Science and Technology
` The Internet, which is becoming a sort of technological utopia for some, is becoming a technological nightmare for others. The relationship between science and technology has always been pretty equal, linked through their shared goal of helping to improve society. But now, in the 21st century, it seems like technology is outgrowing its niche. The question that todays society needs to ask itself is this: Exactly how far is too far? For some this is a hard question, and for others, especially those in the medical field, it is an easy question to answer. Then of course there are the people who, like myself, are stuck in the middle and not sure which side is right. With all the positive scientific and technological advancements that are made each day its hard to spot the negative, but we all know there can never be any good without a little bad mixed in. To most people the Internet is a useful tool for everyday living, but for others it has become a way of life. When we take a step back and look at our society we can see how much we lean on technology to make our lives easier and less complicated. Then there is the science of building a better baby. Suppose parents-to-be could guarantee that their children would grow up unusually healthy, extra smart, or just a little bit better looking than mom and dad. It doesnt sound so bad until you take into consideration the fact that this guarantee requires a more complex level of planning that goes above and beyond the usual prenatal care. Suppose it would require some altering of the future kids DNA, adding a few genes here and there to lock in immunities against particular diseases or to slow down the aging process. Does it still sound good? My answer is a defin...
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...nce is born of fear. Fear, in turn, is bred by ignorance. And it is ignorance that is our deepest malady. Knowledge can be a great power as long as it is used properly and treated with respect. Change can be a good thing as long as we maintain a belief in ourselves as human beings, an intelligent race with emotions, opinions, and most importantly, control of our destiny.
Works Cited:
Bishop, J. Michael. Enemies of Promise. The Presence of Others. Eds. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000. 237-242.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. The Presence of Others. Eds. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston/St. Martins, 2000. 231-235.
Fisher, Arthur. New Hope for Hearts. http://www.popularscience.com. April 27, 2001. 1-3. Haney, Daniel Q. Building a Better Baby. http://www.popularscience.com. April 27, 2001. 1-4.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: the original 1818 text. 2nd ed. Ed. D.L. Macdonald and Kathleen Scherf. Peterborough: Broadview, 1999.
In a lively account filled that is with personal accounts and the voices of people that were in the past left out of the historical armament, Ronald Takaki proffers us a new perspective of America’s envisioned past. Mr. Takaki confronts and disputes the Anglo-centric historical point of view. This dispute and confrontation is started in the within the seventeenth-century arrival of the colonists from England as witnessed by the Powhatan Indians of Virginia and the Wamapanoag Indians from the Massachusetts area. From there, Mr. Takaki turns our attention to several different cultures and how they had been affected by North America. The English colonists had brought the African people with force to the Atlantic coasts of America. The Irish women that sought to facilitate their need to work in factory settings and maids for our towns. The Chinese who migrated with ideas of a golden mountain and the Japanese who came and labored in the cane fields of Hawaii and on the farms of California. The Jewish people that fled from shtetls of Russia and created new urban communities here. The Latinos who crossed the border had come in search of the mythic and fabulous life El Norte.
Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1818. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. Norton Critical Edition. New York: Norton, 1996.
Shelley, Mary. "From Frankenstein." The Example of Science. Ed. Robert E Lynch and Thomas B. Swanzey. New York: Pearson Publishing, 2000. 152-156.
The identity of the modern Native American is not found in simple language or description. Neither does a badge or collection of eagle feathers determine Native American identity. As Alexie demonstrates through the character of Dr. Mather and Wilson, pony-tails and store bought drums are mere materialistic symbols and stereotypes: they have no real value or respect for the history behind a person’s cultural heritage. Hanging out in Indian bars is insufficient. The identity of the Native American is formed in a context of opposition and resistance, of irreversible historical travesty, and of inescapable conflict. Given the complex and lengthy history of U.S. atrocities against the Indians, and the equally violent aggressions of Indians against whites, bloodshed and animosity were the basis original Indian- U.S. relations. The original brutality these relations cannot be underestimated; nor the intricate series of laws and Acts passed throughout the ninteeth and twentieth centuries for the destruction of Indian culture and heritage. Yet, as Alexie argues, the forces of hatred cannot be exclusively emphasized in determining the identity of the Native American.
Whalley, J. (2009) ‘Texts and Pictures: A History’ in Montgomery H and Watson N (eds), Children’s Literature Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan in association with Open University, pp.299-310
David Wiesner is a very artistic author. His love for art is portrayed through his style of work. When flipping through the pages of his books, the reader is immediately drawn to the pictures. A particular style the Wiesner is known for is wordless picture books. A wordless picture book is exactly what it says; it is a book containing only pictures. "A wordless picture book is a very personal experience for the reader" (Amazon.com). A child can benefit tremendously from this style of book. Wordless picture books stimulate creativity and language, while at the same time introducing a child to basic principles of books and reading.
In Thomas King’s novel, The Inconvenient Indian, the story of North America’s history is discussed from his original viewpoint and perspective. In his first chapter, “Forgetting Columbus,” he voices his opinion about how he feel towards the way white people have told America’s history and portraying it as an adventurous tale of triumph, strength and freedom. King hunts down the evidence needed to reveal more facts on the controversial relationship between the whites and natives and how it has affected the culture of Americans. Mainly untangling the confusion between the idea of Native Americans being savages and whites constantly reigning in glory. He exposes the truth about how Native Americans were treated and how their actual stories were
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. Edited with an Introduction and notes by Maurice Hindle. Penguin books, 1992
Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. J. Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996.
Through Indian Eyes: The Untold Story of Native American Peoples. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1995. Print.
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Maurice Hindle. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.
Who wouldn’t like to have a baby free of disease? That is the dream of every parent. Every time a baby is born the only wish that the parents have is that the baby will be healthy, and live longer. Today, if parents could have a chance not to worry about this issue, wouldn’t they take it? Genetic engineering is a process in which recombinant DNA (RDNA) technology is used to introduce desirable traits into organisms. What if I say that through genetically engineering babies, one can have their babies free of disease, healthy and live longer? In the future, one can engineer or design their own baby to have traits to give them an advantage in life. This technology is coming, and is up to us to decide if we want it or not. The Genetic Engineering Babies might seem something of a Sci-Fi movie, tempting, but ask yourself as human beings are we ready to start acting as God. Genetically Engineering Babies might sound great, but it can be unethical and there are disadvantages that come when manipulating your genes.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 1818. Ed. Paul J. Hunter. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1996.
Jones, Marnie. "The Threat to Imagination in Children's Literature." International Journal of the Book 3.2 (2005/2006): 71-76. Print.