intention of the bill? To every bill and every law there are those opposed and there are those who are for, which side of the coin will you be on? The Dream act is nothing more than an amnesty bill designed to get Latino votes. We will write a custom essay sample on Is the Dream Act Constitutional or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page President Obama pushes Dream Act, immigration reform to keep worlds best and brightest in America (NY Daily News, May 2011). The level of requirements to qualify as intelligent/talented are substandard; the highest level of education needed for the Dream Act is a GED (The Dream Act Bill, S. 952, May 2011). The bar needs to be set higher if we truly want the ‘best and brightest’ in America, not lower it. There needs to be a test requirement with a grade limit that must be met for anyone to qualify for the Dream Act. Special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) authorize U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to expedite the application and naturalization process for current members of the U. S. armed forces and recently discharged members. Generally, qualifying military service includes service with one of the following branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, certain components of the National Guard and the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. In addition, spouses of members of the U. S. armed forces who are or will be deployed may be eligible for expedited naturalization. Other provisions of the law also allow certain spouses to complete the naturalization process abroad (Immigration and Nationality Act). Military service provides a chance for someone to earn their citizenship and not be just handed to them. Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill is available to an active duty service member that pays $1200. 00 into the program. As of October 1, 2011 at full time rate, 9 credit hours or more, a veteran will receive $1,473. 00 a month while they are attending school (VA. gibill. gov). If they participate in the buy up program, for an additional $600. 00 they will receive an additional $150. 0 a month while they are in school. There already are programs out there that works for those that want to earn their citizenship and pay for college. The American dream needs to be earned not given away or sold for votes. There is also the matter of employment and public benefits. The United States is already near ten percent unemployment while having an overstock of human resources. Many educated citizens who are more than qualified in their perspective fields cannot find work. Why would we want to bring in more people if there are not enough jobs for the citizens we already have. There would be no increase in productivity since there are no positions for these new citizens. All we would have created is a higher demand on the government payouts for the unemployed. There will also be a huge potential to increase costs for the government not only with unemployment, but medical and food stamps. The ratio of intelligent applicants to qualifying family members for sponsorship is also severely unbalanced. The fact that not only are we bringing in people and paying for their education when there are no jobs available, and allowing them to bring in their family members means a never ending chain of overpopulation will begin. How are the already struggling taxpayers going to fund not only the education costs of these dreamers, but also the increased demand on the government services budget which is also already strained. We must also take into consideration the highly qualified Americans who will have to come out of high school only to find that tuition costs have skyrocketed, but that they now have to compete with immigrants who do not have to pay anything for school. The American citizens will have to work full time jobs just to be able to afford school and have half the time for studying where as the dreamers who will only need to show up to class. Until there is a surplus of available to educated people in this country, there should not be any more people allowed in. One simple solution to this problem might be to bring in innovators, people who create more jobs. Until the United States can bring its economic crisis into balance, giving away money to educate people for jobs that do not exist is the worst possible solution. There are many pros and cons to be argued regarding the Dream Act as it is extremely controversial; however, looking from the point of view of the young man or woman who grew up in this country as an â€Å"illegal†, the pros tend to outweigh the cons. The Dream Act, which stands for, the development, relief and education for alien minors, would permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the U. S. to apply for temporary legal status and to eventually obtain permanent legal status and become eligible for U. S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the U. S. military(Dream Act 2011). Proponents of the legislation suggest that children should not be punished for the choices made by their parents. In a recent state of the union address President Obama weighs in with his opinion of the benefits of the Dream Act, â€Å"I am prepared to work with Republicans and Democrats to protect our borders, enforce our laws and address the millions of undocumented workers who are now living in the shadows. I know that debate will be difficult. I know it will take time. But tonight, let’s agree to make that effort. And let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who could be staffing our research labs or starting a new business, who could be further enriching this nation†(B. Obama 2011). Some of the main hot button issues related to this topic are: education, jobs, economy and public benefits. In an already depressed economy one might argue that there is no reason to further burden this country with illegals, that they are a strain on the economy, there are already too few jobs for American citizens, and that schools are already over-crowded. On the other hand, with the strict guidelines of the Dream Act, the young men and women who are eligible for this benefit must prove that they are willing to work hard and be an upstanding citizen. This Act even goes as far as demanding that the applicant be of good moral character. The competition in the job market will give perspective employers a larger field of qualified applicants to choose from. A recent UCLA study estimates that between $1. 4 trillion and $3. trillion in taxable income would be generated for the economy over a 40 year period based upon estimates ranging between 825,000 and 2. 1 million potential Dream Act beneficiaries successfully obtaining resident status through the legislation.