Revolution Reality

Maybe they aren’t exactly masterpieces, but they are some of the items I worked on this semester. I spend a lot of time and work on them, a shame to see them to go fully to waste. I think. I’ve already posted the first one (but it wasn’t the final version).

Exploring Global Warming and the Lesser Known Theories

Global warming, the name of the phenomenon believed to be causing the Earth’s temperatures to increase over the past fifty years, has led many scientists to attempt to persuade much of Earth’s inhabitants to lay off fuels that are believed to be the cause of such warming. As of now, there are no scientists who deny the fact that global warming is occurring; however, there are some scientists who do not accept the varying theories of what is actually causing global warming (“Global warming”). Other than just effecting temperature averages on the Earth, scientists believe that global warming could also negatively bring about climatic changes, such as floods and hurricanes (“Global warming”). Humans may have an affect on the total outcome of global warming; however, the scientists who reject these views have “seen their grant funds disappear, their work derided, and themselves libeled as industry stooges, scientific hacks or worse” (Lindzen).

Christian Morals in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Tempest

There are many different morals and themes in the Middle English Arthurian romance of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the more modern play by William Shakespeare, The Tempest. While each story has nothing, dealing with the plot, in common, there are a few similarities between how each handles certain themes, namely forgiveness. Being as each poem was written in another period in time from the other, and the fact that there is only one source for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Gawain 201), it is sufficient to say that Shakespeare probably did not receive any literary ideas from it when writing The Tempest. Furthermore, The Tempest is not considered by most to be a Christian play, and strictly it isn’t. It was written during a time when Christianity heavily influenced European society, however. On the other hand, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is considered to be a Christian poem, or it was at the least heavily influenced by Christianity. Some of the Christian symbolism is unclear in a first reading of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, while being exceptionally well hidden in The Tempest. The theme which dominates each text is that of forgiveness and the recourse thereof, this being the main Christian moral. While not being specific in the use of Christian concepts and ideas, each use extensive symbolism and allegory to derive the concepts and ideas of Christianity.

So there they are …

I’ve heard this scripture in a song (I believe by Delirious) quite a good time ago and since I’ve heard it, I’ve loved it.  Anyway, here’s the Psalm.

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
       let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
       righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Fire goes before him
       and consumes his foes on every side.

His lightning lights up the world;
       the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
       before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
       and all the peoples see his glory.

All who worship images are put to shame,
       those who boast in idols—
       worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and rejoices
       and the villages of Judah are glad
       because of your judgments, O LORD.

For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;
       you are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
       for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
       and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Light is shed upon the righteous
       and joy on the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
       and praise his holy name.

—Psalm 97 (NIV)

My favorite line is verse 2, “Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.“