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In the past, degrees were very unusual in my family. I remember the day my uncle graduated. We had a huge party, and for many years my mother called him “the genius“ and listened to his opinion. Today in comparison, five of my brothers and sisters have degrees, and two are studying for their masters’. However, some people think that this increased access to education is devaluing degrees.
People have several arguments against the need for degrees. They say that having so many graduates devalues a degree. People lose respect for the degree holder. It is also claimed that education has become a rat race. Graduates have to compete for jobs even after years of studying. Another point is that studying for such a long time leads to learners becoming inflexible. They know a lot about one narrow subject, but are unable to apply their skills. Employers prefer more flexible and adaptable workers.
However, I feel strongly that this move to having more qualifications is a positive development. In the past education was only for the rich; and powerful. Now it is available to everyone, and this will have many advantages for the country and the individual. First of all, it is impossible to be overeducated. The more people are educated, the better the world will be, because people will be able to discuss and exchange ideas. A further point is that people with degrees have many more opportunities. They can take a wider variety of jobs and do what they enjoy doing, instead of being forced to take a job they dislike. Finally, a highly educated workforce is good for the economy of the country. It attracts foreign investment.
In conclusion, although there are undoubtedly some problems with increased levels of education, I feel strongly that the country can only progress if all its people are educated to the maximum of their ability.
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Ernest Hemingway wrote a short story called “ The Capital of the World. “ In it he tells about a Spanish father who wants to reconcile(和解)with his son who has run away to Madrid. In order to locate the boy he takes out this ad in the newspaper: “Paco, meet me at Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven. Love, Papa. “
Paco is a common name in Spain, and when the father goes to the square he finds 800 young men named Paco waiting for their fathers.
What drew them to the hotel? As Hemingway tells it, it was the words “All is forgiven. “ The father did not say, “All WILL BE forgiven IF you do this or that. “ Not, “All WILL BE forgiven WHEN you do such and such.“ He simply says, “All is forgiven. “ No strings attached.
And that’s the hard part—un-attaching the strings. The origin of the expression “no strings attached“ may go back to ancient times when documents were written on parchment(羊皮卷)that were rolled up and secured with a string.
The Babylonian Talmud(犹太法典)tells of a man who gives his wife a bill of divorce on such a parchment, but holds onto the string so that he can snatch it back, should he choose to do so. The divorce, therefore, is not considered valid since he will not give it freely. Similarly, love, forgiveness or friendship that is given with strings attached are not valid, since they can be snatched back at any time.
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In a global survey released in 2012, half the responders admitted to buying things they really did not need. Two thirds are worried that consumers are buying too much. Such concerns may be justified. Many consumers have become trapped in debt. Researchers say that instead of making us more satisfied, high levels of consumption may lead to greater stress and unhappiness!
As consumers, we are subjected to a great amount of marketing. What is the goal of marketers? To turn wants into needs. Marketers know that consumer behavior is driven largely by emotion. So advertisements and the shopping experience itself are designed for maximum emotional appeal.
When you ask a consumer: Why do you buy so much? He or she may answer; I want to improve my quality of life. It is natural that people want a better life. Advertisers bombard us with messages that all of our desires—better health, security, relief from stress, and closer relationships—can be achieved by making the right purchases.
But actually, as our number of possessions increases, our quality of life can actually decrease. Additional time and money are needed to care for more material things. Stress levels rise because of pressure from debt, and there is less time for family and friends. So you should protect yourself from becoming a victim of clever marketers. You should put emotion aside, and compare marketing promises with reality.
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