Topic: Mercy
A common adage says that grace gives what people do not deserve - eternal life while mercy withholds what people do deserve - eternal punishment. However, mercy goes much deeper than that, it is the kindness between human beings.
Mercy strengthens the relationship between mankind. It is often a neglected fact that people can only demonstrate mercy when they are willing to lower themselves. Only when they put themselves in the shoes of those inferior people, can they fully understand what those people need and provide efficient helps. Showing mercy is not the act of throwing some penny to a beggar in order to get rid of him. However, it is rather when one comes to beggar, puts some coins in the box, asking if what he has given is enough for the needy family. By demonstrating mercy, people show their most treasured characteristics, kindness, to people in need. It makes people who are afflicted be more likely to believe in love between humankind because he enjoys the sweetness given by others. People believe it more when they experience it. In return, helpers gain blessings and respect from the needy. Thus, their relationship is built or strengthened, making a warm society where everyone is a son or a daughter of God.
Mercy, to a certain extent, is clarified as forgiveness which helps to maintain the peace worldwide. It is the key factor to solve every kind of conflict. A War can be brought up by many factors such as greed, hatred or disagreement. However, there is only one factor that can put a complete end to a war. It is forgiveness. For example, during the Vietnam War, the American Army had sprayed Agent Orange on various areas all over Vietnam, resulting in various deaths and disabilities. The Agent results in many genetics diseases, making the children who have never engaged in the war suffer from a variety of diseases which is passed down by their parents. Therefore, people around the world definitely think that the Vietnamese victims must possess so much hatred towards the American soldiers. However, they will be surprised to know that the Vietnamese victims have warmly welcomed the American soldiers during their visits to the village. They have treated each other in a surprisingly friendly manner as if all the disastrous consequences have never existed. It is forgiveness that brings human beings closer together. No matter what happens before, together, people play their parts to maintain the harmony.
It is said that only as we demonstrate mercy, do we receive God's mercy. However, a question which raises so much concern among people is that if our motivation of showing mercy is merely a ploy to receive mercy from God. It is definitely shallow if people showing mercy based upon the fear of punishment and hope of reward. Mercy is truly loving our fellow men and willing to put ourselves out, to the extent that we are able. Thus, do enjoy being the givers of mercy!
In conclusion, it is my belief that mercy is not simply the withholding of punishment. It is more of the act of helping and showing kindness towards others to make our world a better world.
Please give me your feedback and advices. Many thanks!!!
Hi Minnie,
A noble essay for sure! The sentiment you put forth would certainly make for a much better world. I have put some suggestions below for your consideration. There are few things that come to mind that may, or may not, be useful for you. Grace and mercy can be difficult topics because they can overlap with other words similar in concept. They are also connotative, so it maybe worth differentiating with some similar words to see what best fits for your intended meaning. At any rate, I don't think you can go wrong by aiming to be concise. You've done a very nice job with some often not so easy concepts. I put some other words to compare and contrast and an edit to the first paragraph as an example. Good luck.
(1)THE RIGHT WORD:
Benevolence
If you want to win friends and influence people, it's best to start with benevolence, a general term for goodwill and kindness (a grandfather's benevolence).
Charity
Charity is even better, suggesting generous giving (the baker gave him bread out of charity) but also meaning tolerance and understanding of others (she viewed his selfish behavior with charity).
Compassion
Compassion is a feeling of sympathy or sorrow for someone else's misfortune (he has shown compassion for the homeless), and often includes showing mercy.
Mercy
Aside from its religious overtones, mercy means compassion or kindness in our treatment of others, especially those who have offended us or who deserve punishment (mercy toward the pickpocket).
Clemency
Clemency is mercy shown by someone whose duty or function it is to administer justice or punish offenses (: the judge granted clemency), while leniency emphasizes gentleness, softness, or lack of severity, even if it isn't quite deserved (a father's leniency in punishing his young son).
(1) Lindberg, C.A. Oxford American Writers Thesaurus. New York, NY: OUP, Inc., 2008. print
Topic: Mercy
A common adage says that grace gives what people do not deserve - eternal life; while mercy withholds what people do deserve - eternal punishment. However, mercy also applies to the temporal world.goes much deeper than thatIt is in mercy that we find empathy, compassion, and forgiveness; the essentials for genuine kindness between human beings.
Seck, this is good stuff. I wish all essayforum members were willing to give such thoughtful feedback! Thanks for making this a great thread.
Here is a tough sentence... one that is difficult to write correctly:
A common adage says that grace gives what people do not deserve -- eternal life -- while mercy withholds what people do deserve: eternal punishment. ---- I would do it this way, with a set of dashes and a colon.
Here is another tough one:
Mercy strengthens the relationship between mankind .
Mercy strengthens the relationships among people, acting as the glue holding humankind together.
However, it is rather when one comes to a beggar, puts some coins in the box, and asks if what he has given is enough for the needy family.
By demonstrating mercy, people show their most treasured characteristic , kindness, to people in need.
However, a question which raises so much concern among people is that question of whether our motivation in showing mercy is merely a ploy to receive mercy from God.
It is definitely shallow if people showing mercy based upon the fear of punishment and hope of reward. ----- This reminds me of something I read about: "God giving" by Shunryu Suzuki. I also remember reading about a "deed of no merit," which refers to a deed that is done for its own sake, not for a reward.
:-) I really like this essay!! You chose a difficult subject, and some sentences are hard to write correctly.
Thank you all for your feedback and advice.
It helps me so much, especially the vocab part. Many thanks. :D
I almost forget, can anyone grade my essay according to "O" level marking scheme, which is upon 30 marks.
You have some great ideas on mercy. I just would like to add that, mercy should base on justice. If you have time, go ahead and read Plato's republic or Aristotle's N. ethics to know more about justice. Last thing to say is mercy is the highest form of justice. goodluck
I almost forget, can anyone grade my essay according to "O" level marking scheme, which is upon 30 marks.
I'm afraid I don't know the grading criteria!! Every person interprets criteria differently. I don't know how to grade these, but maybe somebody else does!
