Legalizing Marijuana Essays (1031 words) - Entheogens, Cannabis

Legalizing Marijuana Davis 7 Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is the name for the drug that comes from the leaves and flowers of the Indian hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. It is a tobacco-like substance produced by drying the leaves and flowery top of the cannabis plant. Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette called a joint or in a pipe or bong. Recently, it has appeared in cigars called blunts which are longer. This drug is a mild hallucinogen, meaning that it distorts sensory perceptions. The intoxicating part of the plant lies mostly in its strong-smelling, sticky, golden resin. This is given off by the hemp flowers, especially those of the female plant. The resin protects the plant from heat and helps it stay moist during its reproductive cycle. Many users describe two phases of marijuana intoxication: initial stimulation, giddiness, and euphoria, followed by sedation and pleasant tranquillity. Mood changes can often accompany altered perceptions of time and space and one's bodily dimension. The hemp plant can be found growing as a weed or as a cultivated plant throughout the world, in many soils and climates, with the more potent varieties produced in dry, hot, upland, climates (Berger 1). All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. They all contain THC, the main active chemical in marijuana. THC was first identified in the mid-1960s. Its chemical structure is complex and unique, making it unlike that of any other psychoactive drug. There are also four hundred other chemicals in the marijuana plant besides THC, but they do not cause the same effect. For this reason, marijuana is, by far, the most frequently used illegal drug. Though its use in the United States is primarily for the pleasure effect of the drug, it has been used as an intoxicant in various parts of the world for centuries. Marijuana is known as a Schedule I drug which means it is one of the most tightly controlled drugs (McCormick 94). Only few countries around the world have legalized marijuana, but those that have, have seen good results. Marijuana has many benefits and is used for various reasons other than the reaction from the drug, and therefore it should be legalized. The first existence of marijuana was first described in print in a Chinese book of medicine in the second century B.C.E. and was used in China as an anesthetic five thousand years ago (Freeman 58). Its earliest use was recommended as a painkiller during operations. Known in Central Asia as early as 3000 BC, marijuana was used as a folk medicine. The practice of smoking it was brought to Brazil by black slaves from Africa. After spreading throughout Mexico, it was brought to the United States by Mexican laborers. In the 1800s, it was popular with black field hands in the South and in the hashish houses that often took the place of opium dens. Many people knew that they would profit from marijuana in America and they imported the drug any way possible. Marijuana was smuggled across the Mexican border in a variety of ways including inside the gasoline tanks of motor vehicles (Bugliosi 13). During the 1920s and 1930s, marijuana rose in popularity, especially among jazz musicians, most of whom were black. The effects of marijuana back then, were believed to turn men into social deviants capable of crazed, even homicidal behavior. The violence of which they were capable had more to do with white racist imaginings than with facts. Nonetheless, marijuana was outlawed in 1937. These beliefs played a part in the passage of the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act, which tried to control the use of marijuana. The Marijuana Tax Act made the use or sale of marijuana without a tax stamp a federal offense. The law also included stiffer penalties for marijuana use. Over the next decade, drug penalties got even tougher. Most of the marijuana that is smoked in the United States is grown in the United States. Most wild United States cannabis is considered inferior to the Jamaican, Colombian, and Mexican varieties that range much higher in percent THC potency. This drug accounts for many arrests every year and costs each state millions. More recently, many marijuana growers have taken their illegal crop indoors. It is now frequently grown in basements, attics, and outbuildings under lights with timed fertilizer and sprinkler systems. Growers generally try to get the highest THC in order to produce the greatest possible effect, which would result in more sales and profit. Few marijuana growers are

Garza Surname Meaning and Origin

Garza Surname Meaning and Origin Garza is a surname with several possible origins: Meaning heron in Spanish, the Garza surname usually translates as dweller at the sign of the heron or dove. It may have been given as a descriptive nickname for someone with long legs like a heron. It could also be a habitational name for someone from one of several places named Garza.Garza is sometimes a variation of Garcia, the Spanish form of Gerald, meaning ruler of the spear. Garza is the 26th most common Hispanic surname. Surname Origin:  Spanish Alternate Surname Spellings:  DE GARZA, DE LA GARZA, GARZO, GARZON, GARCI, GARCEZ, GARCIA Famous People With the Surname Garza Alana de la Garza - an American actressTony Garza - Mexican American politician and former United States Ambassador to Mexico (2002-2009)Madison De La Garza - American child actress, best known for her role in the television hit Desperate Housewives. Where Do People With the Garza Surname Live? The surname distribution data at  Forebears  puts the Garza surname as most popular in Mexico, where it ranks as the 47th most common surname. Outside of Mexico, Garza is most common in the United States- found in large numbers in Texas, followed by California, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida. WorldNames PublicProfiler also puts the largest number of individuals named Garza in Texas, by over six times as great as the next state, New Mexico. In Spain, Garza is most common in the  Aragà ³n region. Genealogy Resources for the Surname Garza 100 Common Hispanic Surnames Their MeaningsGarcia, Martinez, Rodriguez, Lopez, Hernandez... Are you one of the millions of people sporting one of these top 100 common Hispanic last names? How to Research Hispanic HeritageLearn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country-specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, and other Spanish speaking countries. Garza Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Garza family crest or coat of arms for the Garza surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   Garza Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Garza surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Garza query. FamilySearch - Garza GenealogyAccess over 1.5 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Garza surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. GeneaNet - Garza RecordsGeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Garza surname, with a concentration on records and families from France, Spain, and other European countries. Garza Surname Family Mailing ListsThis free mailing list for researchers of the Garza surname and its variations includes subscription details and searchable archives of past messages. DistantCousin.com - Garza Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Garza. The Garza Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Garza from the website of Genealogy Today. References Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997

Develop Work Prop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Develop Work Prop - Essay Example It is important that customer's are kept in good humor by being in regulat touch with them and updating them about the latest on their orders. Customers, if taken in confidence, do take the occasional delays in their stride. Delegation of power to suitable and capable subordinates is very crucial for smooth functioning of any organization. Reassigning the responsibilities in such a manner that if someone is not in a position to come to office for couple of days then there must be a stop gap arrangement who can take over the responsibility and the overall functioning doesn't come to a halt. For example Jose himself is feeling overburdened already therefore he must stop insisting that all communication about the installation was routed through him. Ans 3: Action Plan for Jose Goal Action/ tasks Standard applied Who Date Change in Attitude A motivated manager Behavior monitoring Jose Sept 1, 2006 Fine tuning relationship with others A cohesive team formation Team management Jose and other team members Sept 10, 2006 A good leader Leadership Training: A leader owning responsibility for failures while distributing the credits for success Leadership skill and respect from other members Jose Oct. 17, 2006 Action plan for Jose's Team Goal Action/ tasks Standard applied Who Date Mutual respect Start respecting each other's viewpoints Behavior monitoring All team members Sept 1, 2006 Fine tuning relationship with others A cohesive team Team management Jose and other team members Sept 20, 2006 Meeting deadlines All orders to be completed within the deadline The team output Team Oct 5. , 2006 Clearing the backlog All delayed projects to be completed Team output as well as customer's goodwill Team As soon as...A person not having a title/ post of manager is also supposed to manage the things. If someone thinks that only 'manager' has to manage that means either he is running away from responsibility or he is not skilled enough to manage. Jacinta is good in scheduling technique so, instead of, discouraging and suppressing her ability, Jose must try to make good use of her scheduling expertise. This will have a positive impact on the outcome of Jose's section, which in turn will enhance the reputation of Jose - the Manager. It is important that customer's are kept in good humor by being in regulat touch with them and updating them about the latest on their orders. Customers, if taken in confidence, do take the occasional delays in their stride. Delegation of power to suitable and capable subordinates is very crucial for smooth functioning of any organization. Reassigning the responsibilities in such a manner that if someone is not in a position to come to office for couple of days then there must be a stop gap arrangement who can take over the responsibility and the overall functioning doesn't come to a halt. For example Jose himself is feeling overburdened already therefore he must stop insisting that all communication about the installation was routed through him. 1. Jose has to realize that he is a 'Manager'. And a manager is responsible for making 'things happen'.

The Libor Scandal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Libor Scandal - Assignment Example Its use affects the pricing of loans, mortgages and other financial products thus directly affecting the people’s lives. This paper will therefore attempt to examine the process and the purpose as well, of how commercial banks set and determine the LIBOR rates. It will further explore the role of LIBOR in the commercial sector, and finally consider the impact of this rate on businesses and consumers. It is paramount to understand the meaning of the word LIBOR. In definition, LIBOR refers to the London Interbank Offered Rate. It is also referred to as ICE LIBOR. It can also be understood as a rate used by contributor banks in the event that one bank wants to borrow funds or inter-bank deposits, from another fellow member bank. Contributor banks refer to banks, which are involved in the setting and fixing of LIBORS. They include the Deutsche bank, Bank of America, Royal Bank of Canada, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The LIBOR is thus a benchmark rate that some commercial banks in the world use to determine the rate at which they will lend short-term deposits to each other. It can be equated to the federal funds rate (Gumbo, 2011:23). The LIBOR, whose administration is under the ICE Benchmark Administration, is usually based on the five major currencies of the world. These are the United States dollar, the Euro, the sterling pound, the Japanese Yen, and the Swiss Franc. In order to understand well the process and why banks set their LIBOR rates, it is crucial that we briefly look at the circumstances that led to the formation of this rate. The history of LIBOR is traced back to the year 1984 although its first application in the financial and money markets was not until the year 1986 (Twomey, 2011:52). In the 1984, there was an increased growth in business using financial market instruments. More and more banks were increasingly using

Effects Domestic Violence Has On Old People Social Work Essay

Effects Domestic Violence Has On Old People Social Work Essay Introduction Domestic violence Domestic abuse as earlier discussed is a form of abuse which is leveled against members of a family or people who have an intimate relationship. There are different forms of domestic violence and these include emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, economic deprivation or intimidation. Very few cases of domestic abuse are reported due to fear of reprisal from the perpetrator. This makes it difficult to ascertain the exact number of victims of domestic abuse. However, in the US, 10% or 32 million people are affected by domestic abuse. Phases of domestic violence There are three major faces of domestic violence and these are the honeymoon, tension building and acting-out phases. The honeymoon phase is the first phase and the perpetrator of violence apologizes and gives affection after committing a violent act. She or he feels sad and remorseful after committing violence. The next stage is the tension building stage and in this stage, the victims begin building fear and have tension whenever the batterer becomes angry. There is poor communication and victims try to calm perpetrators down in order to avoid confrontations which may turn violent. The third stage is the acting out phase and in this stage, the perpetrator hardly feels remorse for violent acts. The batterer becomes abusive and violent, in attempts to dominate over the victim. Violence against the elderly There has been an increase in cases of violence against the elderly. The abuse of the elderly has grown into a criminal justice and public health concern due to increase in cases. The elderly are seen as vulnerable and weak, and this makes them easy targets for perpetrators of elderly violence. Various forms of elderly violence will be discussed and these include physical abuse, economic abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. It is important to note that a few cases of elderly abuse take place unintentionally, and are usually as a result of attempts to protect the elderly people. In such cases, the elderly may be forced to join homes or relieve themselves of responsibilities which other members of society view as too difficult to them. They may be forced to delegate leadership in companies or political systems due to the perception that they are too old to effectively perform their duties. This may leave them feeling depressed, isolated and demoralized (Cohn et. al., 2002). However , most of the cases of elderly abuse are done intentionally in order to have dominance over the perceived weaker age group. Causes of domestic and elderly abuse There are different theories which explain reasons which drive people to commit these types of violence. Some of them will be discussed below; Psychological theory Psychological disorders account for the largest proportion of domestic violence cases. In fact, more than 81% of cases of domestic violence are linked to psychological disorders especially the psychopathology disorders (Dutton, 2006). Psychopathology disorders affect the mental and personality behaviors of victims. People with this disorder exhibit poor impulse control, bursts of anger and low self esteem. People with psychopathology disorders are likely to project their anger at people around them, and these are family members, spouses and the elderly. This leads to domestic and elderly abuse in the long run if people with these disorders do not seek treatment. Social theory There are different social theories which explain domestic violence. These theories explain that socialization and the environment may influence a person to commit domestic abuse. For instance, social learning is seen to be one of the factors which lead to abuse. Social learning involves imitation of actions of people around us. If a family experiences domestic abuse, children who are raised in such a family may commit abuse in future since they view it as normal in family settings (Shipway, 2004). Stress is also another factor which may lead to commission of domestic violence. When a person has stress, she or he may project their anger at those around them. Spouses, children, the elderly and other family members may suffer from domestic violence if stressed people project their anger on them. Resource and dependency theories These theories explain reasons which make women susceptible to domestic abuse stay in abusive marriages. They explain that in cases where the wife or husband is dependent on the other spouse for economic well-being, it is difficult for them to leave abusive marriages. Victims are unable to leave since they believe that they cannot survive without the assistance of the other spouse. This is especially seen in relationships where one spouse has greater power than the other. This makes it possible for him or her to manipulate the other partner into living with domestic abuse. Power and control Many abusive relationships occur after one partner or family member attempts to dominate over the other. Spouses, especially men, use violence as a means of dominating over the other partner. Such dominance may arise out of low self esteem, childhood experiences, insecurity, and stress, resentment towards women or men amongst other causes. Spouses who are bullied accept themselves as victims and the cycle of violence continues, until it is broken by separation, divorce or rehabilitation. This is also seen amongst the elderly, and some people abuse them as a means of control and dominance over them. Forms of domestic and elderly abuse Physical abuse This is a form of abuse where the perpetrator physically assaults or intimidates her or his victim. It may involve actions such as punching, striking, pulling, slapping, pushing, exposure to heat or cold, head-butting, strangling, kicking, whipping and others. These acts are performed to cause pain, intimidation or injury to the victim. Both domestic abuse and elderly abuse feature physical abuse since in both cases, the victims are perceived to be powerless by the perpetrators, and this allows them to physically dominate over them. Emotional abuse According to Johnson (2005), this abuse is meant to calculatingly injure the emotions of the victim. It includes humiliating victims publicly or privately, withholding information, controlling the victim, blackmail, isolation from family and friends or verbal abuse. This form of abuse may be difficult to detect and victims may realize that their partners dominate over them or control them only through the intervention of third parties. Victims who undergo emotional abuse may suffer from eating disorders, drug abuse or may attempt suicide. Emotional abuse is common in both domestic and in cases of elderly abuse. Economic abuse In this form of abuse, the perpetrator withholds resources or money from the victim in attempts to control their actions. Usually, the perpetrator has control over the resources and money, and withholding it is meant to force the victim to perform what the perpetrator wants in order to have access to the resources. This form of abuse is common in families where one spouse is economically dependent on the other. It is also common in cases where the elderly are dependent on their children or other people economically. The person who holds the resources deliberately manipulates victims into performing what she or he wants in order for them to have access to these resources. This creates dominance over them. Sexual abuse This is a form of abuse in which a person is forced to engage in sexual acts against their consent. This includes rape, degrading sexual activities and unsafe or unwanted sexual activities. Sexual abuse is more common in domestic violence than in cases of elderly violence although the latter has become common over the years. This form of abuse, just like physical abuse, is meant to dominate over the victim. How to prevent domestic and elderly abuse There are various steps which should be taken to reduce cases of domestic abuse and abuse against the elderly. These will be briefly discussed below; Legislation Legislation is a very effective deterrent to crime. Harsh sentences deter potential perpetrators of crime and reduce crime levels. Since domestic violence and violence against the elderly is a crime, harsh legislation should act as a deterrent to crime. Lawmakers should pass laws which give long prison sentences to people convicted of all forms of violence (Neil John, 2000). This will reduce the overall violence crime levels. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation can effectively treat people who have mental disorders which make them commit violence. Rehabilitation can also make a person who commits violent acts against others realize the harmful impacts to victims, and stop the vice (Hamel Nicholls, 2007). People who practice any form of abuse should be advised to seek counseling or rehabilitation aimed at encouraging them to change their attitude towards violence. This will enable them to be accepted back into society and to live with other members of society in harmony. Social services Governments should offer social services free of charge to victims of domestic and elderly abuse. According to Wilcox (2006), these services should include legal, medical, psychological and financial services which will ensure that they recover from the abuse and that the perpetrator is arrested and charged with the offence. The government should ensure that these victims reside in a safe place free from any form of violence. Public awareness campaigns This is among the most effective tools of fighting violence in society. The government and civil society should organize campaigns which are aimed at increasing awareness on domestic violence and violence against the elderly. These campaigns should encourage people to report such cases to law enforcement agencies. The campaigns should also provide potential victims with information about where they can access help in case they experience these forms of violence.

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - The View from the Inside :: Yellow Wallpaper essays

The Yellow Wallpaper: The View from the Inside "The Yellow Wallpaper", written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a story of a woman, her psychological difficulties and her husband's so called therapeutic treatment of her aliments during the late 1800s. The story begins with a young woman and her husband traveling to the country for the summer and for the healing powers of being away from writing which just seems to worsen her condition. Upon reading this intense description of an almost prison like prescription for overcoming "temporary nervous depression" the reader is permeated with the idea the men are nothing more than the wardens in the lives of women. Gilman, does well throughout the story to show with descriptive phrases just how easily and effectively, the man 'seemingly' wields his 'maleness' to control the woman. But, with further interpretation and insight I believe Gilman succeeds in nothing more than showing the weakness of women, of the day, as active persons in their own as well as society's decision making processes instead of the strength of men as women dominating machines. From the beginning of the story forward the narrator speaks of how her husband and other influential men in her life direct her so that she will recover quickly and I believe this to be the initial sign that the feminist perspective will be presented throughout. The narrator shows how although she has a formed opinion (and probably successful idea for her treatment), she is still swayed by her husband's direction with the following passage, "I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus--but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad." Her husband seems to be the one who can change her thoughts because of his 'maleness' or the fact that he is her husband. Nonetheless, she is still being suppressed by a member of the opposing sex. With a further look into this passage though, I believe that this again is nothing more than a sign of the inablities of the narrator. I don't believe her sex to be the cause of her suppression it is her lack of understanding of not only herself, but of how to successfully make others aware of what is best for herself. The narrator also speaks many times in a manner which suggests that because a man speaks she has no means by which to disagree with him because she is a woman, yet another feminist tact. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - The View from the Inside :: Yellow Wallpaper essays The Yellow Wallpaper: The View from the Inside "The Yellow Wallpaper", written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a story of a woman, her psychological difficulties and her husband's so called therapeutic treatment of her aliments during the late 1800s. The story begins with a young woman and her husband traveling to the country for the summer and for the healing powers of being away from writing which just seems to worsen her condition. Upon reading this intense description of an almost prison like prescription for overcoming "temporary nervous depression" the reader is permeated with the idea the men are nothing more than the wardens in the lives of women. Gilman, does well throughout the story to show with descriptive phrases just how easily and effectively, the man 'seemingly' wields his 'maleness' to control the woman. But, with further interpretation and insight I believe Gilman succeeds in nothing more than showing the weakness of women, of the day, as active persons in their own as well as society's decision making processes instead of the strength of men as women dominating machines. From the beginning of the story forward the narrator speaks of how her husband and other influential men in her life direct her so that she will recover quickly and I believe this to be the initial sign that the feminist perspective will be presented throughout. The narrator shows how although she has a formed opinion (and probably successful idea for her treatment), she is still swayed by her husband's direction with the following passage, "I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus--but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad." Her husband seems to be the one who can change her thoughts because of his 'maleness' or the fact that he is her husband. Nonetheless, she is still being suppressed by a member of the opposing sex. With a further look into this passage though, I believe that this again is nothing more than a sign of the inablities of the narrator. I don't believe her sex to be the cause of her suppression it is her lack of understanding of not only herself, but of how to successfully make others aware of what is best for herself. The narrator also speaks many times in a manner which suggests that because a man speaks she has no means by which to disagree with him because she is a woman, yet another feminist tact.

Martin Luther: the Reformer

Commonly referred to as, â€Å"The Father of Protestantism† (Funk and Wagnalls 337), â€Å"Martin Luther was born into a world dominated by the Catholic Church† (www. pbs. org). â€Å"Luther had no intention of opposing the authority of Rome† (Funk and Wagnalls 336) but God had other plans. Martin Luther, who â€Å"was named after St Martin† (www. pbs. org) was born on November 10th, 1483 (Thulin 11). Mansfeld was his hometown, although he was born in Eisleben (Thulin 11). His parents moved to Mansfeld, to improve his father's job prospect, in 1484 right after Luther's birth (Thulin 12). After moving to Mansfeld, Luther's father, Hans, became a miner (Thulin 11). â€Å"By 1491 the Luthers were one of the most respected families in Mansfeld† (www. pbs. org). Luther himself stayed in Mansfeld until 1496 (Thulin 12). Luther came from a family of peasants, (Thulin 11) his â€Å"parents were simple folk† (Erikson 54) and are described as â€Å"a pair of hardworking and pious Germans† (www. pbs. org). Martin's father was the son of a farmer and â€Å"ruled his son with an iron fist† (www. pbs. org). In fact, Luther said â€Å"My father once whipped me so hard I ran away – I hated him until he finally managed to win me back† (www. bs. org). His mother, Margaret Luther, (Thulin 11) â€Å"came from a small but very well-off family† (www. pbs. org). Margaret is also described as â€Å"a harsh disciplinarian† (www. pbs. org). Luther said on the subject of parents, â€Å"When God wants to speak with us, he does not avail h imself of an angel but of parents† (www. pbs. org). Luther's parents had high hopes for their first son (www. pbs. org). They wanted him to become a lawyer because his father thought that â€Å"a man of Martin's gifts trained in the law would rise even higher in the social scale† (Green 34). Luther â€Å"resented his father's attempt to dominate his life and to push him into a career which he had selected for him† (Green 35), but he complied with his parents' wishes (www. pbs. org). When Luther, out of terror, made a vow to become a monk his father was completely devastated (Bainton 21, www. pbs. org). In fact, â€Å"He did not tell his father of his final decision until he was behind the friary walls† (Green 35). Luther was educated in the schools of Eisenach and Magdeburg and in 1501, at the age of 17, he entered the University of Erfurt (Funk and Wagnalls 335, Erikson 24). Luther received his master's degree at 21, in 1505 (Erikson 24). Years later in 1512, at 28, he â€Å"became a doctor of theology† (Erikson 24). That same year he was made professor of Biblical Literature and the year after he became a priest he became â€Å"a lecturer at the University of Wittenberg† (Funk and Wagnalls 335). On July 2nd of 1505 Luther experienced an event that would change his life forever (Thulin 16). â€Å"†¦ caught in a thunderstorm, terrified by the possibility of imminent death†¦ † (www. pbs. org) he cried out to St. Anne for help and vowed to become a monk (Bainton 21). Later that same year, at the age of 23, he entered the monastery (Erikson 24). Luther, in the summer of 1506, â€Å"became a fully-professed friar† (Green 37) and he celebrated his first mass in the Augustinian monastery in 1507 (Thulin 17). Although his Father did not approve of him becoming a monk, Hans went to great expense to make this occasion a festive day (Thulin 17). Luther was a devout monk for 20 years (Thulin 17, Simon 3). â€Å"As young monk Luther was obsessed with atoning for his sins† (www. pbs. org. com). He lived a holy life in the monastery, embracing â€Å"the rules of his order with unstinted zeal† (Green 37). From 1512 to 1513 Luther, spiritually uneasy, moved theologically away from orthodox teaching† (Green 45). He became â€Å"increasingly doubtful that the Church can actually offer him salvation at all† this is when he discovers that only â€Å"his own individual faith will guarantee his salvation† (www. pbs. org). Lut her â€Å"turns on the Church, attacking its practice of selling indulgences† (www. pbs. org). â€Å"It was his deliberate intention to prove that the doctrine of indulgences contravened the teaching of the Gospel† (Green 59). Although he â€Å"had no intention of†¦ ausing a schism in the church† (Funk and Wagnalls 336), â€Å"Luther had†¦ very little idea of where his criticisms were likely to lead him† (Green 59). He attacked the selling of indulgences in the 95 theses, which he nailed â€Å"to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg† in 1517 at the age of 32 (www. pbs. org, Funk and Wagnalls 336, Erikson 24). This action is regarded as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation (Funk and Wagnalls 336). In April of 1523, nine nuns arrived in Wittenberg (Thulin 85). They had escaped from a nunnery in empty fish barrels to take refuge in Wittenberg (www. bs. org). â€Å"Luther felt responsible to find for them all homes, husbands, o r positions of some sort† (Bainton 287). The last nun he placed was one named Katherine von Bora (Bainton 287). Hans had a great desire for Luther to â€Å"pass on the name† and it was suggested that Luther should marry Katherine when he had trouble placing her, but he did not take this suggestion seriously (Bainton 288). But just two years after her arrival, in May of 1525, Luther said that he wanted to marry Katherine before his death (Bainton 288). So, â€Å"†¦ choing a trend across Europe as former nuns and monks married†¦ † (www. pbs. org), Martin Luther and Katherine von Bora were married on June 13th, 1525 (Thulin 95). At 42, Luther â€Å"was beyond the customary age for marriage† and â€Å"Katherine was 16 years younger than† her husband at a youthful 26 (www. pbs. org, Bainton 288). Luther said, â€Å"There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage† (www. pbs. org). H e also thought that â€Å"the man is the head of the wife because he was created first† (Bainton 299). Katherine von Bora was born in 1499 and her mother died soon after her birth (www. pbs. org, Bainton 291). Her father entered her into â€Å"the convent school of the Benedictine order† in 1504 and in 1508 she entered into the convent of Nimbschen (www. pbs. org). Just a few years later, in 1515 she took her vows (www. pbs. org). It was quite a task for Katherine to take care of Luther, considering he was often sick (Bainton 292, 293). After a while, Katherine became quite the doctor, in fact, the Luther household became the hospital of Wittenberg during times of epidemic (Simon 335). Luther said, â€Å"There is a lot to get used to in the first year of marriage† (Bainton 290); this is probably because Katherine took over the Luther household (www. pbs. org). â€Å"It is said that Dr. Luther did not have a clue how to run a household†, this is when Katherine stepped in and took over the household expenses (www. pbs. org). Since neither Katherine nor Luther had any money when they married (Bainton 291), and Luther wasn't given a wage (www. pbs. org), to provide for the family, â€Å"In 1526 he installed a lathe, and learned woodworking† (Bainton 291). He â€Å"also housed students in his home to help the† family finances (www. pbs. org). On October 21, 1525 when Luther told a friend that Katherine was pregnant he said she was fulfilling the verse Genesis 1:28 (Bainton 293). Katherine bore six children in eight years, 3 boys and 3 girls (Bainton 291, 293 Simon 334). Martin and Katherine's first child was a son, called Hans, born on June 7, 1526 (Bainton 293). A daughter, Elizabeth Luther was born on December 10, 1527, but on August 3rd of the next year, Elizabeth Luther died (Bainton 293, Thulin 103). On December 17, 1529 Magdalena Luther was born and nearly two years later Katherine gave birth to a son, who was named Martin Luther on November 9, 1531 (Bainton 293). Next was another son, Paul Luther on January 28, 1533, who later became a doctor, and finally Margaretha Luther was born to Martin and Katherine on December 17, 1534 (Bainton 292, 293). Sadly, on September 20th Martin Luther held Magdalena, his 14 year-old daughter, in his arms as she died (Bainton 304, Thulin 122). Life in the Luther house might have been somewhat hectic considering the â€Å"Luthers brought up four orphaned children from among relatives† (Bainton 294). Luther thought that â€Å"Children are subject to parents and especially to the father† (Bainton 299). Luther and Katherine are described as diligent parents, their children were well-disciplined, but in a loving way (www. pbs. org). â€Å"Luther doted on his large family† and although the house was always full â€Å"Their home was noted for its liveliness and its happiness† (www. pbs. org). Luther battled his whole life against depression (Bainton 362). â€Å"This man who so undergirded others with faith had for himself a perpetual battle for faith† (Bainton 359). â€Å"Luther felt that his depressions were necessary† (Bainton 362). These depressions were always about the same thing, the â€Å"loss of faith that God† was good to him, but Luther's greatest problem came from how he should overcome his depressions (Bainton 361). He once said that â€Å"during the first year in the monastery the Devil is very quiet† this was not true later in Luther's life (Bainton 37). Luther said, â€Å"When I go to bed, the Devil is always waiting for me† and he would even have direct encounters with the Devil himself (Bainton 362). Luther had a great enthusiasm for music (Bainton 340). â€Å"His interest in the arts was unusual among the reformers† (Funk and Wagnalls 337). He was â€Å"An accomplished Lute player† and he brought out a hymnbook in 1524 (www. pbs. org, Bainton 345). Luther's most well known hymn is â€Å"A Mighty Fortress† which he wrote in the year of his deepest depression (Bainton 370). On February 14th, a few days before his death, Luther wrote his last letter to his wife (Thulin 127). He died later that month in the year 1546 at Eisleben and â€Å"was buried in the Castle Church of Wittenberg† (Thulin 128, Funk and Wagnalls 337). Luther never intended to become the Reformer for which he is remembered, in fact â€Å"Few people had heard of Martin Luther before he posted the 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church† (Green 9). He opposed the Catholic Church, â€Å"the most powerful institution of the day† (www. pbs. org), and is known as one of, if not, the most influential people in the history of the Christian Church. Works Cited Bainton, Roland H. Here I Stand: A Life Of Martin Luther. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press: New York. 1950 Erikson, Erik H.. Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History. W. W. Norton & Company Inc. : New York. 1962 Green, V. H. H.. Luther and the Reformation. B. T. Batsford LTD. : London. 1964 http://www. pbs. org 2003 Devillier Donegan Enterprises. February 1, 2009 [http://www. pbs. org/empires/martinluther/about_driv. html] http://www. pbs. org 2003 Devillier Donegan Enterprises. February 1, 2009 [http://www. pbs. org/empires/martinluther/char_parents. html] http://www. pbs. rg 2003 Devillier Donegan Enterprises. February 1, 2009 [http://www. pbs. org/empires/martinluther/char_wife. html] http://www. pbs. org 2003 Devillier Donegan Enterprises. February 1, 2009 [http://www. pbs. org/empires/martinluther/cheats. html] â€Å"LUTHER, Martin† Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. Funk and Wagnalls, Inc. : New York 1979 Simon, Edith. Luther Alive: Martin Luther and the Making of the Reformation. Do ubleday & Company, INC. : New York. 1968 Thulin, Oskar. A Life Of Luther: Told in Pictures and Narrative by the Reformer and His Contemporaries. Fortress Press: Philadelphia. 1966