The Sun Dance Essay Example For Students

The Sun Dance Essay The Sun Dance O, Wakan Tanka, be merciful to me that my People may live. It is for this that I am sacrificing myself. The Sun Dance is held every year in the month of June or July when the moon was full. It was first uncovered in a vision to a Lakota Indian called Kablaya. Wakan Tanka told him that his People had become way to sluggish in their prayers, so he sent them a new way of praying-the Sun Dance. In a Sun Dance, dancers present their bodies as a sacrifice on behalf of all the Lakota people. Through their sacrifice, the people gain strength and understanding. We will write a custom essay on The Sun Dance specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the beginning , a large tipi was built and a number of ritual objects gathered or where made. One of these was a round rawhide circle, which represents the sun. It was painted red, with a smaller blue circle in the center, which represented Wakan Tanka. Many singers came to sing the sacred songs, and a drum its roundness representing the universe, its steady beat the pulse of the heart was brought. Central to the ceremony was a cottonwood tree, a rustling tree, which was placed at the center of the tipi. This represented all of the enemies who have been attacked and conquered. A group of people go out to find the cottonwood, and when they did, a sacred Pipe was smoked. One person was selected to make the first cut on the tree. This symbolized counting coup on the tree, or enemy. Others then helped cut it down, but it was not allowed to touch the ground. The tree is then carried back to the dance place and put into the earth at the center of what became the sweat lodge. Then all of the ritual objects and the tree were purified with the smoke of sweetgrass. A sweat lodge was built around the tree and the chosen dancers entered it and were purified in an Inipi. The Pipe is smoked and the sacred songs were sung. One of them was: The Sun, the Light of the world. I hear him coming. I see his face as he comes. He makes the beings on earth happy And they rejoice. O, Wakan Tanka, I offer to You this world of Light. Black Elks The Sacred Pipe. Wreaths of sage were placed on each dancers head. Then each described what s/he would sacrifice. The sacrifice was either pieces of flesh or piercing of the flesh. Flesh represents ignorance one has, so the tearing or cutting of the flesh represented freeing the body from the grasps of ignorance. On the final day of the Sun Dance, some dancers had their flesh pierced, and rawhide thongs were threaded through the flesh and tied to the tree. Wreaths of sage were placed on each dancers head and around their wrists and ankles. As they danced, they blew eagle bone whistles. As singing and drumming continued throughout; they danced until the thongs break free. Other offered pieces of flesh to Wakan Tanka, to the Earth or the four powers of the four directions. When the dance was done, the dancers went into the sweat lodge and smoked a Pipe. Then all returned to the tipi and a feast was held.

How to Measure Motion in Plate Tectonics

How to Measure Motion in Plate Tectonics The lithospheric plates are the sections of Earths crust and upper mantle that move- very slowly- over the lower mantle below. We know that these plates move from two different lines of evidence- geodetic and geologic- which allow us to trace their movements back in geologic time. Geodetic Plate Motion Geodesy, the science of measuring the Earths shape and positions on it, allows us to measure plate motion directly using GPS, the Global Positioning System. This network of satellites is more stable than the Earths surface, so when a whole continent moves somewhere at a few centimeters per year, GPS can tell. The longer we record this information, the more accurate it becomes, and in much of the world, the numbers are already quite precise. Another thing GPS can show us is tectonic movements within plates. One assumption behind plate tectonics is that the lithosphere is rigid, and indeed that is still a sound and useful assumption. But parts of the plates are soft in comparison, like the Tibetan Plateau and the western American mountain belts. GPS data helps us separate blocks that move independently, even if only by a few millimeters per year. In the United States, the Sierra Nevada and Baja California micro-plates have been distinguished this way. Geologic Plate Motion: Present Three different geologic methods help determine the trajectories of plates: paleomagnetic, geometric, and seismic. The paleomagnetic method is based on the Earths magnetic field. In every volcanic eruption, iron-bearing minerals (mostly magnetite) become magnetized by the prevailing field as they cool. The direction in which theyre magnetized points to the nearest magnetic pole. Because oceanic lithosphere forms continuously by volcanism at spreading ridges, the whole oceanic plate bears a consistent magnetic signature. When the Earths magnetic field reverses direction, as it does for reasons not fully understood, the new rock takes on the reversed signature. Thus most of the seafloor has a striped pattern of magnetizations as if it were a piece of paper emerging from a fax machine (only its symmetrical across the spreading center). The differences in magnetization are slight, but sensitive magnetometers on ships and aircraft can detect them. The most recent magnetic-field reversal was 781,000 years ago, so mapping that reversal gives us a good idea of plate movements in the most recent geologic past. The geometric method gives us the spreading direction to go with the spreading speed. Its based on the transform faults along the mid-ocean ridges. If you look at a spreading ridge on a map, it has a stair-step pattern of segments at right angles. If the spreading segments are the treads, the transforms are the risers that connect them. Carefully measured, these transforms reveal directions of spread. With plate speeds and directions, we have velocities that can be plugged into equations. These velocities match the GPS measurements nicely. Seismic methods use the focal mechanisms of earthquakes to detect the orientation of faults. Although less accurate than paleomagnetic mapping and geometry, these methods are useful for measuring plate movements in parts of the globe that arent well mapped and have fewer GPS stations. Geologic Plate Motion: Past We can extend measurements into the geologic past in several ways. The simplest one is to extend paleomagnetic maps of the oceanic plates out from the spreading centers. Magnetic maps of the seafloor translate precisely into age maps. These maps also reveal how the plates changed velocity as collisions jostled them into rearrangements. Unfortunately, the seafloor is relatively young, no more than about 200 million years old, because it eventually disappears beneath other plates by subduction. As we look deeper into the past, we must rely more and more on paleomagnetism in continental rocks. As plate movements have rotated the continents, the ancient rocks have turned with them, and where their minerals once indicated north, they now point somewhere else, toward apparent poles. When you plot these apparent poles on a map, they appear to wander away from true north as rock ages go back in time. In fact, north does not change (usually), and the wandering paleo-poles tell a story of wandering continents. Together, the methods listed above allow us to produce an integrated timeline of the movement of the lithospheric plates, a tectonic travelogue that leads smoothly up to the present.

What Athletes Need to Know About SAT Prep

What Athletes Need to Know About SAT Prep SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you an athlete in high school? Then you know that you face challenges above and beyond everyone else: you need to attend practice and go to games; your schedule is already filled to the brink; and you still have to look out for athletic recruiters and scholarships! Here are some big SAT prep tips for athletes - some that apply to everyone but especially to athletes, and others that are athlete exclusive. 1. Are you a recruited athlete? Know your SAT score goal - it's different from everyone else's If you're aiming to be recruited by colleges, especially those that care about sports, then you don't have the same exact SAT target as everyone else. Why? Because colleges understand that being an athlete is difficult, and you don't have as much time to brush up. The rule of thumb is that achieving 80% of a school's median SAT score is sufficient pass their academic bar. For example, Harvard has a median SAT score that's around 1540. If you get a 1510, you're actually in a pretty good spot. This means that if you're already above this mark, you can study a bit less for the SAT - no need to go wild spending thousands of dollars on tutoring or hundreds of hours. What's a good way to study? Here at PrepScholar we measure your real score within the first two weeks. You know exactly where you stand, and then you can keep on prepping until you meet your goal. 2. Fit SAT Study around your athletic schedule Your main talent is in athletics, and you don't want your game to suffer because you're missing practices. A lot of SAT classes meet during prime practice time - right after school or for long periods during weekends. Given that, some great ways to study are ones that can be flexible to your schedule. If you study well from books, then this is a great way to study. Online test prep programs like PrepScholar work as well - you can sign in whenever and get the full training you need. Be careful - some online programs require you to schedule classes or have rigid sessions with live humans - that could put a damper in practice. 3. Get Started on SAT Prep As Soon as You Can You don't have the luxury of waiting until a week before the test to cram 40 hours into studying - you have to get started right now! If you're going too fast (less likely than you think), then just slow down before exam time. Your schedule is so busy that you need to spread your studying out to get all the time in. 4. Understand What College Coaches Care About College coaches want to make sure you have what it takes to pass muster in classes. They're afraid of their star quarterback being put on academic probation and not being able to make the big game. If your GPA is a little weak, you can use your SAT score to tell them that you've improved since freshman year, and you have what it takes to stay on the team. Thus, a good SAT score can make up for your GPA. Like the tips above? Get more in the Free SAT Guide:

Men in Nursing Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Men in Nursing - Literature review Example Such understandings can cause escalation in the understanding of the obstacles that influence the staffing and retaining of men in the occupation, and they are dynamic if nursing is to grow, not only staffing policies focused on males, but more significantly, retention strategies that address current and uninterrupted gender relations that impact all nurses lives. Historical accounts of the monastic movement, dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries, show that people of the male gender participated actively in the provision or nursing care and protection to the ailing as members of religious groups. The Command of St John of Jerusalem, an order of military knights or knight’s hospitallers was the first of many orders of nobility established in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Cavaliers of St John of Jerusalem who defended Jerusalem during the crusades, later provided protection to travelling pilgrims and also built hospitals and castles across Europe that served as both lodgings for pilgrims and places to nurse the sick. This order continues to operate as the St John Ambulance Link, an organization formed to offer people the necessary training required to caater for the health needs of the injured and ill, in 1877. Men as nurses also participated in non-military nursing orders such as the Brothers of St Anthony. This order, founded in 1095, cared for victims of erysipelas, a disfiguring skin disease later called St Anthony’s fire. Other orders included the Hospitallers of St John of God, founded in the late sixteenth century in Spain, and the Alexian Brothers, who became a religious order in 1472 (Kauffman 1976). The Alexians, an order of uneducated craftsmen, preached the word of God and provided basic healthcare to the lowly in society in ancient Europe (Kauffman 1976). It was a culture of the Alexians to burry the dead, and the ministry gained momentum and appreciation during the plague years of the fourteenth and fifteenth centurie s. With the final disappearance of the plague in the eighteenth century, the Alexian Brothers gained fame because of their work. The insignificant, but rising number of males in the nursing occupation does not herald a liberal integration of male and female sex roles. The confirmation presented in this paper proposes that even in female-conquered jobs such as nursing, male-controlled gender associations which reflect a tall estimate of all that is manlike and masculine, play an important role in situating an uneven number of males in managerial and elite department positions. At the core of this sex dynamic is the need to detach the masculine from the less valued female. Male harbors do this by staffing plans that allow them to detach themselves from female coworkers and the quintessential female image of nursing itself, as a precondition to uplifting their own status and authority. They are assisted in this mission by male-controlled cultural organizations that craft and spread mal e benefit, as well as by female nurses themselves who, deliberately or automatically, nurture the vocations of male coworkers (Wheeler 1991). The low status of women in a society controlled by the male gender is manifest in the female dominated occupation of nursing. Here, stereotypical feminine traits of nurturing, caring, dependence and submission

Action Research Using Digital Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Action Research Using Digital Technology - Essay Example The use of digital technology has an effect on the teaching process where the teachers ensure that they use computers to revise with the students and help them learn. The students learning at ESOL Entry level 3 Curriculum use digital technology to revise their skills and competences. The revision exercise is done in order to ensure that the students get the best out of the learning process. The ESOL learning curriculum makes the students become equipped with the process of learning, which enables them to become more competent in their day to day lives. The curriculum can also be taught using digital technology where the teachers ensure they use the computers to help the students. These can be incorporated by use of games as block busters, who wants to be a millionaire and World of War craft (WOW). The use of games makes the process of teaching and learning fun and thus the teachers together with the learners are able to get more through the use of games in learning, a process called gamification. Gamification helps in ensuring that the students find fun in learning through the use of games, which motivates them to learn more and get to correct some of the mistakes that they might be experiencing without having difficulties. The ESOL learning helps the learners understand the English language and become competent as they gain skills which enable them understand and communicate effectively with the other people. The game block buster for example, is used by the teachers to make the learning process humanistic and active. The game is used to improve the vocabulary of the learners as they use the English language on their day to day lives. The students get familiar with the language because there are lots of readings that the learners have to take in so as to ensure they get and develop the learning skills. The game has a study skill feature which helps the learners develop the strategies which help them become autonomous as they learn the language. The game has go t songs which help the students enjoy the learning process through singing. This is evident as the students are able to relate the language they are learning with the songs that they sing on daily basis. These are the skills that the learners get as they continue with the process of learning and developing skills (Express Publishing, 2012). The teachers use the block buster game as a teaching tool for the English course and they get to learn the language using it. The game also enables the students to record themselves and assess their progress in learning, which is an advantage to them because they are able to know their progress in learning. The other game that is used for learning is Who Wants to be A Millionaire. This game helps the learners to answer questions which as the game progress, they become difficult. The questions asked have choices of which one of the choices is the correct one. If the learner gives the correct answer to a question asked, the pay off increases. If th e answer given is incorrect, the game becomes over (Jefferson Lab, 2012). The World of War craft (WOW) game is also another tool that is used to improve the learning process of the students. This is a game that helps in the solving problems and it increases the thinking capacity of individuals. This means that as the levels of the game progress, the game becomes difficult as the speed also increases. The game is

Continuing the Womens Rights Movement in the US Essay -- Womens Lib

WOMEN’S LIBERATION Over the last century, women have made incredible progress in their struggle to claim their equal rights and humanity; however, many issues presented in the â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments† are still prevalent in today’s society. Even after developing laws and regulations that sanction women’s rights, something even larger continues to oppress women, keeping them from true liberation. As one reads from the â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments† the list of injustices that women dealt with daily in the nineteenth century seem almost endless. As the Declaration says, â€Å"The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her.† The Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention of 1848 outlined the ways in which women lived politically, economically, and socially dependent on men. The political and economic injustices that women faced were extensive. First, women were not granted the right to vote. Women were expected to obey laws in which they had no say in developing. Also, women had no representation in legislation. The male-dominated government profited off single women who owned land through unfair taxation. Men monopolized employment and prevented women from becoming involved in fields of law, medicine, or theology. Socially, women were encouraged to marry; however,...

Harvey Milk

Chloe Addison September 22, 2009 Harvey Milk As of 1977, no openly gay politician had ever held office in the United States. Homosexuality, at the time, was frowned upon and therefore the idea of a someone with â€Å"different† sexual preferences holding office was almost an impossibility. As our country was evolving during the 70’s, gays and lesbians began fighting for their rights. The voice of this phenomenal movement was that of Harvey Milk. In 1977, Milk would change American politics forever. Harvey Milk was born in Woodmere, New York in 1930. He went on to college at New York State College for Teachers and majored in mathematics. After graduating, Milk joined the U. S. Navy during the Korean War. During this time, he was very successful and was discharged in 1955 as a lieutenant, junior grade. Following his time of service, Milk began teaching at George W. Hewlett High School. While teaching, Joe Campbell would enter Milk’s life. The two fell in love and moved in together, but after six years of being together, the two separated. Harvey Milk went on to court another man by the name of Craig Rodwell. Rodwellwas part of a gay activist group which was known for agitating the police. Despite being very involved with him, Milk felt he could not continue to be with him. As the United States changed in the 1960’s, opportunities for gays and lesbians began to present themselves. One of these opportunities was Castro Street in San Francisco. By 1969, San Francisco had the largest number of homosexuals per capita than any other city in the United States. Harvey Milk quickly recognized the Bay Area as the place he would be able to make an immediate difference for the gay community. He and his love interest at the time Scott Smith,opened a film shop on Castro Street. After numerous incidents and problems with government policies, Milk decided to run for office. If elected, he realized that he would be able to make a difference for the gay community in ways that no one previously was able to do. Running for office would not be easy at all. After revealing he would be running for office, noted activist in gay politics Jim Foster did not back Milk. Despite his endorsement, many gay bar owners quickly supported his ambitions. The owners were tired of police brutality and intolerance of their establishments. Despite running on extremely low funds, Milk’s fiery speeches drew him much attention during the 1973 elections. Though he did not win, this allowed him to gain a great amount of press. Milk developed anorganization known as the Teamsters. As the Teamsters grew, Milk’s popularity grew as well. He would go on to become loving known as â€Å"the Mayor of Castro Street†. Harvey Milk would eventually win the 1977 election for the California State Assembly. His inauguration made national headlines since he was the first openly gay non-incumbent man to win an election for public office. During his time in office, Milk strived to help gays get their rights that they so desperately deserved. At the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day, Milk delivered his most memorable speech, the â€Å"Hope Speech†. Sadly Harvey Milk’s groundbreaking career was cut short after being shot and killed in 1978. Harvey Milk â€Å"My name is Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you,† were the famous words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was elected after 3 times of losing the election because there weren’t enough people who support gay rights in San Francisco at the time. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. In present time only 10 states recognize gay marriage as a legal right. Numerous people believe that it is a sin for people of the same gender to get married. Many human right organization are advocating and protesting, that gay rights are human rights. Everyone should have the opportunity to equality in all aspects of life, such as equal marriage, medical benefits, adoption, and equal opportunities in the workforce. The Constitution it states, â€Å"†¦All men should be made equal. † This is the law. There is no way around the fact that every person deserves an equal opportunity in life regardless of what they do. People in society around the world face violence and inequality because of who they are and who they love. The fight for gay rights to become a human right has begun. But there are many people who feel as if this is a big mistake. Gay marriage has slowly become a social norm amongst individuals of today’s society. Initially, this leads to the discussion of homosexuals having the right to marry in society. Ultimately, conflict from the opposing position of ‘against’ gay marriage may arise that gay marriage can destroy the concept of marriage and mock the importance of the bible. In reference to this; everyone in society has the right to marry regardless of gender, thus it should be socially acceptable. However, this is why it is significant to discuss both sides of the argument, regardless homosexuals do not necessarily want to get marriage but may just want the justification of having equal rights. But there are people such as Jack Donnelley who commits to stating gay rights are not a human right. Donnelley explains how â€Å"homosexuality is widely considered immoral. He also states if human rights are paramount rights, not even all illegitimate discrimination falls under a human right to nondiscrimination. Donnelley explains how sexual minorities are merely people are all victims of racism, sexism, and religious persecution, they are human beings who identified by dominant social group as somehow less than a fully human and thus not entitle to the same rights as every â€Å"normal† human being would have. Marriage is a fundamental human right acco rding to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16, and the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Nevertheless, though not mentioned in the United States Constitution, it can be argued, as was the case in Iowa per the state’s own constitution, to be a matter of equal protection under the law. In the movie Milk, Harvey Milk was an advocate for gay rights. He believed that the more people who came out to their families the more people can relate having gay rights because they know someone who is gay and then society will become more acceptable to it. Regardless of the odds he keep fighting for the opportunity to become the first openly gay person to become elected into a political position. Harvey Milk influenced a lot of people during the time of his campaign, that gay rights were a human right. In the years since Milk’s assassination, public opinion has shifted on gay marriage, gays in the military, and other issues, and there have been hundreds of openly LGBT public officials in America, yet the work continues. As society begins to accept the LGBT community and homosexuals become openly about their relationships to one another, they become more valued members within their communities and the difference between living together or being married seems to disappear. As for homosexual couples who want to build and raise a family, adoption is the most popular action to partake in and socially this should be accepted within the rights of society. Allowing equal rights opportunities can also benefit the economy in several different ways. It can lower the unemployment rate, and also help the church communities who allow gay marriage. â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,† was a law established by congress that allowed homosexual men and women to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexual orientation private. On September 20, 2011, congress made history by passing a law repealing the â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tell† legislation of 1993. Thousands of service men and women came out of there proverbial closets, where many had been hiding their entire careers, to celebrate their new right to express themselves freely. Some even celebrated by marrying their longtime mates, an act that only brought to light a new issue. The United States government will not recognize same sex marriage on a federal level. As a result, same-sex unions are not recognized in the military and these couples are not eligible for married benefits. Plainly put, it is not fair. All married persons serving in the military should be eligible to receive the same benefits, regardless of sexual orientation. There will always be people against any decision that will be made if they make gay rights as a human right. People will always claim gays rights are against the bible. But if homosexuals are allowed an equal opportunity in society, than not only are the people going to find this a social normal but this is a progress in society, where we can help other countries and other organization continue battling human rights equality for the entire world. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. But I believe with Harvey Milk, coming out to family and friends helps advocate equality for all people including homosexual. Harvey Milk â€Å"My name is Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you,† were the famous words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was elected after 3 times of losing the election because there weren’t enough people who support gay rights in San Francisco at the time. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. In present time only 10 states recognize gay marriage as a legal right. Numerous people believe that it is a sin for people of the same gender to get married. Many human right organization are advocating and protesting, that gay rights are human rights. Everyone should have the opportunity to equality in all aspects of life, such as equal marriage, medical benefits, adoption, and equal opportunities in the workforce. The Constitution it states, â€Å"†¦All men should be made equal. † This is the law. There is no way around the fact that every person deserves an equal opportunity in life regardless of what they do. People in society around the world face violence and inequality because of who they are and who they love. The fight for gay rights to become a human right has begun. But there are many people who feel as if this is a big mistake. Gay marriage has slowly become a social norm amongst individuals of today’s society. Initially, this leads to the discussion of homosexuals having the right to marry in society. Ultimately, conflict from the opposing position of ‘against’ gay marriage may arise that gay marriage can destroy the concept of marriage and mock the importance of the bible. In reference to this; everyone in society has the right to marry regardless of gender, thus it should be socially acceptable. However, this is why it is significant to discuss both sides of the argument, regardless homosexuals do not necessarily want to get marriage but may just want the justification of having equal rights. But there are people such as Jack Donnelley who commits to stating gay rights are not a human right. Donnelley explains how â€Å"homosexuality is widely considered immoral. He also states if human rights are paramount rights, not even all illegitimate discrimination falls under a human right to nondiscrimination. Donnelley explains how sexual minorities are merely people are all victims of racism, sexism, and religious persecution, they are human beings who identified by dominant social group as somehow less than a fully human and thus not entitle to the same rights as every â€Å"normal† human being would have. Marriage is a fundamental human right acco rding to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16, and the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Nevertheless, though not mentioned in the United States Constitution, it can be argued, as was the case in Iowa per the state’s own constitution, to be a matter of equal protection under the law. In the movie Milk, Harvey Milk was an advocate for gay rights. He believed that the more people who came out to their families the more people can relate having gay rights because they know someone who is gay and then society will become more acceptable to it. Regardless of the odds he keep fighting for the opportunity to become the first openly gay person to become elected into a political position. Harvey Milk influenced a lot of people during the time of his campaign, that gay rights were a human right. In the years since Milk’s assassination, public opinion has shifted on gay marriage, gays in the military, and other issues, and there have been hundreds of openly LGBT public officials in America, yet the work continues. As society begins to accept the LGBT community and homosexuals become openly about their relationships to one another, they become more valued members within their communities and the difference between living together or being married seems to disappear. As for homosexual couples who want to build and raise a family, adoption is the most popular action to partake in and socially this should be accepted within the rights of society. Allowing equal rights opportunities can also benefit the economy in several different ways. It can lower the unemployment rate, and also help the church communities who allow gay marriage. â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,† was a law established by congress that allowed homosexual men and women to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexual orientation private. On September 20, 2011, congress made history by passing a law repealing the â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tell† legislation of 1993. Thousands of service men and women came out of there proverbial closets, where many had been hiding their entire careers, to celebrate their new right to express themselves freely. Some even celebrated by marrying their longtime mates, an act that only brought to light a new issue. The United States government will not recognize same sex marriage on a federal level. As a result, same-sex unions are not recognized in the military and these couples are not eligible for married benefits. Plainly put, it is not fair. All married persons serving in the military should be eligible to receive the same benefits, regardless of sexual orientation. There will always be people against any decision that will be made if they make gay rights as a human right. People will always claim gays rights are against the bible. But if homosexuals are allowed an equal opportunity in society, than not only are the people going to find this a social normal but this is a progress in society, where we can help other countries and other organization continue battling human rights equality for the entire world. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. But I believe with Harvey Milk, coming out to family and friends helps advocate equality for all people including homosexual.