Engaged Buddhist response to Consumerism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Engaged Buddhist response to Consumerism - Essay Example In the twenty-first century, people live in a technologically-advanced world. Everything is done with a touch of a button. Perhaps, the saying that â€Å"an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,† is true because the more free time man has, the more time he spends on whining about how miserable life is and how only a new gadget or material possession could make him feel better. Conspicuous consumption is the name of the game. And consumerism is the rule. This paper shall discuss the concepts of consumerism from the perspective of Engaged Buddhism and their interaction in society, how Engaged Buddhism responds to tide of consumerism. More specifically, Engaged Buddhism responds to consumerism with meditation and mindful living coupled with acts of compassion and generosity. ENGAGED BUDDHISM Engaged Buddhism is a movement within the Buddhist religion. It follows all the teachings of Buddha, the Enlightened One; it practices all the traditions and rites of the Buddhist religion. But what makes it different is the fact that it puts a premium on the value of active compassion, that is, meditation coupled with action. However, when the founder himself is asked, he contends that â€Å"Engaged Buddhism is just Buddhism† (Malkin 1). This movement was established in the middle of the 20th century by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk who, surrounded with pain and desperation during the Vietnam War, realized and decided that, â€Å"Buddhism has to do with your daily life, with your suffering and with the suffering of the people around you† (Malkin 1). ... Meditation is about the awareness of what is going on—not only in your body and in your feelings, but all around you,† (Malkin 1). Thus, Engaged Buddhism was born. Inspired by the deep desire to serve the community, Thich Nhat Hanh founded the School of Youth for Social Services where the students learned not only religion but most importantly compassion. They were taught to put their beliefs into actions by working to help ease the suffering of the people (Queen 38). As the group grew larger, Engaged Buddhism became not just a religious movement but also a social force – a flicker of light that beacons all those who are in the darkness of pain, despair and uncertainty. Armed with pure courage and determination to share the values of love and compassion to his fellowmen, Thich Nhat Hanh planted the seeds of Engaged Buddhism on the unforgiving and hostile bloodstained soil of his motherland. True enough, as an affirmation to his extraordinary efforts, religious and layman communities had soon adapted to the art of mindful living and mindfulness to the Buddhist principles that gives to every individual the respect and dignity he deserves as a human being (Queen 54). The Zen monk’s extraordinary courage and compassion sent ripples of hope across the country and even to the other side of the Pacific Ocean. In recognition, no less than Martin Luther King, Jr. nominated him to the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 (Malkin 1). Consumerism In the society that we know today, there is always the need to have more and to possess the latest, best and coolest. Mass media makes sure of that. The advertising sector has mastered the art of deception – making every consumer think that he needs whatever is pushed in his mind through

Capital punishment and why does the Church (Christianity) oppose it so much Essay Example for Free

Capital punishment and why does the Church (Christianity) oppose it so much Essay Man is a sacred and precious creature created by God.   When God has created the Universe, light, the birds, animals, the trees, water and the earth, he had given a lot of importance to man.   Evidence from the Bible suggests that God had left creating man as his final task, and after he had created man, God was so amazed, satisfied with himself and fulfilled with his own creation, that he decided to rest (on the Seventh day).   Through his creation of man, he had provided a reflection of himself (The Old Testament: Genesis 1).   In deed God has given a lot of importance to man, and no one has the right to take away or destroy the life this very special and beautiful creation of God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Countries throughout the World are beginning to understand the importance of capital punishment and are slowly outlawing such laws.   However, certain developed countries such as the US are still encouraging Capital punishment.   The US had stopped capital punishment for some period of time (from 1972 to 1977).   However, the practice resumed again following Gregg V. Georgia case (Horigan, 2004).   Most of the states in the US permit Capital punishment only in very specific instances.   However, the very existence of such an option in the judiciary system, does suggest the States Support to this inhuman act.   The rate of execution in the US has dropped since the 1930’s, but this has no fully ended. The largest number of executions is performed by the State of Texas, and the highest percentage of the population executed by the State is Virginia (Robinson, 2006).   The response of the US public to capital punishment is somewhat mixed.   However, the reaction of the Canadian people to capital punishment was also similar, but the Country has abolished capital punishment.   Depending on the seriousness of their crime, the crimes are imprisoned even for indefinite periods (Robinson, 2006).   Canada has also shown that imposition of capital punishment does not necessarily result in a drop in the crime rates.   The Japanese on the other which permit capital punishment have a crime rate much below that of the US. Hence, it can be demonstrated that capital punishment may not play an important role in crime (Robinson, 2006).   In the US, many people who have been executed by the law, were found not even to be given a proper lawyer during their trials. Several states in the US that have capital punishment in their legal systems seem to have a higher criminal rate than those which do not have capital punishment (Robinson, 2006).   People may feel that by incorporating capital punishment in their legal systems, the State is cheapening the value of human life.   Hence, the crime rates in such states are on the rise.   Several other factors such as poor socio-economic status, low educational levels, poor living conditions, etc, may be related with an increase in the crime rates.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Church has seriously opposed the use of capital punishment in case of serious crime.   Pope John Paul II has opposed the imposition of death penalty by the State (Dulles, 2001).   Christians give a lot of importance to life and have opposed any action that could result in the ‘violation to the right to life’ such as murder, abortion, suicide, euthanasia, etc.   Christians usually feel that as God has controlled life, no one including the Governments and the Courts can take away a human life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Old Testament, death was specifically suggested to those who had sinned or committed offences (such as murder and adultery).   The Sacred Covenant during Noah had mentioned that anyone who offenders and disobeys God be stoned or hanged to death.   Several episodes in the Old Testament such as those of with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), have given instances in which capital punishment was performed to penalize sinners.   People who helped to execute the will of God by ending the life of the offenders were considered as Agents of God.   Many Countries of the World still follow the Old Testament of capital punishment in penalizing serious crimes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, things have changed since the New Testament times.   Although Jesus Christ had not spoken much about the use of capital punishment by the state, indirect instances are present in the New Testament which may suggest that Jesus was against the practice of capital punishment.   One of these instances included the Stoning of a woman who had sinned.   Jesus did not allow his disciples to pronounce curses of destruction of death on people who did not have feelings of love towards others. In John 19:11, Jesus told Pilate that he had the authority to sentence anybody who had sinned against God, and that Pilate had the right to fulfill God’s intentions.   In Matthew 26:52, Jesus told Peter to put back his sword when he was arrested.   Jesus even put back the soldier’s piece of ear, after Peter had cut it with his sword.   In Luke 23: 41, Jesus tells the thief crucified on his side, that they were receiving punishment for the sins that they had committed on earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Christianity believed in the concept of ‘love thy neighbor as thy self’, and Jesus in his preaching expressed that this feeling should be extended to every aspect of life.   We could potentially extent its application for use to prevent capital punishment.   In the New Testament after Christ, there may be several instances in which capital punishment was encouraged.   However, these instances may not directly support capital punishment.   In Acts 5: 1-11, capital sentences were imposed because they disobeyed Simon Peter.   The Letter to the Hebrews also encouraged the Mosaic Laws on capital punishment. St. Paul told the Romans that death sentence was a mean of expressing God’s intentions against sinners.   However, there have also been instances in the New Testament in which the Church and Christians have opposed death sentence.   During the early Christianity period, the Church did not approve Christians to function as executioners of death sentences (Dulles, 2001).   St. Augustine felt that the Fifth Commandant should be utilized even to prevent execution of death sentences and killing of criminals.   He wrote an entire book about Capital punishment named The City of God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The idea of capital punishment changed a bit during the Middle Age.   Christianity had some influence on the people, and the Courts were told to impose capital punishment only for people who committed serious crime.   This was mainly as a self-defense mechanism to prevent the criminals from committing further crime and to ensure that the society was safe.   Some of the theologists felt that capital punishment was more of a hatred act against the criminal than one to enable him to reform in the future (Dulles, 2001).   Even though the Church opposed death sentence, it constituted a body to pronounce and capital punishment. The Church even conferred the State the power to issue death sentences in the later part of the 16th century.   It derived this power from the Commandant â€Å"thou shall not murder†, and it was performed in several instances.   Slowly the Church began to approve capital punishment only in the case the criminal committed a serious crime.   Slowly the attitude of the Church towards capital punishment began to change as they felt that life was a precious gift given by God and it was morally wrong to take one’s life for sins committed.   The Italian thinker Gino Concetti, wrote a Book L’Osservatore Romano in 1977, demonstrating the importance and sacredness of God-given life.   He said that humans could not destroy the life of another human, and even the criminals who had performed serious crimes should not be punished with death sentence.    He said that there should not be any circumstance in which capital punishment was justified as no person had the right to take the life of another and destroy one of God’s precious creations.   We should be able to respect the view that God is expressing himself in man.   This work had really changed the attitudes of Christians and the Church towards capital punishment. Many people felt that the Church itself did not respect or identify this view of life before.   There was a uproar against capital punishment in the 20th century in Europe.   Several European countries who believed in Christianity began to incorporate the latest teachings and beliefs of the Church in their Legal systems.   The Governments began to underhand the importance of life (Dulles, 2001). Since, the criminal is also a human being; he is a precious creation of God and has a reflection of God in himself.   His actions have an element of God expressed in it.   Hence, it would be morally wrong to even punish the most serious criminals with capital punishment.   In the Old Testament, the view that a criminal action should be punished with a similar action by the law-enforcement agency existed.   However, a person may be expressing the Will of God through his actions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Christianity has developed over a long period, and now it does not permit both, direct destruction (taking the life of a specific person) and indirect destruction (actions performed without the intention of killing another person).   In some instances, taking the life of another person by mistake may be pardoned by the Church.   The Church is also against any individuals taking the life of another on the advice of the State (Pesenke, 1981). God does not allow one human to take the life of another because God is the creator of the human beings and can create or destroy a life.   Any person who takes the life of another with a mental intention is sinning against God.   A Human life is the most precious work of God, and destroying it would be against the Will of God.   No political or legal body in the World has the right to interfere with God’s creation.   It is not justified for any Court or King to take the life of any individual including a criminal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many countries feel that capital punishment should be permitted at least to end the life of criminals who committed serious crimes.   They may also be considering that it would be a cheaper option to end the life of such criminals than to punish them with life-imprisonment.   However, the legal and the political systems should not cheapen human life, and should consider them as important to God.   Having capital punishment options in the legal system is not going to reduce crimes.   It is essential that the Government provides a socio-economic environment that may permit development and reduce frustration of the people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Jews believed firmly in capital punishment and permitted it following murders, adultery, worship of idols, war crimes, and kidnapping.   They feel that capital punishment would ensure that the society is safer from the actions of the criminals in the future.   They also feel that anybody who destroys God-given creations should be punished with death sentence.   A counsel usually issues death sentences in Jewish courts.   The court will examine the criminal during the trial and 2 neutral witnesses should provide evidence for the case.   As the process of issuing capital punishment under Jewish laws is very stringent, such sentences may usually occur less frequently. In several situations (such as wars, emergencies, dealing with non-Jewish criminals, etc), the stringent process is relaxed and death sentences are issued more easily.   In such situations Noah-Laws are usually applicable.   Usually just one neutral witness is required (FAQ, 2006).   During the later part of the 20th century, Jewish thinkers began to oppose the use of capital punishment by the legal system.   The ideas of Christian theologists are now being followed by the Jewish thinkers with regard to death sentence.   Only in extremely serious crimes are capital punishment allowed by Jewish courts (FAQ, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Capital punishment is not only an ineffective way of dealing with crime (as it does not reduce the crime rate), but is also an immature way (as hatred and revenge are spread).   It also cheapens the importance of God-given life.   The Government should look at alternative to punish or reform the criminals. References: Dulles, A. C. (2001). â€Å"Catholicism Capital Punishment.† First Things 112, 30-35. http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2175%20 FAQ (2006). Question 12.21: What is the Jewish position on Capital Punishment? Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from FAQ.org   Web site: Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance from Web site: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/judaism/FAQ/06-Jewish-Thought/section-22.html Horigan, D. P. (1996). Buddhism Capital Punishment. Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from The Engaged Zen Foundation from Web site: http://www.engaged-zen.org/articles/Damien_P_Horigan-Buddhism_Capital_Punishment.html Pesenke, H. C. (1981). Christian Ethics: Volume II – Special Moral Theology in the Light of Vatican II, Bangalore: TPI. Robinson, B. A. (2006). Facts about capital punishment: Part 1: data trends. Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance from Web site: http://www.religioustolerance.org/execut3.htm The Bible Gateway (2007). Genesis 1 (New International Version). Retrieved on April 8, 2007, from The Bible Gateway from Web site: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+1

Hamlet Essay -- literary Analysis, Shakespeare

In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, protagonist Hamlet, experiences many rises and falls throughout the play that have a major impact on his mentality decline. The way in which readers interpret the character, Hamlet, can vary in many ways. For instance, Hamlet delivers many soliloquies throughout the work, giving readers a better insight of his state of mind. Additionally, two significant soliloquies in both Acts II and III show a clear view of Hamlet’s mental and emotional state. The soliloquies expressed by many characters throughout the play, signify a critical point within the plot or change of tone. For example, Hamlet’s monologue in (II.ii.563-622), he is justifying his actions, reaffirming himself that what he is planning to do to seek revenge for his father’s death, is the best thing to do. In this speech, Hamlet states, â€Å"Is it not monstrous that this player here,/ But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,/ Could force his soul so to his own conceit/That, from her working, all his visage wanned.(II.ii.565-568)† These lines can be inferred as Hamlet is questioning his own state of mind and validity of his plan. Hamlet is questioning how can a player, who acts out false emotions, can truly â€Å"catch the conscience of the King†(II.ii.622). However, he believes that the creativity exuded from the soul(II.ii,568), can effectively allow a player to perform as if they are real emotions. Hamlet’s only concern is seekin g revenge for his father’s death done at the hands of his uncle, Claudius, who now has the throne. The plot of the play to parallel to the real death of King Hamlet, allowing Hamlet to make Claudius feel uncomfortable and guilty(II.ii.578). Also, in this monologue, Hamlet states that the ghost of his father may have actua... ... instance, the speech in Act II can be seen as Hamlet’s concern with killing Claudius. Contrastingly, the speech in Act III can be seen as Hamlet just contemplating suicide. I do not believe that Hamlet is aware that Claudius and Polonius are hiding behind a tapestry during his monologue of Act III. Hamlet believes that he is truly alone and stating things that are true to his own thoughts. I believe that if Hamlet knew that Polonius and Claudius were near, he wouldn’t have stated those intimate thoughts and details of his strategic plan. In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Hamlet, is a tale of misfortune and deceit. Hamlet’s soliloquies were significant to this play whereas they act as markers for readers to follow the action within the play. Also, the monologues give a insight to the mind of Hamlet, allowing readers to have a better understanding the play.

Importance of the Journey in James Joyce’s Dubliners Essays -- James J

Importance of the Journey in James Joyce’s Dubliners "In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs." Sir John Pentland Mahaffy describes Ireland in a way comparable to James Joyce’s depiction of Ireland in his book Dubliners. Joyce wrote his book of short stories to show how he viewed Dublin and its inhabitants. Joyce did not have positive memories of Dublin and his book casts a negative image upon almost all of Dublin. In Dubliners, James Joyce uses characters and their journeys through society to give his perception of Dublin. In Joyce’s stories with journeys there are many unknown elements to the characters and often their original goals are not accomplished. One story where a character goes on a journey through society is in â€Å"An Encounter.† In the story a group of boys hear of a place called the â€Å"Pigeon House.† Two boys decide to skip school and go on a journey for the house that they heard about from their friends. There are many unknowns for the boys. The boys have some idea where they are going but they do not know the path well at all. They say â€Å"We arranged to go along Wharf Road until we came to the ships, then to cross in the ferryboat and walk out to see the Pigeon House† (13). Joyce’s perception of people planning to go on a journey and not really knowing what they are about to experience shows Joyce’s perception of some people in Dublin. He shows that some in Dublin will go on some aimless journeys with no real sense of direction to gain n othing but experience some sort of adventure. Another unknown element of the journey is the people that the boys come in contact with, specifically an old man that they meet in a field. The old man has an erratic personality and scares the y... ...e that completes what he sets out to do. Only that character dies. It seems that if Michael was the representation of the small successful portion of Dublin, and he dies. This is the first story where one of the prominent characters dies in the story. Michael’s death makes the other living characters around him to seem even more inferior. This journey story is different than most others in the book yet its ending ties up all the other stories. James Joyce uses individuals and their journey through society to give his perception of Dublin. The journeys that take place in Dubliners have many different aspects but all seem to give the same portrayal of the people of Dublin. From what the characters set out to do to the unknown elements that they experienced and the people that they met along the way, all of Joyce’s stories give insight to Dublin and its inhabitants.

Irony in “Top of the Food Chain” by T. Coraghessan Boyle Essay

T. Coraghessan Boyle’s â€Å"On Top of the Food Chain† is more than just a narration of a selfish person’s mistakes. The narrator’s tone is a literary element used to show man’s indifference for organisms that are of no immediate benefit or are a nuisance to them. _†The thing was, we had a little problem with the insects†¦Ã¢â‚¬ _ The narrator’s tone in â€Å"Top of the Food Chain† is quickly shown as self-centered in working for his comforts and indifferent to the havoc his choices make on the environment. Humans believe that we can solve everything that is put upon us, but there is always a catch. In this story, Mother Nature proves us that she can always be ahead of how humans perceive things. From the very first sentence, the narrator is portrayed as a self-serving person. In charge of a group bringing health care to a third-world village, his choices to improve the lives of the villagers lead to wreaking chaos on the local food chain. The improvements start by poisoning the flies. When the geckos that feed off of these flies die due to starvation, the cat population also diminishes. When the cats are gone, the rat population is left unregulated and is allowed to spread disease to the humans and ruin their crops. The narrator’s condescending tone towards these disastrous events is the most significant factor that Boyle uses to develop his theme. The narrator assumes he is at the top of the food chain, and he has no problem killing off the smaller species. However, the narrator is too indifferent to realize that by hurting the lower members of the food chain, he has hurt himself. This is what shows the true irony in the story. The narrator did something that he believes is good for him, but instead it ends up being entirely the opposite of it. The story reflects that humans can do immoral things, without thinking well of the consequences and the effect it is going to have on others. â€Å"Top of the Food Chain† is ironic since Mother Nature got back at all of the selfishness that was portrayed in the story. Global Warming is a great example of how nature can get back to humans because of our own selfish actions. Human activities contribute to climate change by causing changes in Earth’s atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols (small particles), and cloudiness. The largest known contribution comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. The release of carbon dioxide damages the atmosphere, which cause drastic changes in the climate. However, his tone following the severe circumstances that played out in the story implies that he simply does not care about anything other then what he wants. The narrator’s arrogance and belief that he can do what ever he wants without hurting himself reflects his idea that he is Top of the Food Chain. Unfortunately, he learns the hard way that his selfish actions turn around and hurt him in the end, which ends up being ironic. T. Coraghessan Boyle demonstrated us that nature can always get back to humans despite of whatever we do; selfish or unselfish.

The Handmaids Tale - Margaret Atwood Discuss the Gileadean concept of Freedom to, freedom from

The Handmaids Tale - Margaret Atwood Discuss the Gileadean concept of Freedom to, freedom from The dystopian novel, 'The Handmaid's Tale' implies the fact that there are two types of freedom, freedom to and freedom from. It is the paradox between 1980's America and Gilead that is examined continually throughout the novel and it's the ideas of 'freedom to' being a society of broad-minded morals and 'freedom from' the more controlled, restrictive society with an imposition upon individual freedom that are most prominent. In Atwood's thought-provoking novel, two societies with conflicting ideologies and concepts of liberty are juxtaposed through a series of flashbacks in an attempt to examine how people would cope when society suddenly deprived its people of freedom and denied them of information.The first society of modern America with its liberal customs, is compared and contrasted to the second society of Gilead, a totalitarian Christian authority which has taken control over America in the 1980's to save it from its declining birth rate and high levels of moral corruption.The Handmaid's Tale (film)The protagonist of the novel, Offred, documents the history of the two contrasting societies as she recounts with both sentimentality and clarity, the images and memories of her past life as an American women and those of her present life living under the Gileadean regime as a Handmaid.What is most apparent throughout the novel, is that of Margaret Atwood's criticisms of the permissive approach of America and its people, towards the rising levels of corruption, degradation and immorality in modern society. It is this society that the reader can observe as 'freedom to', where a public is free to do as they please, whether it be correct or not, implying that society has reached a peak where it is bordering on spiralling out of control. The society that has implemented the fundamentalist approach of 'freedom from' is the Republic of Gilead...

Example of conversation Essays

Example of conversation Essays Example of conversation Paper Example of conversation Paper On the other hand, Stefanos and Angeliki, kinesthetic learners that collaborated in the non-computer based approach, helped each other in a bigger degree during the construction of the model, since they were familiar on working with materials and they both had the chance experimenting with the materials. This reinforces Flemings (2008) suggestion that kinesthetic learners have experience and feel comfortable in the science lab. Still, in some cases Stefanos handled the materials for longer and Angeliki was just helping by bringing the appropriate materials for the development of the model. Stefanos: No Angeliki is not like that, let me do it. I have used this tool again and I can manage better. Go fetch the globe and the Sun, please.  Angeliki: Ok, I am going but then I want to try too You shouldnt do everything by yourself! The teacher said that both together have to develop the model.  Stefanos: Ok, I will let you do the next thing  The above conversations indicate that there were factors that influenced the teaching process and werent strictly related with students learning styles, but with students experiences, as Milgram (2007) suggests too. Boys in both situations tended to dominate girls, while this was more obvious in the computer-based approach. That is due to the fact that boys, as Milgram s (2007) also suggests, have more experience with the hand-on lab equipment than girls, something that was observed occurring in the present study in the computer and the science lab. As it concerns the students that had visual learning preferences and worked in the two groups different characteristics of the two learning approaches revealed to benefit them. Specifically, the fact that Stagecast Creator is a program that uses images for creating rules and doesnt require a programming language was very supportive for Katerina and George (visual learners), since they could easily express their understandings through images. However, students were considering their animations as exact representations of reality, something that Osborne and Henessy (2003) also supported, so they were trying to create a model that was representing the phenomenon. Still, the group of visual learners that participated in the non computer-based teaching approach found some difficulties on developing a model, since they could visualize how they wanted their model to look like by seeing all the materials available to them, but in the practice they found difficulties in actually doing what they wished. Moreover, the two teaching approaches revealed to promote in a big degree the conversations between students with auditory strengths. In both groups, the couples that had auditory learning preference were discussing for longer time than the other two couples in order to express their ideas and find solutions for any problems they came across, something that strengthens Felders (1988) idea that auditory learners are good at explaining things to others and participating in conversations. However, the fact that they could add sound and write text that was explaining what their model represented and how, was an additional advantage for students with auditory learning preference who participated in the computer-based modeling approach. Considering studys findings, I argue that a modeling-based approach can facilitate students understanding about a scientific phenomenon, if educators adopt appropriate activities that correspond to students individual needs. Also, the use of computer-based programming environments for a modeling procedure can be quite beneficial for developing students modeling skills. However, in order for that to be accomplished is essential for students to become comfortable on using computers during science lessons. CONCLUSIONS The current study identifies fifth graders interactions with two different modeling- based approaches, one computer-based and one non computer-based, when they are taught a scientific phenomenon and makes a correlation with students learning styles. Both approaches were based on constructivism, so a link with this pedagogic approach is made. In this sense, the focus was on students conversation types, their activities, the program strategies they developed during their work with the computer-based modeling tool as well as on their opinions that were expressed through group interviews. Through this is recognized which of the two modeling approaches can support and facilitate students understandings in a more coherent way and which factors, basically related to students individual needs, affect that. It was found that the two modeling-based environments that were designed and implemented in this study were valuable in promoting students understanding about the physical phenomenon under study (how day and night occurs). Through modeling-based teaching students were able to express their ideas about the phenomenon and refine them later on in the light of new evidence. Furthermore, the fact that the two approaches included activities that corresponded to every students individual learning preference appeared to be significant, since all students needs were fulfilled. However, the implementation of SC, the computer-based modeling tool that was used for the purposes of this study revealed to be more promising in enhancing students modeling skills. This was due to the fact that the specific programming environment enabled students to test, revise and validate their models through a friendly and motivating environment of experimenting and debugging knowledge. In addition, students individual characteristics seemed to be supported from different features of the two modeling approaches. Specifically, certain activities were helpful for some students with a specific learning style, while they ignored other activities. Therefore, the need for using a range of activities in a teaching approach that correspond to every learning style is highlighted. At this point it is important to be mentioned that gender differences, not strictly related with students learning style were observed. Furthermore, the computer-based program that was used increased students motivation since they received direct and continuous feedback that helped them revise their models. SC offered the ability to every student to use it according to his or her personal needs, since audio, images, animation and hands-on activities were available. On the other hand, students working with materials were likely to create their models with a specific way, since they didnt have many options. However, kinesthetic learners were collaborating more efficiently with the non computer-based approach since both students were able to interact with hands-on activities, while during the computer-based approach one of them was using the mouse. Even if findings from the current study cant be used in generalization for the student population, since it was a small-scale research, it is suggested that modeling-based approaches should be well designed in order to correspond to every students individual needs. Still, it is recommend that apart from learning styles, other factors like gender and age should be investigated in order to see how they affect the modeling-based teaching in a science lesson. Further researchers might also find it useful to examine which modeling approach, a computer-based modeling approach or a modeling approach based on laboratory settings, can support better students on developing modeling skills that can use in novel situations. Moreover, further research could be conducted in order to study how students experiences and confidence with computers or laboratory settings can affect two different modeling approaches similar with those of the present study.

Symbolism In The Awakening Essays - The Awakening, Edna, Free Essays

Symbolism In The Awakening Essays - The Awakening, Edna, Free Essays Symbolism In The Awakening The Awakening contains many symbolic features, such as the way Edna uses art, the birds (the parrot and the mockingbird), sleep, music, and the houses Edna Pontellier lives in, but perhaps two of the most significant symbols are the clothes in the novel, not only of Edna, but also the other characters, and the water, whether it be the ocean, the gulf, or the sea. These two symbols are possibly the most significant because of their direct relationship to Edna Pontellier. Both the water and her clothes have the power to not only emphasize, but help show exactly how and what Edna is feeling. Clothes appear to have significant meaning in The Awakening, enough so that they are mentioned at almost every description of the characters. Edna Pontellier starts the novel fully dressed and appropriately dressed for a woman of her responsibilities, however, at her final moment, she is naked on the beach. Other women in the story also represent their position and the way they feel in the way they dress. For example, Madmoiselle Reisz never changes her clothes. This could possibly symbolize her physical detachment from anything around her, including nature and any suppressed feelings. In contrast, Ednas clothes represent her physical attachment to society. She sheds her clothes the way a snake sheds its skin when it is time for a new one and it does not fit into the old one any longer. Edna doesnt feel like she can fit into society any longer. Madmoiselle Reisz, on the other hand, does not seem to have any desire to be more than what she has been given in the society in which she lives. Therefore, she does not change her clothes, because she does not feel the need for change in her life. Other characters, such as Madame Leburn always have new clothes to cover their bodies. This could, perhaps, represent the constant need to cover their sexuality as women in suppressed roles as wives and mothers. Ednas nakedness at the end of the novel symbolizes her freedom from any claims her children may have on her and shows how her lack of clothes is equal to her lack of responsibility, of her family and the 1890s society. The Ocean is a clear symbol of freedom for Edna. The water is where Edna feels replenished and she begins to realize that she is not satisfied with her life and roles as wife and mother. This happens on the day she learns to swim, which is something she had wanted to accomplish all summer. By learning to swim, she is empowered and becomes more self-aware, of not only her sexuality, but also of who she is and not who society says she should be. The water in The Awakening could be seen to symbolize Ednas rebirth into a more assertive woman. Every time she enters the water, she gets stronger, until finally her strength is more powerful than her love for her children, or her life. At this point she goes so far out to sea, that the water takes back the strength it had geven her. Both the water and the clothes in the novel are very important symbols, both helping to emphasize Edna Pontelliers new life. She starts the novel as a very suppressed woman (fully clothed) and covered by society and its strict roles, and then ends naked as if she is escaping the restricted boundaries of her clothes and of society. The water is a constant source of new life for Edna, and as her clothes are removed to go into the water, they are replaced by a more greater sense of power and energy, the freedom that the water has helped her realize.

The relationship between math and future Research Paper

The relationship between math and future - Research Paper Example The world is getting technology oriented and we can even feel it today.   Technology permeates and affects every dimension of our life and it is expected that this trend will not only continue in the future but will become more intensive.   Virtually almost all product s will have a component of technology and engineering and as long as technology and engineering is involve, so does mathematics because technology and engineering speaks the language of numbers which is the domain of math.  Ã‚   Thus it can be inferred that a country’s competitiveness is directly correlated with its aptitude in math.  Ã‚  Ã‚   A country which has strong score in math tends to have a strong technological base to create industry such as the case of Japan who is the leading country in manufacturing electronic products (section for interview) and thus will have a greater chance to prosper.  Inversely, countries which have low aptitude in math cannot progress to manufacture technological pr oducts due to its shortcoming in math.   A classic example is the Philippines whose economy is still playing a catch up despite the fact that it is known to be proficient in English.   It still played as a catch up because its Math education deteriorated where its students only get a mean average of 34.41% in math (BusinessWorld).   As a result of this deficiency in Math, it does not have its own industry but is rather limited to assembly and outsourcing of manufacturing functions where the high paying industry still eludes the country because.

Code of Ethics in Architectural Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Code of Ethics in Architectural Practice - Essay Example Through the use of a clearly defined set of ethical expectations on the conduct of architects, the AIBC can define the integrity of the profession of architecture in order to supply the public with credible and competent professionals who all conform to standards of practice. The AIBC (Architectural Institute of British Columbia) is a self-regulated, independent professional organization in Canada that provides entry for architects into their professional careers. By ensuring that the education and conduct of those in the profession of architecture adhere to their standards, the organization can help the public with hiring competent and worthy members for their work. The organization provides a resource for conflict resolution, as well as and advocacy an advisory program in order to service the public for understanding how, when, and why to hire an architect. The AIBC maintains a directory of members which allows the public to hire accredited and responsible architects. In the proces s of defining appropriate professional behaviors and administration of the position of architect, the AIBC provides a code of ethics in order to set standards for performance (AIBC) The Code of Ethics According to Quatman and Dhar, architects must adhere to â€Å"codes of ethics, building codes and professional standards of design† ( 352). Without these standards, the safety of the public will be at risk and the integrity of the profession would be compromised. Architects are required to be licensed, which requires 5600 hours of work experience and completion of the certification examination. The AIBC provides a complete code of ethics that architects are expected to abide by in order to ensure high quality production of work. The code has been released as a PDF so that all members can review and adhere to the structure of the code. The code begins by clarifying that when the word ‘architect’ is used, it should be applied to architects, architecture firms, as wel l as licensees and associates of AIBC. The bylaws of the organization require that a code of ethics be created and that each member reads this code of ethics and takes the following oath: Solemnly do I declare that having read and understood the Act of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, its Bylaws and Code of Conduct, and having passed the examinations, I am eligible for membership. Further do I announce that I will uphold professional aims, and the art, and the science, of architecture and thereby improve the environment. I also accept with obligation the need to further my education as an architect. I promise now that my professional conduct as it concerns the community, my work, and my fellow architects will be governed by the ethics and the tradition of this honourable and learned profession (AIBC 4). According to the document, â€Å"This ‘oath’ underpins and informs the profession’s fundamental obligations and expectations of its members †Å" (AIDC 4). The reading and acceptance of the code is designed to ensure that all members of the organization, which should include all members of the architect profession, understand their responsibilities in regard to the ethics code. The first section deals with professional engagement. The code outlines the way in which the relationship between the architect and his or her client should be formed. The laws by which

Critically evaluate the concept of bureaucracy as an effective system Essay

Critically evaluate the concept of bureaucracy as an effective system of organization - Essay Example Problem of red tape is often related with the term Bureaucracy. Effectiveness of bureaucratic management may be analyzed on the basis of how a formal organization relies on promptly defined hierarchical levels and different specific roles to maintain effectiveness and efficiency. It is being noticed that often bureaucracy is criticized for its inflexibility, complexity and inefficiency. Over the years, experts like Max Weber have strongly argued the importance of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is the most effective way through activities of human being can be organized within any organization. The presence of bureaucracy is there in every organization but degree of bureaucracy differs from one organization to other. This essay will critically evaluate the concept of bureaucracy as an important and effective system of the organizations. In the course of this essay different theories of bureaucracy will be discussed. This essay will help to understand the deep rooted interrelationship betwee n bureaucracy and effectiveness of the organizations. This will be a step by step approach. The first name that comes to mind about the bureaucracy theory is German sociologist Max Weber. According to the theory of Weber, bureaucracy contains some characteristics. Those characteristics are very important for the effective system of organization. Those characteristics are Hierarchy, Specialization, Division of labour and Standard operating procedures. A hierarchy is a system with well defined span of command. This characteristic states that everyone has a boss in an organization. According to the theory the boss of organization supervises entire system. The power flows from the top management through the trickle down hypothesis (Durant, 2010). According to this theory subordinate follows the orders of superiors and can appeal against those orders. As per this theory bureaucrats are specialized persons for some specific areas of works. This provides

Places of Worship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Places of Worship - Essay Example Christians have worship place known as church in which the Christians come and obey their lord. Church is the scared place for the Christians where Christians come and pray in order to get internal satisfaction and inspiration. Churches are built in the shape of a Cross on which Christians believe that Jesus Christ was given punishments and then he died. There are different parts of a church for example the aisle and stairs are designed to give the shape of the stairs towards the heavens. The heavens are given the shape of the junction. Churches are present in every corner of the world. There is a need to inculcate the importance of churches because of the fact that Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world. Cathedrals are some important types of churches. The role of pastors or bishops is really interesting and of colossal importance in church. The bishop is the one who leads theprayers, conducts all theceremonies and prayers in a church. No official activity can take place without the presence of the pastor or bishop. Many Christians visit the churches often in their routine; some of them visit the churches on Sunday because there arespecial prayers on Sundays. The marriage ceremonies of the Christians also take place in churches because Christians think that if they consummate their marriages in churches, it will bringpeace, pleasure and harmony in their lives. The Masjids Worship place for the Muslims is known as Mosque or Masjid. Muslims are supposed to come in the mosque five times a day for prayers. The prayer timings are set according to the movement of sun. There are three prayers in the day timings and two prayers after that among which, one is on the sunset and the other one is at night known as â€Å"Isha Prayer†. ... During the player, the Muslims stand from shoulder to shoulder in order to inculcate and depict the unity among them. The worship place is packed with people on Friday prayers. Friday prayers are specially obligated on Muslims and during the Friday prayers, all kinds of business activities are forbidden. Worship place of Muslims known as masjid has also a separate place for ablution in which the Muslims clean themselves from water by washing their hands, face, mouth, toes and hair because purification is the first and foremost pre-requisite of the prayer of the Muslims. Muslims are also directed to stand and face one direction known as â€Å"Kaabah†. The Kaabah is the place situated in Saudi Arabia and Muslims are supposed to face its direction in order to give a depiction of unity and oneness. Eid prayer is also one of the most important prayers in the Muslims worship place. Eid days are scheduled two time in a year in which Muslims from all over the world celebrate these eve nts with great enthusiasm and zeal. The masjid is also situated in many main places of the Muslims communities. The masjid is a sacred place for the Muslims and even non also come from different places to see the historical mosques around the world for example Turkey has some of the best and historical mosques where many people come and visit to see the glimpse of the historical places. The Mandirs The sacred worshipping place for the Hindus is known as Tempe or â€Å"Mandir† which is a word of Sanskrit language and it means â€Å"gladdening†. Like other worshipping places, there is always a need for the leading personality to be present in the worship place to complete the official prayers and

Highschool and American Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Highschool and American Government - Essay Example As the discussion outlines representatives and Senators are under an obligation to such persons and corporations, because they provide significant contributions towards election expenditure. In most instances, these individuals and agencies, render direct help to the candidates in their election campaigns. The President may decide whether to ratify or reject a bill and the legislators do not override the decision of the president. They have to respect the call given by the president and act accordingly. From this paper it is clear that the voters in the constituencies of the legislators can also influence the ratification of a bill. It is not possible for legislators to routinely reject the appeals of the voters in their constituencies. Moreover, any representative or senator who persistently goes against the wishes of the voters is at risk of losing in the next election. The personal beliefs of legislators play a major role, while voting for a bill. This is demonstrated by the fact that when Congress members make strong demands regarding some issue, they will not change their stance even if enormous pressure is brought to bear upon them by party members, lobbyists or even the president. If a member takes up a strong stand on some issue, then the voters of his constituency cannot compel him to withdraw from his stand. That is the power of personal belief, which plays a decisive role in the voting process. While casting their vote regarding some issue, legislators on occasion, consu lt experts in that field and this promotes the public good. Nevertheless, corporations and individuals at times, compel legislators to cast their vote in favor of causes that only benefit the former. This could prove to be detrimental to the general public.

Places of Worship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Places of Worship - Essay Example Christians have worship place known as church in which the Christians come and obey their lord. Church is the scared place for the Christians where Christians come and pray in order to get internal satisfaction and inspiration. Churches are built in the shape of a Cross on which Christians believe that Jesus Christ was given punishments and then he died. There are different parts of a church for example the aisle and stairs are designed to give the shape of the stairs towards the heavens. The heavens are given the shape of the junction. Churches are present in every corner of the world. There is a need to inculcate the importance of churches because of the fact that Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world. Cathedrals are some important types of churches. The role of pastors or bishops is really interesting and of colossal importance in church. The bishop is the one who leads theprayers, conducts all theceremonies and prayers in a church. No official activity can take place without the presence of the pastor or bishop. Many Christians visit the churches often in their routine; some of them visit the churches on Sunday because there arespecial prayers on Sundays. The marriage ceremonies of the Christians also take place in churches because Christians think that if they consummate their marriages in churches, it will bringpeace, pleasure and harmony in their lives. The Masjids Worship place for the Muslims is known as Mosque or Masjid. Muslims are supposed to come in the mosque five times a day for prayers. The prayer timings are set according to the movement of sun. There are three prayers in the day timings and two prayers after that among which, one is on the sunset and the other one is at night known as â€Å"Isha Prayer†. ... During the player, the Muslims stand from shoulder to shoulder in order to inculcate and depict the unity among them. The worship place is packed with people on Friday prayers. Friday prayers are specially obligated on Muslims and during the Friday prayers, all kinds of business activities are forbidden. Worship place of Muslims known as masjid has also a separate place for ablution in which the Muslims clean themselves from water by washing their hands, face, mouth, toes and hair because purification is the first and foremost pre-requisite of the prayer of the Muslims. Muslims are also directed to stand and face one direction known as â€Å"Kaabah†. The Kaabah is the place situated in Saudi Arabia and Muslims are supposed to face its direction in order to give a depiction of unity and oneness. Eid prayer is also one of the most important prayers in the Muslims worship place. Eid days are scheduled two time in a year in which Muslims from all over the world celebrate these eve nts with great enthusiasm and zeal. The masjid is also situated in many main places of the Muslims communities. The masjid is a sacred place for the Muslims and even non also come from different places to see the historical mosques around the world for example Turkey has some of the best and historical mosques where many people come and visit to see the glimpse of the historical places. The Mandirs The sacred worshipping place for the Hindus is known as Tempe or â€Å"Mandir† which is a word of Sanskrit language and it means â€Å"gladdening†. Like other worshipping places, there is always a need for the leading personality to be present in the worship place to complete the official prayers and

Ohashi Atake No Yudachi Sudden Shower Over Shin-Ohashi Bridge And Essay

Ohashi Atake No Yudachi Sudden Shower Over Shin-Ohashi Bridge And Atake. Research Paper - Essay Example Indeed such abstractions have empowered the picture to attract its viewers universally. It is evident that Hiroshige’s artwork communicates with the viewers through a particular space-time matrix that essentially has exceeded the limitation of time. Hiroshige’s â€Å"Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake† is fraught with a set of themes that serve him with the scope to convey a versatile and multifaceted meaning. Formal Analysis In a typical evening, it has suddenly started to rain heavily from the sagging dark clouds. The almost discernible raindrops have formed an opaque curtain of slant crisscrossing lines showing their downward tracks. Through this curtain of rains, one can see the massive Shin Ohashi Bridge, standing high in the gray-blue expanse of the Sumida. Hurrying men and women are trying to protect themselves with umbrellas, a traditional Japanese straw mat or hat from the torrents of rain. Meanwhile, the boatman in the Sumida River is saili ng to his destination in an indifferent posture to the torrents of rains. ... Japanese Ukiyo-e or a picture of ‘floating world’ often ventures to capture the beauty of a short-fleeting moment, as a contemporary Japanese artist, Asai Ryoi defines ,it as following: â€Å"Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms [Sakura] and the maple leaves†¦.diverting ourselves in just floating, floating... refusing to be disheartened†¦..this is what we call the floating world.†2 The theme of an Ukiyo-e often is associated with to ‘empathy towards things’ or ‘a sensitivity of transience of things†3 since an Ukiyo-e is the visual version of ‘mono no aware’. According to Khoon Choy Lee, the overriding theme of an Ukiyo-e is the awareness of the transience, of things, that produces a sense of bittersweet cognition of how things flow inevitably flow out into the past.4 Since things flow out the past or beauty is not everlasting, human attempt to retain it forever essentially gives birth to the pathos.5 In the three-dimensional landscape of Shin-Ohashi, the iconographic appearance of the hurrying men and women sketched from a remote vantage point and viewed through the opaque curtain of rain conveys the static dynamism of his theme of the floating world. Indeed the opacity rainy texture contributes to the picture’s mysterious and uncertain environment. The artist’s vantage in the picture greatly allows the remote objects and the people turn into almost abstraction using contours in implied lines. Though the use of light and shadow clearly contributes to the realism of Hiroshige’s work, the glow of the light surpasses the reality of its atmosphere and adds to its surrealism to a

The Devil and Tom Walker Essay Example for Free

The Devil and Tom Walker Essay The Devil and Tom Walker is a cautionary tale about the result of greed and cruelty. The parable is filled with dark ruminations of nature, forbidding forests and secret, stolen wealth. 1 The proverb assumes the reader is familiar with Biblical terminology, such as Israel or ZionWalkers. These terms presume the reader is intimately familiar with Christianity. The story is precluded to a particular region, Boston and New England. This is an interesting tidbit, the proverb appears to be as familiar to Northerners as are the tales of Brer Rabbit are to Southerners. Each are filled with types of behavior and an ultimate moral conclusion. The aspects of nature in this story is an interesting aspect of American Romanticism. The forests are dark and danger is implied throughout the story. The description of Toms house as something of such pallor, of such demeanor to forbid strangers or travelers from coming near. Even the lone horse is described as decimated and longing for escape from this cruel entrapment. This type of treatment carries over, even when Tom achieves success. His greed only grows, as does his cruelty. The story continues in cautioning the reader in engaging in false Christianity. The life of Tom is filled with loneliness, cruelty, greed, and a form of religion that cannot offer solace to the insincere. The reader is assumed to have an intimate form of knowledge of Christianity. The terms Israel, the City of God and Zionwalkers those who at the least profess the faith of Christianity. The fable appears to take a negative aspect of Christianity, clearly warning the reader of any form of false religion. Although Tom begins to attend Sunday Service and carry his Bible in his pocket and even kept a bible on his workshop table. In the end the Bible is not a saving factor, left perhaps forgotten in the end in the heat of Tom greedily taking from the poor, an express sin in Biblical terms. This tale appears to have been known throughout New England. Quakers and Anabaptists1 are mentioned twice in the story. These two types of beliefs were considered exceptionally odd compared to the Puritan belief. The Quaker2 faith has always been considered strange, because of the way the faith is practiced. The Quakers are unusual in that those of this faith are extremely devoted in that these people of faith attempt to live out their faith through non violence and acts of contrition and charity. This is adverse of the Puritan faith which equates secular wealth with the blessings of God. 3, that is, one who is materially successful must be of or blessed by God and therefore destined for Heaven. The Anabaptists1 were considered unusual in that those of this faith acted independently from any type of hierarchical method of church administration. Anabaptists acted independently from any authority other than the believed hierarchy of God, that is there was nor could there be any authority higher than God alone. 3 The tale of Tom Walker and the Devil is very reminiscent of a story reminiscent of a book by Stephen King, Needful Things4, especially in the ending. Throughout the story the protagonist is described as being dark and gruff, which is also true of another story by Stephen King, The Stand. Stephen King of a New England background would have likely been very familiar with this very old story, this being so, his writing reflects the character of Old Scratch. In the ending of Needful Things the protagonist escapes via a horse drawn hearse, which takes easily to the air granting this creature or being immediate escape. The protagonist in both The Stand and Needful Things is described as ethereal, without any true form, but with the ability to take the form of that which is acceptable to the desired soul.

Becoming Abigail By Chris Abani English Literature Essay

Becoming Abigail By Chris Abani English Literature Essay Young Abigail is a Nigerian girl alternating short sections focusing on her past as well as her present life. She is Abigail the daughter but there is the dominant Abigail, the mother who died giving birth to her. The death of Abigails mother plays a huge role in the entire novel. Abigail is portrayed as an affliction child, without a mother, striving to discover her future. She is an African girl, symbolizing the corrosion of national and confined cultural distinctiveness into the end monumental continental identity of Africa. Abigail tries to personify and preserve herself in her mothers figure and bequest. The father is chronic drunkard who foregoes his paternal obligations and responsibility. He has his daughter who constantly reminds him of his late wife. Abigails is characterized by misery and tragedies. Her childhood is pathetic and she spends most of it mourning her late mother in commemorative self-induced rituals. She mutters incarnations, cuts herself, tears and burns her mothers photos, burns herself (Abani, p.10). And this. Even this, (p.18). The novella starts. In less significant hands, this may not be a hopeful starter, but Abani steers us out of the fog swiftly. This memory like all the others was a lie. (p.18). Abigail, a youthful girl in Nigeria, is nostalgically recalling her mothers memorial service. Abigail act of mourning is to some extent troubling. It is symbolised by among other acts, the killing of birds and later dressing them in lace from her mothers bridal dress. But, as written by Abani, explaining the symbol from an authorial distance, we realize that not much is substantiated in the rest of the book, this tradition recognized complex ways to be human, and she was allowed to mourn. (p.18). In addition, another frequently evident symbolic device is the use of two alternating strands, Now and Then, throughout the narrative. The latter is associated with Abigails reminiscence of life in Nigeria with her depressed father and his choice to send her to London with a strange family member named Peter. Nearing to their departure, Abigails father performs suicide, despite the fact that he had intuited the agonies in anticipation of his daughter. The end of the first chapter leaves us with the impression that Abigail takes after her mother. Their extreme resemblance makes the author propel us through the mind of her father as he watched her mourn her mothers death similar to watching his dead wife grieve. She is likened to a younger version of her mother grieving her death in advance. Her father turned and looked at her and she saw the photo and recognized it. She resembled her mother that when he saw her suddenly, she knew he wanted her to be Abigail. (Abani, p.20) Although Abigail is now a grown-up, she misses her childhood, one that she never got to enjoy. The author takes us through her mind which juggles us from the present to her past and childhood. Thats when the author alternates the two titles, Now and Then. Abigail has had an experience with men that she remembers with so much regret. All the in her life had never been interested in knowing her true personality neither appreciate her beauty, not to mention how she was careful with her hair to make sure that she looked presentable. She was light-skinned An inherent feature from her great-grandmother. The author likens her to a foreign country, especially when it comes to the men in her life as they never stayed. Abigail was a cartographer of dreams and ghosts. She is said to be more ghost than her mother. She likes landscape and marks and finds them interesting. Reading maps was her favorite thing. At one point, during her exile in London, she gets possessed with the memories of her mother, Chinese poetry, old maps and her childhood rituals, lies across an old crinkled map as if she was a corpse in a crime scene, transforming her body to the contours of countries and rivers, each landmark taking on a deeper meaning. She decides to mark her body permanently with fire. She initially loses her virginity to one of her cousins, Edwin, at ten before her father sends her off to London with another cousin, Peter, in the name of marriage at fifteen. Peter is apparently believed to be a prominent business man in London and Abigails father believes that he is a well-bred man, good enough to take care of his daughter. Unknown to Abigails father, Peter is malevolent and dehumanizing. Fakes her documents and tries to turn her into a prostitute, but when she declines, he ties her up in handcuffs in a doghouse, violates her sexually, urinates on her and beats her as well. Peters debasement of Abigail portrays filth and hunger. Drinking from the plate of rancid water and having to bend over like a dog is disturbing. She appreciates the permanence of fire. Burning herself and transforming her skin into a personal and collective map of trauma was a thing she wanted to do so much for the memory of her mother. She wanted to feel closely connected to her mother and make her memory concrete. She seeks out anecdotes about her mother, burns her body with thick flat noodles that burned into her skin by cashew sap. She also used needles and made ugly whip marks of cigarette tips. The burns and scars are extensions of her desire to become the living shadow and ghost of her mothers memory. They tie her to her mothers image and her motherland (p.36). Abigails grief process signifies the bitterness and sorrow in her. The author employs rituals as a process with potential to heal when faced with trauma and loss. She is in the end forced to choose between living in exile in England after her lose and trauma or returning to Nigeria. Nevertheless, everybody ends up dead, jailed or mutated. The entire novel is depressing and frustrating, full of despair and hopelessness. Some peoples lives may turn out like Abigails but drawing lessons from the novel remains difficult.

Benefits and Hazards of Immunizations Essay -- Science Scientific Pape

Benefits and Hazards of Immunizations Although science and technology have been very beneficial to us a lot of people are misinformed about its procedures. I myself am a bit fearful about how technologically advanced we're getting in such a short period of time, but this is because I don't understand science. I guess most people that fear science feel that way because of the horrible things that science may bring about. When reading Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" one begins to wonder what if scientists do create a monster and like Dr. Frankenstein did, can no longer undo the creation. It is actually a very scary thought. But then on the other end of the spectrum you have J. Michael Bishop who defends scientists against people's critiques. Bishop is correct in his argument that scientists have done great things. According to him, people begin to lose faith in science because they don't see results as fast as they would like to but as Bishop states research may take years and even then, there may not be a concrete answer. T he important thing is that they are working towards one and people should not expect miracles, they should allow scientists to do their work and only hope for a quick solution. When dealing with a situation of whether science has benefited or troubled the population we can talk about immunizations. Immunizations have saved many children's lives. The epidemic of polio is hardly heard of thanks to immunizations. Measles and chicken pox don't affect children half as much if they've had the immunizations either. So one can say that immunizations have been a benefit to the population because most, if not all, children in the United States have gotten the required vaccines and nearly all of them go away from the... ...ants everybody to get the vaccine, because as statistics show, the majority of the children are perfectly fine after immunizations. The problems that are arising with vaccines shouldn't be blamed on scientists, for they've come up with a solution to the mentioned illnesses. The problem may be in the way doctors are combining vaccines, or implementing them. Works Cited Bishop, J. Michael. "Enemies of Promise." The Presence of Others 3rd edition. Bedford/St. Martins, New York. (2000) : 237-243. Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." The Presence of Others 3rd edition. Bedford/St. Martins, New York. (2000) : 231-236. Schumacher, Karin. "Autism & Vaccines: A New Look At An Old Story." (2001). http://www.909shot.com/NVICSpecialReport.htm. (19 May 2001). Schumacher, Karin. "Diabetes Following MMR Shots." (2001). http://www.909shot.com/dicasee.htm. (19 May 2001). Benefits and Hazards of Immunizations Essay -- Science Scientific Pape Benefits and Hazards of Immunizations Although science and technology have been very beneficial to us a lot of people are misinformed about its procedures. I myself am a bit fearful about how technologically advanced we're getting in such a short period of time, but this is because I don't understand science. I guess most people that fear science feel that way because of the horrible things that science may bring about. When reading Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" one begins to wonder what if scientists do create a monster and like Dr. Frankenstein did, can no longer undo the creation. It is actually a very scary thought. But then on the other end of the spectrum you have J. Michael Bishop who defends scientists against people's critiques. Bishop is correct in his argument that scientists have done great things. According to him, people begin to lose faith in science because they don't see results as fast as they would like to but as Bishop states research may take years and even then, there may not be a concrete answer. T he important thing is that they are working towards one and people should not expect miracles, they should allow scientists to do their work and only hope for a quick solution. When dealing with a situation of whether science has benefited or troubled the population we can talk about immunizations. Immunizations have saved many children's lives. The epidemic of polio is hardly heard of thanks to immunizations. Measles and chicken pox don't affect children half as much if they've had the immunizations either. So one can say that immunizations have been a benefit to the population because most, if not all, children in the United States have gotten the required vaccines and nearly all of them go away from the... ...ants everybody to get the vaccine, because as statistics show, the majority of the children are perfectly fine after immunizations. The problems that are arising with vaccines shouldn't be blamed on scientists, for they've come up with a solution to the mentioned illnesses. The problem may be in the way doctors are combining vaccines, or implementing them. Works Cited Bishop, J. Michael. "Enemies of Promise." The Presence of Others 3rd edition. Bedford/St. Martins, New York. (2000) : 237-243. Shelley, Mary. "Frankenstein." The Presence of Others 3rd edition. Bedford/St. Martins, New York. (2000) : 231-236. Schumacher, Karin. "Autism & Vaccines: A New Look At An Old Story." (2001). http://www.909shot.com/NVICSpecialReport.htm. (19 May 2001). Schumacher, Karin. "Diabetes Following MMR Shots." (2001). http://www.909shot.com/dicasee.htm. (19 May 2001).

Symbolism in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Symbolism in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman      Ã‚   Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the journal of a woman plagued with severe depression and the inability to recover due to her role as a submissive woman. At the time of publication, "The Yellow Wallpaper" was seen as a story merely about the perils of insanity. Even Gilman was proud to say it provided a wake-up call for the medical field and the families of women stricken with mental illness who believed solely in the "rest and ignore the problem cure." However, the short story was also an attack on the role of women in society at the time.Women, cast into the prison of acquiescence, were trapped between the rock and the hard place of doing what they were told was best for them and those around them and doing what they felt was best. The characters who surround the narrator throughout the story symbolize the ideals of women and their roles that at the time, the late eighteen hundreds. For instance, her husband, John, represents the male role of superiority over the weaker wife. His inability to recognize the true problem of his wife's sickness and to deal with it accordingly is much like the inability of men to recognize a woman's capabilities to function in the public sector. His simplistic solution of plenty of rest and an abundance of vitam... ...n, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon, 1992. 387-400. Haney-Peritz, Janice. "Monumental Feminism and Literature's Ancestral House: Another Look at 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 12 (1986): 113-128. Johnson, Greg. "Gilman's Gothic Allegory: Rage and Redemption in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26 (Fall 1989): 521-530. King, Jeanette, and Pam Morris. "On Not Reading Between the Lines: Models of Reading in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26.1 (Winter 1989): 23-32. Knight, Denise D. "The Reincarnation of Jane: 'Through This' - Gilman's Companion to 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 20 (1992): 287-302.    Symbolism in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Symbolism in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman      Ã‚   Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the journal of a woman plagued with severe depression and the inability to recover due to her role as a submissive woman. At the time of publication, "The Yellow Wallpaper" was seen as a story merely about the perils of insanity. Even Gilman was proud to say it provided a wake-up call for the medical field and the families of women stricken with mental illness who believed solely in the "rest and ignore the problem cure." However, the short story was also an attack on the role of women in society at the time.Women, cast into the prison of acquiescence, were trapped between the rock and the hard place of doing what they were told was best for them and those around them and doing what they felt was best. The characters who surround the narrator throughout the story symbolize the ideals of women and their roles that at the time, the late eighteen hundreds. For instance, her husband, John, represents the male role of superiority over the weaker wife. His inability to recognize the true problem of his wife's sickness and to deal with it accordingly is much like the inability of men to recognize a woman's capabilities to function in the public sector. His simplistic solution of plenty of rest and an abundance of vitam... ...n, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon, 1992. 387-400. Haney-Peritz, Janice. "Monumental Feminism and Literature's Ancestral House: Another Look at 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 12 (1986): 113-128. Johnson, Greg. "Gilman's Gothic Allegory: Rage and Redemption in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26 (Fall 1989): 521-530. King, Jeanette, and Pam Morris. "On Not Reading Between the Lines: Models of Reading in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26.1 (Winter 1989): 23-32. Knight, Denise D. "The Reincarnation of Jane: 'Through This' - Gilman's Companion to 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 20 (1992): 287-302.   

Astro Boy

Environmental destruction is an important and persistent theme hon. throughout the film Astrology, mainly expressed through the use of technical codes. A number of scenes have displayed an inner meaning through technical codes, such as the scene where the Surface and Metro City are compared with an extreme longest. In this scene, the viewer can tell that there is a large social divide as Metro city is situated directly above the Surface. The extreme longest used, allows the viewer to see the damage caused by the careless, thoughtless and disrespectful actions of Metro City and Its people.This scene Is essential because It proves that the Surface Is Insignificant and Is considered as a Junk yard through the eyes Metro City. Good versus evil Is one of the mall themes explored throughout the entirety of Astrology, shown by using written codes. One of the few obvious instances was found in the scene where a billboard with candidate Logan on it is knocked over by President Stone. When pre sident Stone knocks over the billboard it shows the he feels the need to be in control, and to be the person with the highest level of power. It also proves that he doesn't want peaceful person (Logan) to be in control of the city.This scene is vital in the feature film Astrology as it shows the personalities of both characters, as well as the role that President Stone plays In the film. The father/son relationship Is a theme that is constantly looked at with the helping hand of symbolic codes. There has been a myriad of symbolic codes used In Astrology, one of the most palpable examples being the hologram scene. In the hologram scene, Toby Is seated as far to the left of car and Dir Team as far to the right as possible, In hologram Oromo. The atmosphere is also extremely tense and almost uncomfortable.This scene is so important because it shows the viewer that Taboo's father prefers to be more involved with his work life, more than his own son's life. It also shows the viewer that Dir Team often leaves the responsibility of his child up to that of a robot and is becoming less and less of a father figure to Toby. Equality and inequality is one of the main themes discussed in the film Astrology, and is displayed through the audio code of dialogue. Dialogue is used to show the viewer that the level of education on the Surface is of such a small amount that Zany can't even read a small and simple sentence.In this scene Azans tells Astor that he cannot read by saying â€Å"almost makes me wish I could read. † This scene is significant because It shows the economic disparity between the Surface and Metro City, as well as proving that the education and future of a ‘Surface kid' Is less Important as Metro City has not done anything to change this situation. In conclusion, film codes are vital in forming the viewer†s o show the damage caused by Metro City's actions, and written codes were used to show that President Stone is dependent on control and power, as well as his sinister nature.Symbolic codes were used to prove that Dir Team, Toby father, does not play a major part in his life as he is not there for him physically and emotionally. Audio codes were used to show the large social divide, and that there is almost no form of education on the Surface.

Performance of Information Systems through Organizational Culture Essay

The objective of this paper is to determine the importance of the connection between the organizational culture and the information system which can be vital to achieve essential business goals. However the proper definition of information system (IS) is important, as different people create confusion in this respect, which according to Anderson (1992) it is the system which captures, records, and reorganize data then provides results which are useful for managerial purposes. On the other hand information technology IT is only the technological part of IS and the organizational culture is simply the way things are done in a firm. The interaction of these systems would result in huge advantages. Now it is that we have precisely viewed the explanation of IT, IS and organizational culture. We should now look at their interconnectedness. IT and organizational culture are incorporated in order to have statistical and meaningful information from the raw and unarranged data which is the information for decision making, however the feasibility of the implementation of such system is important in terms of technology and its cost. Once an idea or belief is accepted by a larger group it is said o be powerful and if it is accepted by a specific group then subcultures are said to exist and it is important to determine that which culture is dominant, and on the basis of this culture two opinions are created one which says that yes IT is important and the second which identifies IT as the fundamental basis of the IS, however it is also important that the new culture should be implemented or meant for a foreseeable future in the long-term and not in the short-term, as the short-term creates complexity quite earlier as compared to long-term approach, if there is some element of deviation of opinion. No matter what is the final decision is, the carrying out of the implementation process is important, currently in most firms there exists a ‘’IT specialist culture’’ which involves only the IT personnel in this process and obviously is not much effective. Therefore it is important that in the implementation of an IS, not only IT personnel should be involved but also the top management and the users of this IS should also be involved so that their requirements are catered in an efficient and effective way. Theoretical principles or basics Today the world is turned into a dynamic market place, where firms need to compete in terms of prices, efficiency and technology. For this purpose experts have realized the importance of information systems (IS) with information technology (IT) as its basis, combined together with the organizational culture. The perfect combination of these three important systems of a firm a firm is able to achieve a competitive status in the world market. Therefore it is important to have such elements in the firm in order to achieve businesses vital goals. For this purpose cultural change is to be incorporated, provided that it is the way things are done or the set of norms of the firm, therefore the bubble-like approach of incorporating cultural changes is said to be the most effective one. Under this idea of bubble-like cultural change, comes the idea of informatics and informational culture. The idea of IS is also important, however majority of people confuse it with IT however the correct expl anation are the one discussed earlier. The implementation of IS’s in most of the firms has resulted into various advantaged to the firms; briefly it enables the management to acquire meaningful information from the raw data and later to help decision making. But the successful implmetation and usage of the IS requires three important components which are: 1, the data or information, the people (implementers and users) and the material resources. Here the data can be any data form example businesses truncations or employee’s records, and the material resources are the mechanical supportive equipment for example office furniture and computers etc and lastly the people are the user and the implementers of the IS. Now with people here comes the notion of organizational culture, the culture in accordance with the IS and IT plays an important role if these three things are in line or are in agreement then vital advantages can be observed which are discussed as follows: Â · As it decreases the anxiety and confusion created by the IT/IS, it supports the adaptation of the environmental changes, therefore it contributes positively to the overall satisfaction level of the internal staff who have been involved in its implementation. Â · Â   Enables the management to know if the implantation id accepted by the users. Â · Â   Social relations are created when the implementers and users of different departments meet to implement the system. This adds to the motivation level of the employees. Â · Tells the users that which information will be available at what location in what time. Â · Â   Determines the effectiveness of the IT/IS associated to the means of communication, as both inside and outside, it is a vital way correspondence. Â · Â   As it explains that what are the norms and practices of the entity, a feeling of strong unity is created. Interconnectedness of IT, IS and Organizational Culture An IS is created so that meaningful information can be derived out of the raw data, therefore it is that an IS is responsible for converting data into information and therefore quantity and quality of the information is important. However the relationship between data, culture and information system is important. Only an effective IS can be developed when there is perfect correlation between these three. And then only information which is meaningful can be obtained and used for managerial purposes. We have discussed that appropriate people in appropriated places is important, another point about the feasibility in terms of technology and finance. If there are no sufficient financial and technological assistance and resources then the application of the IS may not be successful, for example if due to lack of finance some important features of the IS are excluded from the plan then it won’t produce accurate and meaningful results. Another way in which the relationship of IT and organizational can be reviewed can be provided with two questions that whether it is the IT which creates the lines of an organizational culture or whether it is the organizational culture that decides that whether IT solutions should be incorporated or not; answers to these can be this if there is strong feeling among the users of the IS and other supporting staff that the use of IT has resulted into the benefits of some particular group, department or a person then incorporation of computerized solution will form as the firms norms or in other words culture because majority thinks that yes IT is important. However it is also possible that opposite can happen, which can be further elaborated in a way that there have been opposite behaviors in respect of the discussion between the service and manufacturing sector. This is because in manufacturing businesses there is more of manual labor work and computerization and IT is incorporated to a lesser extent thus a culture in manufacturing would be less compatible to the IT, whilst in the service sector more of IT solutions are required and computerization is involved to a larger extent therefore there is strong evidence of the fact that information technology can set the value’s and norms of the firm. Now there is a question that which approach is the best? This is difficult question to answer because the two have enormous effects on each other, but in light of modern business techniques IT/IS solutions have been more effective on the cultural practices, this is because an IS not only automates the flow of data but also provides manage ment with alternatives ways of doing things in respect of efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness. Specific Relationship of Information System and the Organizational Culture It is possible that there exists a conflict between the norms or cultural practices of two groups in an entity. Therefore, it is in vital interest of the firms that these differences are rectified, because when there is one common way of doing things efficiency and timeliness are prone to occur along with economies of scale ( reaching a position when per unit cost is lowest). More specifically these divergences can be that a larger group supports one view and a smaller group supports the contrary this is known as the subculture. Distinction between these two opinions is necessary so that there might be an informatics or an in informational culture. Where informatics is that for example usage of IT is important, and the informational culture is with more detail where it says in order to make correct and accurate decisions IT should be incorporated as the basis of an IS. The first culture is easy to understand but the second one goes into more detail, it also includes in it the first culture and also the organizational behavior and the information data. It however necessary that in order to have a successful transformation of IT into an IS, conversion of informatics culture into the in informational culture is necessary. Informational and Informatics Culture; Features It is now that we have come to know that what are the two cultures now we must discuss that which one is to be transformed into the other through administrative intervention. When we talk about the informatics culture the case is that it only considers the costs of the IT department only in the short term, therefore it ignores the long-term research and development process which can result into the firms inters this is why it is a usual case that firms end up in spending more and earning less from IT centers as proper consideration are not taken when purchasing its equipment and employing staff. However on the contrary the informational culture approach considers the outputs of an IT center to a larger extent; it not only considers the quantitative aspects of the IT solution but also the long-term usefulness to the firms in respects of tactical and strategic planning, it not only sees the IT solution in terms of an IS as cost, but also highlights it advantages and long-term benefits in terms if research and development and therefore upon this approach distributes its cost over its useful life.

STRATEGIC ANALYSIS case assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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International Hospitality Business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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Ch12,13,and 14 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Role of the Man in the Family Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role of the Man in the Family - Research Paper Example A man is an extremely crucial member of the family, and his roles are exceptionally crucial for smooth functioning and success of the family. Different families and cultures assign different roles to men, but there are universal men’s roles that are widely accepted in all cultures and families. Men’s roles range for love, protection, decision-making, family support, provision, fatherhood, husband, teaching and family security, (Bronstein and Carolyn 344). Men as the family heads preside over crucial family matters and issues that affect the well-being of the family. He is responsible for making key decisions in the family, for instance, decisions concerning the family property such as land acquisition, disposal, allocation between family members (children) and family development. Men are wage earners and providers of the needs and requirements of the family. A man should ensure sufficient supply of family basic needs and other means of supporting the unit economically and financially. He should contribute to physical, psychological, emotional support and mental support of the unit. In a bid to achieve this, he should reorganize his available resources to cater for his family needs, (Brody 234). A man as a protector means that he should ensure both physical and emotional security of his family. It implies safeguarding his self-esteem and worth and the self-worth and esteem of his family members. It may also imply safeguarding his ways of livelihood and protecting his family against any external and internal threat, for instance, threat to family property, value, reputation and family members. A man as leaders should lead and direct all the programs and projects of the family. For instance, instead of sitting back and watch his spouse takes initiative in case of a challenge he should take the lead. He should participate in the game and establish what he desires in his family rather than whining about his