The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken

The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken As shown in H.L. Mencken on the Writing Life, Mencken was an influential satirist as well as an editor, literary critic, and longtime journalist with The Baltimore Sun. As you read his arguments in favor of the death penalty, consider how (and why) Mencken injects humor into his discussion of a grim subject. His satirical use of the persuasive essay format uses irony and sarcasm to help make his point. It is similar in mode to Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal.  Satirical essays like Menckens and Swifts allow the authors to make serious points in humorous, entertaining ways. Teachers can use these essays to help students understand satire and persuasive essays.  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ The Penalty of Death by H.L. Mencken Of the arguments against capital punishment that issue from uplifters, two are commonly heard most often, to wit: That hanging a man (or frying him or gassing him) is a dreadful business, degrading to those who have to do it and revolting to those who have to witness it.That it is useless, for it does not deter others from the same crime. The first of these arguments, it seems to me, is plainly too weak to need serious refutation. All it says, in brief, is that the work of the hangman is unpleasant. Granted. But suppose it is? It may be quite necessary to society for all that. There are, indeed, many other jobs that are unpleasant, and yet no one thinks of abolishing them- that of the plumber, that of the soldier, that of the garbage-man, that of the priest hearing confessions, that of the sand-hog, and so on. Moreover, what evidence is there that any actual hangman complains of his work? I have heard none. On the contrary, I have known many who delighted in their ancient art, and practiced it proudly. In the second argument of the abolitionists there is rather more force, but even here, I believe, the ground under them is shaky. Their fundamental error consists in assuming that the whole aim of punishing criminals is to deter other (potential) criminalsthat we hang or electrocute A simply in order to so alarm B that he will not kill C. This, I believe, is an assumption which confuses a part with the whole. Deterrence, obviously, is one of the aims of punishment, but it is surely not the only one. On the contrary, there are at least half a dozen, and some are probably quite as important. At least one of them, practically considered, is more important. Commonly, it is described as revenge, but revenge is really not the word for it. I borrow a better term from the late Aristotle: katharsis. Katharsis, so used, means a salubrious discharge of emotions, a healthy letting off of steam. A school-boy, disliking his teacher, deposits a tack upon the pedagogical chair; the teacher jumps and the boy laughs. This is katharsis. What I contend is that one of the prime objects of all judicial punishments is to afford the same grateful relief (a) to the immediate victims of the criminal punished, and (b) to the general body of moral and timorous men. These persons, and particularly the first group, are concerned only indirectly with deterring other criminals. The thing they crave primarily is the satisfaction of seeing the criminal actually before them suffer as he made them suffer. What they want is the peace of mind that goes with the feeling that accounts are squared. Until they get that satisfaction they are in a state of emotional tension, and hence unhappy. The instant they get it they are comfortable. I do not argue that this yearning is noble; I simply argue that it is almost universal among human beings. In the face of injuries that are unimportant and can be borne without damage it may yield to higher impulses; that is to say, it may yield to what is called Christian charity. But when the injury is serious Christianity is adjourned, and even saints reach for their sidearms. It is plainly asking too much of human nature to expect it to conquer so natural an impulse. A keeps a store and has a bookkeeper, B. B steals $700, employs it in playing at dice or bingo, and is cleaned out. What is A to do? Let B go? If he does so he will be unable to sleep at night. The sense of injury, of injustice, of frustration, will haunt him like pruritus. So he turns B over to the police, and they hustle B to prison. Thereafter A can sleep. More, he has pleasant dreams. He pictures B chained to the wall of a dungeon a hundred feet underground, devoured by rats and scorpions. It is so agreeable that it makes him forget his $700. He has got his katharsis. The same thing precisely takes place on a larger scale when there is a crime which destroys a whole community’s sense of security. Every law-abiding citizen feels menaced and frustrated until the criminals have been struck downuntil the communal capacity to get even with them, and more than even has been dramatically demonstrated. Here, manifestly, the business of deterring others is no more than an afterthought. The main thing is to destroy the concrete scoundrels whose act has alarmed everyone and thus made everyone unhappy. Until they are brought to book that unhappiness continues; when the law has been executed upon them there is a sigh of relief. In other words, there is katharsis. I know of no public demand for the death penalty for ordinary crimes, even for ordinary homicides. Its infliction would shock all men of normal decency of feeling. But for crimes involving the deliberate and inexcusable taking of human life, by men openly defiant of all civilized orderfor such crimes it seems, to nine men out of ten, a just and proper punishment. Any lesser penalty leaves them feeling that the criminal has got the better of societythat he is free to add insult to injury by laughing. That feeling can be dissipated only by a recourse to katharsis, the invention of the aforesaid Aristotle. It is more effectively and economically achieved, as human nature now is, by wafting the criminal to realms of bliss. The real objection to capital punishment doesn’t lie against the actual extermination of the condemned, but against our brutal American habit of putting it off so long. After all, every one of us must die soon or late, and a murderer, it must be assumed, is one who makes that sad fact the cornerstone of his metaphysic. But it is one thing to die, and quite another thing to lie for long months and even years under the shadow of death. No sane man would choose such a finish. All of us, despite the Prayer Book, long for a swift and unexpected end. Unhappily, a murderer, under the irrational American system, is tortured for what, to him, must seem a whole series of eternities. For months on end, he sits in prison while his lawyers carry on their idiotic buffoonery with writs, injunctions, mandamuses, and appeals. In order to get his money (or that of his friends) they have to feed him with hope. Now and then, by the imbecility of a judge or some trick of juridic science, they actu ally justify it. But let us say that, his money all gone, they finally throw up their hands. Their client is now ready for the rope or the chair. But he must still wait for months before it fetches him. That wait, I believe, is horribly cruel. I have seen more than one man sitting in the death-house, and I don’t want to see any more. Worse, it is wholly useless. Why should he wait at all? Why not hang him the day after the last court dissipates his last hope? Why torture him as not even cannibals would torture their victims? The common answer is that he must have time to make his peace with God. But how long does that take? It may be accomplished, I believe, in two hours quite as comfortably as in two years. There are, indeed, no temporal limitations upon God. He could forgive a whole herd of murderers in a millionth of a second. More, it has been done. Source This version of The Penalty of Death originally appeared in Menckens Prejudices: Fifth Series (1926).

Essay Term Paper on Doing Business in China

Essay Term Paper on Doing Business in China Essay Term Paper on Doing Business in China Essay Term Paper on Doing Business in ChinaTo write an essay term paper on doing business in China means to explore how business people into contact with Chinese business people. As a business contact of people from different countries depends on culture, negotiation techniques, and business etiquette, you have to discuss all these aspects in your essay term paper on doing business in China. This article will help you do it properly and finally succeed. In addition, if you are writing a writing a reaction paper or argumentative term paper, you may confidently rely on our professional writing services and get your paper written from scratch!There are five main factors that should be taken into account when trying to get into contact with Chinese business people, and you should mention them in your essay term paper on doing business in China.1.Confucianism To cover this aspect in your essay term paper on doing business in China, say that it is necessary to see how Confucianism influe nces business practices in China. Actually, Confucianism is all about harmonious relationships, and if business partners take into consideration this concept, they will get on well. 2.FaceThere are also certain aspects of etiquette related to the expression of faces of business partners. In your essay term paper on doing business in China, explain the importance of saving face and showing it while conducting negotiations. You can also give examples of how this or that face expression might be regarded by Chinese people when writing your essay term paper on doing business in China.3.Meeting and greeting peopleBusiness usually involves meeting and greeting people. However, in China meeting and greeting people have some special peculiarities. For example, in your essay term paper on doing business in China, you may say that shaking hands may be interpreted as aggressive by Chinese. 4.Building relationshipsSome experts strongly recommend avoid humor when communicating with Chinese not b ecause they are humorless but rather jokes may be lost in translation and be interpreted in inappropriately. In your essay term paper on doing business in China, you may also explain why it is necessary to keep dealings at a professional level and avoid informal conversations.5.NegotiationsOne of the most well known strategies used by Chinese negotiators is to start negotiations showing humility and difference. In your essay term paper on doing business in China, explain how Europeans should interpret such a conduct. There are also more nuances about the peculiarities of contacting Chinese people that you may mention in your paper. The most important thing is to make sure that you are providing reliable and credit information in your essay term paper on doing business in China. You may find it helpful to review the following article on good term paper topics and learn how to write term paper 15 pages without any efforts!

TEST EVALUATION Assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

TEST EVALUATION Assignment - Research Paper Example A language test is essential since it plays the role of generalizing what the person taking the test is capable of doing under some set conditions. As such, such a test helps in evaluating what the person taking the test can do even when they are not under conditions of test taking. Purpose of the test The test aims at assessing the language skills of English speakers in comparison with the language skills on non-speakers of English language. The purpose of carrying out this language test is to assess the achievement that students have made so far in the course. As such, the test aims at evaluating the extent to which students have achieved the course objectives. Moreover, the test will be used in determining which students will pass on to the next level. The student performance in the test will act as the basis for determining the students who will go to the next grade, as well as those students who will not qualify for admission in the next grade. Students will be graded based on t he marks and the grade they achieve in the test. After the grading, those will have scored marks equivalent to the required admission marks will be allowed to continue to the next level while those who will not have achieved will either have to repeat the test, or remain in their current level. Student performance will also be ranked according to how the students have scored. Description of the test The test will make an assessment of how students score when compared to other students who take a similar test. The test will also be administered as per the acceptable procedures, as well as with regard to the rules of the education section and the institution. The outcome/result of the test will be given in terms of percentage and ranking of the students. Students will be ranked from the highest scoring at the top and the lowest scoring at the bottom. Different tests will be provided for speakers of the English language and those who speak English as a second language. The purpose of d oing so is to ensure that both categories of students can be favoured by the test. While administering the test, various questions will be provided in order to ensure that students have a variety from which they can choose. The language test will be a written test where students will have an opportunity to fill in the right answers, in the exam paper. There will be questions where students can choose from multiple answers by selecting the best option. In addition, the test will encompass reading a comprehension and answering some questions based on what students understand from the reading. The test will also include some grammar questions, which will test the ability of students in grammar. Writing skills of the students will also be tested through a composition. Students will be expected to write a composition that will test their ability to communicate in writing (Richard-Amato, 2003). Scoring of test The test scores will be based on the percentage scored by the students in the r espective scores. English speakers who will score a high percentage in their tests will get high marks. Likewise, English learners who will score high marks in the test provided will be graded with high marks. The best students, native speakers or ones having English is their second language, will score an

Why do most countries think United States of America is a powerful Essay

Why do most countries think United States of America is a powerful country - Essay Example United States of America is currently the most powerful country in the world with almost absolute superiority in almost every area of life. Its military strength, technological superiority and economic power are unmatched in the history of mankind. The superiority of United States of America effectively started after the end of the cold war when USSR was disintegrated and the concept of bipolar world failed as United States emerged as the sole super power of the world. However, the United States of America has a long history of its march towards achieving its status of the super power of the world. This essay will look into the historical account of the US’s journey towards the superiority besides discussing the factors behind the superiority of US. American – Spanish War The America-Spanish war is probably the moment which gave America an open ground to climb at the top of the world stage and the power it is enjoying now. This war gave America its first real exposure of being the future super power of the world. In the spring of 1898, the 10 week long war between America and Spain gave the America necessary victory it required to start its climb towards the super power game. The historical background of this war can be traced back to the Cuba’s civil war where Spanish excesses forced America to intervene in the War and establish its regional hegemony in the Caribbean. (Bethel, 1998). It was America’s first major war after the civil war and its first major foreign war in its brief history. With the death toll of 400 Americans, this war gave America an unqualified victory which opened the gates for this nation to the stage of being super power.

Literary Analysis of The True Story of Hansel and Gretel Essay

Set in Poland during the German occupation, â€Å"The True Story of Hansel and Gretel† is told as a fairy tale, utilizing many of the elements that are common to fairy tales. This book reflects the Grimm brothers’ fairy tale, â€Å"Hansel and Gretel.† However, in Murphy’s parable, Hansel and Gretel are two Jewish children who are abandoned by their father and stepmother in order to save them from the Nazis. Setting the tale in Nazi Germany creates an atmosphere of fear and anxiety, and establishes a set of circumstances in which it is possible for people to act in ways that would be unacceptable under other circumstances. The stepmother is a good example of this. She is the force in the family – it is she who decides that everyone in the family will have a better chance of survival, if they split up – the children going off alone together and the parents going in another direction. Unlike the portrayal of the stepmother in the Grimm fairy tale, this stepmother is not wicked. She is strong willed and determined, but not evil, although she is protecting herself and her husband by abandoning the children. Using the stepmother as the villain is common in fairy tales, according to Stone in her article â€Å"Things Walt Disney Didn’t Tell Us.† She suggests that the woman of the family is nearly always chosen for the part of the villain. But in Murphy’s story, the stepmother’s actions, while they may appear villainous at the outset, may be construed as heroic in the end, because she only abandons the children in order to save them. She also cares deeply about the children’s welfare, enough that she loses her life as a result of attempting to find them. In this instance, Murphy is reminding us that the horrors of the time were so great th... ...s not asked to use logic and hence the emotional impact of the story is more direct and perhaps more potent. This book left me with a deeper sense of the horrors experienced by the Polish people, especially the Jews and the gypsies, at the hands of the Germans, while illustrating the combination of hope and incredible resilience that kept them going. Works Cited Murphy, Louise, (2013). The Real Story of Hansel and Gretel. Penguin Books. Stone, Kay (1975). Things Walt Disney Never Told Us. The Journal of American Folklore, Vol 88, No 347, Women and Folklore pp42-50, University of Illinois Press. Hansjorg, Hohr, (2000). Dynamic Aspects of Fairy Tales: social and emotional competence through fairy tales. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, Vol 44, No 1, Department of Education, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Imperialism Debate Essay

The dominance came every now and then by force of arms, but frequently It occurred because of trade and businesses. At this point, It allowed Imperial powers to the influence the selected civilization. While the Imperials ruled, they usually ‘robbed' the land of Its resources with little payback. These schemes obviously allowed for the imperial powers to gain a large profit and gain dominance. Imperialism was an effective and successful way for civilized countries to gain control over an indigenous countries. So, America should not become an imperial power.Core Democratic Value: Liberty Liberty is the one of the core values of American Constitutional Democracy. But this Liberty should include personal, political, economic freedom of not only American but also all nations. Imperialism based on ideas of superiority and nationalism robbed liberty of the subject country and their human rights In order to gain political, economic, and military benefits. For example, by the late sass , Americans wanted to annex Hall because of Its abundant natural resources and cultivatable lands.America, therefore, began a program of Imperialism In Hawaii and forced political and economic change. Queen Alkalinity wanted to end America's influence over Hawaii and created a new constitution. However, the United States denied it, soon took over the government office at Hawaii, and established complete control over Hawaii. American imperialism robbed economic and political freedom of Hawaii. Data: ‘If a strong people try to govern a weak one against its will, the home government will get despotic, too.You cannot maintain despotism in Asia and a republic In America. If you try to deprive even a savage or a barbarian of his Just rights you can never do It without becoming a savage or a barbarian yourself. ‘ ? Senator George F. Hoar under the pretext of spreading democracy and a Western value system, America's military intervene causes our endless warfare and the sacrifice of young military people. Ongoing Afghanistan civil war could be a good example. Prior Knowledge: Japanese imperialism robbed the liberty of Koreans. From 1910 to 1945, Japan occupied Korea.They forced the Koreans into Japanese culture under the pretext of civilizing the Koreans. Japanese language was taught In schools, and Japanese also forced the Koreans to change of their name in Japanese. Japan tried to destroy all records of histories of Korea and force the people with the conditionals pride to convert to Japanese ways of thinking. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were forced to work In Japanese factories and conscripted Into the armed forces, women were forced into â€Å"comfort stations† which is military brothels. While military power.As a result, imperialism deprived Koreans human rights, destroyed cultural factors, caused economic exhaustion, and lost natural resources. Counter Argument: Colonial officials, doctors, and missionaries strongly believed that all race s could be improved and uplifted by introducing Christianity, and they lived that it's their duty to conquer other nations to spread the religion, but it is opposed to the concept of individual freedom and freedom of religion. The dominating country thinks that their beliefs and laws are superior to the subjected nation.In fact, Imperialism civilizes and modernizes the underdeveloped country for the dominating country to gain economic benefits. If the dominate country uses the nationalistic or cultural factors to take control, there is a chance where the customs and the way of living of the domains will be lost. Conclusion: An average imperialist believed that imperial expansion was necessary for the arrival of their countries. Countries exercise great authority over large and varied territories populated by diversity of ethnic groups, cultures, and religions.Countries which exercise imperial power use a broad range of tools and incentives to maintain the dominance: political persua sive, economic advantages and cultural influences where possible, sometimes using force. But imperialism based on ideas of superiority and nationalism robbed liberty of the subject country and their human rights in order to gain political, economic, and military benefits. The reasons mentioned above are why America should not become imperial power.

Frankenstein, By Mary Shelley - 1990 Words

Frankenstein is a novel written by Mary Shelley, that is usually referred to as a modern Prometheus.Mary Shelley, was the first author of her time period to introduce science-fiction by addressing the creation of artificial life beyond God’s will and human suffering, therefore making Frankenstein a classic and an important reason why we still study it today. Mary Shelley was an English novelist(‘Mary Shelley Biography’). The most famous of all her books that she wrote is Frankenstein, also know as the Modern Prometheus(Biography.com Editors, 2016). Mary Shelley was born in London on the 30th of August in 1797(Biography.com Editors, 2016). Her parents were also famous authors, William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. Her mom died eleven days after her daughter s birth. This had an impact on mary s childhood and future(Shelley v). Mary`s dad went looking for a new wife almost a year after his wife s death(Shelley v). He married Mary Jane Clairmont, their neighbor, in 1801, when Mary was four(Biography.com Editors, 2016;‘Mary Shelley Biography’). Mary Clairmont already had two kids of her own. She also ended up having a son with Mary`s dad(Biography.com Editors, 2016). Mary did not get along well with her new stepmom, because She liked her own children more, and did not like all the attention Mary received (Shelley v). Mary`s stepmom sent her stepsister away for school, but not Mary. Mary received no formal form of education, but able to learn a great deal from her father sShow MoreRelatedFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1650 Words   |  7 Pagesbook of Frankenstein does one just think of a mythical science fiction book that really has no meaning? Frankenstein can have numerous meanings depending on how a person perceives it. Frankenstein can be analyzed into many themes; some say religion, feminism, or scientific symbolization, it all depends on ones own perception. When one analyzes further into Mary Shelly’s life and then interprets the novel it is obvious that is a sociological theme. One can simply assume that Mary Shelley creates FrankensteinRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley1093 Words   |  4 Pagesfaster than man can contend with. That argument is the premises, moral, and plot base for Mary Shelleys tale Frankenstein. On the other hand, J. Michael Bishops, essay Enemies of Promise   on the other hand promotes and boast sciences achievements. However, Mary Shelley presents her point of view subtly yet very dramatically, which is much more effective than that of J. Michael Bishop. The dramatic story Shelley creates becomes a part of the reader, therefore holding the readers attention. ShelleysRead MoreMary Shelley Frankenstein859 Words   |  4 Pages Mary Shelley The Creature in Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus† needs a companionship as every ordinary human. Every man needs a woman, who will able to share moments of happiness and sadness, a woman who will be able to share thoughts and of course a woman who will be able to love a man. In this case the Creature needs a bride. But the problem is that the Creature from the â€Å"Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus† is not a human. SoRead MoreFrankenstein, by Mary Shelley1138 Words   |  5 PagesIs Frankenstein a man, whose ambition led to a disaster; or a monster, which created a life with disregard for the human race? Frankenstein, in my opinion, was the monster not the life that he had created. Frankenstein never admitted to his family what he had done, never admitted responsibility for his actions. He might as well have killed Elizabeth, William, Justine, and Clerval with his own hand. The so called â€Å"Monster† only wanted companionship; he did not want to murder those people. TheRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1325 Words   |  6 PagesI have been informed that you are pushing to remove the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley from the school curriculum. I’ve decided to write to you and explain why I believe that you are misinformed, and in fact, why this is a huge importance to the students of today. Frankenstein is a classic which recounts the life and horrors of Victor Frankenstein, as told through a series of letters and narrations. His obsession with the natural world and science brings him to a state of mind which ultimatelyRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1580 Words   |  7 PagesFrankenstein by Mary Shelley is a sci-fi novel written during the Romantic Movement in Britain’s early nineteenth century. The movement was stimulated by the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution and in reaction against the emphasis on reason in eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosophy (The Romantic Movement, 2014 ). Mary Shelley’s husband, Percy Shelley was also a romantic poet during the movement. Shelley’s novel is evidently influenced by her relationship with her husband, which is illustratedRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley739 Words   |  3 Pagesinterconnections of humanity, nature, and divinity (â€Å"Romanticism 1†). English Romanticism being trendy in Europe, people would vent their outlooks onto their personal fiction works such as Mary Shelley. Shelley uses vivid creativity and romantic elements to create one of her admired novels, Frankenstein. In Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, most of the characters prove their compassion for mankind, prove their rejection of technology and science, and prove their involvement in a romantic quest. These several characteristicsRead MoreFrankenstein, By Mary Shelley1040 Words   |  5 Pages In 1818, a book titled Frankenstein was published anonymously, mysteriously dedicated to William Godwin, a prominent journal ist and political philosopher of his time. The immediate reviews of the novel were mixed, most edging towards critical, although no one knew who the book was written by. However, while Frankenstein failed to gain popularity immediately, no one had any idea the lasting impact this novel would have on the world. Despite the lukewarm reception at its debut, it soon proved to beRead MoreFrankenstein, by Mary Shelley1078 Words   |  5 PagesMary Shelley’s Frankenstein has undoubtedly withstood the test of time. Frankenstein’s direct association with fundamental Gothic literature is extremely renowned. However, the novel’s originality is derived from the foundational thematic values found within the relationship (or lack there of) between Victor Frankenstein and the monster he had created, in combination with a fascinatingly captivating plot. Understandably, Frankenstein can often be associated with a multitude of concepts; however,Read MoreFrankenstein, By Mary She lley1532 Words   |  7 PagesLike any author, especially one who created a new genre, there will be criticism, and Shelley is no exception. Shelley received criticism surrounding Frankenstein not only because she was a female writer, but because of her writing style. Originally, Frankenstein was published anonymously and was thought that her husband, Percy Shelley, wrote it (â€Å"Mary Shelley Biography† 2016). Shelley may have published Frankenstein anonymously because â€Å"’women understood that they got a â€Å"better hearing† if it was thought