Allow Me to Elaborate

Blogging has always been something that I've found too haughty for the likes of myself. However, once I humbled myself to the idea that this process was to be part of my pathway to enlightenment I resigned myself that this walk through the confines of my mind would benefit my soul and my mental. So I've decided to use this instrument and exercise a muscle that requires a little less weight and more reflection.

RIPPLEvision used to be known as HQmicah, why for whatever reason I thought that a catchy blog title is beyond me for the time being. Seems a bit pompous to name a blog after oneself. Just kind of screams that I found my name so important as to attract the masses by itself. There's love in my name and power; do not misinterpret, but to have flash and no fire is not enough for me anymore. The idea of High Quality can go a long way, which is why I've established the idea of envisioning a rippling approach for those I meet throughout my journey which sooner than later will be in HQ. Hence; RIPPLEvision.

This blog will comprise a place for me to explain what I've seen, realized, and been astounded by in the form of rhetoric. Poetry, speech, essay, and perhaps the informal rant or two are all fair game. Ultimately, I'm a little uneasy with sharing so much of myself on here but tis' the season after all. Go forth and ripple my friends.

A Man's Note to Women

A Man’s Note to Women

Women of the world

It’s an honor to serve next to you

Few men have allowed you to receive

Anything but fleas

And the young boys who were Romeo

All they do is come and go

And that’s a figure of speech.

This is my plea

That you find a man on one knee

And that he brings you release

The sins of your fathers

Have wounded you daughters

And to think that you hardly know your worth

But I’ll tell you

You are worth more than the finest resources of the earth

But since men neglect respect for you and those

Lets just agree that you are our universe and future

Each of you are rare

But allow me to explain what I mean

You are beautiful

Not just after you’ve done your hair

The designer clothes you wear

Or the makeup on your lovely

Oh so pure face

Of which the only thing that belongs on it

Is a smile

Women you belong to no one

Continue to shine under this sun

Or another

Don’t be put down by this man

Or his brother.

Adults of the Night

adults of the night

Bombarded with grenades and bullets

Projectile dooms

Children of the night

Dreams of freedom

But never leave the womb

Destruction always looms.

People of the light

Only some will star the night:

And here I stand

Birthed from poverty

Life’s my affinity

Death’s my humility.

How must my spine align to sprout wings

When the world laments words and sings

But my mind has corridors of metaphors

I don’t know what I’m living for

But my purpose is to make my soul rhyme

With my mind

Over matter

That’s a matter of fact

And fact ruins fiction

But my mind is imaginative

So perhaps possible fiction.

RIP

RIP

Standard Rest In Peace

We Know

Prayers to Rewind it Please

To bring you back

Words Rain in place

Of the things I never did

I’m Rapid In Pace

To outrun this sorrow

Pictures Research In Progress

As to remember our past

Songs Repeat in Pending

Not one consoles my soul

Death Resistence is Perilous

But that’s the beauty of life

You Rise in Peace

May angels Accept you

Sinners

Sinners

Yes Jesus loves me

Yes Jesus Loves me

Yes Jesus loves me

But do we love him back

Back like the painful stripes he took on his back

When our first thought is never defend but attack

That’s a fact in the matter without lack.

We give into temptations did, does, and do

You knew if you were in the circe that weed would eventually rotate around to you

If we take in ectasy and I can get her layin next me

Theres a very high chance that she’ll be havin sex with me

What I didn’t know was that the drug was laced

And I was one breath away from losing Gods grace in thee

But this girl was sexy as can be

Little did I know I wasn't wrapped so I unwrapped a package of H-I-V

So busy worrying about money, power, and respect

Bet you forgot today was your mom’s birthday, damn I shoulda checked

Or that guy who stole your girl in the first case

Revenge was the plan so your stormed over to his place

How bout that time you were walking past the lady who got mugged in front of 7/11

But you just looked away like it was 9/11

See watching sin is just as bad as taking part in it

You can live a good life but you still a sinner however you spin it

So now you're stuck in this tug of war with your future; what the fuck

Was thinking who needs Satan when you can self destruct.

See you say you're on the straight and narrow bible with it

But you can’t be cause you got your plans, hands, and desires in it.

I promise you the course God has for you is very real

However, you’ll never drive it when your wrestling over the steering wheel

Every time we sin and ask forgiveness God still leans over with a kiss

How do we figure we confess it with our tongue but our lifestyle is atheist.

See when it comes down to it when sinning a million times seven

An apology in you moment of desperation won’t get you into heaven.

Most of us don’t study for tests till the very last day

And you have the nerve to reach heaven the exact same way.

So many different gods

Your get me down to the right size god

That dirty magazine apple to my eye God

That Heathen music on my Ipod God

The She God the He God the all about me God

See we look out and wonder why we can’t see god

But look deep down inside you; realize you want to be God

See its time for a change

Time for old boys to grow in the mane

Stop imitatin what you see in the insane

Stop saying you’re an activist when all you do is complain.

See its time to make a change

A greater change than any black president could ever do

Its time to be the change don’t let the world change you.

Together

Together

Where he walks my flowers bloom

She’s the rain on my lawn too

He’s the abscess on my lip

She’s the splinter in my fingertip

But I still love you, who could do without you

And who can be without you

Shes the sea I’m swimming in

He’s the sun that kissed my skin

Sometimes I don’t know where we began

Somewhere between now and then

Aren’t we just a site for sore eyes

We go perfect like Moon and sky

We danced all night damn didn’t we

No music ever stopped you and me

I will love you forever

I will love you forever

I’d steal and kill for you ball and chain

Behind bars we’d still remain

Without wood we kindle our flame

Ashes to ashes, together we fade away

Obesity

Obesity

If you don’t control your eating habits, Your eating habits will control you

We tell ourselves lies to rationalize orderin a number 1 through 11

King size this and that when the real king, is sizing me up and I’m wishin there was still another size up

From king size.

My love handles hang over and kids hang from them like monkey bars

On a playground my belly is the trampoline, don’t ask me to chicken fight

On the balance beam when I’m afraid to step on the triple beam.

See these stretch marks are truths that my body is confused at what to eat and what’s useless, but I use food to satisfy my gluttonous excuses.

Please pull thru as I put my body in drive, I still sit motionless as if weighed down

Well of course with all this excess weight and baggage that it makes my mind not only my body grows weary.

I mean I’m heavy so it takes awhile to move forward backward side to side

I look at people inside not worryin about their outsides, and they can do that.

Well cuz they’re skinny.

Anyways as I pull thru 109 mph that’s meals per hour in the fast food lane

Not worryin about the traffic that’ll be flowin out later, because I’m used to waitin for it

On the toilet bowl hater, my body is a junkyard when I should

Treat it like a temple.

Now I’ve seen fat people, when I look in the mirror I pass as 3 people that are fat

Now the mirror she ain’t good to me. Never hidin the truth nothing less than ruth and when I lay down part of me still touches the roof.

Now realizing that gluttony is Satan’s way of holdin me back causin' heart attacks feel so taxin' after every step its time for some super lax, chocolate flavored preferably.

This gluttonous fool who kneels down before you lord…I think I’m on my knees haven’t felt em in years…Any who Lord I am gluttonous and I’m guilty of lovin mommas secret recipe and everyone else’s. 

Like every time I get depressed I eat till I defeat that feeling of being oppressed, and as I began to physically undress, I feel like a jack in the box of Duncan donuts. Round but never full. Gluttony’s baby as Satan spoon-feeds me lies that persuade me to give in.

Lord your revelation is that true gluttony was my dairy queen that gives me a Hardees when I looked at her Hooters. Chick-Fil-a, made my day, when on F.r.i.d.a.y.s. if the thing I worked was my adams apple bees, and finally you showed me that my body is a golden corral that should only search for church’s Chicken.

To My Masterpiece

To My Masterpiece

Took from nothing and breathed into you life

I have big plans for you now do not turn your back on me

I see in you more than you think you show

You are to me as the Mona Lisa is to Da Vinci

I have lain before you choices that only you may make

To love or to hate

To give or to take

To build or destroy

To live or to die

You are to me as the Sistine Chapel is to Michelangelo

You are capable of more than this world has led you to believe

Dream dreams that take you further than this world

Pursue goals that others say are impossible

Shine bright in the lands of darkness

Aspire after ambitions that others say are foolish

You are to me as the screw is to Archimedes

You have all the tools I have placed so rightfully in you

You are brave you are bold

None have the strength and potential that you do

Few are so glorious and fewer more beautiful

You are intelligent and wise

I give you resiliency and a calling

You are to me as a Starry Night is to Van Gogh

You are my greatest creation to me you are so precious

I cry when you weep

I laugh when you cackle

I smile when you grin

You are a mirror image of what I want from this world

You are to me as the 5^th symphony is to Beethoven

Turn to me in times of distress and of jubilation

Nothing can satisfy you more than your heavenly father

The ways of this world are twisted and wrong

I am the truth and the light

You are to me as Mickey is to Walt Disney

I do not know how to abandon

When you sanctuary my arms are open

When you fall no matter how far my hand will be extended

When the falls too hard Consider me and umbrella

When you have oceans to cross I am your ship

When your lost in the dark I will light your path

You are to me as son is to father

Almost

ALMOST

Two words that plague our Earth never to show worth just enable Satan’s girth to grow. Never have two words more relined the fate and destiny of mankind.

ALL MOST

See as far as the world’s concerned you could ALMOST get away with murder if you have money for miles.

See you can almost know people and almost sleep around then stop by the clinic to almost have a child.

Now here’s some truth, Satan only tells us lies, when they’re almost the truth. His words almost more slippery than and almost wet icy road.

Ya we’ve abandoned truth, put too much hope in the youth, because yesterday’s youth teaches today’s lies so when will tomorrow ever learn truth.

You see I’m almost saved but not quite fully, I look right but I live wrong.

Can’t stand the conviction in Romans, so wrap my self to be comforted in psalms.

Loved to almost lift my hands in the air, loved to almost sing loud enough hymns like I surrender ALL MOST.

Not truly righteous but right ish… With our world full of Ishmael when he built it for Isaacs.

See when we breathe in the Lord’s holy air to finally be judged will he kiss us and say well done… or curse us out yelling medium rare.

Music

Music

See I was sittin in my room comtemplatin how to further my self from Hell and find salvation when I came to the realization I was listenin to Satan’s playlist.

Murda inc music cappin cats for the capital offense, for those who have no right to offend and defender. Reppin mo murder when lookin down the barrel holdin a mic thinking they preachin right.

Music

When they get to the awards using lyrics like girls lick me like a lollipop and how low can you go and Baby grind with me, yet they have the audacity to scream in the mic I ain’t nothing without God.

Music

Listenin to the Doctors of these realities they can always diagnose but you never hear them tryin for a remedy. No “young brother don’t follow me follow the one that calms the seas”, No “hey young brother this is how it is but not how it’s supposed to be.”

No raps about being a Roman boy not conforming to this world’s philosophies, or stayin away from suicidal tendencies that God hates. See the candy to our eye the lust for her thighs, Are blindin whats ones only truth inside….Soul

Man if these cats see so much evil and feel all its tendencies could it be that we’re listenin to a devil flow?

Music

We live in a generation where saints fear consecration. Where evil is good and good is called evil. Twisted we have become that if the life of Christ ignites a life on fire we accuse them by saying your movin too fast.

Shame on Music

Loopholes of Murder

Loopholes of Murder

             According to the United States Census Bureau 15, 241 murders have taken place throughout the U.S. in 2009. The truly depressing notion is that this is just a statistic for the amount of murders where the victims were found. Worldwide there were 490,000 murders recorded in 2008 as claimed by the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development. Take into account the number of people that have been affected directly by these statistics, and there you would begin to see how many definitions of murder there truly are.  For example, human fingerprints are taken because they differ in every person, thusly it can be used to define us. This being said how could you classify the felony of murder with just three degrees, when the people who commit it are as different as fingerprints. These days in every case a new definition must be applied in order to fully serve as a guideline for what is to be considered the most taboo crime of all.  The definition of murder is not so black and white, It’s etymology suggests that the word has traveled a long way through time, and the present statistics concur that it’s definition will continue to evolve.  Murder is the taking of another human beings life by people over the age of 16, regardless of psychological state, unless committed by means of protection of oneself or another.

            One of the most controversial topics within murder is that of abortion. Can that action truly be considered murder? Yes, women have rights over their own bodies, but do they have rights over another’s.  Those in favor of Pro-life may argue that each cell is life, thus an embryo is a human being, and to end its existence would be murder. While Pro- Choice may argue that since the embryo cannot dream, aspire, choose, love, or communicate, the embryo therefore has no human characteristics and killing it would be permissible. This being said take into consideration how abortion plays a role in future

            Take George Tiller, a lifelong women's rights champion and late-term abortion provider, was murdered on May 31, 2009.  At church of all places, the only location to which he ever went without a bulletproof vest. He was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range while serving as an usher at the beginning of the Sunday service. Tiller specialized in late-term abortion care for women and was one of only three physicians in the country who provided abortion services for women who were beyond twenty-six weeks pregnant. Tiller saw clients from all over the world, and the walls of his Wichita, Kansas, and clinic were filled with notes from patients thanking him for the service he provided them. Tiller provided services for women from all walks of life: young and old, rich and poor, rape and incest survivors, women with fetal anomalies. When a nine-year-old girl who became pregnant when her father raped her was denied service by all the doctors in her southern hometown, Tiller not only provided her a late-term abortion, but he did it for free. As a physician, Tiller empathized with his patients' experiences and respected the need for women to have access to doctors who can provide that service safely. In Tiller's own words, "abortion is a matter of survival for women."

            Over and over we find loopholes to the definition of murder as to why it is so troublesome to place one solid meaning to the word. Take the story of a Holley and his wife fighting. The man, a chronic alcoholic, killed his girl friend with an axe. The man stated that his girl friend mocked, “You don’t have the guts.” After this statement Holley killed his girlfriend. While in court Holley protested that his chronic alcoholism was in fact a disease, which skews his ability for self-control. The Court of Appeals of New Jersey substituted a verdict of murder for manslaughter. The jury came to the consensus that alcoholism was indeed a viable factor to effect self-control. However, the problem now arises as to how you describe a probable cause for murder. Holley states that alcoholism is one, where another case states that fear, anger, grief, or terror may result in murder as well. For example, say A woman is repeatedly abused by her Husband. For the sake of her safety and out of shear terror she murders her husband in his sleep. The problem at hand now is that the definition of manslaughter does not have various degrees within the limitations of provocation, as does the term murder.  The Judicial system must come to terms upon a solid foundation as to what personal problems justify a loss of self-control.

            Moreover, Twenty-one people died after being given the vaccine The medical staff from the northern town of Grudziadz are being investigated over medical trials on as many as 350 homeless and poor people last year. Prosecutors say it involved an untried vaccine to the highly contagious virus. Authorities claim that the alleged victims received £1-2 (type of flu vaccine) to be tested with what they thought was a conventional flu vaccine but, according to investigators, was actually an anti bird-flu drug. Here we have a case of medical malpractice, yet the only viable jurisdictions with the definition that can prosecute these people are located in the Criminal Code of Canada. Which states, “A person, for an unlawful object, does anything that he knows or ought to know is likely to cause death, and thereby causes death to a human being, notwithstanding that he desires to effect his object without causing death or bodily harm to any human being.”  Since we do not have a sufficient definition for murder the courts could not hold these people to conviction, and were only released from their jobs. An unyielding definition would have held these doctors accountable for their dishonesty, yet they continue to walk free.

            On a very opinionated note we have the circumstance where countries must in turn go to war with one another. This being said humanity doesn’t just fight each other with propaganda. The taking of lives comes hand in hand with war. Now are those soldiers we send out on the battlefield murderers. They are trained to kill and do just that. Arguments have stemmed from many cases involving prisoners of war (POWs) and accidental civilian deaths. Soldiers are not policemen or judges. They cannot discriminate among enemies, especially during battle and for a while after it. Good soldiers kill well. The U.S. demoralizes its army by such show trials to convict them of murder. Once there is a line that soldiers ostensibly should not cross, it thickens. For example, if a soldier kills the enemy tank driver who is not the one firing upon him, is that murder? When a child soldier is ordered to kill parents in another village a murderer, when they are threatened with the death of their family? When POWs are killed when demands for their release are not met, is that murder? The problem in wartime arises in the method of killing. Whether that soldier is a murderer depends on the intentions of that person. In war soldiers kill, and get charged for murder, when their intentions are protection, and self-preservation. All of which are natural things that the government has paid them to do. How can they place guns in the hands of young men, send them to fight overseas, kill the “enemy”, and still prosecute them for being murderers.

            Where do we look for an exact definition of murder? The answer is simple we look to the places where murder and assassination was very common. We look to the past. Robert Garland asks what murder meant to the apparently bloodthirsty Greeks and Romans. What was considered murder in the ancient world? How was it defined by what may be known as the greatest civilization of all time.  Do we even have any evidence that says that murder was problem enough to be defined then? Our evidence from the Greek world is random and largely restricted to Athens. It comes mainly from the orators, whose services as speech-writers were engaged by plaintiffs and defendants who happened to be wealthy enough to pay them. Very rarely, however, do we know the verdict. Our evidence from the Roman world is mainly limited to a handful of high-profile murders of politically prominent individuals. Murder apart, we know next-to-nothing about the general level of violence in ancient society, which makes it virtually impossible to identify continuity or change. And yet such evidence as we have sheds light on a subject of perennial fascination for our understanding of the tensions and conflicts latent in human society. (Garland 4) If a slave murdered his master the entire household was executed. On one occasion in the first century AD no fewer titan 400 slaves suffered this fate. Although the prospect of indiscriminate slaughter on such a scale provoked a riot among the citizens of Rome, the Emperor Claudius intervened to ensure that the executions went ahead peacefully. In Athens, by contrast, the evidence suggests that slave owners, though free to inflict bodily injury, could not put their slaves to death. In both Athens and Rome it was the victim's next-of-kin who was required to bring a murderer to justice. If, therefore, the killer was unknown to the victim, there was a good chance that the crime would go unpunished. In the absence of any police force, a large number of murders must also have been undetected.  According to Robert Garland, the only recorded autopsy for forensic purposes was performed on Julius Caesar's corpse by a physician named Antistius, who pronounced that the victim had been knifed twenty-three times. Many homicides were settled privately, either by the payment of blood money or by vendetta, a practice that might evolve into an endless series of revenge-killings. What we do not know is which method was more prevalent, nor how the ratio between the two might have varied over time. The distinction between justifiable and unjustifiable homicide was not identical to our own. Athenian law permitted the killing of an assailant who struck first; a burglar who broke into one's home at night; and of an adulterer found in the wrong. An interesting instance involves a certain Euphiletus, who killed his wife's lover after discovering the pair in bed together. Instead of killing him instantly, however, he first rounded up his neighbors as witnesses and then slew him, in their presence. Tantalizingly the verdict is not recorded, so we do not know whether Euphiletus was acquitted for having acted in flagrante condemned for having acted in cool calculation (Joyce 6). If convicted, however, he would have faced the death penalty since the homicide was intended. Athenian law did not for the most part identify manslaughter, which is defined in British law as criminal homicide without malice aforethought, as distinct from other types of murder, nor did it acknowledge the culpability either of an 'accessory after the fact' or of one who 'conspired to commit murder'. In conclusion, murder is what anthropologists call a cultural construct, one whose impulse is traceable in part to the dynamics of the family, whose definition is dependent upon legal, political and religious imperatives, whose justification may be sought in an individual or collective devaluation of human identity, and whose explanation still largely eludes us.

            An abused wife murders her husband. A raped, pregnant pre-teen saunters into a doctor’s office in need of the fatal operation. A teenage drunk driver runs a stop sign colliding with the broad side of a wife and kids who inevitably die. A scientist hands out what he believes is a cure for cancer, but instead the drug hastens the disease and the death. What is counted, as murder all through history has been a debatable topic. Evidence of this is the fact that we have trials, the truth that its definition has changed well over 12 times in just U.S. history alone. From “thou shall not kill” listed in the second book of the Hebrew bible to "Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought" as stated in the U.S. Codes. Both of which relish the thought that murder can be defined. These scenarios opt otherwise, be it that many things are taken into consideration such as mental state, circumstance, reason, location, and the one victimized. The first murder recorded is believed to date back to Cain and Abel, which led to such a simple definition. Yet as human transgressions grow more complex so must the definition of murder.

Works Cited

Demovic, Angela R. "Honor, Shame, and European Definitions of Murder." Current Anthropology 51.4 (2010): 562-563. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Edwards, Susan. "Descent into Murder: Provocation's Stricture—The Prognosis for Women Who Kill Men Who Abuse Them." Journal of Criminal Law 71.4 (2007): 342-361. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Faulkner, Frank. "Kindergarten killers: morality, murder and the child soldier problem." Third World Quarterly 22.4 (2001): 491-504. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Field, John, and Alan Pearson. "Caring to death: The murder of patients by nurses." International Journal of Nursing Practice 16.3 (2010): 301-309. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Joyce, Fraser. "Body of Evidence." History Today 60.11 (2010): 4-6. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Keener, Craig S. "'Brood of Vipers' (Matthew 3.7; 12.34; 23.33)." Journal for the Study of the New Testament 28.1 (2005): 3-11. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Papanikitas, Andrew. "Splitting hairs over the definition of murder: Thomas Aquinas and the doctrine of double effect." Clinical Ethics 4.4 (2009): 211-212. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

Young, Angie. "Abortion, Ideology, and the Murder of George Tiller." Feminist Studies 35.2 (2009): 416-420. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 Oct. 2011.

American Literature

Echoes of American Pens

As we search for signs of those who came before us

All I hear is Pen to paper

I hear the turning of pages

And dialects of varying tongues.

I see different colors from different pasts,

Different eyes that have seen different things,

Things of joy and despair.

Yet we are brought back together

By the feeling of being different.

That is America a place of diversity

We have a revolutionary past

A persevering Present

And a dreamful future.

A nation inquisitive by nature

Questions of which

Malcolm X did answer

You can show disapproval without compromising a rule

That while we feel jailed a true appreciation for freedom is jeweled.

Then Martin Luther King Jr. chimed

If something is to be changed do not stand idly

Nonviolently approach the problem with your decree

As Sherman Alexie advised

Do not let the scars of the past determine the decisions of today

Pride is fine but it can also lead you to decay

Lorna Cervantes warned

This world is not here to comfort you

So let your passion seize you through.

But Benjamin Franklin voiced

Just because they are different does not make them wrong

Walk hand in hand with what’s different

That brings progress along.

These Heroes have written words of welcome

In a world where they’re words are often not welcome.

Our nation has become an eternal dance of Diversity

 Whose rhythm pulsates three beats: Revolution, Dream, and Persevere

Dive Into Confucius

Confucius and The Analects

            The critically acclaimed work of Confucius known as The Analects has been widely acknowledged as having the utmost influence on eastern civilization. The Lun Yü (The Analects), a collection of Confucius's sayings compiled after his death, encapsulates the great teacher's philosophy. This work contains Confucius’ thoughts on a wide variety of subjects ranging from proper personal conduct to government rule.  It’s easy to consider Confucius a politician for his day, yet he never actually held an office, or high position. Kong Fuzi, Confucius’s birth name, wanted a type of harmony with the governing body, most likely an individual, and those governed (Regel). The ending of the Zhou Dynasty in China was marred by warring factions within the empire, harsh rule by the power wielding elites, and to some extent, political chaos (Lorenz). The events that transpired around Confucius pushed him to the realization that a virtuous government is imperative, and by utilizing the blueprints of historical figures, sages, and kings a successful reign could indeed be achieved. One thing Confucius was always weary of was

            In order to understand what Confucius stood for you must first understand his roots and the period in which he lived. In a time known as the Spring and Autumn Period, was a book named the Spring and Autumn Annals. It was a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 BC and 481 BC, which tradition associates with Confucius (Regel). It was a period of turbulence and changes in the economy, politics, and military affairs. In Chinese history, it was a period, which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty. During the Spring and Autumn period, China was ruled by a feudal system. The Zhou dynasty kings held insignificant power, but only directly ruled over a small Royal Domain, revolving around their capital. The status of the Emperor was reduced to little more than that of a figurehead, while powerful nobles gradually extended their dominions over smaller neighboring states. According to recorded history, during the Spring and Autumn Period, there were over 480 wars, 52 vassal states were vanquished, and 36 kings were killed (Megaera). For the duration of the Spring and Autumn Period, a complex system of relations developed and many projects requiring the collaboration of two or more states were undertaken, such as drainage operations, canals, dikes, reservoirs, and roads. Massive walls were built, both as protection from each other and from aboriginal and nomadic tribes (Clements). 

            Even though this period was fraught with chaos and bloody battles, it is also known as the Golden Age of Chinese philosophy because a broad range of thoughts and ideas were developed and discussed freely (Regel).  The movement known as The Hundred Schools of Thought can characterize the thoughts and ideas discussed and refined during this period, and has profoundly influenced lifestyles and social consciousness up to the present day in East Asian countries (Megaera). The intellectual society of this era was characterized by itinerant scholars, who were often employed by various state rulers as advisers on the methods of government, war, and diplomacy. This period ended with the rise of the Qin Dynasty and the subsequent purge of dissent. The Spring and Autumn Period was also considered as a period of philosophies: Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism originated during that period. Many important cultural developments took place, and great Chinese thinkers including Confucius, founder of Confucianism; developed the philosophical systems, which have shaped North Eastern Asia until the present day. 

            Confucius tended to marvel at history, and used it as a foundation to propose his thoughts and beliefs. He found that history could prove to be a guide to establishing a successful government.  Confucius firmly stated that, "If by keeping the old warm one can provide understanding of the new, one is fit to be a teacher" (2:11, Analects). Confucius often taught by pointing to examples of the behaviors of successful and unsuccessful historical figures. He praised legendary heroes like Bo Yi and Shu Qi (5:23, Analects) and Yao and Shun (6:30, Analects). In fact, much of Confucian philosophy was drawn from that of ancient Chinese politicians, kings and legendary figures. Confucius was inspired by the legends of the Sage Kings, and by the early kings and officials of the Chou dynasty. Both Confucius's love of imitating history and his admiration for the Chou rulers are well represented in his statement that "Chou observes the example set by two dynasties, so how splendid is its culture! And we take Chou as our model" (3:14, Analects). The Chou ruling family had invented the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, which stated that heaven chose rulers on the basis of their virtue, and if they were not virtuous, they would be overthrown. This Mandate was one of the three things Confucius said the "gentleman holds in awe" (16:8, Analects). Probably the greatest influence on Confucius was the philosophy of the Duke of Chou, whom Confucius described as having "perfect virtue" (8:20, Analects). The Duke advised his nephew, the Emperor, in proper decorum and virtuous behavior, and did not hesitate to criticize and correct the Emperor's behavior. This fits with Confucius's idea of how to serve a ruler: "It means don't be deceitful. But do stand up to him" (14:22, Analects). His ideas were similar enough to Confucius's that he had a saying attributed to him in the Analects. While he supported the idea of government by an all-powerful sage, ruling as an Emperor, his ideas contained a number of elements to limit the power of rulers. He argued that language with conviction and honesty was of paramount importance. Even in facial expression, truth must always be represented. The idea of standing up to one’s ruler in this period was very risky.  Confucius is seemingly encouraging boldness towards the ruler by his officials, in a period where execution was not absurdly rare. Moreover, "What is called a great minister, is one who serves his prince according to what is right, and when he finds he cannot do so, retires."(11:23, Analects). Again Confucius urges that one most be resolute in understanding the difference between virtue and evil in the midst of a ruler’s actions.

            In the Analects you can see that Confucius has quite the opinion of who should be in charge, and how that person should operate the happenings around him. When asked by a ruler of the large state of Qi, Lu's neighbor on the Shandong peninsula, about the principles of good government, Confucius is reported to have replied: “Good government consists in the ruler being a ruler, the minister being a minister, the father being a father, and the son being a son.” (12:11, Analects) Which seems to be saying that one must not overstep what they are truly capable of doing. He is warning to not bite off more than you can chew; understand where you belong, and what you can do for society.

Above all else Confucius found that a virtuous ruler would inspire his followers to be the same at every level within the Chinese feudal system (Yu). To Confucius an emperor should rule, and his rule should be established through benevolence and high merit. Even though laws and punishments could be instituted, the only true way for people to follow what was good was to see that their leader was good. In other words, Confucius taught that rulers should lead by example, and this was the only way a truly great empire could be created at last. In addition, virtuousness did not exclude all those underneath the Emperor, but also the entire bureaucracy, military, and any other that the Emperor could promote to power. This would enable the class being ruled to confirm that all those in power were benevolent and just, making them want to imitate the favor for the Emperor and statesmen. Confucius instilled that the Emperor was everything for the nation. For all could be in ruin but as long as the people still held faith in their ruler, as long as the people still followed unwaveringly, the state would be secure (Yu). For a military can fall, the people could become weary without food, and many other factors can lead to the downfall of a state. He did not approve of rulers who did not follow the examples of famous sage kings, scholars and culture heroes (7:15, Analects).  Confucius said, “When a prince’s personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without the issuing of orders. If his personal conduct is not correct, he may issue orders, but they will not be followed.” By saying this, Confucius has put before the ruling class the entire responsibility of their territory. Confucius' political philosophy is also rooted in his belief that a ruler should learn self-discipline, should govern his subjects by his own example, and should treat them with love and concern. “If the people be led by laws, and uniformity among them be sought by punishments, they will try to escape punishment and have no sense of shame. If they are led by virtue, and uniformity sought among them through the practice of ritual propriety, they will possess a sense of shame and come to you of their own accord.” (2:3, Analects).

            For Confucius, what characterized superior right to rule was the possession of de or virtue (Yang). Conceived of as a kind of moral power that allows one to win a following without recourse to physical force, such virtue also enabled the ruler to maintain good order in his state without troubling himself and by relying on loyal and effective deputies. Confucius claimed that, “He who governs by means of his virtue is, to use an analogy, like the pole-star: it remains in its place while all the lesser stars do homage to it.” (2:1, Analects) The way to maintain and cultivate such royal ‘virtue’ was through the practice and enactment of li or ‘rituals’—the ceremonies that defined and punctuated the lives of the ancient Chinese aristocracy. These ceremonies encompassed: the sacrificial rites performed at ancestral temples to express humility and thankfulness; the ceremonies of toasting, and gift exchange that bound together the aristocracy into a complex web of obligation and indebtedness (Ming Dong). However, virtue is not for the sake of getting material rewards. One should not be extravagant or self-serving. Self-cultivation is done for the success of the rest of society.

            The philosophy of Confucius demanded government morality, the responsible kingships with the occasional limitations, and the virtuousness of the ruler and everyone underneath him. The Analects 2.1 states that, “ Governing with virtue, can be compared to being the North Star: The star dwells in its place, and the multitude of stars pay it tribute.” I find that this excerpt brings Confucius’ philosophies to a strong finale. Those within the government must be that light in the sky for others to follow. That which allows them to shine brighter than other stars it the competence of their virtue. For without that virtue the people of your lands will wander aimlessly, and none will sing of your legacy. The most pressing matters are simple: respect your limits as a ruler, be a virtuoso, and prepare a government that is capable without you.

Bibliography

Brooks, Bruce. The Original Analects. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998. Print.

Ames, Roger, and Henry Rosemont. The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. 1st. New York: Ballantine Books, 1998.

Clements, Jonathan Confucius: A Biography. Stroud, Gloucestershire, England: Sutton Publishing, 2008.

Regel, Jeffrey. "Confucius." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2003 edition. California: Metaphysics Research Lab, Web. 20 Mar 2012.

Lorenz, Megaera. "What Confucius Thought." Heptune. (2001): n. page. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.<http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=1&reqsrcid=MLAJournal&srcCode=3&more=no&mode=form>.

Yang, Ye, Seiji Tsuchiya, and Fuji Ren. "Construction Of An 'Analects Of Confucius' Knowledge Base Including Pragmatics Information." Electronics & Communications In Japan 94.4 (2011): 1-8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

JIYUAN, YU. "Yi: Practical Wisdom In Confucius's Analects." Journal Of Chinese Philosophy 33.3 (2006): 335-348. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

MING DONG, GU. "Everyone's Confucius, All Readers' Analects." Journal Of Chinese Philosophy 37.1 (2010): 34-47. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

Sim, May. "Dewey And Confucius: On Moral Education." Journal Of Chinese Philosophy 36.1 (2009): 85-105. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

I-YAO, SHEN. "Confucian Analects: Selected Reading (12)." Chinese American Forum 6.4 (1991): 23. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Feb. 2012.

            

             

Gender Differences with Compliments

Micah Moyer

3/28/12

Linguistic Analysis

Gender Differences with Compliments

Introduction

            According to the text How English Works, compliments are typically intended to make others feel good, praise them, and to create solidarity or positive relations (Curzan, 253). However, with all the positives that compliments can bring, there are occasions where they are inappropriate. Gender plays a large role in compliment behavior in many language varieties. Is it always appropriate for males to compliment females? How about males complimenting males? Also, does the topic vary depending on the gender of the person receiving the compliment? I’ve consciously taken note while at various locations over the period of a month, which gender employs compliments more so, and what those compliments tend to be about. I’ve compiled my findings into pie graphs to establish a visual for the numerical data based on the total number of compliments I’ve heard over the past month I’ve found that unless in a goal oriented environment compliments between males and females have varied.  As far as same gender compliments go, Females tend to compliment on appearance such as hair, makeup, and the occasional outfit. While males compliment on materials such as shoes, apparel, or other accessories like watches or hats. When the compliments are to opposite genders, males compliment more so, while females are less likely to present one.

Methods

            For my experiment within the time period of one month, I would gather data from an assortment of place such as parties, baseball games, soccer practice, work, around campus, and at the mall. At these places I would sit in crowded areas and listen in on conversations, hoping to hear same gender compliments, and different gender compliments. On the chance I hear a compliment, normally I’d jot it down in the notes section of my phone to add to the compilation. I’ve placed no age limit as far as age restrictions go for the unknowing participants. The goal was to reach one hundred, which fortunately was accomplished to ensure making a pie chart would be ideal. As far as making the graphs I grouped the same gender compliments on the most common body, hats, shoes, and clothes. While the females were based on clothes, body, accessories, and shoes. These choices were based on the type of compliment I heard most often. Thus making a pie chart out of 100 participants.

            As no study is perfect, there are certain aspects that will keep me from some of the facets that would allow a more accurate and thorough study. That being said, the more people I have at my disposal the more results I’d be able to analyze, however, unfortunately I will not be able to hear every compliment but within an immediate area. In addition, though there is prior research on the topic, it was hard to find credible conclusive data on the topic, so I must rely on self-reported data for the most part. However, self-reported data contain several potential sources of bias that should be noted as limitations. One large problem was the amount of time I allotted myself. One month to gather as much data as I truly needed would’ve needed ample amounts of time, which unfortunately I do not have. Furthermore, It’s hard to generalize with just the use of gender as compliments vary socially, racially, and economically. Methodology required the power of observation. Being very acute to my environment and multiple conversations.  Every time I heard a compliment I would put a note down in my phone, about who said it, and what the compliment entailed.  Sometimes the situation did call for smooth talking, in cases where I’d been caught eavesdropping.  For the most part to avoid any misunderstandings, I would act as a fly on the wall, or take part in the conversations myself. After the deadline started rolling closer, I compiled the data into pie charts depicting a break down of all of the data from my phone.

Results

            Based out of 100 participants you can see that the graph above depicts how the amount of compliments in a percentage by both genders. As most can guess most compliments came from males. This was of course no surprise, as males use compliments and conversation openers quite frequently with males, and females. Further down a heavier representation of compliments will be brought to light, of the results that were found while out observing.

            Who is complimenting whom the most? As shown in the pie graph above, you can see who gives the most compliments, and again whom they are giving them to. You can see that the breakdown includes both genders and all possibilities of any pairs of complimenting.  Naturally the male gender complimented females the most to start conversations, while female-to-female compliments comes in second.  Opposite gender compliments seemed imperative to conversation in a variety of places, while same gender compliments were usually within areas of business, or at high competitive areas such a sports practice, or in the classrooms. It was also interesting to see females’ facial expression in the same gender compliments as it seemed almost as high as 45% of the compliments were insincere.

             In this depiction we take a look at male-to-male compliments. The only compliments that I heard were of the options shown on the chart. Guys tended to compliment each other more so on material. Giving props to a nice snapback hat, or the newest pair of Jordan’s, as well as original clothes. To my surprise the occasional compliment of a guy’s muscles was heard. To no surprise the material objects laid heavily on males’ minds, and the breakdown of compliments displays that thoroughly.

            For the other same gender compliments, you find girls complimenting each other on accessories over things like jewelry at older ages, and for college ages its more along the lines of makeup. However, again the graph shows similar results to which compliments are held in lowest regard when it comes to one another. The results were not as balanced as I presumed that they would be, as clothing compliments took a very commanding rank. The tie between shoes and accessories was also a bit of a

            As for the opposite gender compliments we step away from materials, and go into things less tangible, but highly appreciated. That being said female to male compliments stood strongly with actions and personality. Concerned mostly with what guys did or said. This is not a surprise, as girls do not tend to be as worried about the physical aspects of a relationship, thus only judging guys on how they seem to be received by others. Apparel was clearly not a concern to some extent, as I saw quite a few sloppily dressed males with a many of sought after females.

            Males were very simplistic with their compliments; occasionally you’ll hear a well-versed guy say everything right. However, for the most part guys were strictly complimenting girls solely off of appearance/body/face. It is no surprise that guys are strictly into the physical. A lot of these compliments were done secondhand however. Meaning they would compliment a girl among a group of the male friends without her knowing. Compliment in that setting is a loose term however. As far as one on one, guys were big in to complimenting on eyes. I heard a plethora of compliments as far as females being funny, smart, or driven as well. Perhaps there is hope for males yet.

Discussion

            The results indicate certain patterns, which obviously cannot be overlooked. Having said this, it’s imperative to shed light on such occurrences. I’ve used these studies to demonstrate their theories about inherent differences between the genders and the societal impact of gender roles. Compliment patterns appear to be quite different when the complimenter and complimentee are the same gender from when they are different genders, and differences between males and females still arise even within same-gender interactions. In the field research indicated that the discrepancies in male-male and female-female complimentary language may be due to differences in perception concerning the purpose of compliments. The hypothesis is that women use compliments to build affiliations, while men use compliments to make evaluative judgments. Compliments are usually classified into one of four categories, depending on what they refer to: appearance, ability and performance, possessions, or personality.

            My data from opposite gender interactions show that male-female compliments are significantly more frequent than female-male compliments, following the general pattern that women receive the most compliments overall, whether from other women or from men. Since males are expected to be relatively more forward, they readily gave more obvious compliments. Male initiation of romantic relations is more socially acceptable, so a misinterpreted compliment would not be viewed as unnatural. Women tended to compliment each other considerably more often than men complimented each other. I one found that compliment topics varied by gender. Females feel a relatively greater need to be cautious when giving appearance compliments to males, for fear of seeming too forward or attracting unwanted attention. I was very surprised by the rest of my results as far as the compliment topics went.

            One far out detail I found interesting was that in How English Works, compliments weren’t only received by mostly females, but also given as well. My study showed complete opposition with that statement as far as who gave the most compliments. Janet Holmes suggests that the discrepancies in male-male and female-female complimentary language may be due to differences in perception concerning the purpose of compliments. Moreover, in New Zealand data, it is shown that women tend to compliment each other based on appearance most often. Men were found to compliment each other based on possessions more often than they compliment women based on possessions. Finding prior research for the topic proved difficult, and on occasions the research found varied in who gave the most compliments. What was found as consistent in all data I came across, and verified myself, was what the compliments tended to be about.

Conclusion

        It seems evident that women and men values vary heavily from one another.  While same gender compliments vary as far as what possessions are held with high regard, it’s those possessions that receive so many compliments. On the contrary with opposite gender compliments from females value less tangible matters such as personality, and the caliber of male’s actions. While males are very much so stuck in the world of the physical, and compliment solely on what they can touch, smell, and see. So it’s almost safe to say men are indeed from Mars and women are from Venus. Yet, here we stand in a mixed array of sweet words that can hinder motives as quickly as they may hasten.

Works Cited Page

Cameron, Debra. "Complimenting: a Positive Politeness Strategy." Gender and Interaction Theory. N.p., 1996. Web. 1 Apr 2012. <http://aggslanguage.wordpress.com/gender-interaction-theory-–-holmes-tannen-cameron-defrancisco/>.

Curzan, Anne , and Michael Adams. How EnglishWorks . Third. Boston: Longman, 2006. 253-255. Print.

Donna M. Johnson and Duane H. Roen.Language in Society. Vol. 21, No. 1 (Mar., 1992), pp. 27-57. Published by: Cambridge University Press. Web. 1 Apr. 2012.

     <http://www.jstor.org/stable/4168310>.

Holmes, Janet. 1996. The role of compliments in female-male interaction. Using English: From conversation to canon. ed. by Janet Maybin and Neil Mercer. London: Open University. Web. 1 Apr. 2012.

Rees-Miller, Janie. "Compliments Revisited: Contemporary Compliments And Gender." Journal Of Pragmatics 43.11 (2011): 2673-2688. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Apr. 2012.

Wogan, Peter, and Christopher Parisi. "Compliment Topics And Gender." Women & Language 29.2 (2006): 21-28. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Apr. 2012.

Wolfson, N. (ref: Brower, Gerritsen, DeHaan 1979). (1984). Pretty Is As Pretty Does: A Speech Act View of Sex Roles. Applied Linguistics 5(3):236-244 doi:10.1093/applin/5.3.236. Web. 1 Apr. 2012.

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