Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Summary - Essay Example The speech is especially memorable for its remark on firearm suicide, which when taken alongside his later suicide, leads to an increased emotional attachment to the text. In the words present in the speech, Foster makes a concise argument regarding the need for students of a capitalist society to be more aware of their surroundings and the generative possibilities that may be in existence behind antagonisms and frustrations encountered everyday. Wallace opens his speech with a parable-like story of two young fish. He says, â€Å"Two young fish are swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, "Morning boys. How's the water?" The two young fish swim on for a bit. Eventually, one of them looks over at the other and goes, what the hell is water (Wallace & Kenyon College 4). Wallace opens his speech in this way with an intended salute to the standard requirement for most speeches in America, which tend to use a parable to lead i nto the main idea. This becomes the theme of the entire speech. The most important and obvious realities are usually the most difficult to discuss. Wallace discards any mention on the importance of a University degree in moving the student forward, preferring to discuss knowledge that can be applied in the world. He goes on to make the point that a University degree does not reflect so much on one’s capacity to think, but instead it reflects the preference of what one will think. While this seems obvious, Wallace is candid in stressing the value of that which is obvious. Foster moves on to contend that all we know concerning the world is visible and under our noses in the media. He contends that, deep down, even when it does not show on us, we see ourselves as the universes’ center. The emotions and thoughts of other individuals must be communicated for us to know them, but it is only possible to focus on what is ours since it is the foremost urge and we consider it re al (Wallace & Kenyon College 4). Foster contends that hope exists if only we realize the hardwired setting that defaults to self-centeredness and make moves in resetting it. He moves that there is a need to shift views and see the world through new lenses while shattering the lens, which sees only the self. Wallace shifts gears while sticking to the original theme, and almost comers across as sympathizing with the graduating students in that they have little idea of the rat race that is ahead of them. He discusses a scenario that rarely makes it onto commencement speeches by giving a daily example that includes, in clear detail, waking up early, traffic jams and long hour days, shopping for dinner groceries, poor lighting in the stores, traffic jams back home, bed, and all this again (Wallace & Kenyon College 5). While graduates have witnessed this lifestyle with their parents, they have not gone through it personally. The reason that people are stuck into the cycle is due to the un iverse-center default setting, as well as one’s own emotions and needs dictating the priorities from the surroundings. However, again, individuals have the choice to place emphasis on the obvious. Wallace is especially emphatic on the need to shift to the obvious. He points out the day-to-day scenario using a different lens. For instance, why get mad in the traffic jam while everyone else is also unhappy? He also

Paris Peace Conference 1919 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Paris Peace Conference 1919 - Term Paper Example The mission to restore peace was proclaimed by President Wilson. All the documents present the authors’ quest for peace. This is portrayed with carefully chosen words that are used and the effect that these words have on the delegates that attended the conference. The Paris Peace Conference recorded an attendance of 27 countries with high-ranking representatives and aids who devised a Peace Treaty. The central power leaders who attended the conference included Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Great Britain, George Clemenceau of France, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando, and President Woodrow Wilson of the United States. During the Peace Conference, two themes were highly critical. The first theme was that each victorious ally from Europe had betrayed the diplomacy of the then president Wilson. Therefore, in so doing, they had deprived the post war international order of its moral justification1. The second theme was the Carthaginian settlement in which all the winning nations had virtually dismantled the country of Germany of all its economic and military power. Therefore, the main theme was that of restoring peace to the war torn nations while the secondary themes were of diplomacy and the Carthaginian settlement. These three themes each stand for itself and the three cannot be united as one theme. Key points of the speeches by the presidents of the four nations are evident. The then President of the United States, President Wilson, promised Poland free and secure access to the Baltic Sea. Wilson balanced antithetical considerations with his self-determination and patience2. France attended the conference with the aim of acquiring backup and security from the Germans. Therefore, the only way of achieving their goal was to ensure the Americans and the British take over. However, this was only possible if the two countries could give Germany such a punch that Germany could never rise again3. The Peace Conference Treaty which was