Comparison Of Beowulf And Street Gangs Essays - Geats, Beowulf

Comparison Of Beowulf And Street Gangs Essays - Geats, Beowulf Comparison Of Beowulf And Street Gangs We often think of the Old English time as an era filled with mighty pagan warriors gathered in a dark wooden room, drinking ale to celebrate their victory in a brutish bloody battle. Or maybe we picture brawny Vikings with dirty faces wearing animal skins while sailing in large wooden ships. You may even imagine the crude but lovable Hagar the Horrible from the popular comic strip. Regardless to which of these views you take, we always think of the Old English as a time far in the past. Even though we may not notice, the strong brutal men of this past era infiltrate our everyday lives. These barbaric warriors are found in our society as street gangs. Although they have different appearances, weapons, and transportation, these two civilizations conduct their lives in the same way. Street gangs are so prevalent that they are all over the media, appearing in films, music, and television. Although street gangsters and pagan warriors lived at very different times, both groups embody the same ideals: strength, violence, and loyalty to their group. In the Old English epic, Beowulf, the pagan warriors were proud of their physical strength and abilities. Beowulf himself was well-known for his great strength and prowess. These warriors were large men with great muscular power who won many battles with brute force. Many battles were fought with manual weapons, such as clubs or swords, that required great power from the arms. The strongest men, such as Beowulf, were the ones that were the subject of stories told in many lands. Similar to this, street gangsters are also quite proud of their strength and abilities. But their strength does not primarily come from physical attributes. Their strength is measured by the amount of weapons, money, and power they hold. The strongest man is not the one with the biggest muscles. He is the one with the most guns and the most influence over other gang members. Whereas Beowulf has remained a legend for years now, gang leaders come and go in a matter of months. Just as Beowulf longed to be a legend, street gangs also strive for that same notoriety, wanting to be well-known in many places. In Beowulf's time, most warriors were quite violent. They often engaged in battles with enemies until death, or with opponents until the end of the match. The pagan warriors are remembered as brutal, killing those necessary to protect their village or steal another's. They were also known to use violence to obtain riches or ships from other warriors. Similar to pirates, they used brute force to take what they wanted. Street gangs also use such violence. Whether it be to protect their property or members, or to steal from others, gangsters use various weapons to obtain what they want. Just as pagan warriors fought battles with rival villages, street gangs also engage in battles with rival gangs or sometimes with police. Gang violence can vary from street fights to drive-by shootings, often involving innocent victims. This horrible violence is evident in the media. It varies from gansta rap such as 2Pac or Dr. Dre, to movies such as New Jack City or Juice, and can even be seen in such TV shows as New York Undercover and NYPD Blue. A less obvious example of gangs is in the new version of Romeo and Juliet. In this rendition of the old Shakespeare classic, the Capulets and Montagues are no longer just rival families, but now rival gangs who engage in tremendous violence against each other to keep the two lovers apart. But gang violence is also felt quite close to home. The guard for NC State's basketball team, Anthony Grundy, experienced gang- related violence, causing him to carry a gun to his high school in Louisville. Both gangs and pagan warriors found violence necessary to maintain individual and group status. A third similarity between these two societies is their loyalty to their groups. Beowulf fought for his kingdom and his fellow warriors. They were a group, a family of sorts, that stuck together for support, enjoyment, and love. Gangs also stick together for these reasons. Beowulf's loyalty ran so deep that he put his life on the line for his king many times, and eventually died for his kingdom. Similarly, gangsters are extremely loyal to their gangs and leaders. They remain members for life and are willing to sacrifice their lives for their fellow members. An example of this bond is

The Crucible & Era Evaluation essays

The Crucible & Era Evaluation essays In 1953, a man by the name of Arthur Miller wrote a play not only as a historical allusion, but more specifically a piece based on criticism and comparison. The Crucible it was named. Miller, by implying the Salem witch trials was similar to that of the actions by Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy, created a critical work of art that, as a side effect, threw Miller in the McCarthy line-of-fire. It is important to note this wasnt a straight historical play and was never intended to be, although Miller did use historical figures and places. September 1662, the theocratic town of Salem experienced a very different way of life while certain members of the community were selected and prosecuted for accusations and suspicions. The indictment was the case of witchcraft. 19 men and women were brutally interrogated, possessions were seized, and everything was used against them in court. There was no way out. Confession meant a life of rejection by the town. Sticking to the truth and believing the Devil didnt affect actions of the citizens meant death by hanging at Gallows Hill. Among these killed, hundreds of others faced accusations of witchcraft and were immediately jailed without trial. The established court ruined many innocent people and destroyed their names simply because of a scare brought about by a deceitful Salem citizen. Jump ahead approximately 290 years to the 1950s. American senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin has gained recognition and power for his hate for communism in the country and realized the potential destruction of Americas capitalistic ideals. He stated he had suspicions of 205 card-carrying communists within the Country who have already infiltrated the state departments carrying out anti-American activities. Among the 205 accused, a range from common, everyday people to Hollywood actors like Chaplin were accused of being Communist members. Lives were shot down ...

Aesthetic experience of Shakespeare in Script and Performance Essay

Aesthetic experience of Shakespeare in Script and Performance - Essay Example They resonate with the current lifestyle being practiced today. Today, they have continued to be read and acted on stages and produced as films. The paper will address the different modes that Shakespeare work has been presented to the audience and its impact on them. The effect of Shakespeare works depends on the person who is watching or reading his works. Different people understand authors work differently. While some may want to know the real words spoken, others want to see the real interaction between the characters. Shakespeare works have been presented through books, films, plays, and audio. Their effect varies. Some experts believe active plays are more effective while others are of the opinion that reading his works helps the reader get into Shakespeare’s mind. They believe the reader can create their visual image similar to what Shakespeare intended. Whatever the reason, Shakespeare’s works are of significant influence in whatever form they are presented. A script refers to the written text that guides a play and the characters that are in it. It is often written in such a way that any person can take the writings and act them out without much directing. It is understandable and adequately described to form a visual of how and what should be done in any particular scene. On the other hand, a play is a written dialog between characters that is intended for performance rather than for reading. It is staged and dramatized and may change form according to what the director sees fit. Therefore, a script is written while a play is a dramatization of the script. The depiction of emotion varies between a script and a play. In â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†, the classical tragedy love story, the dramatic scene of Romeo and Juliet’s deaths is the captivating and climax of the play. In a script, the reader reads and understands the emotions that are involved in the scene. However, they do not

Probation Client Needs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Probation Client Needs - Assignment Example This program’s aims are to reduce the drug use and drug dependency of female inmates on parole and probation. It is a holistic program that also includes skills training as well as family and other types of counseling as well as recreational and social activities (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (b), 2013). Another similar program is also in use in California for the men and this one also aims at reducing the recidivism rates among the male inhabitants that have been paroled from Californian correctional facilities (Study evaluates substance abuse in probation, parole admissions (a), 2011). This has also had a positive influence in reducing the rates of return to custody of male inmates especially those on probation and released early on parole (Hinkle, 2008). Another program is the Dallas County Judicial Treatment Center implemented in Dallas Texas, a residential substance abuse program specifically aimed at those on probation. It aims to reduce the prison overcrowding in the Texas correctional system. It not only includes modern therapeutic substance abuse treatments utilizing the 12-step method but also includes life-skills training, drug education as well as counseling (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal Justice System, 2005). These programs have all in addition to reducing the costs of running prisons and alleviating the overcrowding problem in these facilities, also resulted in better results for the offenders, corrections system and the communities in which they are located. 2. These programs have all got as a major strength the fact they have taken a more holistic view of the problems of offenders with substance abuse histories. They also look at other... This essay discusses the parole and probation clients who go into substance abuse programs have shown improvement in more ways than those who do not go through those programs or those who only undergo custodial sentences. The major improvement has been in the area of personal rehabilitation. Criminal behavior brought on by substance abuse can only be reduced if the root cause of the behavior, the substance abuse, is dealt with as only punishing the offender results in him or her returning to the substance abuse on completion of the sentence. Furthermore, if the other usually connected causes of the behavior and substance abuse, such as lack of a job, lack of job skills, lack of housing and a community where drugs are easily available are not tackled at the same time, the offender actually ends up building tolerance and making the substance abuse problem even more serious. All over the US programs that are addressing these root cause of drug-related criminal behavior are producing bet ter results in the rehabilitation of inmates. In conclusion, a program that looks at the needs of the offenders in a more holistic and realistic way stands a better chance of success. Studies have also shown that offender rehabilitation programs that not only include the right kind of treatment for those with substance abuse issues, coupled with the most appropriate community based programs are the most successful when it comes to enabling the criminal justice system impart both punishment and rehabilitation to those convicted of crimes.

Understanding Slavery Essay Example for Free

Understanding Slavery Essay A poignantly moving tale of a woman’s courage and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl undoubtedly serves as an inspiration for those who endeavor to rise beyond their initial station in life on the way to achieving one’s dreams. Though the author claims it to be a historical account, it could easily pass off for a work of fiction in the tradition of the historical novel – a romanticizing American life and history with its tale of noble suffering, heroic daring and unwavering zeal. Perhaps more significantly, its merit lies in offering the reader the painful truth of the slave experience through the eyes of an African-American slave girl. As Jacobs narrates, she was born a slave but she never knew it until six years of happy childhood had passed away (Jacobs, p. 1). Though they were all slaves in the family, she was so fondly shielded from that fact and they appear to have lived normal lives that she never dreamed she was â€Å"a piece of merchandise trusted to them for safe keeping, and liable to be demanded of them at any moment† (Jacobs, p. 1). That is, until her mother died and her life took a turn for the worse, experiencing first hand what it meant to be a slave in those days. Because of the way she was raised, it would appear that Linda Brent is exceptional for a woman of her social stature. Having received the rudiments of a basic education at the hands of her family’s original owners, she is clear thinking and possesses a keen intellect. Not surprisingly, she was able to transcend the limitations of race, class and gender and grasp the reality that women, regardless of color, race and stature, share the common experience of victimization at the hands of a male-dominated, patriarchal society. Moreover, by virtue of the loving relationships she had established early on with her family and immediate community, she is quite capable of empathy. Her initial understanding of the nature of slavery, though nonetheless negative, did not prevent her from maintaining a positive outlook towards life, notwithstanding her position in the social hierarchy. This however has been severely challenged throughout the years of her ordeal. Due to the many betrayals she had experienced in her lifetime, she learns to distrust people, and even though this is gradually tempered by the formation of positive relationships, she retains her hesitant, guarded approach to life. The book’s main strength lies in its rich narratives, the vivid portrayal of the female slave experience, and its use of the female point of view in the narration of her tale. In terms of limitations, the book would have problems in its illustration of the slave experience as representative of the larger Africa-America black community. Linda Brent and her family could be considered among the lucky few fate seemed to have favored among the millions more of their kind, who, though some might have endeavored to attain their freedom were faced with more dire, less relenting circumstances which made freedom remain a dream for them. A cursory glance at historical accounts of slavery would reveal that many have attempted to escape from their masters, with a considerable number dying in the attempt. In Jacobs’ particular tale, the experience of women in bondage is illuminated. Yet more than a narration of physical infliction of pain, torture and misery – the often-told tale of American slavery – what is striking is how she makes the reader comprehend that the most devastating blow endured and inflicted upon female slaves is that of the continuing existence of a system recognizing, even illicitly sanctioning concubinage and licentiousness among white males, the double standard of the times which make it doubly hard for women, most especially slaves, to live a decent, dignified existence wherein they could realize their true worth as individuals. For the slaves in America’s colonial past, every day was deplorable. Suffering in its various forms – physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual – was common-day fare subject to the wiles and dispositions of their masters. For both men and women, manual labor, e. g. working the fields in the plantations of the South, was a large component of the day. As Jacobs (p. 12) illustrates: â€Å"On a farm, they work until the corn and cotton are laid. They then have two holidays. Some masters give them a good dinner under the trees. This over, they work until Christmas Eve. If no heavy charges are meantime brought against them, they are given four or five holidays, whichever the master or overseer may think proper. † For the women, this was often aggravated by (more often than not) unwarranted sexual advances, if not from their masters, the other male members of the household, or among fellow slaves. New Year’s Day was a terribly appalling affair, for hiring day at the South took place every first of January. To the slave mother, New Years Day comes laden with peculiar sorrows: â€Å"She sits on her cold cabin floor, watching the children who may all be torn from her the next morning; and often does she wish that she and they might die before the day dawns. She may be an ignorant creature, degraded by the system that has brutalized her from childhood; but she has a mothers instincts, and is capable of feeling a mothers agonies† (Jacobs, p. 13). Children born as slaves were sold off at the auction block, for they belonged to their master just as their parents did, for him to do with as he pleases. For is that not the nature of property? Slaves were treated as such, not regarded as human beings, but rather little more than animals to be set to labor upon the fields, to assist in the keeping of the household, to run errands and perform manual labor deemed unworthy of the white master’s unsoiled hands. Those same white hands were quick with the whip for every transgression committed by an erring slave, and a mouth which reserved the foulest of words to further degrade the slave and instill in his/her consciousness his/her lack of worth, how inferior and far beneath their master they were. The ensuing slave consciousness formed from this inhuman treatment, nourished throughout a life of bondage and suffering, is bitter and bleak, their minds ignorant and uncultured, deprived of the conditions which give human existence its dignity, the individual his self-worth (Fowler and Fowler, p. 2). Yet in this condition of bondage, in their shared experience of misery, pain and wretchedness, they became increasingly aware of their sorry plight, and learned to yearn for freedom (Genovese, p. 114). The first stirrings of rebelliousness began to beat in their hearts yearning for a life free from bondage and servitude. In this shared experience, the slave community developed a culture distinctly its own, reverberating with the influence of their African origins infused with their newfound material conditions in American soil. It is the experience of a particular slave girl by the name of Linda Brent which we shall explore in detail. Jacobs’ work, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, utilizes the literary form of the slave narrative, a form of autobiography with a unique structure and distinctive themes tracing the narrator’s path form slavery to freedom. It traces the narrator’s journey from poverty to freedom as her determination to overcome societal and self-imposed limitations leads her on to prevail despite her harrowing circumstances. It is quite a moving and inspiring tale, and the author succeeds in painting a deft picture of the real-life suffering of men and women in bondage who were born, raised and died as slaves at the hands of their masters in the sprawling plantations of the South. Though the slave narrative is recognized as a powerful literary form with obvious merits as a tool for anti-slavery and human rights causes as it compellingly illustrates how individuals could rise above the depths of their despair and overcome seemingly impossible odds, it too has its flaws as a resource for fully understanding the complex institution of slavery. At one point, it perpetuates the myth that individuals can overcome established social structures and societal features disadvantageous to marginalized groups, e. g. racism against colored peoples, through sheer determination, will power, a never-say-die attitude, and a perpetually rosy outlook in life that things could only get better. In actual truth, for most slaves the matter of winning one’s freedom is a whole lot more complicated than what most narratives seem to suggest in their â€Å"success stories. † The abolition of slavery was not simply a case of dissolving a centuries-old institution due to the influence of writers who decided to go public with their personal accounts of the evils of slavery. In a way, the slave narrative is deceptive in its promise of deliverance (giving a sense of false hope) to blacks while reinforcing the notions of a superiority complex of whites over other colored peoples as they could always say that those who fail to break down society’s barriers, e. g. racial boundaries and the gap between rich and poor, to achieve success have only themselves to blame for their failures. It thus becomes a case of â€Å"If others can’t do it, why can’t I? † Yet the situation is inherently more complex than this. In analyzing slavery one has to consider the larger macro factors – economics, political institutions, cultural norms, ideology, etc. – as shaping the micro ones. That is, in the case of the slave narrative one needs to situate the personal accounts in the larger social context of the period, the interplay between the personal and the historical, personal troubles and public issues, the intertwining of biography and history. Moreover, one could also apply a feminist reading in Jacobs’ text for as Linda laments the birth of her daughter Ellen, she remarks how â€Å"†¦slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women† (Jacobs, p. ). Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl illustrates how slavery proved to be a more wretched state for women who had to endure the same dehumanizing cruelty and brutality inflicted on men, as well as the torment of sexual abuse at the hands of their male masters and the anguish of being taken away from their children. Their pain and degradation were further compounded as they suffered being used as vessels of lust for their masters, breeding bastards to add to their master’s stock but denied a mother’s right to care for her children. The children born from such unions, Linda chillingly points out, was more often than not sold to protect the honor of the slave owner’s wife faced with the undeniable living testimony to her husband’s lust. Addressing the issue of human bondage from a woman’s perspective, Jacobs attempts to get through to her readers, particularly the women of the Northern states, to make them aware of their responsibility to make their voices heard in protesting against slavery for their silence would be in support of the perpetuation of slavery as an institution. Her tale emphasizes the struggle of a particular woman (herself) to protect her family, in the process learning to fight for her freedom to be an independent individual in control of her own life, and enticing her own family and community to join in the struggle for the emancipation and liberation of slaves. All said, in its own way Jacobs’ work has significantly contributed to the success of the movement to abolish slavery in the United States of America, and for that her efforts have been well-rewarded with the renewed scholarly interest in her work. Works Cited Andrews, William L. Classic African American Women’s Narratives. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2003. Bell, Ella Louise. Myths, Stereotypes and Realities of Black Women. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Vol. 40, No. 2, 146-159, 2004. Fowler, Lois J. and David H. Fowler, eds. Revelations of Self: American Women in Autobiography. New York: SUNY Press. Gates, Henry Louis Jr. The Classic Slave Narratives. Signet Classic, 2003. Genovese, Eugee. Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made. New York: Pantheon Press, 1974. Gronniosaw, James Albert, Olaudah Equiano, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, William W. Brown, Henry Bibb, Sojourner Truth, William and Ellen Craft, Harriet A. Jacobs and Jacob Green. Slave Narratives. Library of America, 2002. Jacobs, Harriet Ann. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1988. Mccaskill, Barbara. â€Å"Yours very truly: Ellen Craft – the fugitive as Text and Artifact. † African American Review, Vol. 28, 1994. Randle, Gloria T. â€Å"Between the Rock and the Hard Place: Mediating spaces in Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. † African America Review, Vol. 33, 1999. Yetman, Norman R. ed. Voices from Slavery: 100 Authentic Slave Narratives. Courier Dover Publications

International Warfare Essay -- American History Essays

International Warfare International warfare has always been a topic of debate and that debate increased greatly throughout the 1990s. The conduct of individual states, previously regarded as an exclusively domestic matter, is now of international concern. That international concern has spread to encompass several areas within the domain of international warfare, from the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to the Genocide Convention to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. It is this last treaty that has been the subject of much international attention in the last few years. That attention was generated through a multitude of causes including: the joint awarding of the 1997 Nobel Peace Price to Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines; the involvement of the late Princess Diana with the cause; the awareness efforts of organizations such as Amnesty International to publicize the effects of mines; and , last but not least, the drafting and signing into effect of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. The resulting media coverage and public awareness has resulted in increased initiatives to ban land mines and public outcry over the effect of landmines on affected areas. It is those effects and initiatives that provide the motivation for the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Landmines and on their Destruction and some of the controversy surrounding it. According to the Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University, eighty nations and territories thro... ... mines are impressive and the educational initiatives helpful, but the realities remain. The United States needed to provide an example back in 1997 of how a country maintains a humanitarian focus while refining the rules of war. Instead, the United States hid behind President Clinton’s pleas on the behalf of American troops and the limited aid efforts it provided. 2002 places the United States at a precipice and the time to choose is now. Currently engaged in a war without an end in sight, the United States is focused on the now and the methods of warfare. Reform efforts are far from the top of the list, but they should be right up there. There is no better time to send the message that although America is pursuing victory at what seems all costs, the U.S. still realizes that â€Å"at all costs† is not just for now but that the effects reach far into the future.

“Immigrant” becomes dirtiest word as Americans are told to speak English

A recent article from the Independent Newspaper's correspondent in New York brings to our attention â€Å"the current mood of xenophobia† in the USA. After approximately two centuries of welcoming immigrants from around the world, it would seem that the Americans have begun to mistrust and to some extent, even fear the very people that have historically given them such a dynamic and diverse country, namely, foreign immigrants. There are several reasons for this recent shift in perspective, two of which are, recent terrorist attacks on American servicemen in Saudi Arabia and an explosion on an American airline flight, that foreign terrorists caused some people suspect. Historian, Arthur Schlesinger has spoken on â€Å"the tribalization of American life† and appears to be suggesting that the different ethnic groups in America are arranging themselves into their own groups and not crossing ethnic boundaries. One symptom of this seems to be the gang culture that exists, where each gang is alleged to be made up from members of the same ethnic group. A key factor in this is language, generally people who only speak one language find it difficult to mix with other ethnic groups or cultures, or indeed find it difficult to understand other cultures viewpoint. As a result of all of these difficulties, the government has introduced a bill called â€Å"The English Language Empowerment Act† the main purpose of which is to make English the official language of America. It is perceived by Republicans, that this Act will encourage immigrants to learn English, as it will be difficult, if not impossible for them to understand federal documents that are written in English. The Act has already been criticised for infringing on American's right to free speech and making it difficult for non-English speaking Americans to receive or even understand information or ideas. It is a safe assumption to make, that if people can't speak English, then they will be unable to understand written English. This argument would seem to carry a significant amount of weight. People have put forward the argument that this Act is connected with attitudes towards Immigrants. This argument seems to be borne out by the fact that there is nothing in the Act that will help to actually teach people how to speak or read English, rather it seems to punish those who can't by denying them access to written information. It has also been pointed out by opponents to the Act, that ninety seven percent of Americans speak English already and a very small proportion of government documents (around one percent,) are actually written in a foreign language. Some people looking at these statistics, would argue that there is no need for this Act, unless it were to force people into becoming â€Å"more American† and punishing those who preferred to stick to their own language and culture. This argument seems to be borne out further by another piece of Republican proposed legislation, the welfare reform Bill. One provision of this Bill would be that, immigrants who are in America quite legally, but are not yet citizens, would not be eligible for state welfare benefits, yet another form of â€Å"immigrant bashing† some might say. Hot button as mentioned in the article; a controversial thing of the moment, it is a happening now situation. Enduring canard, a lasting ongoing issue, to accept with a certain amount of tolerance regarding political correctness, in this case a probability that it has come about in the course of sensationalism and cock-and-bull story of this report in America's newspapers. Polyglot America Speaking, reading and writing many different languages, in this case America.

Sociology – Nature Versus Nurture

The roles of nature (what we genetically inherit) and or nurture (what we learn) in making us what we are have long been argued. The idea that humans are determined by these two influences dates back to the ancient Greek philosopher Protagorus who in the fifth century BC compared physics (nature) and nomos (tradition). It is however difficult to unravel the separate influences of nature and nurture. If the children of musically talented parents are themselves musically talent, is it because of genetic inheritance (nature) or because of a musical environment at home where they grow up(nurture)? The nature versus nurture debate concentrates on the question of how far our behavior is determined by nature at birth or by nurture after birth. In seventeenth century philosopher John Locke claimed that the mind of a child was like a Tabula Rasa (blank slate). People became what they were taught to be. By the second half of nineteenth century many social scientists started to argue that human behavior is determined by nature. Charles Darwin’s theory came up with the idea that humans and other animals have descended ultimately from the same ancestors.  Read also  Sociology and Social Integration. Animals are governed by instincts (fixed traits that are inherited and shared by all members of a species). These inherited mechanisms enable members of the species to perform complex tasks. For example twice a year the New Zealand cuckoo travel 4000 miles between New Zealand and Islands off the coast of New Guinea. The adults’ leave New Zealand before their eggs are hatched. The young cuckoos later on travel 4000 miles and join their par4ents-without ever having made the journey and with no one to guide them. Experiments have indicated that other birds also seem to have some inborn sense that guides their migration. Because animals are governed by instincts and human are also animals, some scholars reasoned that human behavior must also be governed by instincts. As a result many social scientists searched for the supposed instants that would explain all kinds of human behavior when they saw a mother feeding her baby they attributed it to the maternal instinct, when they were asked to explain war, they explained it was the aggressive instinct. They eventually discovered more that 14000 instincts, ranging from laughing instinct to a religious instinct. But these ideas of instinct have many short comings. Firstly the concept of instinct was tautological. (i. e. the explanation was true by definition. The instinct that was discovered was just another name for what was to be explained. For example the aggressive instinct was just another way of saying that they engage in warfare, in the same way that high temperature is another way of saying hot weather. Secondary the same instinct was used to explain contradictory actions for example the acquisitive instinct was used to explain both hard honest work and bank robbery. Thirdly, instincts are supposed to be in all human but human behavior around the world varies greatly. For example Arapesh of New Guinea or the Tasaday of Philippines do not have aggressive, nature in their behavior, if human have self preservative instinct then they would not have committed suicides. In 1969, An American psychologist Jensen claimed that only to percent of the variation between peoples intelligence is due to their social environment while 80 percent is fixed from birth by genetic inheritance. Another American psychologist, Professor Thomas Bouchard of Minnesota University carried out an experiment on Jim Twins which also help to argue that human behavior is determined more bye nature than by nurture. For example, James Lewis and James Springer were identical twins who were separated in the first year of life and brought up separately. He discovered an amazing number of coincidences about Jim Twins: †¢ Both had married women called Linda. †¢ Both had been divorced and had then married women called Betty. †¢ One of them had named his son James Allan and the other as James Alan. †¢ Both had had a dog called Toy †¢ Both had spent these holidays on the same beach in Florida. †¢ Both drove a blue Chevrolet. †¢ Both built white benches round the trunk of a tree in their gardens. †¢ Both had a habit of biting their fingernails. Both were chain smokers of same brand of cigarettes †¢ Their temperaments, voice patterns and nervous habits were also similar. Thus the case of Jim Twins might lead us towards the idea that nature determines our human behavior. Sociobiology (the systematic study of the biological basis of all social behavior) was devel oped by E. O. Wilson in 1980 s. According to sociobiology’s human behavior is determined naturally just like animal behavior. According to sociobiologist Steven Gavlin and Alice Schlegel (1980) individuals act in order to maximize their genes in future generations. Thus the tendency of man to have sexual relationship with beautiful women is to maximize his genes. Similarly behavior of both men and women is thus guided by genetic factors. These above mentioned evidences shows that human behavior is determined by nature or genetic influences. Our race (color of the skin and other bodily features (sex, certain diseases, flood groups, are no doubt inherited. Human beings are directly influenced by nature. For example, hunger, thirst, physical fatigue, gradual but in exorable degeneration human body all constrain our human life, shaping what we can do and can be. For example vigorous physical exercise is beyond the capacities of virtually all 70 year olds. Similarly we are still subject to and contained by ecological or climatic conditions. Human communities, no matter how advanced or developed are powerless in the face of elemental forces of earthquakes hurricanes or snowfall. On the other hand, as the twentieth century began, the concept of instinct lost its strength. The idea that human behavior is determined by nurture or learning began to gain favor. For example Russian Psychologist Ivan Pavlov had shown that human beings like dogs can be trained or conditioned. American psychologist John Watson extended Pavlov’s experiment on dogs to human infants. For example Watson could make a little boy called Albert afraid of a white rat that had previously delighted him. He concluded that all emotions, and behaviors are learned through such associations and social environment make us who we are. He further added that learning by itself determines human personality. Although social scientists accepted the influence of biological factors they considered nurture to be more influence than heredity. Even the habits that seem very basic and essential to human nature also appear to depend on nurture i. . socialization. Evidence of the far reaching significance of socialization comes both from case studies of children who are deprived from socialization and those rose in the mild. Since the fourteenth century there have been mor4e than 50 recorded cases of feral children (children supposedly raised by animals) one of the most famous is mild boy of Avey ron-Victor. In 1979 he was captured in the woods by hunter in Southern France. He was about 11, completely naked, ran on all fours, could not speak, speechless, preferred uncooked food, could not do most of the simple things done by young children. Jean Itard a physician ried to train the boy. After 3 months he seemed little more human. He more clothes learned to sit at a table, and eat wit6h utensils. He started to show human emotions such as joy, gratitude and remorse. He lived for about 40 years but he never learned to speak nor ever become a normal person. Similarly in one orphanage Spit found that infants who were about 18 months old were left lying on their backs in small cubical most of the day without any human contact. Within a year all had become physically mentally, emotionally and socially retarded. Two years later more than a third of the children had died. Those who survived could not speak, they could not walk, they could not dress up and they could not use spoon. This shows that children who received little attention/socialization suffered very noticeable effects. Various cases of unsocialized children also indicate that human behavior is something that has to be learned. Humans do not simply become able to do all things instinctually. For example Anna, from Pennsylvania, USA was an illegitimate child. Anna was kept hidden from the public in the attic. She was just fed enough to keep her alive, she was neither touched nor bathed, and she simply lay still in her own filth. She was discovered in 1938 at the age of six. She looked like a skeleton. She was couldn’t talk nor walk. She did nothing but lay quietly in the ground her eyes vacant and expressionless. She was attempted to socialize. Eventually she could walk, feed herself. Brush her teeth and follow simple directions. But she never learned to speak and was far from normal. Isabella was also an illegitimate child. She was founding Ohio, USA in 1938 at the age 6. Her grandfather had kept her and her deaf-mute mother secluded in a dark room. She could however interact with mother. When discovered however she showed great fear and hostility towards people and made a strange croaking sound, when examined she was found to be feebleminded and uneducable, she was put on a systematic skillful training, after a slow start she began to talk. In nine months she could read and write within two years she was attending school, she had become a very bright cheerful and energetic girl. All these examples clearly show that human behavior is not some thing which is fixed at birth and which unfolds step by step naturally. Human behavior has to be learned therefore social environment actually determines human behavior. Sociologists use the following evidence to support the claim that human behavior is socially determined. Jack Yufe and Oscar Stohr are identical twins born in 1932. They were separated as babies after their parents divorced. Oscar was reared in Czechoslovakia by his mothers and Jack was reared in Trinidad by his father, social scientists at the University of Minnesota Observed them but this time they found many differences between the two twins:-

“Volcanic and Seismic Events Are Major Pieces of Evidence Towards Proving That the Plate Tectonic Theory Is Valid” Discuss the Extent to Which You Agree with This Statement (40). Essays

â€Å"Volcanic and Seismic Events Are Major Pieces of Evidence Towards Proving That the Plate Tectonic Theory Is Valid† Discuss the Extent to Which You Agree with This Statement (40). Essays â€Å"Volcanic and Seismic Events Are Major Pieces of Evidence Towards Proving That the Plate Tectonic Theory Is Valid† Discuss the Extent to Which You Agree with This Statement (40). Essay â€Å"Volcanic and Seismic Events Are Major Pieces of Evidence Towards Proving That the Plate Tectonic Theory Is Valid† Discuss the Extent to Which You Agree with This Statement (40). Essay â€Å"Volcanic and seismic events are major pieces of evidence towards proving that the plate tectonic theory is valid† Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement (40). The theory of plate tectonics explains the structure and motion of the Earth’s lithosphere. The theory states that the Earth’s crust is split into large sections called tectonic plates, and these move relative to one another creating boundaries at which the plates converge, diverge or move past each other. These plates are either continental or oceanic and are powered by convection currents, which is the circular movement of magma that comes from within the mantle. These currents are powered by the core, which heats the magma, causing it to rise, cool and fall back down. This circular motion causes the plates, which float on the mantle, to move. In 1912, Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist, was the first man to state that the continents were once joined in a super continent called Pangaea, conversely he couldn’t explain why and what happened to cause the plates to move apart. He based his theory on the extraordinary fit of the South American and African continent coastlines. Notably the eastern edge of South America and the western edge of Africa showed very similar geological features suggesting that at some point in the Earth’s history the landmasses were joined together. Another indicator that the continents were once distributed differently was geological evidence of glaciations in India – it is unlikely that glaciers could ever reach such low latitudes, but this problem can easily be explained by the theory of continental drift. Fossil distribution also provided some of the earliest evidence for plate tectonics. Interestingly, plant and animal fossils were found on the matching coastlines of South America and Africa. These are now widely separated by the Atlantic Ocean, therefore he reasoned that is physically impossible for most of these organisms to have swum or have been transported across the wide oceans. From this he suggested that the plates were once connected. Unfortunately, at the time of Wegner’s work many of the geophysical tools that are used today did not exist making the theory much more difficult to support. Since the original theory in 1912, newer evidence has appeared which supports the theory. In 1962 Hess studied the age of rocks around the mid-Atlantic ridge. He discovered that the newest rocks were closest to the ridge and the oldest were towards the USA and Caribbean. He therefore reasoned that the earth’s crust was expanding along the oceanic ridges, so it must be shrinking elsewhere. According to Hess, the Atlantic Ocean was expanding while the Pacific Ocean was shrinking. The old oceanic crust was consumed in the trenches causing new magma to rise and erupt along the spreading ridges to form a new crust. He explained why the earth doesn’t get bigger with sea floor spreading and why there is so little sediment accumulation on the ocean floor, and why oceanic rocks are so much younger than continental ones. Paleomagnetism is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for plate tectonic theory and was developed to convince scientists of the theories validity. Basalt lava forms volcanoes when it rises to the surface, cools and then forms land. When new crust is formed certain minerals align themselves with the Earth’s magnetic field. Fascinatingly, new technology has shown that the magnetic field of the Earth is known to reverse every few hundred thousand years. So this implies new material is constantly being produced and the sea floor is spreading. However, as the Earth is not changing in size, material is being destroyed in other areas which are called subduction zones, and the position of the Earth’s crust must be constantly changing. Seismic activity can also tell us a great deal about plate tectonics. Plotting the locations of large earthquakes allows us to see where they most frequently occur. Earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. The plates move past each other which causes friction causing pressure to build up resulting in sudden jolts. This only happens on plate boundaries meaning areas that lie on them experience the most intense earthquakes. The fact that earthquakes appear in connected lines as opposed to clusters is good evidence for the theory of global plate tectonics. Volcanic events are also useful as they provide good evidence for the theory of plate tectonics. Similarly to earthquakes, plotting the locations of active volcanoes on a map of the world will also be useful as it will show a similar pattern. The three main places where volcanoes are created are at subduction zones, constructive plate boundaries and in hotspots, with around 75% of the world’s volcanoes being located on the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. The area where two plates converge is called a subduction zone, here one plate is pushed underneath the other due to differing in density. This results in magma rising up to form volcanoes or volcanic island arcs. At constructive plate boundaries, new material is created by magma rising through the crack. The fact that volcanoes in certain areas have different types of eruption provides good evidence for plate tectonic theory. All the above reasons suggest that the theory is valid. However, there are some anomalies which go against the theory. Not all volcanoes occur on plate boundaries, some occur on hotspots which are areas where the mantle is particularly hot, causing it to rise and create volcanoes on the crust above. This suggests that plate tectonics theory may not be valid as volcanoes can exist without the theory being correct. Hawaii is a notable example of an active hotspot – the islands are volcanic yet lie in the middle of the Pacific plate. It is part of a chain of extinct volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean which decrease in both age and size as you move north-west. Since the hotspot is created by the underlying mantle this suggests that the crust is moving over this hotspot meaning the volcanoes eventually become extinct and eroded away. Since Wegener’s first theory, there is now a great deal of evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics. Seismic and volcanic events can provide lots of evidence to support the theory, although much of it requires tools which were not available when the theory was first developed such as accurate methods of mapping earthquakes. This made it difficult to prove the theory of plate tectonics as there were no hard facts. Although others may disagree, there are large amounts of evidence to prove the theory and so in my opinion the theory is a valid method.

Dharma in Buddhism and Hinduism Essay Example

Dharma in Buddhism and Hinduism Essay Example Dharma in Buddhism and Hinduism Paper Dharma in Buddhism and Hinduism Paper The beginning of this class consists of two sections, Hinduism and Buddhism, both of which we have learned a lot about. Within these religions we see some differences and some similarities that one could relate the two with, and one of those is the term Dharma. When examining Dharma in both Hinduism and Buddhism, people may notice that they are somewhat similar, but they will also see that there even more differences within this term. To better understand this term, we must first define it within the religion and then see what they have in common with one another, if nything at all, and finally notice where the big differences are between them. Dharma is a powerful word, but some may see it differently then others depending on their religion, or their understanding of the religion at hand. So to better understand this term we must first define the term specific to each religion. First we look at Hinduism, here Dharma is defined as, the most basic concept of Hinduism. It is a wide-ranging term for righteousness, law, duty, moral teachings, religion itself, or the order in the universe. (Voorst, 72). It goes on to say that, Dharma is also the god ho embodies and promotes right order and living(Voorst, 72). This in itself is not especially self-explanatory, but we will go into further detail after learning the meaning of the word in the Buddhist religion. The meaning for Dharma for Buddhists is quite different, this world view the dharma, law, teaching about the universe and the release from it. (Voorst, 1 19), so Just looking at the definitions we can see that they can relate but we need to look further to see the differences. First we look at how these two religions use the term Dharma in the same way. We an start with the laws and teachings within the religions, and how they can go hand in hand with one another. The purpose is to guide the followers in a way of living, to provide for a better reincarnation. In Hinduism the teachings are passed down year after year for centuries in order for people to follow, so that at the end of life, they can come back as a better (or worse depending on the way in which they lived) living creature. Then in Buddhism it follows the same guidelines, to teach the ways in which to live the best life. Which brings us to the next commonality between the religions, which is the art of reincarnation. Both the Hindus and Buddhists follow a cycle of reincarnation (samsara), to follow the religious recommendations in hope that the next life they live is better then the one this time around, and ever moving forward toward one day finding their way out of rebirth called: moksha in Hindu terms and nirvana in Buddhist terms. After learning the basic ways of the religions and how they can go hand in hand, we have to look at what makes them a religion apart. While we can for sure see these religions can relate to one another, we need to look further to get the difference. The main difference is the way in which the eachings are learned and understood. In Hinduism the teachings come from being passed on over time, and having specific duties; as to where and who you are in life, specific to ones place in the world; ones social position or caste membership, stage of life or gender(Voorst, 72). This is showing that Dharma of a wife is very different from that of her husband or child, and a worriers dharma is very different of that of a teachings of Buddha himself, to believe that, he taught his followers to think for themselves and carefully examine the teachings of the religion to determine what is ight for them(Voorst, 106). So we can see that in one religion we have life set out the way it should be lived and in the other people are free to live the way that they see fit within their religion. The next main difference is the actual being of the dharma. In Hinduism Dharma is not only seen as the way in which people should live, but also as the god Vishnu or Rama. Here we see the term dharma as, the preserver of dharma who takes worldly form (avatara) to combat threats to dharma,(lecture, 9/16). It was also said that, Rama, was a heroic king who, along with his spouse exemplifies harma,(lecture, 9/16). This is very different then that of the Buddhists, because they believe that, what Buddha discovered, is that which makes him the awakened one,(lecture, 9/23) So we see that it is somewhat of the reverse from Hinduism, because it is not represented or upheld through gods, but that which brought them their god to worship. So again we see clearly that these two religions are not as closely related as people may think. After spending a good amount of time, it is easy to see that the two meanings of dharma are different within the same context outline. They both deal with the rights nd wrongs of the people within the religion, and they both have, in one aspect, the same meaning; law and teachings. But when we gape deeper into the word, the way of life in Hinduism is dharma, but the Buddhist Just follow certain aspects of dharma in their religion. In both religions the word dharma is very important to understand and follow, but even more important is the understanding of all the things that fall within its meanings and the other words that are connected to it. So to say it bluntly, these religions may follow a similar path, but have very different directions of that path to be followed.

Short Paper - ServeNow Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Short - ServeNow - Term Paper Example In order to facilitate the customers and to earn a dominant position in the market, many entrepreneurs aim at maintaining a chain of their business outlets. However this requires tremendous hard work but if their plan works then it yields numerous rewards not only for the entrepreneur but for all the stakeholders. I, being the small business consultant, Solange De Peres, have already advised my client Bushley, that he needs to hire new mangers as internal recruitment is not possible, because the existing staff does not possess the skills required for the vacant positions. In addition to this, I have also advised my client that he must hire those people who are not acquainted with store operations as this way they will spend more time in learning and gaining the experience with Bushley and will not think of changing their jobs quickly. However this will require a lot of time and efforts from my client in training his managerial force, but this can all be managed with the aid of technological good available in the market. I advise Bushley that he should prepare a detailed training program, explaining clearly about the stores’ operations. The training program should describe thoroughly about the responsibilities of each individual manager and how they could perform the respective tasks. After preparing this program Bushley can record it with the help of professional recording software programs such as Pro-tools or logics. Once the training has been recorded he can either upload it on his website, where all manager can have an individual access to it or he can make his account on YouTube and upload his training programs there. The recording software programs that I have mentioned above are the most widely used programs all over the world. They are extremely capable of catering to these professional needs very well. I recommend that Bushley should also consider the option of video conferencing in training his managerial force. Video

Business - Return on Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business - Return on Equity - Essay Example The duty of corporate management is to effectively manage these three components so investors are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that they can indeed get good Return on Equity should they invest in the organization. In the same vein, investors can also foresee the ability of the management to do a proper job as regards their investment purposes. The calculation of return on Equity is based on one year’s worth of earnings which is then divided by the shareholder equity for that particular year. These earnings are usually obtained from the financial statements of the company or from the Statement of Earnings which are computed on the end year basis (Graham and Dodd 90). It must be remembered that ROE is one of the most critical factors that determine the viability of an organization with regard to investment purposes. Investors are normally very keen in the figure as it clearly indicates the progress of the company as a function of capital investment. In its basic assessment, Return on Equity simply reveals how much a company earned and how this profit relates to the shareholders equity in the company. A higher ROE is therefore suitable for a company on the basis of investment as it will attract more investors. In the same vein, a low ROE is an indication that the shareholders equity is not sufficiently compensated as a consequence of the low profits earned. Any investor in the present age is certainly inundated with myriad information which they are expected to analyze and make proper decisions on whether to invest or not. That creates much of the trouble considering that investment is a very critical decision to make and not all investors are well versed in accounting issues. It therefore creates the need to present information in a manner that even the laymen in accounting can effectively comprehend. Such is the importance of ROE which eliminates the trouble of wading through loads of information in the analysis of a company (Swanson and Marshall 56- 8). In most cases, people merely look at the plain earnings of a company which do not in any way reveal any sign of success. Return on equity on the other hand, clearly encompasses the previous earnings retained from the other years which serve to inform the investors of how effective the reinvestment process is. The management’s fiscal adeptness is clearly seen in the ROE analysis as compared to other measures like annual earnings per share. In an increasingly competitive and risky financial environment, each and every investor seeks to realize the highest return without taking chances with risks. It is critical to realize that the investment decisions are made on the basis of a company’s returns. Thus, a company with a ROE of 10% in the present year may not necessarily attain the same level of profitability in the next year. However, if the history of the company reveals such a trend, an investor may as well conclude that the future years will reflect the past and ca n then make the decision to invest or not. A major challenge that underlies the usage of ROE is its sensitivity to leverage. It increases with greater amounts of leverage if proceeds from debt refinancing are reinvested into the business at a rate greater than the borrowing rate. The ROE can also overstate the economic value of the business is the situations of depreciation and in projects with longer lifespan. The investment decision of any firm is normally a function of many factors the most