Comparing the Family of Kingsolver’s Bean Trees with the Ideal Family

Comparing the Family Presented in Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees with the Ideal Family of Socrates In The Republic, Socrates idealized the perfect city. One of the aspects that he deliberated on was the raising of children and family structure. The conclusion reached by Socrates is that no parent will know his own offspring or any child his parents (457 d). It was Socrate's belief that the best atmosphere would be created in a communal upbringing of the city's children. In the same sense, he believed that they should take every precaution to insure that no mother knows her own child (460 c). Not even the mother, the traditional child-rearer, would be permitted to know or have a say in the lives of her own children, but in all of the children as a whole. Likewise, Barbara Kingsolver presents many similar ideas of family in her novel, The Bean Trees. While Kingsolver values the communal family, she differs from Socrates in that her primary focus is on the maternal force that drives the family. Socrates' idea of the collective family is evident in Barbara Kingsolver's work, as well. In The Bean Trees, Kingsolver illustrates the many different families that can be present in one's life, and the importance of that communal role. As Maureen Ryan points out, in the different world that [Kingsolver] envisions throughout her fiction, we'd all care for everyone's child (81). In Kingsolver vision, Taylor, Lou Ann, Turtle, and Dwayne Ray can live together as a family, supporting each other physically, spiritually, and mentally. Kingsolver also makes a point to include Taylor befriending Sandy, and how they help each other out by checking up on each other's kids at the mall day-care (67). Sandy is not the only on... ...and, does not acknowledge or consider the good that is to be gained by the eternal bond of mother and child, nor does he consider this bond when speculating on the possibility of his city. Kingsolver creates a much more realistic image of an ideal family - one that is nurturing and loving, while also teaching the child the basic necessities for survival. While his idea of a communal role is emphasized, Socrates idea of how motherhood should be handled is debunked by the powerful presentation by Kingsolver in The Bean Trees. Works Cited Kingsolver, Barbara. The Bean Trees. New York : Harper, 1988. Plato. The Republic. Classics of Moral and Political Theory. 2nd ed. Michael L. Morgan. Indianapolis : Hackett Publishing Company, 1996. 32 - 246. Ryan, Maureen. "Barbara Kingsolver's Lowfat Fiction." Journal of American Culture 18.4 (1995) : 77 - 82.

Intellectual Property of Lasik Surgery

The procedure of Lasik Surgery is an innovative technique that could provide life lasting changes to individuals afflicted with ophthalmic disorders.   Patents continue to develop and new and improved technologies released.  Ã‚   In considering and evaluating the intellectual property of Lasik surgery, it is important to look at the procedure from a variety of angles so as to better understand the complexity of the process.Lasik surgery is a privately owned business.   Additionally, private as well as public owned corporations have the ability to research and investigate new procedures in Lasik Surgery.   As a procedure is released, individual practitioners are eligible to practice the business if they have the correct licensures.   The procedure of Lasik Surgery is FDA approved, and all patents to further develop and improve upon Lasik surgery procedures must also be approved by the FDA.   Furthermore, while the Lasik Surgery business is privately owned, it is still subj ect to the legal regulations of the Federal trade commission.There are countless patents involving Lasik Surgery and its technological improvements.   As of Fall 2003, VISK and Summitt were the only two companies authorized by the FDA to hold Lasik Surgery patents.   Recently, the companies of Summitt Technology and VISX were charged with price fixing and violating the standards of the Federal Trade Commission.  Ã‚   As a result of the price scandals reveled by the FTC, patents became released to the patent pool, but were still subject to veto power by VISK and Summitt (Perry, 2003).   As a result of the release to the public pool, the competing patents would no longer be held by a single entity (FTC.gov, 1998).There are several individual physician that can also hold ophthalmic patents.   For example, Dr. Richard Lindstrom, Founding Manager of Minnesota Eye Consultants, holds twenty-eight patents involving ophthalmology and improvements in laser procedures (Minnesota Eye Consultants, 2006).At current time, there is no approval for the development of generic Lasik procedure products.   This is due to the sensitive nature of the industry, as a generic procedure may cause harm to the patient and may not comply with all FDA regulated standards. One recently released patent related to Lasik Surgery was patent number 6,951,556.   This patent was issued to an individual by the name of Robert L. Epstein, MD.   Dr. Epstein is the director of 800-I-CAN-SEE, the Mercy Center for Corrective Eye Surgery in McHenry, Illinois. The release of the patent provides a new way for physicians to correct off-center laser ablations that periodically occur as a result of the Lasik procedure.   As a result of the patent, correction of off-center laser ablations can now be incorporated into newer laser correction machines (Epstein, 2005).The Lasik Surgery industry is an evolving and constantly improving technology.   It is important to understand the intellectual pr operty laws and patent regulations so as to determine what the future holds for the industry.   It will be interesting to see what changes result from the increased privatization of the Lasik Surgery process.ReferencesEpsetin, Robert (2005).   New Patent for Correcting Centering of Lasik Vision  Ã‚  Ã‚   Treatments.   Retrieved October 20,  Ã‚   2006 from http://eye.taragana.net/archive/new-patent-for-correcting-centering-of-lasik-vision-treatments/FTC.gov (1998).   FTC Charges Two Firms that Control that Market for Laser Eye Surgery with Price-Fixing Conspiracy.   Retrived October 20, 2006 from http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1998/03/eye.htmMinnesota Eye Consultants (2006).   Laser Vision Correction.   Retrieved October 20, 2006 from http://www.seewithlasik.com/docs/lasik-minneapolis.html.Perry, Martin (2003).   Laser Eye Surgery Patent Pool.   Retrieved October 20, 2006 from http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:qadHX0VPSOQJ:econweb.rutgers.edu/perry/389/lectures/PPTB38 9.F03.PatentPools.doc+number+of+lasik+surgery+patents&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=11.

Essay on Banning Cell Phones in School - 505 Words

Many places in society are setting policies on digital device. The principal at my school has also set policies on banning cell phones in school. Students should not be permitted to use cell phones in school. Using cell phones during school allows students to cheat. Students will be more distracted by cell phones and pay less attention to the teacher and to the lesson. Students have a higher chance of getting in trouble if they use cell phones in school rather than if they are not allowed to use digital devices in school. Many digital devices can be set on silent; a student can receive a text message during a test. Teachers will not be able to hear the cell phone; this allows students to easily cheat on tests. Students cheating on†¦show more content†¦Many students will play on their phones and not pay attention to the teacher and the lesson that the teacher is giving. Students are sent to school to learn and by playing with cell phones during classes students are not learning anything that will help them with a career or their futures. Students can also text friends in other classrooms and not have their minds in the classroom that they are in. Students may eventually stop coming to school because they can just stay home and use their cell phones and do other things. Some students do not use their digital devices for the good that they have, but for the bad. Many students are more likely to get into serious trouble with they law and have serious legal problems. If students are allowed to use their cell phones in school and they get caught doing illegal things on their digital devices such as sexting, they will be punished by the law. This cause major trouble for some students. Many students will also bully other students more during school hours. If bulling numbers go up it will cause many problems for the school administration. Some students may also stop coming to school if bulling gets to severe. Therefore using digital devices in school c auses more problems for the students and the school. The final result of using digital devices during school hours is not a good one. Students can cheat more easily, which means that they are not preparing for the future and society.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Banning Cell Phones in School507 Words   |  3 PagesRecently, the principal of my school has banned the use of cell phones during school hours. I agree with this policy because students could use their cell phones to cheat on tests, quizzes, or any other independent work. Another reason that I agree with this policy is, the students won’t be paying attention to the teacher if they are texting somebody else. The final reason is, cell phones are a distraction to other students who are trying to learn. Cells phones can be a huge problem later in lifeRead MoreBanning Cell Phones in Schools Essay580 Words   |  3 PagesThe usage of cell phones is increasing dramatically in the world today, especially among the student bo dy. The principal’s idea of banning cell phones from the school has to be one of the best ideas yet. Why does a student even need to use a cell phone during school? The usage of cell phones in a school or a business can only lead to disaster. Students could be texting friends the answers on tests, talking on the phone and not paying attention and miss an announcement, or they might talk or textRead MoreBanning Cell Phones in Schools Essay example571 Words   |  3 PagesCell phones shouldn’t be allowed in school I agree with the principal on the issue of cell phones being banned from school during school hours. I agree because during school one should be there to learn not to text or talk with their friends. Cell phones are distracting, disrespectful, and distracting in the school environment. Cell phones are distracting because they ring, beep, vibrate, or play a song, which will cause you to move or laugh. On the other hand, if it is your phone then youRead MoreCell Phones And Its Effect On Campus999 Words   |  4 Pagesis in an emergency, no one wouldn’t go to look for a pay phone on a street in this era. Even if they looked for, it would be extremely hard to get one. Cell phone is the item which one person has at least one now. When I found myself in the middle school, I got my first cell phone, and it wasn’t that everyone has. In fact, none of my friend had one, therefore, there were no rules of cell phone use on the campus. At the time, the cell phone was only for the call. We weren’t able to play games or searchRead MoreBanning Personal Electronic Devices Is Not An Effective Way Of Stop Cyber Bullying997 Words   |  4 Pagesthe whopping 80% of all teens using cell phones regularly this is a huge number. Recently WMCI has thought of banning personal electronic devices (cell phones, personal laptops etc.,) to combat this issue in our own school, but this ban is not a potent fix. There are many ways to help students from being cyber bullied, but banning personal electronic devices is not an effective way of stopping cyber bullying because cyber bullying can happen outside school, banning personal devices can also have badRead MoreEssay On Personal Technology1246 Words   |  5 PagesIn the standard middle school to high school classroom, anyone can walk in a room and see the glare of cell phones sitting on desks, students looking down in their lap, or earbuds coming from every student’s ears. Is this use of personal technology in classrooms benefitting our students? Due to the rising use of technology in the classroom some may argue that the student’s own technology can bring educational benefits, while others only see them as a distraction in classrooms. Being a student fromRead MoreCell Phones are Higlhy Addictive1431 Words   |  6 Pagesbillion cell phone subscribers in the world. (â€Å"UN says world has 6 billion cell phone subscribers, 2.3 billion Internet users†). With a number this high one must ask whether or not cell phones are more beneficial than they are harmful. Everyone recognizes the benefits of cell phones, but how often does society acknowledge the harms that cell phones induce on the public. The simplicity of communication through the use of cell phones does not outweigh the distractions caused by cell phones, becauseRead MoreCell Phones Banned at School Essay823 Words   |  4 Pagesamong people of all ages, are cell phones. Such technology is great for many uses, but it is not always appropriate in certain settings. The principal at my school has adopted a new policy that bans the use of cell phones during school hours. I support my principal’s decision. Cell phones can be distractions in many ways to students during school. They can cause con flicts between fellow students and between students and teachers. Allowing cell phones during school hours also basically gives studentsRead MoreWhy Banning the Use of Cell Phones While Driving Should Be Mandatory Nationwide1039 Words   |  5 PagesWhy Banning the Use of Cell Phones While Driving Should Be Mandatory Nationwide Dimuthu perera AC1304661   SP180.0.3 Principles of Public Speaking   Assignment 6_06 8/26/13 â€Å"WHY BANNING THE USE OF CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING SHOULD BE MANDATORY NATIONWIDE† TITLE: Why Banning the Use of Cell Phones While Driving Should Be Mandatory Nationwide? A. General Purpose: Persuade B. Specific Purpose: Persuade my audience that banning the use of cell phones while driving should be mandatoryRead MoreEssay on Cell Phone Use Should be Banned While Driving985 Words   |  4 PagesYour phone rings and you answer it. You start talking and get deeply involved in the conversation. Before you know it, you just ran a red light and get side swiped by a school bus. Your life is now upside down. Finally, you are able to pull yourself out of your new Escalade with no injury. However, a few of the students have been injured and one killed. Now you have to live with that for the rest of your life. This is a prime example of cell phone distraction. Therefore, all cell phone usage