The Same Sex Marriage Should Be Equal Rights - 1393 Words

Another persuasive data is the constitutions which is based on the civil rights protection and ensure that each citizens has the right to participate in public social life. According to records, there are plenty of international civil rights declaration documents consider marriage and family as individuals or groups who are entitled to the protection of the government as human beings.† The US Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote on Friday that constitution guarantees a right to homosexual marriage which based on the constitution to protect each person s own decision and equal rights, to determine the same sex and heterosexual couples should have equal marriage rights. Moreover, they advocated recognize same-sex marriage to protect the†¦show more content†¦Actually, for same-sex couples, the adoption of a child or artificial insemination procedures will be troublesome, there will be a lot of issues and problems. Moreover, there are few countries in the world that allow same-sex couples to bring up their children, and many people will choose to give up in the process. Because of the lack of family, some people suppose that such a marriage is not necessary. For example, it is mentioned by Bernheim Gilles in â€Å"HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE, PARENTING, AND ADOPTION† that adoption by same sex couples may influence the child psychology even it is worse for heal thy grow up(Bernheim, 2013). Under the society without universal same sex relationship, it is real exist that the child from heterosexual family confuse about the child from homosexual family. Besides, even they would laugh at them and say some offensive words to query why they cannot live with a mother and a father. Afterward, there is no doubt that most of children who attacked by the language will appear psychological problems and easily to lose confidence of their family. The feeling that they are different from others will be deeper day by day. Consequently, it seems that combine a family bring the painful and bother to the child, hence, the right to adopt a child can be left to infertility families. As a result, same sex marriage may not be advocated because of the parenting issue. Although it is aShow MoreRelatedSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized . The Same Sex Marriage1723 Words   |  7 Pages Same sex marriage should be legalized The same sex marriage has been widely debated in many countries for a long time. It is an important issue because it concerns basic moral and human rights. People all over the world come to the United States in search of freedom and equality. Being able to marry anyone, no matter the gender, is a freedom of right, but if that freedom of right is taken away from people than there is no equality. Homosexual peopleRead MoreShould Gay Marriage Be Recognized?1692 Words   |  7 PagesAugust 25, 2014 SHOULD GAY MARRIAGES BE RECOGNIZED ACROSS STATES There are many debates going on about whether gay-marriage should be recognized by all United States. Why is it that some states ban gay-marriage but others allow it? Why is it that some states declare that a ban on gay-marriage is unconstitutional yet others say it is not? Why is it that some states recognize gay-marriages from other states but others do not? These are some questions that should be very closely lookedRead MoreThe Amendment Of Same Sex Marriage1441 Words   |  6 Pagesallow same sex couples to marry or have a marriage license. The Fourteenth Amendment talks about the right for Due Process. The Fourteenth Amendment protects privacy rights. Obergefell vs Hodges talks about same sex marriage. Some states did not want to give marriage licenses to the same sex and that was part of the issue in Obergefell versus Hodges. In the 1980s, it was hard to be gay or lesbian. It was considered criminal in some states. The Fourteenth Amendment does support the case of same sexRead More Should gay marriages be legalized? Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages Should same sex marriages be legal? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Same-sex marriages have been very controversial since becoming an issue in Canada regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Several people state that same-sex marriages should be legal, while others disagree, saying it should not be permitted. There have been many debates and inquiries about this issue for several years; the MP’s and Parliament will finally settle the problem within the next year or so. Many are in favourRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Is A Matter Of Civil Law1270 Words   |  6 PagesSame-sex marriage is one of the most controversial issues in the modern world. In the past, marriage was recognized as a social union between a man and a woman and in most cultures, homosexuality was viewed as abnormal and forbidden. However, today, homosexual relationships are fighting their way towards global acceptance as the LGBT community has been extremely active, advocating for their right to marry since the early 90s. With an increased in tolerance for homosexuality in society, controversyRead MoreMarriage Law : The Legal Union Of A Couple As Spouses1642 Words   |  7 PagesMarriage is defined as the legal union of a couple as spouses. The elements of marriage include: (1) the parties legal ability to marry each other, (2) mutual consent of the parties and (3) a marriage contract as required by law. (Legal Information Institute, 2014, n.d.). In the United States, marriage law is regulated by the individual state. Standards such as age, residency, relation, mental capacity, and gender are requirements regulated on a state-by-state basis. Until recent changes, the DefenseRead MoreThe purpose of this policy brief is to recommend to the State of Florida a policy that will1200 Words   |  5 Pageslegalize same-sex marriage and acknowledge same-sex marriages recognized by laws in other states. This policy is necessary because current laws in Florida that restrict marriage to different-sex couples violate the US Constitution’s commitment to equal protection under the law and because the Due Process Clause protects individuals freedoms of personal choices, which includes their choice to marry and have a family. The benefits of this proposal far outweigh the disadvantages, and ensure equal rightsRead MoreWhy Same Sex Marriage Is Morally Right And Should Be Legally Recognized1648 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is marriage about? Who is marriage for? What are some of the complications with marriages in today’s society? How does religion plays a major part in marriage? According to Toby L. Ditz, â€Å"Marriage laws have historically withheld and continue to withhold the right to marry and the legal privileges associated with marriage from whole classes of people: slaves, interracial couples, and gay partners (Ditz, 2001,500)†. The way marriage is viewed in this newer generation differs significantly fromRead MoreEssay on The Right to Same Sex Marriage1590 Words   |  7 PagesSame sex marriage is a highly controversial topic that has been lingering in America for some time now. The American society prides itself in the provision of equal rights and opportunities to all, yet, homosexuals continue to be discriminated against and denied their rights to marriage. It is often believe that â€Å"marriage is a commitment between two people that love each other and want to share the rest of their life side by side. It is not measured by whether it is a man and a woman, or a coupleRead MoreThe Loving Story By Writers Nancy Buirski And Susie Ruth Powell928 Words   |  4 Pages The Loving Story by writers Nancy Buirski and Susie Ruth Powell is based around Mildred Loving and her husband Richard Loving, a mixed-marriage couple in Virginia. Mildred is half African-American and Cherokee and Richard is White and together they committed misce genation by marrying each other and living in Caroline County, VA. In 1958 they were arrested and Court of Virginia banished them and made them leave the state. They relocated however, they wasn’t satisfied with the busy city streets

Phillip Morris Changing Marketing Strategies As a Result...

Introduction By the middle of 20th century being a smoker was a synonym of being cool, modern and chic, and a cigarette became a symbol of a good and successful life, largely promoted through movies and advertising. As the time passed, the negative health effects associated with cigarettes had become apparent, the society became aware of harmful effects of smoking, its addictiveness, the toxicity of tar; Western governments have shifted away from undisguised support of the tobacco industry towards an emphasis on population health interests, and in the 1990s, the future of the largest tobacco company in the world, Philip Morris was put under a question. The company desperately needed a new image and a new business strategy. The year†¦show more content†¦This directive suggested that pictorial health warnings would cover 75% of the front and back of a cigarette pack. Another part of this directive included the ban for all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, vanilla and strawberry, as well as the ban on slim cigarettes and even slim packs. Apart from that, this legislation could lead to e-cigarettes being sold as medications under pharmaceutical legislation. For now, the set of those new directives can be postponed for a couple of years, but they can not be delayed forever. How will the company respond to these new regulations when they eventually take place? Warnings and Labeling on the Package Health warnings are considered to be effective; the warnings itself takes more then a half of the cigarette pack. The picture or a warning should deliver a message and the possible risks associated with smoking. In 2001 the text warnings became mandatory in the EU, and since then the majority of the governments had taken the same measures to prevent, or at least, to discourage smoking. Apart from that new regulation, starting from 2006, US District Court obliged the tobacco companies to stop marketing some of their products as light or low tar, as the consequences of smoking were negative, no matter if a person smokes light or regular cigarettes. Warning itself became quite a common thing, but some governmentsShow MoreRelatedCase Studies67624 Words   |  271 PagesCASE 5 CASE 6 CASE 7 ABB in China, 1998 C-16 Ansett Airlines and Air New Zealand: A flight to oblivion? C-31 BP–Mobil and the restructuring of the oil refining industry C-44 Compaq in crisis C-67 Gillette and the men’s wet-shaving market C-76 Incat Tasmania’s race for international success: Blue Riband strategies C-95 Kiwi Travel International Airlines Ltd C-105 CASE 8 Beefing up the beefless Mac: McDonald’s expansion strategies in India: C-120 CASE 9 Nucor Corporation and the US steel industryRead MoreStrategic Human Resource Management View.Pdf Uploaded Successfully133347 Words   |  534 PagesVIEW Strategic Human Resource Management Taken from: Strategic Human Resource Management, Second Edition by Charles R. Greer Copyright  © 2001, 1995 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Education Company Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 Compilation Copyright  © 2003 by Pearson Custom Publishing All rights reserved. This copyright covers material written expressly for this volume by the editor/s as well as the compilation itself. It does not cover the individual selections herein thatRead MoreHuman Resources Management150900 Words   |  604 PagesCHAPTER 1 Changing Nature of Human Resource Management After you have read this chapter, you should be able to: ââ€"  Identify four major HR challenges currently facing organizations and managers. List and define each of the seven major categories of HR activities. Identify the three different roles of HR management. Discuss the three dimensions associated with HR management as a strategic business contributor. Explain why HR professionals and operating managers must view HR management as anRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesAssociate Publisher Executive Editor Senior Editoral Assistant Marketing Manager Marketing Assistant Production Manager Senior Production Editor Freelance Development Editor Senior Designer Interior Design Senior Media Editor Senior Photo Editor Production Management Cover Design Cover Credit George Hoffman Lise Johnson Sarah Vernon Amy Scholz Laura Finley Dorothy Sinclair Sandra Dumas Susan McLaughlin Kevin Murphy Laura Ierardi Allison Morris Hilary Newman mb editorial services David Levy  ©Michael Eudenbach/Getty

Essay On A Complex Case Of Pregnancy †Free Samples For Students

Question: Discuss About The Essay On A Complex Case Of Pregnancy? Answer: Introduction: Perinatal care involves an important aspect of midwifery. Midwives working in a setting of primary health care, pregnancy or birthing units, and neonatal or perinatal care units are required to have the necessary skills and technical knowledge of complications during pregnancy and the medical care procedures to avoid problems pertaining to pregnancy (Aksornphusitaphong Phupong, 2013). The primary responsibilities of the midwife include the assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate nursing care management of pregnant women. One of the primary and most common complications in pregnancy is pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders. Additionally, the mortality rate of mothers with hypertensive disorders is high (Stellenberg Ngwekazi, 2016). Pre-eclampsia is additionally called toxaemia and is characterised by the elevation in the levels of blood pressure in pregnant women. Pre-eclampsia is a type of hypertensive disorder and is found to be responsible for approximately 8% mortality in pregnant women. The complication of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy commonly develops during the third trimester of pregnancy and is less commonly encountered in the gestational period (English, Kenney, McCarthy, 2015). The risk factors for the development of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are varied and range across multiple elements such as nulliparity, obesity, chronic diabetes, medical history in the family, or donation of ova (Buhimschi et al., 2014). The current article discusses a case study of complication of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, the pathophysiology of the disease, midwifery and nursing care in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, and the role of the midwife in pregnancy and prenatal pre-eclampsia therapy protocol (Stellenberg Ngwekazi, 2016). Case-study: Clara Turner is a 32-year-old housewife. She is a first-time mother. She current lives with Richard Turner, her husband, in Clermont, Queensland. Clara presented to the hospital complaining of severe pain in the abdomen, last week. Clara is a housewife and Richard works on the family farm. Clara does not have a medical history of high blood pressure or diabetes. Claras trimestral records in pregnancy show striae gravidarum, melasma, and lineanigra. She additionally complained of headache and nausea frequently. The patient has a medical history of hypertension on her paternal familial side i.e. both her paternal grandmother and father had hypertension. Clara experiences anxiety and restlessness. Her medical examination shows borderline obesity and raised blood pressure. Clara was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Clara has been rapidly putting on weight ever since her first presentation, has dizziness and headaches frequently, and has excessive instances of nausea. Upon examination, it wa s found that the urine output is decreased and her neurological reflexes and orientation are slightly hindered. Pre-eclampsia pathophysiology and disease mechanism: Pre-eclampsia belongs to the large spectrum of diseases associated with hypertension and is commonly found in pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy (Mustafa, Ahmed, Gupta, Venuto, 2012).It has a high aetiology rate and is one of the most common complications ofpregnancy. The pathogenesis and the disease mechanism is relatively unknown in research. The hypertension that is found in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia has several harmful or adverse effects on the foetus and the mother.The development of pre-eclampsia generally occurs during the twentieth week of pregnancy or during the childbirth. The condition can last up to the postpartum stage of 48 hours (Ferreira, Silveira, Silva, Souza, Ruiz, 2016). Pre-eclampsia is one of the broad spectrum of diseases belonging to the pathobiology of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (Direkvand-Moghadam et al, 2012). The other disorders include: chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia (Ferreira et al., 2016). The determination of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy is primarily done by means of measurement of blood pressure values. The value of 140/90 mm Hg or higher value of blood pressure (diastolic pressure of 140 mmHg and systolic value of 90 mmHg) indicate the presence of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. Pathogenesis of the disease: The physiological observations of the disease include the presence of several significant modifications in the vascular system of the patient (Guerrier et al., 2013).The systemic blood flow and vascular hemodynamic characteristics are greatly altered in the disease condition(Mustafa et al., 2012). The alterations are found in the prenatal stages. These changes may be appreciated upon inspection and physical examination (Shegaze et al., 2016). There are observable changes in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values(Direkvand-Moghadam et al, 2012). The increase in the level of diastolic pressure is higher as compared to the diastolic pressure values. The alterations are seen during the 20th week of pregnancy and the values may be higher than 140 mmHg. The systemic values of blood pressure and the vascular blood flow also increase accordingly. These changes are accompanied by elevation in the levels of cardiac output (Mustafa et al, 2012). The peak t hreshold value of blood pressure and cardiac output are reached during the 18th and the 20th week of gestation. The values are incremented with the progress of pregnancy (Kattah Garovic, 2013). Additionally, there is an observable increase in the stroke volume, pulse, and heart rate. The increase in the stroke volume and heart rate result in the increase in the amount of blood that is pumped to the heart. The quantity of blood flow increases to the circulations of the pulmonary and the systemic type (Guerrier et al., 2013). The load of blood volume is necessarily increased as a consequence of the raised blood flow rate. The vascular changes in circulation result in the increased blood volume load leading to higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure and cardiac output. Patients may experience palpitations and anxiety at several instances, as in the case of Clara. The increase in the load of blood volume leads to hypertrophy in the left ventricle of the heart. This leads to an inc rease in the work load on the cardiac muscles and increased relaxation durations in the cardiac cycle (Mustafa et al., 2012). The mean arterial pressure value is greatly reduced. Therefore, the cardiac work load increases manifold in order to keep up with the increase in the cardiac output. There is a substantial elevation in the volume of plasma, leading to the increased cardiac output. This increases the capacity of circulation in the blood flow (Kenny et al., 2014). Therefore, there is an observable level of increase in the capacity of blood circulation along with a decline in the tone of circulation.Therefore, during gestation, the vasculature is mostly flaccid. However, the muscle tone is mostly rough and the reduction in the smoothness is not just limited to the vasculature of the system. The muscle tone may be shared with the smooth muscles present in the urinary tracts and the gastrointestinal tract. The pathobiology of the disease and the subsequent regulation in the volume of the blood flow can be done through hormones circulating in the blood (Lecarpentier et al., 2013). These hormones mainly include the system of aldosterone, renin, and angiotensin circulating in the blood. The level of catecholamine in the blood is also greatly enhanced during the period of gestation (Ferreira et al., 2016). The renal perfusion and the plasma volume are greatly reduced due to the stimuli of the physiological basis of these hormones. The pressor compounds that are infused during pregnancy also contribute to an effect of vasoconstriction. The pathophysiological factors of causation of hypertensive disorders and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy include placental, renal, dietary, or immunological elements (Lecarpentier et al., 2013). Vascular injuries resulted from immunological mediation may also lead to the development of pre-eclampsia. The renal function and glomerular filtration rate are greatly r educed in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia (Kattah, Garovic, 2013). Role of the midwife: The midwives working in prenatal or pregnancy units have a considerable amount of responsibility in the identification of a plausible case of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy (Stellenberg Ngwekazi, 2016).The primary factors that determine the presence of pre-eclampsia include oedema (Lecarpentier et al., 2013). This is frequently accompanied by the presence of proteinuria. Midwives function in a role that comprises of both medical knowledge and traditional birthing skills. Pregnant women with gestational complications are in an extremely vulnerable and helpless situation which needs to be taken into consideration by the midwives. The primary intervention is to determine the measured values of blood pressure. The symptoms of pre-eclampsia need to be monitored. The assessment and the interpretation of the blood pressure values need to be made at immediate suspicion. The hyperbasric index and the ambulatory blood pressure have to be determined (Navaratnam et al., 2013). The hyperbaric pressure is determined when the blood pressure increase is higher than 90% of the limit of tolerance in a specific period of time. The treatment protocol mainly involves medication for hypertension. The diagnosis of pre-eclampsia includes a high value of blood pressure at approximately 100 mmHg of diastolic pressure (approximately 140 mmHg), proteinuria ( 5g in a span of 24 hours), and observable oedema of the pulmonary kind (Stellenberg Ngwekazi, 2016). The management of pre-eclampsia includes a significant role of the midwife, starting from the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and childbirth(Rowe et al, 2012). The midwife is required to observe the tendencies and presentations of pre-eclampsia, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis. The identification of the disease in the gestational or prenatal phase enables the appropriate determination of the underlying vascular and renal pathomechanism (Rowe et al., 2012). Therefore, it enables the appropriate measure for treatment. The hormonal inconsistencies and the treatment for the hypertensive disorder does not have any implications on the gestational cycle or the childbirth (Tessema et al., 2015). The treatment procedure does not cause any delays or alterations in the time of the childbirth. However, the occurrence of elevated blood pressure levels, diastolic pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate are common symptoms in hypertensive spectrum disorders (Tessema et al., 2015). Therefor e, the determination of proteinuria and related symptoms of pre-eclampsia is essential in midwifery (Stellenberg Ngwekazi, 2016). Conclusion: Hypertensive spectrum of disorders and pregnancy complications are much common across the world. The presence of pre-eclampsia as a complication in pregnancy is one of the most common occurrences. The midwife is required to monitor the individual presentations, the disease pathology, and symptoms. The diagnosis of the disease in the prenatal and gestational stages enables immediate recognition and subsequent timely treatment. The cure of hypertension or preeclampsia does not typically occur with hypertension medication, but occurs after childbirth. Therefore, the role of the midwife is significant during the childbirth and in the neonatal care. The midwife is required to determine the early signs and symptoms of the health of the pregnant woman. It is essential for the midwife to determine the specific blood flow volume and cardiac output as signs of pre-eclampsia. Since the disease is associated with high degrees of mortality in pregnant women and the foetus, it is critical to metic ulously perform physical examinations at the early stage along with understanding and recording the frequency and severity of oedema, nausea, and headache. Pre-eclampsia has a high rate of aetiology and leads to several complications during the gestation period. The disorder is co-morbid in pregnancy and is present until childbirth References: Aksornphusitaphong, A., Phupong, V. (2013). Risk factors of early and late onset preeclampsia. J ObstetGynaecol Res., 39, 627-631 Buhimschi, I.A., Nayeri, U.A., Zhao, G., et al. (2014). Protein misfolding, congophilia, oligomerization, and defective amyloid processing in preeclampsia. Science Transl Med., 6(245), 245ra292. Direkvand-Moghadam, A., Khosravi, A., Sayehmiri, K. (2012). Predictivefactors for preeclampsia in pregnant women: a univariate and multivariatelogistic regression analysis.Acta Biochim Pol, 59, 673-677 English, F.A., Kenney, L.C., McCarthy, F.P. (2015). Integrated blood pressure control. Risk factors and effective management of preeclampsia, 8, 712 Ferreira, M.B.G., Silveira, C.F., Silva, S.R., Souza, D.J., Ruiz, M.T. (2016). Nursing care for women with pre-eclampsia and/or eclampsia: integrative review. Rev Esc Enferm USP., 50(2), 320-330 Guerrier, G., Oluyide, B., Keramarou, M., Grais, R.F. (2013). Factors associatedwith severe preeclampsia and eclampsia in Jahun, Nigeria. Int J WomensHealth, 5, 509-513. Kattah, A.G.Garovic, V. (2013). The Management of Hypertension in Pregnancy. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis., 20(3), 229239 Kenny, L.C., Black, M.A., Poston, L., et al. (2014). Early pregnancy prediction of preeclampsia in nulliparous women, combining clinical risk and biomarkers: the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) international cohort study. Hypertension, 64(3), 644652. Lecarpentier, E., Tsatsaris, V., Goffinet, F., Cabrol, D., Sibai, B., et al. (2013). Riskfactors of superimposed preeclampsia in women with essential chronichypertension treated before pregnancy. Plos One, 8, e62140 Mustafa, R., Ahmed, S., Gupta, A.,Venuto, R.C. (2012). A ComprehensivConclusion: Navaratnam, K., Alfirevic, Z., Baker, P.N., et al. (2013). A multi-centre phase IIa clinical study of predictive testing for preeclampsia: improved pregnancy outcomes via early detection (IMPROvED). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth,13, 226. Rowe, R.E., Kurinczuk, J.J., Locock, L., et al. (2012). Womens experience of transfer frommidwifery unit to hospital obstetric unit during labour: A qualitative interview study.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 12, 129. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-12-129 Stellenberg, E.L. Ngwekazi, N.L. (2016). Knowledge of midwivesabout hypertensive disordersduring pregnancy in primaryhealthcare. Afr J Prm HealthCare Fam Med, 8(1),a899. Shegaze, M., Markos, Y., Estifaons, W., Taye, I. et al. (2016). Magnitude and Associated Factors of Preeclampsia Among Pregnant Womenwho Attend Antenatal Care Service in Public Health Institutions in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia. GynecolObstet (Sunnyvale), 6(12), 1-6 Tessema, G.A., Tekeste, A., Ayele, T.A. (2015). Preeclampsia and associatedfactors amongpregnant women attending antenatal care in Dessie referralhospital, Northeast Ethiopia: a hospital-based study. BMC Pregnancy andChildbirth, 15, 73.

Merton And Gandi Essays - Pacifism, Gandhism, Mystics, Thomas Merton

Merton And Gandi The Beliefs of Thomas Merton and Mahatma Gandhi David Wardwell Religion and Personal Experience . Thomas Merton and Mahatma Gandhi both speak of God in a personal way. They both speak of God as truth. Famous Thomas Merton, Trappist American monk, was a traditional Christian. Born in France in 1915 and died in Asia in 1968 Merton was greatly influenced by the complexities of the twentieth century. His writings served as a personal may in his search for God.. He pursued the ascending path towards the eternal kingdom of truth, towards heaven, while leaving the world of shadowy existence behind. Truth would be a passion of his life. He also took it upon himself to speak on behalf of the disenfranchised of the word. Thomas Merton was a dynamic, modern man who committed himself to a lifelong search for a meaningful and authentic way of life. He had only one desire and that was the desire for solitude-to disappear into God, to be submerged in his peace, to be lost in the secret of his face. This singular passion and boundless energy led him to combine in one life a unique variety of roles, prolific spiritual writer and poet, monk and hermit, social activist, all while living at the Trappist monastery in Gethsemani, Kentucky. Merton, a monk under a vow of silence, found fame by not seeking it, by speaking the truth. Much can be said with the praise ?the truth will set your free? Merton provided a path that is still setting people free. Freedom from silence. Many feel that a monastery is a sanctuary to escape from the realities of the real world. Merton saw it as helping rescue the world from the new dark ages. ?In the night of our technological barbarism, monks must be as trees which exist silently in the dark and by their vital presence purify the air.? Some believe Merton's world was the monastery grounds, the whole world was. He believed that all men and women are to be seen and treated as Christ. Failure to do this, involves condemnation for disloyalty to the most fundamental of revealed truths. Encounters with Christ must be followed by the encounters and both must be experienced with the same love. It's a love that frees, not a love that wants to possess or manipulate. The great Indian teacher, Mahatma Gandhi, philosophy was very similar. Merton loved people, but he also loved nature. He told us to begin ?by learning how to see and respect the visible creation which mirrors the glory and the perfection of the invisible God?. Everything that surrounds us, the trees, the ocean, the waves, the sky, the sun, the birds, it is in all this that we will find our answers. God is omnipresent; we do not see this because we are not contemplative. Merton believed a Christian society is one in which men give their share of labor and intelligence and in return receive their share of the fruits of the labor, which is seen in the Kingdom of God, a society centered upon the divine truth and the divine mercy. In such a society the prophetic role of the monk would be fulfilled, in the sense that his renunciation of the right of ownership was an affirmation of God's ownership of everything and of man's right to be a possessor only in so far as he was willing to share with others what he did not need. Merton did not feel impelled to become involved in political deeds. He believed the monk's duty was to cultivate consciousness and awareness however, truth and God demanded he speak out loudly and often against all forms of war. He stated that the Vietnam war was an example of Americans seeing their country as the center of the world, imposing their will, in the name of freedom, on weaker nations that might stand in their way. It was a needless destruction of human life, a rape of a culture which could only lead to the death of the spirit of an exhausted people. He saw men striving to negotiate for peace, and failing because their fear overbalanced their true good will. ?The root of all war is fear.?