Thursday, November 28, 2019

Kiss Of The Spider Woman Essays - High School Musical, Fences

Kiss Of The Spider Woman In the play Fences, which was written by August Wilson, Bono, Gabe, and Alberta are all very important people in Troy's life. Bono is Troy's best friend, and through him the reader learns that Troy is a very strong character. Through Gabe, people can see some of the guilt Troy has inside. Alberta helped Troy escape from his problems, and have a few laughs every once in awhile. Each one of these characters tells the reader something different about Troy. Throughout the years, Bono has always been there for Troy. They have been friends for about eighteen years. Bono never hesitated to tell Troy anything, especially his opinion on Alberta. ?I know what Rose means to you, Troy I'm just trying to say I don't want to see you mess up.? (p.63) Bono's words show the reader how much he cares about Troy. Bono was always straightforward with Troy. He even said, ?That's right. I know you. I know you got some Uncle Ramus in your blood. You got more stories than the devil got sinners.? (p.13) Much of Troy is shown in Bono because he has been with him through the good times and the bad. Another character who has helped reveal complexities about Troy is Gabe, Troy's brother. Gabe has a metal plate in his head; caused by his time in War World II. The government in return gave Gabe monthly checks. The only way Troy was able to pay for his house was through the governments' money. ?That's the only way I got a roof over my head?Cause of that metal plate.? (p.28) When Gabe moved in with Miss Pearl, Troy started to feel guilty. He was feeling culpability because not only was Gabe's money paying for Troy's house, but now he was paying money to Miss Pearl that could have been Troy's. When Gabe said, ?Got me two rooms. In the basement. Got my own door key too.? (p.25) Troy felt very guilty. He could have used that money for his own family. Also, almost weekly Troy had to pay $50 to get Gabe out of jail. Neighbors complained that he was disturbing the peace. Gabe added to Troy's character tremendously. Alberta is another character that helps reveal some of the complexities of Troy. Alberta is the woman with whom Troy had an affair. She helped Troy escape from his everyday life problems. When asked about Alberta, Troy had replied, ?She gives me a different understanding about myself. I can step out of this house and get away from the pressures and problems?be a different man.? (p.69) When he is with Alberta he feels that he does not have anything to worry about. This is shown when Troy says, ?I ain't got to wonder how I'm gonna pay the bills or get the roof fixed. I can just be a part of myself I ain't never been.? (p.69) Alberta also helped Troy realize the value of responsibility. When Alberta passed away, Troy was the only one who originally had to take care of Raynell, until Rose said she would. Alberta was very important in this play. Throughout this play, many of Troy's complexities are shown through other characters. Through Gabe, Bono, and Alberta, Troy shows all of his complexities as a man.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Discuss and reflect on how different theories of motivation help explain your intention to maximise the experience of being a student in a University The WritePass Journal

Discuss and reflect on how different theories of motivation help explain your intention to maximise the experience of being a student in a University Abstract Discuss and reflect on how different theories of motivation help explain your intention to maximise the experience of being a student in a University , p. 1). By demonstrating that I have engaged in various activities as part of my University life will not only benefit me, but it will also be highly valued by any potential employers. This will certainly add to my motivation of being a student since I will be confident that I have maximised my experiences of University life, whilst at the same time preparing myself for the future. Theories of Motivation There are various motivational theories that seek to explain why people act in certain ways and are generally based upon conscious and unconscious motivations. Here I will seek to explain how three of these motivational theories help explain my own intentions to maximise the experience of being a student by engaging in various co-curricular activities. The first theory that helps to explain this is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. According to Maslow, there are five classes of hierarchic needs which people are generally motivated by. These needs are; physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem and self-actualization (Pritchard and Ashwood, 2008, p. 6). Such needs cause one to act in a certain way in order to gain satisfaction and Maslow believes that lower needs take priority. This is because the higher needs will not be fully activated unless the lower needs have first been satisfied. For example, if I haven’t eaten or slept properly (physiological) then I will not be mot ivated to achieve my self-esteem desires. This will in turn impact upon my experiences of University life as I will not be motivated to maximise my University life experiences. Another motivational theory that helps to explain my own intentions is the Incentive Theory which is the desire to obtain external rewards. This theory is one of the main motivational theories that exists and illustrates that individuals are motivated by a desire to reinforce incentives. As put by Bernstein (2011, p. 4); â€Å"people are pulled toward behaviours that offer positive incentives and pushed away from behaviours associated with negative incentives.† This suggests that different types of behaviour are generally caused by the different incentives to which they apply. Therefore, individuals with different incentives will act in different ways. My incentive to achieve success and obtain good grades at University will affect the way I behave. Regardless, the value of my incentives can change over time and will pretty much be dependent upon the situation that I am in at the time (Franzoi, 2011, p. 3). An example of this is the praise which I may receive from tutors. Such praise may have greater value in certain situations, but not in others. In effect, incentives can only be considered a powerful tool if great importance is being placed upon them. The final motivational theory that will help to explain my intentions to maximise the experience of being a student in a University is the Intrinsic and Extrinsic theory. This theory is based upon the belief that motivation is divided into two types namely; internal (intrinsic) and external (extrinsic) motivation. Intrinsic motivation occurs when an individual is driven by an interest in a particular task, whereas extrinsic motivation occurs when an individual is influenced by exter nal factors. It has been suggested that extrinsic motivation often results in a reduction of intrinsic motivation as individuals are more likely to be influenced by external sources (Wilson and Lassiter, 1982, p. 811). Whilst at University I will influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. This is because I will be motivated to study in order to get a good grade (extrinsic) and because I enjoy the subject (intrinsic). In addition, I will also be motivated to take part in co-curricular activities because it will assist in my development once I leave University (extrinsic) and I will also find it enjoyable whilst studying (intrinsic). In effect, the main difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations is the fact that extrinsic motivation arises from outside influences, whilst intrinsic motivation arises from within. Importance of motivation in University Motivation is clearly an important attribute to have whilst studying at University since it will help one to develop further and make life easier and more enjoyable whilst studying. From these findings it is evident that motivation is driven by the desire to succeed, which can be attained by taking full advantages of all the activities Universities have to offer. Provided that I maximise the experience of University life by taking part in co-curricular activities whilst studying, I will remain focused and motivated. In order to stay motivated it is essential that I avoid situations that will most likely be distracting and set goals and targets. This will ensure that I stay motivated to study as I will be able to clearly identify the goals and targets that I have set out to achieve. Long term goals will include; graduating, being employable, obtaining my dream job and proving to myself and others that I can achieve anything that I set out to do. Short terms goals will include; improvi ng the way I study, taking part in co-curricular activities, obtaining part-time work in order ease financial pressures, creating a study timetable and getting organised. Whilst it can be extremely difficult to stay focused when there are outside distractions, I can alleviate this by thinking about ways to eliminate such distractions in advance and managing my time appropriately. As put by Rybak (2007, p. 14); â€Å"If you care about it enough to stay motivated you’re ahead of the game.† Nevertheless, in order to stay motivated, I need to first identify my goals and prioritise any tasks and activities that will me to achieve them. Conclusion Overall, it is clear that the different theories of motivation do help to explain my intention to maximise the experience of being a student in a University. This is because motivation is a psychological attributes that enables me to achieve my desired goals and targets. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs clearly demonstrates that in order for me to achieve my goals, I first need to consider the five classes of hierarchal needs and ensure that my lower needs are given priority over my higher needs. This is because he higher needs will not be fully activated unless the lower needs have first been satisfied. The Incentive theory also signifies how I can stay motivated whilst at University by focusing on behaviours that offer positive as opposed to negative incentives. Finally, the Intrinsic and Extrinsic theory allows me to focus on both internal and external motivations so that I can fully appreciate and achieve my objectives. References Bernstein, D. A. (2011). Essentials of psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Ferguson, J. G., (2001) Co-Curricular Activities: A Pathway to Careers, Facts on File, Business Economics. Franzoi, S. L. (2011). Psychology: A discovery experience. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Klesse, E. J., (2004) Student Activities in Today’s Schools: Essential Learning for All Youth, RL Education. Pritchard, R., and Ashwood, E., (2008) Managing Motivation. New York: Taylor Francis Group. Rybak, J., (2007) What’s Wrong with University: And How to Make It Work for You Anyway, ECW Press. The Guardian., (2013) Why our students need co-curricular activities, not extra-curricular, activities, Learning and Teaching Hub, theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/jan/22/student-development-university-curriculum-design [Accessed 10 November, 2013]. Wilson, T, D. and Lassiter, G. D., (1982) Increasing intrinsic interest with superfluous extrinsic constraints. Journal of personality and social psychology, 42 (5).

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Pacific Islands Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pacific Islands Culture - Research Paper Example These groups of islands have both differences as well as commonalities based on culture, social structure, and historical experience. Populations migrating from other regions such as Africa and Asia began colonizing the islands over 35,000 years ago. Over the millennia, there were numerous encounters of the settlers with the outside world. Of over 6.3 million currently living in the Pacific Islands, the majority of the population of around 84% live in Melanesia, only around 9% live in Polynesia and approximately 7% live in Micronesia (Eccleston et al, 1998). Melanesia is related to the Greek words melas which means black and nesos (islands); it refers to the â€Å"physical appearance of the indigenous inhabitants of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Solomon Islands† (Eccleston et al, 1998, p.249). Polynesia is related to the Greek word poly (many). It forms a triangular group of islands including Hawaii in the north, Aotearoa/ New Zealand in the south-west to Rapanul/ Easter Island in the south-east. The single culture in this unique triangle is reduced by the intrusion of colonialism. Indigenous Polynesians maintain effective sovereignty to some extent only in the inner islands, excluding the peripheral ones. Micronesia from micros (small) encompass the Northern Marianas in the north, Palau in the west, and Kiribati in the south-east. The smaller islands of Micronesia have societies similar to those in Polynesia; they are â€Å"ruled by indigenous hereditary aristocracies both before and after contact with colo nial powers† (Eccleston et al, 1998, p.249). In comparison with Polynesia and Micronesia, in most of Melanesia with some exceptions like Fiji which is on the boundary, the societies are more egalitarian with equality among men; contrastingly however, gender inequalities are greater. Originating from the Fujian province of southern China, seafaring people who spoke the Austronesian language, settled in the distant parts of Melanesia,

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Analysis of Environmental Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Analysis of Environmental Issues - Essay Example This has led to a rise in the processes of energy production. The mining and burning of coal account for a few processes which are used for the purpose of energy production. The impact of coal on the environment is an issue of environmental concern. It serves as a threat to the environment owing to the production of hazardous substances which tend to alter the normal environment as well as lay effects on the health of the individuals (Finkelman et al 1999; Hill 2010). The burning of coal takes place in houses for domestic purposes in third world countries where there is the unavailability of gas. This is accompanied by the use of coal as an energy source for industries across the world. The process of coal mining precedes the process of coal burning. It is the procedure used for the extraction of coal. The processes of coal mining, as well as the burning of coal, lead to the release of harmful substances into the environment. These include carbon dioxide, nitric oxide and sulfur diox ide which are all harmful to the environment (International Labour Office et al 1994). Coal mining should be a regulated process and the sites should be away from places where people reside. Strict regulations should also be followed in these areas to prevent exposure to individuals. Ash should be deposited in safe sites where they are away from the water reservoirs to prevent contamination.

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Road of e-Business Transformation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6750 words

The Road of e-Business Transformation - Essay Example Both government and industry experts and leaders are anticipating the time when e-business investments will eventually create authentic and lasting change. E-business is about continuously revolutionizing market spaces and business models, innovating organizations in time to compete, reinforced by Internet technologies, manpower capital, and the search for value. The strength of the transformation is the core of e-business investment, but such has yet to be sufficiently illustrated through the current applications of e-business models (Khoong, 2001). The startup phase transpired between 1995 and 1999. During the onset of e-business, several pure-play startups surfaced, utilizing technology as a critical business driver. The value proposition of the startups was inclined towards the catchphrase 'Content is King!'. The euphoria was compounded by a gold rush - valuation of dotcoms was seen as the way to instant wealth. The reality of the startup phase was that expensive customer acquisition was of little help for weak value propositions, and the big burn rates eventually caused the failures of numerous startups. The first 100 days of business also became the last 100 days for some. The tail end of the startup phase was a B2C shakeout. It was only last year t... The first 100 days of business also became the last 100 days for some. The tail end of the startup phase was a B2C shakeout. It was only last year that e-business investors began to separate the hype from the reality. The NASDAQ crash provided a much-needed correction on the real value of e-business investments. This second phase - the partnership phase - is where we stand today. Partnerships through joint ventures and strategic alliances between old-economy and new-economy firms are seen as the attractive paths to profitability. By focusing on vertical business sectors and leveraging partnerships to provide a ready community of subscribers to e-business services, customer acquisition costs are dramatically reduced and the top-line potential becomes significantly more lucrative. The partnership phase is expected to run for another year or so, by which time the next phase will set in. In the meantime, the market will have to sort itself out, as at the moment a glut in e-marketplaces is looming. The tail end of the partnership phase will be a B2B shakeout. Within the next two years, we expect consolidation in the e-business industry. This will then bring us into the consolidation phase, in which every business is an e-business, and the 'e' qualification becomes totally redundant. Consolidation will mean e-business infrastructure becomes the backbone of huge business networks, supporting end-to-end supply chain integration. The tail end of the consolidation phase - if there is one - may be characterized by a world comprising a few gigantic global e-firms and some very small firms who remain out of the e-loop.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The growth of the banana market in Australia

The growth of the banana market in Australia The bananas market in Australia has been expanding since 1993 to 2008. In 20 March 2006, a Tropical Cyclone Larry has caused a damage in banana industry and affected the bananas market. The explanation of effects happened will be provided by looking into price equilibrium, price elasticity of demand and supply and price ceiling imposed by government. In a perfectly competitive market, there is no government intervention in the market. The price is usually established when the equilibrium price and quantity is achieved (Jackson,J Mclver.R 2007). Equilibrium means that consumers are willing to buy at this price and producers are willing to supply. By referring to the graph Figure 1, we can see the equilibrium is at the intersection point between demand curve and supply curve. Pe means the price equilibrium and Qe means quantity equilibrium. In an equilibrium state, problems like shortage and surplus will not happen in the market because the quantity demand and quantity supply are in balance. Shortage will usually happen when the price is below the price equilibrium, we can see that when price drops from Pe to P0, the quantity supply will decrease because suppliers are willing to supply at this price where they have low revenue while quantity demand will increase because consumers find bananas is really cheap and they should buy it. Demand exceeds supply. Surplus will happen when the price is above the price equilibrium. From the graph, when price increase from Pe to P1, the quantity demand drops because consumers find it very expensive and the bananas doesnt worth that price while quantity supply increase because the suppliers are willing to supply as much as they could as the high price of bananas would help them to generate more revenue. Demand exceeds supply. The natural disaster, cyclone has caused the supplies of bananas to decrease tremendously. The price elasticity of demand in bananas market is said to be inelastic when we look into the determinants. First of all, Bananas are Australias No.1 selling fruit, it means there is a huge demand for bananas in Australia.(ABGC n.d) Bananas industry appears to be one of the largest fruit growing industries in Australia and also an important contributor to the economies. Bananas are among Australias top 10 supermarket lines. First determinant would be the availability of substitute goods and for bananas, there is lack of substitutes for it. Apparently the demand would be inelastic when there is no substitutes. Second determinant is proportion of income. Bananas price has shot up from around $3 per kg to $15 per kg (ABCG n.d). Consumption of bananas would be still a small fraction of income although the price has increased. Therefore, consumers are not sensitive towards the price changing. Third is Luxury versus necessity. Bananas can be considered as a necessity in Australia because people still consume bananas although the price has increased. According to the Australia Banana Growers Council, they estimated that 28 million of bananas are consumed each week, which means a person consume 60-70 bananas and is around 13kg averagely (ABCG n.d). Fourth determinant would be time. The time would be in a short run because consumers are difficult to change income and preference immediately right after the cyclone. People would still think that the price is acceptable and they will still buy it in short run. It would be an elastic supply for bananas market because there are around 800 banana growers in Australia (mainly from Queensland and New South Wales) that are estimated to produce about 23 million 13 kilogram cartons of bananas (ABCG n.d). When there are a lot of supplies, its price elasticity of supply would be elastic and long run. However, the supply has decreased as the c yclone has caused a critical damage on banana farms. The price has shot up because there is a shortage in bananas market. Banana consumers will tend to compete and bid up the market price for bananas. As the supply curve shifted to left, it shows that the price has gone up from P0 to P1 and quantity demanded has decreased from Q0 to Q1.(refer to figure 2) It then moves to the new price equilibrium from e0 to e1 and it shows that a large change in price has resulted a small proportionate change in quantity. Quantity demanded falls means many customers cant afford the new equilibrium price. Total expenditure on bananas is equal to total revenue gained by sellers. From the graph, the R1 shaded area means revenue gained, R2 shaded area means revenue loss. Since the demand is inelastic, the revenue gained will be more than revenue loss when the price increases. Therefore, the total revenue of sellers increased. In economy, whenever the supplies is found limited and couldnt satisfy all the demands in market, suppliers would tend to increase the price as high as possible to maximize their profit. It would be a benefit to suppliers but a disadvantage for the consumers. In such situation, government intervention is needed to set up a price ceiling in the market of bananas. Price ceiling means a maximum legal price level that suppliers can set for the goods they are selling Jackson,J Mclver.R 2007). Price ceiling for this case would be a protection for the consumers as they dont have to pay for unreasonable high price set by suppliers. However, putting a ceiling price in the market doesnt settle the problems. It may cause a bigger shortage. The shortage would cause difficulty in rationing the limited supply of bananas. From graph Figure 3, we can see that quantity supply is falling further from Qe to Qs and Quantity demand has increased from Qe to Qd. Apparently, the quantity supply contributed more to shortage compare to consumers. Besides that, black market price will increase further. Setting a ceiling price is actually encouraging black market. All these consequences such as black market and shortage will cause the market efficiency to become inefficient. Supplier will not be happy to supply because they have low income selling bananas at ceiling price. The government will receive less sales tax from banana industry as well. In conclusion, there are pros and cons if government intervenes the market by implementing price ceiling. However, the price ceiling would only have short-term effects because the supply could recover in within 6months to 12 months period. Reference Lists Australian Banana Growers Council Inc. (ABCG) n.d, Media Kit, available through www.australianbananas.com.au/public/media/downloads/media_kit.pdf, viewed at 2 September 2010. Jackson,J Mclver.R 2007, Microeconomics , 8th edn, McGraw-Hill, Australia.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Biased Fight Against Crime in Millers Essay, The Rush to Punish :: Criminal Justice

Biased Fight Against Crime in Miller's Essay, The Rush to Punish In the essay "The Rush to Punish", Jerome Miller discusses how the nation's fight against crime has been aimed at the poor and minorities. He argues that far too many people are in prison or have criminal records in this country. Miller's main claim is one of policy, which expresses that the nation's current criminal justice system needs to change. He writes, "I'm very pessimistic about where things are heading" (566). This essay discusses issues of racism, stereotypes, individual city systems, and family importance in order to appeal to its intended audience of taxpayers, lawmakers, law enforcement officials, and criminals. General audience members, a fraction of society, may be oblivious to their impact on the system. The warrant suggested by Miller is that society must change its biases and routines in order for the criminal justice system to change. This article is written in question-answer format and has been taken from an interview. This makes the author's opinion very clear and works well to show argument. Miller appears to be sarcastic is some of his answers. This may confuse the reader, therefore distorting his purpose a little. The first support claim the author makes is that the majority of people in prison are minorities. He uses statistics to prove that the percentages of blacks and Hispanics obtaining criminal records are dramatically increasing. A large portion of minority males has a violent label. Miller states, "Now when we talk about building more prisons, when we talk about longer sentences, when we talk about cracking down on violent offenders, everyone knows that we're talking about men of color" (566). This clearly shows that something must be changed about the number of minorities involved with crime and backs up the main claim nicely. The second support claim used by the author is that society has to change how it handles offenders. Average offenders are labeled as serious, violent, and savagelike, but people do not take the time to find out the details of the criminals' pasts and the reasoning behind their acts. Miller writes, "Those are the kinds of things we not only do not want to know but from which we run in fear - because if we were to hear them, we'd all feel a little bit guilty. It's much easier to start talking about people in genetic terms" (567). The author uses this support very wisely.

Monday, November 11, 2019

A Gathering Of Old Men

Ernest J. Gaines' novel, â€Å"A Gathering of Old Men† employs experimental narrative techniques in order to probe themes of racism and classicism, as well as to examine the nature of storytelling in humanity's past and also for humanity's future.By employing no less than fifteen separate narrators   in this novel, Gaines is able to penetrate deeply into the subjective experiences of a a number of men — together whom comprise a social microcosm of African American history and experience.Through the diverse range of voices at his disposal, Gaines probes a wide range of grievances and also exaltations among his characters and demonstrates the strength of communal unity. The diverse range of narrators used in the novel expresses the novel's theme of strength-through-diversity adn unity-through-intimacy.A careful reading of the novel reveals the deep motivations of its characters, each of which reveals the novel's theme of redemption and social renewal. Because of the â⠂¬Å"tribal† nature of the diversity of narrators, the reader is able to feel as though they are a direct participant in the action, as though reading the novel is an initiation rite of sorts.The novel's central intrigue: the murder of   Beau Baton, also forwards the initiation or ritualistic them: the novel is meant to show the growth (or initiation) not only of chronologically grown men into — long delayed – manhood, but to redefine standards of black masculinity altogether for the characters in the novel itself and also for the novel's readers.In the novel, the fifteen separate narrators are drawn out of their ordinary lives and into a civic, almost mythic role. Gaines signals that the unfolding of events is meant to have this mythic, ritualistic overtone when the old men gathering proclaim that things seem new again, that they feel good about what they are doing.Wallace sees the water of the river â€Å"as if it were still a mystery,† while   Mat ad mits that he is happy that they   â€Å"and all the rest are doing something different, for the first time† ( Gathering, 40).There is also the symbolic/ritualistic firing of guns, urged by Clatoo who tells the men â€Å"Let them down there hear you† ( Gathering, 48) and contrasted with the brutality of combined experience among the novel's protagonists, this symbolic gunfire demonstrates controlled violence and anger: emotions turned to ritualistic healing.There can be no doubt that these feelings of race-based anger contributed to the murder. When asked, Uncle Billy admits that he killed Beau out of a longing for revenge:What they did my boy†¦. The way they beat him. They beat him till they beat him   crazy and we had to send him to Jackson (the state mental facility). He don't even know me and his mama no more. We take him candy, we take him cake, he eat it like a hog eating corn†¦.The ritual-based and initiation based theme of the novel is meant to tra nsform the violence of the murder into a healing process,where each of the novel's narrators â€Å"confesses† their anger and need for revenge and then each learns something through the experience of participating after-the-fact in a murder that only a single man committed.Later, for example, Gable reveals his son is killed for the false accusation for rape on a   white woman and Coot talks about his war experiences.The man who could break horses, Yank, relishes his role without at first realizing it makes him subservient to whites. But there is also a shadow of environmental awareness tied to the ritual murder: that the renewal of black masculinity is directly tied to the renewal of nature.Johnny Paul explains the murder on behalf of the flowers: â€Å"That's why I kilt him, that's why†¦.To protect them little flowers. But they ain't here no more. And how come?† (Gathering, 92).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gaines' intention is to tie subjective individual renewal with the renewal of both community and environment and he portrays the murder an consequent ruse in symbolically charged terms.Killing Beau might revive the river: â€Å"That river†¦. Where the people went all these years. Where they fished, where they washed they clothes, where they was baptized. St. Charles River. Done gived us food, done cleaned us clothes, done cleaned us soul. St. Charles River — no more, though. No more.They took it. † (Gathering, 107). Because the novel relies on complex themes, it is dangerous to assume that racial issues are any more dominant than issues of community preservation and environmental preservation.The key theme in the novel, as m,mentioned, is the reviving of masculinity: the renewal of masculine energy which is seen to extend beyond race and into the elements of the earth and nature themselves.Mathu's discovery of his community is the most starkly profoundly as portrayed in â€Å"A Gathering of Old Men.† When he says â₠¬Å"I been changed†¦.I been changed. Not by that white man's God. I don't believe in that white man's God. I been changed by y'all.Rooster, Clabber, Dirty Red, Coot — you changed this hardhearted old man.† (Gathering, 182 ); he as admitting that even his previous contempt and mistrust of white people has been challenged by his new-found notions of community.While it is relatively easy to spot the racial themes of â€Å"A Gathering of Old Men† the communal themes and the themes of renewal through nature may be a bit more difficult for the casual reader to understand.When the various themes of the novel are begun to be regarded as a whole, the picture which emerges is not a picture of â€Å"black† anger of African American bitterness or even of racism or classicism, but issues of humanism.The reclaiming of masculinity by the men in the novel can be regarded, symbolically, as the renewal of any person or any group which seeks to finally reaffirm its power after a period, perhaps even a protracted period, of suppression and duress.Rather than portray this accumulated anger and resentment as exploding in, say, a violent — if even localized — revolution, Gaines views the kind of fusion of bitterness, anger, and resentment, to a call to awareness of and an identification and re-claiming of communal ties and environmental awareness.Taken this way, the subjective stories presented by the various narrators of â€Å"A Gathering of Old Men† can be seen to transform into universal voices of awareness, and cathartic change.This transformation is heralded by community and the liberation of private anger and private experience as culturally accepted, in fat culturally imperative information.The novel's experimental narrative techniques weld the ancient oral tradition of tribal cultures with the scathingly sharp awareness of modern political and psychological realities.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Feminism essays

Feminism essays Why is gender so important? I think, the simplest answer is, because its there. There are two genders, which we call female and male and there are many distinctions between them. People generally afraid of talking about gender because many of them think that the talking would be end about feminism. Then why are they afraid of feminism? Because, these people think that feminism states, women are good, men are bad. And there are several myths about it. People believe that; feminists are man haters, they are lesbians, they want to bring men down and take over, etc. However, all of us should know that, Feminism is a policy, practice or advocacy of political, economic and social equality of women and the people who advocate this, are feminists. (www.milwaukeenow.org) So it can be understood from here that feminists are not against men, they just want to have equal rights. Feminism has been a prominent and controversional topic in writings for the past two centuries. One of the most important work of contemporary feminist theory is, Simone de Beauvoirs book The Second Sex. Lets mention the aim of the book with her words: For a long time I hesitated to write a book on woman. The subject is irritating, especially, to women and it is not new. Enough ink has been spilled in quarreling over feminism and perhaps we should say no more about it. It is still talked about, however, for the voluminous nonsense uttered during the last century seems to have done little to illuminate the problem. After all, is there a problem? And if so, what is it? Are there women really? (www.marxist.org) In this essay, Ill discuss the reasons why de Beauvoir criticizes woman and her opinions about the improvement of the womans position in society. If we observe woman and man, from past to now, well see that they do not have any common feat ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Vietnam Essays - Vietnam War, Presidency Of Richard Nixon

Vietnam Essays - Vietnam War, Presidency Of Richard Nixon Vietnam In the early 1960s, North Vietnam wished to unify North and South Vietnam through military force. Since the United States feared the spread of communism in Asia, John F. Kennedy provided economic and military aid to South Vietnam to prevent the takeover by North Vietnam. At this time, this was still a civil war. The United States were not yet officially involved. The North Vietnamese resented this intervention by the United Sates and so, three Vietnamese torpedo boats fired on the U.S. destroyer, Maddox on August 2nd, 1964. The Maddox had been in the Gulf of Tonkin ( international waters ), thirty miles off the coast of Vietnam. On August 3rd, 1964, President Johnson gave the right to attack with the objective of destroying attacking forces . Retaliation air attacks began on August 3rd. Their aim was to destroy North Vietnam's gunboat capability. As two more United States destroyers were supposedly sunk, more air and sea forces were sent. Up until now, the U.S. had refrained from direct combat. This is when the United States formally entered the Vietnam War. The U.S. did this for two reasons. We wished to maintain the independence of South Vietnam and we had to prove to allied nations that we would help them resist Communist takeover. As Congress was about to vote whether or not to allow the combat to move into North Vietnam, the North Vietnamese attacked a major U.S. airbase at Bein Hoa. On February 7th, 1965, Johnson ordered retaliation bombing on North Vietnam. Rolling Thunder was the name of this operation. It's purpose was to put pressure on Hanoi and convince them that Communism could not and would not win. At the end of 1965, one hundred and eighty thousand Americans were in South Vietnam under General William S. Westmoreland. The U.S. mainly depended on superior firepower and helicopters. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese depended on surprise attack and concealment. The United States soldiers realized that the war would last for many more years and wondered if the U.S. war effort could succeed. At the end of 1968, The number of American troops in South Vietnam reached it's peak of 542,000 men. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese launched a major invasion against the United States called the Tet offensive from January 30th to February 25th, 1968. At the Khe Sanh U.S. firebase, there was a major ground battle. There was a siege from January 21st to April 14th. It was thought to be the American Dien Bien Phu . The United States turned it around however, with their victory at Hue. By 1969, combat decreased rapidly and American troops began to return home. The role of Communism was extremely important in this conflict. Communism was one of the main reasons of why the United States entered the war in the first place. The U.S. had to enter the war to stop the spread of Communism in Asia since North Vietnam was Communist. Had North Vietnam succeeded in converting Vietnam into a Communist country, it could become very powerful and go on to persuade other countries to become Communist. The U.S. believed that Vietnam could become powerful. They were amazed that France, an Allied power, had been beaten by the Vietnamese. North Vietnam was a Communist country. The man who had proclaimed Vietnam independent, Ho Chi Minh, was a Communist. During the war with the French, Ho Chi Minh took refuge in northern Vietnam and settled there with his followers. He founded the Indochina Communist Party and the Viet Minh. He became the president of North Vietnam from 1945 to 1969. North Vietnam was a poor area and was cut off from the agricultural benefit of South Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh was forced to ask assistance from major Communist allies - the Soviet Union and China. Both aided North Vietnam before and during the war. The North Vietnamese invaded South Vietnam. They wanted to use military tactics to force unification. The United States did not allow their unification. The U.S. knew that the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese wished to establish one ruling government, the Communist Party. This led to the Vietnam War and U.S. intervention. On January 27th, 1973, South Vietnam Communist forces ( Viet Cong ), North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the United States agreed on many things during the Paris peace talks. The talks lasted over two years before any agreements were made that suited all of them. The forces involved agreed that U.S. troops would gradually withdraw from Vietnam and all

Monday, November 4, 2019

Research Paper about International Students Study in America Essay

Research Paper about International Students Study in America - Essay Example The salient features of the story, â€Å"How It Feels to be Colored Me,† reveal broadly what must have been transpired in the mind of Hurston, when she was discriminated by the society on account of the color of her skin. In her childhood in Eatonville, Florida, she had no color problems. She sang, danced in the streets and greeted neighbors like any other child, and mingled freely without any feelings of alienation. She had no imagination about the magnitude of differences that suddenly cropped up when she lost her mother, when she was just thirteen and left home for attending a boarding school in Jacksonville. The transformation of her being as â€Å"colored† was immediate. Racism is a life-long insult to the dignity of the blacks and it requires immense courage to challenge it. The important aspect of the story is the period to which it belonged, that was challenging to the life and existence of blacks. It was published in â€Å"The World Tomorrow,† in the May 1928’s edition. The ideology of racial segregation dominated the social and cultural life of America. Challenge to black pride prevailed in every segment. In such a turbulent era, Hurston’s pen did the job of presenting before the public a stinging message to challenge the societal mindset. In the final analysis of the issues related to colored people Hurston concludes by asserting that â€Å"the Great Stuffer of Bags, the Creator, may have fashioned people in this way from the very beginning† (Hurston). The Colored Issue Today in Its Broad Perspective Read this revealing passage: â€Å"Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me. Slavery is sixty years in the past. The operation was successful and the patient is doing well, thank you. The terrible struggle that made me an American out of a potential slave said "On the line!† The Reconstruction said "Get set!† and the gen eration before said "Go!† I am off to a flying start and I must not halt in the stretch to look behind and weep† ( Hurston). For colored people of any genre, and for the student population in particular, the above summing up, should serve as the guiding principle for any contingencies. An international student in the social circumstances prevailing in America today lives in a favorable time, as compared to the year 1928. The materialistic civilization, the internet revolution and globalization have contributed a lot to dilute the impact of discrimination on the basis of color. At the level of the individual some people may still deal with reservations towards the colored people for their own reasons. But legally, the colored students are fully protected and have legal remedies if racial bias is practiced against them. View the colored issue from the spiritual angle. The solution becomes much easier. Hurston argues, â€Å"I have no separate feeling about being an America n citizen and colored. I am merely a fragment of the Great Soul that surges within the boundaries. My country, right or wrong† (Hurston). The intensity of the anguish for discrimination on

Friday, November 1, 2019

Discuss the Moral Considerations Relevant to the Killing of Human Essay

Discuss the Moral Considerations Relevant to the Killing of Human Being - Essay Example According to those who oppose this  practice, they argue that the foetus is a human being or a person from the time of conception. Hence terminating it is the same as killing a human  being  which in itself is not  moral.  The foetus acquires  human  characteristics remarkably early in its  life  such that by the tenth week, it already has acquired a  face, arms,  and also  fingers and toes.  Also, the internal organs and the brain activity can be detected by this time. As every human has the right to life, also does the foetus. Every woman has the right to decide what should be happening in her body, but the foetus's right to life always outweighs her right to  make  a  choice  as to what happens in her body (Thompson 45). Many people who support abortion have  various  premises to support their arguments. One is pregnancy due to rape. They argue that this is reason enough to terminate the pregnancy. However, one cannot say that those who  wer e conceived  through rape have less  right  to live than others. Pregnancy due to rape results in the conception of a  baby  that also has the equal right to life just like all the other conventional methods of conception (Thompson 56). Hence Judith wonders what will happen when the mother's life  is threatened  by the pregnancy, whether it is morally relevant to  abort  the pregnancy or not. ... This means that abortion is morally permissible in some situations while in others it is not (Thompson 58). Judith's considerations on the  morality  of human  killing  are similar to the argument of Dan Brock who argued about the  morality  of voluntary, active euthanasia. Provision of  relieve  from suffering is among the many ways doctors take care of the patient`s wellbeing (Brock 30). Yet from a third-person point of view, it  is not known  whether an individual`s quality of life is extremely low that it  is burdensome  for the individual. Hence an  individual  might  regard  the continuation of his life to be unbearable because of the severity of his suffering; and  want  a doctor to end his suffering  immediately  by ending his life. This means that an individual acting on his values is morally permissible if his doing so is consistent with permitting others to the same freedom. This is  mostly  self-determination and the  value  of  equal  liberty. Hence an individual`s  choice  of  voluntary, active euthanasia is  more  consistent with permitting others the same freedom. Therefore, an individual  choice  of  voluntary, active euthanasia and the doctor's fulfilment of this request are morally permissible. However, voluntary, active euthanasia involves the deliberate killing of individuals, which is wrong. Hence voluntary, active euthanasia is also wrong. Removing life-sustaining  treatment  also amounts to deliberate killing of innocent people yet it  is thought  as morally permissible (Brock 32). This  is only done  when it is  consistent  with the well-being of the patient and his  self  determination. Hence voluntary, active euthanasia is morally permissible when it is  consistent  with the autonomy and the well-being of the patient (Brock 35). According