held； two text messages plaining how much trouble they had to touch the puter or how slow it was for them to input articles on puter appeared on my mobile phone。 Though such attitudes annoyed me； I only suggested them to try and think of a best way to solve the problem in a gentle manner。 Fortunately； because of my clever foresight； I still reserve a copy of my script of the meeting which can be served as a back up in case they wouldn’t do a good job。 It definitely means that I have to sacrifice much more time for the report since both the input work and modification have to be done on my own。
To my surprise； when I open my email box this evening； two drafts are already waiting for me。 It seems that they are still willing to do the task and their earlier plaint only serves as abreaction。 Glad that I only admonished them to do instead of losing temper to them； or it may did more harm than good。
I replied an encouragement letter to them and they later expressed their thankfulness which made me feel warm。
From this event； I learnt the lesson that a leader should take his or her staff member’s feeling into account； sometimes gentle words can be more effective than shouting。
I will adjust myself to being a deputy minister and try to convince other members of my ability and make them willing to obey my instructions。 I believe I can do it well。
Vengeance； greed and …
Saturday； April 12； 2008
Today I got a break from my strict； noruffles schedule and watched a movie entitled “Troy”。 The film was so fascinating that it engraved its inspiring dialogues on my mind。 I found it hard to resist the strong desire to write down my erupting thoughts and emotions inspired by the movie。
After Achilles； the bravest and most skillful warrior and one of the kings of Greece； kills Hector （the movie’s hero and prince of Troy）； Briseis； the woman Achilles deeply in love with and cousin of Hector； condemns him for his unyielding vengeance with a broken heart： “You lost your cousin； now you’ve taken mine。 When will it end？” “It never ends。” This is the cold reply from Achilles； a man born to fight； yet the endless revenge is the cruel reality。 Sometimes； humans are misled by too many things； such as greed； hatred。 Sense of revenge is the devil that manipulates humans into destroying。 Unfortunately humans all forget that tolerance is the most powerful weapon against vengeance。
“The gods envy us。 They envy us because we are mortals； because any moment may be our last。 Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed。” This is what Achilles tells Briseis when they argue over the issue of belief in gods。 Achilles philosophy is apparent： Mortal life is ephemeral； yet impermanence is exactly where the beauty lies in life。
The movie offered a new cause of the war contrary to the archaic way of interpreting the reason for the war of Troy； which claimed that the beauty Helen is the bane of peace。 In fact； there is no such a thing as beauty bane。 It was not her fault； a marriage to an old man like Menelaus was a disaster for a young beauty dreaming of romance。 She has the right to pursue freedom and happiness。 It is Agamemnon who is to be blamed for the casualty。 Even regardless of Helen； his greed and evilness will still enkindle the war between Greece and Troy。 Agamemnon says it all： “I always thought my brother’s wife was a foolish woman but she has proved to be very useful。” From this we know； Helen only served as an excuse。 The true reason for the war of Troy is Agamemnon’s desire to control the Aegean。
As for Paris； I disdain him。 He is the man who impudently caused catastrophe but doesn’t dare to take responsibility。 The coward sought his brother’s help； dropping to his knees。
Now let’s e to the two legendary heroes in the war； Hector and Achilles。 Achilles is a man haunted by the vastness of eternity； or else he will not be persuaded by Odysseus’ words： “let Achilles fight for honor； let Agamemnon fight for power； and let the gods decide which man to glorify。” Despite his eagerness for war； he is not a blood thirsty brute； he has the ability to empathize with the suffering of other characters。 For example； when Priam； king of Troy sneaks to beg him for Hector’s body； even if Achilles can have Priam’s head on a spit in the blink of an eye； he still lets Priam go with his adversary’s corpse。 And Hector is more respectful。 He loved his family； his land； he fought for his country till the last moment。 They both are immortal in certain ways and their deeds are worthy of emulation。
During the time of preparation for TOEFL iBT； I have written many positions to improve my writing （Make a plaint in Person or in Writing；Who is the Famous Entertainer or Athlete You would Like to Meet？ Member ；puters VS。 Traditional Schools） are selected from my practicing positions for TOEFL。
Make a plaint in p…
When it es to the point of having to make a plaint about a defective product or poor service； I would rather do it in writing for several conspicuous factors listed as follows：
First of all； a plaint letter ensures the accuracy of the description of the current issue。 There are circumstances that your trouble is extremely intricate and needs a logical way to elaborate on it。 Obviously； when writing a letter； you can think carefully and organize the pattern in a prehensive way as well as use sufficient details to substantiate your point。 Whereas plaining in person denies ration of the two sides in question because it is more likely for people to go into quarrel before they have clearly known the problem。
Second； making a plaint in writing can avoid unnecessary conflict。 For instance； when one customer angrily steps in a shop to plain about the defective he has purchased and demands a refund； the shop assistant may be forced into a dilemma because he is not the one in charge and therefore has no right to decide。 In this situation； if the stubborn customer doesn’t give up and utters malicious words； a fight may ensue。 Hence plaining in writing can save you a lot of aggravation and conflict which you always risk to get by plaining in person。
Last but not least； putting your plaint in words can avoid hurting innocent people。 Possibly when your want to find the one who has offered poor service to you； you actually lose your temper to another assistant since the one in question is absent。 Thus an innocent person serves as a scapegoat for his or her colleague。 This will cause negative impact on their mind。
Admittedly； plaint letter may get ignored while plaining in person is more impressive。 However； the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and as a result； plaining in writing is my preference。
Who is the famous ent…
Among numerous respectable people in the world； my admiration still focuses on one eminent actress——Audrey Hepburn。 I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to claim that Audrey Hepburn is the most universally beloved actress who ever worked in the field of movie。 Thus I would choose Audrey Hepburn if I were granted the chance to meet a famous entertainer or athlete in the world。 There are at least three factors that lead me to make this decision。
No matter what happened to her； Hepburn always maintained a high spirit。 When her hometown——Belgium was invaded by Germans in 1939； her mother moved the family to Netherlands in the belief that it was safer from German attack。 During the Dutch Famine over the winter of 1944； Germans confiscated the Dutch people’s limited food and fuel supply for themselves。 Suffering from malnutrition； Hepburn developed acute anemia； respiratory problems and oedema。 Despite the harsh conditions； as a proficient ballerina at that time； Hepburn secretly danced to collect money for the Dutch resistance。 Her persistence and attempt to make a difference for peace in the world have long inspired me。
Her astonishing beauty； her elfin smile and her grace have captivated the whole world。 She caught eye of Hollywood； and soon scored her Oscar…winning role in Roman Holiday。 In the next 14 years； she appeared in a succession of unforgettable movies that kept her at the forefront of Hollywood stars； including Funny Face； Breakfast at Tiffany’s and My Fair Lady。 By playing her role with all her efforts； her charm stood the test of time since her films can bring us with various emotional experiences。
Audrey Hepburn was also known as a humanitarian。 After her film career； she was appointed a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund （UNICEF）。 In the years that followed； Hepburn made a series of UNICEF field trips to Turkey； Thailand； and Sudan and so on。 She also worked tirelessly for UNICEF when not making field trips。 She testified before the US congress； designed fund…raising cards； participated in benefit concert tours and gave many speeches and interviews promoting UNICEF’s work。 Her dedication of the remainder of her life to helping impoverished children in the poorest nations deserves our reverence。
Thus I want to meet Audrey Hepburn and express my gratitude and respect to her。 I also want to tell her about my willingness to take her as my role model because of her persistence； her love for her