The Qingming Festival

The Qingming Festival The Qingming Festival, Clear Bright Festival, Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice (or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox), usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar (see Chinese calendar). Astronomically it is also a solar term (See Qingming). The Qingming festival falls on the first day of the fifth solar term, named Qingming. Its name denotes a time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime (TÃ  qÄ «ng, treading on the greenery) and tend to the graves of departed ones. Qingming has been regularly observed as a statutory public holiday in Taiwan and in the Chinese jurisdictions of Hong Kong and Macau. Its observance was reinstated as a public holiday in mainland China in 2008, after having been previously suppressed by the ruling Communist Party in 1949. Tomb Sweeping Day and Clear Bright Festival are the most common English translations of Qingming Festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is used in several English language newspapers published in Taiwan. Qinming Festival originated from Hanshi Day (literally, Day with cold food only), memorial day for Jie Zitui (or Jie Zhitui,). He died in 636 BC in the Spring and Autumn Period. He was one of many followers of Duke Wen of Jin before he became Duke. One time during Duke Wen of Jins 19 years of exile, they didnt have any food, and Jie prepared some meat soup for Duke Wen of Jin, who enjoyed it a lot and wondered where Jie got the soup. It turned out Jie cut a piece of meat from his own thigh to make the soup. Duke Wen of Jin was so moved, he promised to reward him on day. However Jie was not the type of people who sought rewards, instead, he just wanted to help Duke Wen of Jin to return to Jin to become Duke. Once Duke Wen of Jin succeeded the throne of Duke, Jie resigned and stayed away from the Duke. Duke Wen of Jin rewarded the people who helped him in the decades, but for some reason, he forgot to reward Jie, who by then had moved into the forest with his mother. Duke Wen of Jin we nt to the forest, but couldnt find Jie. Heeding suggestions from his officials, Duke Wen of Jin ordered to set the forest in fire to force out Jie, however, Jie died in the fire. Feeling so remorse, Duke Wen of Jin ordered the 3 days without fire to honor Jies memory. The county where Jie died is still called Jiexiu (literally meaning the place Jie resting forever). Qingming has a tradition stretching back more than 2,500 years.[4] Its origin is credited to the Tang Emperor Xuanzong in 732. Wealthy citizens in China were reportedly holding too many extravagant and ostentatiously expensive ceremonies in honour of their ancestors. Emperor Xuanzong, seeking to curb this practice, declared that respects could be formally paid at ancestors graves only on Qingming.[5] The observance of Qingming found a firm place in Chinese culture and continued uninterrupted for over two millennia. In 1949 the Communist Party of China repealed the holiday. Observance of Qingming remained suppressed until 2008, when the Party reinstated the holiday. The Qingming Festival is an opportunity for celebrants to remember and honor their ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors. The rites have a long tradition in Asia, especially among farmers. Some people carry willow branches with them on Qingming, or put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They believe that willow branches help ward off the evil spirit that wanders on Qingming. Also on Qingming people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing, dance, and Qingming is a time where young couples start courting. Another popular thing to do is fly kites (in shapes of animals or characters from Chinese opera). Others carry flowers instead of burning paper, incense or firecrackers as is common. The holiday is often marked by people paying respects to those who died in events considered sensitive in China. The April Fifth Movement and the Tiananmen Incident were major events on Qingming that took place in the history of the Peoples Republic of China. When Premier Zhou Enlai died in 1976, thousands visited him during the festival to pay their respects. Many also pay respects to victims of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and the graves of Zhao Ziyang and Yang Jia in areas where rights of free expression are generally recognized, as in Hong Kong; in most areas of China such observances are suppressed and all public mention of such subjects is taboo.[4][6] In Taiwan the national holiday is observed on April 5 because the ruling Kuomintang moved it to that date in commemoration of the death of Chiang Kai-shek on April 5. The holiday is nevertheless observed in the traditional manner, with families gathering to honour their own ancestors, visit and maintain their family shri nes, and share traditional meals. Despite having no holiday status, the overseas Chinese communities in Southeast Asian nations such as those in Singapore and Malaysia take this festival seriously; deep in heritage, rituals and strict decorum. Qing Ming in Malaysia is an elaborate family function or a clan feast (usually organized by the respective clan association) to commemorate and honor their late relations at grave site and their distant ancestry of China at home altar, clan temple or a makeshift altar in a Buddhist or Taoist temple. For the oversea community, Qing ming festival is very much a family heritage and at the same, a family obligation. The overseas Chinese see this festival as a time to reflect, honor and give thanks to their forefathers. The oversea Chinese normally visit the graves of their late relations at the nearest weekend of the actual date. According to the ancient custom, grave site veneration is only feasible 10 days before and after Qingming Festival. If the visit is not on the actual date normally veneration before Qingming is encouraged. Qingming Festival in Malaysia and Singapore normally started early in the morning, with the ancestral veneration at home altar- paying respect to the distant ancestors from China. This would be followed by visiting the graves of their close relations in the country. Some would take the extent of filial piety to visit the graves of their ancestors in mainland China. Traditionally, family will burn paper money (paper have imprint of money) and paper replica of some material good such car, maid, home, phone, and etc. In Chinese culture, even though a person died, he/she may still need all of these in the afterlife. There should always an even number of dishes put in front of the grave and a bowl of rice with incense stick upright. Then, family members start taking turn to bow before the tomb of the ancestors. Bowing will go in order, which starts with the most senior member of the family and so on. After the ancestor worship at the gr ave site, the whole family or the whole clan would be feasting the food and drinks they brought for the worship at the site or nearby gardens in the memorial park, signifying family reunion with the ancestors. Hanshi, the day before Qingming, was created by Chonger, the Duke Wen of the state of Jin during the Spring and Autumn Period. The festival was established after Chonger accidentally burned to death his personal friend and servant Jie Zhitui (or Jie Zitui) and Jie Zituis mother. Chonger ordered the hills they were hiding in set on fire in hopes that Jie Zitui would return to his service, but the fire killed Jie and his mother. On Hanshi, people were not allowed to use fires to heat up food, thus nicknaming it the Cold Food Festival. Eventually, 300 years ago, the Hanshi celebration was combined with the Qingming festival, but later abandoned by most people. The Qingming festival holiday holds significance in Chinese Tea culture since this specific day divides the fresh green teas by their picking dates. Green teas made from leaves picked before this date is given the prestigious pre-qingming or mingqian designation which commands a much higher price tag. These teas are prized for having much lighter and subtler aromas than those picked after the festival.(I download the last two paragraph from the internet)

Educational War Zone Essay -- Education, Bullying

On the afternoon of April 9, 2010 I found myself in a meeting with Kerri Evans, the assistant principal of Pleasant Ridge Middle School, and my son Nicholas. I was there because my son had become a victim of verbal abuse. It was shocking to learn that bullying has become such an epidemic in our school system. â€Å"Nearly 1 in 3 students is involved in bullying† (Hertzog, 2010). In a perfect world there would be no bullying. Kids wouldn’t get shoved into lockers, and they wouldn’t be beat up in the hallway. Students wouldn’t talk about another student behind their back because of their shape, size, race, or religion. In a perfect world this wouldn’t happen, but at that moment in our imperfect world it was happening to my son. The question is, why does it happen and what can we do to stop it? â€Å"According to a 2009 federal survey of school crime and safety, 32 percent of middle and high school students said they'd been victimized during the acade mic year, compared with 14 percent in 2001† (Tyre, 2010). Bullying was making its way into my home and affecting my life. It was then that I realized that bullying was a problem that needed to stop. Bullying in schools is escalating and becoming a bigger and bigger issue, and we must take action to eliminate it. According to Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series: Bullying in Schools â€Å"bullying has two key components: repeated harmful acts and an imbalance of power† (Sampson, 2002). Although bullying occurs in many other places, school is where bullying is most prevalent and most concerning. In schools, physical bullying is more common among boys. This is because boys are much more aggressive than girls. However, verbal bullying such as gossip is much more common among girls. â€Å"Physical bullying... ...n reaction that Rachel wrote about. (www.rachelschallenge.org) Bullying is a repeated harmful act that continues to affect millions of students every year. There is no stereotypical person that is a target for bullying; anyone can be its victim. There may not always be any signs of physical harm during these attacks, but our children always suffer emotional harm. Educating students, teachers and parents seems to be the only valid solution to this problem. There are many organizations that can educate the schools on this subject but for it to work people must care. Maybe one day, when enough people realize that this problem will not go away with out their help, we can eliminate bullying from our schools. In a perfect world there would be no bullying, but if you could ask Rachel Scott she would tell you we do not live in a perfect world, only a hopeful one.

Modernisation and emotional maturity

In modern society, education alone can provide the most dependable and the most effective apparatus for accelerating growth and development in all spheres of human austerity. Now we live in the technological era. The technology of 21st Century has revolutionized and enhanced our way of life. The public expects technology to have a similar revolutionary effect on education.Energy technologies and resulting globalization also provide unlimited possibilities for exciting new discoveries and developments such as new forms of energy, medical advances restoration of environmentally ravaged areas, communication and exploration into space and into the depth of the oceans. From the beginning of life till now life has been changing. Change is the law of nature, and changes in Society are always taking place. At times these changes are slow. Sometime they are so slow that people do not even perceive them.However, there are times when they are also rapid and drastic. All spheres of living things are changing. The word modernization is derived from Latin word ‘mood' means modern. Modernization refers to a model of a progressive transition from a ‘pre-modern' or ‘traditional' to a ‘modern' society. Modernization as a form of cultural response attributes which are basically universalistic and evolutionary. Modernization is generally regarded as a process of change-change of traditional Society into a Society based on Science and technology.Modernization refers to a model of a progressive transition from a ‘pre-modern' or ‘traditional' to a ‘modern' society. Modernization can best be defined as the process of transforming the old traditional society and nations to the modernity in the fields of social, economic, industrial, technological, political, cultural and educational advancement. Heraclites as beautifully laid down that it is impossible for a man to step into the same river twice. It is so because in the interval of time between the first and the second stepping both the river and the man have changed their positions.In the words of Moore, † modernization as a revolutionary change leading to transformation of a traditional society into an advanced, economically prosperous and relatively politically stable society. † Toward consider modernization as â€Å"the transformations in attitudes, institutions, and ideologies that are associated with processes such as arbitration and industrialization. â€Å"There is nothing more permanent than change. † Modernization is not westernizes purely. The modernized society believes in co- existence, co-operation and compromise rather than in competition and conflict.Modernization can be achieved only by improving and extending education. Again education, both the formal and informal is a means of communication. The transmission of meaning has important functions like colonization, surveillance, consensus building, raising expectations, focusing attenti on, broadening mental horizons, creating new attitudes, and values arousing interest in innovation, teaching kills, and encouraging experimentation. Each of these functions has relevance for programmer of modernization. Hence, the formal education if imaginatively and purposefully employed can be a powerful instrument of Modernization.The education today is linked with development. Education is the main agency for the development of attitudes, interests and values and the teacher is its main agent. The class consists of different types of students and they differ in their interest, ‘Q, attitude, achievement etc. Some students change with the changing time, some don't. There are certain causes behind this kind of difference in attitude. Emotions are important in our lives. Our emotions have the potential to serve us as a delicate and sophisticated interval guidance system.In the present circumstances, youth as well as children are facing difficulties in life. These difficulties are giving rise to many psychosomatic problems such as anxiety, tensions, frustrations and emotional upsets in day to day life. So, the study of emotional life is now emerging as a descriptive science. It deals with interplay of forces with intensities and quantities. Emotional maturity is not only the effective determinant of personality pattern, but it also helps o control the growth of adolescent's development.The concept ‘Mature' emotional behavior of any level is that which reflects the fruits of normal emotional development. A person who is able to keep his emotions under control, which is able to break delay and to suffer without self-pity, might still be emotionally stunned and childish. According to Walter et al. (1976), emotional maturity is a process in which the personality is continuously striving for â€Å"greater sense of emotional health, both intra-psychically and intra personality. † Emotional stability is one of the seventh important indicators of me ntal health.It simply means being grown up so that one may be able to personally manage his/her desires and feelings and may be better able to cope up the adverse life situations in a most befitting and socially approved manner. The most outstanding mark of emotional maturity is ability to bear tension. Life is becoming fast with the advancement of science and technology. Though man has conquered time and space to a great extent by the present level of scientific advancement, yet there is great threat to his existence.The Indian society is becoming increasingly materialistic. Emotional pressure is increasing day by day specially at higher secondary school stage. Unrest, anxiety and frustrations are occurring in all the spheres of life. Parents have no time to spend and guide their children. Students are frequently troubled with their daily problems because they do not have the capacity and training to solve problems. Our educational system also provides no direction to the children. Citizens of tomorrow are children attending today's schools.Those children in their capacity of being the future administrators, engineers, doctors and last but not least the citizens of the country must be brought p in a way worthy of the obligations which they owe to their community and their country at large. They should normally possess the best physical and mental health for performing their duties. But unless something is done to help the child, he will continue to suffer from anxiety due to heavy work load. Due to high anxiety, child develops certain personality traits which inhibit his proper physical, emotional and social development.All these factors add to emotional tensions of the child and make him an unbalanced personality. In later years, such a child because of his under plopped personality becomes a burden for the society in one form or the other. In this modern world of science and technology, nothing but change is eternal. This generation of ours, lives at the me rcy of science and technology. It is believed that science based technology is the ‘column bunkum' of our life. Moreover, there is a lot of competition in every walk of life. Here Darning's law of survival of the fittest is truly valid.Only those who succeed can survive. This rapid change in man's life due to advancement in scientific technology has made man's life easy and comfortable but t the same time has created many complexities too. Apparently, man appears to be happy but internally, he is full of conflicts. Parents and educational institutions pressurize the children to excel in academics and other areas of performance. There are several things one may feel like doing because of his emotions but emotional maturity will keep him doing the right thing and may even help him to remain calm in the most difficult situations.Emotional maturity is the ability to differentiate and properly identify one's emotions while granting himself the freedom to experience whatever emotion is appropriate to a given situation. Adolescence is the most crucial and significant period of an individual's life. It is a period of rapid revolutionary changes in the individual's physical, mental, moral, spiritual, sexual and social outlook. It is a period to learn new things, and it is a period of anxieties, worries, conflicts, complexities, and ambitions. Adolescence is the period of heightened emotionality.It is the most demanding period in one's life- a period of storm and stress because accurate portrayal of self to others, which is an identifying criterion of healthy personality, is in the process of establishment during this period. The present study is on modernization and emotional maturity of higher secondary students. The study attempts to analyze the various aspects of modernization and emotional maturity among higher secondary students. The end of the twentieth century and beginning of the twenty first century have seen an unprecedented upsurge in activities revolv ing around the teenage adolescence students.It is the dire need of the hour that as teenage adolescence students we should have proper emotional development to rightly use our human emotions. So our minds have something vital to do with our emotions and we should have a self concept to control our emotions with the mind! But our emotions need to be understood, taught, trained and controlled by the mind! Emotional maturity moves beyond intelligence to a higher state of consciousness, guided by what one senses, feels and intuits, and one's heart. Modernization and Emotional maturity is a tool for promoting students' mental health and personality.The specific needs for identifying these phenomena of Emotional Maturity and modernization are natural and inevitable outcome of student growth and development rather than among pathological symptom. The Emotional maturity becomes important in the behavior of individuals. As the dents are the pillars of the future generations their value patte rn and emotional maturity are vital. So the present study intends to measure the emotional maturity and modernization level of the Higher Secondary school students. Citizens of tomorrow are children attending today's schools.Those children in their capacity of being the future administrators, engineers, doctors and last but not least the citizens of the country must be brought up in a way worthy of the obligations which they owe to their community and their country at large. They should normally possess the best physical and mental health for performing their duties. But unless something is done to help the child, he will continue to suffer from anxiety due to heavy work load. Due to high anxiety, child develops certain personality traits which inhibit his proper physical, emotional and social development.All these factors add to emotional tensions of the child and make him an unbalanced personality. In later years, such a child because of his under developed personality becomes a b urden for the society in one form or the other. The Emotional maturity becomes important in the behavior of individuals and the development of education is depending to the level of modernization. As the students are the pillars of the future generations their modernization and Emotional maturity are vital ones.So the present study intends to measure the Modernization tenets and Emotional Maturity of Higher Secondary school students. The study will help and guide teachers and parents in taking necessary steps to develop psychological attitude of the pupils in proper lines. Schools are an important place where children have contacts with their peers, form friendship, and participate in social groups and with other children. As children grow from infancy through adolescence, peers are increasingly important in their lives. Their interactions become more complex with age.In adolescence peer relationships affect whole personality. The specific needs for identifying these phenomena of Em otional Maturity and modernization are natural and inevitable outcome of student growth and development rather than among pathological symptom. The Emotional maturity becomes important in the behavior of individuals. As the students are the pillars of the future generations their value pattern of Emotional Maturity are vital. For all these reasons this study on the Emotional Maturity and modernization level of Higher Secondary school students is relevant and is a need of the time.

Employee Empowerment

Employee Empowerment Free Online Research Papers Employee empowerment: A strategy and philosophy that enables employees to make decisions about their jobs. This term is used to express the ways in which non-managerial staff can make autonomous decisions without consulting a boss/manager. It is the state of feeling self-empowered to take control of ones own destiny. These self-willed decisions can be small or large depending upon the degree of power with which the company wishes to invest employees. Why apply Empowerment When employees feel as though they have choice and can make direct decisions, this does often lead to a greater feeling of self-worth. By offering employees choice and participation on a more responsible level, the employees are more invested in the company, and view themselves as a representative of such. Techniques of Empowerment One easy way to begin employee empowerment in the workplace is to install a suggestion box, where workers can make suggestions without fear of punishment or retribution. However, managers must then be willing to read and consider suggestions and also hold a once monthly meeting open to employees where all suggestions are addressed. One method used to empower workers is the use of work teams. Such teams are collections of employees empowered to plan, organize, direct and control their own work. The other method for empowerment is to change the team’s overall method of organizing. The basic pattern is for an organization to eliminate layers from its hierarchy, thus become much more decentralized. Power, responsibility and authority are delegated in the hands of those who actually do it. Ways to make empowerment successful Empowerment will enhance organizational effectiveness only if certain conditions exist. The organization must be sincere in its efforts to spread power and autonomy to lower levels of the organization. The organization must be committed to maintaining participation. Employee empowerment of any form can only work when managers are willing to be open to new ideas and strategies. The workers must truly believe that they and their managers are working together in their joint best interests. The organization must be systematic and patient in its efforts to empower workers. Turning over too much control too quickly can spell disaster. Finally the organization must be prepared to increase its commitment to training. Employees given more freedom in how they work will quite likely need additional training to help them exercise that freedom most effectively. Disempowerment Disempowerment means lack of empowerment while the term â€Å" disempowerment† represents a concept that describes a faulty or impaired process of empowerment. Eylon and Bamberger (2000) described disempowerment as an opposing construct to empowerment. It is associated with reduced feelings of self-efficacy and levels of performance.. The negative affective response that stems from disempowering acts could manifest itself in psychological withdrawal, fear, feelings of incompetence and lack of self-efficacy, and feelings of displeasure and personal offenseall of which can diminish response strength and distract from work performance. Research Papers on Employee EmpowermentTwilight of the UAWInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesThe Project Managment Office SystemResearch Process Part OneIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalOpen Architechture a white paperBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHip-Hop is Art

Atticus essays

Atticus essays Atticus, a deeply moving novel by Ron Hansen, opens in winter on the high plains of Colorado to the tropics of Mexico, as well as from the realm of whodunit detective mystery to the larger realm of the Mystery, which has its own heartbreaking, calming, and redemptive logic. Misunderstanding, dissolute, prodigal, wayward, wastrel, alias, and subornment are only a few words that tell the powerful story of Atticus. The case was labeled as a suicide. The body was identified as forty-year-old Scott William Cody, a blue-eyed white male. The plot of the book takes three sharp turns. It begins as a conventional novel about the relationship between a father and his troubled adult son. After one character dies, it zigs into a murder mystery, and by the end has zagged into something entirely different, a parable, let's say, in which characters find redemption. Atticus Cody, Colorado cattle rancher turned oilman, appears at first to be a remote and judgmental dad, but as we observe the g entle, persistent concern he shows for his wayward son Scott, we discover nothing less than the ideal dad. Scott's testing of his father's love goes way beyond normal bounds: his alcoholism and general irresponsibility actually cause the deaths of several other characters. Scott's peregrinations take Atticus from his home in Colorado to the slums and bohemian underworld of a Mexican town. There, Atticus confronts a seamy and labyrinthine corruption that tries to separate him from the love of his son. Atticus, the Father, won't let go, and that's the point. In my humble opinion, the message of the book is that an ultimately moving meditation on the ineffable, unmatchable love between a parent and a child should always be a close bond, because you might not have a second chance for reconciliation. Atticus Cody receives a surprise Christmas visit from Scott, his estranged son who has been leading the life of a wastrel expatriate in Mexico. The frictio...

The chemisrty in onions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The chemisrty in onions - Research Paper Example Some of these acids like the 1-propenesulfenic acid is acted upon by the lachrymatory factor synthase enzyme to produce a volatile gas known as syn-propanethial-S-oxide also referred to as onion lachrymatory factor. The syn-propanethial-S-oxide diffuses in the air and on reaching the eye; a stinging sensation is felt due to its activation on the sensory neurons (Block, 2010). The onion cells contain various different enzymes kept separate and upon cutting, the cells contents become free and mix with the acids kept in the onion forming volatile compounds. In the eye, a reaction occurs between the propanethiole S-oxide and the tears released from the tear glands forming a mild sulphuric acid stimulating rapid release of tears which in turn makes the situation more worse. The alliinase enzyme is responsible for breaking down onions compounds into unstable intermediates which either change into thiosulfinate or lachrymatory factor. Thiosulfinate is responsible for the distinct flavor and odor from the onions as well as converted into sulfur compounds that benefit the body by lowering the cholesterol levels, acting as anti-blood clotting, anti-asthma, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory. Research has confirmed that only one specific enzyme is responsible of causing the formation of the lachrymatory factor hence inhibiting it will stop crying and on the long run increase the thiosulfinate compounds yield. Several strategies ranging from laboratory research to local imaginations have been employed towards the production of tear free onions or the prevention of the lachrymatory factor from reaching the eyes by neutralizing it in the air. To start with, the New Zealand Crop and Food Research together with the Japan House Food Corporation in 2008 developed tear free onions aiming at less reaction and irritation to the eyes. The new variety, taste and look like the regular onions but the action of lachrymatory factor synthase enzyme is lowered through genetic alteration. Th e modification has been engineered through the production of genetically modified foods that have been said to contain the desired nutrients. Research refills that if onions are grown on sulfur deficient soils, the creation of lachrymatory factor and other sulfur compounds is reduced and sweet flavor enhanced. This is in relation to Vidalia; a brand of sweet onions (Imani, 2002). The local methods used in a daily basis include: Chopping onions while chewing gum. Though the method is not as certain to the expected results, less crying is evident but the coordination between keeping on chewing the gum as you cut the onions is tricky. At the end of it, less tears come out besides high levels of irritation. It has been found to be an easy and convenient method to use (Walter, 2006). The use of goggles is gaining popularity as it gives painless results. The goggles protect the eyes from the volatile gas hence no tears or stinging. They are easy and convenient to be used though it is an a dded cost and their tight grip causes uncomfortable moments (Dille, 1996). Another method fruitfully used is that of freezing the onions in the freezer for about 15 minutes before chopping. The temperature in the freezer is very low to an extent of inhibiting the onions from releasing chemicals that irritate the eyes. It is painless, no tears and irritation. The

Notions of genetic discrimination,genetic determinism,and a Term Paper

Notions of genetic discrimination,genetic determinism,and a utilitarian comparison - Term Paper Example Portrayals of scientific fact in the mainstream media are, to most scientists, for the most part inaccurate descriptions of legitimate research methods.One aspect of scientific research that the media commonly misrepresents is that related to genetic research. For instance, a study may be published associating on average a specific gene with a certain quantifiable behavior. The media, upon receiving word of this research, will change the wording of the story in order to sensationalize and sell the story as newsworthy, often relying on words like â€Å"cause†. Over time, the public has started to perceive â€Å"genes† as the causal determinants of our actions, our lives, and our decisions. This view, called â€Å"genetic determinism†, lies at the root of many fears about the specter of â€Å"genetic discrimination†, which many believe is on the horizon for developed countries where genome maps are becoming increasingly cheap. Nevertheless, it is not clear w hether genetic discrimination will grow to become the problem many are forecasting. From an ethical perspective, the problem of genetic discrimination may not lie solely in the act of discriminating against an individual based on his or her genome; rather, the problem may lie in people’s fears about a genetic bias, which may cause some not to seek a diagnosis. Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that the moral content of an act (or rule) consists solely of the degree to which it maximizes happiness (or utility) in the greatest number of people. In other words, the good toward which all of our actions ought to pursue, under the utilitarian theory, is happiness, pleasure, or preference-satisfaction. Accordingly, if by ending the life of one person we save the life of twenty persons, then that act is not only allowable but also preferred under the utilitarian theory. Utilitarianism does have intuitive appeal insofar as any living being will seek to maximize its pleasure and min imize its pain. This moral theory acknowledges this fact and places happiness as the good toward which we evaluate all actions as either moral or immoral. The Utilitarian Argument against Discrimination Under a utilitarian framework, the argument against discrimination in any context follows from the assumption that society will be better off, or enriched, by the contributions of as many people as possible. Thus, if people were to be discriminated against in some fashion, their contributions to society (and ideas on how to make society better) would be lost without an audience. Therefore, as the argument goes, it is wrong to discriminate against people without looking at their character or actions. Utilitarians believe that policies like affirmative action, which are aimed at producing an equal society, are good in that they produce the most happiness for the highest number of people, primarily for the reason given above. However, if this equality lowered the overall good of society , utilitarians would immediately change their mind with respect to the equality-building measures. Likewise, in the case of genetic discrimination, utilitarians usually adopt legislation and other measures to counter the effects of discriminatory practices; nevertheless, if it were to be proven that equality-building attempts (such as banning mandatory genetic testing for new employees) hurt society, utilitarians would be obligated to change their opinions with respect to that situation. The Nature of Genetic Discrimination Genetic discrimination relates to making decisions because of genetic information when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, fringe benefits, or any other term or condition of employment (EEOC, 2010). Employers cannot utilize genetic informati