西雅圖求學記

Original essay:

In American society, Introverts are outnumbered about three to one. As a result, they must develop extra coping skills early in life because there will be an inordinate amount of pressure on them to " shape up," to act like the rest of the world. The Introvert is pressured daily almost from the moment of awakening, to respond and conform to the outer world.

Classroom teachers unwittingly pressure introverted students by announcing that "One-third of your grade will be based on classroom participation." From Otto Kroeger and Janet M. Thuesen Type Talk" the 16 Personality Types that Determine How We Live, Love and Work. New York: Dell Publishing, 1989.

The death penalty is a controversial issue. In some countries, many people think that a murderer have to pay a corresponding price.  The death penalty can bring justice and make the families of the victims feel better.  On the other hand, many countries think the death penalty is not the only way to isolate the criminal, life imprisonment is a better punishment to use instead of the death penalty. 

Criminals are typically executed via the electric chair, gas chamber, firing squad, lethal injection etc.  All the above methods are inhumane.  There is no evidence to point out that execute the death penalty can stop crime.  It is also difficult to judge the death penalty as a deterrent to crime.  In other words, the death penalty can't solve the problem of crime.

The death penalty is not the only way to isolate a criminal.  Life imprisonment can also isolate a criminal.  Although some people think that the death penalty can soothe the feelings of victims’ families, the death penalty cannot bring justice.  Therefore, why do people support the death penalty?  Protecting human rights, following the international trend, offering an opportunity to correct mistakes, and reducing the spending of the government are all important reasons that the death penalty should be abolished.

The first reason that the death penalty should be abolished is the protection of human rights.  Every country around the world has discussed the human rights implications of the death penalty.  People have the basic right to life.  A government should protect its civilians from injury.  However, the death penalty violates the basic human rights in life.  A government should not have the right to decide a person's life.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is an organization of international human rights law, also mentioned human rights should be brought into international law.  Every life has its value, and the protection of the right to life is an existing fundamental principle around the world.  Everyone, including a government, should respect an individual's life.  If a murderer infringes on another’s right to life, should a government do the same thing to the murderer?  If the death penalty is reasonable and proper behavior, they do more and more people advocate the abolition of the death penalty?

   Agreement The Euthanasia Should be Legal

Euthanasia is a way of ending a life on purpose to end pain or suffering. The patients Right Council explains that the words “euthanasia” and “assisted suicide” are often used interchangeably. In this report, they argue euthanasia is defined as intentionally, knowingly and directly acting to cause the death another person. For example, a doctor gives a patient a lethal injection. According to the New Health Guide, the Netherlands was the first country to allow euthanasia. It is also legal in some states in the US, including Oregon, Washington, Montana and Vermont. Recently, California became the fifth US state to allow euthanasia. However, while some people agree with euthanasia, some think it is inhumane to end someone’s life. I agree euthanasia should be legal because of the three reasons: ending pain of terminally ill people, reducing spending of hospices and patient's family, and having the right to choose to die.

June: Barcarolle" compared to "Vocalise"

Romantic music, a genre of classical music, is a genre music which was also a period of classical music. The period of music paid more attention to the feelings and psyche of the performance than the classical period. According to IPL, as a starting point, composers began focusing more on new melodic styles and richer harmonies. According to Wikipedia, Romantic music is a term denoting an era of Western classical music that began in the late 18th or early 19th century. “June: Barcarolle” and “Vocalise” are the two pieces of Romantic music, both of which were composers’ most popular songs. To give people a better understanding of Romantic music, I will compare and contrast the two songs “June: Barcarolle” and “Vocalise”.

Opposition to Owning Guns It is legal that the average citizen owns guns in the United States. According to Wikipedia, Supreme Court decisions in 2008 and 2010 upheld the right for individuals to possess guns for self-defense. However, there are many groups that are opposed to owning guns because of public safety. I agree with their view. In my opinion, owning guns will have three effects: abusing guns, make it easy for criminals to get guns, and increasing the costs of owning guns.

The first negative effect of owning guns is the possibility of abusing guns. We often watch some news about gun crimes. According to Wikipedia, in the United States, in 2009, there were 3 recorded intentional homicides committed with firearm per 100,000 inhabitants. First of all, school shootings are a case of abusing guns. Recently, there was news in Seattle about a boy who shot five victims in a Washington State school and then committed suicide. Secondly, improper use of guns that causes accidents is another negative effect. I have heard news about a brother who accidentally shot his sister because he was playing with a gun. Finally, excessive defense is also one of the negative effects of owning guns For example, it is worthy of discussion whether or not it is reasonable to use guns in self-defense. Owning guns will increase school shootings, improper use of guns that causes gun accidents, and excessive self-defense are negative effects from abusing guns.

Next, because keeping and bearing arms is protected by the United States law, owning guns will make it easy for criminals to get guns. First of all, because citizens can own guns, criminals can smuggle guns through many pipelines, and with citizens' help. According to news reports, about 250,000 guns were smuggled from the United States to Mexico from 2010 to 2012. Furthermore, in 2013, New York City seized the large number of gun incidents. Arms smugglers smuggled guns from North Carolina and South Carolina into New York City. Secondly, criminals also can modify guns. Modified guns will make guns have more power in violent crimes. It also could cause large-scale organized crime. Finally, gun violence is one of the major public issues in American society related to gang violence. According to the information from UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), 60% of US homicides in 2009 were perpetrated using a gun. According to Associated Press statistics, each ar up to 30,000 people die by shooting in the United States. President Kennedy was also murdered with a gun. Owning guns will cause guns smuggling with citizens' help, modified guns, and gun violence. Those are negative effects of criminals getting guns easily.