Martin Luther Kings Religous Beliefs Essay Example for Free

Martin Luther Kings Religous Beliefs Essay Martin Luther King lived from 1929 to1968 in America, there was much discrimination against black people. Even though slavery had been abolished in 1869, most black people still lived in poverty. Black people earned half the amount white people earned and many could not vote. Martin Luther King was Black American Christian who believed that god made everyone equal. Because of his Christian beliefs he worked towards equal rights through non-violent protests; his beliefs being that there was never an excuse for violence as that doesn`t express the love of god just hatred. King followed in his father and grandfathers footsteps by becoming a pastor in 1954 in a Baptist church in Montgomery. Following Rosas Parks protest through refusing to move from her seat on the bus to give it to a white person, he became involved in the civil rights movement. Mixing the Christian idea of perfect love (Agape) with St. Thomas Aquinas` philosophy that an unjust law in the eyes of God is immoral, and therefore, not a law. King said in his letter from Birmingham Jail that, â€Å"an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law. † Furthermore his campaign of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience began to take shape. After Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move from her seat to allow a white person to sit down, King decided it was time to start acting and after calling a meeting, where it was decided for all black people to stop using the buses. This was called a bus boycott. After 381 days with buses being virtually empty (costing the company lots of money), the government passed a law to state that it was illegal to segregate black people from white people on the buses. This was a victory for King and his beliefs in non-violent direct action. King believed that the Good Samaritan parable was a prime example of how we should treat each other equally. In the parable a Jew is beaten, mugged and left for dead. A priest, a Levite both cross to the other side of the road when the see him. However when a Samaritan sees him he helps him and pays for accommodation and care for him despite Jews and Samaritans despising each other. This parable showed you should love each other as neighbours despite religion or race. King demonstrated how you should stick up for your dreams, follow your beliefs and how violence isn`t needed to achieve your goal. His work made life in America better for everybody, his message to black and white people caused them to think and change the way things were being done.

Comparing Beloved and Night Essay -- comparison compare contrast essay

Comparing Beloved and Night  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two novels I am writing about are "Night" by Elie Wiesel and "Beloved," by Toni Morrison.   Beloved tells about slavery and an ex-slave mother's struggle with a past which is projected as the haunting of her people.   It tells the story of Sethe, a mother compelled to kill her child, rather than let the child live a life of slavery.   Toni Morrison uses ghosts and the supernatural to create an enhanced acceptance of the human condition and the struggled survival of the Black American.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel is set in Ohio in the 1880's.   The Civil War had been won, slavery had been abolished, however, the memories of slavery still remain.   Although the story itself is fictional, the novel is based on   real events.  Ã‚   The events are based on the trial in Cincinnati of Margaret Garner, who with her husband, and seventeen other slaves (Kentuckian) crossed the Ohio where they supposedly found safe shelter.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When it was discovered that they had been pursued and surrounded, and her husband overpowered, Margaret knew that any hope of freedom was   in vain.   She refused to see her children taken back into slavery.   Without delay, Margaret quickly took hold of a butcher's knife which was laid on a table and cut the throat of her young daughter.   She then attempted to kill her other children as well, then herself, but she was overpowered and held back before she could follow through.   She was arrested and put on trial on the grounds that the child she killed was the legal property of the owner.  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Beloved, when a new proprietor takes over Sweet Home (the slave farm), Sethe, escapes the brutal beatings she now endures in an attempt to go from Kentucky to Ohio.   When the pr... ...took   part in the holocaust had no other choice.   They had families to take care of and home lives just like the rest of   us.   For example, I believe that many of the soldiers who took part in the Holocaust were forced through military responsibility or face   treason or death.   These soldiers have   to live with themselves knowing they killed millions of innocent people.   When an order is given, an order must be carried out.   Many soldiers had no choice, but to kill, or be killed.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We are all human beings.   We all have feelings, and families whom we love.   Sometimes the force behind the brutality is too powerful to disobey, and people (soldiers, the white man, the Americans and Hiroshima, etc., etc.) have no choice but to obey,   or face the consequences.   In the military you don't question an order; you just do it (as in Othello and Billy Budd).        

The Count of Monte Cristo and King Lear

It is man’s path to struggle with his destiny and writers have long written about such a battle in a man’s inner soul. In the works of Alexandre Dumas and William Shakespeare such a battle is best described in their comparable works, â€Å"The Count of Monte Cristo† and â€Å"King Lear†. It is the purpose of this paper to present either novel, and the main male protagonists in the stories and pit them against each other as well as have them share in their twined destiny of faults, failures and eventual redemption.Dumas weaves a story about a man, Edmond Dantes whose life becomes entangled in another man’s vengeance and is subsequently doomed to life imprisonment. These actions are out of the protagonist’s control as he is neither aware of the person for whom the letter is intended that he is carrying to Paris (it is actually supposed to be given to Bonapartist father) nor of the rival against him, Danglars. It would thus appear as though Dant es is allowing his destiny to be overtaken from his free will.In Shakespeare’s â€Å"King Lear† Lear also allows to be a rather flotsam figure on his own path, being lead this way and that, not from a guidance of reason but by happenstance, bad luck, and fate. Blindness is recognized in the play by Lear’s grotesque nature and how he cannot stand to see the world, or kingdom he created. In King Lear’s distrust of his daughters he one by one makes himself disowned by them I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad. I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell.We'll no more meet, no more see one another. But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; Or rather a disease that's in my flesh, Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil, A plague sore, an embossed carbuncle In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee. Let shame come when it will, I do not call it. I do not bid the Thunder-bearer shoot Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove. Mend when th ou canst; be better at thy leisure; I can be patient, I can stay with Regan, I and my hundred knights.† (Shakespeare II. iv. 1514). Blindness is a factor in either author’s tale. For Dumas, he allows his character to remain faithful to himself but also he makes him blind to the events and circumstances surrounding him. Dantes is sent to prison, but it is in prison where he finds Abbe Faria, who teaches his about philosophy, languages, music, history, and it is in this knowledge that Dumas allows the hero to gain self confidence that he would not have otherwise come to had he not been imprisoned.It seems that either author depends a great deal upon unusual circumstances and luck (either perceived as good or bad luck) to progress the plot forward for the characters. Both characters have to face where their loyalties lie, or where the people’s loyalties lie who surround them. In â€Å"King Lear† the focus of the married daughters who are proven to be evil and usurpers of their fathers power while the younger daughter, the innocent unmarried one proves to be the only supporter King Lear has although he blindingly distrusts her from act one.The theme of â€Å"King Lear† is suitably that of loyalty from the female caste whether in faithfulness or disloyalty. With the theme of loyalty there must also be a theme of vengeance as these two factors often walk hand in hand. It is proper for Dantes to want to seek vengeance on an unjust act done to him out of jealousy from Danglars. Although it takes Dantes nine years for his plan to put into action, it takes Lear merely three acts for his vengeance to take shape on Cordelia’s life and Lear’s blindness. For, what is the purpose of having a protagonist who does not learn anything?Lear learns of his mistakes with distrusting his daughter Cordelia and by trusting his other daughters- therefore, because he was blind to this distrust in a metaphorical sense he must be made blind p hysically in order to find redemption for his actions. Dumas takes a different approach in his protagonist’s story. Dumas gives Dantes an education as well as a treasure but the idea of vengeance swallows any joy he may have gleaned from his newly found position in life as the Count of Monte Cristo. It is with a heavy heart (after finding out about his father’s death) that Dantes goes to Marseilles and then on to other European cities.Despite this occupying thought of revenge, Dantes does manage to try and save Caderousse, but is unable to help the man because Caderousse's greed is his downfall. Although he is given two chances of redemption from Dantes he falls into a life of crime and is killed. Both authors need to have progression, change or punishment in their works in order for the reader to find the humanity in the protagonists, for, without their humanity Dantes’ revenge would be a fool’s errand and Lear would not have blinded himself after seeing the error of his ways.The parallels of greed in political power (another form of the grotesque in Shakespeare’s play) are presented in how Goneril and Regan seek political power by their ability to strip the King of all his train of followers, by rejecting the King’s title, and turning him out into the storm, â€Å"†¦entreat him by no means to stay† (III. 1. 297). Also, Edmund has high political aspirations by allowing Gloucester to be blinded for his own political gain, â€Å"Hang him instantly [Regan]†¦Pluck out his eyes [Goneril]† (III. 7. 4-5), and he usurps Edgar’s legitimate title as the future Earl of Gloucester.Furthermore, Kent and Edgar both lose their nobility, the Earl of Kent is banished for his honest defense of Cordelia, and Edgar loses his claim to nobility through the deceit and trickery of Edmund. Political greed was also seen with Caderousse as well as Dantes’ other enemies who have grown wealthy and more corrup t since he has been in prison. Both author’s hinge their characters on the edge of redemption and give them each a scenario in which they can either grasp this ultimate gift and be free of blame or hate, or they can become criminals of love and honor.The authors are the same in this account, they allow their protagonists to find their redemption: For Lear, it is blindness, for Dantes it is shown in the mercy he gives to his enemy Danglars. In their redemption either man finds love again: Cordelia’s for her father Lear and Haydee for Dantes. Bibliography Dumas, Alexandre. â€Å"The Count of Monte Cristo†. Penguin Classic. 1992. Shakespeare, William. â€Å"King Lear†. Penguin Classic. 1998.

George W - 1136 Words

George W. Bush September 20, 2011 Address to Congress On September 11, 2001 the American nation was shaken with news of a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Fear and panic commandeered the spirits of American citizens as they awaited to hear if their loved one had perished, if another attack had been planned for somewhere else in the United States, and how their nation would rise from the ashes to face another tomorrow. Not only had their nation been attacked, but also the true measure of their freedom had been questioned. In times like these, the American people put their faith in their president. They rely on his leadership to instruct them on what to do next. This essay explores the context surrounding†¦show more content†¦As seen in the previous paragraph, his approval ratings following the 9/11 attacks skyrocketed which led to a conservative shift after September 11 (Huddy, Leonie, and Standly Feldman). People continued to put their supp ort in Bush and therefore were eagerly awaiting any information or inspiration he might have to give. His opponents were the terrorists and the 10% of Americans that did not approve of him. He referenced the terrorists briefly in his 9/11 address, however demands for the release of U.S captives and for the terrorists to turn in their leaders and themselves were explicitly stated in the September 20 address (Bush, George W.). Bush also had to try and get the support of the mere 10% of Americans who did not approve of him at this time (Presidential Approval Ratings--George W. Bush). It is difficult to sway an opinion when the person(s) are already against him. Bush had to address the fear the American people still had of a potential third attack. Over two-thirds of New York citizens feared that another attack could happen at any moment (Kleinfeld, and Connolly Marjorie). George W. Bush went into the address hopeful that the American people would be ready to launch a war on terrorism a nd to fight with such tenacity as to eradicate terrorism. Going into the September 20, 2001 Address to Congress, President Bush had the perfect equation to have a vastly successful speech. The country and most of Congress supported him and was prepared to listen and agreeShow MoreRelatedGeorge W Bush961 Words   |  4 Pagescharismatic president George W. Bush served his time as the president of the U.S. from 2001-2009. George grew up as the eldest of 6 kids (two sisters, 3 brothers) unfortunately one of his sisters died of leukemia when she was a child. George always was enthusiastic, he was quiet the athlete! He was in football, baseball, rugby, basketball was the head cheerleader! George started presidency fairly young, he was voted class president in 7th grade. Once finished high school George chose to take afterRead MorePresident George W. Bush898 Words   |  4 Pagespresidents that made the country worse and our economy decline is George W. Bush. He was the United States president from 2001 to 2009. George W. Bush was one of the worst United States presidents for many reasons, but the top three on my long list are first and foremost his decision to start the war on Iraq, second his support of the Military Commissions Act, and last but not least his handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. President George W. bush made the decision to go to war with Iraq just monthsRead MoreThe George W. Bush Administration Essay1505 Words   |  7 PagesThe George W. Bush administration was riddled with many tragic events, from natural disasters to terrorist attacks, and economic hardships that made lasting impressions of the American peoples’ perceptions of our government and the world outside of the United States’ boundaries. The six people who conducted this research, George Shambaugh, Richard Matthew, Roxane C. Silver, Bryan McDonald, Michael Poulin, and Scott Blum, set out to discover how the before mentioned events effected the group unitRead MoreLife Of George W. Bush1397 Words   |  6 PagesLife of George W. Bush George W. Bush was born in July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut; George W. Bush was the 43rd president of the United States. He won the Electoral College vote in 2000, in one of the closest and most controversial elections in American history. Bush also led the United States response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and initiated the Iraq War. Before his presidency, Bush was a businessman and served as governor of Texas. George Walker Bush was born on July 6, 1946, inRead MoreEssay on George W. Bush935 Words   |  4 PagesGeorge W. Bush George Walker Bush is the son of the 41st President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush. Born on July 6, 1946, Bush was raised in Houston, Texas and was the oldest of four children. Bush finished his high school years at Phillips Academy, which was an all-male boarding school in Andover, Massachusetts, where he was the head cheerleader during his senior year. Bush went to college at Yale University from 1964 till his graduation in 1968 where he finished with a Bachelor’s degree inRead MoreGeorge W. Bush Administration1195 Words   |  5 PagesThe George W. Bush administration is remarkably renowned for passing a major tax-cuts package, known as the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, (Bartels, 2005, p. 19). The package postulated a reduction in the federal income tax rates, increment in the child credits, augmented tax-free retirement contributions and the educational savings account, as well as a gradual elimination of the US estate tax. The entire ta x package was to cost the US Treasury over $1.3 trillion (excludingRead MorePresident George W. Bush1433 Words   |  6 Pagesthe day that our nation fell apart emotionally, but also the day that our nation came together as one. Putting aside all differences politically and socially, September 11 is the day our nation mourned as one. On the same day, our former president George W. Bush formulated one of his most memorable speeches. He not only took this moment to address the severity and despondency of the occasion, but he also took this opportune time to guide our nation on how to recuperate from one of the bloodiest andRead MoreA Day in the Mind of George W. Bush 884 Words   |  4 Pagesbasis that invading another country is destructive of human life, costs substantial amounts of money, undermines our moral authority, could ruin our international reputation, and violates the sovereignty of Iraq. We the United States and me myself, George W. Bush, lead this so called â€Å"Free World† and have the duty to intervene and the right to protect the American peoples interest for global issues. The necessity of this resolution is supported by extremely credible evidence as to the risks of notRead MoreAnalysis Of George W. Bush953 Words   |  4 Pages On the evening of September 11, 2001, George W. Bush managed to change the country forever with a simple three letter word. President Bush gained numerous advantages following his renown speech. Many Americans lost their lives on 911 due to terrorism being used as a form of communication. Language is the cornerstone of all known societies and is essential for a country to thrive. Without language there is no understanding. Without understanding conflicts are inevitable. The Bush administrationRead MorePresident George W. Bush1262 Words   |  6 PagesBefore this traumatic event, one could not even imagine someone doing such a thing. When this event occurred everyone had been unaware and continuing their daily activities only to be stopped by this life changing news. The president at the time was George W. Bush. Doing day to day activities like the rest of us, he was reading to a second grade class that bright Tuesday morning. Upon hearing about the news, he was utterly shocked along with the rest of America. At approximately 8:40 p.m., which is around

Boethius Was Successful in His Argument That God Rewards...

‘Boethius was successful in his argument that God rewards and punishes justly.’ Discuss (35) Boethius was a philosopher teaching at the end of the Roman empire, in his 40’s he was arrested for suspected conspiracy with the Eastern Roman Empire and was eventually put to death at the age of about 44/45. Whilst in prison Boethius wrote his book, ‘The Consolation of Philosophy’ where he discusses in great depth with Lady Philosophy issues with God’s omniscience. In his writings, Boethius identifies an issue with God’s foreknowledge, our personal autonomy and the impact of how we are to be judged as when we enter the life after this. He identifies that if God has foreknowledge and knows our future, He then knows what we are going to do which†¦show more content†¦However there is another definition of which Boethius thought was unsuitable. God is eternal and he has no begging or no end, he always has existed and continues to do so. Boethius rejects this as he can’t see how a temporal God can judge someone if he experiences time him self. On the other hand Boethius didn’t consider the flaws of his definition of eternal God; a God that is outside the category of time is one whom cannot be personal, this also means that it doesn’t fit in with the traditional religious view of God who keeps his covenant with his people and sends his son to save us. But it also has its strengths such as it maintains the majority of the attributes of God, such as incorporeal and immutable. Boethius concluded from his characterization of an eternal god that God is like a bird flying over a man walking down the path, the bird can see where the man has been, where he is and where he is about to go all at once. This is a power that God is able to use due to him being outside of time, he can see everyone’s past present and future simultaneously. His knowledge is total however not causal. Boethius expands on his idea of divine foreknowledge and goes onto explain the different types of necessity; simple and contingent. Simple necessity is related to a person’s nature so for example â€Å"man is a rational animal.† Whereas conditional necessity isn’t tied to the objects nature so

Is Conformity to Group Norms a Good or Bad Thing Essay

BUSI 3310 – Individual Assignment Topic 8 – Question 1 Is conformity to group norms a good or bad thing? Conformity is a type of social influence involving a change in belief or behavior in order to fit in with a group. Conformity is inherent in our everyday lives and can occur when we are with others or when we are alone. For example, many of us follow social standards for eating when we are with a group and when we are alone. Conformity occurs when individuals yield to group pressures or expectations, also called norms. The text defines norms as the informal rules and shared expectations that groups establish to regulate the behavior of their members (McShane and Steen, p.194). Norms develop as soon as teams form because people†¦show more content†¦One of the most important reasons for group conformity is for decision making purposes. As noted earlier, norms form as team members discover behaviors that help them function more effectively, which leads to more effective decision making. Once teams have figured out a process that works well for them, team members will conform t o the way the group comes to a decision. This saves a lot of time, effort and energy. This type of conformity is positive and gives structure to the group. Groupthink, on the other hand, is a more negative outcome of group conformity. Groupthink is defined as the tendency of highly cohesive groups to value consensus at the price of decision quality (2009). There has been considerable experimentation on this topic which proves that people will time and time again give incorrect answers simply to fit in with a group. The Asch Experiment was a series of studies conducted in the 1950’s that has shown how perfectly normal human beings can be pressured into unusual behavior by authority figures, or by the consensus of opinion around them. The overall findings of the experiment were as follows: one third (32%) of the participants who were placed in this situation went along and conformed with the majority. Over the 18 trials about 75% of participants conformed at least once and 25% of participant never conformed. After the interview the participants were interviewed, most said that they did not really believeShow MoreRelatedConformity And Its Effect On Society Essay1436 Words   |  6 Pagesbalancing academics, self care and missing home, students face immense pressures from their peers. Conformity is the alteration of a behavior due to the influence of others, regardless of if their presence is real or imagined. Conformity often occurs in groups, and because groups are a very common and important in college, it becomes a time in one’s life when pressure is extremely high. My group of girls are tightly knit. Unspoken rules and plans are always in play and we know just what to expectRead MoreConformity as Seen by Different Cultures Essay1657 Words   |  7 Pagesthe norm of others. We do something or act a certain way because we want to fit in with the others around us. Whether it be from bullying, persuasion, teasing, criticism, or social norm, conforming to the way of society is a part of life. Conformity is defined as a change in behavior or belief in order to accord with others. We all strive to be liked and to fit in, sometimes conforming to others around us is the only was we see fit to do so. Other factors that effect conformity are group sizeRead MoreSocial Influence, Comformity, Obedience and Compliance1543 Words   |  7 Pagesinformation on what is the correct thing to do in this situation. There are three types of social influence - conformity - compliance - obedience Conformity Conformity involves developing attitudes, opinions, and behaviors to match the attitudes of a specific group. Most people conform to the standard values, also called norms, of many groups without stress and often withoutRead MoreLeadership And Teams : Conformity929 Words   |  4 PagesLeadership and Teams - Conformity Leadership with in teams has become the new standard in most contemporary business these days. The model of leadership one choses can help determine the success and effectiveness of a team. We will look into the model of servant leadership, the role conformity plays in teams, and how we can be a better manager. Servant Leadership Being a servant leader is a concept I explored in a previous class while researching Zappos.com, where they require all their managersRead MoreHow Groups Can Resolve Conflicts1678 Words   |  7 PagesThere are usually ways that groups can resolve conflicts before it ever escalates. However, sometimes there can be conflicts in groups that can be a little more difficult to resolve than others. When this happens the last resort for teams is to turn to a third party intervention in order to really resolve the issue. It is best that groups avoid this type of resolution simply because conflicts with and between the team should usually stay within the team. When a third party is brought in it can sometimesRead MoreSocial Psychology : The Bystander Effect1061 Words   |  5 Pagescharacterized by social influences and our environments. As individuals we tend to give in to social influences because we either do not know how to act in certain situations, or because we follow the social nor ms (when we tend to embrace other ways of thinking, behaving, or feeling that are shared between a group of people). Social Psychology gives us the information we need in order to understand why we, at times, behave in a way that can sometimes go against our moral and ethical code. One example of thisRead MoreInfluence Of Social Influence On Society1461 Words   |  6 Pagesthoughts by other people or groups in which causes you to change your behavior (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2013). This can be caused by peer pressure, the need for acceptance, or wanting to fit in. This makes situations that are not the norm feel as if it is the norm. This is called a social norm which is generally an accepted way of thinking, acting, and acceptance by members of asocial group since it is considered the right thing (Aronson, Wilson, Akert, 2013). A norm is the way we judge peopleRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God By Zora Neale Hurston1400 Words   |  6 Pagesneed to be included and belong t o a group is second only to the need for safety and food and water. If this need is not satisfied, the chronic anxiousness developed from wanting to be included could cripple success in correctly choosing between the decisions and judgements of daily life. This anxiousness is prevalent in literature and is expressed as fear of not belonging and become a social outcast. This fear of not being accepted into a population causes conformity, behavior that adheres only to acceptedRead More1.Introduction. Virgin Group Of Companies Is A Multinational1403 Words   |  6 Pages1.Introduction Virgin group of companies is a multinational corporation founded by its chairman Sir Richard Branson.â€Å"Virgin† was named by one of Branson’s associates who think this name proclaim their commercial innocence ( Doyle and Bridgewate 2012, p.43). Virgin group consist of subsidiaries such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Media, Virgin Trains and etc (Wachman, 2012). As an entrepreneur, Branson built the Virgin group brand focusing on a point in the market of the product and services which didRead MoreDo Other People Influence You?908 Words   |  4 PagesDo Other People Influence You? As you get older you start to realize that you truly never stop learning new things. Something I recently had the pleasure of learning was that other people really do influence how we react in certain situations. There have been numerous amounts of studies done to show what actually makes someone do something different or change something about the way they normally would have done on their own. What seems to make this change is the influence of others. Whether people

Comaprison Between Equity and Gold Free Essays

string(166) " gold price increased from year 1999 through 2006, even there is a   stock market crash, lastly I can conclude that gold was a longer investment if compare to stock\." sComparison between Gold and Equity BA 341: Corporate Financial Management OBJECTIVE Our main objective for this assignment is to find out if an investor should invest in gold or stocks in current economy. Besides that, it is to know why an investor should invest in gold and not stock in current economy. Other than that, we will make some comparison between the years 2006 until 2010. We will write a custom essay sample on Comaprison Between Equity and Gold or any similar topic only for you Order Now Therefore, we also learn the main factors that affect investor to buy gold. Furthermore, we have to compare the difference between gold and stock and also the drawbacks between gold and stock.It is because they may have different factors to consider in cooperate financial management. Last but not least, we also want to understand how gold can benefit shareholders even when investors hold diversified portfolios of investments. INTRODUCTION Gold is a precious metal ore that is mined underground then melted and refined into bars, coins, jewellery, accessories and into units used in industries. In financial terms, Gold is considered a safe haven/ hedge investment, a store of value and a monetary asset. Equity is defined as one’s ownership interest in a corporation in the form of preferred stock or common stock INVESTMENT OPTIONS FOR GOLD Gold is measured in troy ounces. When the reference to gold is obvious, it is much easier to refer to it as an ounce. One troy ounce is equal to 31. 1034768  grams. 1. Bullion Gold Bars – They come in a number of different sizes and weights. These can range anywhere from one gram to as much as 400 troy ounces. Small bars are defined as those weighing 1000g or less.According to industry specialists Gold Bars Worldwide, there are 94 accredited bar manufacturers and brands in 26 countries, producing a total of more than 400 types of standard gold bars between them. Gold bars contain 99. 5% fine gold. 1. Bullion Gold Coins – These are issued by different governments around the world. They are used as a form of currency for their face value and not content of gold. However for investors, market value is the sum of the value of its gold content and a percentage that varies between coins and dealers.Their sizes vary from 1/20 ounce to 1000 grams. 2. Gold Exchange Traded Funds – These are open ended mutual fund schemes that invest the money collected from investors in standard Gold Bullion. 3. Gold Certificates – Allow Gold investors to avoid the risks and costs associated with the transfer and storage of physical gold bullion. 4. Gold Accounts – These are accounts, which are available to investors, which hold less 1000 ounces of gold. 5. Derivatives, CFDs and Spread Betting COMPARISON OF EQUITY AND GOLDNow a day normally most of the investors will ask â€Å"Where should I invest my money to gain more return on investment? †Ã‚   During the year 2006 until 2008 there have a monetary crisis, which is the value of a country currency fall due to political concerns. Stocks have been a terrible investment over the past decade and they are about to get worse. Gold has been one of the best if not the best investment over the past decade and is about to get better. When you examine investments via relative merits, Gold has trounced general equities.Gold has also trounced paper cash, regardless of the fiat currency held, as well as real estate and commodities over the past decade. After all the economy crisis, normally investor will trying to invest in gold, with the reason of they define gold as a safe alternative, furthermore gold prices are does very well to hold its price. The price of gold are holding very well it had increasing from 600 dollar per ounce from year 2006 until 1,000 dollar per ounce on year 2008, its definitely increase in a huge amount during this two years.Furthermore the performance of stock markets are no longer reflective of the world economies, since year 2006 until year 2008, on that time many investors are try to invest in other solid instrument to create wealth during the â€Å"Black Thursday†, which is the day that the value of share drop down several point in one day, so because of this a lot of investor are changing their mind and invest in gold, because the best way to protect your wealth are invest in gold other than stock. For an example the price of gold in the beginning of year 2007 was 680 dollar per ounce, and all the inancial predictor stated that the price of gold will reach until 850 dollar per ounce, moreover at the end of year the price of gold are increasing to 870 dollar per ounce. Due to this example we are known that the price of gold is always increasing no matter on past or now a day. Other than that, many investors are choosing buying gold as a hedge against inflation. Even though gold had high peaks and low valleys, besides that if compare to other commodities such as oil, silver or investment in other hard assets, gold doesn’t beat on inflation. In addition most of the investors think that the best way to protect their wealth is invest in gold. Besides that during the year 2006 the price of stock are more expensive than gold which means those investors are more likely invest on stock compare to gold but because of the monetary crisis the price of gold are increasingly in a short period, because during that time, buying gold are the most diverse ways are also the most risk less.As a conclusion we suggested a good investors should have some gold in their portfolio, due to the research are showing that buying gold are a good investing way to against declines, because of the reason of the value of gold only will increasing dramatically if there have a stock market crash. The research are showing that the gold price increased from year 1999 through 2006, even there is a   stock market crash, lastly I can conclude that gold was a longer investment if compare to stock. You read "Comaprison Between Equity and Gold" in category "Pa pers" Moreover gold also tends to gain in value as the value of dollar declines besides that gold also is a store of value.Gold price will go up even there’s inflation, furthermore invest in gold will always maintain its value. Graph showing relationship between Gold and Stock returns ( 2006 – 2008) This graph are showing the return between gold and stock during the year of 2006 until 2008, due to the graft we can see the there was big different between the return of gold and stock. Other than that, the above graft also highlighted the parabolic rise evident in value of gold, due to that we can prove that the value of gold are always place at the first permanent or first choice for those investors as the investment instrument.The return of stock is more smooth if compare to gold. Gold stock will rise during inflation i had mention earlier but other than that gold also will increase during deflation. Investing in gold is good inflation protection gold rises as the value of the currency falls. But what many people don’t understand is that gold stocks will do even better during deflation, as the government lowers interest rates significantly and wildly prints money or creating inflation to offset that deflation and leading to substantially higher gold prices. DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE (DJIA)The Dow Jones Industrial Average was created in 1896 by Mr Charles Dow. It is a stock market index. It is infact the most widely used stock market index in the world. Essentially it consists of 30 public owned companies situated in the United States measuring the gains and losses of their stocks in a particular trading session within the stock market. The value is the sum of the 30 companies’ stock prices divided by a divisor. The divisor alters whenever one of the company’s stocks has a stock split or stock dividend, so as to generate a consistent value for the index.The DJIA performance, though mainly economic, is influenced by both internal and external factors such as corporate information; political factors both domestic and foreign as well as environmental factors that could inflict some damage to the economy. DOW/ GOLD RATIO The Dow/Gold ratio compares the price of the DJIA to the price of one ounce of gold. In essence, it is generally considered as the number of ounces it takes to buy one share of the Dow. This ratio has been used throughout history as a yardstick for economic performance.When the ratio is relatively high it is assumed that the economy is in a healthy state because stocks are performing well. However when the ratio begins to decrease it is assumed that the economy is not performing well and stocks are not performing well. Figure Comparison Dow/Gold Ratio and DJIA The graph shows a comparison between the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Dow/ Gold ratio. On the right hand side in red is the number of gold ounces it takes to buy one share of the Dow. On the left hand side in black is the Industrial Average points. The time frame for the graph is from the year 1999 to the year 2010. From the graph we can see a general trend, the Dow/ Gold ratio has been decreasing from the year 2001 to now. The DJIA increased from 1999 to an all time high in 2007-2008. It then sharply fell in the year 2009 and has recently began to increase once again. However even when the DJIA was at an all time high of 14200 points, the Dow/Gold ratio was 21 and in the year 2010 the ratio has fallen to an all time low of 8. 5. In the last 11 years there are various economic and political factors that affected the American economy and in essence the DJIA which would explain the decrease of the Dow/ Gold ratio to its current level of 8. . In terms of the economy, the United States has suffered two market crashes in the last decade. In the year 2000 to the year 2002, there was the dotcom crash which was a burst of the internet economy. It was a case of too much too fast with investors blindly investing in anything associated with the internet and expecting fast returns. In the year 2007 to the year 2009, the American economy suffered yet again with the housing bubble and credit crisis which resulted in an economic recession whose effects are still being felt worldwide.The housing bubble was based on real estate speculation as the price of real estate was soaring with many investors assuming that the prices of real estate would remain relatively stable and that’s not what happened. The credit crisis was brought about by the bankruptcy of Lehmann brothers which was the fourth largest American investment bank. It also faced 2 major financial scandals in the year 2001 to 2002 and these were the Enron and Worldcom s candals. These scandals involved misrepresentation of company statements.All these factors had effects on both the DJIA and the Dow/Gold ratio however the one with the most effect is the housing bubble and credit crisis. In terms of politics, America suffered it first terrorist attack on its own soil with the September 11th attacks in the year 2001. This subsequently led to the American government launching the infamous war on terror by declaring wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These factors contributed to the decline of the DJIA. We can see on the graph that between 2001 and 2002 the DJIA was at a low of 7300 points.From history, we can infer that Gold performs well in times of uncertainity whilst stocks perform well under political and economic stability. We can see that all these factors have in contributed to the decline of the DJIA and the decline in the Dow/Gold ratio as demonstrated by these events which created an element of economic and political uncertainty thereby making Gold perform well. REASONS FOR INCREASED DEMAND OF GOLD Continued weakness of the United States Dollar – All throughout history Gold and the United States Dollar have an inverse relationship. When the dollar gains in value, gold reduces in value and vice versa.However, since the global economic crisis of 2007, the dollar has been losing value and has continued to lose up to now which is the year 2010. As a result of the dollar weakening the price of gold per ounce has continued to rise. Inflationary concerns – Many of the world’s major currencies have been dropping in value. This is led by the US dollar whose value has steadily been decreasing. It is also the most used currency in international dealings. Because of this drop in value, the prices of most goods and services have increased. However inflation seems to be on the rise and is showing no signs of reducing.Fragility of markets – Due to the economic recession, markets haven’t fully recovered and are still reeling from the effects of the credit crisis of 2008. Economic uncertainty – This again is attributed to the economic recession, inflationary concerns and the continued weakness of the dollar. Industrial Demand – This is due to demand for Gold to be used in electronics specifically the consumer electronics industry which is still thriving. Increased demand for gold jewellery – This is especially true of Asian markets whereby there is a robust demand for gold jewellery. Infact Gold Jewellery demand is expected to increase 11% worldwide this year despite record-breaking prices, led by buying in India and China BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS There is a considerable difference between gold and equity; many benefits and drawbacks. First and foremost, equity has the potential of delivering returns in the form of capital gains and dividends. Capital gain is the amount by which an asset’s selling price exceeds its initial purchase price. A realized capital gain is an investment that has been sold at a profit.An unrealized capital gain is an investment that hasn’t been sold yet but would result in a profit if sold. Capital gain is often used to mean realized capital gain. For most investments sold at a profit, including mutual funds, bonds, options, collectibles, homes, and businesses, the IRS is owed money called capital gains tax; opposite of capital loss (Defining capital gain). Dividends on the other hand are a taxable payment declared by a company’s board of directors and given to its shareholders out of the company’s current or retained earnings, usually quarterly.Dividends are usually given as cash (cash dividend), but they can also take the form of stock (stock dividend) or other property. Dividends provide an incentive to own stock in stable companies even if they are not experiencing much growth. Companies are not required to pay dividends. The companies that offer dividends are most often companies that have progressed beyond the growth phase, and no longer benefit sufficiently by reinvesting their profits, so they usually choose to pay them out to their shareholders; also called payout (Defining dividends).Apart from that, having equity allows easy portfolio diversification as the amount of shares available for investment are almost endless thus investors are able to invest in countless of companies. Being a shareholder in a company a lso consents to the opportunity to vote on the company board. This is where shareholders actually have their opinions heard by the board of directors and they are able to get their point of view across in a company they have a certain treaty with. Overall, equity is very liquid which means that investors are able to convert stocks into cash effortlessly as they see fit.Gold conversely offer different forms of advantages. For example, endowing in gold is considered a safe-haven for investors as there are low risks involved. For one thing, gold reacts consistently with the inflation rate of a nation. If inflation is high, the price of gold will be high as well; unlike equity. Besides that, the demand for gold will never die. Since the 1600, gold has been used as a form of currency. If war breaks out in a country and money is destroyed, gold will be used as a form of exchange rate because of its stability and security. On top of that, the possession of gold is made convenient.It can be held physically as jewelry or non-physically in safes of banks (where a token is issued as a form of recognizing that ownership of a client’s gold has been set aside). Moreover, gold is a universal standard for assessment where gold in United States for example will be appraised anywhere around the world with similar rates (depending on the gold price standard of that particular year). With pros exists cons. Therefore, a number of drawbacks from investing in equity are apparent. Firstly, shares of a company can decline to zero if a company goes bankrupt.Also, as shareholders gain certain amount of shares in one’s company, there is a certain level of control of the business that is traded. This is where total loss of complete control is abided. Besides all of this, estimating the fair value of stock is difficult. For example, shares in the United States cannon under any circumstance be exchanged for shares in Europe for Euros; unlike gold. Furthermore, the securities of equity are tied up to the management sector of a corporation. This is where examples of companies such as Enron and WorldCom come into play. Enron filed for bankruptcy in December 2001.The former energy giant was undone by accounting fraud and off-the-balance-sheet transactions. In the Enron case, many players were involved in fraud at multiple levels. Investigations have implicated several former high level executives and have brought into question the roles of many others. Enron’s accounting firm, Arthur Anderson, LLP, has already been convicted of obstruction of justice because the firm allegedly destroyed documents pertinent to the Enron case. On top of that, the similar consequences occurred to WorldCom where in July 2002, major accounting errors that hid vast amounts of debt led WorldCom to file bankruptcy.The telecommunications giant faced increasing problems up to that point, but investors were unaware of the company’s demise because of the accounting gaffes and intentional cover-ups. Some former top executives of WorldCom have been accused of altering transaction and account records to conceal company debt; several have admitted wrongdoing so far (Enron and worldcom ). The drawbacks of gold on the other hand are such as where dividends or any form of additional income aren’t provided. Shares could be sold for almost twice; sometimes more, of its original cost. Besides that, physical gold has insurance and storage prices bestowed upon them.Paying these taxes could be bothersome to a client moreover, the total amount of insurance coverage for gold is up to $10 000 only. Finally, a high liquidity rate is present with the ownership of gold. Cash is not as easily exchanged for gold as it is for equity. The number one question on many investors minds are which investment would have netted a better return; gold or equity? The table enclosed below will help clarify this predicament. For example, if u had an investment of $10 000 in gold bullion in 1999, your initial investment would have grown to $38,300 by 12/31/09 – an amazing 283% percent increase.That same $10,000 investment in stocks of the S amp; P index would have lost $1,400. That’s a 14% loss. Therefore, it is obvious that there is a higher percentage of risk involved investing in equity then there is in gold. However, the benefits and drawbacks of gold have to be weighed carefully before any form of investment is made. Extensive research must be conducted prior to investment to make sure that all forms of options are carefully understood and acknowledged. In addition, an investor should never put all his/her eggs in one basket. Diversifying is the number one rule of investment.That way if shares or prices of gold declines, not every all ventures would be affected. Holding both diversified equity funds and precious metals funds actually lower the overall risk in one’s portfolio as one can work to offset losses in the other over the long term. It’s not really a question of gold vs. stocks for the average investor at the end of the day but rather how much to invest in each as a percent of one’s total gold or equity portfolio. How to cite Comaprison Between Equity and Gold, Papers