Is Asia primed for increased rivalry or greater co-operation Term Paper

Is Asia primed for increased rivalry or greater co-operation - Term Paper Example These include the North Korean Taepodong missiles and nuclear research crises, the impact of the financial crisis on Asian countries and subsequent socio-economic turmoil, and conflict over the Taiwan Straits (Welch & Milne, 2014: p67). However, although the Asian region is a highly unstable one, the reasons for this rivalry are not entirely tied to these events as several scholars have claimed. While Friedberg’s argument contends that Asia cannot move towards cooperation due to its multi-polar geopolitics, the United States’ strategic interests in the region provide a stabilising power balance. In addition, the dearth of democratic and strong regional institutions, which is also part of his argument, would seem to contradict evidence showing the opposite as Indo-Sino cooperation is increasing (Alagappa, 2011: p157). In fact, regional actors pose the largest threat to stability and increased cooperation in Asia. The extremely different and isolationist values and beliefs professed by these actors make sovereignty contests in Taiwan and Korean waters a potential cause of military rivalry and conflict. These potential but intangible causes of rivalry and conflict should be given the closest attention. Moreover, the role played by the US in Asia cannot be ignored as its strategic military strength and alliances make it the dominant power (Alagappa, 2011: p159). T his paper will aim to use three theoretical paradigms of international relations: the realist, liberal, and constructivist approaches, in examining the regional environment in Asia and forming a more considerate and accurate assessment of prospects for increased rivalry or cooperation in Asia. The liberal, realist, and constructivist approaches to IR offer different perspectives of what governs the behaviour of state actors, especially in the promotion of stability and cooperation or rivalry and conflict (Lanyi & McWilliams, 2013: p90). The realist school of IR thought considers power to be the main

Amy Cuddy, TedTalk Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Amy Cuddy, TedTalk - Assignment Example Can you really fake it till you make it? This is true to some extent as it depends on the person and their motivation to achieve what they want. Actually what our body experiences can change what we think in our minds resulting in a change in our behaviors. The moment our behaviors change, the outcome is likely to be the ones we desire. There is so much faking that takes place in the business field. Most of the time people say some things about themselves that would be viewed as pure fiction. This practice is common among the entrepreneurs. People tend to exaggerate their experience, knowledge, compensation and accomplishments. They associate themselves with success in every area of their lives. They go to the extent of posting some of these online for the general public to read. These are made up allegations since they never have hard evidence to support whatever it is they write about. Some of these people actually end up achieving some of the things they fake if they focus very well. Fake it till you make it worked for my brother. When we were young he used to make toy cars and drive them around the neighborhood. He used to imitate the engine using his mouth. He would say that he had a real car that could take him where he wanted to go. The moment he got employed, he bought a car with the same model as the toys he used to

Should Social Security Be Privatized Essay Example for Free

Should Social Security Be Privatized Essay Everyone has their opinions of Social Security. Many feel Social Security is their savings and the government should not mess with it or use it for paying off other debts. Others believe it should be privatized and that person should be allowed to do what they wish with their Social Security. I am hoping to touch on at least two points for each side of the argument. Before we can dive into each side we need to know how it all began. Before the time of Social Security, people found ways to secure their economy. Back in ancient Greece, they used olive oil to ensure their economic security. In medieval times, serfs would tend to the lords manor and as long as there were a steady supply of serfs the lords had bountiful economic security. Land was a very vital part to economic security for those who possessed or lived farms. No one really understood the concept of saving up for retirement or severe injuries. Around the time of the Great Depression, in the 1930’s, many elderly were hesitant to ask for government assistance and there were many restrictions that would allow them to become eligible for a pension. Franklin D Roosevelt proposed a way to assist elderly with retirement benefits, January 1935. Although Congress said it was a â€Å"governmental invasion of the private sphere and from those who sought exemption from payroll taxes for employers who adopted government-approved pension plans† (Our Documents) it was eventually passed and implemented eight months later. This act was established initially as a way government could assist elderly with retirement benefits. Social Security is a way to provide for not only elderly but also those in need. Not everyone receives the same amount of money from Social Security when they retire, or need it. It is all based on how much they pay into FICA, or Federal Insurance Contributions Act. This encompasses not only Social Security but also Medicare. Most companies will match the contribution taken from your paycheck. Discussion Who is to say there is a right or wrong way to deal with Social Security? Many feel, by the time those of us who are middle aged, will never get the chance of receiving their Social Security. As we sit in 2012, during a presidential election year, this is one of the hottest topics on the plate. There are many discussions for both sides of privatizing Social Security

Impact of Sustainable Tourism

Impact of Sustainable Tourism Tourism refers to the act of travelling for recreational, business, and leisure purpose. People all over the world are travelling to different destinations. Travelling has become an important part of human life, and the tourism industry has faced increasing challenges and pressure with the increasing demand of travelling. According to (Onyangu Kaseje, 2015), nowadays, it has become increasingly important to manage sustainable tourism development. For this, it is essential to consider the growing environmental problems. (Blackman, Foster, Hyvonen, Jewell, Kuilboer, Moscardo, 2015) stated that tourism development is planned and implemented with the aim of stimulating the regional economic development in the developing countries. In the past, the tourism development planning was considered as a private sector activity that intended to meet the growing demands of the dynamic industry. After the Second World War, the tourism industry turned into a mainstream industry. The World Trade Or ganisation has claimed that tourism is one the main drivers for socio-economic progress and development. Tourism has significantly influenced different destinations and places around the world. However, many scenarios suggest the adverse impact of tourism on the environment and communities. To deal with the negative impact, it is necessary to plan tourism according to the philosophies of sustainability. The report tends to analyse the concept of Tourism Sustainability and how it challenges the conventional ways of designing strategies for a national tourism plan. The findings are based on examining the tourism development programmes and its implementation in developing and developed countries. (Zamfir Corbos, 2015) claimed that economically, the tourism planning is far-sighted and it involves considering different sectors in order to trigger the development effectively and efficiently. The report focuses on comparing the sustainable tourism with conventional tourism planning. In the end, recommendations are included for future development planning and development concept. (Liu Mwanza, 2014) indicated that the concept of sustainable development had been widely accepted by different countries and regions to carry put their planning and development functions and processes. It is based on the concept of creating a better future by ensuring that the present is not compromised. Sustainable development aims to safeguard and protect the earths capability to support life. It is mainly concerned about the social equity, cultural diversity, environmental protection, and developing a viable economy. As claimed by (Singh, 2015) sustainable tourism aims to meet the ecological, culture, economic, and social requirements of a country. It is based on focusing on the long-term aspects of tourism by ensuring that the present and future demands are met effectively and ethically. The term sustainability focuses on the long-term and future-oriented requirements, which must be fulfilled by taking considerable actions and decisions. (Moscardo, 2013) stated that the primary objective of sustainable tourism development is to focus on different areas of sustainable development in tourism. The concept of sustainable tourism is applicable to all the types of destinations and all forms of tourism. Taking the example of tourist education guide programs sustainable tourism planning can be understood in a better manner. These programs aim to educate the tourists about the natural environment and resources so that they value it preservation. Table 1: Pillars of Sustainability (Onyangu Kaseje, 2015) Â   (Liu Francis, 2013) stated that the sustainable development focuses on meeting the current needs without compromising the future needs of the nation. Sustainable tourism development is based on the concept of creating a balance between the cultural, economic, and social aspects of the nation. It ensures that none of the activities will lead to endangering of the animals or environment. The process of sustainable development focuses on promoting development without depletion of resources and is accomplished by effectively managing the resources. Basically, the concept of sustainable development is based on certain principles, which focuses on ensuring that the development is compatible with the maintenance of biological resources and ecological processes. The sustainable tourism should be planned in a cost effective manner so that the resources are managed and utilised effectively (Blackman, Foster, Hyvonen, Jewell, Kuilboer, Moscardo, 2015). Table 2: Sustainability Pyramid in Tourism (Moscardo, 2013) (Dangi Jamal, 2016) reported that sustainable development is considered as one of the best solutions to social degradation and other environment problems. The concept of sustainable tourism development includes different dimensions that relate the culture, economic, social, and environmental development with each other. The sustainable development planning mainly focuses on the preservation of environmental resources, and the activities are planned in such a manner that the intensive and excessive use of resources is avoided. (Tourism, 2016) claimed that Green Globe is one of the sustainable tourism initiatives taken by the tourism operators in New Zealand. It promotes sustainable travel and tourism across the triple bottom line. The Sustainable Business Company is responsible for monitoring and assisting the tourism operators in the country so that they can facilitate the growth of sustainable tourism development programs. As stated by (Vlaicu, 2010), the international donor agencies and government were responsible for promoting the tourism development planning in developing nations. The conventional tourism planning is based on the concept of making a huge profit by satisfying the tourists. It is a tourist-oriented development planning and has facilitated many countries in enhancing their tourism sector. The convention planning gives priority to economic benefits. The advancement in Information and Technology has facilitated the convention tourism industry. With the passage of time, the importance of conventional tourism has rapidly enhanced as it has a relevant impact on the environment, economy, and population of the chosen place. To promote conventional tourism and achieve success through it, it is important to plan and implement effective strategies (Larsen, 2016). Table 3: Conventional Tourism to Sustainable Tourism (Larsen, 2016) (Dredge Jamal, 2015) claimed that the conventional tourism planning policies focus on attracting tourists from all over the world. It emphasizes on entertaining and satisfying the tourists, without considering the impact on natural resources and environment. The businesses in New Zealand are using various traditional marketing approaches to promote tourism in the country. For example, the destination management processes are being implemented in the country. The concept is based on the promotion of different elements of the destination, which include infrastructure, people, values and culture. The place is marketed to attract tourist and encourage different types of site management activities. In New Zealand, the tourism industry has undergone various changes and developments. The businesses aim to provide tourists with a chance to enjoy the mountains, forests, islands, wetland, and high country. The economic value is the main concern while making the country sites suitable, accessi ble, and family-friendly (Yeoman, Andrade, Leguma, Wolf, Tan, Beattie, 2015). Table 4: Tourism Planning (Najdeska Rakicevik, 2012) According to (Najdeska Rakicevik, 2012), the growth in the tourism industry has positively and negatively affected different aspects of the societies and communities. Sustainable development focuses on the planning and development without the exploitation of the natural resources or affecting the cultural aspects of the societies. It aims to preserve the culture and nature for the future generations. (Hassan Bayazidpour, 2016) claimed that planning of sustainable tourism is dependent on preserving the environment and making decisions that lead to positive development. The sustainable tourism faces different types of challenges at a different level, which include making tourism accessible to all, preserving the natural and cultural resources, reducing the seasonality of demand, and promoting the well-being of the local societies and communities. Table 5: Tourism Development Plan (Singh, 2015) The comparison of conventional and sustainable tourism has helped in realising that conventional tourism is not necessarily planned to consider the enhancement of education or conservation. It does not aim to enhance the local community, if the goals are targets of conventional development plan are not effectively managed, it can result in damaging the fragile environment. The culture and resources are also under the threat of being destroyed or altered as a result of conventional tourism. (Dangi Jamal, 2016) claimed that in the past, many conventional tourism practices posed a threat to the conservation. It was due to lack of control, management, and ineffective planning techniques. In contrast, the sustainable tourism is planned with the aim of benefiting the local residents, protecting the culture, and conserving the natural resources. The plan involves educating both the local residents and tourists. (Hassan Bayazidpour, 2016) stated that the benefits of sustainable tourism are similar to conventional tourism. In addition, it not only protects the culture and natural resources but also focuses on the well-being of the community and society both economically and socially. The conventional planning only focuses on profits, while sustainable tourism is based on enhancing the environment and community and achieving profits. The conventional tourism is tourist-oriented while sustainable tourism is locally-oriented. Conventional emphasises on creating entertainment for the tourists, while sustainable tourism provides learning experience where conservation of the natural resources is termed as a priority. It is believed that the tourism planning is dependent on the goals and objectives set by the government and tourism industry. There are certain policies and regulations that must be followed throughout the planning and implementation process (Vlaicu, 2010). The tourism industry is growing and developing continuously with the passage of time. To achieve sustainable tourism development, it is important to focus on following the principles of sustainable tourism (Moscardo, 2013). As the level of challenges and complexities have increased, it is recommended to follow the following principles to attain the goal of development: Plan for long-term goals and objectives Set and respect the limits of environment and society Monitor the changes and developments continuously Take an integrated or holistic approach to development Choose an adequate pace of development Take cost-effective methods and approaches Involve the stakeholders in the process of development Examine and manage risk by implementing risk mitigation strategies In this competitive era, the economic development of the countries is dependent on it tourism sector up to a great extent. Considering this fact, the government of the developing countries is supporting the tourism sector by making effective policies and standards regarding tourists. It is highly recommended that the nations focus on the growing and changing needs and demands of the tourists belonging to different backgrounds. The hospitality industry should focus on developing highly attracting services and places to attract tourists from different regions and countries. The implementation of sustainable tourism policies and development framework will help in achieving sustainability and protecting the natural resources and environment of the country. ÂÂ   Analysing and examining the concept of tourism sustainability, it has been seen that the strategic objective of sustainable development planning can only be achieved when all the four elements of the nation are given equal importance. These elements include economic, cultural, environmental and social aspects of the nation that are interconnected with each other. The sustainable tourism promotes responsible tourism where the tourists enjoy and appreciate nature and ensure that their activities do not harm the natural environment or resources in any manner. It promotes conservation and is appreciated and accepted all over the world by the tourist sector. With the advancement in the tourism industry, both conventional and sustainable tourism development planning has gained a lot of attention. The Government and businesses operating in the industry are developing tourism plans to enhance the environment and gain social and economic benefits. Conventional tourism focuses on profitability while sustainable tourism is more concerned about the conservation of the natural environment and resources. In New Zealand, the number of tourists has commendably increased in the past few years. The country has introduced attractive policies and development programs to facilitate the tourists belonging to different age groups and backgrounds. To achieve economic and environmental benefits, the country is undergoing various changes and developments with the passage of time. These developments are promoted by the sustainable and conventional tourism planning approaches and techniques. References Blackman, A., Foster, F., Hyvonen, T., Jewell, B., Kuilboer, A., Moscardo, G. (2015). Factors contributing to successful tourism development in Peripheral Regions. The Journal of Tourism Studies , 15 (1), 59-65. Dangi, T., Jamal, T. (2016). An integrated approach to sustainable community-based tourism. Sustainability , 8 (2), 1-32. Dredge, D., Jamal, T. (2015). Progress in tourism planning and policy: A post-structural perspective on knowledge production. Tourism Management , 51 (2), 285-297. Hassan, A., Bayazidpour, H. (2016). Analysis and sustainable tourism development planning in the Kurdistan Province. International Academic Journal of Humanities , 3 (6), 1-16. Larsen, G. (2016). The unappreciated slowness of conventional tourism. A Multidisciplinary e-Journal , 27 (2), 35-52. Liu, B., Mwanza, F. (2014). Towards sustainable tourism development in Zambia: advancing tourism planning and natural resource management . Journal of Service Science and Management , 7 (2), 30-45. Liu, Z., Francis, A. (2013). Sustainable tourism development: a critique. Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 11 (6), 459-475. Moscardo, G. (2013). Interpretation and sustainable tourism: functions, examples, and principles. The Journal of Tourism Studies , 14 (1), 112-121. Najdeska, K., Rakicevik, G. (2012). Planning of sustainable tourism development. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences , 44 (2), 210-220. Onyangu, J., Kaseje, M. (2015). Tourism planninga and developemnt for sustainability. American Journal of Economics, Finance and Management , 1 (5), 336-345. Singh, V. (2015). Eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative to conventional tourism. Tourism and Hospitality , 4 (4), 1-10. Tourism, N. (2016). New Zealand Tousim Guide. Retrieved February 20, 2017, from Tourism in New Zealand: http://www.tourism.net.nz/community/environmental-sustainability Vlaicu, A. (2010). Conventional tourism from sustainable tourism to ecotourism . Conventional Tourism Journal , 5 (1), 43-49. Yeoman, I., Andrade, A., Leguma, E., Wolf, N., Tan, R., Beattie, U. (2015). 2050: New Zealands sustainable future. Journal of Tourism Futures , 1 (2), 117-125. Zamfir, A., Corbos, R. (2015). Towards sustainable tourism development in urban areas. Sustainability , 7 (1), 12709-12722.

Ender’s Game :: Essays Papers

Ender’s Game Andrew Wiggin is the main character in the novel, Ender’s Game. His nickname is Ender. Andrew got his nickname from his older sister Valentine when he was born because Valentine was unable to say the name â€Å"Andrew†, so she called him Ender. It has specific meaning in the book because of the fact that Ender is expected to be able to ‘end’ events that someone else had started before him. One event that has been started before Ender that he is expected to finish is the war between the humans on the planet, and the alien â€Å"Buggers.† Ender is expected to be able to end this war because his older siblings tested out impossibly in the governments way of determining aptitude, or ability to become a general in the army that is preparing for a fight with the Buggers. Rarely is a third child born, but in this exceptional case, Ender was permitted to be born because of his siblings test results. As soon as ender is born, a monitor is placed in the base of his neck to analyze his thoughts and senses to determine whether he is Battleschool material or not. Ender eventually goes to Battleschool and takes mass amounts of badgering and teasing from the other kids that are training too. Ender easily moves through the ranks and frustrates every instructor that he has. He becomes a commander and is given an army. He eventually goes to a planet called Eros, find the Buggers, and conclude that they are bugs, and that they have a queen like ants do. Ender finds an old man and finds that it is Mazer Rackham, his enemy. Ender finally finds that all the games he had been playing since Rackham became his enemy, was the real Third Invasion. Ender is a hero. Another event that Ender had to finish that had been started before him was his conflict with Stilson on the bus to Battleschool. Stilson and his friends make fun of Ender by calling him a ‘Third’ and they do not let him get to his seat on the bus. Stilson calls Ender names and summons his friends to hold Ender back because he had tried to grab Stilson’s arm in defense of himself.

Essay --

Joon Choi Ms. Postma AP English/ 4th Period Jane Eyre Essay 3/14/2014 St. John’s Moral Ambiguity and Jane’s Understanding of Self-Respect Every great story includes a morally ambiguous character, often either a Byronic hero whom everyone loves despite his utterly depressing nature and moral flaws (such as Hamlet in Hamlet and Sidney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities) or a strict, principled character who unfortunately earns the readers’ hostility as his moral ambiguity is somewhat deeply offensive to many. The example of the latter is St. John Rivers, a morally ambiguous character in Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Bronte, who is a compassionate man but has a quite misogynistic characteristic that he vainly attempts to have a loveless marriage with Jane Eyre, expecting her to be subservient. Nevertheless, despite his moral flaws, as St. John makes a moral determination that surprisingly resembles that of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte allows the protagonist to project her own image onto St. John, the morally ambiguous character of the novel. As a consequence, St. John Rivers contributes to the work as a whole by drawi ng the very meaning of the text, Jane’s quest for love and self-respect, and allowing Jane Eyre to appreciate herself in her entirety and realize the true meaning of self-respect. Jane Eyre finds her own image in St. John Rivers as they share several similarities in their moral determinations. After learning of Bertha Mason’s existence, Jane Eyre refuses to stay in Thornfield, fearing that she might lose her self-respect if she would give into Feeling, or â€Å"temptation† (447). The Feeling demands her to comply with Rochester’s entreaty, asking â€Å"Who in the world cares for you [Jane]? Or who will be injured by what you do?† (4... ...conflicts generated by the characters’ moral ambiguity. In Jane Eyre, as St. John Rivers’s passion for spiritually superior life, abiding by the principles of God, ultimately encourages him to coerce Jane into marriage, Jane finds the love without desire equally appalling as the love without principles. Nevertheless, at the same time, Jane acknowledges that her self-respect can be accomplished when she avoids neglecting her inner desires and accept herself in her entirety. St. John Rivers, the morally ambiguous character, plays a pivotal role in the novel as he reveals the meaning of the text through the conflict with the protagonist and develops the overall theme of the novel: the self-respect arises from appreciating oneself as a whole, not from concealing the inner Feeling from others. â€Æ' Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. London: Puffin Books, 1994. Print. Essay -- Joon Choi Ms. Postma AP English/ 4th Period Jane Eyre Essay 3/14/2014 St. John’s Moral Ambiguity and Jane’s Understanding of Self-Respect Every great story includes a morally ambiguous character, often either a Byronic hero whom everyone loves despite his utterly depressing nature and moral flaws (such as Hamlet in Hamlet and Sidney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities) or a strict, principled character who unfortunately earns the readers’ hostility as his moral ambiguity is somewhat deeply offensive to many. The example of the latter is St. John Rivers, a morally ambiguous character in Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Bronte, who is a compassionate man but has a quite misogynistic characteristic that he vainly attempts to have a loveless marriage with Jane Eyre, expecting her to be subservient. Nevertheless, despite his moral flaws, as St. John makes a moral determination that surprisingly resembles that of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte allows the protagonist to project her own image onto St. John, the morally ambiguous character of the novel. As a consequence, St. John Rivers contributes to the work as a whole by drawi ng the very meaning of the text, Jane’s quest for love and self-respect, and allowing Jane Eyre to appreciate herself in her entirety and realize the true meaning of self-respect. Jane Eyre finds her own image in St. John Rivers as they share several similarities in their moral determinations. After learning of Bertha Mason’s existence, Jane Eyre refuses to stay in Thornfield, fearing that she might lose her self-respect if she would give into Feeling, or â€Å"temptation† (447). The Feeling demands her to comply with Rochester’s entreaty, asking â€Å"Who in the world cares for you [Jane]? Or who will be injured by what you do?† (4... ...conflicts generated by the characters’ moral ambiguity. In Jane Eyre, as St. John Rivers’s passion for spiritually superior life, abiding by the principles of God, ultimately encourages him to coerce Jane into marriage, Jane finds the love without desire equally appalling as the love without principles. Nevertheless, at the same time, Jane acknowledges that her self-respect can be accomplished when she avoids neglecting her inner desires and accept herself in her entirety. St. John Rivers, the morally ambiguous character, plays a pivotal role in the novel as he reveals the meaning of the text through the conflict with the protagonist and develops the overall theme of the novel: the self-respect arises from appreciating oneself as a whole, not from concealing the inner Feeling from others. â€Æ' Works Cited Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. London: Puffin Books, 1994. Print.

Theme in Housman’s “to an Athlete Dying Young”

? Theme in Housman’s â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† By Genea Cannon Dr. A. Kantor English 1302 6 March 2009 â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† by A. E. Houseman The time you won your town the race We chaired you through the market-place; Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought you shoulder-high. Today, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. Smart lad, to slip betimes away From fields where glory does not stay, And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. Eyes the shady night has shut Cannot see the record cut, And silence sounds no worse than cheers After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout Of lads that wore their honors out, Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man. So set, before its echoes fade, The fleet foot on the sill of shade, And hold to the low lintel up The still-defended challenge-cup. And round that early-laureled head Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, And find unwithered on its curls The garland briefer than a girl’s. Thesis and Outline Thesis: Housman uses visual imagery, double-meaning words, and life cycles to develop a theme of fading glory. I. Visual Imagery A. Presence B. Effect II. Double-meaning Words A. Presence B. Effect III. Life Cycles A. Presence B. Effect Genea Cannon DC English 1302 Dr. A. Kantor 3/6/09 Theme in Housman’s â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† In Alfred Edward Housman’s â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young†, the theme of fading glory is evident throughout the piece. Knowing and comprehending the theme is important to understanding the poem. Housman uses visual imagery, double-meaning words, and life cycles to develop a theme of fading glory. Visual imagery is used in many ways to present the theme. In the first stanza, the narrator is remembering the day that the runner won a race for his town. When Housman states that â€Å"Man and boy stood cheering by, And home we brought we brought you shoulder-high† (Housman Lines 3-4), it is obvious that the athlete was praised because â€Å"he was placed on an emotional/psychological pedestal as well as a physical one† (Napierkowski 230). Next, Housman states that Today, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. (Lines 5-8) These lines vividly paint a picture of the athlete being carried high again, but this time the athlete in his own casket on the way to his grave. The saying â€Å"The road all runners come† expresses the â€Å"speaker’s awareness of the mortality of all people† (Napierkowski 230). The story is continued in line 7 by burying the body at his â€Å"threshold†. â€Å"The ‘threshold’ may literally be the physical edges of a grave, but it could also refer to the boundary between earthly reality and the world of the dead† (231). This shows that all people will die and that this particular athlete was held high even though he was on the way to the grave, because he died young and was still remembered for what he had done in his life. Another use of imagery is shown in lines 11 and 12, when Housman says â€Å"And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. † This is showing that the athlete gets his fame early in life, but just like the laurels, his glory fades quickly. â€Å"The idea of a laurel leaf representing the brevity of physical beauty and strength is furthered by its comparison to the feminine and delicate rose, which grows early in the season and withers and dies quickly (but not as quickly as the laurel)† (231). In the last stanza of â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young†, the image of the dead athlete having already passed through the threshold and existing in the world of the dead is presented. The athlete is wearing the victory wreath made of laurel. The only difference in the wreath of laurel in the world of the dead and the wreath of laurel on earth is that the laurel does not ever fade in the world of the dead. â€Å"The garland is expressed as ‘unwithered,’ reiterating Housman’s theme of the permanent victory an early death might provide† (232). These are a few of the ways that imagery shows up the theme of glory fading throughout the piece. Not only does visual imagery present the reader with the theme, words that have double-meaning also play an immense role in the poem by Housman. One instance of double-meaning words is in the fifth stanza when it is said: â€Å"Now you will not swell the rout Of lads that wore their honors out, Runners whom renown outran And the name died before the man. † (Lines 17-20) These lines strengthen the observation made by the speaker that at some point all athletes will fade in their ability to make such a performance and win. Glory is fleeting. The only way a person can capture it and make it last is to die young after achieving greatness† (Cummings). â€Å"Their ‘renown’ eventually outruns them: because they can no longer uphold their athletic reputation by sustaining their peak performance, their reputation, or ‘name,’ dies before they do† (Napi erkowski 231). And the name does not actually â€Å"die† it actually fades from people’s memories, whereas the person dies. This is where the double-meaning comes into play. Since the hero-athlete of this poem has died while at his peak, he will not have to become part of this ‘rout’ (crowd) of has-been athletes† (231). Words that have double-meanings play a big role in the production of the theme in poem written by Housman. In addition to visual imagery and double meaning words, life cycles have an important effect on the theme of the poem. Lines 9 and 10 of Housman’s poem say â€Å"Smart lad, to slip away From fields where glory does not stay,† These lines are saying that glory does not remain upon the earth long; after a while the accomplishments you achieved will be forgotten. The speaker suggests that the athlete was â€Å"smart† to die and leave the natural world, where â€Å"glory does not stay† (Napierkowski 231). Had the athlete grown older, the townspeople would have forgotten his accomplishment when other runners replaced him, meaning other runners would steal the spotlight when the athlete was no longer the best. This shows that heroes cycle through our lives like people who cycle through our lives. Alfred Edward Housman’s â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† has an interesting theme of fading glory. This theme is presented through visual imagery, double-meaning words, and life cycles. These three things used in the poem vividly paint a picture for the reader’s mind presenting the theme in a way that the reader can not miss. Works Cited Cummings, Michael J. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young†. Cummings Guides. 27 Jan 2009. 3 March 2009. . Housman, A. E. , â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young. † The Collected Poems. London: Jonathan Cape, 1939. Napierkowski, Marie Rose, and Mary K. Ruby, eds. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young. † Poetry for Students. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 1998.