The Orchestration of Jesus Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem

Abstract Jesus triumphal entry to the city of Jerusalem was a carefully orchestrated messianic act. The Old Testament prophecy of Zechariah had foretold the coming of the King of Israel and the way He would accomplish this. In the fulfillment of the prophecy, Jesus made the triumphal entry on the first day of the week and many people accompanied Him.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Orchestration of Jesus Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Amidst the loud voices of praises to God, some Pharisees stood on the sidelines and criticized the multitude for their jubilant procession. However, Christ took sides with the crowd and reproved the accusers. And, sorrow was suddenly seen on the countenance of Jesus as He wept over the city of Jerusalem because of its rejection of the word of God. As a result, Christ foretold the imminent destruction of the beautiful and unholy city since it failed to acknowledge the day of Messiah’s visitation. Introduction Half a millennium before the coming of Christ, the prophet Zechariah predicted the coming of the King of Israel: â€Å"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.† Zech. 9:9. The fulfillment of this prophecy was imminent as the One who had declined many times to be bestowed with royal honours made his way to the city of Jerusalem as the promised inheritor of King David’s throne. Jesus made the triumphal entry into the city on the first day of the week and many people who were with Him at Bethany accompanied him. It was during the Passover; thus, several people attending the feast joined the jubilant procession to witness His reception.1 Amidst loud voices of praises to God and references to the new kingdom of David, all worked out as carefully orchestrated as Christ made the triumphal entry to the city. The disciples get the colt The hope of the multitude concerning the coming kingdom was again coming out alive. All nature looked as if it was filled with astounding joy. The trees were covered with luxuriance. And, their blossoming seemed to fill the air with a sweet scent.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The people who thronged the triumphal entry were animated with joy and gladness of heart. With the intention of riding into the ancient city as its King, Christ had sent two of disciples to go and get Him an ass together with its colt. 2 At His birth, Christ had relied on the kindness of strangers; the manger at Bethlehem whereby he laid was a borrowed place of rest, and now, although He had authority over all the creation, he relied on the courtesy of a stranger to enable Him enter Jerusalem triumphantly. Nonethe less, the careful orchestration of this event was evident, even in the minute instructions given to fulfill the task. As the Saviour predicted, the request, â€Å"The Lord needs them,† (Luke 19:34), was gladly approved. Bock notes, â€Å"the tradition of angarÄ ±ÃŒ a can explain the ease with which this is achieved. It is possible that the person is a friend or that the expression would be sufficient to allow them to take the animal. In either case, the remark demonstrates Jesus’ control over events†. 3 Christ planed for all the unseen events. Further, Christ showed total knowledge in this instance. This is because He gave the disciples exact details concerning the whereabouts of the animal, its tied-up condition, the fact that no man had ever used it, and the method they were to use in obtaining it. Christ selected for His use an animal that no one had ever employed for service. Upon getting the colt, the messengers, with eagerness of heart, spread their clot hes on it, and made the Lord to sit on it. Before this, the Saviour had always preferred to make His journeys on foot. Thus, the multitude wondered at first at the decision of their Master to ride on the beast. Nonetheless, hope was brightening in the hearts of the disciples and their expectations rose to the highest pitch.4 The cheerful idea that Christ was nearing the ancient city of Jerusalem, declare Himself as the heir of David’s throne, and affirm His royal power, glowed the expectations of everyone in the procession. It is important to note that the Saviour was upholding the Jewish tradition intended for a royal entry. The beast He used for the triumphal entry was that used by the kings of Israel for travelling in times of peace. For example, Jair, the Judge, had thirty sons who rod on donkeys (Judges 10:4), Ahithopel rode on a donkey (2 Samuel 17:23), and Mephibosheth, the royal prince, came to David riding on a donkey (2 Samuel 19:26).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Orchestration of Jesus Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This was contrary to the fact that kings travelled upon horses in times of war in the Middle East. Thus, the action of Christ of riding on a donkey symbolized that he was not the warrior figure that the multitude anticipated, but the Prince of Peace, and, worth mentioning, no one saw it that way then, even His disciples who were supposed to be conversant with this. The thoughts of the people were clouded with a type of mass hysteria and they looked at Jesus as the Messiah of their own making, not the One whom God had sent. More so, prophecy had predicted that the Messiah would â€Å"ride upon an ass, and upon a colt of an ass† (Zech. 9:9). Immediately he had sat on the animal, the air was filled with praises as the multitude praised God in loud voices for all the great things they had witnessed. The people acknowledg ed Him as the Messiah, their King, and the Saviour now allowed honour that he had never before consented to. The multitude thought that this was an evidence that their joyous expectations were about to be fulfilled by His being declared to be the new King of Israel. In addition, in the Old Testament, Jerusalem was viewed as the city of Israel’s kings. After King David had established his throne there, subsequent kings followed this tradition. Thus, the crowd viewed Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem as a symbol that he was going to establish his throne there. The multitude’s messianic praises The people were persuaded that the time of their liberation from the oppressive rule by the Romans had come. In thoughts, they saw the foreign rule destroyed and their country once more attain self-rule that had been robbed from them. The multitude was joyous and full of excitement. And, they competed with each other in hailing Him as Messiah, their King. Even though the multitude did not exhibit outward pageantry and magnificence, they revered the Saviour in their joyous hearts. Even though they could not present Him with expensive gifts, they spread their cloaks on the road for Him to step on.5 The act of spreading the garments on the road is exemplified from the Old Testament account in which the people spread their outer garments on the road and proclaimed Jehu to be the king of Israel (2 Kings 9:13). More over, they also placed leafy tree branches and palm on the Saviour’s road to the ancient city of Jerusalem.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As much as the demonstration could not meet royal standards, they used palm branches as the nature’s symbol of victory and waved them in the air with deafening praises of â€Å"Blessed is he who comes in the name of Jehovah† (Psalms 118:26). There are minute wording differences in the depiction of the event in the four Gospel accounts. Mathew’s account of the triumphal entry depicts the royal entry of Christ into the city. Contrary to Mark’s account, the procession has a greater association to Christ’s link to the Davidic line as the people shout â€Å"Hossanna to the son of David† (Matthew 21:9). However, Matthew fails to depict that Jesus’ entry into the city was triumphant and stresses the humble arrival of the Davidic king into the city. Mark’s account of the event follows Mathew’s, enhancing the royal entry of the son of David into the city. Mark’s narration of the event fails to fulfill any Jewish nationalis tic hopes; however, he depicts Jesus as bringing judgment upon the unfruitful house of Israel. As with the previous accounts, Luke’s narrative of the event brings greater prominence to Christ’s royal dignity and the nature of the entry into the city. According to the Third Gospel, Christ’s entry into the city is to lay claim on his Temple, cleansing it for His purposes. Jesus coming, thus, is not as an earthly king, but it is similar to a divine visitation of the Lord (Luke19: 43-44). A study of the Fourth Gospel reveals significant differences that give an indication of an independent tradition of the same event. The procession in the Johannine account does not shout praises along the way (Mark 11:8–10; Matthew 21:8–9; Luke 19:36–38), but Jesus is received by a reception party from the city that has come for a cordial reception of the Messiah into the city (John 12:12–14). In addition, instead of strewing the branches on the pathway of Christ, the well-wishers hold them in their hands (John 12:13). William Barclay comments on this Psalm that it was the last psalm of the group (113-118) referred to as Hallel, meaning Praise God, so the chant was a praising psalm. He says, â€Å"They were part of the first memory work every Jewish boy had to do; they were sung often at great acts of praise and thanksgiving in the Temple; they were an integral part of the Passover ritual†.6 In addition, this was evidently the victor’s psalm. For example, over a century before the triumphal entry, the Israelites had sung this psalm in jubilation when they acknowledged the victory of Simon Maccabeus in war against their enemies. Maccabeus had defeated Acra and taken it from the Syrians; hence, this was the cause of jubilation. Therefore, it is evident that when the multitude sang this psalm, they had the hope that Christ was the Conqueror and the one who could redeem them from their enemies.7 Additionally, it is eviden t that they perceived Him to be God’s Anointed One, the Messiah, who was meant to sweep their long delayed triumph over Rome and the whole world. 8To the multitude, they were just waiting for the alarm to be sounded so that they could claim their victory. As the disciples continued with their demonstration, other people who had heard of Christ’s coming to the capital hurried to be part of jubilant throng. Onlookers were continually intermingling with the procession and inquiring about what was happening as well as the meaning of the orchestrated commotion. Most of them had heard of Christ and they hoped that He would go to the capital; however, they were astonished at the changes that had taken place because He had thwarted all previous efforts to crown Him the King of Israel. More over, the onlookers were amazed at the loud acclamations since heretofore He had made it clear that His kingdom does not belong to this world. However, the inquiries of the spectators are si lenced by loud voices of victory. As the people afar off echoed shouts of triumph, crowds from Jerusalem joined the demonstration who greeted Him with the waving of palm branches and rent praises to God in the air. From the large number of people assembled to attend the Passover, many went forth to pay homage to Christ. And, as the priests called the people for the service just before dusk, not many came forth, making the leaders to start becoming suspicious of the activities of Jesus. During His ministry, Christ had not allowed such a procession to take place and he plainly foresaw that the result of this would lead him to the cross. Nonetheless, He had intended to present Himself in public as the Messiah and thus call to the attention of everyone the sacrifice that was to end his earthly ministry. When the Jews were gathering at Jerusalem to mark the Passover, Jesus, the antitypical Lamb, willingly set Himself apart to be sacrificed so that the events, which came before His death at the cross should be a subject of great thought and duty so as to call attention to the great sacrifice itself.9 Following such a jubilant procession in His entry to the ancient city, the attention of everyone would be called to His quick advancements that would mark the end of his mission on earth. The happenings of this great demonstration would be the subject of discussion, as many would seek to find their relation to His trial and death.10 As many would remember Christ, they would be led to study the scriptures. Thus, they would be persuaded that indeed Jesus was the Messiah. As a result, many would be converted to the faith all over the world. Never before had such a victorious demonstration taken place in any part of the globe.11 The shouts echoed and re-echoed from hill to hill and from valley to valley as the multitude sang, â€Å"Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest† (Luke 19:38). The triumphal proce ssion had never been like that of the world’s prominent victors as no trophies of kingly bravery were present at the scene. However, about the Coming One were the magnificent trophies of His relentless toils of love for the wickedness of the world.12 Captives he had rescued from the evil one’s power, the blind who could now see, the dumb who were now shouting hosannas, the cripples who were now walking, the lepers whom He had cleansed from their deadly ailments, and even those He had rescued from the hold of death, were present in the procession. The Pharisees’ criticism In the background of the procession, Pharisees were present. As they were filled with jealousy and hatred, they searched for ways of making the popular feeling to be without meaning. Thus, they employed their authority to stop the multitude from shouting jubilant praises. However, their pleas and intimidations turned on deaf ears and served only to increase the excitement of the crowd. The Jewis h authorities feared that the many people who were present in the procession would make Jesus the king of Israel. As the final option, they made their way through the multitude and to where Christ was to beseech Him. They said, â€Å"Teacher, rebuke your disciples† (Luke 19:39). They maintained that such noisy processions were not allowed the Roman government and would only serve to bring them more penalties. However, the reply of the Saviour silenced them, â€Å"I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out† (Luke 19:40). The scene of the jubilant demonstration was divinely orchestrated.13 The prophet of God had predicted it. Thus, man did not have any power to prevent God’s own appointing from taking place. If the people had fallen short of fulfilling this purpose, God could have passed the privilege to the inanimate objects. To accomplish His purpose, they would have hailed His Son with praises of joy. Further, the Je wish authorities’ criticism of the praises depicts that nothing has changed. 14They have still declined to acknowledge that God sent Christ and that He is the Messiah. The Pharisees’ objection is but the initial of their several actions to thwart the mission of Jesus and ultimately kill Him. Jesus weeping over the city As soon as the demonstration arrived at the peak of the hill, a sudden change was seen on the face of the Messiah. Before they were to descend to Jerusalem, His sudden change of countenance summoned the demonstration to stop. The westering sun clearly revealed the glory of the ancient city of Jerusalem. The multitude was attracted at the grandeur of the temple, which had been their pride and glory as a nation. As the Saviour looked at the magnificence of the temple, the people stared at Him with the expectation of seeing on His face the same appreciation they themselves were feeling concerning the sudden sight of beauty before them. However, they were sh ocked and dissatisfied when they observed the Saviour’s eyes filled with an agony of tears.15 The multitude was astonished at this sight of the Messiah, whom they were welcoming to the magnificent city to be crowned king. They expected He was about to start His reign, but the sudden sorrow in the midst of the scene of rejoicing made them to be spellbound. 16 The tears of Christ were not in expectation of His own death at the cross, but the sight of Israel’s utter rejection of their Redeemer pierced the heart of the Son of God. The Saviour’s agony was not selfish. The Jews had scorned His love. They declined to accept His teachings even the mighty miracles He performed did nothing to make them change their ways.17 Jesus saw that the people were in guilt of forsaking their day of visitation. Heretofore, the Jews were a favoured people. The temple of the Lord, where He dwelt, was present amongst them. For more than a thousand years, the temple had been used for utt ering the messages of God, offering animal sacrifices for sin, and holding ceremonies. However, the culmination of all these was imminent. Amidst, the sorrow He felt for the doomed city of Jerusalem, Jesus exclaimed, â€Å"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes†¦(Luke 19: 42). Christ’s weeping of the impending doom of Jerusalem was similar to the one that Prophet Jeremiah gave concerning the approaching exile of the Israelites to Babylon (Jeremiah 6:6-20) or Prophet Isaiah’s proclamation of the looming destruction of the city of Jerusalem (Isaiah 29: 1-3). Christ weeping depicts that the results of denouncing God’s word is a national judgment; when God strives for peace and His conditions are denounced, judgment is unavoidable.18 If Israel had acknowledged the gift God’s beloved Son, Jesus could not have pronounced the impending doom that was awaiting the glorious city. If t he Israelites had accepted the Messenger from above and listened to His reproves, they might have been healed of their grievous malady, set free from bondage, and became the world’s diadem of glory.19 However, the doomed people rejected God’s last massage for them; thus, their misery was forthcoming. Jesus was sent to liberate the people of Israel. However, Pharisaical arrogance, insincerity, covetousness, and hatred had thwarted His efforts of fulfilling His mission.20 Christ was aware of the dreadful retribution that would be visited upon the doomed city: â€Å"The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side†¦. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you (Luke 19: 43-44). Thus, in anticipation of the desolation that was awaiting Jerusalem because of refusing His salvation, Christ wept over the beloved city. The beau tiful and unholy city had ignored God’s warnings, ridiculed His mercies, and was about to put His son to death. As a father weeps over a disobedient child, Christ was moved by the increasing wickedness of the city that would forever shut the grace of God from it. As the procession advanced, the authorities in Jerusalem received the message that Christ was nearing the city. However, they feel no urge to welcome the Messiah, and in fear, they moved out with the expectation of using their authority to disperse the multitude. Conclusion In Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem, he drew near the ancient city in a carefully orchestrated manner. He asks two of His get a beast for Him so that he could ride on it as he approached the city. Jesus got into Jerusalem to the eschatological shouts of the people. The multitude sang praises signifying God’s power seen through His son. More over, they acknowledged that Christ came as a king in the name of the Lord. The behaviour o f the people depicted the accomplishment of the national craving for salvation, often seen during the Passover. As the jubilant procession was advancing, some Jewish authorities stood on the sidelines and criticized the followers of Christ for their noisy demonstration. However, Christ approved the messianic praise he was receiving and commented that if they were to stop, then stones would take up the refrain of praise to fulfill the purpose of God. Despite Christ’s attempts to deliver God’s messages, He was rejected; thus, He wept over the doom that was awaiting the glorious city of Jerusalem. Christ, talking on behalf of God, noted that he wished to assemble the Israelites under His wing, a depiction of concern and protection; however, His people chose to go it alone and rejected God’s messages. As a result, Jesus prophesied that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed in total as they missed the Messiah’s visitation. Bibliography Barclay, William. The Gospel of John (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001). Bock , Darrell. Luke 9:51-24:53 (BECNT; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996). Bockmuehl, Markus. This Jesus: martyr, Lord, Messiah (London; New York, NY: T T Clark International, 2004). Buckwalter, Douglas. The character and purpose of Luke’s Christology (Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996). Clark, George. A new harmony of the four Gospels in English†¦ (New York, S.W. Green, 1870). Craig, Evans A. Mark 8:27-16:20 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001). Deffinbaugh, Robert. That you might believe: a study of the Gospel of John (Dallas, Tex.: Biblical Studies Press, 2002). Graves, Joel. Gathering over Jerusalem (New York: Xulon Press, 2003). Grun, Anselm. Through the year with Jesus (New York: Continuum, 2004). Hanna, William. The Passion week (Edinburgh: Edmonston Douglas, 1866.). Kinman, Brent. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem: in the context of Lukan theology and the  politics of his day (Leiden: Brill, 1995). Losie, L. Triumphal Entry,† in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (eds. Green, McKnight Marshall; Leceister: IVP, 1992). Malone, Tom. With Jesus after sinners (New York: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1966). Miller, Jarid. Yahshua, the man Behind the Glory (New York: Xlibris Corporation, 2010). Neander, August. The life of Jesus Christ : in its historical connexion and historical  development (New York : Harper, 1851). Padfield, David. ‘Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem’ In The Church of Christ in Zion,  Illinois. Web. Rice, John. The Son of God (Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1976). Redford, Douglas. The life and ministry of Jesus: the Gospels (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Pub., 2007). Stein, Robert H. Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ (Downers Grove: IVP, 1996). Williams, Isaac. The Gospel narrative of the Holy Week, harmonized (London: Ravington, 1843). Footnotes 1  Isaac Williams, The Gospel narrative of the Holy Week, harmonized, (London: Ravington, 1843), 13-24. 2 Jarid Miller, Yahshua, the man Behind the Glory (New York: Xlibris Corporation, 2010), 99-100. 3 Darrell Bock. Luke 9:51-24:53 (BECNT; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996) 4 David, Padfield, ‘Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem’ In The Church of Christ in Zion, Illinois. 5 L. Losie. Triumphal Entry,† in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (eds. Green, McKnight Marshall; Leceister: IVP, 1992), 854-859. 6 William Barclay. The Gospel of John (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001), 132-136. 7 John Rice. The Son of God (Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1976), 245-250. 8 Markus Bockmuehl. This Jesus: martyr, Lord, Messiah (London; New York, NY: T T Clark International, 2004), 90-92. 9 William Hanna, The Passion week (Edinburgh: Edmonston Douglas, 1866.). 3-20. 10 Brent Kinman, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem : in the context of Lukan theology and the politics of his day (Leiden: Brill, 1995), 159-161. 11 Joel Graves, Gathering over Jerusalem (New York: Xulon Press, 2003), 51-52. 12 August Neander, The life of Jesus Christ : in its historical connexion and historical development (New York : Harper, 1851), 355-360. 13 Robert Stein, H. Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ (Downers Grove: IVP, 1996). 14 Douglas Buckwalter, The character and purpose of Luke’s Christology (Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996), 108-111. 15 Tom Malone, With Jesus after sinners (New York: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1966), 147-148. 16 Evans Craig A, Mark 8:27-16:20 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001). 17 Douglas Redford, The life and ministry of Jesus: the Gospels (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Pub., 2007), 239-242. 18 George Clark, A new harmony of the four Gospels in English†¦ (New York, S.W. Green, 1870), 290-294. 19 Anselm Grun, Through the year with Jesus (New York: Continuum, 2004), 101-106. 20 Robert Deffinbaugh, That you might believe: a study of the Gospel of John (Dallas, Tex.: Biblical Studies Press, 2002), 370-373. This essay on The Orchestration of Jesus Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem was written and submitted by user Sunset Bain to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Freeze Tag Drama Class Improv Game

Freeze Tag Drama Class Improv Game The Basics Freeze Tag (also known simply as Freeze) is an improvisation game and a great drama exercise for performers at any level. It works best in groups of eight or more. Two volunteers step onto the stage while the rest of the actors sit and wait for the right moment to join in. I Need a Location As with most improv activities, audience participation is essential. The actors on stage will request suggestions for a specific location. If this is a classroom exercise, the drama instructor should encourage the audience to be creative with their suggestions. For example, Stuck inside a giant vending machine or In the break room of Santas Workshop is far more inspiring than Shopping mall. The performers listen to a few of the suggestions. They then quickly select an interesting setting and the scene begins. The goal of the actors is to invent characters and dialogue off the cuff. They should quickly establish a storyline and conflict. Also, they should be encouraged to move about the stage space, pantomiming whatever they wish to incorporate into the scene. Calling Freeze! After the actors have been given enough time to create an interesting situation, the performers sitting in the audience can now participate. All they need to do is shout, Freeze! The actors on stage will then stand motionless. Whoever called out freeze enters the stage space. He or she takes the place of one of the actors, recreating the exact same pose. This can sometimes be challenging if the actor happens to be in a ballet position or crawling on all fours. But thats part of the fun! Keep It Going A brand new scene begins with a different setting and different characters. No more suggestions are taken from the audience. Instead, it is up to the performers to invent the situation. Drama instructors should ask students to let the physical positions influence the storyline of the next scene. For example, if one set of performers is frozen while in the middle of a tug of war contest, the next scene could take place at an Amish barn raising. Also, instructors should make certain that each scene is given enough time to develop. Usually, two or three minutes is ample time to establish character and conflict. At first, improvisation activities might be very challenging for unseasoned performers. Yet, we often played these sorts of games when we were children. Remember: Improvisation is simply an advanced form of playing pretend.

My Dads - Sample Common Application Essay - Option #1

My Dads - Sample Common Application Essay - Option #1 The essay prompt for option #1 of the 2018-19  Common Application allows students a lot of breadth: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The prompt allows students to write about just about anything they find extremely important in their lives. Charlie chose this option because his atypical family situation was a defining part of his identity. Here is his essay: Charlie's Common Application Essay My Dads I have two dads. They met in the early 80s, became partners soon after, and adopted me in 2000. I think I’ve always know that we were a little different from most families, but that’s never really bothered me. My story, that which defines me, is not that I have two dads. I’m not automatically a better person, or smarter, or more talented, or better looking because I am the child of a same-sex couple. I’m not defined by the number of fathers I have (or the lack of mothers). Having two dads is inherent to my person not because of the novelty; it’s inherent because it has afforded me a completely unique life perspective. I’m very fortunate to have grown up in a loving and safe environment- with caring friends, family, and neighbors. I know for my dads, that was not always the case. Living on a farm in Kansas, my dad Jeff struggled internally with his identity for years. My dad Charley was luckier; born and raised in New York City, he was always supported by his parents and the community there. He only has a few stories of being harassed on the street or the subway. Dad Jeff, though, has a web of scarring on his right arm, from the time he was jumped leaving a bar; one of the men pulled a knife on him. When I was little, he used to make up stories about these scars; it wasn’t until I was fifteen that he told me the truth. I know how to be afraid. My dads know how to be afraid- for me, for themselves, for the life they’ve created. When I was six, a man threw a brick through our front window. I don’t remember much about that night save for a few images: the police arriving, my aunt Joyce helping to clean up the glass, my dads hugging, how they let me sleep in their bed that night. This night wasn’t a turning point for me, a realization that the world is an ugly, nasty place. We carried on as usual, and nothing like that ever happened again. I guess, in retrospect, my dads were just used to living slightly afraid. But it never stopped them from going out in public, being seen together, being seen with me. Through their bravery, their unwillingness to give in, they taught me the virtue of courage more concretely and lasting than a thousand parables or Bible verses ever could. I also know how to respect people. Growing up in a â€Å"different† family dynamic has led me to appreciate and understand others who are labeled as â€Å"different.† I know how they feel. I know where they’re coming from. My dads know what it is like to be spat on, looked down on, yelled at, and belittled. Not only do they want to keep me from being bullied; they want to keep me from bullying. They have taught me, through their actions, beliefs, and habits, always to strive to be the best person I can. And I know countless other people have learned the same things from their own parents. But my story is different. I wish having same-sex parents wasn’t the novelty it is. I’m not a charity case, or a miracle, or a role model because I have two dads. But I am who I am because of them. Because of all they’ve lived through, dealt with, suffered, and tolerated. And from that, they’ve taught me how to help others, how to care about the world, how to make a difference- in a thousand small ways. I am not just the â€Å"boy with two dads;† I’m the boy with two dads who taught him how to be a decent, caring, courageous, and loving human being. A Critique of Charlie's Common Application Essay Overall, Charlie has written a strong essay. This critique looks at the features of the  essay that make it shine as well as a few areas that could use a little improvement. The Essay Title Charlies title is short and simple, but it is also effective. Most college applicants have a single dad, so the mention of plural dads is likely to pique the interest of the reader. Good titles dont need to be funny, punny, or clever, and Charlie has clearly gone for a straight-forward but effective approach. There are, of course, many strategies for writing a good essay title, but Charlie has done a good job on this front.    The Essay Length For the 2018-19 academic year, the Common Application essay has a word limit of 650 and a minimum length of 250 words. At 630 words, Charlies essay is on the long side of the range. Youll see advice from many college counselors stating that you are better off keeping your essay short, but that advice is controversial. Sure, you dont want to have wordiness, fluff, digressions, vague language, or redundancy in your essay (Charlie is not guilty of any of these sins). But a well-crafted, tight, 650-word essay can provide the admissions folks with a more detailed portrait of you than a 300-word essay. The fact that the college is asking for an essay means that it has  holistic admissions, and the admissions folks want to learn about you as an individual. Use the space youve been given to do so. Again, there are many theories about the ideal essay length, but you can obviously do a more thorough job introducing yourself to the college with an essay that takes advantage of the space youve been given. The Essay Topic Charlie steers clear of some of the obvious bad essay topics, and he has certainly focused on a topic that the admissions folks wont see very frequently. His topic is an excellent choice for Common Application option #1 for his domestic situation has clearly played a defining role in who he is. There are, of course, a few conservative colleges with religious affiliations that would not look favorably upon this essay, but thats not an issue here since those are schools that would not be a good match for Charlie. The essay topic is also a good choice in that it illustrates how Charlie will contribute to the diversity of the college campus. Colleges want to enroll a diverse college class, for we all learn from interacting with people who are different than us. Charlie contributes to diversity not through race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, but by having an upbringing that is different from the great majority of people.   Weaknesses of the Essay For the most part, Charlie has written an excellent essay. The prose in the essay is clear and fluid, and aside from an incorrect  punctuation mark and a vague pronoun reference, the writing is pleasing free of errors. Although Charlies essay isnt likely to create any significant concerns from readers, the tone of the conclusion could use a little reworking. The last sentence, in which he calls himself a decent, caring, courageous, and loving human being, comes across as a little strong with the self-praise. In fact, that last paragraph would be stronger if Charlie simply cut the final sentence. Hes already made the point in that sentence without the problem of tone we encounter at the very end. This is a classic case of show, dont tell. Charlie has shown that he is a decent person, so he doesnt need to spoon feed that information to his reader. The Overall Impression Charlies essay has much that is excellent, and the admissions folks are likely to respond positively to how understated most of it is. For example, when Charlie narrates the scene of the brick flying through the window, he says, this night wasnt a turning point for me. This is not an essay about sudden life-changing epiphanies; rather, it is about the life-long lessons in bravery, perseverance, and love that have made Charlie into the person that he is. A couple simple questions you can ask when evaluating an essay are these: 1) Does the essay help us get to know the applicant better? 2) Does the applicant seem like someone who would contribute to a campus community in a positive way? With Charlies essay, the answer to both questions is yes. To see more sample essays and learn strategies for each of the essay options, be sure to read The 2018-19 Common Application Essay Prompts.

Discussion Board Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Discussion Board - Essay Example Conversely, "passive" ITS probe vehicles are vehicles that are already in the traffic stream for purposes other than data collection. passenger in the test vehicle; Historically, the manual method has been the most commonly used travel time data collection technique. This method requires a driver and a passenger to be in the test vehicle. The driver operates the test vehicle while the passenger records time information at predefined checkpoints to the transmission of the test vehicle; Technology has automated the manual method with the use of an electronic DMI. The DMI is connected to a portable computer in the test vehicle and receives pulses at given intervals from the transmission of the vehicle. Distance and speed information are then determined from these pulses satellites. GPS has become the most recent technology to be used for travel time data collection. A GPS receiver is connected to a portable computer and collects the latitude and longitude information that enables tracking of the test vehicle. Each of these test vehicle techniques is described in detail in the following sections of this chapter. The following elements are included for each technique: overview, advantages and disadvantages, cost and equipment requirements, data collection instructions, data reduction and quality control, and previous experiences. Since the driver of the test vehicle is a member of the data collection team, driving styles and behavior can be controlled to match desired driving behavior. The following are three common test vehicle driving styles (1): - Average car - test vehicle travels according to the driver's judgement of the average speed of the traffic stream; - Floating car - driver "floats" with the traffic by attempting to safely pass as many vehicles as pass the test vehicle; and - Maximum car - test vehicle is driven at the posted speed limit unless impeded by actual traffic conditions or safety considerations. The floating car driving style is the most commonly referenced. In practice, however, drivers will likely adopt a hybrid of the floating car and average car because of the inherent difficulties of keeping track of passed and passing vehicles in high traffic volume conditions Advantages and Disadvantages The manual method (pen and paper) has the following advantages: - No special equipment needs; - Low skill level (no special hardware training); and - Minimal equipment costs. The manual method (pen and paper) has the following disadvantages: - High labor requirements (driver and observer); - Low level of detail (average speeds for 0.4 to 0.8 km, or 0.25 to 0.5 mi). Average speed and delay are reasonable while queue length and speed profiles are difficult; - Greater potential for human error (potential for marking wrong checkpoints or inaccurate times); - Potential data entry errors (e.g.,

Inquiry of The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood Essay

Inquiry of The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood - Essay Example Enric Miralles, the Catalan architect and designer of the building died while the project was in progress. The former Lord Advocate Peter Fraser in his Holyrood Inquiry in 2003 has identified the Construction Management method of procurement as one of the major factors affecting the final cost of the project (White and Sidhu 2005). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to outline the alternative methods of construction procurement that may have been considered for the Scottish Parliament building. One of the methods will be selected as the most suitable, and the reasons for the choice will be explained. The Scottish Parliament building has won numerous awards including the 2005 Stirling Prize for its architecture. The design of the construction was conceived as a poetic fusion of the â€Å"Scottish landscape, its people, its culture and the city of Edinburgh† (Satellite Sites 2008). However, the unrealistic cost estimates at the conception stage, the lack of true comprehension of the architects’ evolving design, requirement for changes and increases approved by the client: the Secretary of State and later the Parliament, and the consequent rise in costs resulted in financial difficulties during the construction. Most significantly, there was inadequate understanding of the Construction Management route of procurement, with no information given to the ministers regarding the risks involved in this method. Moreover, due to the complexity of the project, high maintenance costs are being incurred in an ongoing manner (White and Sidhu 2005). The procurement system is the project organisational structure adopted by the client. It is defined as the â€Å"collective action required to acquire the design, management and installation of inputs† (Ngowi 2000, p.362). According to Morledge (2006), over the last twenty-five years, there have not been any significant changes in the United Kingdom strategies for the procurement of new

Alternatives to Human-embryo Stem-cell Research Essay -- Argumentative

Alternatives to Human-embryo Stem-cell Research      Ã‚   This essay counters the media and many scientists' claims that there are no viable alternatives to human-embryo stem-cell research (ESCR).    The media restate the claim (made repeatedly in NIH documents) that adult stem cells do not have the same potential as embryonic stem cells, which in theory can form any tissue. But studies done with adult stem cells (studies which mirror the ones done with embryonic stem cells) show that adult stem cells do have the capacity to form essentially any tissue.    The most misleading term which continues to be used is "pluripotent." Literally, this means able to form most (but not all) tissues. This term continues to be used incorrectly, primarily to imply that human embryonic stem cells can form all human tissues except "trophoblast" tissue - this is an essential outer layer of cells in the early embryo which allows it to implant into the uterine wall and nourishes early development. The trophoblast is also the part of the embryo removed in its destruction to harvest the inner embryonic stem cells. The phrase "human pluripotent stem cells" has been used to counter the question of whether human embryonic stem cells in culture could actually reform a human embryo, implying that this is not possible. Yet in testimony before the Senate, then-Director of the NIH, Harold Varmus, said that this possibility was uncertain, and that in fact it would be unethical to attempt such an experiment to determine whether this was possible (Varmus). Enter the te rm pluripotent - if the embryonic stem cells cannot form trophoblast, they cannot form an embryo. Mouse embryonic stem cells cannot form trophoblast tissue. BUT, as stated in Thomson... ... disputing that we are a human being even at the one-cell stage. It has never been acceptable to sacrifice one set of human lives for the potential benefit of others (and they are only potential benefits at this point.) Human embryonic stem cell research assigns different values to different human beings, designating some as people and some as property.    It is totally UNNECESSARY. Ethical alternatives exist such as adult stem cells which have already shown much more promise than embryonic cells, these results for adult stem cells are fully detailed in the scientific literature, and that adult stem cells are already being used clinically, making good on the potential that embryonic stem cells only promise.    WORKS CITED: Varmus, Harold. http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/statement.htm Thomson, Professor. http://www.erp.wisc.edu/faculty/thomson/

Obedience Essay

One of the most prominent studies of obedience in the study of psychology was performed by Stanley Milgram. The intent of this study was to research how far individuals would go in obeying a command while it involved hurting someone. Milgram’s curiosity to see how normal individuals could be influenced by enormity seems to be an influence for this study. My initial reaction to Milgram’s study video was pure disgust. In my opinion, he treated his participants like animals. Due to his own fascination, he did not care about the well being of his participants, but rather to fulfill his own thirst for knowledge. During the video, a man pleads to let him out and the responded says, â€Å"Go on, I will not be responsible for it†. A few seconds later he yells and continues to ask to let him out. The presence of the administrator affect obedience because of his authoritative role, and continues to reassure the subjects that the volts were not harming them. It is anticipat ed that individuals are to follow directions accustomed by an administrator. For instance, authority affects obedience in our everyday lives. When we attend school, there are different layers of authority. You have your teachers, security services, a vice principal and a head principal. It is important to show respect, listen and engage what is being ask of you because there is a higher level of authority. In my opinion, when individuals do things against their personal ethics when an authority asks can have many different reasons. This study confirms that obedience can take precedence over moral code (Myers, 2012). Obedience to authority is implemented in our brains at a very young age. As children it is integrated to follow authority, whether it be a parent, teacher, boss etc. Normative influences can also be a result. References Myers, D. G. (2012). Exploring social psychology (6th ed.). Boston, MA:McGraw-Hill. retrieved from:http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073531871/student_view0/module14/video.html