Monday, September 30, 2019

Challenges of Studying Written and Oral Sources in Africa

One of the biggest issues facing African historians is the fact that the study of actual African History is relatively new. A large majority of the sources available are written from the point of view of Europeans, with an Intended audience of Europeans. L In this egocentric method of reporting history, Africans were viewed more as objects: a people with a past but no history. 2 The written â€Å"historical† sources provided by imperialists robbed Africans of their voice.The principal challenge facing African historians Is to find a way to Inject the African voice Into the narrative, and thus roved a more accurate representation of the continental history. This task presents more profound questions. What qualities make someone an African? Is it sufficient to be a black person living on the continent? Are there levels of ethnicity? Are the descendants of Africans brought to other parts of the world In the slave trade â€Å"Africans†? Ultimately, who decides who Is  "African†? Equally problematic is the Issue regarding what represents a credible source, either written or oral.Each presents unique challenges that must be addressed in order to qualify the value of the Information they portend to provide. While the more traditional African historical sources are Invariably prone to the problem of European bias, cave paintings offer a source that was born out of a desire of an African (not a European) to document their experiences. For example, the rock art of Gill Kefir in what is present-day Egypt represents people allegedly engaging in the catchy of swimming. 3 This offers historians perhaps the oldest example of source material regarding African history. UT what does this ‘Written† source actually tell African historians? Most importantly, it definitively proves that someone was there, and through scientific dating cuisines, It indicates approximately when they were there. This is real, hard evidence, which â€Å"underpins al l historical research. â€Å"4 This Is not to Infer that there are not problems with the use of the paintings as a source of usable evidence. The older a source is, it is more likely to be inaccurate. 5 Were the people in the paintings actually swimming, as scientists believe?Does that mean that the desert where the cave paintings were found was once a land that contained lakes or rivers? Or did the cave painters devise their art from the second-hand memories of others who had traveled to faraway lands? What was the reason they chose to document their experience? Was it graffiti? Was it done for religious reasons? Was it a territorial marking? Archaeological sites are less prevalent in Africa than other parts of the world, which Is problematic In having the ability to compare this particular site to others.Further, the available archives needed to compare these archaeological finds are fewer in number in African regions, and sometimes less accessible due to political reasons. The I nformation In the African archives that do exist Is often more difficult to translate than traditional archival Information In that most African engages are oral, and not written, and nearly impossible to document without the benefit of oral history. 6 How can African historians mitigate these challenges and ‘OFF source?One suggestion is to actively search for other existing examples of cave paintings and to compare them based on materials, method, content, location, etc. When such comparable examples do not exist, scientists could initiate more archaeological digs, extend communication among scientists to broaden the evidence base, and exert political pressure upon leaders to focus on scientific endeavors, as well as the preservation of the archives. Like historians in other parts of the world, African historians face the challenge of deteriorating archives because of damage caused by the elements, water damage, and insects. Traditional written sources such as government docu ments, tax records, and newspapers may also be lost due to archival neglect. Historians must consider several criteria of source criticism to determine each written source's historical value. 8 Regardless of the name on the document, who was the actual author? What was the real purpose of the document? Who was the intended audience? Did the author have personal motives in reporting it in the manner in which he did? For example, most government documents from Colonial Africa were written by Europeans, with an intended European audience.There is no African voice in this â€Å"history. † Africans were treated like objects,9 and colonial imperialistic authors of written sources â€Å"believed that they actually were generating history for the first time?that Africa (and Africans) had no history before their arrival. â€Å"10 Another limitation of written documents is that they are created from the point of view of an observer, and thus produce an opinion that is completely subj ective, and thereby, by definition, are open to other opinions and observations. To address the limitations of written documents, historians often attempt to incorporate oral sources in conjunction with written sources in order to strengthen historical evidence. â€Å"Anxiety about flawed written sources drew scholars away from libraries and into towns and villages for historical narrative. â€Å"12 The incorporation of oral history into the narrative makes it more evidential and gives the written documents a more verifiable African voice. Relying on written documents from the Colonial period without the incorporation of oral sources, in many cases, produces an inaccurate version of African history.Typically, in the African â€Å"history' provided by Colonial Europeans their culture, norms, and ideology were largely ignored. â€Å"One of the key methods to avoid (the possibility of denying Africans a voice in their own history) is to include a people's own oral traditions and li fe histories in ethnographically and archaeological work. â€Å"13 Because most African languages in Colonial Africa were oral and not written,14 it is imperative to consider oral sources to bolster the evidence provided by written sources. Oral sources can provide a wealth of historical evidence.For example, Historical linguists use oral sources to accurately track the movement of people across the continent. 15 This evidence of human migration can help explain cultural change, which is important when considering that a lack of concentration of people in a particular area makes a study of their culture less possible. Oral histories offer first-hand accounts of events. These oral histories evolve into oral traditions;16 stories passed down from generation to generation, offering us a glimpse of pre-colonial Africa not found in the Euro-centric written documents of imperialists.Oral sources obviously can complement the written, a realization that was for too long lost on most profes sional order to strengthen written sources to form cohesive historical evidence is Jan Vinson, who â€Å"established that the stories handed down from one generation to another †¦ Were as stable and reliable accounts of their past as were the written chronicles and personal narratives†¦ (and) that in fact they were of the same genre. â€Å"18 In Banana's own words: â€Å"by creating a lifelike setting, (oral tradition) gives evidence about how situations as they were observed, as well as about beliefs uncovering situations. 19 Thus, oral sources, through both shared oral history and oral traditions, combined with written sources, form a more credible account of historical occurrences than written sources alone provide. Oral sources, though, are not without their limitations. â€Å"(H)Astoria can place trust in oral sources only to the extent that they can be verified by means of external evidence of another kind, such as archaeological, linguistic, or cultural. â€Å" 20 Oral sources are subject to misinterpretation because of selective or collective memory, rumor, myth, or hearsay. That being said, oral sources subject to these limitations still offer substance, because historians can still study why the subjects believe it happened that way. 22 African historians can mitigate the limitations of oral sources by searching for information that is valuable, if not as historical evidence, but as information that is not readily apparent through the written archive. While attempting to glean evidence from a source on one topic, a historian may gain knowledge of another unintended topic.Ultimately, â€Å"it is the duty of the historian to subject all written accounts to radical internal and external analysis to determine authenticity and credibility. If the accounts are thoroughly examined, and the texts can be compared to one another with the information contained in oral and other sources, they will continue to yield valuable information on the hist ory of Africa. â€Å"23 These things considered; if an historian wanted to get an approximation of how many Africans were enslaved, maimed or killed in the occupation of King Leopold in the Congo, where would they start? What sources would they utilize, and what would they expect to find?What there information might they â€Å"accidentally' stumble upon? I propose that a good place to start would be to examine any existing hospital documents from 1885-1908, to determine if there is a written record of the number of people treated for loss of limbs. Local censuses (if available), police records, military ledgers, property records, death certificates might also prove as fruitful written resources. Additionally, missionary records in the region mighty prove to be valuable, especially considering that they would probably not require translation, lessening the possibility that any information would be mistranslated.Another possible valuable written source might be records in the Belgia n archive, or that of the present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. The historian might hope to find information or documents concerning the Congo Reform Association, which might shed some light on the information she seeks. Additionally, research on the Congo Free State propaganda war and the International Association of the Congo might provide valuable useful written sources of evidence of injuries and deaths to those enslaved at that time.One might also be able to glean useful information from historical-based literature, such as Joseph Concord's Heart of Darkness, Sir Arthur Cowan Dole's The Crime of the Congo, and Bertrand Russell Freedom and Organization. Research on the parties evidence of the atrocities in the region, including Edmund Dine Muriel, Roger Casement and the aforementioned Bertrand Russell. Local museums might contain artwork from the region during Loophole's occupation that captures the outrage, despair and helplessness of the affected.By speaking to locals, she might learn, through oral tradition, the stories passed down from generation to generation about the occupation. In the unlikely, yet still possible event, that any 106-year-old residents still survive, they would be able to provide first-hand oral history. Other than gaining information regarding the number of enslaved, killed and maimed, she would, in all probability, gain an understanding of the long-term effects of the occupation of Leopold upon the citizens, as well as information of how Loophole's occupation came to an end due to intense international criticism.Possible obstacles that she might experience: In retreat, Leopold may have destroyed written evidence of the atrocities, as well as local artwork or libraries. His regime may have been so strict that any expression, either written or oral, was prohibited and subject to the same penalties as those who refused to work in the mines, or underperformed in their duties, diminishing oral sources. Let's consider that the same historian endeavored to learn the approximate number of the descendants of diasporas Africans who returned to partake in the so-called â€Å"redeeming of Africa. Where might she begin, and what would she expect to find? What limitations might she encounter? What other information might she learn along the way? A good starting mint would be to visit the archives in Liberia and Sierra Leone; countries set up as places of African repatriation for freed slaves. There, she could view the legal records regarding who came back and when they returned, who their family members were, where they lived, as well as their professions. Available Census documents would prove to be invaluable in that regard.Ship's manifests would reflect the number of passengers returning to these countries, as well as the number of family members that accompanied them. She could research the founders of both countries, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of Liberia, and Christopher Koru Cole and Osaka Stev ens, early leaders of Sierra Leone, to find documents pertaining to the numbers of returning Africans. She could study historical literature about repatriation, such as Back to Africa: the Colonization Movement in Early Africa by Timothy Crummier, as well as Black Migration in America: a Social Demographic History by Daniel M.Johnson and Rexes R. Campbell. She could also read the works of the men who themselves returned, such as George Washington Williams, Samuel Jay Crotchet, and Henry McNealy Turner. 4 Some limitations she might experience in her research: inconclusive data due to the relative impossibility of proving that they (or their descendants) were indeed originally removed from the continent. Incomplete or inaccurate documentation might also prove to be a stumbling block in attaining this information.Additional research on topics such as the American Colonization Society, and the histories of both Liberia and Sierra Leone would not only provide numerical data, but also und oubtedly uncover unintended useful information about the achievements and political and religious aims of those who returned, as well as how hey were received. Did they consider themselves more â€Å"civilized† than the native Africans whose descendants had not been removed from the continent?What other the reasons why some Africans did not return, even though they had the opportunity. Through personal interviews of present-day citizens who are descendants of returning freed slaves she could learn of the oral traditions they had developed. She might also learn of the artwork prevalent in these regions, as well as the folklore and literature that the return to Africa produced, and how it differed from that of indigenous Africans. â€Å"As a recognized academic endeavor, (African history) has emerged only in the last four or five decades. 25 Until recently, African â€Å"history' was written by and for Europeans, and as such, didn't provide a realistic depiction of the people , the culture, and the overall actual history of the continent, but served more as a record of White encroachment, and functioned as a tool of propaganda to legitimate the â€Å"civilizing mission† of Europeans. By altering traditional methodology and utilizing both written and oral sources, a more accurate picture of African history ND its people can be discovered and studied.Beyond the fade of imperialistic African â€Å"history,† there is a real history of the African continent that invites further study, and such an endeavor is necessary in restoring the African â€Å"voice. † If we fail to do so, â€Å"(w)e run the risk of not only denying people a voice in the reconstruction of their own history, but offending and demeaning indigenous cultures when we use them as a model for the past without recognizing not only their changing past but their active involvement in changing and/or maintaining their identities and history in the present. â€Å"26

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Albert Bandura’s Works Regarding Psychology

Albert Bandura was born on December 4, 1925, in Mundare, a small town in Alberta, Canada (Boeree 2006). His father, who was a labourer, originally came from Poland while his mother, who worked in a general store, was from Ukraine.Albert was the youngest among six children. Although the whole family had no access to formal education, they gave importance to education. The father learned to read three languages: Polish, Russian and German and engaged in educational affairs.At a very young age, Bandura experienced difficulties in his education. He attended the only school in his town, which lacked teachers and resources for learning.The school had only one Mathematics textbook, for instance, and it had to be used by the students and teachers as well. But although this was the case, the school produced graduates who attended colleges and universities throughout the world. Bandura realized that the scarcity of educational resources was an enabling factor rather than a handicapping one (Bo eree 2006).During vacations, his parents would encourage him to look for experiences outside their small hamlet. Bandura experienced working as a carpenter in a furniture manufacturing plant. The skills he acquired helped him through college. He also worked as a part-time carpenter during afternoons during his college days, and even filled holes in the Alaska Highway.Bandura then attended the University of British Columbia where he took up psychology. He intended to major in one of the biological sciences, but then he worked in the afternoons to be able to support his studying. He found out that taking introductory psychology would fill his schedule in the mornings. He became enthralled and then decided to concentrate on psychology. He finished his education within three years receiving a Bolocan Award in psychology.His accidental choice of psychology influenced his theorizing later on. He discussed in his â€Å"The Psychology of Chance Encounters and Life Paths† how personal initiative can put people into events wherein unexpected events shape the courses that lives take(Pajares, 2004). Bandura also focused on making chance work through self-development to take advantage of fortuitous opportunities (Pajares, 2004).Social Learning TheoryAlbert Bandura is one of the leading proponents of the Social Learning Theory (Ormrod, 1999). This theory says that people learn from one another and focuses on the leaning which occurs within a social context. It also says that concepts such as observational learning, modeling and imitation are learned from around us (Ormrod, 1999).These are the principles of the Social Learning Theory (Ormrod, 1999).. First is that people can learn through observation of the behaviour of other people and its outcomes. Another principle is that, since learning comes from observation alone, it can occur without a change in the behaviour. This is what the social learning theorists believed. This is in contrast to what the behaviorists bel ieved. For them, there must be a permanent change in behaviour if learning took place.The third principle says that cognition has an important part in learning. Ormrod (1999) explained that awareness and expectations of reinforcements or punishments may influence the behaviours of people. The fourth principle says that social learning theory bridges the cognitive learning theories and behaviourist learning theories.Albert Bandura’s ideas also lead to the observational learning, based on the principles discussed above. He made experiments and found out that applying consequences was not compulsory for learning to happen. A person can learn just by observing someone else.He then devised a four-step pattern for the findings of his experiments. These are the attention, retention, reproduction and motivation (Ormrod, 1999). Attention happens when a person becomes aware of something from around him. It includes modeled events, such as affective valence, prevalence, complexity and d istinctiveness, among others, and observer characteristics, such as past reinforcement and sensory capacities (Bandura, 1977). Retention is when the person retains what he noticed.This includes motor rehearsal and symbolic coding, among others. Reproduction happens when the produces acts with regards to what he noticed. This includes accuracy of feedback, physical capabilities and self-observation of reproduction. Motivation, on the other hand, takes place when the surroundings carry a consequence that will change the probability that the behaviour will be produced again (Huitt, 2004). It includes reinforcement (external and vicarious), and punishment (Bandura, 1977).Aside from this, Bandura believes that the learning process takes place with a contribution from the mind, behaviour and environment.One of Bandura’s famous psychological experiments was the Bobo Doll Experiment which solidified his beliefs regarding learned aggression and behaviour modeling. Bandura made a film of a female student of his beating a Bobo doll. A Bobo doll is an egg-shaped, inflatable balloon creature that bounced back when knocked down. The young woman punched, kicked, yelled and hit the doll. Bandura then showed the film to kindergartners.After watching the film, the children were placed in a room full of the same toys they saw on the film. There were Bobo dolls and small hammers around. Bandura’s findings showed that the children were violent towards the doll 88% of the time (â€Å"Albert Bandura, n.d.). In short, the children imitated what the woman in the film did.However, an article by Huitt (2004) showed that the children watched a film wherein another child acted aggressively towards a Bobo doll. It had three different endings. The first ending was that the child was praised for his behaviour.The second was that the child was not allowed to play with the toys and to just sit in a corner. The third ending consisted of the child walking out of the room. After th en, the children were placed in the room and were observed. This experiment became the basis for the Social Learning Theory.Bandura also believed that most of our behaviour is learned by observation through modeling. He also believed that when we observe other people, it gives us an idea of how new behaviours are carried out, and this can be our guide for action (Bandura, 1977).Personality DevelopmentAlbert Bandura also has contributions in personality development. He believes that personality is an interaction among environment, behaviour and the human’s psychological processes (Boeree, 2006).He also believes that in studying a theory of personality, the social contexts where behaviour is acquired and maintained must be considered. This is in support of his social learning theory, which says that our behaviour is developed. Bandura believed that humans regulate and think of their own behaviour (â€Å"Albert Bandura,† 2000).According to the theory of personality, oneâ €™s environment causes one’s behaviour (Boeree, 2006). Whatever happens around us can affect us and thus affect our behaviour.Bandura believes in his social learning theory that social experience, reciprocal determinism and observational learning have important roles in the development of our personality. He also believes that the self-system of a human is composed of his abilities, attitudes and cognitive skills. In turn, a person’s self-system helps him in the way he perceives different situations and acts according to that situation.Bandura also believes that self-efficacy is important for one’s self-system. Self-efficacy, for him, is â€Å"the belief that in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to manage prospective situations (1995, p.2). In short, self-efficacy is how one can function well in a given situation.In an article about Bandura’s personality theory, it showed that changing the expectation of personal efficacy can bring change in behaviour. Changing efficacy expectations can be done in four ways: enactive, persuasive, vicarious and physiological information experience. Those who have behavioural problems can cope by making changes in personal efficacy expectations (â€Å"Albert Bandura,† 2000).The concept of self-efficacy became important as it has an impact from psychological states to behaviour and to motivation. People are aware that they can set their goals for whatever they want to achieve, and the things that they want changes. But, we also know that most of the time, doing these things is not so simple. This is where Bandura found out that self-efficacy can help in how people should approach their goals, challenges and tasks.For those who have strong self-efficacy, they think that challenges are tasks to be overcome. They also foster interest in the things that they want to accomplish. Moreover, as their interest deepens, their commitment also deepens. And if there were disappointments, they can easily recover.On the other hand, people who have weak self-efficacy are the opposite. They do not like challenges as they believe that they cannot go through difficult situations. They also tend to dwell on their failures and the negative outcomes of their actions. Additionally, they lose trust and confidence in their abilities (Bandura, 1994).According to Kear (2000), self-concept, cognitive processes and control are the primary characteristics of self-efficacy. The sense of self is developed through the experiences and interactions with other people. The author added that our self-concept contains beliefs and values and attitudes that we have learned and developed through time. When there is self-regulation, we can have a positive self-concept amidst interactions.Control, on the other hand, focuses on two things: self-actualization and locus of control. Self-actualization, Kear (2000) explained, builds when a person has confidence in a suc cessful performance. Locus of control, on the other hand, focuses on causal belief about outcome determination.   

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Psychology Quiz: The Case of Ralph Tortorici Essay

In 1994, Ralph Tortorici, 26 years old, took a class hostage and ended up shooting one student in the leg and the groin. This kind of act could easily be categorized as one that would be surely convicted to a prison sentence of no less than 15 years. However, Ralph Tortorici’s case was not just because of rage and aggression; it was caused by mental illness – delusion disorder. How the court dealt with Ralph’s case is where things went wrong, and made it a torturous journey for him, ending when he took his life three years after his conviction, by hanging himself in his cell. He was sentenced to 20-47 years in prison, rather than to be sent to a mental institution. Two years before this incident, Ralph showed evidence of mental illness, and was well documented as he went to a university health worker and a state trooper for aid. He claims that a microchip is implanted in his penis as a part of a government experiment, and he could not take it anymore. He claims to hear voices from this microchip, telling him what to do. With such, actions should have been immediately made to intercede Ralph’s delusions, which perhaps wouldn’t have worsened, and more significantly, he might be still alive today. One fact I have learned about insanity defense is that pleading not guilty by reason of insanity isn’t by far the easy way out. Once an individual pleads not guilty by reason of insanity, this person is monitored by the state for the rest of his life. They must report to the state, and they become attached to the state until they die. So unless one is really mentally ill, lawyers do not advise their clients to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Work Cited â€Å"A Crime of Insanity†. 17 Oct 2002. Pbs. org. 13 Jun 2009. .

Friday, September 27, 2019

Web Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Web Communications - Essay Example The major objective to this paper is to examine and evaluate the how communication, and interaction of people is changed through the advancement of the web platform. The paper focuses on YouTube web 2.0 platform. The paper shows how the communication has changed ever since the advancement of the platform. The essay begins with giving a brief background information on YouTube. Secondly, the paper will discuss the relationship between YouTube and other web 2.0 platform. And finally, the paper will look to analyze and evaluate the how YouTube has influenced as well as caused a change to the collaboration and the communication. In the year 2005, three IT entrepreneurs came up with the YouTube1. Google Company purchased the company later in the year 2006. The company has been under the organization of Google team. The function of YouTube is simple since it only involves uploading as well as downloading the videos through YouTube. The users connect through the use of YouTube where the videos are shared through uploads and downloads. However, many videos in YouTube are not only uploaded by individuals but also large organizations and corporations use the site to pass information such as advertisements and market their products. Research shows that four billion videos are streamed form YouTube on a daily basis. In 2010, a new designed of interacting with other web 2.0 platforms was launched to ease the interaction of the YouTube with other technologies. The connection between YouTube and other platforms is quite clear in that videos are shared form YouTube to the other social networks. For instance, videos are shared form you through the use of twitter, blogs and Facebook among others. YouTube if plugged directly into the browsers making it easy to users as they try to search and find the link of YouTube in their browsers.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Education policy in USA Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education policy in USA - Term Paper Example It has often been argued that education policies adopted by USA have not been as effective as expected during the planning phase owing to the persistence of several problems. One of the critical issues in the educational policy of USA can be identified as the lack of adequate number of teachers as compared to the number of students. Consequently, there is unevenness in the student-teacher ratio that is affecting the education system of the country. Furthermore, it has been analyzed that the rise in tuition fees of the collages is also an important issue to be worth discussing in the education policy of USA. It has also been viewed that the graduation percentage of USA has been decreasing in the recent times, probably because of the rising high education prices. Evidently, the government has been concerned about such issues, and thus, USA today aims to be the best in providing education in the world and lead the world in terms of college graduates by the year 2020 assisting educationa l institutions and states with requisite funding in order to minimize financial burden on schools which in turn is expected to cut education expenses in the country (AASCU, â€Å"Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2010† Policy Almanac, â€Å"Education†; Policy Insider, â€Å"U.S. Dept. of Education Continues Funding School Improvement Grants†). The issues mentioned above are quite significant in relation to the development of the education system of the country. For instance, less student-teacher ratio would mean that students could be able to learn more efficiently and increase their chances of success. It has also been viewed that the success or the development of the students largely depends on the teachers.... orld and lead the world in terms of college graduates by the year 2020 assisting educational institutions and states with requisite funding in order to minimize financial burden on schools which in turn is expected to cut education expenses in the country (AASCU, â€Å"Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2010† Policy Almanac, â€Å"Education†; Policy Insider, â€Å"U.S. Dept. of Education Continues Funding School Improvement Grants†). Significance The issues mentioned above are quite significant in relation to the development of the education system of the country. For instance, less student-teacher ratio would mean that students could be able to learn more efficiently and increase their chances of success. It has also been viewed that the success or the development of the students largely depends on the teachers. Additionally, the issue of rise in tuition fees has also affected the higher education in USA by a significant extent, especially among the low-income group and middle-income group students. Although the government has been allocating requisite funding to the schools, the occurrence of recent financial turmoil as well as the recessionary conditions in the economy can be identified to have widened the issue of rising education costs in USA. Hence, as education acts as a backbone of societal development, USA needs to intervene and solve such issues as failure to do so would de-motivate people from pursuing higher education courses and thus hampering the overall progress of the society on the whole (AASCU, â€Å"Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2010†; Hopkins, â€Å"Colleges with the Lowest Student-Faculty Ratios†). Future Prospects It has been observed that the performance of the education policy of USA in the recent years has not been

Women and Publishing in Early America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Women and Publishing in Early America - Essay Example It is therefore pleasantly surprised to discover that as far back as 1476, women have made lifelong occupations in journalism and printing, and in various capacities including that of the owner. Mayo (2009) names at least 21 women who ran their husbands’ or fathers’ printing businesses after they died. Among them was Clementina Rind, who took over as publisher of the Virginia Gazette after she was widowed. Women of different races and classes contributed to the printing trade. For instance, Phillis Wheatley was a black poet and slave who wrote Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in the year 1773 (Duboi & Dumenil, 2005, in Mayo, 2009). Born in Africa (most likely Senegal), she was kidnapped at the age of eight years and brought to Boston. The white family which brought her gave her their family name as was the custom then, and she was taught English and Christianity, and later on ancient history, mythology and classical literature. She was intelligent, and her masters were a family of culture, so she was allowed to study and write. Her first poem was published in 1767 in the Newport Mercury. A collection of her poems was published in 1773 in London, and what was unusual was the â€Å"attestation† by seventeen men in the volume’s preface that, indeed, the poems were written â€Å"by Phillis, a young Negro Girl†¦a Barbarian from Africa†¦a Slave in a Fam ily† who was â€Å"examined by the best Judges, and is thought qualified to write them† (Lewis, 2007). Phillis Wheatley is acknowledged to be the first black woman poet in American history. The â€Å"attestation† is a clear bias against women, people of color, and of the lower classes (i.e., slaves). The need for such attestation by sixteen men, and the requisite to be examined by â€Å"the best Judges† provides a picture of how women who were in the literary and printing trades were regarded; the obvious presumption about women in their day-to-day life is that they are normally not capable of producing literary and journalistic pieces, and such works by women should be properly certified by white men.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Frankenstein's Attempt to abandon the Creature in the Real Monster Essay

Frankenstein's Attempt to abandon the Creature in the Real Monster - Essay Example Therefore, the rhetorical question that rises here is: â€Å"who is the real monster then?† On the surface level, it seems that since Dr. Frankenstein has created, he is the real evil or the real monster. But a deeper analysis will necessarily reveal that Dr. Frankenstein as a scientist who is good willed enough to discover the mystery of Nature in order to remove the imperfection is the monster; rather his disposition to abandon his creature (also his failure to socialize it) because of its ghastly appearance is the real monster in this case. The Real Monster: Frankenstein’s Refusal to Socialize the Creature Those who assume Dr. Frankenstein himself as the real monster argue that his attempt to create life is to be interpreted as a monstrous crime against nature and the will of God. The foundation of Frankenstein’s offense against Nature is: â€Å"Frankenstein is a rebel against nature when he tries not only to find the secret of life but also to remove life's defects† (Rohrmoser 3). Such proposal that like the legendary Prometheus, Doctor Frankenstein can be held responsible for offense against nature and God is further strengthened by the supposition that eventually Shelly’s protagonist has been punished by nature for committing such crime. But this proposal about Frankenstein’s offense against nature confronts a simple question, â€Å"Does Frankenstein intends to create a monster?† Textual evidences eventually will reveal that Doctor Frankenstein has no intention to create a monster; rather his sole objective is to amend the nature’s imperfection by grasping the secrets of life. Indeed his ignorance about how to nurture his creature that apparently looks like an evil causes the final havoc he suffers in the end of the novel. By effectively producing a naive imitative being, he primarily propounds that man can grab the secrets of life and death and searching for the secrets of life and death is nothing blasphemous. But Frankenstein’s monstrous crime lies in the fact that he abandons the lab-made creature because of its ghastly look instantly after its birth. Obviously he commits this crime being ignorant of his duty that greater knowledge imposes upon him and by refusing to play the motherly role of nurturing the creature. He has not committed any crime by seeking the secrets of life. Creation of a Naive Monster: A Success of Frankenstein’s Good-willed Research Mary Shelly’s attempt to endow the monster with humanly feelings and yearnings fundamentally refutes the claim that the creature is a monster. At the same time it also propounds that Frankenstein’s research in nature’s secrets is neither impossible not profane. The ghastly appearance of the creature is not enough to prove that Frankenstein’s monstrous intention to go against the will of God has failed. Indeed his success lies in the fact that he has successfully created a being that can learn like a man; that also has humanly yearnings to love and to be loved. The creature wants to have a female one. Such want proves its desire to love and to be loved. Instead of being disgusted by the creature’s ghastly appearance, Frankenstein as a responsible scientist could socialize him. But like an ambitious scientists, his ambition drives him to achieve fame without being responsible towards his creation. Frankenstein himself recognizes the flaw of his ambition in the following sentences, â€Å"How dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Leadership and Team-working Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Leadership and Team-working - Essay Example After all the leader is only an individual with limited capacity and it would be an exaggeration to credit to him or her all the performance of a team. Yukl however mentioned that â€Å"it [would be] helpful to examine the collective process that determine team performance. Leaders can improve team performance by influencing these processes in a positive way† (Yukl, 2013 pg 361) and having said this, the definition has acknowledged that the efficacy of a leader is dependent on his or her ability to engage the members of the team collectively and make it function as a team. Directing the team towards a common goal requires the members to be motivated by the leader. The definition given was inadequate because it does not provide the method to motivate team member to be directed towards a common goal. This leadership motivation includes visioning, expressing confidence in the team and celebrating progress. It is also important to involve team members in making decisions to affirm that they belong to the team. Managerial functions is also a necessary part of leadership such as selecting competent team members and coaching/training them to be able to perform well. An effective leader must also identify the obstructions for effective team working and be able to break down these barriers. These barriers could be miscommunication and factionalism that could divide the team and render it nonfunctional. Parker and Stone provided an answer on how these obstructions be overcome by highlighting the importance of communication and relationships between team members and calls for the effective interpersonal skill for the leader to overcome obstructions of effective team working (Parker and Stone, 2002). The classic case that can be cited on how a leader has effectively improved a team performance is the legendary Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder. During the absence of Steve Jobs, Apple was nearing bankruptcy but when he took over the company,

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Universal Law Formulation Of The Categorical Imperative Essay

The Universal Law Formulation Of The Categorical Imperative - Essay Example â€Å"Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end†.This formulation deals with the free will of all persons, which arises from rational action. Thus, if a person’s free will is not rational, then there is no freedom, as freedom is not entirely autonomous. A person’s actions affect others who are around him, and if a person’s free will interferes with the freedom of another person, then that action is not morally acceptable. A master may have a right to his slave. He has the right to own the services of his slave, but if the slave owner feels that he also owns the slave and that the slave is his own property, then he has devalued the slave to a means to an end and not an end in itself. This is morally wrong as it devalues humanity of the other person, in this case, the slave. A person has primarily the perfect duty to preserve hu manity by using it in a manner that is a not a means to an end to themselves or to others. Then, with the imperfect duty, one should always strive to improve their humanity or other’s humanity for the good of all and as long as it does not inhibit the perfect duty.Third, Kant suggests that all rational beings must act as legislative members through their maxim, in the universal kingdom of ends. This formulation when broken down means that a person should treat himself and others both as a means and an end, but mostly as an end in itself.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Larry page Essay Example for Free

Larry page Essay How was the leader ‘vision’ implemented? Google founded in 1998 with Sergey Brin. Google soon found itself at the top of search engines and from a small, garage- based company had transformed into a global giant. Google now is a synonym of worlds no1 ideal (New York Post, 2011) and employs 53546 people owns numerous offices worldwide. Some vision points for Google and future technologies that Larry pages laying out from Google’s developer conference in San Francisco 2011. â€Å"Technology should do the hard work so people can do the things that make them the happiest in life. † â€Å"We’re really only at 1% of what’s possible, and maybe even less than that†¦we’re still moving slow.† â€Å"We should be building great things that don’t exist.† â€Å"Being negative is not how we make progress.† â€Å"I’m sure people in the future will think were just as crazy as we think people in the past were.† â€Å"I think today we’re still just scratching the surface of what’s possible. That’s why I’m so excited Google is working on the platforms supporting all your innovations.† Source: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/larry-page-lays-out-his-vision-for-the-future-of-google-and-technology-2013-5 Analyse Leader style. (Explain/ justify your answer) Larry Page has 5 leader style strategies 1. Follow the crazy ideas Google search engine of creativity stems from one of his dream: He was trying to download the entire Internet to your computer, but also to maintain the entire link. When someone did crazy to this extent, you will face smaller competitions. He said. 2. Create the team work, Avoid bureaucratic Larry is doing the reorganization without a whisper and streamlining of middle managers in order to eliminate bureaucracy. 3. Respond quickly and concisely  Page hopes to develop a more responsive and more flexible approach to management in Google, which would easy to make a judgment when making a decision. 4. Understand the importance of â€Å"little tricks† Google always improving their products such as Gmail, search engines and android products to take their customers have good image to Google. 5. Unremitting.  Larry pages thinks unremitting is a successful method to achieve the goals. If people not keep faith the thing they want to do, they may not achieve their objective. Source: http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2011-04-19/11585423562.shtml Purpose of program. Google Larry and Sergey reason why the search engine named Google is actually taken from the mathematical term googol, meaning one followed by 100 zeros. In 1998, Sun Microsystems (Sun) co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim wrote a check for $ 100,000 U.S. dollars, the company does not yet exist to open Google Inc., Google Inc. Was born Summary and timeline of program implementation 1996 Larry and Sergey this time is a computer graduate student at Stanford University, they began to build a cooperative called BackRub search engine. 1997  Larry and Sergey decided to change to a new name Backrub search engine. After some brainstorming, the final decision is named Google 1998. Sun Microsystems (Sun) co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim wrote a check for $ 100,000 U.S. dollars to open a company does not yet exist: Google Inc. 8 1999 ~ recent  Eric Schmidt was appointed as chairman of the board First published 10 kinds of language version of Google.com , available in French, German, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian and Danish Start for searching for Chinese, Japanese and Korean language support to a total of 15 species. Google Toolbar launched . This is a browser plug-in can be carried out without entering the Google home search. Released the first mobile device with an open platform Android, August 19 in the United States Wall Street initial public offering of Class A common stock Google Maps official on-line Officially acquired AdMob, which is a mobile service multimedia advertising company. Announced the co-founder Larry Page in April 2011 will be the companys chief executive , Eric Schmidt will serve as executive chairman. (Source: http://www.google.com.au/about/company/history/#top)

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Relevance of Lead Apron in Medical Imaging Profession

Relevance of Lead Apron in Medical Imaging Profession Introduction Lead aprons are available in the healthcare facilities to provide protection from unnecessary exposure of X-radiation to the patients and workers during radiology procedures usually done for diagnostic purposes. Body is shielded by the protective garment called lead apron from the harmful radiation during the medical imaging. Lead apron is found to be effective in protecting from radiation exposure only when it is worn properly. It is used in a safe and properly inspected environment (Lead Apron Policy, 2012). Protective aprons of 0.25mm lead are worn, while performing fluoroscopy whose body is exposed to 5mR/hr or more. Individuals expected to wear lead aprons or similar radiation protection instruments must inspect these instruments visually for any signs of damage before using them (Lead Apron Policy; California code of regulations, 2012). Principles of Lead Apron Advantages of lead apron It is observed to be effective and appropriate in protecting 95 percent of 80 kVp X-rays. As lead apron causes pain and stress to the back muscles back strain is avoided by wearing a skirt apron around the abdomen. In performing fluoroscopic procedures, wearing lead apron of lead equivalence 0.25mm to 0.5mm is found to decrease scattered X-rays by 95 percent. A thyroid collar is used along with lead apron and it is not required in the case of imaging patients. Every occupation worker exposed to fluoroscopic units higher than 5mrem/hr should wear lead apron. The dose rates that are higher than 5mrem/hr are measured within six feet of the table and it includes the place occupied by fluoroscopist (Lead Apron Policy, 2012). Disadvantages of lead apron Lead apron is not sufficient for protecting 111In or 131I. No shielding is provided for the patients by the lead apron for 137Cs or 131I therapy. In these patients, heavy portable shields are available. Shields are provided for brachytherapy patients in the radiation oncology department. Shields for radioactive iodine therapy patients are provided by health physics department (Lead Apron Policy, 2012). Inventory policy and lead apron inspection According to the joint commission standards, annual inspections have to be performed on the medical equipment by the healthcare organizations. Lead apron inspection and inventory are performed by Stanford hospital Clinics, Lucile Packard Children’s hospital and VA Palo Alto Healthcare system. Some of the recommendations in the apron inspection policy are looking for sagging and deformities or any visible damage, performing annual tactile and visual inspection and holes and cracks are identified by radiography and fluoroscopy. It is important to use manual settings and low technique factors during fluoroscopic examination. It is not recommended to use automatic brightness control as it will drive up the high voltage and tube current, which might result in exposure of unnecessary radiation to the operator and the wear (Lead Apron Policy, 2012). Lead apron is discarded, if the inspection reveals that there is a defect larger than 15 sq. mm on the apron parts shielding an organ or if there is any defect larger than 670 sq. mm along the seam or in the back of the apron and in thyroid shields with defects larger than 11 sq. mm (Lead Apron Policy, 2012). How can the affected technical personnel be protected from the radiation? It is not necessary for the technical personnel to stay closer to the patient in the case of radiography, general computerized tomography and mammography. Staying distant from the patient will prevent the personnel to receive the scattered X-rays from the patient. Structural shielding can also be placed in between the patient and the personnel to avoid the X-rays reaching the personnel. When the personnel are closer to the patient in fluoroscopic examinations as well as in image guided interventions, distance and structural shield will not be able to stop the scattering of the X-rays. In such cases, protective clothing like aprons, spectacles, table- mounted protective curtains, ceiling suspended protective screens and thyroid shields have to be used by the personnel (JL Heron et al., 2010). Based on the lead equivalence and X-ray energy, an apron will terminate 90 percent or more of the incident scattered radiation. The protective aprons are available in various thicknesses and shapes starting from front-only apron to a full coat. The front-only apron will be effective, if the person wearing it is facing the source of the scattered radiation (JL Heron et al., 2010). Radiological workloads differ for various specialities. The concerned protective tools required by a particular department are specified by a radiation protection expert or a medical physicist. The person with high workload in the cardiac laboratory must utilize all the protective tools, while a person in the orthopedic suite might require a front-only apron. If the person is working closer to the patient during imaging and wears an apron, a dosimeter that is fixed under the apron will estimate exposure of rays to the shielded portion and will not properly estimate the exposure of organs and tissues present outside the apron. Two dosimeters fixed inside and outside of the apron will give a good estimate of the effective dose to be used (JL Heron et al., 2010). How far are the lead aprons protective against ionizing radiation? Research studies were done to analyze the qualitative and quantitative aspects of lead aprons with the help of various methods. Eighty five lead aprons were collected from various departments in the hospital and from the district polyclinics where radiation exposure was present. They were collected and brought to the radiology clinic of the hospital to assess their protective nature. Aprons were identified based on the number of years they were used by the personnel, the units from where they have been obtained, number of personnel by whom they were worn, the model, the material by which they are made of and the thickness of lead in the apron (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). X-rays were delivered such that 35X35 cm wide area of the lead apron is exposed to the radiation. There was 110cm distance between tube focus and lead apron. The images on the plates exposed on the back of the apron are transferred to films and these films are later evaluated with the help of scratches, cracks, rips and defects that might be present on the lead aprons (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). As per the standard method, holes greater than 2mm diameter and cracks longer than 4mm were considered as destruction criteria. The aprons exposed with the same criteria were allotted for dosimeter testing by the ratio of ray absorption. The absorption features were assessed using two tests such as scattering X-rays on the apron directly and indirectly. In both direct and indirect methods, same parameters were used for estimating the radiation by fixing the dosimeters in the front as well as at the back of apron. The doses were evaluated and the absorptions were calculated. The base for apron measurements, ten protective aprons with radiation permeability and various lead thicknesses, Turkish standards institution documents approved quality and durability were chosen. Aprons that were not used before were used as controls. The analyzed aprons were measured individually and the results were noted down (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). The results have shown that lead is the material used for radiation protection. Among double-sided lead aprons, skirt-vest lead aprons and frontal protection lead aprons, the frontal protection apron is mostly used. Evaluating the cleanliness of the aprons, 23 were clean and the remaining were either little or too dirty. No significant association was observed between the apron destruction criteria and apron cleaning methods. Evaluating the overall condition of the apron, 45 aprons were in good condition and the remaining was either slightly or extremely worn out (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). Highest radiation permeability was observed in extremely worn out aprons and in aprons that were in decent condition. The apron that was worn out very little is least permeable compared to the extremely worn out and those in good condition. Among 58 aprons, 26 were destroyed due to cracks, 14 due to tears and holes, and 18 due to tears. In all these aprons, radiation permeability was more than normal. No significant relationship was observed between radiation permeability and internal structural features of protective lead aprons or total number of apron users. Destruction criteria were significantly associated with apron models. Frontal protection lead apron model was destroyed most often (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). The exposure dose was analyzed as 996.1 micro grays on average. For 0.25mm lead aprons, the exposure dose was 51.59 micro grays on average. For 0.5mm lead aprons, exposure dose was 9.891 micrograys on average. Among the indirect measurements, scattered radiation value measured at the distance of 50cm was 2.1 R/h. The indirect radiation measured for 0.25mm lead equivalent apron was evaluated as 1.85 micro grays and that for 0.5mm lead apron was evaluated as 1 microgray (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). Some folds and sags were observed on the protective layers of the aprons. Significant radiation permeability difference was not observed between folded aprons and non-folded aprons. The protected dose was measured as 60.20+/-22.96 micro grays for unfolded 0.5mm lead equivalent aprons. The protected dose was 50.36+/- 22.96 micro grays for folded 0.5mm aprons, 50.36+/- 22.96 micro grays for 0.25mm lead equivalent aprons. For folded 0.25mm aprons, the dose was evaluated as 46+/-19.05 micrograys (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). Discussion The aprons that were used for protecting against scattered ionizing radiation are made using lead embedded in rubber fabric, which is the mixture of lead-rubber or lead-vinyl. These aprons possess the thickness of 0.25mm to 0.5mm. They are costly and are of great importance when used and stored properly. It is an expert view that these aprons are not often preserved and taken care of, and they are folded carelessly, which could be reasons for them to lose protective ability. The research study first done in Turkey by Oyar and Kislalioglu in a quality certified hospital with a control standard and the measurements were taken for quantitative and qualitative radiation exposure values from the protective lead aprons (O Oyar and A Kislalioglu, 2012). It is estimated that 0.5mm thick lead aprons will be able to absorb higher than 90 percent of irradiation at the dose of 150kVp. The similar apron must be able to absorb higher than 99 percent of the irradiation dose at 70kVp (Radiation issue notes, 2008). In some of the studies on absorption ratio of protective aprons, research has revealed that either indirect or direct X-ray absorption ratio of aprons must be measured separately (Christodoulou EG, 2003; Muir S, 2005). Though the actual purpose of lead apron is to protect against indirect X-radiation, in the study done by Oyar and Kislalioglu, the results from direct radiation exposure measurements might be more beneficial in the evaluations due to wider spectrum width. Direct measurements were accepted to provide better results from the evaluations of ray absorption by the lead aprons. If lead aprons are not stored properly, they will lose the protecting quality and radiation protection ability is reduced for that apron gradually. The storage racks for lead aprons are available in various styles and configurations to fulfill the necessities of the medical facility (Universal medical, 2014). Medical professionals interested to wear lead aprons or other radiation protection instruments must have their protective garments checked well for any damages like rips and tears, cracks in the lead lining and sagging lead before their use. Proper lead apron storage will extend the apron life by preventing the lead lining damage and the external fabric damage. Lead aprons have to be hung by the apron hangers instead of folding them. Damages can result even if the apron storage is incorrect. Organizing the aprons properly will make the tracking process and the State or Joint commission inspection easier. Inspection of aprons will improve their organization (Universal medical, 2014). Usually, it is a common practice to place half apron at the back of the patient during the erect chest radiograph to protect the patient from radiation dose from tube leakage and room scatter. Most of the back scatter from the patient is a part of the internal scatter that might affect gonads and other tissues. Half apron will have least effect from patient dose and they make the patients to realize that precautions taken will protect them from unnecessary exposure (Lead garments (Felmlee JP et al., 1991). Use of lead shield is made mandatory for gonadal protection in most of the X-ray departments. If the gonads are present nearer the primary X-ray beam, gonadal shielding is very much necessary. Even if the X-ray field is not near the gonads, gonadal shield is given as the deterrent for the pediatric patients. According to the national recommendations associated with shielding of patients from radiation exposure during imaging, lead aprons were not significantly reducing radiation dose. Dental radiation policies indicate that implementing all the routine precautions will not demand the use of lead aprons on the patient. Later, lead aprons were considered as reducing the radiation dose, from several diagnostic X-ray procedures, to the reproductive organs. Radiation can cause germ cell mutations which might be carried to the next generations. Lead aprons have a precautionary role in reducing the radiation dose (Felmlee JP et al., 1991). The protective clothing worn by the radiographers consists of lead and other metals like tungsten, barium, tin and antimony. The clothing will help in shielding the personnel from radiation. The metals in the radiation protective clothing are equivalently mixed with polyvinyl chloride or synthetic rubber. Sheets of nylon fabric coated with urethane are placed against the side of lead impregnated rubber in between the two and five sheets of metal-impregnated rubber or PVC. These materials are cut as a pattern and sewn to create a protective garment. The manufacturers of these garments alter the sheet number, metal percentage, rubber or PVC grade and the metal mixture affecting the durability, weight, flexibility and radiation absorption efficiency (Felmlee JP et al., 1991). Normally, lead apron is not used for the patients undergoing medical procedures associated with radiation as the area of interest will not be protected. Lead aprons are mostly recommended for those who are exposed to the radiation by being in their occupation. If the apron is worn between the direct X-ray beam and the patient, then 90 percent of the rays are prevented from entering the patient’s body. Therefore, it is not practical for putting apron on the body part that is of interest to the physician (Felmlee JP et al., 1991). As per the standards put forward by the Joint Commission, healthcare organizations have to perform inspections on the medical instrumentation along with the lead aprons. Health department of State also should have a regulation for inspecting the lead aprons. Titanium is used as the shielding material in the titanium aprons. Other materials used in the aprons are barium and bismuth. The shielding properties of the material can be assessed by their mass coefficient and linear attenuation coefficient. Mass attenuation coefficient for the elements is found by physical reference data website of National institute of standards and technology (Felmlee JP et al., 1991). Conclusion As the X-ray imaging is being used continuously all through the world, this technology has created new challenges for occupational protection for the medical staff from radiation. In many of the X-ray procedures, it is necessary for the medical staff to stay closer to the patients, while performing the imaging. Therefore, there is potential for the staff to get exposed to the radiation and it has become extremely important for them to implement certain restrictions to prevent themselves from radiation exposure. Lead aprons decrease the radiation dose to the gonads from various diagnostic X-ray procedures. Radiation can cause mutations in the reproductive cells, which might be transferred to the future generations. Protective clothing worn by the radiographers consists of lead and other metals, like tungsten, barium, tin and antimony. These metals are mixed with polyvinylchloride to create a protective garment. The number of sheets, metal percentage, rubber grade and metal mixture in different ratios will show impact on the flexibility, durability, radiation absorption, weight and efficiency of the protection sheets. Lead aprons are highly effective in absorbing diagnostic X-rays to the body parts shielded by the apron. The effectiveness is energy dependent and averages to about 90 to 95 percent. Irrespective of whether the radiation personnel have worn the lead apron or not, the exposure allowed on the body is ruled by exposure limits. Apart from the lead aprons, mobile shielding is also helpful in protecting the body from radiation. References [1] Christodoulou EG, Goodsitt MM, Larson SC, Darner KL, Satti J, Chan HP. Evaluation of the  transmitted exposure through lead equiv aprons used in a radiology department, including the  contribution from backscatter. Med Phys 2003; 30:1033–1038. [2] Felmlee JP, McGough PF, Morin RL, Classic KL. Hand dose measurements in interventional  radiology. Health Phys 1991; 60(2):265-267. Retrieved from  http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/leadgarmentsfaq.html# [3] John Le Heron, Renato Padovani, Ian Smith, Renate Czarwinski. Radiation Protection of  Medical Staff. European journal of Radiology. 2010; 76:20-23. [4] Kevin Jaquith. 5 reasons why you should use lead apron storage racks. Universal Medical.  2014. Retrieved from http://blog.universalmedicalinc.com/5-reasons-why-you-should-use- lead-apron-storage-racks/ [5] Lead Apron policy. Radiation protection guidance for hospital staff. Prepared for Stanford  hospital and Clinics, Lucile Packard children’s hospital and Veterans affairs Palo Alto Health  care system 2010. [6] Muir S, McLeod R, Dove R. Light-weight lead apronslight on weight, protection or  labelling accuracy? Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 2005; 28:128–130. [7] Orhan Oyar, Arzu Kislalioglu. How protective are the lead aprons we use against ionizing  radiation? Diagn Interv Radiol. 2012; 18:147-152. [8] Proper selection, care, quality control and disposal of lead aprons. Radiation issue notes  2008.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Growth Of Islamic Fundamentalism In Afghanistan Politics Essay

The Growth Of Islamic Fundamentalism In Afghanistan Politics Essay If there has been an overriding feature of their history [the Afghans], it is that it has been a history of conflictof invasions, battles and sieges, of vendettas, assassinations and massacres, of tribal feuding, dynastic strife and civil war. (2001, 12) Martin Ewan, Afghanistan, A Short History of Its People and Politics Since the end of the Cold War, the Afghanistan has witnessed a considerable rise in internal violence. During the 1960s a struggle had developed between Communists and Islamists in Afghanistan.  [1]  After the withdrawal of Soviet troops and subsequent takeover by the Taliban, Afghanistan has been constantly turning into a radically Islamist nation. FOUNDATION OF ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM IN THE AFGHANISTAN The USSRs attempts to consolidate a Communist regime in Afghanistan, first through aid and indirect involvement and later through direct military involvement, were major components in the development of the civil war in Afghanistan which eventually led to the victory of the Mujahidin and the rise of the fundamentalist Islamic regime.  [2]   In 1979, after the invasion had jolted the Muslim world. They realized that they were in no position to conduct a conventional campaign against Soviet Union. Thus a number of Muslim volunteers commenced moving to Pakistan to assist in the jihad. One of the first volunteers to move in to Pakistan was Osama Bin Laden. He said, One day in Afghanistan is like thousand days in a mosque. At first he personally covered the cost of travel of all volunteers to Afghanistan. In early 1980, he set up Masadat Al Ansar, then the main base for Arab mujahedeen in Afghanistan  [3]  . This was the first time a formalized training camp was set up in this country. During this period Sheikh Abd Allah Yussuf Azza, who was the key in establishing the International Legion of Islam- hard core of international terrorism, came in contact with Bin Laden. Together they established the Bait ul Ansar, which received and trained the first Islamist volunteers for Afghanistan. The Afghan Mujahidin waged their struggle against the USSR not only as a national liberation war but as a jihad in which radical Islamic elements from throughout the Muslim world took part and which had the blessing of most Arab and Muslim states  [4]  . However, most of the Mujahidin movements centred around traditional religious leadership based on ethnic and regional considerations, although some of the movements were heterogeneous and included supporters and included supporters and activities from various ethnic groups. The protest movement formed around local political and religious leaders and gradually developed into two main factions.  [5]   The first faction wanted to transform Afghanistan into an Islamic state in the spirit of Islamic law (Shariah). They adopted principals from the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood and advocated jihad against the Communist regime. This stream became known as the fundamentalist stream.  [6]   The second faction wanted to found a regime in the unique tribal tradition of Afghanistan. They also advocated struggle against the Communist regime. A considerable portion of the leaders of this faction came from the ranks of the supporters of King Zahir and inspired to reinstate the monarchy. This stream, which became known as the traditional or moderate stream, felt that the life of the individual should be guided by Islam but community and state problems should be solved in the tribal Afghan way.  [7]   All the major mujahidin parties advocate an Islamic republic as an end goal and are essentially religious. Islam has been the primary ideology and unifying factor among all these parties in the course of the struggle against the Soviet occupation; secular parties have attracted no significant following, especially the left, which was discredited by the communist takeover. Within the spectrum of Islam, however, these parties differ significantly in their makeup and approach. Traditional analysis has divided the seven Sunni parties into four Islamist and three traditional parties  [8]  . (a) Islamist. (i) Hizb- e -Islami (the Islamic Party), led by Gulbuddin Hikmetyar, primarily Pashtun in membership and radical in character. An Islamic fundamentalist-oriented movement advocating the foundation of a central Islamic republic. The organization is a variance and in conflict with the majority of the other Islamic movement. (ii) Hizb- e -Islami (the Islamic Party), led by Younis Khalis, primarily Pashtun in membership (on a tribal basis) and kept the original name even splitting from Gulbuddin Hikmetyars party. A fundamentalist-oriented movement that advocates the foundation of a theocratic republic. (iii) Ittihad-e- Islami (the Islamic Alliance of Afghan Mujahidin), led by Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, mainly Pashtun and radical in character as well as Saudi-oriented. An organization with a conservative ideology that advocates the establishment of an Islamic republic. The organization developed into a body that attempted to unify various Afghan elements located in Pakistan. (iv) Jamaat-e-Islami (the Islamic Movement of Afghanisdtan), led by Burhanuddin Rabbani, with membership mainly drawn from northern Afghanistan (Tajiki extraction) and more moderate in character. An Islamic fundamentalist-oriented movement advocating the foundation of a theocratic republic. (b) Traditionalist. (i) Harakat-e-Inquila Islami (The Islamic Revolutionary Movement), led by Mohammad Nabi Muhammadi, primarily Pashtun in membership and drawing more on traditional clergy. A conservative organization that aligns itself with returning to the prerevolutionary establishment (a relatively moderate organization). (ii) Jabha-ye-Nejat-e-Milli (The National Liberation Front), led by Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, mainly Pashtun in membership and Sufi oriented. A monarchist organization that supports reestablishment of the Pashtun establishment in the pre-revolutionary format. This is a relatively small organization among the Pashtun population. (iii) Mahaz-e-Islami (the Islamic National Front of Afghanistan), led by Pir Sayed Ahmad Gailani, mainly Pashtun and Sufi oriented as well as pro-royalist. A monarchist organization that aligns itself with reinstatement of the monarchy (in the pre-revolutionary format) In addition, there are a variety of Shiite parties as many as ten at present, but with only a few having substantial political clout. Eight of these Shiite parties are religious and oriented toward Iran but are not necessarily firm in their support of the political line of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Two Shiite parties are not affiliated with Iran. Main Shiite organizations are  [9]  :- (a) Shura, led by Sayed Ali Beheshti. The organization advocates establishment of a Hazara autonomy. IT reached its height of power in 1979-1980 but later lost Iranian support to more radical Shiite organizations. (b) Nasser (Victory), led by Mir Hussein Tsadiki. An organization that advocates Hazara separatism. The organization was supported in the early 1980s by the Iranians as a counterbalance to the Shura but gradually became overly independent and lost Irans support. (c) Harkat-e-Islami (Movement of Islami Revolution), led by Mohammed Alsayyaf Muhseini. The organization advocates establishment of an Islamic state. It was supported by Hazara population and the Dari-speaking Shiite populations. (d) The Revolutionary Guards, led by Muhsein Razzai. A Khomeini-Hazara organization that advocates unification with Iran. Since 1984 the organization has massive Iranian support. (e) Hizbullah is a Hazara organization with a Khomeini orientation that advocates unification with Iran. The organization receives substantial support from Iran and maintains cooperative ties with Hizbullah in other countries. AFGHAN FUNDAMENTALISM : ITS ROOT OF LEGITIMACY The Afghan fundamentalist, or Islamist, movement enjoys a powerful base of legitimacy in Afghan politics owing to three key factors as under :- (a) The historic role of Afghanistan as defender of the faith in the Indian subcontinent. (b) The Islamists opposition to communism in Afghanistan in the early 1970s which forced many Afghan leaders to work from Pakistan against communist influence (the 1978 communist coup in Afghanistan overwhelmingly vindicated the Islamists initial fear of communist influence and intentions). (c) The paramount role of Islamist and religious parties in the struggle against Soviet occupation. AFGHANISTAN ROLE OF DEFENDER OF THE FAITH Afghanistan has had a unique and long-established tradition as defender of Islam in the subcontinent  [10]  . In the 19th century, for example, India (including present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh) was under the rule of the British Raj, the Turkish Ottoman Empire controlled vast portion of the Arab world, and Iran was helpless in the face of Russian and British domination but Afghanistan was one of a handful of truly independent Muslim countries in the world. Afghanistan alone had maintained its own independence from foreign control since 1747, and it thus enjoyed respect and recognition throughout the Muslim world. Afghanistans Durrani Empire in the 19th century was actually the second largest Muslim empire in the world at that time, ceding first place only to the Ottomans  [11]  . In the 19th century, Kabul helped foment Islamic political uprisings in India and was itself seen as one of the few places of refuge for those Muslims in British India who felt it was religiously untenable to live in a godless(British-run) state. Kabul also struck several severe blows against British power in the region, most notably by repelling what turned out to be a disastrous invasion of Afghanistan by the British army in 1842.  [12]   THE FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAMIST STRENGTH The strength of the Islamist movement in Afghanistan today rests largely on its military capabilities and on the strength of its political organization. The movement is not, in other words, a popular one, although it does command widespread respect for its role in the liberation of the country from Soviet occupation. It derives particular legitimacy from having provided the ideological spearhead for that struggle, radical Islam, which transcends mere nationalism. The Islamists movement, however, had actively opposed communist coup and takeover began. The movement thus occupies a central place in Afghan politics today. That all Afghan mujahidin parties today have a religious basis was underscored during the anti-Soviet jihad, or holy war a conflict that helped define the Islamic orientation of contemporary Afghan politics. Hence, there is a strong likelihood that the political, removal or fall of Najibullahs Peoples Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) will be followed by the establishment of some type of Islamic republic -one that is committed in some measure to the implementation of Islamic law (the Shari a). Possible Islamic models from which Afghanistan might draw include the Islamic governments of Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The actual character of the new Afghan government, however, could vary considerably, depending in who dominates it and on the nature of specific policies and methods of implementation. Of the seven Sunni mujahidin parties in Afghanistan today, four are fundamentalist-ideological-Islamist in character, and two of these four are radical in their beliefs and operating style. Together, these four parties have the more integral role in the Soviet conflict than have the more traditional parties. Indeed, a key contributor to the Islamists strength has been the large measure of support that the radical Islamist parties have derived from Pakistan by virtue of their military performance and zeal. Such support was bolstered by former Pakistans President Mohammed Zia-ul-Haqq, who found the politics of the Afghan Islamist parties in consonance with his own Islamisation campaign in Pakistan. The Afghan Islamists, for their part, enjoyed the backing of Pakistani religious parties, who in turn were strong pillars of support for Zia. Zia also understood that the ideological orientation of the Islamist parties would largely inhibit them from encouraging Pashtun ethnic separatism in Pakistan an Afghan policy of nearly 30 years standing that had engendered considerable tension between the two countries. Islamists disapprove of narrow ethnic orientation as a basis for the state and instead support broader political groupings based on a common Islamic outlook. The close cooperation between Pakistan and the Afghan mujahidin against Soviet occupation of Afghanistan had one important and immediate consequence: the long standing hostility between Pakistan and Afghanistan has abated considerably. Benazir Bhuttos brief term as Prime Minister following Zias death, despite her more secular policies, did not significantly weaken Pakistans ties with the Afghan mujahidin. Fundamentalist parties in Pakistan will continue to support Afghan fundamentalist groups, regardless of the policies of Islamabad in the future. WILL THE FUNDAMENTALISTS COME TO POWER? Ironically, the removal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan has weakened one of the principal sources of Islamist strength in Afghanistan- for while all mujahidin parties may agree on the desirability of an Islamic government, consensus on power sharing is an entirely different matter. There are in fact deep rifts among the parties, mot only between traditionalists and Islamists but also among Islamists themselves. These divisions, which reflect ideological, regional, and ethnic differences as well as conflicts between personalities, are not likely to be readily resolved in the wake of the Soviet withdrawal. The strength of the Islamist parties rests on other factors as well like as under:- (a) Pakistan and Saudi preferences with respect to the distribution of aid among the mujahidin have served to strengthen the Islamists by providing them with greater opportunity to distribute their financial and military largess and hence to attract a broader following including support among the military commanders. (b) The mujahidins use of Pakistan as a political base of operations a factor that has skewed the true there -way power relationships inside Afghanistan among the parties, their local mujahidin commanders, and the populace at large has worked to the Islamists advantage. WEAKNESSES OF THE ISLAMIST PARTIES While the Islamists are still the single strongest element in Afghanistans political equation today, some of their strength derives from the location of their political base in the Pakistani border city of Peshawar, where Pakistans own political influence over the mujahidin can be maximized. As the struggle moves out of the anti Soviet, anticommunist phase and into a phase of civil war, the influence of the special political climate of Peshawar will diminish, and with it, the influence of Pakistan itself over the struggle. Other factors that may contribute to the possible weakening of Islamist influence are as follows :- (a) The Islamists lack a charismatic national figure like, for example, Irans Ayatollah Khomeini who will serve as a natural leader. (b) If financial support to specific mujahidin parties is severed in pursuit of a political solution in Kabul, it is unclear how much strength the Islamist parties would retain. While the Islamists ideological and organizational strengths remain significant in Peshawar, an internal power struggle inside Afghanistan would present a new set of variables that would affect the ultimate success of one party over another. (c) The Islamist parties are by no means united within themselves. (d) Because tribalism and regional loyalties in Afghanistan were largely subordinated in the decade long effort of all national elements to expel the Soviet Union, a permanently enhanced sense of national unity may now exist. On the other hand, the expulsion of the Soviet enemy may refocus Afghan politics on older and more parochial issues. Tribalism and regionalism are already reasserting themselves, essentially working against the radical Islamist parties. (e) Mujahidin commanders inside the country maintain only tenuous ties with the Peshawar parties. Hence they may not fully share the political views of these parties and may be increasingly inclined to act independently or to pursue their own agendas if alternative sources of aid weaken the party hold. (f) The highly disproportionate representation of ethnic Pashtuns among the refugee population in Pakistan skews our understanding of the political preferences of the broader population as a whole inside Afghanistan especially when Pakistan refugee camps are used as a basis for public opinion findings, press coverage, straw polls, and identification of political attitudes. Current Islamist strength in the Peshawar environment might well weaken once politics shift inside the country. The Islamists are therefore likely to come to power only by military means. The moderate parties in particular are concerned that the most radical Islamist faction, Hizb-e-Islami (the Islamic Party ), led by Gulbuddin Hikmetyar, may attempt to use Leninist tactics to eliminate other mujahidin leaders by assassination in order to secure power a fear that is based more on the personality of Gulbuddin than on the character of his Islamic ideology per se. While such an attempt cannot be ruled out, it is highly unlikely that a minority radical Islamist party attempting to do just that. Any radical Islamic leadership that sought to rule successfully would have to come to terms with the other political and ideological elements within the country. WHAT WOULD A RADICAL ISLAMIST LEADERSHIP MEANS? Any Islamist regime in Afghanistan, were it to come to power, would differ sharply from Irans Islamist regime in many important respects. First, such a regime would be firmly Sunni rather than Shiite in character, suggesting a greater ability to work with elements of secular state power as well as a less apocalyptic, oppression and martyr- oriented outlook. Afghan Islamists, furthermore, lack the depth of hostility toward the United States that has characterized Iranian politics. The Afghan Islamists in fact have almost no formal grievances against any past US role in Afghanistan; to the contrary, however much they may dislike US culture, the Islamists are well aware that the United States played a pivotal role in the anti- Soviet struggle. Afghan political culture as a whole also tends to be far less xenophobic than that of Iran- simply because Afghanistan has never been dominated and manipulated by foreign powers as consistently as was Iran throughout the 19th and early 20th centur ies. Nonetheless, Afghan Islamists share with other Islamist world movements the same concerns over the threat to the Islamic way of life posed by Western and especially American culture. Essentially , the Islamists perceive the United States as representing secularism, permissiveness, hedonism, individualism- all of which they see as deeply corrosive to the establishment of the virtuous Islamic society. Any Islamic Afghan regime will thus oppose such influences inside Afghanistan and will limit Afghan contact with American cultural influences. In addition, any Islamist regime in Kabul will gravitate strongly toward nonalignment and exclusion of Western as well as Soviet influence in the region. Such a regime would therefore oppose a US military presence in the Persian Gulf states, in Pakistan, or anywhere else in the Muslim world. Similarly, it would be likely to support the cause of Islamic minorities in regions such as India and the CAR. As an example, major ethnic elements in Afghanistan, such as Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmen, are heavily represented in the CAR- a phenomenon that the Soviets have attempted to exploit in efforts to draw Afghanistan closer to the USSR. Yet such tactics have not assisted Soviet policy and in fact have likely backfired; ties between ethnic elements of both sides of the Soviet border are more likely to draw these populations closer together, resulting in an effort to diminish Moscows influence and to broaden the options of the Muslim populations of the CAR. Finally, an Islamist Afghan regime will be strongly conscious of Western imperialism and will be a strong advocate of the have-nots in North vs South issues. Despite these positions, however, an Islamist Afghanistan will have limited opportunity or reason to directly attack US interests, since such interests in Afghanistan will be highly limited in their scope. Afghan Islamists would unquestionably support the cause of fundamentalist parties in Pakistan, which could bring them into conflict with US policies there. Unlike pre- 1978 Afghan governments, however, Afghan Islamists are unlikely to support ethnic separatism in Pakistan. An Islamist Afghanistan will share some philosophical interests with Iran, but it would not be likely to cooperate closely with Iran on anything other than broad international Islamic issues. Sunni fundamentalists will in fact resent Irans support of the Afghan Shia, who will represents Irans chief instrument of influence in Afghanistan, and there is likely to be some degree of rivalry between a Sunni and a Shiite Islamic republic. Irans bid for influence in Afghanistan has nonetheless risen dramatically since the end of the Iran- Iraq War, and it perceives itself as a major player in future Afghan politics. Part of Irans goal here is to thwart Saudi interests. EMERGENCE OF TALIBAN Ever since the fall of Najibullah government and withdrawal of Soviet forces, the attempts by Pakistan to form a consensus regime in Kabul had failed. Pakistan also failed to install Hekmatayar govt and Rabbani had his own ambitions showing no inclination to accept Pakistani directions. By early 1994,the Inter Service Intelligence Agency (ISI) realised that the Rabbani regime was slowly consolidating itself in Kabul. This development was against Pakistans overall interests in Afghanistan and forced her to look for an alternative. Maj Gen (Retd) Naseerullah Babar, the Interior Minister in the second Benazir Bhutto Government conceived the idea of creating a students militia along with some veterans from the Afghan Mujahedeen who had fought the Soviet Army and who had taken shelter in Pakistan.  [13]   The infrastructure for launching Taliban was set up by May 1994.  [14]  The word Taliban literally means students of religious schools . The Taliban militia largely comprises students of religious schools (Madrassas) in Baluchistan and NWFP. Initially these Madrassas were set up by Jamait-i-Uiema-lslam (JUI) led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman for the Afghan refugees. Subsequently the Pak ISI took over these institutions and extended training, moral and material support to Taliban. The movement was very well planned to exploit religious sentiments of Islamic countries and Islamic organisations. This also paved way for easy recruitment and funds from international Islamic community. Taliban in Afghanistan is unique in the sense that it is not the product of a national movement like its predecessor, the Mujahidin, which waged a war against the Soviet Union and its Afghan puppets. The Taliban is a force created by the Pakistan with the twin purposes of containing Iran and diluting, and eventually weakening, Russian influence in its former Muslim-majority republic. The implicit aim is to preserve Pakistans influence over Afghanistan as the Taliban is dependent on Pakistan for logistics and military training and on the UAE for funds. Pakistan aimed following major advantages by Pakistan by supporting Taliban are:- (a) Militarily subdue and defeat the Tajik and Uzbek ethnic militias, bring Afghanistan under Taliban rule and thereby secure the Kabul-Salang-Kunduz highway, the major artery leading to Central Asian Republics. (b) Seek diplomatic international recognition for Taliban and orchestrate its future actions in consonance with her own interests. (c) Gain strategic depth vis-a-vis India. (d) Maintain Taliban as an anti India instrument for reigniting the Kashmir insurgency.  [15]  

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Photograph of the Demolition of the Crystal Palace, 1936 Essay

Photograph of the Demolition of the Crystal Palace, 1936 The Crystal Palace designed by Joseph Paxton stood for eighty-five years. It succumbed to fire "at six o'clock on the evening of 30th November 1936" (Beaver, 141). A fire was discovered in the staff lavatory, and within minutes the whole structure was ablaze. The spectacular building was engulfed in fire as it dissolved into just a skeleton of its former structure. Paxton used innovative methods of construction on the Crystal Palace, greatly influenced by the bridge and train shed construction of the day. With the introduction of iron elements, architects could be more creative, and more "modern" with their designs, straying from classical precedents. Paxton, with engineers Fox and Henderson, "created what amounted to a giant greenhouse, which was fabricated of little more then panes of glass and iron-and-wood framework" (Hyman & Trachtenberg, 482). It was predicted that the building would require a staggering amount of new materials: "900,000 square feet of glass," "3,300 iron columns; 2,224 girders; and 205 miles of sashbars" (Hobhouse, 39). The use of standardized, prefabricated materials helped to revolutionize architectural methods, prompting other designers to follow Paxton's lead. The Galerie des Machines and the Eiffel Tower built for the Paris 1889 Fair both implemented the light, airy method of iron construction. The grand exhibition building was constructed out of prefabricated elements that were easily erected and could be disassembled when the exhibition was over. The Crystal Palace was first built in Hyde Park, the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851, where it stood for one year. After the fair, it was decided that the building would be taken down and... ...ew of the sculptures added by Paxton and Cole to decorate the park (Beaver, 146). Thanks to personal photographs and private collections such as that of the University of Maryland we are able to get a glimpse of an architectural and social icon. Works Cited Beaver, Patrick. The Crystal Palace, 1851-1936: a portrait of Victorian enterprise. London, Hugh Evelyn Ltd., 1970. Cowper, Charles. The building erected in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, 1851. London: Victoria and Albert Museum. 1972. Hobhouse, Christopher. 1851 and the Crystal Palace; being an account of the Great Exhibition and its contents; of Sir Joseph Paxton; and the erection, the subsequent history and the destruction of his masterpiece. London, Murray, 1950. Hyman, Isabelle; Trachtenberg, Marvin. Architecture. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. 1986.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Teen Conformity in Sinclair Lewis Babbitt and in Society Today Essay

Teen Conformity in Babbitt and in Society Today      Ã‚   In society today, people feel the need to belong. They feel as though they have to be a part of something in order to feel special. At times, they will go so far as to lose their individuality and submit themselves into complete ignorance just to be able to know that there is someone or something to which they can always fall back on. Conformity is one of the most common and most apparent forms of Babbittry in the twenty - first century. First, the question must be answered: "What is conformity?" The answer, of course, is very simple. Conformity is a person changing their attitude or behavior on their own in order to fulfill certain social norms (Ferguson). Conforming to social norms can mainly be seen in peer pressure with adolescents. "Peer pressure is the influence that people in your age group exert on you." (Kowalski 6). Every day on television, there are advertisements for cars, beauty products, music, and clothes. Peer pressure can also be seen with drug use, types of music, clothes, and the list goes on. People feel as though if they give into these peer pressures, then all of their problems will simply go away. They will no longer be picked on for listening to the wrong music or wearing the wrong clothes. It is certainly much easier than resistance (Ferguson). This of course would result in confrontation and leads to isolation.    The novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis certainly demonstrated the need for an individual to conform to social norms. The main character's son, Theodore Roosevelt Babbitt, or Ted, accurately represents how teenagers conform in order to feel a part of something. Ted often demonstrates the need to be different tha... ...   Ã‚  Ã‚   Current Health, A Weekly Reader Publication Sep. 1999: 6. Lewis, Sinclair. Babbitt. 1922. New York: Signet Classics, 1998. Maxwell, Kimberly A. "Friends: The Role of Peer Influence Across Adolescent Risk Behaviors."   Ã‚  Ã‚   Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aug. 2002: 267 - 311. Rhoads, Kelton. (1997). "What Can Social Influence Do?"   Ã‚  Ã‚   Working Psychology Website. Retrieved November 8, 2002: http://www.workingpsychology.com/whatcan.html Wesley, Valerie W., et al. "Raising Kids Strong; A Guide to Giving Children Values They can Lean On."   Ã‚  Ã‚   Essence Dec. 1989: 73 - 76.    "Who's Cool in School?: Athletes, Cheerleaders on Top; "Dorks" are a Social Flop."  Ã‚   (1996, September 20). University   Ã‚  Ã‚   of Virginia News. Retrieved November 22, 2002:   Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/textonlyarchive/September_1996/nerd.txt Teen Conformity in Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt and in Society Today Essay Teen Conformity in Babbitt and in Society Today      Ã‚   In society today, people feel the need to belong. They feel as though they have to be a part of something in order to feel special. At times, they will go so far as to lose their individuality and submit themselves into complete ignorance just to be able to know that there is someone or something to which they can always fall back on. Conformity is one of the most common and most apparent forms of Babbittry in the twenty - first century. First, the question must be answered: "What is conformity?" The answer, of course, is very simple. Conformity is a person changing their attitude or behavior on their own in order to fulfill certain social norms (Ferguson). Conforming to social norms can mainly be seen in peer pressure with adolescents. "Peer pressure is the influence that people in your age group exert on you." (Kowalski 6). Every day on television, there are advertisements for cars, beauty products, music, and clothes. Peer pressure can also be seen with drug use, types of music, clothes, and the list goes on. People feel as though if they give into these peer pressures, then all of their problems will simply go away. They will no longer be picked on for listening to the wrong music or wearing the wrong clothes. It is certainly much easier than resistance (Ferguson). This of course would result in confrontation and leads to isolation.    The novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis certainly demonstrated the need for an individual to conform to social norms. The main character's son, Theodore Roosevelt Babbitt, or Ted, accurately represents how teenagers conform in order to feel a part of something. Ted often demonstrates the need to be different tha... ...   Ã‚  Ã‚   Current Health, A Weekly Reader Publication Sep. 1999: 6. Lewis, Sinclair. Babbitt. 1922. New York: Signet Classics, 1998. Maxwell, Kimberly A. "Friends: The Role of Peer Influence Across Adolescent Risk Behaviors."   Ã‚  Ã‚   Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aug. 2002: 267 - 311. Rhoads, Kelton. (1997). "What Can Social Influence Do?"   Ã‚  Ã‚   Working Psychology Website. Retrieved November 8, 2002: http://www.workingpsychology.com/whatcan.html Wesley, Valerie W., et al. "Raising Kids Strong; A Guide to Giving Children Values They can Lean On."   Ã‚  Ã‚   Essence Dec. 1989: 73 - 76.    "Who's Cool in School?: Athletes, Cheerleaders on Top; "Dorks" are a Social Flop."  Ã‚   (1996, September 20). University   Ã‚  Ã‚   of Virginia News. Retrieved November 22, 2002:   Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/textonlyarchive/September_1996/nerd.txt

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Reaction to, “My name is Margaret”

This story reminds me of a sad time in our history when the people of this nation thought they could own another human being. I would like to say this time has passed, but we are barely able to hang on. We may have a bi=racial president, but there is still racism among the old south. Margaret was only a child and she was being groomed to be the help. It may have been on different scale verses working in a field, but all the same. She talks about her experience and recalls the events in such a way that you are taken back and can almost see what she is describing. I love the names in the essay, Miss Glory having been named Hallelujah. I felt horrible when Mrs. Cullinan changed her name to suit her friends. I do not even change the names of my animals. If they are named already it seems inhuman to call them by a different name. Mrs. Cullinan wanted to change Margaret to make it shorter, but oh my goodness is that ever degrading. The first time Mrs. Cullinan attempts to call her Mary, Miss Glory asks, â€Å"WHO? †¦ this is funny to me because she is trying to defend Margaret and express as much sympathetic dislike for the name change. Miss Glory even says she felt sorry for Margaret. I liked how Angelou described the old traditions that little ladies were trained in: learning to dance, sit and sip tea, and embroider. It reminds me of spending time to teach my daughters how to perform regular house hold chores and cook. We like to bake together, but soon my nine year old, Elyssa, will be in the kitchen helping with the cooking. I started my son out kind of the same way. He started with how to cook eggs and boil water for ice tea. In this story Margaret is learning how to work and support herself and family for a living. She will be working in the upper class homes for employment and will have to serve a Lady of the House. In this essay, Angelou also speaks of a Mr. Cullinan and his indiscretions, having not one but two children by a â€Å"colored woman. ’’ They are quick to sympathize with Mrs. Cullinan, but still did not excuse her for her mannerisms. She even writes a poem about this, â€Å"pain and loneness. † I would think there would be more understanding, but she is only a child in this story. In the end Mrs. Cullinan did finally agree her name was Margaret and Miss Glory who once felt sorry for Margaret now some what identified with Mrs. Cullinan. Miss Glory must have known before she even asked because she called her Mary. The best part was as Margaret walked out she left the front door open so all would hear the distressed Mrs. Cullinan who married beneath her status.