Question about Soviet Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Question about Soviet Union - Essay Example Thesis statement: In the article ‘Everything you think you know about the collapse of the Soviet Union is wrong’ Leon Aron states that combination of economic, political and social factors accelerated the collapse of the Soviet Union. The popular assumptions and misunderstandings upon the collapse of the Soviet Union According to Aron, popular assumptions upon the collapse of the Soviet Union are based upon misunderstandings. For instance, people misunderstood that American influence was behind the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990s. This is totally wrong because America did not expect rapid collapse of the Soviet Union. Aron (2011)opines that â€Å"There did not seem to be any other signs of a pre-revolutionary crisis either, including the other traditionally assigned cause of state failure -- external pressure† (p.2). To be specific, the leaders of the Communist Party in Soviet Union did not share information on the socio-political and economic scenarios. One cannot expect that the decline in GDP growth in 1980s did collapse the Soviet Union because people were conditioned to cope with problems. Besides, the financial problems faced by Soviet Union, related to the unexpected drop in oil price in 1980s did not harm her economy. There were less political problems in 9180s, so it cannot be considered as an important factor of the unexpected collapse of the Soviet Union. But the Afghan war exerted a little bit pressure upon the financial background of Soviet Union. Besides, Soviet Union cunningly suppressed the anti-communist uprisings in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland. In short, Soviet Union in 1980s was a global super power with less socio-economic and political problems. Aron (2011) opines that â€Å"Certainly, there were plenty of structural reasons -- economic, political, social -- why the Soviet Union should have collapsed as it did, yet they fail to explain fully how it happened when it happened † (p.2). The popular assump tions on the collapse of the Soviet Union were based upon misunderstandings and the questions on the collapse are still answerless to an extent. If America is not behind the rapid collapse of Soviet Union, and then, who is the mastermind behind the same? From a different angle of view, one can see that the aspiration of the people in Soviet Union to regain human dignity and individual liberty accelerated the collapse of Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the moral quest of individual freedom The author believes that it is important today to fully understand the collapse of the Soviet Union because more and more people are misjudging the scope of innovative measures adopted by Mikhail Gorbachev (say, perestroika and glasnost). Gorbachev considered that these political polices can renovate the Russian society to morality and liberalization. He very well knew that the Russians were fed up with the single party system in Soviet Union. First of all, Gorbachev decided to s eek answer to the moral problems faced by the people. The political policies like perestroika and glasnost, adopted by Gorbachev, were able to solve the social problems in the Russian society. For instance, perestroika restructured the Russian society, and glasnost accelerated openness towards innovation. Now, it is time to take steps to solve the economic problems faced by Russia. The Soviet Model did not help the Russian society to be free from lawlessness and corruption. Instead, it

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark - Essay Example Another prevailing point concerning this issue argues that like many of the people’s common views during the time of Jesus, the disciples might have the significant thought that Jesus will have to immediately take political control of the government, as heir to David’s throne (LaHaye 96). This means that talking about the death of Jesus to save the humankind will not make sense at all because that would only mean not being able to fulfil the idea as what the disciples might have thought among themselves. This also may have impeded the probable expectations of the disciples that were hovering over their imaginations concerning Jesus’ future role. If we try to consider these arguments, one thing that can be remarkably clear is that confusion of the disciples was triggered by the prevailing way of thinking and as Shea explained, it was conventional consciousness that must be radically changed prior to understanding what Jesus meant by his death to save the humankind . Due to this conventional way of thinking, LaHaye’s thought concerning the disciples’ expectations may significantly apply. ... ving in mind the things of God are at their profoundest truth, which must require a substantial change of the conventional consciousness to the path of a more radical one. The Scripture says, â€Å"‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord† (Isaiah 55:8; NIV). Thus, with human understanding alone, it will be harder to fathom what Jesus told to his disciples who were not having the exact idea on what was the next thing to come. At a specific example, this confusion that eventually bred fear resulted to Peter’s denial and the rest of Jesus’ disciples during his trial and crucifixion. Question number 4 Jesus said, â€Å"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them† (Matthew 5:17; NIV). Concerning his teaching about anger towards the neighbours, Jesus wants us to know that it will eventually be the same with a murder. Jesus want s the people to know that such anger will lead someone to be in danger of the fire of hell. â€Å"But anyone who says, ‘You fool’ will be in danger of the fire of hell† (Matthew 5:22c; NIV). Jesus also wants us to know that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. He said, â€Å"You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at the woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart† (Matthew 5:27-28; NIV). Concerning divorce, Jesus’ said, â€Å"But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery† (Matthew 5:32; NIV). This is in line with what Jesus’ said that â€Å"Therefore what