World Religions Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

World Religions Report - Essay Example It is possible to say that religion or religious inquiry — is something that virtually all people have in common. People have wondered about the meaning of life since Adam was a boy and they interested in this meaning to the present day. In all corners of the world and in all eras of history people have own beliefs, faith in higher power and question if there is anyone or anything â€Å"out there†. We have learned a lot of information about religion and as for me the best way to remember all information and understand its main essence is a personal connection with a real person who will explain major aspects of own religion and show its main advantages. I think that visitation of a real religious site will give me an opportunity to learn much more about chosen religion. Thereby, the main purposes of my paper are to interview person of chosen faith and than compare and contrast this faith with other religion that I was familiar with through my class. I chose Christianity and Islam as religions for my analysis. I think that in the first place it is necessary to remember the definition of concept â€Å"religion† and then it will be easier to talk about different kinds of religions and compare two of them.. According to Asad (1993), the concept ‘religion’ in general meaning â€Å"is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner’s experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth†. The term â€Å"religion†, however, refers not only to the personal practices that directed to communal faith, but also it refers to different group rituals and communication stemming from shared religious convictions. The notion â€Å"religion† people sometimes use except the word â€Å"faith† and usually these words consider interchangeable variants. I think that there is one big differ ence between them and this difference is caused by the specific behaviors which are the part of religious system. In the beginning of this paragraph it is necessary to mention that all religions are an attempt of man to know the truth of God. Moreover, thinking about Christianity it is possible to suppose that Christianity is not a religion, but it is God’s answer to our questions. Christians believe that the true and full communion with God can be only through appearance of Christ before people. Of course, the ancient mystics and prophets, the Sufis, the Dervishes, the Indian Brahmins - all of them have their own mystical experience and they use it to be in some way closer to God, but all of this is done through human efforts, through human striving upwards. Only in one case, in the case of Christ, God is able to show own appearance before people. This is the single most direct revelation, and therefore salvation in Christ is a unique, and the most profound approaching to Go d. Despite the fact that historical interval between Christianity and Islam is about 600 years (I-VII century AD), Koran includes a lot of information about Christianity, moreover, it includes more than other religions facts about Christianity. It can be explained by the fact that both Christianity and Islam, and even Judaism have the same geographical region at various times - the Middle East; and all of them ( the above mentioned religions) were developed among the peoples of Semitic origin (Jews and Arabs). Comparing Christianity with Islam in the way of their appearance it is necessary to state that Christianity is the second world religions by the time of its occurrence. It originated as a sect of Judaism in I century BC in Palestine. This initial relationship

Rose for Emily Analysis Essay Example for Free

Rose for Emily Analysis Essay William Faulkner was not only one of the greatest Southern writers of all time but one of the great American authors of all time. His works have long been criticized and analyzed for their deeper meanings and themes. One of his most analyzed works is his short story A Rose for Emily. While Faulkner uses numerous techniques and strategies which include the chronology of the story, his strongest weapon is his usage of the narrator as an omniscient gossip. Thomas Dilworth says that the narrator is as important to the plot as Emily Grierson. (Dilworth). Whether this is true or not, the narrator is an important part that helps makes the story what it is, a great Southern short story. While the narrator is never narrowed down to a specific person he seems to speak as a representative of the community and it is apparent that he knows everything about Miss Emily and of every event that happens in the small town. By seeing everything that the narrator sees, we get to see all the happenings throughout the story, but this view isnt always objective. The narrators bias and opinions bleed through the narration. In the process of telling it, he implies his own and his societys cultural values, which influence attitudes and behavior toward Miss Emily in a way that implicates him and the townspeople in her fate(Dilworth). By his talking about how the town pities Miss Emily it makes you feel pity for her also. The narrator plays a sort of antagonist in the story with his opinions of Miss Emily. If you believe everything the narrator tells you in the story it allows him to skew the story in any way in which he seems fit. By making you listen to the narrators thoughts Faulkner makes you listen to his own thoughts. For example, the following line, Then we said, She will persuade him yet, because Homer himself had remarkedhe liked men, and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks Clubthat he was not a marrying man(Faulkner) is interpreted quite different from an objective line such as Homer drank with the younger men in the Elks Club, and wasnt the marrying type . The second statement raises no question of Barrons sexuality while the narrator does raise that question in the first sentence. Homers sexuality is never actually stated or proved but it does force you to keep the possibility in your mind as you read the rest of the story. James Wallace states To believe that the narrator here reveals something true about Homer is to become exactly like the narrator and his society of gossipy, nosy neighbors(Wallace). Little subtleties such as this one sway your outlook on the characters and the story in general and whether realized or not change the way you read the story. With immense skill and rhetoric Faulkner successfully inputs the narrator into A Rose for Emily changing the complexion on the story and transforming it into the classic that it is now, a gothic tale of Southern Society. Dilworth, Thomas. A Romance to Kill for: Homicidal Complicity in Faulkners A Rose for Emily. Studies in Short Fiction. 36. 3 (Summer 1999) : 251 Academic Search Premier. EBSCOHost. Huie Library, Arkadelphia, AR. 1 Nov. 2005. . Wallace, James. Faulkners A Rose for Emily. Explicator. 50. 2 (Winter 1992) : 105 Academic Search Premier. EBSCOHost. Huie Library, Arkadelphia, AR. 1 Nov 2005. . Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. Collected Stories of William Faulkner. New York: Random House, 1950. 119-130.

the order of things (chocolate war) Essay -- essays research papers

The Order of Things   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disturbing the universe is one of the main themes of Robert Cormier’s novel, The Chocolate War. Jerry Renault, the protagonist of the novel, goes against Trinity, the all boys school, and The Vigils, a powerful school gang. He gets admired and then bullied because of his defiance of authority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Jerry Renault. As he is trying out for the school’s football team, Archie and Obie, two members of The Vigils, are writing â€Å"assignments† for the chosen boys at school. If the boy fails to complete or do his assignment he gets punished by The Vigils. Archie sees Jerry get slaughtered by the football team and still manage to get up. Archie then decides to give Jerry one of his assignments. â€Å"‘The assignment must fit the kid. That’s the beauty of it, Obie... Put him down for the chocolates’† (Cormier 15-16).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Every year at Jerry’s school, Trinity, they have a chocolate sale. And every year, all the students participate. Jerry’s assignment was to refuse to sell the chocolates for ten school days. â€Å"‘Let me get this straight, Renault,’ Brother Leon said and his voice brought the room under his command. ‘I called your name. Your response could have been either yes or no. Yes means that like every other student in this school you agree to sell the chocolates, in this case fifty boxes. No – and let me point out that the sale is strictl...

Verisimilitude in The English Patient Essay -- The English Patient

Verisimilitude in The English Patient One critic has written, "Ondaatje has always been fascinated by history - seen as a series of arcane stories about the past. In his hands, even the documents of history slide away from factual representation toward a haunting apprehension of indeterminacy." (Barbour 207). In The English Patient Ondaatje blends fiction and history into a socially conscious story. Verisimiliude is the aspect of belivability present in a novel. Ondaatje's use of the element of verisimilitude accentuates important undercurrents and events which are vital to understanding the novel. The English Patient is set in the Villa San Girolamo at the close of World War II. The war has damaged the lives of the four main characters. The setting of a war torn villa reflects the damage in their lives. All around the people are unexploded bombs. Ondaatje researched Kip's job of diffusing bombs carefuly. He gives bit by bit narration of the process of diffusing a live bomb. This careful detail and verisimilitude creates an air of tension and apprehension. Bombs were attached to taps, to the spines of books, they were drilled into fruit trees so an apple falling onto a lower branch would detonate the tree, lust as a hand gripping that branch would. He was unable to look at a room without seeing the possibilities of weapons there. (Ondaatje 75). The characters themselves are like walking bombs. They were all innocent before the war began but it devaststed them. They all must endure secret torments from their pasts. The emotional climax of the book is provided by another bomb - Hiroshima - which invokes one of our time's most terrifying images of the slaughter of innocents. It is the final explosion that drives the fo... ...expedition in search of Zerzura. Michael Ondaatje did considerable amount of research for this book, which took him five years to complete. He shuffled through the archives of London's Royal Geographical Society and read the journals of 1930s explorers. The results of this painstaking research is a novel with vivid and realistic detail. The description of the desert is the most potent detail. These vivid discriptions are the greatest contributers to the verisimilitude of the novel. He gives detailed descriptions of the many types of desert winds such as the africo, aajej, khamsin, and datooand the changing landscape of the dunes. Places such as Gilf Kebir, Zerzura, the Sudan, and Gebel Kissu are brought to life. The historical accuracy and events in The English Patient leads the reader to believe that even though this story never happened - it might have.

Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1 Analysis Essay

A desert place. The setting of ‘Thunder and lightning’ depicts bad weather, which shows the eerie atmosphere and tense mood. The play opens on a note of noise and disorder, foreboding much evil to come. Witches, who seem to enjoy the chaotic weather, appear to hold alien values and preferences compared to normal men and women. The mood is sinister, dangerous and ominous; the immediate appearance of the witches starting from the first scene is used to inform readers of the underlying note of darkness. The witches speak in riddles, and seem to know Macbeth’s secret desires and are seen as mischievous, otherworldly and evil beings. By saying that the ‘battle’s lost and won’, many meanings emerge, such as the ‘battle’ refers to the fight with Cawdor and though Macbeth may have ‘won’ against him, he has ‘lost’ a battle to himself, by afterwards caving into the witches’ tempting words. They seem to refer the dark ‘ere’, which means after, ‘the set of sun’. This hints of their evil natures that seem to relate to their preference of bad weather and dark skies. They decide on the ‘heath’ to meet Macbeth. The rhyming words lead us to think of the ‘heath’, which is a wild and barren place, in relation to Macbeth and his future. This way, we are lead to think that Macbeth’s heart will too, become wild, dry and bare. This is the first meeting between Macbeth and the witches and we can see that they are keen to meet him. We can infer from this fact and what we have learnt about the witches’ that they plan to do him harm. The mention of familiars, ‘Graymalkin’, which is a grey cat and ‘Paddock’ , a toad, continues to inform us of the Witches’ supernatural status, as well as further deepening the theory of ‘evil witches’ as they have chosen to keep strange pets. Back in Shakespeare’s time, people believed that such familiars were actually spirits trapped in the bodies of animals, hence we see the witches as unnatural and demonic in nature. The next riddle, ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through fog and filthy air.’ Once again the seemingly illogical statement keeps the reader wondering. It could be saying that what appears to be good may not be so and that there is a thin line between good, ‘fair’, and evil, ‘foul’. It could also be warning readers of Macbeth and his deceptive personality, as well as not to take appearances and people’s personalities for granted as nothing is what it seems to be. Hence, the recurrent theme throughout this scene is the perversion of moral values and the disruption of all thing good, as well as that nothing is to be trusted as appearances are a form of deception. The witches’ evil is also a dominant theme throughout the scene as their preferences and actions give readers an overwhelming sense of evil and discord. There is an impending sense of disaster from their riddles and the belief that the witches are the embodiments of evil forces and the whole scene prepares the audience for the tragedy to come, as well as giving us a small peak into the future of the play. MACBETH The classroom analysis (generalized) (Previous analysis was June holiday homework) Act1 Scene 2: 9 / 7 /11 A camp. The scene starts with King Duncan himself asking an injured captain to report on the latest revolt. The scene serves a purpose of explaining the political situation in Scotland through the onlooker’s eyes. In other words, though the scene does not go directly into the battle zone itself, it still adequately informs the audience of what is going on both outside and inside of the battlefield. It also introduces some important characters, such as King Duncan, Ross, Angus and gives a few mentions of Macbeth and Banquo. Though not as dark and eerie as the previous scene, this scene uses battle scenes and the imagery of blood and gore to further establish a slightly dangerous, gruesome scene. An underlying note of darkness can also be felt throughout the scene, as the use of subtle hints about Macbeth’s future betrayal keep up a sense of foreboding. The battle is described as ‘two spent swimmers, that do cling together; And choke their art’. This tells us that the battle is very closely fought. No side is given a clear advantage but both sides are determined to keep the other ‘down’ for their own side to survive. The traitor ‘Macdonwald’ is also introduced as the enemy that King Duncan’s men are fighting in this particular battle. ‘And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, Show’d like a rebel’s whore’, tells us that he at one point had seemed to be winning the battle, considering that ‘fortune’ is on his side. ‘Fortune’ is personified as a prostitute in this scene, giving him favors and such. Shakespeare also refers to ‘fortune’ as a goddess with a distinctly fickle nature that deceives the rebel (Macdonwald) with her smile before abandoning him. Following this predicament, Macbeth displays great courage and determin ation as he fought valiantly, undaunted by ‘fortune’. Because of his bravery and strong will, Macbeth is praised many times throughout the entire Act 1. The very first praise ‘brave Macbeth’, was given to him by the captain, because of his valiance and dauntlessness before Macdonwald. In this scene, Macbeth is constantly shown in a positive light. Multiple praises of him lead to the audience becoming in awe of him, as he appears very impressive. He is also praised as ‘Valor’s minion’. ‘Valor’ being considered as a goddess of valiance and bravery and Macbeth being thought of as a favorite of hers, hence leading to the conclusion that he is a valiant warrior. These praises help to raise suspense throughout the audience as the more in awe and impressed they become, the more they want to meet the glorious hero, Macbeth. However, even though Macbeth is constantly praised throughout this scene, the overwhelming presence of gore and blood show some character flaws in him as well. Macbeth ‘carved out his passage’ throughout the battlefield and ‘unseam’d [Macdonwald] from the nave to the chaps, And fix’d his head upon our battlements’. ‘Carved out’ gives us the image of constant killings, till a passage is carved out through a wall of men. This savage, sickening imagery is made worse when the image of Macbeth ripping open the rebel from his chin to his navel and then hacking off his head. The gruesome, gory image is the work of Macbeth. Hence, because of his savage kills and brutality of the battles, we can infer that he also has a strong, ruthless and slightly cold-hearted side to him. The blood and gore plays a large part in the play, as it is later on associated with Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan and his own eventual death. Here, Macbeth’s kills and the shedding of blood are glorified as it done in support of the King. The irony is that later on, Macbeth’s kills and the shedding of blood will be associated to the killing of the King and many other innocents. This scene is also ironical in the sense that Macbeth’s great achievement of killing the rebel will later be the very way he dies; his head will get chopped off. Hints of the future turn of events continue to appear as the Captain reports of Norway’s immediate attack right after their apparent victory over Macdonwald, ‘whence the sun ‘gins his reflection; Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break, So from that spring whence comfort seem’d to come; Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark’ . The meaning of this warning is that just as good things happen, bad things occur. This statement, though said with no reference to Macbeth, is immediately linked to him. This is due to Duncan’s praises of Macbeth just before the warning was said, ‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman’, hence it can be interpreted as a warning that while Macbeth seems to come across to the other characters as a savior and hero, he may actually end up as the source of all discord and enmity. This makes the audience think twice about Macbeth’s both future and current loyalty and starts off one of the major themes in the play: Appearance and illusions VS reality. What seems honest and beneficial may turn out to be the exact opposite. It also warns the audience of Macbeth’s future deceit and duplicity. The battle scene thickens as the Norweyan troops take advantage of their moment of victory to begin a fresh assault on them. Macbeth and Banquo are further praised here for their fearlessness and energy faced with yet another foe. They were said to be as dismayed and afraid as ‘As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion’, in other words, not afraid at all. The use of nature imagery here are compare them to the eagle, king of the sky, and the lion, king of land, implying them to be very noble and prideful in their fight for their king. Later on, when Duncan is murdered, the natural order of things is disrupted and the animals behave strangely. This fact further emphasizes the wrongfulness of murdering a good and lawful King, hence further condemning Macbeth. Ross later reports of betrayal of the Thane of Cawdor, and makes some comparisons with The King of Norway and Macbeth. ‘Confronted him with self-comparisons’, here implies that Macbeth and him were matched in strength and courage. However, as the King of Norway is considered to be treacherous and cunning, the words ‘self-comparisons’ further hint of Macbeth’s future treacherous personality. Ross also praises Macbeth, calling him ‘Bellona’s bridegroom’. Bellona is the roman goddess of war and by calling him her newly-wed husband; it implies that he too is a great warrior. His enjoyment of war and his enthusiasm and zeal over it also achieve the audience’s further questioning; in the case where Macbeth’s loyalty to Duncan is diminished, what will come of his enthusiasm for violence and love of war. Later on Duncan awards Macbeth with the title of ‘Thane of Cawdor’, unknowingly beginning to fulfill the prophecy which would lead him to his own demise. By condemning the current Thane of Cawdor, he blissfully is unaware of the fact that his presenting of the title to Macbeth will lead Macbeth to becoming a treacherous usurper. Duncan final words that close the scene are an ominous echo of the witches’ riddles in the first scene ‘When the battle’s lost and won’. ‘What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won’, makes it such that by becoming thane of Cawdor, Macbeth has entered some sort of curse, as though he wins the characteristics of the previous thane as well as his title but he eventually loses his future and sanity in the process. This shows the clear link between the King’s current actions and the scheme of the witches, which further leads to the fulfillment of the prophecy of the witches, which fuels Macbeth’s savage ambitions. It also makes the audience wonder the outcome of the play, had the King not given him the title. In summary, we can infer from act 1 scene 2 that Macbeth is brave, courageous, valiant, strong-willed, but at the same time hinted to be ruthless and slightly savage. Still, the audience will be mainly in awe of his loyalty and ability to overcome adversity in battle, as well as his apparent image as the embodiment of justice and valor. MACBETH The classroom analysis (generalized) (Previous analysis was June holiday homework) Act1 Scene 3: 9/ 7 /11 A heath. This scene marks the beginning of evil in Macbeth. It depicts his inner thoughts and struggles to keep his ambitious desires for the crown at bay. It is thought to be the ‘temptation scenes’, where Macbeth’s longings are further aroused by the witches’ words, instigating him with the hope of becoming king of Scotland with their prophecy. The 3 main purposes of this scene are 1. Characterization of the witches 2. Contrast in the difference between Macbeth and Banquo’s reactions to the witches’ prophecy. 3. Character of Macbeth is explored in greater detail. (Imaginative nature and high-strung temperament makes him inclined to soliloquy – ‘aside’ thoughts of character onstage, only audience can hear it.) With regards to the plot, the witches’ make the initial movement, through them Macbeth’s ambition crystallizes and his definite resolution to murder Duncan is established. However, bear in mind that Macbeth’s ambition was already present before the witches’ approached. Still, his meeting with them helped his vague aspiration take a definite shape. First and foremost, the scene introduces the witches’ sadistic and cruel nature, showing that they are vindictive, spiteful creatures who want to wreck revenge on the sailor’s wife, by giving out punishment on her husband which is out of proportion to the nature of the offence. Their reason for casting a spell on the sailor and his ship, cursing them to prolonged periods of suffering was simply because his fat wife refused to share her chestnuts with the First Witch. Such extreme measures emphasize the witches’ malicious natures, immediately giving the audience a poor impression of the characters. The animal imagery of a ‘rat’, tells us that they are sneaky, mischievous and harmful, biting a hole into the sailor’s ship. The way they chant ‘I’ll do, I’ll do and I’ll do’ appears to readers as eerie, almost definite manner of speaking. Their chants and ability to control winds further informs us that they are unnatural, almost magical beings. However, the witches though having powers beyond the norm are not completely powerful and are limited in their ability. Though they certainly can control winds, water, chant and attempt to place misguided thoughts in the characters minds, they cannot kill anyone nor can they force someone to bend to their will (as seen from the way they only influence the already ambitious Macbeth and not the honest Banquo). Furthermore, this indicates that Macbeth’s murder of Duncan and usurping was not because of the witches. He has evil thoughts already in himself, the witches only acted as guides, suggesting and tempting him with their words. The roles of the witches from the beginning were only insinuators, to provide suggestions and are not the direct cause for Macbeth’s actions. Hence, we can conclude that Macbeth is responsible for his own evil deeds and that the witches cannot be used to excuse Macbeth from his behavior. Still, the witches’ unyielding, cruel nature is still undeniable as they cause horrors for the people they target. The sailors are subjected to 81 days of wasting away, living like cursed men. Though they cannot completely destroy the ship, they can still cause it to be tossed and churned wildly through the storm. Also, we can tell that their cruelty and vindictive nature is apparent as jubilant is evident in their voices at Macbeth’s approach. From what we have learnt of their natures, we may conclude that they are deigning to work harm on Macbeth. Macbeth continues to link himself to the witches. His mention of ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen’ reminds us of the ‘fair is foul’ comment that the witches used to close scene 1. It shows a clear connection between Macbeth and the witches’ evil. The ironic repetition is unconsciously echoed by Macbeth, indicating the changing direction of the battle or the weather, however it could also hint of Macbeth becoming further involved with the witches’ evil plot. The witches are also described in detail by Banquo here, seen to be strange looking and ‘withered’ and ‘wild’ in their dressing and features. However, their strange looks help to promote themes like appearance VS reality, as the women though seemingly women, have beards like men. This emphasizes their unnaturalness and status as perversions of nature. Their prophecy is also reviewed in this scene. First, Macbeth will become Thane of Glamis, which is more of a fact, seeing that Macbeth will inherit the title from his father. Next, they claim he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King. The last two are great prophecies; however it is the prophecy of becoming King that provides Macbeth the greatest temptation. It spurs him on for the most of the play, killing in hope to gain and keep the elusive title. Also, the witches are noted to not indicate how to achieve this title, giving only predictions and no suggestions. This further increases Macbeth’s responsibility for the murder of so many innocents. He crafted his own path and used his own means to achieve the titles and hence the murders committed in the process are more of his choice than any witches’ suggestion. Next, Macbeth is furthered introduced and the difference between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s reactions to the witches prophecies is explored. Through Banquo, we can see Macbeth is deeply shocked by the witches’ prophecies. ‘Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear. Things that do sound so fair?’ This suggests that the witches’ revelation was of Macbeth’s innermost thoughts, his dark hidden desire to become King. However, unlike Macbeth, Banquo sees no reason to fear the witches, indicating a strong sense of integrity and justice in him. While Macbeth is ‘rapt’, thinking of the King’s position; Banquo challenges the Witches’; fearing not as he does not have any greedy ambitions and a clear conscience. Hence, to summarize, Macbeth’s deep, dark innermost thoughts being revealed tell us of his ‘guilty’ status, who indeed, did have dark intentions towards King Duncan. Whereas, Banquo’s reactions are that of an honest man, skeptical and mistrustful of the witches as well as wary of his and Macbeth’s prophesized glory. More riddles follow, as the number of paradoxical statements (statement in which it seems self-contradictory, absurd, but in reality it expresses a possible truth) grows. First Witch Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Second Witch Not so happy, yet much happier. Third Witch Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo! The words could have many double meanings, for example ‘lesser’ and ‘not so happy’ could be referring to Banquo’s lack of titles and social status; whereas ‘greater’ and ‘much happier’ could refer to Banquo’s clearer conscience, honest character and upholding of morals. However, it is the last line of the riddle which though straightforward to a certain extent, tells us that Banquo will sire a long line of Kings. This is strange, as it makes the audience wonder how Macbeth will become King but have Banquo’s children gain the crown. Macbeth’s power hungry nature is emphasized as the witches leave the scene. He desperately wants to know more. As the witches refuse to direct or properly guide him, Macbeth is eager to learn how to make this prophecy come true. His commanding nature and forceful demand does not affect the witches. Hence we can infer from this that the Witches are mischievous, mysterious beings that do not listen to normal men. However, their elusive nature helps to add to a sense of suspense building up amongst the audience as it increases their fear of the unknown. This scene, especially this part, emphasizes how the Witches bait and lure Macbeth into their plans. The witches vanish suddenly, and are likened to ‘bubbles’ by Banquo, suggesting that just like bubbles the witches are insubstantial, as though they do not really exist and are unnatural occurrences. Furthermore, their disappearances fuel the uncontained hunger in Macbeth for the knowledge to become King. However, Banquo on the other hand is confused and bewildered by the Witches’ sudden appearance and disappearances. He wonders if they had eaten the ‘insane root’ and hence have gone mad. The men try to reconfirm the witches’ prophesies by repeating them to each other. However there is a difference in the tone of which the words are said. Macbeth seems wary and resentful of the fact that Banquo children are supposedly going to gain kingship, rather than his own children. Whereas, Banquo’s mood is light and joking, as he still is disbelieving and doubtful of the witches. The arrival of Ross and Angus interrupts the exchange between the two men. In summary, they inform Macbeth that Duncan is caught between praising Macbeth or expressing his amazement at Macbeth’s courage and skill. He also comments on Macbeth’s lack of fear of the distorted faces of the people he has killed, ‘strange images of death’, and this later becomes an irony as Macbeth will later make even stronger images of death later on, one of which being Duncan. Next, they deliver the message that the King has awarded Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor. This decision is Duncan’s undoing, as it was the gaining of this title that persuaded Macbeth to act on the prophecy and kill Duncan. Banquo is shocked by this revelation as he is still full of doubt and mistrust for the witches. On the other hand, Macbeth questions Ross and Angus, unaware of the Thane of Cawdor’s betrayal. The phrase, ‘dress me in borrowed robes’, is used to denote the new status or rank Macbeth has been give. It gives the image of unfitting clothes that do not rightfully belong to him, hence the term ‘borrowed’. This implies that the title is unsuitable for Macbeth and like ‘borrowed robes’ do not befit him. It is then revealed of the previous thane’s betrayal and efforts to destroy the country. The link between the new thane of Cawdor and the previous thane of Cawdor is the knowledge that they both betray the King’s trust, as Macbeth seems to be already in anticipation of his Kingship, ‘the greatest is behind’. Banquo then shares his opinion on the witches and the turn of events to Macbeth. His own thoughts are addressed to both himself and Macbeth, acting as a warning to Macbeth as he senses his excitement. That trusted home Might yet enkindle you unto the crown, Besides the thane of Cawdor. But ’tis strange: And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence. Cousins, a word, I pray you. His words convey the message that the witches are not to be trusted and that if he believes in their words completely, he might burn with an unholy desire for the crown. He expresses his belief that the witches are agents of evil who tell them but simple truths to betray them in far important matters and are simply baiting them to their demise. Banquo’s remark is penetrating, having described the true nature of the witches in detail. He appears to us as a wary but honest man who holds a great deal of moral wisdom. However, with the use of soliloquy (as previously mentioned, it is when one shares his inner thoughts on stage with the audience but away from other characters), Macbeth expresses his confused and undecided feelings and is debating internally with himself. He is undecided if the prophecy is good or bad, ‘cannot be ill, cannot be good’. This paradoxical statement shows the sheer depth of the confusion in Macbeth as the statements directly contradict one another. This use of antithesis (the direct opposite: or in this case a balanced contrast of ideas), is used to show the conflicting emotions raging in Macbeth and uncertainty on whether he should trust the witches. However it also shows the inclination in Macbeth to evil as though deep down, he knows the implications of the prophecy are sinful actions, he still tries to justify the witches. Macbeth understands that if the prophecy is fulfilled, then one way or another Duncan must die. However, the repulsive thought of murder makes Macbeth’s hair stand on end and the mere thought of cold blooded murder make his heart, usually fixed within his chest, pound so hard it is as if it were pounding against his ribcage (exaggeration). He realizes that if this prophecy is good, he should not yield to the thought of murder, and the fact that it does, unnerves him. His every action is smothered in imagination of the King’s murder and he is so upset by the thought of murder that he quivers with fright. His mind is overwhelmed with such a thought that he is unable to think about anything else. Due to his cruel wishes, his inner stability is threatened and his inner peace lost. The next statement is also seemingly contradictory and paradoxical, ‘nothing is what it is not’, and yet it still tells us that the only thing real to him is what has not happened yet, the murder of Duncan, and the present is blotted out completely. Macbeth demonstrates a vivid but futile imagination and immediate fears do not worry him so much as his worries about the future. While he is lost in thought, Banquo comments on his ‘rapt’ state. Finally, Macbeth decides to wait for the opportunity to come, having decided that though seemingly ‘good’ as the prophecy has led him to the title of thane of Cawdor, the witches tempting of him to commit regicide (murder of monarchy) through dangling the prospect of becoming King before him may also be a ‘ill’ thing. He wishes for matters to be taken out of his hands so that he can become King without having to delve into foul means. Another imagery of clothing is also explored as Banquo comments that on Macbeth’s new titles. New honors come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould But with the aid of use. This also provides the image of an unfitting set of clothes, referring to Macbeth’s new titles and honors. The metaphor takes on a role in which Macbeth is not suited or entitled to. Furthermore, Banquo says that the clothes need to be accustomed to, and that it is Macbeth’s thoughts and actions will fit the clothes to him and nothing else. This further emphasizes that what becomes of Macbeth is due to his own thoughts and choices. The scene ends with Macbeth claiming that the other men’s efforts are recognized before making their way towards the king. MACBETH The classroom analysis (generalized) (Previous analysis was June holiday homework) Act1 Scene 4: 24 / 7 /11 Forres. A room in the palace. This scene talks about the execution of the thane of Cawdor, praising of Macbeth and giving of title of crown prince to Malcolm. Imagery in this scene supports the sense of natural order in Duncan’s reign and the imagery of plants is used to describe Duncan’s nurturing of Macbeth and Banquo. In this scene, two things help mark a turning point in this play. 1. Duncan’s proclamation of his son as crown prince This clinches Macbeth’s decision to murder Duncan, as it confirms that Macbeth will never be king through natural causes. Unless Macbeth takes initiative to do something, the Kingship will slip out of his hands forever; hence he decides to murder the king. 1. Duncan’s decision to stay at Inverness Macbeth’s ‘chance’ to murder Duncan was produced due to Duncan’s foolish and fatal decision. The scene begins with the current situation of the previous thane of Cawdor. Cawdor, who had been executed, was reported as showing a ‘deep repentance’ before death. They even go so far to say that his death ‘became him’ and he was at his best right before dying. Duncan then comments that ‘There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face’, referring to Cawdor’s betrayal of Duncan’s complete trust in him. The irony of this situation is that Duncan still does not learn his lesson after this, and still continues to trust those around him, eventually being betrayed by the current Thane of Cawdor (Macbeth) in an almost similar fashion. Macbeth is someone who Duncan will put ‘absolute’ trust in, like the previous thane. However, Duncan appears to be a poor judge of character as he is soon tricked by the thane of Cawdor again. His comment ‘There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face’, basically means there is no technique or skill to see a person’s heart gives the scene a sense of foreboding and prophesy. It helps give rise to the theme of APPEARANCE AND REALITY, as well as injects a sense of dramatic irony as the audience knows he is about to make the same mistake again. As we can see, this line incorporates much dramatic significance, also because after this line is spoken, Macbeth enters. This link can only be seen by the audience and not Duncan; a subtle hint about the future. In this scene, we are able to characterize Duncan. He is a generous, appreciative, noble, naà ¯ve, trusting, gullible, gentle, dignified and benevolent king. He is associated with the natural order of things and even Macbeth recognizes me as a good king whom the subjects love. However he is also a poor judge of character as well as a tactless/thoughtless man. He gives Malcolm the crown before Macbeth, a tactical error which costs him his life. Macbeth would have be likely to feel jealous of Malcolm, not to mention having done so much in the war, he would feel as if his reward of the title ‘thane of Cawdor’ is small and insignificant compared to the crowning of the prince. However we cannot completely blame and ridicule Duncan for trusting Macbeth. Macbeth having had lain down his life for him, has earned Duncan’s trust. However we can still feel the irony as Duncan praises the treacherous Macbeth with words like ‘O worthiest cousin!’ etc. Duncan even says that Macbeth has done so many brave deeds that he has already been put in front of all of them, as if having been ‘elevated high above them all’. He expresses his internal gratitude, claiming that whatever reward is give to him is still not enough to fill the debt he owes to Macbeth. Macbeth replies Duncan claiming that there is no need to thank him as his service and loyalty to Duncan rewards him, and that he is full of love, duty and loyalty towards Duncan the country, him and his children. This provides a sharp contrast to the later soliloquy of scene 4, where Macbeth calls on the powers of darkness to kill the man he has just declared complete allegiance to. The contrast emphasizes Macbeth’s duplicity and double dealing nature. Duncan, as an appreciative and generous King, also does not forget to thank Banquo. The seed and plant imagery, otherwise known as a horticultural image, is used in Duncan’s speech to Banquo, to indicate a natural growth of appreciation for him, which is no less than the appreciation of Macbeth. Banquo’s reply is also less flowery and elaborate compared to Macbeth’s, making a clever conceit (does not mean arrogant, means something like ‘thought’) on Duncan’s embrace, and his desire to hold Duncan to his heart, hence showcasing his loyalty. Banquo continues the natural image of sowing and cultivating crops, then reaping them when ripe. Duncan is portrayed to be the rich soil in which Banquo has been planted and will thrive in. Banquo informs the King in a simple, straightforward manner that if he ‘thrives’ the King will naturally reap benefit from him, as well as that all his power, possessions and status belong to the King. We must take note of the differences between Macbeth’s and Banquo’s replies. MACBETH BANQUO Flowery stilted Elaborate insincere doesn’t seem to come from the heart Straight forward sincere full of humility humble simple Duncan, in his joy, thoughtlessly names his son as the successor but still claims that his son is not the only one to receive such honors as he still loves everyone equally. Macbeth however, is disappointed, troubled and is even a bit angry. He sees Malcolm as an obstacle and is now seriously thinking of treachery. Duncan does not recognize his displeasure. He decides to proceed to Inverness, Macbeth’s home, and the words ‘bind us further to you’, invoke a sense of irony in us. We can see that Duncan will be bound to Macbeth in a way that he has never dreamt of. He has no idea of what Macbeth is going to do to him in his stay in his castle. This will go on, unknown to Duncan but known to the audience, as they know of Macbeth’s evil plans. Macbeth lies to the King, pretending that he is rushing back to deliver the message of Duncan’s soon arrival to his wife, when the truth is he wants to hurry back to plan the murder of Duncan with his wife. He even says that â€Å"rest is labor, if not used for you’. In other words, resting feels more like labor if not done to help his King in any way. Duncan, naà ¯ve and trusting, calls him ‘worthy Cawdor’, not suspecting a thing. With the King’s decisions in mind (crowning of Malcolm and the decision to stay at his castle), Macbeth is now more determined than ever in his evil purpose. The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see He calls on the stars to block out their own light as what he is about to do is bad, terrible, treacherous and evil that he does not want anyone, even himself, to see it being done. He does not want to relive the full horror of his deeds and hence rather not let his eyes see his hands at work. This also tells us that Macbeth recognizes the evil and wrong in his actions and yet he still proceeds to carry out the evil deeds. He coveys this to the audience with the use of soliloquy and hence we understand that Macbeth’s invocation (to call on) to the stars to dim their lights are thoughts which are kept to himself and are only known to him and the audience, emphasizing the fact that these are thoughts running through Macbeth’s mind, unbeknownst to the rest. His words are like an inversion of nature; as if he were to ‘obliterate’ the light from heaven just to fulfill his dark purposes (MURDER DUNCANà ¯). Dramatic irony is continued as Duncan and Banquo proceed to discuss Macbeth’s nobility and courage after he leaves to discuss Duncan’s murder with his wife. They call him ‘a peerless kinsman’, in other words saying that no one is as good as him in terms of goodness and courage. This further emphasizes Duncan’s gullible, trusting and naà ¯ve nature, not suspecting Macbeth’s motives in the slightest. COMPARE AND CONTRAST†¦ In drama, it is more accurate to study the main character in relation to the roles that he/she/it plays and his/hers/its relationship to other characters. Macbeth VS Banquo 1. PARALLEL characters Characters which are very similar to one another Why? 1. both help kings fight the rebels 2. Both are captains 3. Both receive prophecies from the Witches 4. Both commended by the King However, that is where the similarities END. 1. Banquo is used to show CONTRAST with Macbeth Why? Stark contrast between Macbeth and Banquo’s 1. Reactions to the witches’ prophecies Macbeth – fearful, awed, eager to know more Banquo – wary, defiant, confused 1. Reactions to Duncan’s commendations Macbeth – flowery reply, full of insincere sounding praises Banquo – brief, humbling, sincere and self-evasing reply 1. Personality and character Macbeth – ambitious, deceptive, cunning, cruel and ruthless Banquo – full of integrity, honest, valiant, brave, loyal, and cautious 1. Royal line Macbeth promised to be king Banquo promised to be the father of many kings Banquo promised to be greater and happier than Macbeth 1. Attitude towards each other, before and later At first open with each other; later they will be wary and cautious with each other and unwilling to share their thoughts, hiding their intentions from each other. Macbeth VS Witches 1. Witches are supernatural beings with supernatural knowledge Offers go beyond that of ordinary human limits 1. Macbeth is embodiment of ‘man’; Full of apparent ‘valiance’ but actually easily mislead 1. We are rather unclear to witches’ intentions towards Macbeth in ACT 1 Later, Hecate scene indicates that they are supernatural agents of evil and destruction, holding power through surprise magical intentions Appearance VS Reality (theme) 1. Theme of FALSE appearance can thus be understood firstly in terms of conscious deception and hypocrisy 2. DECEPTION can thus be understood, secondly as part of the broader theme of concealment. From the beginning, Macbeth conceals his feelings about becoming King by speaking in ‘aside’ or soliloquy. 3. HYPOCRISY can be seen from Macbeth hypocrite actions, as he claims to be loyal and honorable but in truth; plots to kill his King (commit REGICIDE) Evil VS Fear 1. GOOD and EVIL are moral absolutes: The ethical view that certain actions are absolutely right or wrong, regardless of other contexts such as their consequences or the intentions behind them 1. Macbeth’s murder of Duncan is treated as a crime of the most terrible kind, of which he is deeply fearful from the moment he entertains the thought of it, which has far-reaching consequences. 2. 3. Recurrent images of darkness and night, illness and blood are all used figuratively to suggest moral significance, and to give a CONCRETE image of evil. Explain: REGICIDE, when it is performed of a good, lawful King, is considered EVIL. There is no moral objectivism, especially when the murder carries it out for his/her own benefit. This is emphasized by the many symbols used. 1. However, good and evil is also presented in a paradoxical way†¦ Macbeth expresses the most sensitive moral awareness: he accuses himself of the evil of his murder in the most eloquent terms; and experiences great horror and terror both before and after the deed. This contradicts the idea of good and evil as though Macbeth ‘knows the evil’, he still carries on to perform the ‘evil’, as if it were ‘good’ The choosing of wrong though aware of the right, causes good and evil to seem also like paradoxical ideas. INTO THE PLAY à ¯Ã‚ ¦ Macbeth’s soliloquy: 1. Macbeth speaks the greatest proportion of his lines alone; in a soliloquy or an ‘aside’ 1. Lack of interaction with other characters is very SIGNIFICANT in this kind of drama which usually relies upon dialogue to move the action forward. 2. This solitary speech produces a strong sense of Macbeth’s isolation especially later in the action, where he is virtually speaking alone even though there are many silent servants on stage. 3. This makes Macbeth a very internal character, whose inner life creates a kind of action in mind. His private speeches use vivid and moving images and develop powerful inner experiences at different points in the play. Scottish court: 1. Duncan, Malcolm and Macduff have distinct roles to play 2. However, thanes are apparently generalized in speech and decisions at the start of the play 3. Duncan’s role is that of a gracious but overly trusting and wrongfully murdered King. He relates to his scout with elaborate and formal courteousness 4. After Duncan is murdered, thanes become wary of each other and their surroundings

Sports Ethics and Our Society

Sports Ethics and Our Society Sports ethics is that branch of the philosophy of sport addressing the specific ethical questions that arise during and around sports competitions. With the affirmation of professional sports in the past century as well as the rise of a voluminous entertainment industry related to it, sport ethics has come to be not only a fertile terrain for testing and developing philosophical notions and theories, but also a foremost point of contact between philosophy, civil institutions, and the society at large. Lessons of Respect, Justice, and Integrity Sports are based on the fair enforcement of rules. At a first approximation, this means that every contestant (being an individual player or a team) has the right to see the rules of the game applied in equal measure to each and every contestant while having the duty to try and respect the rules as best as possible. The educational importance of this aspect, not just for children and young adults but for everyone, can be hardly overstated. Sport is a critical tool to teach justice, the respect of rules for the benefit of a group (the contestants as well as the spectators), and honesty.And yet, as it happens outside a competition, one may wonder if - at times - players are justified in seeking an unequal treatment. For instance, when breaking the rule will offset some mistaken call that the referee has made earlier the game, or will partially make up for some economic, social, or political inequities that stand in between the contesting teams, it seems that a player may have some ju stifiable motives for breaking the rule. Isn’t it simply fair that a team who has had a valid touch down not counted in will be given some minor advantages over the next attack or defense situation?This is, of course, a delicate matter, which challenges our ideas circa justice, respect and honesty in a way that mirrors the key issues humans face in other spheres of living. Enhancement Another major area of confrontation regards human enhancement and, most notably, cases of doping. Considering how invasive the application of drugs and medical techniques is to the contemporary professional sport, it has become increasingly difficult to set an intelligent boundary between those performance enhancers that shall be tolerated and those that shall not be tolerated. Every professional athlete competing for a well-off team receives medical aids to enhance his or her performances in amounts that range from thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands and, perhaps, millions. On one hand, this has contributed to spectacular results, which much add to the entertainment side of sport; on the other, however, wouldn’t it be simply more respectful for the athletes’ health and safety to set the bar for tolerance of enhancers as low as possible? In what ways enhancers have affected the relationship between body and soul among athletes? Money, Just Compensation  and the Good Life The increasingly high salaries of certain athletes and the disparity between the pay of the most visible ones as opposed to the pay of the least visible ones have also offered the opportunity to rethink the issue of just compensation that much attention had received in eighteen hundred philosophy, with authors such as Karl Marx. For instance, what is the just compensation for an NBA player? Should NBA salaries be capped? Should student athletes be granted a salary, in consideration of the business volume generated by NCAA competitions?The entertainment industry associated with sports also offers us, on a daily basis, the opportunity to ponder to what extent income can contribute to leading a good life, one of the central themes of ancient Greek philosophy. Some athletes are sex symbols too, generously rewarded for offering their body image (and sometimes their private lives) to the public attention. Is that really the life of a dream? Why or why not? Further Online Reading IAPS’s website, the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport, with links also to its official publication outlet, the Journal of the Philosophy of Sport.A resource guide to the Philosophy of Sport prepared by Dr. Leon Culbertson, Professor Mike McNamee, and Dr. Emily Ryall.A blog devoted to the philosophy of sport, with news and events.Recommended reading: Steven Connor, A Philosophy of Sport, Reaktion Books, 2011.Andrew Holowchack (ed.), Philosophy of Sport: Critical Readings, Crucial Issues, Prentice Hall, 2002.

History of the Olympics - 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin

History of the Olympics - 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin The 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany The IOC had awarded the Games to Berlin in 1931 with no idea that Adolf Hitler was to take power in Germany two years later. By 1936, the Nazis had control over Germany and had already begun to implement their racist policies. There was international debate as to whether the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany should be boycotted. The United States was extremely close to boycotting but at the last minute decided to accept the invitation to attend. The Nazis saw the event as a way to promote their ideology. They built four grandiose stadiums, swimming pools, an outdoor theater, a polo field, and an Olympic Village that had 150 cottages for the male athletes. Throughout the Games, the Olympic complex was covered in Nazi banners. Leni Riefenstahl, a famous Nazi propaganda filmaker, filmed these Olympic Games and made them into her movie Olympia. These Games were the first ones televised and were the first to use telex transmissions of the results. Also debuting at these Olympics was the torch relay. Jesse Owens, a black athlete from the United States, was the star of the 1936 Olympic Games. Owens, the Tan Cyclone, brought home four gold medals: the 100-meter dash, the long jump (made an Olympic record), the 200-meter sprint around a turn (made a world record), and part of the team for the 400-meter relay. About 4,000 athletes participated, representing 49 countries. For More Information: History of the OlympicsList of the Olympic GamesInteresting Olympic Facts

We, the People and American Government Essay Example

We, the People and American Government Essay Example We, the People and American Government Essay We, the People and American Government Essay We the people are the government. A government is a protective body set up to protect the people from national and foreign threats. A government is like a scale, balancing the needs and the wants of the people. The government comes together to create laws that will benefit the people of their state or nation for the better. However, everyone has their own opinion on how to run the nation; the two most dominant political parties, Democratic and Republican Party, make this true. If there is a president, governor, mayor etc. who is in the opposite party from you, than you might disagree with how they run the government, which varies from person to person. The government should be involved with the everyday lives of the people mostly because the government is the people. I just don’t think it should be as involved in our lives than it is. For example, just because I own a laptop with a camera attached to it doesn’t mean it has to be tapped into to watch what Americans are doing. I understand the use of tracking cars by EZ pass to inform drivers of traffic. However taking away someone’s privacy isn’t the kind of involvement everyone wants. We take for granted some times what the government provides like safe water, meat that has passed inspection, or a simple sidewalk protecting us from oncoming traffic. The constitution sets up the government by making it by and for the people. The way the United States has an order of checks and balances makes the government so efficient because this makes sure that there is no one in power whose â€Å"head gets too big† for their position. The three branches of government allow multiple people to be in power at the same time making sure everyone does their job. This way it makes everyone voice heard in a way because each politician, president, judge has different views on how to run the nation. Citizenship describes a person with legal rights within a political order. Citizens have rights and

The purpose of the Consumer International website Essay

The purpose of the Consumer International website - Essay Example Consumers International stands as the independent voice of the consumers with high authority all throughout the entire globe and it consists of 220 member organizations in 115 countries in order to protect and empower customers (Customers International, 2011). For instance, it is the vision of CI to help consumers to have access to safe and sustainable good and service offerings. In its websites, CI believes in the principles that customers have the right to satisfaction of basic needs, safety, be informed, to choose, to be heard, to redress, consumer education, and a healthy environment. That is why CI strongly works towards several campaigns on international issues that eventually would matter to a customer that primarily involves changes in government policy, corporate behavior and increasing awareness of consumers’ rights and responsibilities (Customers International, 2011). In great and general detail, CI is always there for international consumers in order to protect the m, inform them of their rights and responsibilities regarding today’s fast-paced changing level of customer-market interaction. Based on the above information, CI would serve as the watchtower over the ongoing activity in the market to help ensure that customers receive their rights. Furthermore, CI is also a remarkable organization which aims to educate customers so as to help them perform their responsibility. Thus, CI is not only there to protect customers based on their basic rights, but also to empower them to perform their duties and obligations. Social Responsibility This was what came into my mind when I encountered this article entitled â€Å"Africa gets consumer rights boost with new NGO status and office for CI† published by CI on September 19, 2011 under its â€Å"news† section. The article talks about CI granted with a legal privilege to stand as NGO in South Africa which further gives it the legal privilege to approach donors (Consumers Internation al, 2011). As an NGO, CI considers itself existing there in South Africa for a significant and highly remarkable reason. As for me, I would consider it as a perfect opportunity for South Africans to be highly educated and receive their rights and privileges as consumers. This is also a good opportunity for CI to raise funds in order to sustain its cause with sustainable financial aid. As what I see in this case, there are two essential points CI remarkably has been doing in order to continue walk in its vision. The first point is about extending its expertise and resources to consumers in order to educate them with the right information. In line with this, CI has to ensure that customers are exactly given with their perfect opportunity in the market, basic privileges and rights. However, CI’s mission does not only stop in here. There are other basic considerations it needs to take into account in order to sustain its vision. The second point involves about financial matters. As an NGO in South Africa, the only source of funds that CI can acquire is through asking donors. It made the legal move to ensure this by allowing it to be recognized as official NGO in South Africa. I consider this as an act in line with social responsibility. CI’s effort is not just about a program or anything else, but a mission. Since it is a mission, it has to stand on its responsibility and indeed act on it with great effort coupled with high

How did the Spanish-American War change America's role in the world In Research Paper

How did the Spanish-American War change America's role in the world In what ways did America's global role stay the same after the war - Research Paper Example s—in extending our commercial relations—to have with them as little political connection as possible.†1 As a corollary to this principle of non-intervention, or isolationism, America remained steadfast in her support of the freedom struggles and democratic movements of other countries, but refused to become embroiled in war by â€Å"spreading our ideals throughout the world by force of arms.†2  This policy came to an end in 1898, with the Spanish-American War. The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain that began in 1895. American public sympathy for the revolutionaries was exacerbated by the yellow press, reporting atrocities committed by the Spanish General, Valeriano Weyler. American investments in Cuba and the perception of the strategic importance of the island in Central America, led President McKinley to dispatch the battleship USS Maine to Havana, to pressurize Spain. The mysterious explosion of the Maine in February 1898 was attributed to Spain, and public outrage enabled McKinley to enter the Spanish-American War in April 1898. American victory was declared in August. Under the Treaty of Paris, in December 1898, Cuba became an American Protectorate under the Platt Amendment of 1902, Puerto Rico and Guam were received from Spain as indemnity and the Philippines was ceded to America after the Battle of Manila Bay, for $ twenty million.3 The repercussions of the Spanish-American War led to the annexation of the Philippines, which was made an American colony, after the suppression of the Filipino Insurrection, led by Emilio Aguinaldo. Intellectuals, like Senator Albert Beveridge, used the concept of ‘Manifest Destiny,’ to justify overseas expansion. Josiah Strong’s Our Country (1885), and Rudyard Kipling’s poem, ‘The White Man’s Burden’ (1899), based on ‘Social Darwinian,’ considered it the ‘duty’ of the ‘superior’ Anglo-Saxon race to spread Christian and Democratic values to ‘backward’ people.

Product and Pricing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Product and Pricing Strategy - Essay Example te a variety of industrial and office-based computer and laptop solutions, along with state-of-the-art services, software collaborations and innovative accessories. EJ’s Innovations and More has a wide customer base for all of its electronic product offerings. This product will make full use of access to the existing customer base as they are all potential users of computers and laptops. Furthermore, they are already familiar with the brand name of EJ’s and have the trust relationship and faith in the product quality and service assurance of the company. With this product, the company is planning to target all computer and laptop users. The potential customers range from 14 year old girls and boys to aged, retired gentlemen and ladies. However, this plan outlines the target audience, described later, for this particular wave of marketing. The strategy of EJ’s Innovations and More is to offer customers a wide range of personal computers and laptops. These will be available in a variety of designs and colors, suiting the different needs and whims of the customer. They will be available in different varieties, starting with the basic computer or laptop, to the more advanced versions with greater memory capacity, RAM, accessories and additional features. The most important aspect of these computers will be that with registration, they will be ready for immediate use. They will work easily on all software platforms from other companies with minimal installation. To assist the customer, customer support teams will be available 6 days a week and helpline will be open 24/7 to answer any product related questions. The computers and laptops offered by the company will all carry the same brand promise of EJ’s which is one of complete innovation and convenience, designed to make the life of the customer easier and happier. The specific target audience of this plan includes the people aged between 40 to 70 years, especially those with some sort of impairments or

PAYING FOR FAILURE AT AIG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PAYING FOR FAILURE AT AIG - Essay Example 2. Yes, the decision of rewarding the executives was a wrong or a failure decision, as they were the ones that took the company to this stage. It was not necessary for AIG to retain those executive who were not doing well to the company. Instead of rewarding them, they should have been fired and the company should have recruited more qualified, able and committed staff that had the experience of corporate crisis management and could help company to come out of the danger zone. 3. Yes, had I been the president of AIG, I would have refused to pay bonuses to the current executive staff because they did not deserve it. Plus when the company is already incurring huge losses, rewarding them was a wrong decision to make. Moreover, rewards must always be given on the basis of performance and in this case, they did not perform well. Rewards are a sign of appreciation and encouragement for the employees. But rewarding employees when the company is already suffering huge losses is not the right policy as this would discourage others who have worked hard. In this case, the employees who are being rewarded are the ones who are responsible for the current losses of the company, and few are those who have already left the company thus that showed that they were not even loyal to the organization. 4. If I have received the bonus then I would have returned it because if I was one of those then I would know that I did not deserve to get a reward for doing nothing. I would have only accepted the reward after I could manage to get the company to come out of trouble, before that, I think I would have refused it. 5. Government should only use tax revenue to help boost the economy so that eventually it could help the common tax payers. But using that money unfairly is not just to the tax payers and economy itself. Investing money somewhere that will not directly produce any benefit to the masses is

Travel agency website Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Travel agency website - Essay Example Man by nature travels from one place to another. This is evidenced by the annual volume of the inbound and outbound travellers here and abroad. Travellers usually utilize one or a combination the land, marine, and air transportation modes. They may travel on their own without the assistance of a travel agency, if they are already familiar of the place to stay in or visited.Majority of them usually employ the services of travel agencies to book various travel services needed and to get rid of preparing it themselves and end up in a costly, unorganized, and not enjoyed travel.With the advent of e-commerce technology and the use of the internet, people from all walks of life may book their travels in a traditional way or online. Online bookings need to be done interactively using a travel agency's website. The website's user interface design is very crucial in a travel agency for it replaces the traditional way of interacting with the customer. The extent of the services and care that a n agency can give face to face to customers should at least be replicated or surpassed in the online version.In a travel agency website we could think of several scenarios of use. The following types of users are considered in this study, namely: the students, the professionals, the tourists, and the immigrants.Students profile includes local, national, international students.... This group includes the business travellers, delegates, participants, speakers, and convenors of conferences, conventions, trainings, seminars and parallel activities. This may also include government representatives to conduct official business activities in this country as well as in other countries. Tourists profile includes local, national, and international tourists. Their goals and needs are the following: booking their travels in a pre-scheduled basis or open scheduled basis, usually they need additional services like hotel accommodations, local travel services, and other services specifically designed for tourists. This group includes a wide and a very diverse array of travellers. Travellers classified in other groups may in one time or another are also classified or combined here. Immigrants profile includes local, national, and international immigrants. They may be inbound or outbound immigrants granted immigrant status here or in other countries. Their goals and needs are the following: booking their travels in a pre-scheduled or open basis, usually they need additional services like hotel, apartment, and house accommodations, local travel agency assistance, and other services specifically designed for accommodating inbound immigrants and helping outbound immigrants. This group also includes government diplomatic representatives and workers The PACT Components Analysis Matrix To clearly identify, determine and describe the people, activities, context, and technologies involved, the following Table 1. PACT Components Analysis Matrix is utilized in this study. Table 1: PACT Components Analysis Matrix PACT COMPONENTS ANALYSIS MATRIX PEOPLE

PAYING FOR FAILURE AT AIG Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PAYING FOR FAILURE AT AIG - Essay Example 2. Yes, the decision of rewarding the executives was a wrong or a failure decision, as they were the ones that took the company to this stage. It was not necessary for AIG to retain those executive who were not doing well to the company. Instead of rewarding them, they should have been fired and the company should have recruited more qualified, able and committed staff that had the experience of corporate crisis management and could help company to come out of the danger zone. 3. Yes, had I been the president of AIG, I would have refused to pay bonuses to the current executive staff because they did not deserve it. Plus when the company is already incurring huge losses, rewarding them was a wrong decision to make. Moreover, rewards must always be given on the basis of performance and in this case, they did not perform well. Rewards are a sign of appreciation and encouragement for the employees. But rewarding employees when the company is already suffering huge losses is not the right policy as this would discourage others who have worked hard. In this case, the employees who are being rewarded are the ones who are responsible for the current losses of the company, and few are those who have already left the company thus that showed that they were not even loyal to the organization. 4. If I have received the bonus then I would have returned it because if I was one of those then I would know that I did not deserve to get a reward for doing nothing. I would have only accepted the reward after I could manage to get the company to come out of trouble, before that, I think I would have refused it. 5. Government should only use tax revenue to help boost the economy so that eventually it could help the common tax payers. But using that money unfairly is not just to the tax payers and economy itself. Investing money somewhere that will not directly produce any benefit to the masses is

Immigration and Social Problems Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Immigration and Social Problems - Research Paper Example Immigration brings many benefits for the developed countries, such as, increase in the GDP, increase in the available workforce, increase in precious talent, and increase in the number of hardworking individuals. However, immigration also causes some problems for the developed countries, such as, increase in the number of crimes, increase in violence, law breaking, and decreased employment opportunities. This study will focus on the benefits that immigrants bring to the United States of America. Along with this, crimes and drug trafficking, which are two of the major problems caused by immigrants in the United States, will also come under discussion. The study will also show how people can think positively about immigrants and how they can solve problems caused by immigrants. Thesis Statement The thesis statement for the paper is that: People should understand that not all immigrants are bad; rather they play a very considerable role in strengthening the economy of the United States. Problems Caused by Immigrants A major part of the illegal immigrants living in the United States is originally from Mexico. Researches prove that approximately 13.2 million illegal immigrants living in the United States are Mexican-Americans. Increase in the number of crimes and drug trafficking are the most significant problems caused by the immigrants in the United States of America. ... If we talk about the United States of America, increased rate of crimes due to illegal immigrations is not an exception. Various researches show that illegal immigrants have increased the overall number of crimes in the country and the main reasons behind that increase are the social and financial issues of the immigrants. Moreover, the mindset of some immigrants is such that they like to get involved in criminal activities, such as, rape and adultery. Such immigrants are sexually frustrated and when they find easy target somewhere, they do not hesitate to fulfill their desires. However, women of illegal immigrants are also not safe and they are also the targets of smugglers and criminals. Taxin, in an article, gives a proof of such cases and states, â€Å"An 8-year-old Salvadoran girl who reported she was raped by immigrant smugglers in Mexico has been reunited with family in the United States†. Increase in the terrorist attacks in developed countries and threats of terrorism are also associated with the issue of illegal immigrations. The famous and dreadful incident of 9/11 is also an outcome of the illegal immigrants’ issue where a group of terrorists hijacked a couple of planes and hit them with the world trade center. Drug Trafficking Drug trafficking, is also one of the most critical issues associated with large-scale immigrations to the United States of America. Go states, â€Å"The US suffers an annual loss of about 70 billion dollars due to drug-related illnesses, death, and drug related crimes†. Drug trafficking is a business which earns a lot of money to the drug dealers, manufacturers, and all other people involved in this business. The immigrants involved in this

Essay of william Essay Example for Free

Essay of william Essay Scepticism about technological determinism emerged alongside increased pessimism about techno-science in the mid-20th century, in particular around the use of nuclear energy in the production of nuclear weapons, Nazi human experimentation during World War II, and the problems of economic development in the third world. As a direct consequence, desire for greater control of the course of development of technology gave rise to disenchantment with the model of technological determinism in academia. Modern theorists of technology and society no longer consider technological determinism to be a very accurate view of the way in which we interact with technology, even though determinist assumptions and language fairly saturate the writings of many boosters of technology, the business pages of many popular magazines, and much reporting on technology. Instead, research in science and technology studies, social construction of technology and related fields have emphasised more nuanced views that resist easy causal formulations. They emphasise that The relationship between technology and society cannot be reduced to a simplistic cause-and-effect formula. It is, rather, an intertwining', whereby technology does not determine but operates, and are operated upon in a complex social field (Murphie and Potts). In his article Subversive Rationalization: Technology, Power and Democracy with Technology, Andrew Feenberg argues that technological determinism is not a very well founded concept by illustrating that two of the founding theses of determinism are easily questionable and in doing so calls for what he calls democratic rationalization (Feenberg 210–212). Prominent opposition to technologically determinist thinking has emerged within work on the social construction of technology (SCOT). SCOT research, such as that of Mackenzie and Wajcman (1997) argues that the path of innovation and its social consequences are strongly, if not entirely shaped by society itself through the influence of culture, politics, economic arrangements, regulatory mechanisms and the like. In its strongest form, verging on social determinism, What matters is not the technology itself, but the social or economic system in which it is embedded (Langdon Winner). In his influential but contested (see Woolgar and Cooper, 1999) article Do Artifacts Have Politics?, Langdon Winner illustrates a form of technological determinism by elaborating instances in which artifacts can have politics. Although The deterministic model of technology is widely propagated in society (Sarah Miller), it has also been widely questioned by scholars. Lelia Green explains that, When technology was perceived as being outside society, it made sense to talk about technology as neutral. Yet, this idea fails to take into account that culture is not fixed and society is dynamic. When Technology is implicated in social processes, there is nothing neutral about society (Lelia Green). This confirms one of the major problems with technological determinism and the resulting denial of human responsibility for change. There is a loss of human involvement that shape technology and society (Sarah Miller). Another conflicting idea is that of technological somnambulism, a term coined by Winner in his essay Technology as Forms of Life. Winner wonders whether or not we are simply sleepwalking through our existence with little concern or knowledge as to how we truly interact with technology. In this view it is still possible for us to wake up and once again take control of the direction in which we are traveling (Winner 104). However, it requires society to adopt Ralph Schroeders claim that, users don’t just passively consume technology, but actively transform it. In opposition to technological determinism are those who subscribe to the belief of social determinism and postmodernism. Social determinists believe that social circumstances alone select which technologies are adopted, with the result that no technology can be considered inevitable solely on its own merits. Technology and culture are not neutral and when knowledge comes into the equation, technology becomes implicated in social processes. The knowledge of how to create and enhance technology, and of how to use technology is socially bound knowledge. Postmodernists take another view, suggesting that what is right or wrong is dependent on circumstance. They believe technological change can have implications on the past, present and future.[6] While they believe technological change is influenced by changes in government policy, society and culture, they consider the notion of change to be a paradox, since change is constant. Media and cultural studies theorist Brian Winston, in response to technological determinism, developed a model for the emergence of new technologies which is centered on the Law of the suppression of radical potential. In two of his books – Technologies of Seeing: Photography, Cinematography and Television (1997) and Media Technology and Society (1998) – Winston applied this model to show how technologies evolve over time, and how their invention is mediated and controlled by society and societal factors which suppress the radical potential of a given technology.

Duties and responsibilities of Event Management

Duties and responsibilities of Event Management INTRODUCTION Event manager is a person of vision, energy, and commitment in a position of responsibility and authority. An event manager plays myriad professional roles. Event managers and their teams are often behind-the-scenes running the event. Event managers may also be involved in more than just the planning and execution of the event, but also brand building, marketing and communication strategy. The event manager is experts at the creative, technical and logistical elements that help an event succeed. This includes event design, audio-visual production, scriptwriting, logistics, budgeting, and negotiation and, of course, client service. It is a multi-dimensional profession. So now let us see some of his duties and responsibilities. An event manager is a, Project director: Set and define goals; schedule and assign tasks, Personnel supervisor: Choose, motivate, and evaluate staffs, Art director: Design theme, decorations and printed materials, Executive: evaluate long term results and make decisions, Accountant: plan budgets and balance the books, Facilities experts: find and use a site to its fullest potential, Public relations practitioners: target audience and develop publicity campaigns. Salesperson: sell the event to the organization, financial sponsors, and the public, Box office consultants: ticket sales and registration process. Program administrator: develop and schedule programming. Caterer: create nutritious menus and oversee food preparation. Captain: choose and implement food service system. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN EVENT MANAGER They will also attend the event to ensure everything goes to plan. Event managers supply to all types of services relating to the events industry a take on the responsibility of coordinating all the logistics involved in making the event work to the clientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s satisfaction. They are follows: Personality An event manager should be able to present a calm, friendly, and courteous manner at all times. The five essential characteristics of successful event managers can be listed as: Detail- oriented Organized Full of energy, both physical and emotional Nurturing Flexible. Having a good sense of humor is a key apart from the above qualities. Motivation The job of event manager requires hard work and a service orientation; it is not a good position for a glory seeker. The person who wants to sit at the head table, give orders, and look important has the wrong idea of an event managerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s functions. Safety meetings and inspections During the risk assessment meeting the event manager needs to elicit all possible health or safety hazards associated with the goods, services and personnel to be used to produce the events. Specifically ask all vendors and suppliers to identify potential physical hazards and the safeguards necessary to prevent exposure to illness or injuries. Use this opportunities to communicate a commitment to safety in all aspects of the event. During preliminary site inspections the event manager should look for any event element or aspect of the event site that might have the potential for injury, scanning sanitary supplies and disposable diapers/ nappies, is sometimes considered a form of hazardous material, may be generated by first aid stations and must be disposed of accordingly. Particularly for outdoor sites, pest control may be important, perhaps requiring clearing and cleaning out of infested areas, spraying for insects. The event manager should determine if vector borne diseases are possible and work with public health authorities to control the vector. Sanitation and hygiene Cleanliness and hygienic conditions are imperative for many reasons, including health and safety from injuries or illness, but also for the comfort and the welfare of the event audience, participants, and personnel. Water is a critical component of health and hygiene. The quality and the quantity of the water must be accessed, particularly for outdoor events and temporary event sites, including the potential for water supply sabotage and the location and logistics of getting emergency water supplies. Free and freely accessible drinking water must be provided at all the events. Potable water must also be provided for cleansing needs and non potable water may be needed for dust abatement. Sanitary facilities must be in sufficient numbers to accommodate the expected numbers and types of users for the expected duration of the events. They must be positioned appropriately to serve the various event populations. Occupational safety is also a consideration. The catering operations must guard against such hazards as burns from cooking and serving equipments, cuts from knives or broken glasses, slips and trips on spilled liquids or electrical cords, falls, fire and fumes. Preparing an event record The event records mainly include: Timeline/ schedules Initial proposal Contacts Committees Correspondence Budget Site Marketing and promotion Promotional materials Registration Theme and program Audiovisual On the day of the event During the event, a manager should greet guest, visit at tables during the meal, discuss the sessions with seminar leaders, and generally see to it that everyone has the best possible time. Ideally, a manager will have delegated well enough to be able to do nothing but transverse the site, checking upon people and activities and chatting with guests to find out how the event is perceived. At outdoor sites and large events, event managers sometimes distribute walkie- talkies or wears beepers. Keeping the events on track The following steps are taken by the event managers to keep the events on track: Select volunteers; form committees Decide goals and themes Research audience Create event names and logo Choose evaluation methods Outline budget Contact potential sponsors Visit and select sites Diagram sites Make signs Plan publicity campaigns Contact media Design registration Audition and select performers Schedule rehearsals Draft menu Negotiate with caterers Choose serving style Shop for supplies Prepare food The big day Clean up and close Meet for evaluations Send thankyous Write and file reports Selecting an event The choice of a specific event will rest on three supports: Purpose ( fund raising, recruitment etc) Audience (need and characteristics) Organization (success lies in using the strongest resources) Special events held by organizations and clubs can center on such elements as: Food (bake sales, potlucks, award banquets, cooking seminars) Entertainment (talent shows, concerts, theaters parties, gospel sings) Merchandise Athletic endeavors Education Games Potpourris Choosing a theme A theme should be developed by the event manager for the event. Hobbies and careers, holidays, seasons, games, activities, history, costumes, ethnic culture, geography, colors, flowers, jewels, literature, and weddings can all form the bases of the special events. The date itself may suggest a theme. The site of an event may contribute to theme ideas. Names and logos should be selected with great care. Use a memorable name that clearly explains and identifies the event. One of the managerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s tasks is to maintain the atmosphere of the event. Clever lighting can help spotlight a performer or speaker, encourage intimate conversation, or display artwork to advantage. Goal settings for special events and Conferences Raise funds for a specific cause, person, or place Build spirit among long term members ( heal a breach, solve a political problem, launch a new program) Facilitate information distribution/ exchange especially for large audience Recruit new members (specific or group of people) Celebrate, give awards, recognize volunteer efforts Attract publicity, reach new audience, heighten public awareness CONCLUSION Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of festivals, events and conferences. Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, planning the logistics and coordinating the technical aspects before actually executing the modalities of the proposed event. Post-event analysis and ensuring a return on investment have become significant drivers for the event industry. For event management we should have proper communication skill and hard work for it. And we should be ready for work in out the event, only then we can become an Event Manger.

Blue Agave and Its Importance in the Tequila Industry :: Botany

Blue Agave and Its Importance in the Tequila Industry Tequila, North America's first distilled spirit and first production alcohol, is known to most North Americans as a fiery beverage consumed during week long vacations in Mexico or by inebriated college students. Vast over-commercialization and misinformation concerning the product obscures the economic importance of the Blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber) the tequila-making industry, and their place in Mexican history. There are 136 known species of agave, but only one is used to produce tequila (2,p.4). During their exploration of the New World in the late 1400's and early 1500's, Spanish conquistadors discovered a fermented beverage called pulque that was produced by the Nahuatl. The Nahuatl are the original inhabitants of the area of western Mexico who primarily used pulque in religious ceremonies and for medicinal purposes in their culture. The primary ingredient in the fermentation process of pulque was the agave. As the early Spaniards ran out of brandy, they searched for a source of fermentable sugar for distilling. They experimented with the agave, which was abundant in the volcanic soils in the Sierra Madre region surrounding Guadalajara. The species that produced the most full-bodied taste was the Agave tequilana Weber, the blue agave or agave azul (1, p.1). In 1600, the first tequila factory was established by the "father of tequila," Don Pedro Sanches de Tagle, Marquis of Altamira. Don Pedro also was the first to begin cultivation of the blue agave for distilling (2, p.2) and in 1636, Governor Don Juan Canseco y Quià ±ones authorized the distillation and manufacture of mescal, in order to facilitate tax collection on production. However, Spanish rule suppressed tequila production and in 1785, the production of all native distilled spirits was banned. In 1792, the ban was lifted but tequila production did not flourish again until Mexican independence in 1821. In the early to mid 1800's, many tequila distillers began large-scale production. Some businesses eventually failed but two of the largest are still in business today. The first licensed manufacturer was Jose Antonio Cuervo who began cultivation in 1758. His Casa Cuervo proved very profitable. By the mid-1800's, his families fields had more than 3 million agave plants. Cuervo was also the first distiller to put tequila into bottles. Today Cuervo is the largest manufacturer of tequila, with a huge export market. In 1873, another major distiller, Don Cenobio Sauza, acquired La Antigua, a company founded in the early 1820's.

Explain why the Arab invasions of 710 and 711 were so successful. :: essays research papers fc

Explain why the Arab invasions of 710 and 711 were so successful. In answering this question we must first appreciate the difficulty historians face in discovering the real truth of the early Arab invasions, a fact well demonstrated in the varying estimates of Arab invasion forces (ranging from 1,700-9000 in current publications). Scant contemporary evidence exists beyond a short narrative present in a Spanish chronicle of 754, a vital surviving Islamic administrative document of the time, and some archaeological remains. Our knowledge of the invasions is largely founded on the works of later Islamic historians, the Ajbar Machmua text for example and the works of Ibn Idhari and al Maqqari. Unfortunately there are fewer Christian documents available. Julian’s ‘History of Wamba’ is one of few Visigothic texts to be found, further information has therefore been gained from later monastic chroniclers. For religious Muslim contemporary’s the success of the 711 invasion was attributed to the will of Allah as part of Islam’s rapid expansion. Likewise for the Christian author of the 9th century chronicle of Alfonso III the Visigoths’ defeat had been punishment for disobeying God’s commandments. To the majority of medieval men divine intervention was a valid explanation for occurrences, however even then secular minded writers appreciated more practical explanations; principally the unrest which existed within the Visigothic kingdom. The political and social problems which faced Iberia at the time are seen by many modern historians as vital to the conquest’s success. In 710, supposedly the year of the first major Muslim incursion into Spain under Tarif (whether Tarif’s raid even occurred is disputed by some historians ) the new King Roderic succeeded the throne. He was in a vulnerable position from the outset as controversy existed over his succession. It was argued that he had apparently usurped the throne from the rightful heir Akhila son of the old King Wittiza. Although Visigoth royal succession was theoretically elective it was in practice through primogenitor which naturally undermined Roderic’s position. The existence of a rival claimant caused dangerous divisions throughout the kingdom and in Akhila’s demesne land of Tarragona and Narbonne coins were minted without the king’s image, a clear measure of defiance. It is also reported in some sources that during the invasion Akhila conspired with the Arabs to depose Roderic. Some go as far as to say that during the final battle a wing of Roderic’s army loyal to Akhila turned on him in the midst of the fighting.

Globalization And National Culture: A Chinese Dilemma Essay

The authors have discussed transformation of Chinese culture and its impact for Chinese individual in the wake of modernization and economic growth. The authors are concerned about the ethnic minorities that make up modern China; and the changing Chinese cultural landscape where ancient traditions are becoming obsolete in the wake of modernization.   The article depicts the two sides of a nation; individual wish to retain the older traditions; while the state wish to maintain one super culture for all Chinese people.   They cite the example of 2004 Athens Olympic, where Chinese Stage Director Zhang Yimou staged a grand spectacle for global audience presenting the â€Å"cream of Chinese culture†. Despite the glitz and glare of the event, it was dubbed as pseudo Chinese show developed for the Western audience only by Chinese government. The spectacle may not portray 100 percent Chinese culture perhaps staged to China to the world. However there is nothing wrong in marketing wrong one’s country to world. Being a part of the global economy, it is not China; any other country would do the same. One similar example can be seen in Egypt, where every year a grand event related to Egyptian culture is conducted to attract global audience. The emphasis is on the era of Pharaoh, which is appealing to the West, but less attractive for its own population. Egypt is an Islamic country; Islam clearly prohibits any kind of association with pagan rituals. For normal Egyptian any events related to Pharaoh are clear pagan rituals; which are unacceptable in a Muslim society. However the Egyptian government is bent on promoting a culture that is far removed from mainstream society. The main purposes of such events are to promote Egyptian culture to attract business and visitors to Egypt. Thus it would be wrong to assume that the China is promoting a pseudo culture, the basic purpose of such kind of events are to promote China and Chinese culture.   According to the authors China has preserved the traditions for thousands of years and now every aspect of life is going under change that for many Chinese individual is creating an identity crisis. Many are questioning the cost of change and the loss of the traditional Chinese culture. Many individuals want to retain the old values; while the state is promoting one grand culture through control and coercion. In such situation the authors believe that individuals are taking drastic measure in various ways to defend their culture. China is going through the same level of change as European nations faced in the wake of industrlization in 18/19th centuries. It’s natural for people with old school of thought to resist change; while other will push for change. The issue is that all cultures change through time; Chinese culture is no exception. For any change to take place, there are forces that resist change, even if a culture is no longer working and instead creating stagnancy in global world.   Some individual resist change and advocate for preserving the past as authors have mentioned. Others want the amalgamation of traditions and new ideas to form a culture that is more practical and workable in the changing world; Chinese government is working on second option. The resistance to change is not some thing new. For example French government has forbidden the use of English words except for words which French equaling vocabulary. An example of such resistance is the failure of star bucks in France, but is successful in rest of the Europe. China is the past two decades has been changing a lot by adopting Western technology and cultural ideas to become part of modern world. It can no longer afford to remain in a world which constantly changing and demands new way of living. It would be wrong to assume that Chinese people do not want to change and government is forcing them to change. Change is not becoming worse, but Chinese people have become wealthier than ever. It’s natural to come up with high-rise buildings that are better equipped sophisticated modern structures compared to older style slums and squatters which makes city crammed and over populated. The authors seem to have nostalgia for the past; where every thing looks perfect and grand, but the reality is far from true. Just two decades ago majority of Chinese people were barely surviving with meager resources. The reason for such way of life was traditional way of living dependent on agricultural economy.   The change from traditional way of living to modern era has brought some problems, but it has also given  rise sophisticated sky scrappers; modern infrastructure equipped with better facilities to cater for the international and local entrepreneurs. The State is now offering modern homes to its people that are located in ideal environment with better sewerage facilities and higher standard of living; which were unthinkable 10/15 years ago. The authors mention that millions of Chinese are resisting change in their surroundings because they feel a sense of belonging to the old way of living. Most of them according to authors are striving to maintain change and are busy in initiatives to resist state sponsor change at grassroots level. They mention the example of XU Yong photographer who preserved the pictures of local architecture and courtyard life in 10 years long movement. Similarly another writer Feng Jicai is mentioned who is fighting the government to preserve the old squatter and came up with idea of preserving it through maps and photos. The authors are trying to portray that perhaps state government is bent on running the Chinese tradition and culture, and people have no choice but to fight for it. The reality is far from true. For example China is now more open to ideas compared to the past. In 2006, for the first time Chinese Christians celebrated Christmas openly. Another change is the re-establishment of the older Chinese traditions. For example the annual homage service of tomb sites of emperors and high official have been institutionalized to celebrate the ancient Chinese culture, which was stopped after the 1940s revolution.   In mid 1980s, these traditions have been re-assumed by non-governmental and some government officials to promote such activities at national level which was unthinkable a few decades ago. Chinese government is also promoting the old Chinese tradition of Confucius and special books have been included in curriculum of the children to let them know of the past.   The reason for Chinese government to come up with a homogenous culture is that China is composed of countless minorities, if all ethnic groups want their ways, there would be little room left for central government to rule. Reference: WU Mei and GUO Zhenzhi, â€Å"Globalization, national culture and the.† University of Macau and Tsinghua