The story of american history essays

The story of american history essays There is one word that each American would agree describes what this country was established for, freedom. If you asked ten people what freedom meant to them you would probably get ten different answers. The founders and original citizens of this country put their lives on the line to become free from a country they felt was unfairly ruling them. Many of these men had bought Africans to use as slaves in their homes and their fields. They were using a double standard. As all men are created equal Africans are not counted in this quote. Patriots saw their slaves as property and not actual people; therefore they were not entitled to the same rights as the colonists. Thomas Jefferson thought that all everyone should have equal rights. This included men, women, and African Americans. As explained in chapter one this ideal was one that was new to the colonists. Their society had always been dependant on the social status of the community and this went against all they had ever known. Although Jefferson himself owned over one hundred slaves he said that the way they were treated was no way for a human to live. During the antebellum era many workers used the term wage slavery to described how they felt about their working conditions. Many individuals worked for their employers for a wage that bareley allowed them to pay for the cost of living much less allowing them have any money to save. They felt that they were receiving an unfair amount of money for their work and they compared this to being a slave. The workers could not afford to quit, but they knew that they would never have enough money to get ahead or make a better life for them of their family. There are two sides to my feelings of the founding fathers that owned slaves. I understand that during this time period that owning slaves was almost a necessity to run a successful plantation. Slaves did all the work inside and outside the home. Witho...

Dead Until Dark, Analysis Essays

Dead Until Dark, Analysis Essays Dead Until Dark, Analysis Essay Dead Until Dark, Analysis Essay Since man’s creation we have been grouping things, trying to make sense of the world around us. We have grouped and classified all known flora and fauna in this world. The French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck classified over 1,634 species of marine animals. Carolus Linnaeus, often called the Father of Taxonomy believed through classification of plants and animals we would come closer to understanding the divine order.Johann German naturalist, Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, offered his contributions to taxonomy by subdividing humans into five distinct categories: the Caucasoid race, Mongoloid race, Ethiopian race (later termed the Negroid race), American Indian race, and Malayan race, but he did not propose any hierarchy among the races (Wikipedia). The problem with the idea of classifying humans is the instinctive pride in each of us that boils over into competition. This leads to members in each group having a sense of superiority over the others.This social segregation amongst the races has led to some of the most horrifying times in world history. Charlene Harris argues that we practice exclusionism while preaching equality in her novel Dead Until Dark. Harris addresses exclusionism by introducing a new group of beings into the already troubled society of the rural southern United States. Harris introduces vampires as the new minority group to the world, but more especially the state of Louisiana.Many will identify the vampire’s struggle for equality with that of gays in America, but I feel that this would be selfish and too narrow a scope, because any minority group that has ever challenged the social views of the majority rulers of these United States would fit comfortably in their situation. Harris demonstrates the attraction of people to things they don’t understand. She does this with the main character Sookie being attracted to Bill, a vampire, at first with basic curiosity which quickly turns into a deeper more sexual attraction.Sookie’s grandmother also shows a strong desire to learn about the vampires to get a better understanding of the past. Other characters have shown interest in the vampires in a more explicit nature and have been cruelly labeled fang bangers. This fictional term bears a striking resemblance to the more real terms of nigger lover, rump wranglers, and carpet munchers. These are a few examples of how society tries to resist change by categorizing in an attempt to exile through exclusion.Harris did not place the minority groups in her novel in an inferior position. But made them stand out as more in tune with society’s issues. First, one of the minor characters, Lafayette, a cook in Merlotte’s bar and grille is a gay male that demonstrates he is confident in his sexual orientation, and has a better understanding of others than they of themselves. Lafayette is later killed off in the novel, but lives on throughout the Dead Until Dark novel based television series TruBlood as a grounded voice of reason.Second, the vampires have their own government that provides everything that our existing government promises. They systematically provide swift justice and punishment for crimes. They have managed to exist for as long as anyone could remember as myth and legend indicating an extreme level of organization and control. We could stand to learn from their societal structure. Why do we fight an enemy of our own creation? We need to stop creating enemies. Our society fears change.As in Charlene Harris’ novel Dead Until Dark, society has to take a deep look into how it has viewed minority groups and find a way to accept those not of the status quo. We preach to be a great melting pot where all people of every race, color, or creed could coexist. In our history we have repeatedly, and still continue to fall short of that banner of equality we so proudly bear. Johann Friedrich Blumenbach. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 20 April 2013 at 21:21. Web. 5 May 2013.

Marketing and product life cycle Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing and product life cycle - Assignment Example Product Life Cycle (PLC) is a continuous process. It does not end like the human lifecycles. Brands and products do not die. They can be kept in the market for eternity if proper marketing techniques are used. There is a new field innovative marketing that is being used to revive the declining products and brands. These techniques improve the product’s position in the market and help the decline stage of a flagging brand. The paper did not discuss the extension stage and these strategies which are often used by marketing managers to cure the negative demand of the product. The paper also fails to identify the various marketing strategies that can be used in each stage of the product life cycle. The paper also talks about the advertising in the introduction phase to generate the trial purchases. However, advertising and promotion are integral parts of any product’s success and they are needed in every stage of the product lifecycle. However, the nature and kind of advertising and promotions change in each stage of the product life cycle. For example, in the introduction stage, informative advertising is done. In the growth stage, persuasive advertising is done. In maturity when there is a lot of competition in the product market, competitive advertising is done to hedge and leverage the position of the product against the competing products. Similarly, there are different kinds of promotional techniques that are used in the different stages of product life cycle. In introduction stage, there is product testing and free samples are given. In grow th stage, brand endorsements are used. In maturity stage, usually special discounts and other offers such as â€Å"buy 2 get 1 free† are used. A company that does not use different advertising and promotion campaigns in different lifecycle stages usually suffers and loses business. Good marketers develop correct strategies in each stage of product life cycle. However, the paper failed to realize

Bookstores Visit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bookstores Visit - Essay Example On the other side, looking at the best sellers, it also being evident that cultural elements specific to communities are being more acceptable to a global audience. Stories from Asia and Europe are being available and are being read as stories from the local context. Both the book stores had broad range of books. Another interesting observation was the standardization in the marketing strategies of the book stores. Both stores had similar best sellers. This suggest the ways in which media is able to reach out to people and influence people’s decision making process. In the context of globalization, it can be inferred that the market speculates the cultural choices that people make. The choice on what to read and what to perceive on reading is being largely influenced by the globalised market. Invariably both the bookstores have books portraying Asian symbols and culture in a sellable format. These depictions stay very close to the stereotypic images of orientalism. These books in terms of the ways in which they are marketed reinforce orientalism, though in an unrealistic sense. The reciprocal influence of the globalised economy forces the market to deliver according to the needs of the consumers and at the same time influences the consumers to consume what is marketed. This trend is evidently observable in this scenario. Both the book stores are offering books which reinforce the stereotypical images on Asian culture. Interestingly, this trend does not limit itself to a particular genre of books. Right from travel guides to fiction, books confirming certain cultural notions are readily available in both the stores. Interplay of liberalized open world marketing strategies and orientalism is observable in the kind of books that both the stores are selling. Being a classic, Kafka’s ‘On Parables’ was available in both the stores. The number of copies on the rack suggested that this

Eye Contact with Japanese Businessmen Essay Example for Free

Eye Contact with Japanese Businessmen Essay In Japan, the businessmen avoid eye contact. The businessmen would rather not waste their time and distract other men, especially their senior officers. Distractions may be embarrassing, especially when one should be focusing on the task at hand. In this research paper, comparisons among America and its culture will be displayed to accumulate ideas on why the Japanese avoid eye contact. There is more than one factor playing in Japanese customs on avoiding eye contact. This paper generates ideas from animalistic behavior, to parental control, to busy cities, to friends, to professional NBA players, and to a religion that began in the United States. Not only is eye contact distracting, but also unnecessary while the notion of withdrawing oneself can be seen as helpful to cope with certain conditions in the environment. As we study cultures we can determine the differences between countless etiquettes and mannerisms across the world. Looking at two separate countries, we can compare what is considered acceptable and unacceptable. Because we live in the Unites States, it is easy to know what we, as Americans, should do and not do in a business meeting. If American businessmen, especially ones who are uninformed, meet with Japanese businessmen, the possibility of embarrassing or offending the Japanese culture is likely when conducting business at an absolute or selfish angle. The Japanese culture maintains a business that is great on group effort and loyalty. With these certain characteristics, the Japanese take on many roles to support their ways of humility. This is why we can see the Japanese businessmen intentionally avoiding eye-contact with other businessmen during a meeting to preserve modesty. Business is a consolidation within man to form an agreement at peace. We learn from studies of history and animals that staring is a sign of aggression. When eye contact is made, a mutual reflection of a challenge (or fight) occurs. Both parties may not want to partake or antagonize a fight, but when the eyes of humans and animals alike connect, the brain will induce a chemical reaction that triggers responses in the body to take action in order to defend itself. Now in a business setting, the Japanese arent ones to create a fight when a disagreement occurs. This is a way to respect senior decisions to avoid acting naive. If we take a look at the American culture, we can see how American parents confront their children when the children are misbehaving. Young children will naturally want to stop all eye-contact and maybe even run away. To correct this behavior, parents are told to maintain eye contact while communicating with their child. This is a way to build trust in a healthy rel ationship. When we think of the word business, its easy for Americans to think of New York City, a place of a heavily, dense population of business trafficking. The place can be described as busy because everyone is running around while trying to get to their next business meeting. It wouldnt be considered rude if someone bumped into you by accident if they were rushing into a taxi cab. A newcomer to the city might, at first, be outraged, but in time city dwellers are accustomed to it. In Japan, perhaps eye-contact avoidance is another practice due to high population. The Japanese is one culture to like their privacy. A great way to ruin ones privacy is to intentionally engage in eye-contact, especially with a prolonged engagement. Imagine coming home from work everyday in public transportation and running into an unknown interval. One thing a person might do is make eye-contact with a stranger to see if the stranger is aware of this interval. Now imagine you are conducting a meeting and you come across some interval in your way. An instinctive reaction is to seek help. However, in an important business meeting, this is a devastating episode in which you may bring down a friend if he is unaware of this interval as well. The best thing to do, in Japanese customs, is to own up and not throw your best friend under the bus with you. How should you do it? Perhaps avoid eye contact and stay calm with your best manners at hand. The Japanese are known to close their eyes when they are listening intently. This is a reaction to block out from sensing other things that are going on in the room. In America, we can find many distracting things that are meant to distract you. If you go to an NBA playoff game and watch a professional basketball player attempt a free-throw at an away game, you will see almost everyone in the audience do their best to distract the player, in order for him to miss the free-throw. You will hear loud noises, see shirts waving, and even see fan memorabilia made, bought, and obtained for that sole purpose during a free-throw shooting. One American religion, called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints shows reverence similar to the Japanese eye contact phenomenon. During a sacrament meeting at the LDS church, many people will give talks or performances such as singing or violin playing. In one, hour long meeting, there may be up to 5 or more people conducting a session. After each person concludes their talk or performance, it is in the Mormon practice to show gratitude with reverence. The LDS members will keep quiet during the session without gossip or clapping to maintain the spirit. Comparing the Japanese to an LDS sacrament session, closing the eyes and being reverent is a way to block out an unnecessary force. As we can determine in an NBA playoff game, there is no room for respect. Players will have to play hard and with whatever comes in their way. Eye contact is a method to show people I am here. People have an ambition, or sometimes a reaction, to make ones presence known. We do it for attention, for work, or to make new friends. However, the Japanese have grown accustomed in a practice of avoiding eye-contact when things are busy and sometimes serious. In the business place, respecting senior officers is important to maintain ones own status while progressing in rank. It is important for the Japanese not to discourage other businessmen or to bother them during a stressful time. How else can one show respect than to maintain a personal boundary?

Essay --

Introduction Trust is a very important concept in accounting. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): â€Å"Accounting is a service activity. Its function is to provide quantitative information, primarily financial in nature, about economic entities that is intended to be useful in making economic decisions, in making reasoned choices among alternative courses of action.† These economic decisions are made by companies, stockholders, consumer, and many other parties. These decisions have to do with money, therefore directly impact the lives of everyone who puts their trust in accountants to paint an accurate financial picture on which these parties make their decisions. However, sometimes it can be beneficial to one party to paint an inaccurate picture, or in other words, report false financial information. This is where accounting scandals come into play. Sometimes big companies use accounting reports to lie about their finances to keep making money. O ne very notable and infamous instance where such an accounting scandal occurred was with Enron from the late 1990s until the end of 2001. Background information Enron Corporation was born in 1985. The government had started deregulation of natural gas pipelines, and Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, two existing companies merged to create Enron. The deregulation of the gas pipelines however, caused Enron to not have exclusive rights to pipelines and because of the merger, Enron had a lot of debt. To keep itself afloat the company needed a new business strategy to get cash flowing and profits coming in. Kenneth Lay was the CEO of Enron at that point, and he hired Jeffery Skilling, who dealt with asset and liability management, as a consultant to co... ...of the largest accounting firms in America, in charge of auditing Enron then became involved, and destroyed any of Enron’s documents that could prove that they were breaking the law. Consequences and Conclusion In the end, Enron could not keep itself afloat once it turned to fraud. Shareholders lost $74 billion, thousands of employees and investors lost their retirement accounts, and many employees lost their jobs. Lives were ruined. Lay died before serving time. Skilling got 24 years in prison. Fastow agreed to become an informant and therefore got less time in prison. The company filed for bankruptcy. Arthur Andersen was found guilty of falsifying Enron’s account and destroying evidence, and the firm failed. People still talk about the Enron scandal today, and accounting practices are now held to a higher standard in order to avoid a catastrophe like this again. Essay -- Introduction Trust is a very important concept in accounting. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): â€Å"Accounting is a service activity. Its function is to provide quantitative information, primarily financial in nature, about economic entities that is intended to be useful in making economic decisions, in making reasoned choices among alternative courses of action.† These economic decisions are made by companies, stockholders, consumer, and many other parties. These decisions have to do with money, therefore directly impact the lives of everyone who puts their trust in accountants to paint an accurate financial picture on which these parties make their decisions. However, sometimes it can be beneficial to one party to paint an inaccurate picture, or in other words, report false financial information. This is where accounting scandals come into play. Sometimes big companies use accounting reports to lie about their finances to keep making money. O ne very notable and infamous instance where such an accounting scandal occurred was with Enron from the late 1990s until the end of 2001. Background information Enron Corporation was born in 1985. The government had started deregulation of natural gas pipelines, and Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, two existing companies merged to create Enron. The deregulation of the gas pipelines however, caused Enron to not have exclusive rights to pipelines and because of the merger, Enron had a lot of debt. To keep itself afloat the company needed a new business strategy to get cash flowing and profits coming in. Kenneth Lay was the CEO of Enron at that point, and he hired Jeffery Skilling, who dealt with asset and liability management, as a consultant to co... ...of the largest accounting firms in America, in charge of auditing Enron then became involved, and destroyed any of Enron’s documents that could prove that they were breaking the law. Consequences and Conclusion In the end, Enron could not keep itself afloat once it turned to fraud. Shareholders lost $74 billion, thousands of employees and investors lost their retirement accounts, and many employees lost their jobs. Lives were ruined. Lay died before serving time. Skilling got 24 years in prison. Fastow agreed to become an informant and therefore got less time in prison. The company filed for bankruptcy. Arthur Andersen was found guilty of falsifying Enron’s account and destroying evidence, and the firm failed. People still talk about the Enron scandal today, and accounting practices are now held to a higher standard in order to avoid a catastrophe like this again.

C.S. Lewis’ Reflections on the Psalms

Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis, best known for his slew of fantasy novels, Chronicles of Narnia, is undoubtedly one of the most popular and controversial Christian writers.   His unabashed use of Christian mythology and concepts in his literary works reflected the impact of his conversion late in life, though his background and interest in folklore and the occultist manage to shine through his texts time and again. In any case, it would be improper and an insult to consider Lewis a run of the mill Christian writer, whose literary products are expected to subscribe to the doctrines of the religion.   Though devoted and a staunch believer, Lewis’ intellectual take on the religion and its implications run against the grain of common Christian literature.   It is, therefore, imperative to view Lewis using this frame of mind, particularly in understanding his post-conversion writings. One must also take into consideration that Lewis’ unorthodox view of Christian teachings – though decidedly supportive and faithful – often elicits much controversy from various parties.   Being an Anglican Christian, his writings are often condemned for their perceived attack on Catholicism and Judaism.   It is with this viewpoint that most literary analysts and critiques pillory Lewis’ most controversial non-fiction Christian tome, Reflections on the Psalms. The book is the result of Lewis’ reading of the Book of Psalms in the Bible, and the result of his discussion is not as easily acceptable for most readers.   It is the culmination of both his Christian background and a genuine interest in the apparent contradiction that faith and religiosity can be the breeding ground for the worst forms of violence and anger. This study posits that C.S. Lewis’ Reflections on the Psalms is a misunderstood body of work that may not be a perfect discussion of the Book of Psalms but does represent the occasionally valid theological theories of the author himself.     Though it will be necessary to compare Lewis’ theological musings to the writings of his peers, one must take into consideration the fact that the book is essentially an encapsulation of Lewis’ own musings and comprehension of the Book of Psalms without proselytizing or seeking any religious influence over any reader. To prove this thesis, the study shall begin with a brief discussion of the contents of the book, primarily with regards to Lewis’ interests and understanding of the Book of Psalms.   Second, the study shall discuss the similarities and differences of Reflections on the Psalms as compared to other books or articles of similar vein.   Third, the study shall seek to understand the value of Lewis’ tome through its intended audience and the message he wished to deliver to his readers. Lastly, the study shall present an in-depth review of the strengths and weaknesses of the book, primarily through specific quotations from the text.   Only then can a valid judgment of the book be achieved.   It would, of course, also be a reliable standard through which the merit and validity of continued patronage for Lewis’ little known tome on the Psalms may be measured. First of all, what exactly is Reflections on the Psalms about?   In a nutshell, Lewis reads the Book of Psalms and finds both joy and fear in his readings.   He is alternately ecstatic and appalled by the combination of praise and vitriolic anger found in this Old Testament book, citing some areas as aberrations when taken against the standards of the Christian world. In the process of reviewing the Book of Psalms, however, Lewis unleashes some seriously controversial lines, such as the condemnation of Jews as worst than pagans in their vindictiveness and anger[1].   Despite his negative pronouncements about the Jews and their violent indignation, Lewis’ book also looks into the essence of praise and what it means to man. The Book of Psalms is essentially a collection of prayer songs.   These songs are filled with praise for God in the same way that man would sing praises of anything or anyone he cares about.   This concept is not lost on Lewis, who promptly dedicates a moving chapter to the power of praise.   Lewis presents a different point of view in the sense that he urges readers not to fall for the theological jargon and technicalities that essentially make the reading of the Bible tedious and academic. Rather, his main point in writing Reflections on the Psalms is to emphasize the love that drives man to sing praises to a higher power and a greater being.   It is this essence of the Book of Psalms that Lewis focuses upon, emphasizing the unique rapturous sensation that fuels the Psalmists’ songs of praise for God, even in all their imperfect glory. Lewis’ book on the Psalms, of course, is not the first or last one in the literary world.   Arthur Weiser’s The Psalms: a Commentary, for example, is a straightforward commentary on the writings in the Book of Psalms.   Without essentially dissecting the concepts within the book, Weiser presents a modern discussion of the Psalms in a manner similar to a literary addendum; his book is explanatory of the book in the context of history rather than straight theology. The result is more of an academic verse by verse explanation of the Book of Psalms.   For example, the book attempts to find a correlation between the promised power of the Israelite king and the known history of Israel.   In doing so, Weiser likens the kings of Israel to the ruler of Egypt, explaining the psalmist’s faith as a product of the historical submission to an unseen God prominent in the area during that period.[2] On the other hand, J.M. Smith’s The Religion of the Psalms is more focused on the significance of the Book of Psalms with regards to its effects on morality in the Jewish sphere.[3]   How did the Book of Psalms influence the moral and ethical standards of the Jewish community? In essence, it is less a theological discussion (as in Lewis’ Reflections on the Psalms) or a historical study (as in Weiser’s The Psalms: a Commentary) and more of a study on the ethical dimensions and impact of the Psalms.   What is most important to discuss, apart from the approach to the Book of Psalms, however, is the literary style employed by Lewis.   Both Weiser and Smith present a near clinical explanation of the Book of Psalms, rendering it completely academic in nature. With Lewis, however, the style of writing is entirely different.   Though the content may be controversial, Lewis’ writing style undoubtedly produces beautiful, free flowing prose.   Even in his damning critique of what he calls â€Å"Jewish prison of self-righteousness†, his words never fail to contain a certain degree of mastery that renders the reader speechless and enthralled. His use of imagery and metaphors – a feature not found in other studies and commentaries on the Book of Psalms – alternately brings to life the peaceful, rapturous bliss of praise and the scathing fire-and-brimstone speeches of anger and vindictiveness.   Lewis’ style leaves no room for doubt: he indicts, judges and rhapsodizes about every nook and cranny of the Book of Psalms, thereby presenting a delightful and visually stimulating analysis of the Old Testament’s ode to prayer.[4] It may be said that the style of writing itself speaks volumes about Lewis’ very message.   His use of vivid prose and occasionally harsh, unforgiving words essentially show that the book is far from a theological dissertation that begs readership from scholars of the same field alone.   Rather than an academic approach, Lewis has utilized a less formal yet no less insightful means to discuss his views of the Book of Psalms. As such, it may be surmised that the intended audience of the book are the masses – lay people who cannot be presumed to know enough of the Bible’s scholarly and theological debates.   Instead, the book is designed to appeal to and at the same time educate the ordinary people who wish to learn more of faith rather than spend their hours reciting prescribed prayers. It is a discussion made entirely accessible to ordinary people – an exercise in proletariat â€Å"education†.   It is not exactly an attempt to aid conversions or strengthen the proselytizing armies.   More importantly, Lewis does not write directly for the Christian readers, either, despite his subject matter.   Lewis’ intention is to move people towards action, towards moral indignation against illicit and immoral activities.[5] In essence, the target audience is anyone who cares about moral uprightness, and the Book of Psalms becomes a means for Lewis to deliver across his point.   Rather than a platform for theological proselytizing, the end of Lewis’ book emphasizes moral action rather than any actual alignment with any church.[6] As mentioned earlier, Reflections on the Psalms is a book both loved and hated.   First of all, its subject matter and brash approach render it quite prickly for many critics.   One significant weakness of the book is its blatant criticism against Jews that can easily be misunderstood as an attack on the Semitic community. For example, in explaining the vitriolic anger that populates parts of the Book of Psalms, Lewis indicted the Psalmists (Jews, inevitably) for their hatred and the devilish and vulgar images graphically present in the psalms.[7]   Indeed, if Psalm 9, which speaks of blessings for people who violently bash the brains of Babylonian babies, is anything to go by, Lewis is not at all far-fetched or exaggerating. Despite the reality of Lewis’ accusations of violence and sensationalism in the Book of Psalms, this becomes a weakness of his book, particularly since it is viewed as a biased indictment of one race rather than an accurate response to a literary piece.   Moreover, since Lewis is incapable of reading the original Hebrew version of the Book of Psalms, this is easily a weakening of his rhetoric. Though essentially accurate in his reaction to the contents of the Book of Psalms, his admission that he is no reader of Hebrew becomes more of a problem rather than a powerful disclosure.   While it does not entirely negate the validity of Lewis’ contentions (as reading from an English translation is also perfectly valid), it does become a thorn on the author’s side when issues of validity and objectivity arise. Perhaps in sharp contrast to this failed disclosure is Lewis’ admission that he is no theologian.   Rather than become a weakness of the study, this becomes a very powerful tool in Lewis’ defense of his writings.   As Lewis wrote, â€Å"One is sometimes (not often) glad not to be a great theologian.   One might so easily confuse it with being a good Christian†.[8]   In essence, this provides Lewis with a very good defense with regards to the allegations that he is bias on purpose, with an obviously anti-Semitic bend. Lewis does not claim any moral superiority in discussing the Psalms.   The essence of Reflection on the Psalms, therefore, is a very personal book written from Lewis’ own point of view and should not be taken as a tool for ethnic indictment or proselytizing. This concept is also highly related to the final and most significant strength of the book.   Despite claims that the book is biased and subjective, the greatest power of Reflections on the Psalms is its raw, honest discussion of the power of praise.   He wrote, â€Å"The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express that same delight in God which made David dance†[9]. It is precisely this bliss that Lewis captures perfectly in his book, rendering it a bittersweet portrayal of human flaws and the love of God that continues to inspire even the most imperfect of humans to dance for joy and sing in bliss.   Though he does present a rather negative depiction of the Jews in the early part of his book, he acknowledges their flaws as human and present in everyone.   It is their ability to connect, love and be moved by the presence of God that makes them worth and even admirable in the eyes of Lewis. BIBLIOGRAPHY â€Å"Lewis on the Psalms†, TIME Magazine, 22 September 1958; accessed on 5 May 2008 available from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863917,00.html Lewis, C.S.   Reflections on the Psalms.   New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1958 Meilaender, Gilbert.   Things That Count: Essays Moral and Theological.   Wilmington, DE: ISI Books, 2000 Smith, J.M.   The Religion of the Psalms.   Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1922    Weiser, Arthur. The Psalms: A Commentary.   Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1962    Wood, Ralph.   â€Å"Conflict and Convergence on Fundamental Matters in C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkie [1] â€Å"Lewis on the Psalms†, TIME Magazine, 22 September 1958; accessed on 5 May 2008 available from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,863917,00.html [2] Arthur Weiser, The Psalms: A Commentary,   (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1962) 111 [3] J.M. Smith, The Religion of the Psalms, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1922), v [4] â€Å"Lewis on the Psalms†, 1958 [5] Ibid [6] Ibid [7] C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1958) [8] Ibid., p.57 [9] Ibid., p.45