Есета по английски език

[Kotkata68]

4. Sample Essays

SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD

Violence has never been a way to teach or change someone. Yet a good many people use this method to impose discipline on their offspring. Others, who are just too busy working, simply put up with their kids’ misbehaviour.

When parents give birth to a child, it has been, in most cases, their own decision to have it; therefore, e it is their obligation to take care of it, to provide it with normal home, education and safe environment. According to psychologists, 80 percent of children who have either been brought up in a hostile environment, or have witnessed frequent abuse, grow up physically unstable and are twice as much pliant to negative influences or willing to commit crimes and even murders. Most of them, when they start a family, create the same atmosphere and use violence as a way of solving problems.

Still, some children are extremely mischievous – it seems as if nothing could scare them but the rod. If we come to think of it, nowadays people are much busier working and spend less time with their children. In order to make up for their absence, they allow their descendants to do what they please, they give them money to spend on computer games or junk food. But violence is all around us – especially promoted in computer games. It is the duty of the parents to teach their children to see right from wrong and not beat them, therefore it is all their fault how their children act.

To sum up – violence is an unfair attitude adopted by careless parents when they haven’t been able to stimulate the development of a real, worthy personality.

Забележка: въпреки добрите си аргументи и език, на есето му липсва конкретика – пример. Липсват му и 50-60 думи, които биха се запълнили с пример, да речем от личния опит на кандидата.




Children are pushed into adulthood too early

Today’s children are far away from what we used to call ‘childhood’. Subtly the media, their parents and the ‘being-modern’’ tendency are putting an end to it and now children face up to reality of life before they can tell good from bad.

On the one hand, fifty years ago children had their own games and topics to discuss, but nowadays they are thrust into the adult world from their birth. For example, there used to be many films especially made for children while now even the animated flicks specifically designed for kids often have scenes of violence and obscene language. Besides, children’s clothes are made as copies of those of adults. I can hardly accept that a twelve-year-old girl is dressed up like a twenty-five-year old woman and even with a stronger make-up. For every part of human life there’s a right time and we should give children the possibility to have a carefree and cheerful childhood.

On the other hand, children find it modern to be capable of speaking about financial problems, crooked politicians and sexual life even when kids don’t know exactly what those mean. Every day children watch suicides, trials against fathers who beat their wives, incompetent politicians and other essential problems of the adult society presented in the media. Furthermore, sex is no longer a taboo even for the youngsters and more and more teenagers try ‘what it feels like’ just out of curiosity and without thinking of the consequences. However, all these do not make children more mature and responsible. Such an attitude simply robs them of the best time of their lives which should be inhabited by noble knights or adventurous heroes not by serial killers or dying animals.

All in all, today’s children don’t have a real childhood without any problems and worries – they are pushed into an adult world before being prepared for it and if this tendency goes on , before very long we’ll be coming across weird kids who would not have heard of Pippi the Longstocking or Winnie the Pooh.

What Can Young People Learn From the Older Generation?

Young people can learn many useful lessons, which have been proved in practice by the older generation, keeping in mind the words of their elders and betters. New generations can also borrow from the attitude and values of the ripe aged people.
Basically, young people should never forget that there is nothing which starts with them and nothing which ends with them. Therefore, they ought to pay due respect to those in advanced age. Adolescents should also pay attention to the words of the older ones. Doing so, they could broaden not only their general knowledge but their practical skills as well. For example, a child could always learn how to nail, how to repair something or how to chose the best water-melon on the market from his or her grandparents.
Obviously, elderly people were also young once. And even if it seems ages ago, they could still give valuable tips of advice to the youth, since they have already gone the path from childhood to maturity. Furthermore, people of advanced age are our living memory. And memory, even if it cannot be defined is what actually creates mankind. In that respect, we ought to consider elderly people as guardians of our heritage. History books are less precise concerning the events which took place in Eastern Europe during and after the World War II than my grandfather’s juvenile memories. Memories of air battles, in some of which he was a participant, falling buildings, skies black of bombers, mass graves of soldiers and mass executions of the enemies of the state. He narrates his stories as vividly as no history book can.
Admittedly, young people should be aware of the fact, that many elderly people are very conservative on some matters, such as religion, politics, globalization, sexuality. But learning in depth different views helps the young to create their own outlook of life and stop swimming with the current. Eventually, one should understand that the truth of today is not necessary better than the truth of yesterday.

In conclusion, the older generation is a source of useful information and the keeper of our traditions and values. Young people should be aware of that and not ostracize the elders. As the saying goes “Bow down to the past and you will see the future in your feet.”

WHAT MAKES A GOOD FRIEND

We all long to find our soul mates and spend our life with them. Our daily round is organized in such a way that we come across and get to know quite a few people but only a limited number can we call friends. In most cases we and our friends are similar in characters. Besides, they are the one we can rely on every time we need help or advice.

On the one hand, friendship is a relationship between kin souls. We choose our friends according to their interests, values and personal traits. “If you don’t know a person, look at his friends.” That proverb comes to confirm that our friends resemble us. Naturally, we should see eye to eye with them. Then we could feel comfortable even when there is silence between us or even the smallest thing can make us burst into laughter. Having the same interests, we will enjoy the best time together. However, friendship is based, above all, on caring and understanding. As they say, “a good friend will not wipe your tears but will never make you cry”. The closer you feel someone, the more necessary tact and understanding become.

On the other hand, those we can call up at four a. m. are our true friends. We can rely on them for advice, reassurance, and help. We can tell them secrets and be sure they will keep them. They won’t let us get into trouble and will help us get through if we have already got into. It is said that if we are to jump off a bridge, friends won’t follow us but will be at the bottom to catch us. In other words, trials teach us who our real friends are. In addition, there is no place for hypocrisy and selfishness in friendship – it is based on trust and confidence. Two thousand years ago Cicero came to the truth we repeat today: “Friendship makes prosperity more shining and lessens adversity by dividing and sharing it.”

All in all, we just can’t live without friends, even if we had all the rest because good friends are those who share with us our fortune and help us withstand our misfortune.

What makes a good friend?

In my opinion a good friend is someone that is trustworthy. A true friend is a person that is always willing to help you even if he or she has his/her own problems to cope with. Friends should also have similar interests to some extent so that they would have something to talk about. However, the person beside you will always listen to what you have to say even if it is something ridiculous or way out of his or her interests.
They say that some people get and forget while others give and forgive. The formula for a true friendship is simple – the support you receive should be equal to the support you give. That’s why, first of all, a true friend is someone you can always rely on. I have such a friend and I know that if decide to jump off a bridge, that person will be at the bottom to catch me. I know that she’ll forgive me for every failing and every failure as I am ready to forgive her everything.
Besides, we all want to have somebody to share with – our happiness or our sorrow, our success or our failure. A good friend will always listen to what you say and even to what you don’t say and will never reveal your secrets. He or she will give you a piece of advice when you ask for it or will remain silent when you just want to be lent an ear to. The American Professor of Psychology Eugene Kennedy said that “The real test of friendship is: can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple”. And I truly agree that true friendship comes when even the silence between two people becomes pleasant.
After all I think that there is only one thing that is for certain: "The only way to have a friend is to be one." And we should forget about things like selfishness, hypocrisy, lies and everything that may let your friends down. That’s the essence of friendship – to trust and support.


WHAT DOES BEAUTY BUY
Nowadays, the topical question is not “What does beauty buy?” but “What does beauty sell?” More and more people start trading with their attractiveness. They use it to affect and impress the others for definite purposes such as to advertise a product, to gain money or prestige, to maintain their own sense of superiority. Besides, magnificent appearances can help attain high position in society.

Firstly, beauty is a mighty weapon in both men’s and women’s hands. The more attractive, the more convincing we are. As a proof, almost every man has bought something from a shop merely to impress and make an acquaintance with the pretty shop-assistant. It is no chance that the advertisements are full of seductive charming men and women who fascinate and persuade to buy various products. Another example of the power of beauty is the Trojan War which was waged because of the beautiful Helen. The magic of her appearance brought her pride and glory as she was so supernaturally gorgeous that many a hero died for her.

Secondly, charming people are often given privileges. They more frequently get better jobs or better grades, or get away with punishments. For instance, social research shows that attractive people are preferred for jobs being expected to possess other positive qualities. In addition, their appearances make a good impression on the clients who are seduced by beauty itself. A similar situation we have while doing our driving license exam – if wear a short dress, we are more likely to pass it. Similarly, the fastest way to get rich is using our good looks. To illustrate, Cleopatra’s exquisiteness bought her marriage to a Roman emperor and enlarged her power, and expanded her lands. Nowadays, the situation hasn’t changed. We watch on TV and read in newspapers about young women who have inherited the wealth of their much older husbands. Regardless of the moral values, they sell their beauty to buy fortune or social position.

All in all, although beauty is expected to enlighten the soul, move the heart, and inspire the mind, practically, it turns into a means to any end. The more charming we are, the more chances to be successful and respected we have.

Why Do Some People Take Up Dangerous Sports?

Taking up dangerous sports not only makes us aware of our abilities but also goes beyond the limits of a normal sporting practice. Extreme sports make us strong, confident and level minded. This is perfectly summed up in the Nietzsche’s words “What does not kill me, makes me stronger”.
We may practice jumping, hang-gliding, mountain-biking, canoeing or even free-fall parachuting. It doesn’t matter which extreme sport we have chosen. What is important is that it strengthens our bodies in an extraordinary way which brings us amusement and takes us to the limits of our powers.
Besides, doing dangerous sports makes us full-blooded and complete personalities. We acquire not only physical but spiritual strength, too. Moreover, having a near death experience we become even more devoted to life. Practicing a hobby which is “not for the faint at heart” makes us feel special and increases our self-confidence. For example, an adventurous person who practices an extreme sport is always better-prepared for the difficulties he may come upon in ordinary life than the average person who is afraid of practicing, say, winter sports.
Furthermore, we feel less worried about our daily life. A person who has jumped from a thousand meter height, equipped only with a rope, couldn’t be scared of having a poor mark at school. It is proved that fighting our fears, we build stronger personalities.
In conclusion, taking up dangerous sports builds our bodies as much as our minds. It strengthens our will power and trains us to be steady and, fearless, and therefore optimistic. I’d rather practice a dangerous sport than doing boring indoor workouts.

The Role of Sport in Modern World
What does the word sport mean? Entertainment, fitness, or maybe a money-making industry? It is obvious that all these answers are right and applicable so I think we should consider sport as an odd mixture of the things above.
So, when we talk about sport as entertainment we usually consider the football match on Sunday, when the whole family is in front the T.V. set, supporting their favourite team. Thus sport turns into a precondition for having some nice time with your family or your friends and we cannot deny that we all need something like this – it is a sort of an escape from the tedium of our daily work.
When we consider sport as fitness, the arguments are almost the same. It provides us with an opportunity to express ourselves, to get rid of tension and to let off steam. And that is not all – practising some kind of sport we keep our bodies fit and everyone knows the saying – “ a sound mind in a sound body”. On the whole, when we talk about sport as entertainment and fitness, we should say that it is some kind of an activity, which makes our lives more meaningful and pleasant.
Conversely, when sport turns into a money-making industry, the things take another direction. It is a well-known fact that nowadays professional sport has nothing to do with the pleasant activity that sport at an amateur level does. In professional sport count only the record-breaking performances and their money equivalent. Thus the competitive character of amateur sport turns into sport malevolence and often the zest for victory forces sports people to take drugs to improve their performances. Eventually, the whole concept of sport is spoiled and twisted.
To sum up, sport at an amateur level provides an outlet of surplus energy and helps people keep their bodies and consequently their minds sound. However, when it is at a professional level it is a tool for making money, which, left out of control, can play a bad trick with fatal consequences.

Why do people keep animals as pets?

We keep animals at home because sometimes loneliness overwhelms us and the pet may turn out to be the only one with whom we can share our misery. Besides, parents often think the best way to show their children what responsibility is by giving them the obligation to look after an animal.
On one hand, when we are lonely, we need support and understanding. Recently, I was busy with studying lessons and a great number of problems tormented me but I knew that my friends have their own concerns and I couldn’t burden them with what was happening in my soul. But it was my black – furred dog Ricky that helped me to go through this period of turmoil and insecurity. Moreover, it didn’t only listen to my confession but he was wagging its tail to express sympathy and understanding. Our pet can’t really give us a piece of verbal advice but we sometimes need just to be given a hearing. A dog will always give and forgive, while many a man will only get and forget.
On the other hand, pets are not only a vent for accumulated tension, they are also used as teachers. Some parents consider that if they take an animal home, their children will become more responsible. When I was ten years old, my father brought me a cat which I named Dolly, and he told me I had to take care of it. Initially, I was really enthusiastic but I found it hard to spare time and energy. But the more effort I put into cleaning and feeding Dolly, the more I became a dependable person. It taught me vital moral lessons – to care for the weaker, to be helpful and understanding.
In conclusion, having a pet makes people more kind – hearted, level – minded, less pent – up and angry, and more mature.


Is the man a good housekeeper of the planet?

The longer people dwell on earth, the worse place it will become. Man is certainly the worst housekeeper our planet could have. Human civilization degrades the environment, ruins the wildlife, causes global climate changes, carelessly ransacks the natural resources and all this for economic gain and public interest. We take all we want and give nothing back which eventually means that we destroy our home – the earth.
Firstly, man utterly neglects the environment. People drive their cars without a single thought of the damage that the exhaust gases cause. We keep producing electricity using coal or natural gas instead of alternative sources of energy; we both deplete the natural resources and contaminate the surrounding. We clear forests to produce furniture and paper but seldom do we plant new trees. For all the trials of the conservationists to improve the environment, the situation won’t get any better. It’ll just get worse a bit slower, because it takes a few hours to cut down a thousand of trees and many years for the new ones to grow.
Moreover, our industry emits so many pollutants in the air that together with the exhaust gases of the traffic they have caused the greenhouse effect and global warming. Global warming means not just general increase in temperatures; it means the coldest winters ever and heat that will cause drought. I’ve read many times about the change in temperature by two or three degrees. It doesn’t sound much, does it? That’s the way people think and they don’t take it seriously enough because it hasn’t affected their everyday life yet. As long as there is petrol in the gas stations people won’t stop driving their cars. A major shift in attitude needs to happen, more and more people should heed the environmentalists’ advice; factories are to stop disposing of by-products in rivers and seas.
Furthermore, governments keep developing new technologies for the needs of the army only. There are ways to protect the environment, but since they are not profitable they keep them secret. Governments make nuclear experiments causing great damage to nature, species are threatened with extinction. And they won’t use nuclear power for the good of humanity, for cheap and pure energy. They will keep it in case of a war. But as Albert Einstein have said: “I don’t know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
All in all, man will destroy the earth because of the amenities we think we need and the big companies’ economic profit. People will fight flat out for the last drop of petrol one day, there is already a war going on because of it. Man is a bad housekeeper of the planet. But this time we won’t be able to move house when the old one is falling apart. The earth is our only home. The species that is eventually threatened will extinction is humankind itself because of its own careless actions.

Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

It is doubtless that human activity has some negative influence on earth – such as pollution and animal extinction. However, compared to the benefits of it, the harm is not so significant and the total outcome of human activity is that the earth is becoming a better place to live.

First, the most important benefit of human activity is the inventions in medicine. Medicine and health care have advanced during the centuries, resolving some of the most vicious troubles of mankind. For example, plague killed millions of people during the Middle Ages and now mankind has almost got rid of it. It is obvious that a world without such a disease is a better place to live.

Furthermore, human activity entails development of human society. One of the greatest benefits of it is the improved educational system, making knowledge accessible to many more people. I'm convinced that a place with many educated and intelligent people is a good place to live.

Also, human activity on earth makes it a more cultivated and civilized place. Thus, the communication between people is improved as it has become possible to travel thousands of kilometers in a short time or communicate with other people from a distance, using the latest technologies as the Internet. The more people communicate, the better they understand and accept each other. For example, I have known many foreigners through ICQ and other Internet chat programs. This experience has helped me understand people from different cultures and races better and has made me a more tolerant person. I believe that this is the way for solving the problem with wars and hostility among people on earth.

All in all, the earth has become a better place to live due to human activity, but it is still far from perfect. People shall keep trying to improve their planet, but also consider the negative side effects of their activity and take measures to diminish pollution and animal mistreatment.

We Need Animals More Than They Need Us

Animals are classified in many groups and subgroups so that all the classes of animals form a constant living chain. And man knows that if only one type died out from the face of our planet, there would certainly be other fatal consequences for some other species and man himself. And if the human race became extinct, animals would keep on living the same way or even better- unrestricted by man` s activities.

To begin with, our daily deeds and industrial activities are acknowledged to be quite harmful to the environment which is closely related to animals` way of life. If the eucalyptus, which is the basic diet for a koala, stopped growing in some parts of Asia and Australia because of sudden climatic changes, it would bring about the extinction of the koala, which, in its turn, would disturb the balance in the animal world. So, since animals are one of the three components which the animate world consists of, mankind would also be reached by some natural catastrophe. There are predictions claiming that if something like that should happen, there will be great damage to our way of life and we`ll realize that our role on earth is equal to that of plants and animals, and not more weighty.

Besides, we need animals as an everyday contribution to our well- being. We eat their meat and get eggs, wool, feather, skin from them to take full advantage of them. Moreover, we make use of their driving power and some animals as polar dogs, camels, elephants and horses serve us as an only possible vehicle in some climatic conditions. It` s more than obvious that animals could survive if we didn’t inhabit the green planet. They, together with plants, are connected in a complex biosystem which ensure them food, natural habitat and could easily get accustomed to an environment uninhabited by men. On the other hand, we wouldn`t survive without animals. We are higher on the bio ladder and can stay there only if all the animal and plant species also keep their places.

All in all, animals are at home in nature and could survive without our presence on earth. On the contrary, if we keep on killing foxes, wild cats, tigers for their fur, elephants for ivory, noble deer for trophies, we would upset the balance in nature and we wouldn`t get away only with statistics.


APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING.
AGREE OR DISAGREE

A lot of research has been carried out into the relation between appearance and character. In my opinion, appearance is much more than just a wrapping or a mask. It reflects the personality. Besides, it plays a great role in making a good impression on somebody. Thus it can be revealing, not deceiving.

To begin with, our gestures and looks can show our thoughts and feelings. We may try to lie to somebody but our eyes would give us away. Words can be deceiving but not the appearance. Over time, actions and emotions can “leave traces” on people’s faces. Thus, afterwards, we can “read” the written and size somebody up just by the wrinkles on his face. They show us joy, laughter, care-free state or anger, jealousy, malice. To illustrate, Dorian Gray wouldn’t have been so handsome if the portrait had not taken all his ill deeds and wickedness. Peter Dunov also has a study on how our gestures show the real state of mind and how appearance reveals typical traits of our character. He explains the unconscious reflex to move ourselves while talking or thinking. As a result, we see the body and discover the soul. The shape of brow, eyes, ears, fingers and also movements help us guess some of the personal points of the man opposite us.

Moreover, the world’s diversity depends on the different appearances. But for them, we would live in a grey and boring world. In addition, we often judge people by our first impression – we first like somebody because of their good looks and then we make an acquaintance with them. So, we need to be attractive to get a job or to make somebody fall in love with us. According to the Greek mythology, for example, the beautiful appearance is a symbol of bravery and strength, which are supposed to have been the most valuable traits. Nowadays, we do not consider beauty as physical power but we seek for it in every face and soul as a proof of virtue.

To sum up, appearance is like a mirror of the character and considering Oscar Wilde’s “Only shallow people don’t judge by appearance” we cannot deny its importance.

“All Art Is Quite Useless”
Oscar Wilde

If we look practically on art it is obviously useless. Hopefully, human psyche is not that practical and art is an essential part of our lives. Man cannot live only with bread, his soul needs to be fed too and that is the role of art.
We may watch movies, read books, listen to music, go to theatres, cinemas or opera houses or collect paintings. It doesn’t matter which kind of art we prefer as long as we enjoy it. It is important for us because it helps us to forget reality for some time and lead us to other worlds and better times.
Nowadays, we need and consume art daily, for it not only relieves the strain of our daily round but charges us with fresh powers to face up to our duties as well. Remember how totalitarian as well as democratic regimes used art to “strengthen the youth” by playing patriotic marches and anthems everyday in school. Therefore, art seems to be a powerful driver. It not only comforts the soul but raises the spirit.
Undoubtedly, art should be modern and amusing, but it should also have and underlying wisdom. The only meaningful art is the one which contains hidden messages. For example, music albums which we can listen over and over again each time discovering a new tone or idea, such as Der Blutharsch’s “Fire Danger Season”, books which we can read in pre-mature as well as in ripe age and find different morals in, like J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, or operas which evoke certain feeling in us, but we still cannot understand them thoroughly without reading their librettos, such as Richard Wagner’s “Tanhäuser”.
Furthermore, another purpose of art is to help us break away from boredom and enthrall us when our daily routines look drab and dull. It is not altogether a cure for the soul, yet it is quite comforting. Real art could merely be considered a triumph of imagination over practical things.
All in all, Oscar Wilde can’t have meant that art is useless. His works, which are found to be some of the best examples of “Art for the art’s sake” prove that his attitude towards art was not negative at all. His real intention could have been to provoke and make us think over more vital moral issues.

“ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN MERELY PLAYERS.”
W. Shakespeare

If someone said that providence guides our way through the veil of mists and the dusty paths that take us to the journey of our lifetime, I would certainly believe him. That the “roles” we play throughout our life are written by the omnipotent hand of the “unknown,” I find very plausible.
Shakespeare was undoubtedly a wise man. Even back there in the sixteenth century he well understood that there must be something more powerful than we are, something that controls us, just as the director manages the cast. Some call this super-power “fate,” some “destiny,” some “fortune,” and others God.
Whatever it is, however, it definitely exists. It might be a book written somewhere; a book that details our voyage to the end of time to the very last thing that we do. It may also be the three muses, form the Greek mythology, which spin the thread of life. It may well be God who looks after us from the height of his home in the clouds. No one can ever tell, but it is certain that the world we all live in is the grand stage and “each [of us] must play their humble part.”
Moreover, what we play gets determined from the very moment we enter this world. Some of us are meant to be musicians, like Mozart for whom we all know that his music career began early, at the age of six. He played his role flawlessly, and ended up becoming a key figure in Western music and an inspiration for many who followed his footsteps. Others became politicians, others plumbers and so forth. For some, the future never seemed to be apparent and though they always thought that they were the decision-makers, it was this extra-human power, the one that we cannot control that actually controlled us.
I believe that even the most inward emotions, such as love, get determined long before we are born. We seem to be only following the path that God or other super-power has set for us and evidently, we are doing it with no complaints.
To sum up, I strongly consider that the world is a stage and that we just follow a detailed script, unconsciously, of course, but persistently. Yet, we cannot simply let go of anything, and let faith guide us with a traveling map, as we are still left with the responsibility of accomplishing the “Great Book of Life’s” prescriptions.

The World Is a Stage and We Are Merely Actors

Someone once said: “There are unforgettable persons but not irreplaceable.” But I believe that one is the director of one’s own play and should not live with the idea that somebody else can take full control over one’s life. Also, implicit belief in destiny might be merely an excuse for humans without power to stand up for their wishes and desires.

Firstly, I face up to the reality of life every day and I make my own decisions which make me unique. For instance, a mere decision such as preferring visiting friends in the nearby village instead of going to the mountain made a big difference for me a year ago. If I hadn’t done that, maybe I would never have taken to my closest friend. Such things make me consider life not a stage where we have no power to change the outcome, but a play in which we have the role of a lifetime.

Furthermore, even if there were something that controls our lives, our character, appearance and humanity depend only 10 percent on what happens to us and 90 on how we respond to it. We all have out ups and downs but not all of us are capable of dealing with life’s trials. For example, fifty years ago after the end of the dreadful World War II thousand of soldiers and soldiers’ wives and children were left broke, homeless and sick. Many of them gave up and committed suicide or became alcoholics but quite a few didn’t back down and started building their lives once more.

All in all, I cannot thoroughly agree with Shakespeare’s words. It may be easier to believe that whatever you do, the lines of your part are written by an almighty hand and you are unable to change the script. However I would not give up and let my life go on by itself.

Nothing good, nothing worthy, nothing creative can be born of hatred. Hatred breeds hatred


Hatred born in our hearts is the meanest emotion we can feel. We can see its ugly face in a war, for example, but it appears in our relationships as well.

Undoubtedly, nothing good, nothing beautiful and creative can be born out of hatred. It destroys not only human destinies but also our souls, if we let it do it. Hatred is like leprosy, a lethal disease which slowly but inevitably destroys the human body and leads to death. When I think of hatred, the repulsive face of war comes to my mind first. And the most recent example we can see is the war between the USA and Iraq. The war that separated the world between Muslims and Christians, war of political interests and dirty deals that destroyed so many human destinies. Muslims’ attack on the USA that led to the destruction of the Twin towers. And George bush was none better to respond - he paid like for like. The war began. Hatred took over mercy again. Civilized though we may call ourselves, we are far more brutal than our predecessors having more sophisticated weapons at our disposal.

Unfortunately, we are surrounded by hatred. We can see its roots in the media, then spreading into our families and sometimes affecting our nearest and dearest. Violence is more and more often seen in adolescents and researchers confirm that one in two children between seven to sixteen years has shown aggression at least once in his life. Love has gone out of our families letting hatred rule our destiny. Nearly a century ago the wise Buddhist philosopher Mohandas Gandhi said the following: “Hatred ever kills. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred.” But love isn’t gone. It’s just hidden but isn’t dead. Gandhi continues: “Love never dies. What is obtained by love is retained by all time.”

All in all, hatred breeds only hatred. But love can transform all negative feelings into a vast field with sweet– cented flowers. I hope that we will let them grow and flourish undisturbed by weeds.



Describe a place you loved visiting as a child

The place I adored visiting as a child is a vast meadow in the slopes of Balkan Mountain. Every time the scenery overwhelmed me with its beauty, and also the memories which it evoked in me.
The area extends from the hills of the Balkan to the first houses of Sliven. Approximately in the middle there is a summer-house large enough to accommodate ten people. Then, near is an enormous elm tree which is thought to be 200 years old. Its shadow falls onto a myriad of pansies which shyly grow underneath. The remainder of the meadow is covered with daisies, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils in summer and lily – of – the – valleys, forget – me – nots, crocuses in spring. Across the lawn there is a fresh – water spring in which we could see our reflection.
The time I first went there and got enchanted by the place was at the age of seven. After my first school day my family and I went to this meadow. I was struck and overwhelmed by its greenness and serenity. The more I looked around me, the more I felt the different atmosphere of this place. Peace and tranquility made my soul relax. An image of a group of children is imprinted on my mind. They were sitting on the grass next to the spring, and laughing. I remember a blue – eyed and brown – haired boy, called Stoian, who was to become my first puppy love.
Surprisingly, this place still fascinates me with all its charm and it’s the wish to be close to my memories that makes me turn back to the meadow and immerse myself into its greenness and serenity.

The View from My Window

When I look from my window words fail me. Before me with every blink of my eyes a majestic view is unveiled. From the top of my five-storey tower everything looks as if a kid has mistakenly flipped his spyglass and is staring at this shrunken image of the world - so much to see, so much to learn just looking at Bulgaria Boulevard running straight from Vitosha to the heart of the big city.
What catches my eye first is the picturesque rug covered all over with creeping ant-like people. I take a deep breath, my head spinning with excitement and I lean over the sill hoping to make out a pattern of their chaotic motion. They seem to be organized in some strange system - all following their own goals and yet at the same time working for the prosperity of all – the grocer with his van and the businessman in the sleek Mercedes; the kids hurrying up to school and the truants hanging out; the two housewives with their inevitable shopping bags and the pair of long-legged beauties taking their first coffee in that posh Lucano cafe. There are all kinds of them - big and small, smart-looking and more shabby, there are ruthless ones and kind ones.

When I begin to comprehend their strange dance, I instinctively start to analyze them, to compare them. I see the decent fellows walking in a straight line, trying to keep to the squares of the pavement and not to step on the lines. And I see the others, the more rebellious ones - they move like sleepwalkers, they bump into others without even so much as an apology. The world they all have wrought is ridiculous yet fascinating - the shining new buildings of banks and offices, and those socialist eye-sores like supermarkets or resident houses which have outlived their day. Yet I somehow feel that “the most essential will remain invisible to the eye”.
There will be many times that I will be stunned at this ever so fragile and complicated ant-like reality which can be changed irrevocably by a casual gust of wind or a few rain drops. I will have to try and get used to living here where we are left at the mercy of nature. And I’ll try not to forget that once we get down there, we are all ants.

What makes a film great

In my view, a film is really powerful when the plot is rich, detailed and above all gripping and intricate, the director is passionately devoted to the message he wants to convey. Only then can a film move and stem the audience.
Firstly, I believe that the plot in each film is what will have me on the edge on my seat throughout. Moreover, I find that films which are based on books or real events are the most exhilarating for me. A striking example is ‘The Lord of the Rings’, which is based on the famous book of Tolken. It is the fast-moving and impressive plot that makes the film a block-buster and a winner of a great number of Oscar awards. Additionally, the elaboration of the characters, the conflicts between them, the virtues they manifest also count a lot.
Secondly, a truly significant role in the film making has its director. No film could arouse the public interest without a talented director. It is the director who is supposed to transmit the plot into a touching story with message. Actually, it depends on how the director feels the plot, how he or she sees the developing story, and finally how innovative he or she is. If the plot is the core of the film, the director is its soul. A great example of a good director is that of ‘Pearl Harbour’. He worked over two years to make this film reality. He used many details of the stories of American soldiers, who escaped death during the Japanese attack in 1941. The director was extremely successful, because he was able to reach the hearts of most of the audience by showing them a real tragedy.
To sum up, I would like to outline that the combination of a good plot and a passionate director is the key to an unforgettable film.

THE COMPUTER – DOES IT CREATE CHAOS OR ORDER IN OUR LIFE?

At the dawn of the new millennium, there is nothing that develops faster than technology. The most well known symbol of technology – the computer has conclusively proven that. The P.C. now stands as the ultimate establisher of orderliness or the essential tool for “Preventing Chaos.”
So far, there has never been anything as useful as this; no other invention has had such a profound impact on human life. The computer managed to change our daily routines completely, making them scheduled and precise; making them easy and flexible. The work of many individuals, like secretaries or clerks, now seems ruled and orderly, with plenty of time for tasks they previously rendered undoable.
Moreover, computers have influenced the work of almost anyone, regardless of the type of profession. Take any modern writer – no longer will they have to worry about their creative work “flying about” in the neighborhood coffee house. Alternatively, for business people to have a constant and reliable connection with their colleagues all over the Globe is no daunting task anymore, thanks to e-mail. Or else, think of all the documents, flyers and forms we all fill out, at some point or another – has it not become a “piece of cake” since the arrival of computers?
Furthermore, for the majority of users, the P.C. has set order in the personal life, too. As if from out of nowhere, our timetables became cleared, our spare time doubled. It still escapes to some busy moms and dads how the hectic day of yesterday turned into the well-planned “time with the kids” tomorrow. Even more astonishing, though, are the implications on our children – no longer will they be subjected to the dangers of the streets, as we now have the time to always be there for them.
Taken as a whole, I think the computer has indeed made our lives easier and more organized, and its integration into our schedules is as necessary as our morning meal or late-night supper. In short, the processor of all human activity is certainly here to stay.

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. WHAT IS THE ONE CHANGE THAT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED?

The past century was the most eventful time human civilization has ever experienced. Throughout it, humanity saw good and evil in ample quantities. However, among all the changes that took place there and then, the fall of the communist regime is without a doubt the most significant.
The Marxist-Leninist version of a classless society in which the working-class is in control of wealth and property of state had its definite drawbacks. This was a political system that was doomed to failure from its very beginning, drawing to the fact that it was more based on limitations than advantages for its supporters. It was clearly visible to the naked eye that a government building its strength on people’s fear and neglect, and controlling a nation by means of force and violence, cannot prosper in an era of global unity.
The fall of the regime was as inevitable as its beginning: people felt the need to experiment and their individual mistakes turned the course of history in a direction never known to that moment. That this miscarriage of justice had to be dealt with became only apparent after millions had faded away, thus leaving a bloody mark on a chapter that was closed merely a decade ago. Its implications, though, are still fresh on our minds …
Yet, the darkest of times is finally over, and humanity swore never to let go of temptations that might lead to fatalities ever again. Communism is a phenomenon of the past, quite like the extinction of dinosaurs or the last Ice Age.
As seen above, the twentieth century will most likely be present in the minds of the future generations with the horrible images that the fallacy Communism created.