Monday, January 20, 2020

Poverty in Developing Countries :: essays research papers

As developed countries quench their thirsts for petrol, developing countries around the world are left behind, force to watch on without any help from the outside community. Being poor means to be disadvantaged in every single way. It means not being able to support yourself or your family or have the basic necessity to life. Without substantial help for these helpless people then we should be feeling guilty that we are living lives far better than what others are experiencing. Poverty may because by wars, disease or lack of education and infrastructure and the resulting consequences may be hunger, starvation, crime and ultimately death. If poverty is not eradicated then injustice will continue, increasing death tolls and lives. Not everyone is born into a life of the rich and glamorous. Those who are fortunate enough know that they are very lucky to be in their position. Others however are totally in different situations. They need to fend for themselves and having meal is something which comes only once a day. Malnutrition is the obvious result of not consuming the right amount of food. This therefore will lead to outbreaks of diseases but in poverty stricken countries there are no hospitals to cure this. Lacking infrastructure means lacking educational rights. People who are living in poverty can not afford to send their children to school so this will mean an unclear future for their children. Furthermore, living in crowded areas, this has a tendency to increase the chances of disease as people are drinking from unsafe sources of water. People around the world are not aware of how immense this issue is and sometimes hesitant to believe the scale that it has risen to. Without understanding for people liv ing disadvantage from the rest then there is no cure for the problem. One of the most basic teachings in the Catholic Church is to ?Love one another as I have loved you.? This can be implied towards people living in poverty as we can follow the steps that Jesus had undertaken to love other people even if they are your enemies. By showing love and compassion we can create a world that is aware of poverty issues and help the declination of poverty. Countless organisations are heavily involved in carrying missions to help ultimately eradicate poverty. These charities and organisations include CARITAS, World Vision, Oxfam, St Vincent de Paul and many other non profitable organisations which help carry out work to help those who are in need.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Political films Essay

The research paper â€Å"The Timing of Presidential Cinema† discusses and analyzes social meaning of political films. Little research is done in this filed, although many films contain political and economic meaning. Interestingly, the release of presidential cinema is associated with the controlling party and with the ideology that the party has in the White House. Republican and Democratic administrations are characterized by the largest amount of political films. Moreover, more films are released during the second presidential term. Releases are more acute during presidential elections. The stronger the economies, the more films about presidents are released. The article â€Å"Quantitative analysis of Motion Picture Content† tends to measure the influence of films on American population. In particular, the emphasis is paid to providing an instrument to measure with scientific precision the content of each film. The cinema has long been accepted and the author argues that more than fifty million of American moviegoers are influenced by desire to seek entertainment when going to the cinema. Therefore, motion picture has become a profound influence on people and it is rather difficult to measure those influence. The role of Hollywood films in American society has not been yet questioned as researchers lack methods to summarize and analyze what the public is presented. The article â€Å"The Image of the Scientist in Science Fiction: A Content Analysis† reviews the social role of the scientists which is conveyed through the cinema. Scientists has undergone both criticism and appraisal, they has been presented as heroes and villains science-fiction magazines, stories and films. Of course, many scientists have been negligible. The social role of the scientist is addressed in terms of saving humanity, but after World War II such measurement has become problematic. Science fiction, therefore, is claimed to serve as vehicle to construct social utopias and to dethrone them. The article is of practical relevance as the USA experience shortage of scientists and engineers.

Friday, January 3, 2020

My Life For Social Work - 1468 Words

Picture a mother coming home from work and not finding her children home, a child being woke up from his or her sleep asked to come with me, or a disabled military person coming home from an assignment with no resources. Things are never what they seem, especially if you are on the outside looking in. No one truly knows what goes on inside another person’s home or life unless you are there. Abuse and/or neglect come in all forms and often go unmentioned and unreported. Not having or being subject to the resources needed to make a smooth transition to an ordinary way of life can be very difficult. Throughout my life, I have had personal experiences that contributed to my passion for social work and the drive to ascertain the†¦show more content†¦To a loving mother who takes care of her children to the best of her ability the words sexual abuse to her child can be very detrimental. She places them in the care of individuals who she trust and believe will do wha t is in the best interest of them. My mother did not want to lose us again to DHS, so she asked family for help. At eight years old, my life and perception of life changed. This change came with an enormous price that one could not fathom unless experienced his/herself. I was sexually abused by a close family member that continued for approximately two to three years without anyone’s knowledge besides the perpetrator and me. Sexual abuse was never in my vocabulary, nor did I know what it meant at that time. So I trusted this behavior was the norm, or at least this is how it was explained to me by the abuser. My mother was constantly working, so she did not have a clue to the situation. I did not know how or what to say to her about anything that was going on. So, I never mentioned or reported the sexual abuse to anyone until I was an adult and understood it was wrong. These two experiences marked the beginning of my journey and what I believe is my calling to bec oming a social worker. One of the best decisions I made was to join the active duty Army. I was in the military nine years six months as a Sergeant. Unfortunately, I was injured while in Iraq and was medically discharged. This placed me in theShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Social Work On My Work And Life945 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of the Social Work Mission in My Work and Life This assignment asks that I speak to what the NASW’s Code of Ethics means to me and how these ideas are reflected in my daily life. I have an undergraduate degree in business and I worked as a Risk Analyst for many years at an investment firm. When I became pregnant with twins, I knew that I wanted to stay home with them and I left my job. When I left, I promised myself when I went back to work I would not be a part of corporate America.Read MoreHow Social Work Became A Part Of My Life Essay1349 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Work has been a profession for more than one hundred years. It made its way through countries and language barriers and became an important part of many communities. Social Workers have been fighting injustices and creating safe spaces for communities worldwide. Many want to be Social Workers because they like to help others, while many want to be Social Workers because Social Workers have been such an important part of their lives. In addition too being a part of families and communitiesRead MoreThe Social Work Profession And Core Values Essay1636 Words   |  7 PagesUSC Statement of Purpose My understanding of the social work profession and its core values is that social workers are caregivers, they provide assistance to people in need and they address social problems. The social worker goal is the improvement of society in order to ameliorate the lives of individuals in need. The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance the well-being of people and to help them meet their basic needs, with special emphasis on the needs of the poor, andRead MoreThe Social Work Profession And Its Core Values Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesUSC Statement of Purpose My understanding of the social work profession and its core values is that social workers are caregivers, they provide assistance to people in need, and they address social problems. The social worker goal is the improvement of society to ameliorate the lives of individuals in need. The social work profession mission is to enhance the well-being of people and to assist them in meeting their basic needs, with particular emphasis on the needs of the poor, and the vulnerableRead MoreClass Ethics And Values At Jackson State University1666 Words   |  7 PagesWhen I first entered the field of social work at Southwest Mississippi Community College, I was clueless as to what the social work profession entailed. At Southwest MS Community College, we mostly focused on perquisites and a few classes related to family. After, leaving Southwest MS Community College and entering Jackson State University, I realized my previous college did not teach me anything relating to the field of social wor k. However, my entry in my first class Ethics and Values at JacksonRead MoreBeing An Intern At The Salvation Army Center Of Hope1571 Words   |  7 Pagesreliable, and thoughtfulness are just a selection of adjectives which describes the life of being a Social Worker. Throughout various interactions in life, we will meet and encounter different aspects of unforgettable experiences. Being able to rationalize and work through these experiences is a part of meeting our developmental growth. As a young adult, seeking to obtain an MSW is both exciting and rewarding in my life. Being an intern at The Salvation Army Center of Hope has given me the opportunityRead MoreThe Social Work Code Of Ethics1059 Words   |  5 PagesThe primary mission of the social work profession is deeply rooted in a specific set of core values. These strict set of beliefs are embraced by professional history and are the framework to social work s unique purpose and mission. The six core values include Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence. As Social Workers begin or continue their journey in social work it is significant to always properly represent, and advanceRead MoreSocial Workers And The Social Work Essay1706 Words   |  7 PagesSocial workers are caregivers, they provide assistance to people in need, and they address social problems. The social worker’s goal is the improvement of society to better the lives of individuals in need. The social work professional mission is to enhance the well-being of people and to assist them in meeting their basic needs, with particular emphasis on the needs of the poor, and the vulnerable individual. The Social Work profession has six core values. Social workers incorporate these core valuesRead MoreCalled To Social Work Essay1502 Words   |  7 PagesValues play a key role in deciding which career to choose. Social work as a career one must remember the value s and rules they learn. Social worker has the ability to determine their personal value system, and how it fits with social work values and ethics, which determine the role of being a great social worker. First of all, before one can consider their career path one must have some types of values to keep them grounded. As for me, my first and most important value is honoring thy mother andRead MoreWorking With The Elderly Population1475 Words   |  6 Pages2010, when I was faced with my grandmother s illness during the adolescent years in my life I knew that I had a passion to care for the elderly (aging) population. From this passion, it ignited a fire so strong that I pursue my certified nursing assistant certification to gain a better understanding of working with the elderly population. By doing so, it has been a great benefit to my life; aging is an inevitable experience that we all will go through during our life. It is important to ensure

Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Issue Of Child Marriage - 1637 Words

Introduction In the United States, marriage is seen as a sacred and consensual institution, but in developing countries, many children are introduced to marriage in a different manner. According to the United Nations Population Fund, one girl in every three is married before the age of eighteen in developing countries (Child Marriage, 1). Are the measures previously taken by the International Law community that attempt to put and end to child marriages an effective measure to stop this violation of human rights? I argue that, although there are substantial International Law actions already attempted at ending this barbarism, I do not believe that they are enough to prevent the circumstances that child marriages spring from, including†¦show more content†¦Finally, I will explain potential solutions for this issue and what the international community should be doing. During my research, I find that the current attempt to stop child marriages is weak and a great deal of the fig ht is emerging from non-profit organizations, which can only do so much to fight the issue. I find that the main reason that this occurs throughout the world is because of the exceptions allowed, contrary to the minimum age of 18 for marriage in most countries. Because this is a severe human rights issue on children, the International Law community should step in further and move this up in the agenda to fight and prevent the perpetrators causing such atrocities. Background According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, child marriages, marriages where at least one of the parties is under the age of 18, began when mothers and families started to force their teenage daughters into marriage at an early age to prevent them from rape as well as to secure a safe economic future for their daughters (Child Marriage and the Law, 1). This issue is very prevalent in countries such as Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Niger, being the most prevalent country, is reported to have â€Å"every three in four girls married before their 18th birthday† (Where Does It Happen, Girls Not Brides). In addition to this heavy statistic, Girls Not Brides also reports that globally â€Å"more than 30% of today’s women were married before their 18th

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Community College Female Executive Leaders Essay - 1780 Words

In Fitting in: Community College Female Executive Leaders Share Their Experiences - A Study in West Texas, Gill and Jones explored the phenomena of leadership in higher education from the perspective of women who hold leadership positions at community colleges in west Texas. Traditionally, higher education has been a male-dominated field which has made it difficult for women to attain administrative positions. However, at the community colleges across the United States, women hold 50% of the leadership positions, which illustrates the openness of community colleges in accepting women in leadership positions. Also, the number of administrators projected to retire from community colleges in the near future illustrates that opportunities for women to attain leadership positions at community colleges will increase. In addition, community colleges have shared governance with collaborative decision-making. According to research, characteristics of an effective leader include caring, shar ed decision-making, and team-building which are attributed to women and support women as prime candidates for these future leadership positions at community colleges. However, the culture in the area of west Texas has been slow to accept a nontraditional view of women leaders at community college. According to the Texas Association of Community Colleges, the community colleges in west Texas have 30% of their leadership positions performed by women compared to the national average of 50%. WithShow MoreRelatedThe Historical And Evolutionary Process That Occurred Essay1387 Words   |  6 PagesTo fully understand the significance of our historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), we must examine the historical and evolutionary process that occurred in early education. Education during the colonial period included a strong emphasis on the bible. Leaders wanted students to be able to read and apply biblical principles. Education was primarily used for ministerial purposes. Another primary purpose of education during the countries early development was to serve as a means ofRead MoreCommunity College Leadership Gap Analysis8105 Word s   |  33 PagesCommunity College Leadership Gap Introduction A community college leadership crisis endures; within the next fifteen years, ninety percent of the community college presidents are expected to retire (McNair, 2015). To remain viable, United States community colleges need an influx of self-motivated, visionary leaders. Currently, there is a gap in leadership; (Anderson, 2014, Claus, 2013, Eddy, 2013, Hannum, 2015, Jones, 2014, Leist, 2013, McArdle, 2013, McFadden, 2013, McNair, 2015, Tunheim, 2015)Read MoreStudent Athletes And High School Athletics1816 Words   |  8 Pages(SEC=54, ACC=47, Pac-12=39, Big Ten=35, Big 12=25) (Probability of Competing Beyond High School, 2016). With there being a small percentage of playing professional sports after college, the importance of a college degree has become a priority for many student-athletes. Due to the Student Right-to-Know act from 1990, all colleges and universities are required by NCAA legislation and federal law to report student graduation rates (Graduation Rates, 2016). The data collected is the responsibility ofRead MorePersonal Statement And Social Responsibility Essay1122 Words   |  5 Pagesresponsibility, honesty, courage, collaboration, competence, professional behavior, confidentiality, excellence, community building, rituals, and legacy. These values are expressed in agency’s statements and various artifacts. The Vision statement â€Å"All Children Deserve the Best† acknowledges social responsibility and excellence. The Mission statement states, Partnering with parents and community, we provide a strong educational foundation to prepare children for future success expresses collaborationRead MoreAfrican American Nontraditional Students Case Study966 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican American Nontraditional Female Students Recent studies indicate an increase in the numbers of nontraditional students returning to colleges; the enrollment of students ages 25 and older rose by 13 percent between 1997 and 2007. NCES (2009) reported that from 2006 to 2017, there will be a continual increase in enrollment to nearly 20 percent for this age group (Bonner et al., 2015; Kenner Weinerman, 2011; Ross-Gordon, 2011). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there are 162Read MoreDeveloping a Mentor Program for Nurses1454 Words   |  6 Pagesleadership in creating a mentoring culture in acute care environments. Bally JM. College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. Med Teach. 2006 Aug;28(5):404-8. Twelve tips for developing effective mentors. Ramani S, Gruppen L, Kachur EK. Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118, USA. sramani@bu.edu J Community Health Nurs. 2008 Jan-Mar;25(1):15-25. Developing a preceptorship/mentorship modelRead MoreLegal Aspect of Affirmative Action Essay1288 Words   |  6 Pages(Soni, 1999, p. 579) In a legal sense affirmative action became a full-fledged policy when Executive Order 11246 was passed in 1965. Many institutions follow affirmative action plans but Executive Order 11246 only requires certain companies to do so. The federal government, all private organizations that do business with the federal government, such as contractors, all fall under Executive Order 11246 if they have 50 or more employees and hold a federal contract worth 50 thousand dollarsRead MoreMy Leadership Style By Rear Admiral Grace Hopper779 Words   |  4 Pagesinvokes a deeper meaning than the simple Merriam-Webster dictionary definition as â€Å"the office or position of a leader† (Merriam-Webster, 2015). Candidates seeking management positions are frequently asked about their leadership styles during interviews. It is a derivative of the â€Å"what is the purpose of my leadership† question asked by William George discussed in his article, â€Å"Note on why leaders lose th eir way† (2004, p.2). My leadership style is best illustrated by the following quote by Rear AdmiralRead MoreGender And Gender Leadership Gap1798 Words   |  8 PagesGender Leadership Gap Catalyst (2012) indicated that corporate world data showed that women represented only 4% of chief executive officer positions within Fortune 500 companies; similarly, DeFrank-Cole et al. (2013) advised that the lack of progress for women is dumbfounding considering that for the last 25 years; women’s entrance into professional and managerial careers has been on par with their male colleagues. Relatedly, Barsh (2012) identified a disparity of gender representation in seniorRead MoreI have been a part of various discourse communities in my life, but none of them have impacted me1500 Words   |  6 Pagesdiscourse communities in my life, but none of them have impacted me as much as DECA has. DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America and has been around in high schools and colleges for over 60 years. It was established in 1946 to increase education and career opportunities for students interested in careers in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. That miss ion has stayed pretty much true to today. According to DECA.org, its current mission is to â€Å"prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

The Role of Women in the 1920s free essay sample

A time when women broke out of their shells of modesty and were not afraid to bare a little skin or wear a bit of makeup; when women finally gained some control; when jazz music, drinking and partying were what society lived for; when flappers danced the night away. The 1920s was an era of great change in society’s attitude toward many different aspects of life. For instance, what was considered acceptable behavior for women and the way men treated their wives drastically changed. During World War I, women had to take up many responsibilities of the men fighting in war such as earning money for the family, leaving women no choice other than to get a job alongside of single-handedly raising their families. With men being gone and nobody to control their lives, women took advantage of their new-found freedom. Women now became a part of the night scene, partying and drinking more as well as dressing and acting more promiscuously. When the men came back from war, they had the same mindset about women as they did when they left, but were taken by surprise when they saw the drastic changes. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a novel set in the 1920s that exposes the dark layers of the twenties’ glamour. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald depicts the known and hidden lives and roles of women in the 1920s. Men always expected women to be under their control, doing only what they were told to do. â€Å"†¦ [Women] had been expected to remain behind the scenes, caring for homes and children and allowing men to take charge of society. † (Howes 19). In a man’s eyes, the only thing a woman was good for was to be a good house wife. It would be thought of as absurd and socially unacceptable for a woman to go outside of society’s N Selim 2 social norms by disobeying her husband’s word. Even getting a job would be unthinkable, until it was a necessity. Women were estimated to, in essence, worship their husbands. â€Å"†¦ [Women] were expected to be the guardians of morality and innocence; they were to obey their husbands, bear and raise children, and run their homes efficiently. Sex was a duty, the price they paid for the privilege of marriage and having babies, not something pleasurable. (Howes 19). To be married was thought of as an obligation, as opposed to getting married out of love because you wanted to. Along with the obligated marriage, sex was a woman’s duty; that married woman was to give her husband what he wanted and demanded. Essentially, wives were the slaves of their husbands. Women had no say in any major decision, so anything the husband decided would be the final word. In The Great Gatsby, when talking about the birth of her daughter Daisy says, ‘â€Å"I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool† (Fitzgerald 17). Fitzgerald, through Daisy’s sarcasm, is presenting the views of society about women. Daisy realizes that women are oppressed and men had all control. Daisy clearly does not want to have a daughter and would rather have a son. At least in this case, her daughter would not have to suffer, as she and most women of the 1920s have been. Eventually through time, women changed the way they perceived their own lives. They were becoming less conservative, less modest and more untroubled. â€Å"Women broke free of the traditions and restraints of the Victorian era in favor of short dresses, short hairstyles, and carefree ways† (Pendergast 4). Women no longer wanted to dress the way their husbands or society chose for them. They adopted their own sense of style, N Selim 3 which spread like a wild fire. These new trends, though were still thought of as scandalous, were the new rage. Women now began to think for themselves and live their own way. †¦ young women called flappers wore their hair in short bobs and their hemlines above the knees; they wore makeup and high heels and smoked and drank with the men. Both their â€Å"modern† behavior and their looks were considered scandalous at the time. † (Pendergast 4). Women cut their hair short to show their equality to men and wore short dresses to express their freedom. Along with their new looks, women began to go to large, wild parties. ‘â€Å".. he gives large parties†¦And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Fitzgerald, 49, 50). At this part of The Great Gatsby, Jordan is expressing her preferences about parties, thus explaining the fact that women attend parties. In the novel, Jordan is seen as one of the most independent women who did what she wanted. She is the more notable female character who acts like a flapper. Women also gained the sensibility to become more independent from their husbands. They were breaking free of the restrictions given to them by men and were beginning to take charge of their lives. Women finally gained rights and powers they have been waiting for, such as the right for women to vote as well as powers over men. Women were going out and shopping more than usual. If there was some extra money, they would spend the day time shopping, while they partied at night. â€Å"†¦people had a little extra money to spend and more leisure time than ever before, as technology and industry gave them automobiles and household appliances†¦Popular womens magazines featured articles on how a woman could raise her family and still have time for herself. † N Selim 4 (Baker 5). Though still taking care of their families, women were making more time for themselves. They were treating themselves now instead of pampering their husbands’ every need. Over time, women became so used to working, that they were not yet ready to let go of their new lives. â€Å"Over the four years of the war, women had become adept at earning a living outside the home. They did not want to leave their jobs when soldiers came back. And with the death of so many men during the war, some women were forced to continue supporting their families without the help of a man. The struggle to decide whether women would return to their old ways of life or to keep on with their newfound independence was another battle in the long campaign for womens rights. † (Baker 5). Though men were back and ready to take back their positions, women had already replaced themselves in society. At this point, women were taking over and there was very little men could do about it. As far as they could help it, women had no intentions of allowing life to go back to how it used to be. â€Å"†¦I knew that except for the half-hour she’d be alone with Gatsby, she wasn’t having a good time. † (Fitzgerald 107). Tom is talking about Daisy being with Gatsby. Before now, the thought of a women being alone with another man who is not her husband was absolutely unacceptable, let alone a women having an affair or multiple affairs. This shows that Daisy and Gatsby’s affair was known and most-likely accepted by those who knew. Now women were going out with whoever they wanted to, doing whatever they wanted to. Women were having affairs and sex became more of a casual activity, as opposed to an intimate activity, or furthermore an obligation to their husbands. Women were taking a 180 degree turn in the roles they had in society. N Selim 5 Before World War I, every aspect of women’s lives were controlled by their husbands. Once men went away to war, women gained a new sense of independence from their husbands and began living more care-free. Women were forced to get jobs, which lead to their new identification in society. When the war was over and the men returned, women had no plan of giving up their new rights and independence. To display their new independence, women opted to wear shorter dresses and heavier makeup. Also, women decided to take advantage of the little rules they had. Women now drank, partied and have affairs. F. Scott Fitzgerald reflects the actions of women in the 1920s in his novel The Great Gatsby. Through the female characters in the novel, such as Daisy, Jordan and Myrtle, Fitzgerald portrays the freedom and power women gained in the 1920s. He depicts the changing views of society towards women and acceptability of scandalous actions and activities of women in the 1920s.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Machiavelli v. Hobbes Essays - Niccol Machiavelli, Calvin And Hobbes

Machiavelli v. Hobbes: Of Princes, Prudence, and Populist Parallels Or Moral Elasticity and the Limitation of the Infinite Though it may be considered obvious that both Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes are true giants in the field of political philosophy, what is not so obvious is the interchangeability of their ideas across time. The historical context of the lives of each of these men contributes heavily to their individual content and modes of writing, and in that sense it is easy to make claims regarding their differences; And yet the contexts of both works are perhaps more similar than differing. In fact, both The Prince and Leviathan could easily be considered to each contain a mutual causality-to be written in ?response? to one other. In this paper I will demonstrate both: that the most successful state operated by a Machiavellian prince would in fact be Leviathan, and that the only leader capable of controlling Leviathan effectively would indeed be a Machiavellian prince. This concept is based primarily on three core arguments: that the natural state of man is the same for both Hobbes and Machiavelli, that this state results in the historically accepted or traditional interpretations of morality becoming infinitely flexible, and that only one who wholly embraces these truths will prevail. While Hobbes uses this moral elasticity to help define the state of human nature, Machiavelli uses it to justify administrative objectives. Viewed singularly each work stands on its own merits, one, a tract on the art of leadership, the other, a treatise on the science of government. Merged together they can become a formidably realistic political concept-an unbreakable state with an unbreakable leader. When Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513, the Italian peninsula was the whore of Europe. Her legs spread wide, she was violently and repeatedly entered by France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. Her compensation paid to Swiss and German mercenaries, her selfish children could not rise above their petty squabbles and lustful desires for power to unite and protect her. Amidst the pusillanimous politics of popes and princes, it is no small wonder that Machiavelli observes that ?one can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain# A cynical view of human nature to be sure, yet Machiavelli had a purpose in mind when penning this work. Though that purpose has been debated# surely we can trust in this statement reflecting his true mind. One thing Machiavelli teaches us in The Prince it is that politics is perception, so perhaps we should not be so trusting. What a man says in public and in private could be two completely different things could it not? Fortunately, Machiavelli left a copious amount of personal correspondence. In a private letter to Soderini#, Machiavelli writes, ?I believe that as Nature has given every man a different face, so she also has given each a different character and imagination. From this it follows that each man governs himself according to his particular character and imagination.?# Each man governs himself according to his character and imagination. This statement has profound implications when interpreted correctly. First, we must assume that his use of the word ?governs? is not in a sense of state sovereignty, but refers rather to the methods and motivations of human action, both the liberties one has the potential to take with himself and others, and the specific restraints that one places on those liberties. The adjective ?particular? conveys a sense of specific uniqueness (like a face) in both character and imagination. ?Character? is referring to a personal code of ethics, what a man deems good or evil. Imagination in this context relates mostly to desire; For what is desire, but the imagining of that which is currently lacking? So this statement could be rewritten as: All men choose their own actions, and these chosen actions are dependent upon who they are and what they want. Every operant in this statement is both differing and infinite: action, identity, and desire. Machiavelli is portraying a world where anyone at anytime can do anything, motivated solely by desire, and constrained only by identity. Combined with his previous assertion that men are ?avoiders of