Why Religious People May Have Problems with Transplant Surgery :: Papers

Most Christians concur with transplant medical procedure anyway some are contradicted to transplant medical procedure. They can't help contradicting utilizing organs from dead individuals yet acknowledge utilizing organs as gave by living family members. Jews have a comparative view to Christians on this issue. Muslims anyway are completely contradicted to it a few Muslims do permit transplant medical procedure utilizing organs from a living contributor as long as the giver is a nearby family member. A greater number of Hindus are for transplant medical procedure than against and mostly will convey giver cards. Christians that are against transplant medical procedure accept that transplants can disregard the sacredness of life, God made us in his picture so transplanting organs implies you meddling with what God expected and consequently â€Å"playing God†. Organs can't be paid for since this is abusing poor people which is carefully illegal in the Book of scriptures. Most of Muslims are against transplant medical procedure in light of the fact that the Muslim confidence in the holiness of life implies that all life has a place with God and that God is the main on who has the option to take life. In the Qu’ran the Muslim holly book, it says that God has made the whole body so to take parts or organs from one body and transplant it into another is to go about as God. To go about as God is the best sin in Islam so you can perceive how most of transplant medical procedure is carefully taboo. Just as this the Shari’ah another Muslim holly book instructs that after death nothing ought to be expelled from the body. They are likewise completely restricted to post-mortems. Muslims have quite certain passing ceremonies this is the reason this is critical and hence organs ought not be expelled from Muslims that have died. Due to Muslims being so restricted to transplant medical procedure they would likewise concur with any none strict contentions against transplants. The couple of Jews, which are against transplant medical procedure, have comparable motivations to Muslim convictions. They additionally accept that we’ve God has made the whole body so to transplant organs is playing God.

History of Law essays

History of Law expositions Over the numerous long periods of keeps an eye on presence, he has continually advanced to all the more likely fit and get by in his environmental factors. There are numerous viewpoints to his development that can be seen through his activities, his contemplations and his convictions, to give some examples. The Merriam-Webster word reference characterizes human sciences as the study of people. The attention on this paper will be the anthropological angle managing the idea of individuals. The idea of people can be seen in numerous parts of his being. One of these angles is his laws and courts. The lawful framework straightforwardly mirrors the way that man thinks, as the blameworthy are seen as being off-base, while the guiltless are seen as being correct. There are obtrusive portrayals of societys development in the law courts, and simultaneously there are unobtrusive signs too. This and more show how the legitimate framework demonstrates the heading that man has gone in his advancem ent. Each general public has a lot of rules and guidelines, or laws that administer a general public and control the conduct of its individuals . A general public without laws managing wrongdoings there is political agitation and war. The law courts evade this condition of society by settling emerging debates in an acculturated way. Governments are held within proper limits by laws that limit the measure of intensity that any overseeing body has, and in this way ingrains opportunity in the societys residents. Laws can improve the personal satisfaction of the individuals by expanding the exertion put into the wellbeing, instruction and government assistance of the individuals. Laws hold various degrees of significance and in this way have various ramifications as indicated by every general public. A law that is found in China will have an unexpected job in comparison to one that is found in Western nations1. In China the utilization of a law is the final retreat, as every other mean of goals are utilized under the watchful eye of the courts. As society develops does as well, law. In prior occasions, if somebody somehow happened to submit murder, at that point the casualties family would be per... <!

Sample of Essay on Why I Chosen Nursing As a Career

Sample of Essay on Why I Chosen Nursing As a CareerThis article gives samples of essay on why I chose nursing as a career. It is essential that you write an essay on why you have chosen this career, because the reasons vary from person to person.Your interests should be highlighted. Let your interest in hospitals be highlighted. If your interest is in studying, the nursing school or hospital where you are currently working would be a good topic.However, if you think that you are stuck in a rut and there is no sign of improvement, you should try to look for a way to improve the things that you are already doing. This may require you to change the way you see the world. Look for a way to broaden your horizons.You should write about your experiences in hospitals. After all, the biggest difference between nursing and a regular job is the level of interaction you have with patients. A nursing school can be a very challenging place. Patients are often challenging, especially to new nurses. The internet can help you a lot in the identification of what you need to do to enhance your knowledge in the field. You can get help from the World Wide Web. There are many websites where you can post questions related to your topic and find the answers from qualified experts.Sample of Essay on Why I Chose Nursing as a Career is based on the questions given in the essay and the information that can be found online. However, you should understand that no single answer is a perfect one, because all of us have our own unique qualifications.If you cannot find anything on the internet, you can also seek help from a book on the subject or from the library. You will also be able to see the stories of other people who have made this choice to a career that could make a difference in the lives of others.And, finally, the question is not whether you can learn from these interesting stories but rather how you can make sure that you make the right choice. For example, in a hospital, there are certain rules that you must follow. If you know them, you can make a good impression on patients.

Democracy And American Politics Wealth Vs. Want

Leslie Mejia Assignment # 1 Democracy and American Politics. Wealth vs. Want For better or worse man has no choice but to live in society, but yet to live in society individuals are involved in multiple situations that lead to conflicts and disputes. Democracy is the only viable political framework and satisfactory for a society to move in harmony. Democracy allows us to find additional solutions that reflect the multitude of interests that exist in society. The authors of the books The Struggle for Democracy mentionâ€Å" Some political thinkers think that democracy is the form of government that best protects human right because it is the only one based on a recognition of the intrinsic worth and equality or human beings.† (4) Democracy is good for the growth of a nation, through democracy people have been able to manifest in a peaceful way their needs, making agreements and disagreements, from my point of view, between this and other facts have led the United States to be a great nation. Democracy is a way to govern the people of a nation where eve ry citizen agrees to the way the government governs the people. In other words, the people is part of the democracy. But, it has been with the help of the important factors that United States has achieve a fair political democracy. Next, you will find the three main features of Representative democracy of United States (Popular Sovereignty, Political Equality and Political Liberty) Let’s start with Popular Sovereignty, the booksShow MoreRelatedPolitical Figures Henry Clay And Andrew Jackson1232 Words   |  5 Pagesfollowing the American Revolutionary times, Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay dominated in the country’s politics. According to Henry L. Watson in Andrew Jackson vs. Henry Clay: Democracy and Development in Antebellum America, the two men started out as prominent and â€Å"devoted† lawyers in the south, as well as owners of plant farms and â€Å"slaveholders† (Watson 1). Jackson and Clay also played major roles in the â€Å"creation of America’s two party system† during the growing tension over Democracy (Watson 1).Read MoreThe Government Is A Democracy1374 Words   |  6 PagesOur own government has become too corrupt to be called a democracy. A Princeton study claims our government is more like an oligarchy than it is a democracy at this point. An oligarchy is a form of government in which a small amount of people have more control than the population. â€Å"The opinions of the bottom 90% of income earners in America has essentially no impact at all (Princeton).† The main contributor of this is money in politics. For decades our elected officials have been increasingly moreRead MorePolitical Legitimacy As Viewed By Thomas Hobbes Vs. Malcolm X1586 Words   |  7 PagesPolitical Legitimacy as viewed by Thomas Hobbes vs Malcolm X In â€Å"Leviathan,† Thomas Hobbes believes that citizens choose to obey a sovereign leader in return for security and protection to from violence, chaos and bloodshed that is mankind’s â€Å"state of nature.† In a Commonwealth, the body of people agree to submit to a sovereign head of state to rule with absolute power, for the common good of survival and protection, be it given willingly by compact, or by force through acquisition, as outlined inRead MoreThe United Vs Federal Election Commission1235 Words   |  5 PagesToday’s American society is plagued by the concept and the idea that the wealthy are secretly pulling the strings behind every political action and every policy move made by our national government. The government has preventative measures that prevent obscenely large donations from wealthy businesses, labor unions, and individuals, right? Actually, that all changed in 2010 in a court case called â€Å"Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission† (Hasen). The Supreme Court ruled that â€Å"the First AmendmentRead MoreGlobal Economy And The American Dream1286 Words   |  6 PagesEven for someone not following politics it’s easy to see today, that world politics are in turmoil. Oil prices have sunk to record lows, putting regions in the Middle East, Russia, and South America in economic crisis. On top of that the whole global economy is in a recession; pushing super powers such as the United States, China, and the European union to take action. All across the world the wealth gap is widening. It seems like for every new billionaire there are another million people in povertyRead MoreEssay On Campaign Finance1196 Words   |  5 Pagesrestrictions on donations to political campaigns will prove detrimental to the United States functioning system of elections by limiting individuals’ freedom of speech, making our candidate’s campaigns underfunded and unresponsive to the needs of the Amer ican people. Campaign financing is, to put it simply, one individual or entity giving a disclosed amount of money to a candidate to support the candidate’s attempt to achieve or retain elected office. As the law stands now, the amount of money any individualRead MoreKarl Marx And Alexis De Tocqueville2490 Words   |  10 Pages Though Karl Marx and Alexis de Tocqueville differ, they both contributed greatly to revolutionary concepts of their era. To better understand the analyses between politics, social, and economic changes Marx and Tocqueville discuss, we must first understand the shift of their time and the need for sociological analysis. The 19th century was a time of change and adaptation for everyone and few scholars were capable and willing to understand the impacts these changes would have on society and itsRead MoreThe Cost Of Winning A Senate Seat2329 Words   |  10 PagesMoney has always been a major part of American politics. That red, white and blue our politicians wea r could easily be embroidered with that paper green that we know so well. Over the last decade the cost of winning a political election has increased dramatically. In 2002 the cost of winning a senate seat was roughly four and a half million dollars, by 2012 that figure rose to an excess of ten million (David A Graham). In a matter of 12 years spending increased by over 250%. There has never beenRead MoreDoes America Need Labor Unions Today?2811 Words   |  12 Pages English 102 Section 401 November 24, 2012 Does America Need Labor Unions Today? President John F. Kennedy once said, â€Å"The American Labor Movement has consistently demonstrated its devotion to the public interest. It is, and has been, good for all Americans.† Organized labor has a goal of helping workers get what they deserve in all aspects of their jobs such as salary, benefits, hours, working conditions, and so on. There are many criticismsRead MoreDemocracy Vs. Economic Inequality1751 Words   |  8 PagesDemocracy vs Inequality Over the past couple of generations, democracy has found a way to coexist with great increases in economic inequality in the United States. Also, this inequality have predominately been more beneficial to the top one percent. The income increase for the top one percent is at the highest level it has ever been at since the eve of the great depression. This top one percent groups are small enough for the economic inequality to be held in check. Here are four possible reasons

Religious Persecution of Christian Beliefs - 875 Words

Religious Persecution of Christian Beliefs What is religious persecution? At the beginning of this project, I thought religious persecution was a black and white topic with a clear definition. I thought that religious persecution was simply the persecution of a group because of their religious faith. However, I discovered that there are no simple explanations of religious persecution, and it is a much more complex and controversial issue than I had imagined. In fact, some events categorized as religious persecution reveal only shades of grey and ambiguities and do not neatly fit this simple definition. I wanted others to come to this same understanding. Therefore, I have formulated my own definition of religious persecution.†¦show more content†¦A majority of Democrats (72%), political independents (53%), and pastors from NCC denominations (66%) agreed with the statement, compared to a minority among Republicans (32%) and pastors from NAE-member denominations (2 9%). Interestingly, a majority of ministers agreed with the statement Persecution of Christians because of their faith is a major problem in the United States. Sixty-one percent of all pastors agreed with this statement, although just 16% agreed strongly, while the rest agreed somewhat with the statement. Although Republicans (72%), political independents (60%), and evangelical pastors (70%) were more likely than other groups to claim religious persecution in the United States is a major problem, a significant proportion of Democrats (35%) and pastors from NCCC-member denominations (46%) also agreed with the statement. More Christians have died for their faith in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. Each year, about 150,000 are martyred, two million are being actively persecuted, and millions more are living with their religious freedoms severely restricted. Religions make claims about the nature of the world, the origin of man, the means of salvation, and so on. The Constitutional freedom of religion gives citizens the right to believe these claims, and freedom of speech gives them the right to make these claims publicly. Freedom of religion is not a prize for governments to awardShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Religious Persecution On The Middle Eastern Countries1353 Words   |  6 Pagesdemonic. Because that’s when you get religious wars and persecution and burning heretics at the stake,† John Shelby Spong, a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church, stated about religious persecution circumnavigating the globe. In today’s world persecution is a natural reaction to any kind of foreign belief established in a country that is governed by the it’s original religious foundation. An example of this would involve, ISIS terrorizing smaller religious groups like the Yazidi people whoRead MoreThe Roman And Roman Rome1666 Words   |  7 Pagesthat makeup The Roman Catacombs. Inside the cavernous pathways of R ome’s catacombs is a plethora of religious and cultural history that provides historians today with an unfathomable source of early Roman and Christian history. Regardless of discrepancies over its use and origins, the Roman catacombs are indispensable for providing insight on the culture, beliefs, and social location of early Christians. Due to the Roman Catacomb’s ancient origins, there are several discrepancies concerning aspectsRead MoreInequality Faced by Christians in Todays Society Essay1373 Words   |  6 PagesThis study shows an increase in inequality of Christians in other Countries. There is a increase in the amount of restrictions and laws put on Christians and their Human Rights in other Countries with more Government leaders putting guidelines on other religions and not liking the freedoms that the people in the western Countries have, like the United States. What we can do to help with this problem The United Nations passed a Declaration that states: â€Å"Everyone has the right to freedom of thoughtRead MoreRole of Religion in Europe868 Words   |  4 Pagessacred mission to many of the Christian rulers and inhabitants of the peninsula. As soon as this period was finished, Spain started focusing on colonization and expansion. Some of the major events that happened during this period were the Portuguese attacks on the Moslem positions in the northern tip of Africa and the search for Christian allies against Islam. There were many factors that motivated the search for the new world. Some of these factors were religious persecution, cheaper route to the IndiesRead MoreReligion And Its Impact On Society1310 Words   |  6 PagesIt has been generally acknowledged that religious belief is a powerful force in society. Religion has been a major component of human culture since nearly the beginning of man. As we emerged as a high intellect species, we developed many different ideologies to answer some of our unanswerable questions. Since these developments, we continue t o evolve as a species and the ideologies we have created evolve with us in our endlessly changing societies. As civilization grows, our different culturesRead MoreBuddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, And Religion926 Words   |  4 Pagesreligion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. Focus countries: China, India China: Religions in China: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, folk religion 21.9%, Hindu .1%, Jewish .1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.2% (14) 85 % of Chinese people are religious or did in theRead MorePersecution And Martyrdom Among Devotees Of Different Religions1329 Words   |  6 PagesPersecution and martyrdom among devotees of different religions worldwide has been a grave issue. This act is honored and given a prominent place such as going to heaven by some religions while in others, fanatics go as far as killing themselves in an attempt to be seen as martyrs. During the Roman Empire, religion was considered a foremost social activity that promoted loyalty and unity hence the term piety. Disappearance of piety in a society meant that loyalty and peace would perish causing harmRead MoreFreedom of Religion1320 Words   |  5 Pagesattacked more and more every day. In America religious freedom has not been threatened near as much as in China. America’s freedom of religion has not been taken away, yet, but in China and North Korea the people of the countries do not have the freedom of religion that they should be given. Americans freedom of religion has been protected by the First Amendment for hundreds of years. There are two clauses in the First Amendment that protect Americans religious freedom. The Establishment Clause, whichRead MoreChristian Horbury : Early Christian Persecutions1490 Words   |  6 Pageswhat theologian Horbury surmised about early Christian persecutions, and I largely agree with this view. The Jews sometimes persecuted the early Christians because their beliefs clashed and this caused friction between the two religions. As well as this ‘incompatibility’ between the two faiths, Donatism also developed as a separate sect of Christianity within the orthodox church and a lot of persecution and hate was directed towards the early Christians. However, without this I do not believe thatRead MoreHow Christianity Changed Between The First Century And Its Legalization1036 Words   |  5 Pagesorder to survive. Christianity had to merge with the cultures and traditions of other religions. It took four centuries for Christianity to become legal. In the year 30, Christianity mainly consisted of Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah. The belief that Jesus was a savoir was the break from Judaism. Jesus was appealing to people because he was real; lived on Earth. His teachings were appealing to people and the main ideas was that Christ was a savior. Jesus taught using parables, he talked

Analysis of Zoot Suit Essay - 1141 Words

The book Zoot Suit has symbolic significance for Mexican Americans and tells about the riots during World War II. The Sleepy Lagoon Murder was one step in the fight for the rights and respect of Mexican Americans. This riot involved young servicemen and civilians who clashed in the streets of the city with young Mexican Americans who wore the noticeable quot;Zoot Suit.quot; At their height, the riots involved several thousand men and women. In the end no one was killed and only a few were injured but even today, the Zoot Suit riots are remembered for their significance. Throughout the play there are underlying theme that suggest different ideas. The themes I will discuss is how Mexican American men are portrayed in relation†¦show more content†¦The Zoot Suit represents a changing society that the general population isnt ready to accept it so they blame the crimes and the murders on those who dare to vary from quot;normal.quot; This is going on during World War II and many of the Mexican Americans feel like they have no place fighting the war and that the real war is the war between soldiers with their tight button up collars and the hang loose Zoot Suiters who are mostly Mexican American. Pachuco asked Henry, quot;Off to fight for your country?quot; (p. 30) Henry replies, quot;Why not?quot; (p. 30) Pachuco then states, quot;Because this aint your country. Look whats happening all around you. The Japs have sewed up the Pacific. Rommel is kicking ass in Egypt but the Mayor of L.A. has declared an all out war on Chicanos. On you!quot; (p. 30) This quote brings up the issue relating to whether WWII should be fought by Mexican Americans or not. Pachuco, in this scene, seems to feel that it isnt a war to be fought by the Mexican American but it is a time to begin a war to gain respect for this culture. Pachuco says, quot;The citys cracking down on pachucos, carnal. Dont you read the newspapers? Theyre screaming for blood.quot; (p. 29) This quote implies that the press is exaggerating the stories it tells in order to sell more papers. The press may have contributed to the Zoot Suit Riot with their influence on public beliefs. He refers to the newspaperShow MoreRelatedZoot Suit Analysis1426 Words   |  6 PagesIn his introduction to Luis Valdez Zoot Suit, theatre historian Jorge Huerta calls the play a type of broad, farcical and presentational political theater (Huerta, 8) alluding to the overt call to action in the storyline and themes of injustice and racial tensions in the play. Quiara Alegrà ­a Hudes Water by the Spoonful is similarly political, dealing with issues of addiction and war, albeit in a more naturalistic, less theatrical manner. Both plays, however, use mythic characters to further theirRead MoreAnalysis Of The Play Fences By August Wilson And Zoot Suit By Luis Valdez2015 Words   |  9 Pages For my final project, I have chosen the plays Fences by August Wilson and Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez to compare and contrast, when it comes to their themes of multiculturalism, interculturalism, and transculturalism. Multiculturalism is the process of immigration and globalization of societies in the world. The world is made up of a mix of many nationalities, cultures, groups, orientations, or ideologies. Multiculturalism involves the acknowledgment of the different groups of ethnic people, culturesRead MoreThe Identity Of The Zoot Suit Riots2424 Words   |  10 Pages1940s, the public had generated stereotypes of the Pachucos and zoot suits, which were eventually transferred to all Mexican Americans. Many young men like Vicente Morales were attacked, humiliated, and stripped from their fashionable clothes by servicemen. However, to what extent did the fashionable expression of the zooters and the culture of the Pachucos influence the Zoot Suit Riots? An important factor, which contributed to the Zoot Suit Riots, was the influence of the media. Newspapers and propagandaRead More Mexicans in the United States Essay3496 Words   |  14 Pages In attempting to discuss the history of Chicanos, or Mexican-Americans and their experiences in the United States, an economic analysis may provide the best interpretation for their failure to achieve the status of first class citizens. This difficulty in achieving equality of citizenship is deeply rooted in both the economic self-interest of the Anglo-Americans, as well as their inherent perception of Otherness in Chicanos. This paper will explain the importance of this history and its contextRead MoreLaw Enforcement And Criminal Justice System2527 Words   |  11 Pagesincidences that once again depicted the huge victimization of Mexicans by the law enforcement agency that is the police department. The two incidents that are focused on are the Sleepy Lagoon murder case that took place between 1942 and 1943 and the zoot suitors attack by navy sailors that took place in 1943. The Sleepy Lagoon murder case involved four young Chicanos who were charged with the murder of a fellow Chicano. There appeared to be no evidence tying the suspects to the victim and in additionRead More Analysis of Los Vendidos and Exploitation of Mexican-Americans2471 Words   |  10 PagesAnalysis of Los Vendidos and Exploitation of Mexican-Americans The short play Los Vendidos portrayed by el Teatro Campesino shows the history of Mexican-Americans. It shows racist perceptions and actions towards Mexican-Americans. The title itself implies the exploitation of Chicanos. In translation from Spanish Vendidos can mean either those who sell-out others, or those who are sold. In the play either meaning can be applied. Those who are sold would be the eleven different charactersRead More The Ethnicity of Mexians in the United States Essay1738 Words   |  7 Pagespaper Mexican-American History and Film. In his essay, Quiroga provides useful insights into Chicano Rights movements and the impact of the Vietnam War on Mexican Americans; visit http://frontpage.trincoll.edu/aquiroga/mexicans.htm for a detailed analysis of these issues. Easily accessible sources of information about Mexican American history, such as movies like Chicano! and websites such as Chicano Park (http://chicanopark.org/) provide vivid examples of specific aspects of Mexican American lifeRead MoreLuigi Periscos Discovery of America and Horatio Greenoughs Rescue2358 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"Hearts and Minds† (1975), (4) â€Å"Why We Fight† (2005), (5) â€Å"Color Adjustment† (1992) (6) one episode from the five part documentary â€Å"We Shall Remain: America Through Native Eyes† (PBS) (7) â€Å"We Shall Overcome† (PBS) (8) â€Å"God in America† (PBS) (9) â€Å"Zoot Suit Riot† (PBS), (10) â€Å"Inventing LA: The Chandlers Their Times† (PBS) (l1) â€Å"Shotgun Freeway: Drive thru Lost L.A.† (12) â€Å"Dogtown and the Z Boys,† (13) â€Å"They Made America: Rebels, Revolutionaries, Newcombers, Gamblers† (PBS) [You can watch the sectionRead MoreWhy Native Born Or Secon d Generations?2097 Words   |  9 PagesImmigrants have been portrayed as deviant people who cause crime throughout the United States The media has even stigmatized immigrants as being a problem within American society. History shows the type of attention given to illegal immigrants from the Zoot Suit riots in the 1940’s to the minute men project today. Specifically looking at American society most citizens believes the myth that immigrants cause crime or display deviant behavior. This research will show that it is the native born people ratherRead More Latinos, Politics, and American Cinema Essay3885 Words   |  16 Pagesof film, placing the emphasis on the viewer’s interpretation. The crux of Shohat’s argument is that ethnicity is culturally ubiquitous and textually submerged, thus hoping to challenge the widespread approach to ethnicity as limited to ‘content’ analysis. In other words, the study of ethnicity in film should not be limited to a discourse on an ethnic group versus a ‘center’ group of the White majority, using stereotypes and so forth. Putting ethnicities in relational terms can help create a critical

Christmas Vignette free essay sample

I stood in the parking lot waiting for my mother tounlock the car door. I had wrestled with a question all day, and though I triedto think of other things, I could not put it out of my head. Is there really aSanta Claus? I had just had the most horrible day of my fourth-gradecareer. My classmates and I were ecstatic about the approaching Christmasvacation, and energy was abundant as we worked on our holiday projects. While Iwas studying the masterpiece I planned to give my parents, I heard the mostterrible sentence. The words rang in my ears: There is no SantaClaus! I was stunned and hurt; I did not understand how it waspossible. Those words stayed with me all day. The more I thought about thepossibility of Santa Claus not existing, the more likely it seemed. But, I triedto rationalize the situation. There was no way Santa did not exist, since many ofmy presents were signed by him. We will write a custom essay sample on Christmas Vignette or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The milk and cookies were always eaten onChristmas morning, and even the unwashed carrot my brothers and I left forRudolph was gone. But I thought about time travel, and then I knew no matterhow much I wanted it not to be true that Santa did not exist. Why wouldmy parents lie to me? For all ten years of my life I had believed in Santa Claus.I was devastated to think my parents would fabricate such a wonderful story andnever consider how awful discovering the truth would be. It was all a lie theletters I sent each year, the cookies, the reindeer footprints, even my giftswere all just part of a fantasy. I knew I would never be able to recapture thejoy of waking up Christmas morning to find Santa had been there. Iwaited as my mother fumbled with her keys. The cold wind whipped around my body,but I was numb. I could not wait any longer. I blurted out, Mom, is therereally a Santa Claus? Her stunned expression confirmed what I had dreaded.It was true Santa Claus did not exist. I waited through an explanation as mymom carefully chose her words, but I did not hear what she said. I began to cry,then noticed she was crying too. We both knew I had lost something veryspecial. I do not remember the ride home, everything was a blur.My head was spinning with thoughts and emotions. I went to my room, hurt anddisappointed. I wanted to be alone. I know she told Dad about ourconversation, because he came to talk to me. To my surprise he said, Istill believe in Santa. I did not understand. My father, a grown-up, didnot know the truth? I thought, Oh no, Mom is going to have to tell him too! But Iwas wrong. Santa Claus is not a real person, but he is the spirit ofChristmas, and if you truly believe in your heart, then he does exist, mydad told me. I thought about it and decided my dad was right. I wouldalways believe in Santa Claus because I never wanted to lose the magic ofChristmas. That day, my definition of Santa Claus changed. I knew my parentscrept downstairs every Christmas Eve and placed presents under the tree. I knewmy dad ate the milk and cookies, even the carrot left for the reindeer. Iunderstood why my moms handwriting looked so much like Santas. The mystery oftime travel and entrances through chimneys had been solved. I no longer thoughtof Santa as a person who delivered presents to boys and girls, but as agift-giver who shared the gift of joy and hope with those who believed. Igrew up a little that day. I lost a special part of my childhood, but I alsogained the knowledge that faith is something strong inside me.