About Native American Society

About Native American Society Free Online Research Papers It was from the time of the Stone Age and until the meeting with Europeans, the original settlers in North America lived mainly as hunters and gatherers. During the earliest times, i.e. the Stone Age, the North American settlers had the same culture as did other people living in the north. However, after some time, ecological changes led to cultural changes as well, when around 20,000 years ago, groups of people moved to lower areas of North America and settled there. These groups started sharing distinct cultures which were in line with their environment and surroundings. As culture evolved and ways of life changed, the traditional religious practices were still followed. The different Native American communities all had their own separate worldview, distinct myths, conducted its own rituals, and acted according to its basic values. When the religious beliefs of North American settlers were being documented, a number of key observations were made: these natives were very interested in the cycles of nature; they believed that all beings were alive; they thought they could control cosmic powers, they relied a lot on shamans who were religious specialists and they believed that religion and economics could be looked at in the same light. (â€Å"The Pages of Shades – Native Americans†) Religion: Native American religion is very unlike conventional religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam in the sense that it has no single founder. It is not a story of people with a strong religious background. It is not ancient and adaptable to today’s contemporary times. Precisely speaking, there is not even a single religious expression which is the same for all the 250 prominent Native American communities present today. These people have no idea how their ancestors practiced religion in historic times. War ravage and destruction broke the chain, and today, Native Americans who want to know their religious background often have to resort to anthropologists for information (Native American Religion, 2004). In this paper, we attempt to look at some facets of Native American religion as could be found through various sources. Special emphasis is laid on the role of women in Native American society and its religious practices. Union with the Spirit: Traditional Native Americans drew no boundary between the non-spiritual and the spiritual. For them, every act was sacred and had connection with Spirit. If for example, hunters are hunting down animals, this is a form of dialogue that the hunter is carrying out with the spirit of the animal. Similarly, agriculture is a means of revering the spirits of the plants and the fruitfulness of the earth. Hence, every act is an act of spirituality, with every act being given the status of a spiritual ritual. This can be explained by the fact that Native Americans considered that the world of spirit and the world of physical appearances closely exist, and connect at many points, having very little distance between them. For them, whatever happens in this world has an impact on the spirit world and vice versa. The Hopi community practices rituals like the Niman Kachina, where men adorn wooden likenesses of the spirit-kachinas and play out their return to their homeland, causing the land to bask in the good fortune and rain they bring with them. For these dancers, performing dance rituals like the above are ways to walk in both worlds at the same time. Dance is very similar to everyday life in the sense that the sacred and the non-spiritual frequently overlap. There is no distinction. Religion and life are believed to be one thing. The hunter who apologizes to the spirit of the deer he just hunted, the Southeastern peoples ‘going to water’ are all ways to climb the line between the two worlds. For the Native Americans, any act they do can become a variation of a spirit dance between the person and the object acted upon (Ruvolo, 2004; Native American Religion, 2004). Sacred Stories and History: Whenever the religious stories of these people are read, it is observed that there is mention of two kinds of time: one is a time before time when things are not as they are here, and the other is historical time, which is about the same as modern life. In mythic time, there is no boundary between the spirit and physical worlds. There is regular spiritual interaction with humans who are visited by spirits daily. These spirits can both help as well as harm. Humans who wanted to explore their spirituality more are called shamans and they frequently visit spirit realms. A number of stories are part of this time, such as the Native American creation stories, migration narratives, and stories of the heroes in Native American culture. Story telling is a common activity for Native Americans for whom it dissolves boundaries and removes distances. When they enact these stories time and again, they become a way to overlap the spiritual and non-spiritual world. When they smoke the Lakota pipe, they believe that the spirit of its giver (White Buffalo Calf Woman) has joined them, and engulfed them in a connection with nature. The Iroquois people believe that the ritual of wearing a mask with the likeness of the Great Defender is beneficial for healing the sick, and brings the healing power of the humpbacked one into the sickroom. Female figures have a strong presence in Native American narratives which often become the basis for rituals as ones mentioned above. There exist stories in which women are the key actors in the creation of the earth and the people. These female figures come to the world, albeit in different forms, with the purpose of inventing the life that the people will live, and these stories include women as main players in the formation of the people. The creation of the people has a well-defined relationship with native women. The Native Americans of the Southwest and the Plains are instructed by female powers on how to live properly, how to co-exist peacefully and how to treat nature. How the people are supposed to behave in sacred rituals and ceremonies as according to ancient mythology is also explained by powerful female figures. Characters like the White Buffalo Woman (who gifted the Lakota with the sacred pipe standing for the essence of life) are common. The White Buffalo Woman is an especially revered religious personality as she instructed the people on how they should treat all human beings with respect (Native American Spirituality, 2004). The female figures might be present in the stories and rituals as powerful figures, but this power has been incorporated in the daily lives of the Native American people. This is in the form of the women’s capacity of childbearing. In native societies, the woman’s ability to bear children is considered the source from which woman derives her ultimate power. Since women had a key role in the creation of people, this is mirrored by her ability today to being life into this world. Men might seek power from rituals and ceremonies, women do not have to strive so, and their power is their key role in sustaining generations. This is a way in which the Native American society is similar to other nations: woman is considered child bearer, nurturer and food producer in many cultures (Bales, 1996). Experience in Native American Religion: The Native American religion greatly valued the personal experience with the Spirit. A practice called the vision quest was the most common form of such individual experiences. In some cultures, the priest was the ultimate authority on religion and provided guidance, often even serving as intermediaries between people and Spirit in major religious festivals. Visions were usually not something that ordinary people referred to. Shamans were usually the people who embarked mostly on vision quests, but in all, societies where priest were given lesser importance, individual encounters with Spirit were highly emphasized. The vision quest was a basically a planned search for a vision within oneself. People in the pre-Columbian Native America and even to some extent in the Southwest and Southeast practiced this. At its fundamental, a person would stand alone in the wilderness. He would fast for a number of days and seek some spiritual power or his own vision for life. In a lot of societies, this ritual was considered compulsory for a youth on his way to adulthood. Boys usually went on these quests, however, some societies allowed girls to as well. This quest was also considered crucial for young men training to be warriors as it was believed that unless the men had spirit guardians, they would not survive many battles. The unification of people was also a key element of Native American rituals. The community would bond together in common religious experience through these. For example, the Iroquois peoples of the Eastern Woodlands would hold community ceremonies in the spring and fall of every year. In these ceremonies, the leaders would be the wooden-masked impersonators of the spirit who prevents disease from disrupting people’s lives, and this ceremony would serve to drive all disease away. The Green corn ceremony is also worth pointing out as in these rituals, people purified themselves, cleaned their houses, fasted and prayed, and burnt the first ears of green corn in the fire. This served to seek the Spirits blessing for a healthy harvest (Native American Religion, 2004; Awiakta, 1993). Role of Women: Native American societies did not simply make their women serve them as homemakers and child bearers. Rather, they served as diplomats, politicians and arbiters. However, when these societies had an encounter with the Europeans, a lot of things changed. The Europeans generally did not pay much attention to native women and did not consider them to have a role in social and public life. They also projected their opposition to native beliefs and culture by excluding women from arbitration or council meetings. Land was considered by the natives to be of equal value as the use derived fro it but when land had to be transferred, women’s input had to be sought otherwise the transaction was not believed to be ethical. Hence, upon European contact, when land became a commodity, the Europeans generally disregarded native women and their roles and status in native society. Europeans changed gender roles as well with the transference of ownership of land. Europeans and Euro-Americans dis regarded women’s participation in their own societies and further displaced the importance of their roles as successful cultivators and cultural mediators (Velasco, 1997). As the U.S government tried to integrate the Native Americans with the contemporary American culture, the native men were given smaller pieces of land and expected to continue their agricultural activities. This was a situation of drastic change for native men. The duties that had become second nature for them like hunting and participating in warfare were no longer expected of them by society. This mirrored a pronounced change in gender roles and relations, as they became more aligned to those of white society. While both genders had to get used to changes, the women could still carry on doing what they had been doing all their lives. The men became engrossed in agriculture, and the women continued basket making, pottery, homemaking and childbearing within the range of their expertise (Underhill, 1979). During the late twentieth century, the Native American women have undergone the most changes in terms of their gender roles and status within society. They have become involved in numerous movements to reclaim landscape and cultural artifacts for all Native Americans. For example, the campaign to remove the word, â€Å"squaw,† from the names of national places is such a movement. ‘Squaw’ is a disparaging designation for an Indian woman. The leaders of this campaign are targeting areas such as the Squaw Valley in California, Squaw Peak in Arizona, Squaw Lake Village in Minnesota and more than 1,000 other sites. Other campaigns which these women have taken on include ones at Big Mountain and Black Mesa in Arizona. Women like the Hopi and Navajo Grandmothers are protesting against the removal of the people from their homelands, as they believe that this removal will result in the devastation of subsistence patterns the peoples of the Southwest have been following for centuries (Allen, 1991; Eargle, 1986). Research Papers on About Native American SocietyCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite Religion19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraGenetic EngineeringTwilight of the UAWAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andHip-Hop is ArtQuebec and Canada

Table Topics - A Smart Party Game for Adult Students

Table Topics - A Smart Party Game for Adult Students I picked up my first box of Table TopicsTM on a whim while shopping in one of those funky little shops you see in the artsy parts of any city. A four-inch clear acrylic cube holds 135 cards, each with a provocative question that is sure to inspire lively, and meaningful, conversation. These little cards make a great game for the classroom or meeting room, around the table, or on the patio. Use them at any gathering of adults when you want stimulating conversation. Group Size Ideal for up to 10. Divide larger groups. Uses Introductions at a meeting, in the classroom, around the pool, at a party, anytime you want to inspire conversation. Time Needed Depends on the number of people and the time you allow for conversation after each introduction and answer. Materials Needed Cube of Table TopicsTM and a clock or watch. Instructions Select a person to begin, and ask him or her to pick a card from the Table TopicsTM cube. Explain that the person should give his or her name, and answer the question. Depending on the amount of time you have, allow a few minutes of conversation about the persons response, and then pass the cube to the next person. Card examples: Which piece of land would you wish to have preserved forever?Whats your favorite quotation?What song evokes the strongest memories for you? Alternatives Table TopicsTM offers nine different sets of questions: Original, Family Gathering, Gourmet, Family, Teen, Couples, Girls Night Out, Spirit, and Book Club. Choose the subject matter most appropriate for your group.​ For more information, visit  Table Topics.

Critique globalization (the super story) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critique globalization (the super story) - Essay Example Due to the emergence of digital applications and the internet in globalization, I also expected that he would touch on the topic of the application of the internet in moving globalization towards the right direction and route. It was therefore not surprising to find that he touched on the areas of supermarkets and the creation of the global financial centers. In explaining the manner in which nations are interconnected especially after the cold war, Friedman captured the role of the United States as the superpower that has remained. He however failed to provide a description of the post-cold war era especially the knowledge on how it affected the economic powers of the people and how it influenced growth. In Friedman, the process through markets integrates and develops uniform transportation and communication systems for doing business across the world is globalization, a process that has never been seen in history. Through this process, corporations spread across the world have been enabled to move the products from one point to the other with haste, efficiency and precision than was witnessed before. Through this definition, the author has clearly captured the business systems that exist today especially capturing the post and pre-cold war eras that witnessed world integration and formation of economic powerhouses. Though looking simple, the definition has captured the fact that markets across the world have been interconnected and brought together through web connectivity, a process that can allow companies as separate and far apart as North America to do business with Asia (Friedman 474). Before the eyes of Friedman, globalization is a force multiplier that gives nations, global markets and individuals at different levels of incorporation are empowered to communicate and us the available resources. According to Friedman, globalization is tool that leads to the distribution

Discussion 2 Week 8 Linear Programming Approach Assignment

Discussion 2 Week 8 Linear Programming Approach - Assignment Example For example, in a graphical approach, it has been emphasized that this is most applicable when there are only at most two decision variables. Thus, a graphical approach could be applied with solving for a maximization profit problem (objective function), given two decision variables: producing units of Product A and producing units of Product B (decision variables) with the constraints that these units are to be produced within a time constraint of one week using current labor and materials. Otherwise, when the decision variables are complex, such as that which required producing a set of products (product mix) or a product to be sold in diverse geographical markets in different states in America, for instance (market mix), a computer based approach was noted to be most appropriate since encoding all the variables would be simpler using the Excel application. The more complex the decision variables and the constraints, the more it would be appropriate to use computer-based approach to assist in solving the problem with greater speed and

Competitive Advantage - Microsoft Case Essay Example for Free

Competitive Advantage Microsoft Case Essay When trying to spill the beans of MSs success, the titles of two books from Bill Gates slip into my mind. They are The Road Ahead and Business @ the speed of thought, which I would translate into Direction and Speed and could be the reason for MSs success be good at setting strategy and adapting to the changes. However, to reframe them within the context of Modern Competitive Strategy, the reasons for MSs success are to create and maintain its modern COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES. With the analysis of it competitive advantages, MSs profitability was more rely on its ability to DEFEND its market position rather than to create. To put it another way, the usage of MSs resources and capabilities can be better understood in light of isolating mechanisms. On one hand, MS focus on increasing customer retention. Software is an experience good. It can be tell exactly from the name Windows XP where XP is short for experience. For an experience good, the search costs, training cost and learning cost are high, which in turn help to increase customer retention. Here is a classic example. In 1998, Bill Gates gave his speech at Washington University and talk about piracy in China, and he said: About 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but people dont pay for the software. Someday they will, though. As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. Theyll get sort of addicted, and then well somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade. For the same reason, MS bundled Office Suite, expanded server platforms, and gave many stuffs/features for free like IE and Media Player. We can expect the adding to the list will grow on and on. Its broad scope of products and global presence also helped MS to increase customer retention. On the other hand, MS defend its market position fiercely. A typical tactic used by MS is the prohibitive development cost. For example, it spent $2 billion alone in 2001 for its .net platform. When MS identifies a potential threat, it react with all of it resources and capabilities to compete with. Through advance technology, enticement OEM manufactures, or even giving for free, it won battles over Office Suite, OS, Internet browser and media player. As a result, MS stands above its competitors and reaps its profit like printing money. For example, while application software price dropped by an average of 8.9% at 1989, MS could raise its OS price. While WordPerfect was priced at $79, MS charged $249 for upgrades of Office 2000. The challenges MS faced somehow derived from its own marketing activities. The antitrust litigation is a warning for its aggressive assault on its competitors. In general, Microsoft should keep focus on defending its market positions, using its resources and capabilities cautiously and smartly. Its isolation mechanisms could be enhanced by strategies like product development and acquisition, platform integration, user and channel enticement, all happen at prohibitive cost.

Jack Londons Sea Wolf, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang :: Jack London Wolf Wild Fang Essays

Jack London's Sea Wolf, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack London lived a full life, even though he died at the young age of forty. In his life time he experienced many things, and I believe that these experiences were the catalyst of his novels. Jack London was an oyster pirate, a government patrolman in San Francisco Bay, a sailor and an agrarian reformer, a seal hunter in the North Pacific and a gold prospector in the frozen Klondike, a war correspondent and a prizefighting reporter, a socialist soapbox orator who later became a lecturer at universities, a family man and landowner, and of course a true American writer. A critic by the name of Alfred Kazin once said "that the greatest story London ever wrote was the one he lived."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  London had a hard life as a child and as a young man, in spite of this London grew to become one of Americas most popular and highly paid authors ever. He was not a baby boomer. This was not just an American thing, London was known around the world for his great adventure stories, that could be enjoyed by all ages. Londons life was diversified and so were his writings. Today, London is mostly known for his "dog stories", The Call of the Wild and White Fang. In addition to those great works London wrote many other stories and novels, all of which were published in the seventeen years that he wrote professionally. Londons writings vary in quality as well as in subject, his from the cheapest and worst kind of pieces to the beautiful works like The Call of the Wild and Sea Wolf. In this literary analysis the focus will be on Londons more well known and enjoyed works.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Londons life defiantly coincides with his writing. Professor Earle Labor attributes London's success as a writer to three different factors: poverty- how London rose from the bottom all the way to the top, wanderlust- the fact that he spent a good portion of his life on the road gave him ample material to write about, and last but not least was, "the omnivorous appetite for reading that gave him his philosophical substance and sense of artistic form."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  London was a complex individual whose character was made up of apparent contradictions. He was a declared socialist, but above all, a devout individualist. He believed in the politics and economics of socialism and decried the iniquities Of capitalism, but at the same time set out to succeed within that system. Jack London's Sea Wolf, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang :: Jack London Wolf Wild Fang Essays Jack London's Sea Wolf, The Call of the Wild, and White Fang   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jack London lived a full life, even though he died at the young age of forty. In his life time he experienced many things, and I believe that these experiences were the catalyst of his novels. Jack London was an oyster pirate, a government patrolman in San Francisco Bay, a sailor and an agrarian reformer, a seal hunter in the North Pacific and a gold prospector in the frozen Klondike, a war correspondent and a prizefighting reporter, a socialist soapbox orator who later became a lecturer at universities, a family man and landowner, and of course a true American writer. A critic by the name of Alfred Kazin once said "that the greatest story London ever wrote was the one he lived."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  London had a hard life as a child and as a young man, in spite of this London grew to become one of Americas most popular and highly paid authors ever. He was not a baby boomer. This was not just an American thing, London was known around the world for his great adventure stories, that could be enjoyed by all ages. Londons life was diversified and so were his writings. Today, London is mostly known for his "dog stories", The Call of the Wild and White Fang. In addition to those great works London wrote many other stories and novels, all of which were published in the seventeen years that he wrote professionally. Londons writings vary in quality as well as in subject, his from the cheapest and worst kind of pieces to the beautiful works like The Call of the Wild and Sea Wolf. In this literary analysis the focus will be on Londons more well known and enjoyed works.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Londons life defiantly coincides with his writing. Professor Earle Labor attributes London's success as a writer to three different factors: poverty- how London rose from the bottom all the way to the top, wanderlust- the fact that he spent a good portion of his life on the road gave him ample material to write about, and last but not least was, "the omnivorous appetite for reading that gave him his philosophical substance and sense of artistic form."   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  London was a complex individual whose character was made up of apparent contradictions. He was a declared socialist, but above all, a devout individualist. He believed in the politics and economics of socialism and decried the iniquities Of capitalism, but at the same time set out to succeed within that system.

Compare the ways in which crime is presented in Moll Flanders and Roxana?

The eponymous titles Roxana and Moll Flanders, are two of a collection of novels written by Daniel Defoe. Coleridge described these novels as one of ‘the few great novels, which we can call indisputably great'1. This ‘greatness' that Coleridge speaks of is displayed through the way Defoe presents crime in these novels. He explores the lives of women in the early 18th century and how crime was often a woman's key to survival. The novels are set and centred in different locations in the world of the 1720's. The geographical settings and mobility of the characters expresses their personal ambition to be known, respected and to have the finer things in life. First and foremost, before looking into the criminal lives Moll Flanders and Roxana both led, their reasons for engaging into crime have to be considered. Moll was born into poverty, and ironically she was ‘born into a jail cell' in Newgate prison. From this it seems as though Moll was born a criminal and a criminal career was destined for her. She is a street educated woman that thrived upon crime to escape the jagged teeth of poverty and also to live a lavish life. On the contrary Roxana is a well-educated and well-bred woman, however her life of crime begins when she is abandoned by her husband, who has also left her with a handful of children to care for. With the encouragement from her accomplice Amy, can it be argued that Roxana turns from a virtuous woman to an immoral whore? Well, firstly Roxana does sleep with numerous men, without marrying them, which was immoral in an 18th century society and Roxana's sexual behaviour may have been labelled as whoring, because she slept with men and receives payments in the form of fine clothes and ornaments and expensive jewellery. However Roxana does fall in love with every man she sleeps with, so she shouldn't be really referred as a whore. For example in the novel, Roxana admits she fell in love with her landlord ‘I grew to love him'; Roxana loves her landlord besides the comfortable lifestyle she lives. Roxana does commit adultery to an extent, her act as been described as a state of ‘innocent adultery'2: their liaison is as respectable as any marriage, supported as it is by affection and respect, and even by legal settlement. In an contemporary society Roxana's act wouldn't be describe as whoring or prostitution, and adultery wouldn't be a crime in the ‘eyes' of the English law. Also whoring or prostitution is based upon a direct exchange of money for sexual pleasure, no emotions, liking, or loving or relationships are supposed to be formed, whereas Roxana falls in love. Defoe sympathizes with woman in these times, as they were powerless in terms of marriage. Women were condemned if they had children, without being married and more to the point women were neglected and not protected by the government. Therefore it can be argued that women were more likely to engage in criminal activities as a way of escaping poverty, and to an extent improve their quality of living. However women were less likely to commit crime as there movements were isolated especially if they were married they were the property of their husbands they were to do domestic duties and had little time to explore the outdoors. However Moll and Roxana do not have these constraints. It could be inferred Defoe aims to make his two protagonists heroic figures as they manage to succeed against the odds, they're renegades that reject the norms and values of society and do not conform with stereotypical female roles, such as domestic duties, instead they distance themselves from the morals of society and beautify their lives by either using men or stealing valuable objects to fulfil their needs. The novels are written in an autobiographical format, where the protagonist gives a chronological sequence of events in their life. This presentation is highly effective; firstly it is continuous throughout both novels, more importantly a contemporary reader can easily engage with the novels as the lives of Roxana and Moll are often presented like a soap opera. In Roxana the protagonist notices her first husband in a dinner party she tries her best to conceal herself. If she were caught she would have faced public humiliation or possibly death- ‘He had just brushed against me, but didn't notice me'. The close encounter causes tension and the word ‘brush' expresses the danger of the situation. Roxana is an adulteress as; she is sexually involved with the Prince of France while still being legally married. In Moll Flanders, Moll steals a lady's gold watch, Moll is almost caught but she is not suspected of taking the watch. These soap opera like episodes create intimacy between the protagonist and the reader and they have a continuing appeal to a contemporary reader, as they cause excitement, tension and suspense, this again may support Coleridge's statement that these novels are ‘indisputably great'. In both novels, ‘Roxana and Moll Flanders look back on their life of sinfulness and opportunism. It is a life that they must both embrace; it is made them who they are'. However Defoe does make his presences felt in the novels where he expresses his own views towards issues such as marriage; Defoe used the term ‘Matrimonial Whoredom'3 to describe women who married men only for financial gain. From this we are given an insight of the character of Defoe through his protagonists. It can be argued that temptation is without a doubt the reason for Moll and Roxana indulging in crime. There temptations are centred on economic needs and a craving for social status. For example Roxana, with Amy's influence prostitutes herself to her landlord. In the novel Amy says to Roxana in one occasion ‘Dear madam says Amy if I will starve for your sake, I will be a whore'. Here the language is persuasive as Amy's use of reverse psychology persuades and makes Roxana feel guilty. Roxana is clearly tempted because if she gives up her chastity she could restore the comfortable life she once lived. Although Roxana eventually gives in, she still appears to have a little self-respect; this is evident where she says ‘A woman ought rather to die, than to prostitute herself' the tone of language is very bold and convincing that it may contradict my initial argument that Roxana is an immoral whore. However Roxana opposes her own statement as she lets temptation get the better of her. On the other hand Moll excuses herself for her crimes: ‘The silver tankard calls out to her'. A silver tankard would be a large drinking vessel made out of what would have been expensive metal, silver. Metaphorically it expresses pleasure and wealth, the ‘silver tankard' is a vivid use of pathetic fallacy, and it is as though the silver tankard is a person that tempted Moll to committing crimes in order to live well. Moll admits she became ‘more confounded with money', which could give an early indication that her love for money would ultimately lead her to her desperation and further temptations to commit crimes. This in fact is what happens to Moll, in one part of the novel she is in the position where she is so desperate, she contemplates killing a child, This is a turning point as Defoe reveals a dark side of Moll , the reader sees Moll in previous encounters as a thief and whore but contemplating murder shocks the modern day reader. Episodes such as this are intriguing and have continuing appeal because not only does Moll reveal a dark side the reader can easily sympathies with the villain rather than the victim, the phrase ‘the dreadful necessity of circumstances is the cause', express this, the word ‘dreadful' is emotive as the reader pity's Moll's well being, The ‘circumstances' Moll speaks of, are due to many factors such as the absences of any parental figures for example, since her mother is a criminal, the reader may not be surprised that Moll takes a criminal path for her career. In sociological terms a poor level of cultural reproduction, could explain why Moll follows her mothers footsteps. Crime is presented with the association of the devil's works. Firstly it has to be considered that crime in the 18th century was often seen either as the work or the influence of the devil, considering at this period people tended to be very superstitious. In Moll Flanders, Moll believes the crimes she commits are caused by the devil- ‘She had enough to work on but the devil sends her out unto the streets'. This use of imagery is effective because Moll personifies the devil as a person who forcefully dragged her onto the street to steal. Moll also refers to herself as a ‘busy devil'. The language used here is unusual as the word busy often refers to hard work or a dedication to work, whereas the word devil contradicts the word busy, as the devil is associated with evil or negative works, which causes an overall effect of irony. In Roxana, Roxana prostitutes Amy to her landlord; after Roxana realizes that what she did was immoral and indeed a sin she says she is the ‘instrument of the devil's works'. This has a continuing appeal because the reader shocked that Roxana, supposedly a woman of virtue forces Amy, her closest friend, and ‘pimps' her to her landlord. It questionable whether Roxana has an ounce of integrity in left her. Although she admits she was the instrument of the ‘devils works' one still has to be amazed at what people will do just to fulfil their own selfish needs. This is similar in Volpone by Ben Jonson, where the character of Corvino forgets all virtue and decided to pimp his own wife. However can it be argued that Moll and Roxana use notion of the ‘devil' as a way to elevate the blame that they feel is already upon them. Also the actual meaning of the devil has to put into consideration. In the period in which Defoe lived, the devil was often described as a hideous creature with horns and jagged teeth. However in the novels Roxana and Moll Flanders, could the devil represent the poverty that eats away in their society, which ultimately leads them to committing crime? Social pressures and personal circumstances is another way crime is presented. Defoe presents his whores as ordinary people who are normal products of their environment, victims of circumstances which anyone might have experienced. For Roxana the absences of her husband, who left her with the responsibility of caring for five children, leaves Roxana in a difficult situation, so whoring herself at first to her landlord seemed to be the only option for survival as she was on the verge of absolute poverty. In the early stages of the novel Amy presents a strong argument to Roxana. Roxana begins by saying to Amy ‘What consent to lye with him for bread? ‘ Amy replies ‘It would not be lawful for anything else but for bread, Madam, why nobody can starve'. The word ‘lawful' is interesting it may suggest that Roxana somehow has the right to sell her own body in order to survive, or maybe Amy is being ironic as prostitition was against the law. Again Amy's persuasive use of language leaves Roxana, completely convinced – ‘If he should give me an estate to live on, he should lye with me. Roxana thinks about the situation logically and rationally and decides to give up her chastity. It is upsetting that for woman in these times their, bodies were almost the only thing they could offer to a man in return for a stable standard of living, so one has to sympathies with Roxana due to the difficult situation she is in. The reader shouldn't look at her negatively especially when individuals such as Amy point out to her ‘why nobody can starve'. However the reader may view Roxana negatively in certain parts of the novel. For example after the brutal death of her lover, her landlord, Roxana attempts to sell the jewels that he had left with her, one has to question her integrity, but it shows the lengths that people would go to maintain the material goods they possess. Although Roxana is an intelligent woman, and arguably she was more than capable to improve her lifestyle by using legal means, Defoe expresses that women were at a disadvantage in terms of earning a decent living; Moll Flanders quotes ‘The market is against our sex'. Here Defoe expresses his feelings through Moll Flanders, as he was interested in women's oppression, as he believed that women were oppressed, especially in marriage. Roxana refuses to marry the Dutch Merchant on various occasions, as she believed women were at a disadvantage as marriage was more of a patriarchal institution. Like Roxana, Moll Flanders is a victim of society and circumstantial issue. Moll was born into poverty. From an early age, Moll is socially aware of her low status but she refers to herself as a ‘Gentlewoman', which expresses her ambitions to have the fine things in life and to be accepted by society. Here it could be argued that Moll wants the desired social status that Roxana also achieves. Moll Flanders, like Rastigmac and Julien Soreal, is a characteristic product of modern individualism in assuming that she owes it to herself to achieve the highest economic and social rewards and in using every available method to carry out her resolve. Even Moll admits that ‘the dreadful necessity of circumstances is cause', referring to the poverty she lives in is the cause of her thieving; Moll says in her defense ‘ give me poverty lest I steal'. In one occasion Moll begins sewing lace for a particular wealthy woman, however Moll is still relatively poor. The rich woman has two brothers that Moll acquaints herself with; she prostitutes herself to two of them. They both spoil her excessively with fine clothes and ornaments, she says in one occasion; ‘He had furnished me very sufficiently with money for extraordinary express of my lying in I had everything'. One may look down upon Moll as a whore, however ones has to consider she is not educated like Roxana and her ambition to be a ‘gentlewoman' is still at large, so it is either she took this opportunity or not, but Moll admits ‘she had enough to live on' however she still has the urge to commit crimes. To Moll's horror she commits another crime, she later finds out that the two brothers she sleeps with are too her own brothers. This has a continuing appeal to a modern day reader because it I hilarious that Moll prostitutes herself to two brothers who actually are her brothers it is a bizarre experience for Moll. It is engaging for a modern day reader, as incest tends to occur when both relations are aware they are related, whereas Moll isn't aware. Moll indulges in crime not just for survival but to have the fine clothes and ornaments. Moll says ‘ I needed to dress well in order to mingle'. Defoe makes it evident in both novels that society was beginning to be more capitalist, so as times changed Roxana and Moll, too had to modernize in order to be respected and accepted by society. Moll's fine clothes and ornaments and Roxana's expensive Turkish dress are symbolise of the pressure in society to live lavishly. However both Roxana and Moll reasons for indulging in crime are not strong sociological arguments, such as we might make today: they don't ask themselves why a certain percentage of the population is destitute, they just want to make sure they are not one of them. However their determination not to be destitute shows their survival instincts. Also Defoe shows the emergence of an individualistic society where people began to develop their own norms and values and tended not to look at traditional institutions such as the church for guidance and rather they'd take matters into their own hands. The relationship between crime and identity has to be explored. For example Moll is a common slang term in these times for a woman of low repute, often the girlfriend of a professional thief, ‘Flanders' was a term to describe women in prostitution. Roaxna Turkish dress reveals her criminal identity as a courtesan. It interesting as their names are clear indications of their true identities and purposes but none of the characters realize this. In Roxana where Roxana leaves her lavish life momentarily, she takes up Quaker dressing. This way of dressing is a drastic change from her lavish gorgeous dresses, which emphasis the change from her high life and erotic encounters to a simple way of living. Roxana and Moll Flanders hide away behind their names and costumes to protect their identity, their hidden identities explain that they are afraid and do not want to face up to who they and they're afraid of how people will react to them like the character Robinson Crusoe. Defoe creates characters similar to how he felt about himself as he even changed his name from Foe to Defoe, which suggests that Defoe feels the struggle and can sympathise with what his protagonists go through.

Health Provider and Faith Diversity

Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity Delia Stoica Grand Canyon University: HLT-310V February 4, 2012 Abstract The following paper describes three different religions: Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. It will detail the spiritual perspective on healing that all three of the faiths have. A description of what is important to their healing and what is important for the healthcare provider to know in caring for people of these faiths. Also there will be a summary of how these faiths differ from Christianity. Introduction The United States is known as a â€Å"melting pot†.This is due to all the different nationalities and faiths that are seen in our country. As healthcare providers we are faced with trying to understand all the different cultures we encounter on a daily basis in a hospital setting. There are many different faiths, some are well known such as Christianity and some are not quite so known such as Hinduism. Different faiths have different rules and regulations that they follow. Knowing all the intricate ins and outs of every religion is going to be impossible, but that should not stop someone from trying to learn all they can regarding the patients they are caring for.Everyone has probably heard of Judaism, Islam and Hinduism, but that does not mean that a nurse or physician would know all the things that would be different in regards to caring for patients of these different faiths. Hinduism Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world. There are six major philosophies in the Hindu religion. One of the major one is Vedanta. Vedanta teaches that â€Å" that man's real nature is divine, and that the aim of human life is to realize divinity through selfless work, devotion to God, control of the inner forces, and discrimination between the real and the unreal.It recognizes that Truth is one and accepts all religions, properly understood, as valid means of realizing the truth (Guidelines, 2002)†. Hindus believe that the body is just a vehicle for the soul, and that when the body dies the soul transfers to another body until it can finally get to be united with God. They recognize that death is a natural part of life and the true self does not die when the body dies. There are a lot of things that the religion accepts which are part of the Western medical practices.Seeking medical attention is something that Hindus will do, but they believe that Western medicines tends to overmedicate their patients, especially with antibiotics which could make them hesitant to start an aggressive treatment plan. Some people of this religion may practice Ayurvedo or homeopathy to cure some problems. This religion allows for blood transfusions and organ transplantation/donations. There is no rule against performing an autopsy if needed. Because this religion practices modesty, women may prefer to be examined by a physician of the same sex.Hindus are very social and family oriented. It is impo rtant that the family be involved in the treatment and care of the patient. Women of the Hindu religion wear a red dot on their forehead to symbolize that they are married, some also wear necklaces, bracelets or toe-rings, which are not to be taken off, this is something that needs to be considered if there is a need for a procedure such as an MRI that requires all metals to be removed. Men of this faith wear a â€Å"sacred thread† which is never supposed to be removed.Many Hindus are strict vegetarians and will not eat beef or beef products, if at all possible they should be allowed to bring food from home unless there is a dietary restriction. In situations where there is an end-of-life issue, family needs to be very involved. Hindus do not believe in artificially prolonging life and may prefer to die at home. Because Hindus practice cremation and it needs to be done within 24 hours of death it is critical that all the paperwork is in order quickly. Judaism Judaism is one o f the oldest religions still around today.There are Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jewish followers. Orthodox Jews strictly follow all traditional laws of the religion. The faith holds medical practitioners in high regards and even may break some rules if medical experts believe that it may be life saving. Most Jewish people observe the Sabbath, which is from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, in which they are not allowed to work. In this regard a Jewish patient would not be able to write, use the button for a PCA pump, drive or even turn on a light switch. As healthcare ractitioners we need to keep that in mind when caring for patients during this time. The food they eat is â€Å"kosher† foods, which means that there are special ways of preparing beef. Pork, fish and gelatin are not allowed and neither is beef and milk together. Care needs to be taken with preparation of these foods for these patients, as healthcare providers we need to keep in mind that this is not just an issue of them being picky but an extremely important part of their religion. Men in this religion may wear yarmulkes â€Å"skull caps† during prayer and some may wear it all the time (Handbook, 2000).We need to make allowances for up to 10 people in the room during prayer. When dealing with end-of-life issues there are deep debates regarding withholding or withdrawing of life-saving therapy and families may want to consult a rabbi before making any decisions. The Jewish faith requires that burials happen quickly after death and autopsies at not permitted unless required by law. There is a requirement that a family member or representative of the family remain with the body at all times after death until burial, and also that amputated limbs be available for burial.Islam The Islamic religion is slowly becoming one of the largest religions out there. People who follow the Islamic religion are known as Muslims. Islam believes are â€Å" that all events, including health even ts, are the will of God, Muslim patients may be more likely to display acceptance of difficult circumstances and be compliant with the instructions of health care providers (Healthcare Providers, 2010)†. It is believed that the preservation of life overrides all guidelines, rules and restrictions.This faith requires extreme modesty and for men all body parts between the naval and knees need to be covered, for woman all but the face, hands and feet should be covered at all times when in the presence of anyone outside their family. Muslims are required to pray five times a day on a prayer mat facing Mecca. Patients that are ill can be excused from prayer if it is medically deemed that it is detrimental to their health. Patients are required by their faith to perform ablution with water before prayers and after urination and defecation. Islamic rule is that you use your left hand for dirty and right hand for clean duties.Muslims will prefer to use their right hand to eat and as a healthcare provider if you are feeding a Muslim patient it is preferred that you also use your right hand. Islam has a very strict rule regarding consumption of certain foods. Foods that are not permitted include pork, or pork derivatives and alcohol or alcohol containing foods. This could be a problem when giving certain medication that contains pork or alcohol. Providers should be aware of the medication given to a patient that is Muslim in order for them to follow the halal diet.Islam sees death as a natural part of life. They do not require treatment to be provided if it will only prolong a terminal illness. During end-of-life care, families may want to pray with the patient at bedside. This religion forbids autopsies, unless required by law. In the Islamic faith, burial needs to happen as soon as possible after death. The body should be washed by a family member or representative of the family and not by hospital staff, the body also needs to be covered by a sheet and face Mec ca if at all possible. Comparing and ContrastingThe previous religions discussed all have certain rules that need to be followed when it comes to dealing with healthcare. Christianity in general does not put any restrictions on healthcare providers. Certain Christian faiths such as Jehovah’s Witnesses do not allow blood transfusions because they feel it is not part of their body. The three religions discussed feel that anything that can be done to safe the person should be done and that life is important. Interestingly enough Hinduism, Judaism and Islamic faiths all have restrictions on food that they deem unclean.The only Christian faiths that have restrictions on food are Catholics and Orthodox Christians, which do not eat meat during Passover. There are many differences between Christianity and other faiths and not too many similarities when it comes to healthcare. Conclusion In doing the research for this paper, there have been a lot of good points brought up in regards t o taking care of patients that are of a different faith than myself. It is extremely important to me as a person and as a nurse to know who my patients are and what their beliefs and faiths are.In order to be able to take care of a patient, physically and emotionally we need to know the restrictions that we may face in our everyday dealings with them. Working in a hospital that sees an enormous amount of people from all over the world it is important to keep religion and culture in mind when providing care. Being able to do research and finding all the rules and requirements is a great educational tool to use and will make your patients more apt to trust you if they see that you understand where they are coming from. References Bennion, R. (2000). Handbook on cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs.South Devon Healthcare. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from www. e-radiography. net/nickspdf/Handbook%20on%20beliefs. pdf Guidelines for health care providers interacting with patients of t he Hindu religion and their families. (2002). Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from info. kyha. com/documents/CG-Hindu. pdf Healthcare providers handbook on Muslim patients. (2010). Queensland Health and Islamic Council of Queensland. Retrieved February 3, 2012 from http://www. health. qld. gov. au/multicultural/health_workers/hbook-muslim.

rasicm essays

rasicm essays Racism has been a prominent issue for hundreds of years and will be for some time to come. There are five major ethnic groups in the United States all of which being a majority (dominant) group or a minority group; European Americans, Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. People from all five of these ethnic groups encounter racism, prejudice, and discrimination everyday. I will explore several different patterns in which the majority and minority ethnic groups relate with one another. Whether it is job discrimination, education discrimination, real estate or mortgage, minorities will encounter prejudice and discrimination. In this paper I will examine how racism, which leads to discrimination challenges the idea that individual hard work will lead to upward social mobility. Henslin explains the difference between the minority groups and the dominant group. In Chapter Twelve he explains how Sociologist Louis Wirth defined a minority group as people who are singled out for unequal treatment, and who regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination. The majority or the dominant group is explained as the group with the most power, greatest privileges, and highest social status. There are six different patterns of minority and dominant group relations. They are; genocide, population transfer, internal colonialism, segregation, assimilation, and multiculturalism. Genocide, being when the dominant group tries to destroy the minority group, for example the Holocaust in Germany and Multiculturalism (also called Pluralism), being when the dominant group encourages racial and ethnic variation; when fully successful, there is no longer a dominant group; for example Switzerland. The United States has just come out of segregation in the 1960s. While our c ountry is working hard to have assimilation there is still racism toward minorities. While racism is prejudice and discriminatio...

5 Reasons Why Summer Job Hunting Will Get You a Job

5 Reasons Why Summer Job Hunting Will Get You a Job You may think nothing happens in the summer. No one is really working or hiring, so you may as well take a break from your job search until Labor Day rolls around, right? Big mistake. The fact is there are still job offers to be found out there- even in the dog days. Remain at the top of the game, and hopefully one of those jobs will be yours for the taking. Here are 5 specific reasons why you should persevere in your hunt for the next great opportunity over the summer months.1. It’s the perfect time to take stockThis is particularly true if you’ve been looking for a new job for a few weeks or months. The summer is a good time marker. Take a step back and evaluate your progress. What has and hasn’t been working? Could you glam up your resume or LinkedIn profile a bit? Re-hone and rehearse your elevator pitch? Come up with a new strategy? The self-examining work you do now will pay off–not only over the summer, but throughout your career.2. You’ll ge t a leg up on the competitionWhile there are still jobs out there in the summer, there are far fewer applicants. Now that you’re in on the secret, you can be sure that your resume is circulating among far fewer resumes in the summer months. So while the other guys are at the beach, you’ll be making forward progress. Keep networking, keep applying. Keep your eye on the prize.3. Interviews are less complicated to scheduleYour workload has eased up a bit, and the same is probably true for recruiters. You’ll find it’s much easier to find a mutually convenient time to meet someone in the summer months. Plus, there’s often a more relaxed and casual feel in the office. And, if your boss is away, you won’t have to worry about lying to her when you duck out for an interview with a headhunter!4. Networking can be more casualJust like the office dress code, the professional networking scene eases up a bit in summer. Gone are the formal mixers and event s. You can try the â€Å"grab a burger and a beer† strategy, or perhaps join a league sports team. And when you’re relaxed? You probably appear more confident. There are many more opportunities for casual conversations. You can start with the weather or the Red Sox and end up with a job prospect.5. You’ll have time to reevaluateHow did your year go at your current job? How well were you compensated? How well did you meet your goals? If you have a dream job on the horizon, now’s a good time to take stock and figure out what skills and certifications you may need to acquire to get there. Confer with your time table and make sure you’re not straying too far from it.In short, use these slower months to kick your job searching butt into high gear! Your future fall self will thank you.

Drug Profile Chart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drug Profile Chart - Essay Example The most dramatic consequence is the experience of stimulant-induced toxic psychosis. This phenomenon is characterized by feelings of persecution, delusions, and hallucinations. During such an episode, the user is capable of thinking clearly and can recall relevant and extraneous facts leading to increased blood pressure, heart action, breathing, and metabolic rate. The first step is to taper off the drug's dose and attempting to treat withdrawal symptoms. The detoxification process could then be followed by one of many behavioral therapies or cognitive behavioral therapy Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, Phenobarbital, Barbs, Reds, Red birds, Phennies, Tooies, Yellows, Yellow jackets, Truth serum, Downers, Blue heavens, Blue velvet, Blue devils, Nembies, Abbots, Mexican yellows, Purple hearts, Goof balls, Red devils, Lilly, F-40s, Pinks, Pink ladies, Seggy, Rainbows, Double trouble, Gorilla pills, F-66s (Names are often based on the colour of the diverted commercial product) When taken in high doses, barbiturates can cause serious side effects, including unpredictable emotional reactions and mental confusion Judgment becomes severely impaired and the user may experience mood swings. Self help groups are the most commonly sought source of help for alcohol-related

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Finance - Essay Example Analysis of Short-run IPO under Pricing Phenomenon in Australian Stock Market The phenomenon of under pricing of Initial Public Offer (IPO) is often considered as an anomaly that is mostly visible in the primary markets throughout the world. But the degree or extent of under pricing varies from country to country and further from sector to sector. Under pricing is defined as the phenomenon when the offer price of a new issue is lower than the price of first trade. It is calculated as difference close price on the date of listing and offer price of issue expressed as percentage of offer price of issue. In the US market, the short run under-pricing is a well known phenomenon but in order to investigate whether this phenomenon exists in the Australian stock markets or not the researcher will have to measure the short-run IPO performance by analysing the returns of IPOs that were listed between chosen time frame and remained listed up to at least 2 year holding period (Rhee, 2002, pp.1-7 ). By carefully analysing the IPO data of Australian stock markets since 2011, with special reference to the issue price of IPO shares and the last trading close price of the IPO stocks at the end of first day of trading after listing, it can be said that short-run IPO under-pricing phenomenon does exist in Australian stock markets. This is because the issue price of the IPO stocks were significantly underpriced compared to last trading price at the end of first of trading after IPO and listing. A careful analysis of IPO under pricing reveals that when the offer price of new issue is lower than first trading price after listing, then the stock is considered to be under priced. Now, a stock should generally be under priced when there is lack of demand in the market and that the phenomenon should be temporary since under pricing will eventually motivate investors to hold shares which will increase the demand for the shares and thus will consequently increase the price of shares (Bansa l and Khanna, 2012, pp.107-108). But, in case of IPO under pricing in US market or Australian stock markets, it is often believed that IPOs are under priced on concerns of uncertainty and liquidity regarding the level of probable trade in the market after listing. Hence, in general any stock which is expected to be less liquid and less predictable will be under priced to greater extent for two primary reasons. The first reason is to compensate the investor for taking risk of holding the stock and secondly increase the liquidity of trading. The general explanation for such phenomenon is that since the issuing entity tends to have more knowledge regarding the stocks and their values compared to investors, the company must under price the stocks to motivate investors to participate in the IPO (Ritter, 1995, pp.1-4). When the firms issue their shares to public through IPO they incur both direct and direct costs. The direct cost includes underwriting fee, registration, legal, and audit f ees. The indirect cost includes cost associated with under pricing. In the calculation of under pricing, the first day’s closing price represents investor expectation regarding what they are willing to pay for holding the firm’