Frederic Douglass Essay - 1305 Words

The United States of America is a country that was founded on the basic principles of freedom and liberty. This often leaves it with a reputation as a land full of hope, where anything is possible as long as one is willing to work hard for it. Unfortunately, this idea is not always true. Frederick Douglas, who was born a slave, did not have the privelege of this aforementioned freedom, liberty, and social mobility. Even though he was an exceptionally bright man, he was enslaved and persecuted because of his skin color. His life represents both the failure and success of the American dream, with the failure being the extremely more dominant, because of the color of his skin. amp;#9;The most fundemental of aspect of the American dream is†¦show more content†¦(Quote where he says he felt freedom) Feeling this yearnig from freedom at such a young age shows that being free was a god given right or quot;Law of naturequot;, as Jefferson so eloquently stated in the Declaration of Independence. With all of this is mind it is very clear Douglass being born in to slavery was a deifinite failure of the American Dream. amp;#9;In the Declaration of Independence one of the most famous portions goes as follows: quot;We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed to certain unailiable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.quot; This pursuit of happiness is a very important part of the American dream, for it is the result of all the rights that were layed out. By being alloted these rights a person is free to pursue happiness in their life, whatever happiness may be to them. amp;#9;It is very ironic that when Douglass finally got his first taste of freedom he had to be deceptive in sneaking away from his owner, just as the writers of the constution were deceptive in their defintion of quot;manquot;. Once Douglass escaped from slavery he was surprised to find that the north also a very racist place. Not only did the majority of northern whites still feel that blacks were inferiour, New York was full of people looking to turn in fugitive slaves. Frederick also found that his abolitionist friends were not free from this prejudice. At gatheringsShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Life of Frederic Douglass1087 Words   |  5 Pageswhen the start of America was in effect, Fredrick Douglass wrote an autobiography called, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass’s was an abolitionist and his impact upon the antislavery movement in America remains his crowning achievement. Although he wasnt a leader of some violent rebellion, his literat ure and renowned public speaking helped solidify his accomplishments towards the abolition of slavery. Fredrick Douglass was so prominent in the 19th century that he advisedRead MoreEssay on Education: Causes Effects584 Words   |  3 Pagesfamilies, social backgrounds, and cultures. 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Douglas shares with more detail one of his experiences of his journal as a slave, when he was under the power of Mr. Covey, in where he witnessed how he used a female slave as a breeder:Read MoreDouglass Example Essay1877 Words   |  8 Pages100 million people, equivalent to 1800s of the total population Africa.    5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Did Southerners treat their slaves well?  Ã‚  They loved to sing.  Ã‚  What was Douglass’  perception about the songs?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Southern  slave owners treated their slaves no good. Most of the slaves worked in the plantation. The slave was born black leaders - Frederic, said in his autobiography, the average person is happy, when the slaves sing songs of grief and sadness. Or sing particularly desolate feeling very warm tone;Read MoreThe Congregation Of Charity Of The Incarnate Word1380 Words   |  6 Pages They were founded in September 1866. 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In 1851, Dame Shirley (Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe) began publishing The Shirley Letters, vividRead More Performance Practice of Baroque Vocal Technique Essay3387 Words   |  14 PagesInterpretation of Music. Harper Row, 1963. 51-52. Classical Vocal Technique. [17 Oct. 2003] Glover, Jane. What is Baroque Music? Answer 3: A Fusion of Sound and Setting. Music of the Baroque. n.dat. n.pag. [17 Oct. 2003] . Handel, George Frederic. Ah! Spietato! 45 Arias from Operas and Oratorios for Voice and Piano, High Voice. Ed. Sergius Kagen. vol. 1. New York: International Music Company, 1959. 26-29. Jones, David L. Specific Issues Concerning the Professional Baroque Singer. 2003Read MorePre-Columbian Period9302 Words   |  38 Pagesvoyage. 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(New York: Routledge). Miles, Malcolm, and Tim Hall, with Iain Borden. 2004. The City Cultures Reader, 2nd ed. (New York: Routledge). Sennett, Richard, ed. 1969. Classic Essays on the Culture of Cities

Physical Status Score Improves Predictions Of Survival...

Full title: Self-reported fitness combined with American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status Score improves predictions of survival after endovascular aneurysm repair Category: Original article Short title: Combining self-reported fitness and ASA improves survival predictions after EVAR Authors: Mary Barnes (BAppSc, GradDipMath)1 , Margaret Boult (BSc (Hons), GDIM)2, Prue Cowled (BSc(Hons), PhD)2, Robert A Fitridge (MS, FRACS)2 Affiliations: 1CSIRO, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia 2Discipline of Surgery, The University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia 5011, Australia Corresponding author: Professor Robert Fitridge, Discipline of Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 28 Woodville Road, Woodville South, South Australia, 5011, AUSTRALIA Telephone number: +61 8 8222 7711, Fax number: +61 8 8222 6028 Email: robert.fitridge@adelaide.edu.au Source of Funding: This study was funded from a project grant (565335) awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Keywords: Endovascular procedures; aortic aneurysm, abdominal; physical fitness, ASA, mortality; registries; aged. Abstract Introduction: Although the American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status Score was established for statistical purposes, it is often used prognostically. However, older patients undergoing elective surgery are most often classified ASA 3, which limits the ability to stratify patients. We look at the

Arts and Design Concepts and Contexts

Question: Write an essay about the "Kangaroos as iconic objects in Australia". Answer: The continent of Australia has a very rich and diverse culture. The culture of Australia is derived from its varied geography, the rich heritage of oceans and seas including the influence the British colonization had on the land and people of Australia. The Australian culture is greatly influenced by the British settlement and it was the arrival of British that first created the rule of law and democracy in Australia (Glin 2013). Originally, Australia was a land of Aboriginal people who lived as tribals in Australia. Thus, Australia is blessed with varied and iconic cultural objects in their nature, however, the most iconic of the entire cultural objects which Australia inhabitants is the Australian kangaroo. The Australian kangaroo is only found in the continent of Australia where it lives in wild also. The Australian kangaroo is the national animal of Australia. Although kangaroos are only found in the continent of Australia, different species of kangaroo have different Australian states and territories as their home. There are almost four major species of Australian kangaroo and 12 different species of tree kangaroos which belong to different Australian territories right from Victorian to Queensland to Tasmania region. An Australian kangaroo is most popular for the strength and it possesses along with its beatifically different body structure compared to other animals or mammals. The scientific name for a kangaroo is Macropods which means the great footed and make them the most iconic and popular wildlife attraction which brings many tourist and locals in Australia making them the cultural icon of Australia (Cowlishaw Gillian 2013). The term icon is Greek in origin and refers to a person, symbol or object which represents a particular team or a region and has religious, cultural values attached to it. The term icon has repetitively been used to describe a religious object in medieval period in Europe which have certain belief, culture, values and traditions attached to it and which are followed by the population at large as believers (Burns 2010). Over the years, these icons become much more than just representative signs as they expressed deep-rooted, sentimental and significant ideas about faith that binds its believers together in one group. Certain individuals believed that icons had certain magical powers which allowed them to bind cultures and community together. Thus, icons are also divided into two parts namely the traditional icons which have religious values and the popular icons which express cultural values and faith. Thus, the Australian Kangaroo is a popular icon of the continent of Australia. The primary reason for the Australian Kangaroo to be an icon in Australia is because the kangaroos, including all its species which are about 60 approximately are only found in the continent of Australia making its a symbol which recognizes the continent of Australia. Thus, the first thing that comes to ones mind when you hear about Australia is the kangaroos. As the kangaroos are the most iconic and rare species found only in the continent of Australia, it attracts many foreign tourists (Murphy 2013). Thus, the Australia government advertises the tourism in Australia through a symbol of a kangaroo, making the kangaroos an iconic heritage of the Australian culture and nature. Thus, every icon has the same features whether it symbolizing a religious belief or a continent itself, all icons are objects which express certain belief or a faith or values and are believed to have magical powers which binds all the believers together as one group or nation. However, icons have different distinction and category based on what they convey. Thus, the further distinction of icons is pure icons or functional icons. Pure icons are term used for those icons which have no role other than to express belief or faith of whatever they symbolize. On the other hand, functional icons are term used for those icons which have a certain function attached to it other than mere or pure symbolizing a belief or a faith (Klugman, Gary 2013). Additionally, a further distinction of icons depends on its size and nature of the groups that believe in the icon. Thus, when a small group of individuals like a family believe in an icon and symbolize a sign or an object representing their family , the said icon is referred as personal icons. When a small community, area or a region symbolized an object or an article representing a particular belief or faith, the said symbol is referred as a local icon. However, when an icon symbolizes the belief and faith and values of a particular cultural group or society, the said icon is referred as a cultural icon. Thus, keeping in mind the above mentioned categories of icons, Australian kangaroo is a pure cultural icon of the continent of Australia (Craw, Charlotte 2010). There is great importance and significance attached to the kangaroo in the land of Australia. Kangaroo is the symbol which represents the continent of Australia. A symbol usually reflects the cultural identity and promotes cultural heritage and regeneration. Symbols usually define and explain what culture is about and how the individuals in the present day are connected with the culture that they inherited from ancestors or the Mother Nature. Thus, Australia is a large continent which has a small urban civilization and very small population along with diversity in terms of their natural resources, therefore having just one symbol to have over all compliance and acceptance is difficult in the continent. However, the kangaroo as an Australian iconic symbol is widely accepted and recognized over all Australia and globally (Henderson, Lissiman 2010). One good example of kangaroo being used as an iconic symbol in Australia was seen many years back around 1983, when the Australia boxing group named Australia II ended the 132 years old dominance of the America over the victory cup (Davison 2010). The Boxing Kangaroo was the iconic symbol of the said victory. Kangaroo have a inherit feature in them to box and kick in order to prevent themselves or their families whenever danger arises, thus, keeping the said feature of a kangaroo in mind the idea of a boxing kangaroo was used to act as a marketing icon which was ac accepted and appreciated in Australia and all around the world. Therefore, it is clear that since a very long time, the kangaroos have been important and significant cultural heritage for the continent of Australia and have been used repetitively to symbolize the continent as its iconic symbol or object (Khamis, Susie 2012). To further discuss why the kangaroos make an iconic object in the continent of Australia, it is important to have knowledge about certain theories like the semiotics theory. Semiotics is a termed use to define a study which includes learning sign processes and communications. Under the semiotics study, an individual learns to learn signs processes, designation, indication, metaphor, symbolism and meaningful communications. The theory of semiotics is based on the relationship between a sign or an object and its meaning. The sign under the said theory represents the object in the head of an individual who is referred as an interpreter of the said sign. Thus, according to the theory of semiotics, individuals and people are the ones who act as the interpreter of signs. This interpretation by individuals is based on three different objects which are the designative feature of a sign which directs an individual directly to a particular object, the Appraise feature, which highlights the qua lities and the features of the object which in return allows the interpreter to analyze and evaluate the object (Gilfedder, Deirdre 2010). Lastly, the perceptive feature which allows the interpreter to response or act in a particular manner about the said object. Thus, individual related kangaroos and Australia and this relationship between the two is interpreted by individuals all over the world accepting kangaroo to be an iconic symbol in Australia. Thus, individuals are directed to kangaroos as a sign for Australian continent, the features of kangaroo like its presence only in Australia, makes individuals evaluation its importance as a sign in Australia and lastly, individuals accepting kangaroo as an iconic symbol of the continent of Australia is a way of responding to the said object. Thus, according to the semiotic theory, kangaroo is an iconic Australian cultural heritage and a sign which represents the Australian continent. According to the semiotic theory, an individual res ponds to a sign in three different ways, which are the perception stage where the individual is told about object as a sign second is the manipulation stage when the individual interprets and responses to the said sign and lastly the consummation stage when an individual responds and accepted the object as a sign (Larmour 2012). Thus, applying the said theory, kangaroo is accepted as a sign and symbol representing the land of Australia not just within the continent itself but also globally where people associate the sign of kangaroo only to the continent of Australia. Thus, kangaroos are of great cultural heritage in the continent of Australia which are recognized as a symbol representing the Australians land and continent within and outside Australia. Australia due to its diversity ahs many number of symbolic icons like the opera house, the gold cost beach, the Tasmania region, however these symbolic icons are regionally or local icons which only the individuals living in the neigh borhood of the regions recognize, however different and varied species of kangaroos are found all over in every state and territory in Australia making them accepted as an iconic symbol all over Australia and the world (Appleby, Bryce 2010). The world has recognized kangaroos as the most important iconic object in Australia, as breaches and opera houses are present all over the world in different countries and cities, however a kangaroo is only present and found in the land of Australia, making it Australias most important, distinct and iconic object (Crase 2011). Another theory which will help us related to kangaroos being an important iconic symbol of Australia is the concept of material culture. The concept of material culture talks about the physical evidence of a culture represented by an object. Material culture studies and philosophy describes the relationship between individuals in a society and the things around them, their history, preservation and the interpretation of the objects (Jaworski 2010). Therefore, a close relation can be drawn of the said concept or theory to the Australian kangaroos that are the physical evidence of the culture in the continent of Australia. The kangaroos are the objects which are the physical evidence of a cultural heritage and wildlife in Australia and are recognized globally (Postill 2012). Therefore, the semiotic theory and the concept of material culture make it evident that the kangaroos are the iconic symbol of Australia as individuals whether in Australia or outside always refer to kangaroos as a n inhabitant of Australia and recognize evaluation, respond and accepted kangaroos to be a symbolic and an iconic sign of the continent of Australia. After reviewing the semiotic theory and the concept of material culture, it is clear that the kangaroos are the symbols which represent the culture of Australia. It is also evident that the kangaroos are used as a sign to represent the Australian land and Australian since ancient times (McGregor, William 2010). However, a more recent theory of Visual rhetoric also will help us to argue that the kangaroos are indeed the most popular cultural symbol and heritage in Australia. The Visual rhetoric is a recent study which describes and states the manner in which visual images communicate compared to other modes like the verbal or aural way of delivering a message. This, the theory o Visual rhetoric somehow determines the ability of an individual to read a sign, image or a picture. Thus, the said theory of Visual rhetoric stated and tried to determine the capacity of an individual to read what an image or an object he sees is trying to communicate. Thus for an object, sign or symbol to be conceptualized as visual rhetoric, the object, sign and symbol must have three features (Verran, Helen 2010). These features include they object or sign to be symbolic in nature, representing a particular belief, faith or a region. The said object or sign needs to be intervened by humans and individuals needs to acknowledge it physical presence and lastly, the said object and sign needs to be held capable of being interpreted with the primary objective of communication. There is a close relation and similarity between the theory of Visual rhetoric and the theory of Semiotics. The theory of Semiotics is used to determine the rhetorical importance of sign making. Thus, the theory of semiotics talks about describing the physical importance or physical evidence of a symbol or a sign, whereas the theory of visual rhetoric is a broader aspect of a similar concept which determines the different ways in which individuals visually try to communicate with objects and signs. Thus, both these theories help us to establish concrete arguments which justify that the kangaroo is an iconic symbol and object of the continent of Australia (Silverstein, Michael 2010). The theory states that the images and signs communicate certain messages which is true in the case of Australian kangaroo which give its visual audience whether physical or in form of images, the message that the kangaroos are a rich cultural heritage of Australia and belong and habituate in the lands of Australia only making it the universally accepted symbol representing Australia. Thus, the use of icons to identify a belief, faith or a region is an ancient European concept which has taken a form of many theories in the recent past giving icons an identification too be used as a symbol in many regions and communities which are acceptable globally. As icons form a concrete part of a belief or a faith as it connects the believers of the same together in one group, the importance of icon is accepted and appreciated widely making its a globally accepted theory of identification of subjects (Raggatt, Pete 2010). There are a variety of iconic symbols representing different nations like the tiger is the iconic cultural animal of India; the city of Paris is symbolized by the famous Eiffel towers, the city of New York has an iconic street called Times Square whereas as the Bhuj Khalifa in Dubai is considered an iconic symbol. Thus, different countries in the world have different and varied signs or symbols which are iconic in nature and globally accepted. Thus, similarl y, in the continent of Australia, the kangaroos are considered to be an iconic symbol which represents the countrys rich diversity and heritage as the Australian land is the only place where kangaroos exist in the entire world, the whole world recognizes it as a symbol of the Australians land and culture. The iconic symbol of kangaroos is additionally used in the tourism marketing and attracts a lot of foreign tourist who visit to visit and see the kangaroos in the continent of Australia (Gorman-Murray2012). Reference List Appleby, Bryce. "Skippy the GreenKangaroo: Identifying Resistances to Eating Kangaroo in the Home in a Context of Climate Change." (2010). Burns, Peter M., Cathy Palmer, Jo-Anne Lester, and Lyn Bibbings, eds.Tourism and Visual Culture Methods and cases. Vol. 2. CABI, 2010. Cowlishaw, Gillian. "Living the Anthropology of Indigenous Australians."Up Close and Personal: On Peripheral Perspectives and the Production of Anthropological Knowledge25 (2013): 94. Crase, Lin, Sue OKeefe, and Brian Dollery. "Some observations about the reactionary rhetoric circumscribing the guide to the MurrayDarling Basin Plan."Economic Papers: A journal of applied economics and policy30, no. 2 (2011): 195-207. Craw, Charlotte. "The ecology of emblem eating: Environmentalism, nationalism and the framing of kangaroo consumption."Media International Australia127, no. 1 (2010): 82-95. Davison, Jane. "Visual rhetoric and the case of intellectual capital."Accounting, Organizations and Society39, no. 1 (2014): 20-37. Glin, Uriel, Michelle E. Wilson, Graeme M. Coulson, and Marco Festa-Bianchet. "Offspring sex, current and previous reproduction affect feeding behaviour in wild eastern grey kangaroos."Animal Behaviour86, no. 5 (2013): 885-891. Gilfedder, Deirdre. "The visual rhetoric of Australian travel posters between the wars: Branding a new nation." (2010): 95. Gorman-Murray, Andrew, and Ruth Lane, eds.Material geographies of household sustainability. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2012. Henderson, Holly, and C. M. Skip Lissiman OAM. "The men from down under: the legacies of Australia II."International Journal of Event and Festival Management1, no. 3 (2010): 186-201. Jaworski, Adam, and Crispin Thurlow, eds.Semiotic landscapes: Language, image, space. AC Black, 2010. Khamis, Susie. "Brand Australia: half-truths for a hard sell."Journal of Australian Studies36, no. 1 (2012): 49-63. Klugman, Matthew, and Gary Osmond.Black and proud: the story of an iconic AFL photo. NewSouth, 2013. Larmour, Peter. "9. Corruption and the Concept of Culture: Evidence from the Pacific Islands."CORRUPTION(2012): 155. McGregor, William B. "Optional ergative case marking systems in a typological-semiotic perspective."Lingua120, no. 7 (2010): 1610-1636. Murphy, Laurie, Andrea Schurmann, and Gianna Moscardo. "Building brands with music: Australian cases." InMusic Business and the Experience Economy, pp. 153-174. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013. Postill, John, and Sarah Pink. "Social media ethnography: The digital researcher in a messy web."Media International Australia145, no. 1 (2012): 123-134. Raggatt, Peter TF. "The Dialogical Self and Thirdness A Semiotic Approach to Positioning Using Dialogical Triads."Theory Psychology20, no. 3 (2010): 400-419. Silverstein, Michael. "Direct and indirect communicative acts in semiotic perspective."Journal of Pragmatics42, no. 2 (2010): 337-353. Verran, Helen. "Number as an inventive frontier in knowing and working Australias water resources."Anthropological Theory10, no. 1-2 (2010): 171-178.

Rewards of Hard Work free essay sample

Indulging in treats and good food in general brings incredible satisfaction and happiness to one’s body. Food serves as a unifying theme between Mary Oliver’s â€Å"Sister Turtle†, Kafka’s â€Å"A Hunger Artist† and Mildred Armstrong Kalish’s â€Å"Little Heathens†. Regardless of the different settings they place, â€Å"Little Heathens† and â€Å"Sister Turtle† share a love and appreciation for being able to enjoy food. Kalish’s memoir reflects on growing up during the Great Depression on a farm where she learns the importance of hard work and perseverance. We will write a custom essay sample on Rewards of Hard Work or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The narrator in â€Å"Sister Turtle†, however, struggles to enjoy food without feeling guilt and anxiety for succumbing to her body’s cravings. In contrast, Kafka’s hunger artist completely rejects food for the simple reason that he cannot find something tasteful. Consequently, he misses out on essential pleasures that food brings, such as happiness. People often take the luxury of cooking and eating a good meal for granted, even though putting food on the table requires hard work and perseverance. In â€Å"Little Heathens†, â€Å"Sister Turtle† and â€Å"A Hunger Artist†, the protagonists show their consciousness of the labor involved in obtaining and preparing food as well as the different pleasures that may derive from food. Raised by a single mother during the Great Depression, Kalish realized that modern technology has led to a loss of connection to food and a convenience-oriented society. Kalish’s childhood consisted of mundane chores and arduous farm work because her family had to provide everything for themselves. The Kalish family owned four farms that served as both a blessing and a curse during difficult times. In her adult life, Kalish has the luxury of buying food from a supermarket, using an electric stove and eating out at restaurants. As a mother of her own family, she wanted them â€Å"to be aware of the foods, the ingenuity, the knowledge, the skills, and above all, the everlasting work that was required to survive when resources and supplies were limited† (Kalish 143). Kalish never took food for granted because she grew up on a farm where she learned first hand that one needed to hard work in order â€Å"to survive when resources and supplies were limited† (Kalish 143), such as during the Great Depression. In addition, Kalish’s memoir shows the importance of teamwork and family in order to compensate for the lack of technological devices. A self-sufficient farm, such as the one in â€Å"Little Heathens†, requires constant time consuming and arduous hard work in order to maintain it. Kalish’s memoir explains how â€Å"meal preparations demanded a ceaseless dedication of time and energy that is not readily apparent† (Kalish 117). Every family member must contribute to procuring and making food; the adults take on the bigger responsibilities such as cooking and starting fires (Kalish 105) while the children perform their daily chores. In fact, â€Å"the continuity and stability of family life was absolutely dependent on the fact that all of us kids did the chores that were expected of us† (Kalish 104). The youngest members of the family have a tremendous amount of responsibility on their shoulders. Even though their work consists of small tasks such as â€Å"getting wood† (Kalish 104), it helps the adults a great deal because it relieves them of time consuming chores. If one person slacks, the work remains uncompleted and the whole family suffers. On the contrary, they are rewarded for their hard work at the end of the day with food on the table. Although each member of the family has a specific role to play, most farm work requires a group endeavor. Food preparation calls for the effort of the entire family, such as picking beans and harvesting for a Thanksgiving feast. The Kalish family participates in â€Å"handpicking green beans for the canning factory in Vinton† (Kalish 107), an exhausting but rewarding task. Although it requires toiling in the bean fields for hours under the hot sun, the family members do not complain because they enjoy themselves, listening to jokes and conversations (Kalish 107). In addition, they receive compensation, â€Å"twenty-five cents a bushel: a veritable fortune† (Kalish 107), which helps the family a great deal. Thanksgiving, an important event for the Kalish family, requires â€Å"preparations and planning†¦[that] began weeks before the event† (Kalish 40). This includes â€Å"gathering ground-cherries† and â€Å"cracking nuts† (Kalish 41). Everyone enjoys this special day; they cook for hours in the kitchen and then gather to eat good food. On Thanksgiving Day, the Kalish family truly appreciates being blessed with food and the good times they have in the kitchen regardless of the devastating effects of the Great Depression. At the end of the day, the Kalish family spends time together cooking in the kitchen and enjoying the fruits of their hard work. The Kalish household revolves around the kitchen: â€Å"it was where [they] gathered for companionship and for a variety of work and leisure-time pursuits, where we ate all our meals, and where people entered the house most of the time† (Kalish 119). The kitchen serves as a haven because the â€Å"light, warmth, food, drink† (Kalish 120) raise their spirits. The family dedicates most of the day to performing mundane farm chores in the fields. However, the kitchen work, such as baking, boiling water and cooking meals, allows for time to bond and create memories. The fondest times Kalish reflects upon in the memoir include cooking alongside her mother and aunt. She can recall the specific measurements used in the recipe of a â€Å"favorite corn dishes†¦succotash† (Kalish 124). Furthermore, Kalish associates Saturday nights and Aunte Belle with â€Å"chocolate fudge, penuche and popcorn† (Kalish 32). These nights involve eating, conversing and learning poems. Kalish appreciates her childhood and the influences in her life. An overlooked but essential part of life, food, defines Kalish’s childhood but it also helps her adult life. She shows her connection of food and consciousness that some simple pleasures, such as satisfying one’s appetite and feeling a sense of accomplishment, come from hard work. In contrast to the demanding lifestyle on a farm, the protagonist of â€Å"Sister Turtle† spends her time observing nature and trying to decide whether her loyalty lies with her mind or with her body. She feels lost; should she satisfy her meat eating appetite or not? Rather than hunting game, the protagonist watches animals interact in nature and craves their fresh meat to satisfy her body. She feels conflicted because â€Å"[her] great ones†¦have taught [her] – to observe with passion, to think with patience, to live always care-ingly† (Oliver 20). With these guidelines, she lives peacefully with nature and therefore becomes more aware of her surroundings. The protagonist shows her consciousness of the â€Å"miraculous interchange that make things work, that causes one thing to nurture another, that creates the future out of the past† (Oliver 14). Everything in Nature takes part in the cycle, where a body is sacrificed in order to move forward in life. Feeding her body and being â€Å"devoted to Nature† (Oliver 14) are both natural acts, but should she listen to her mind or her body? This ongoing dilemma within herself forces the protagonist to analyze food carefully, which takes hard work and patience. The turtles, especially their eggs, fascinate her and test her self-control. She watches them work every day and eventually digs up the eggs and eats them. Part of her motivation stems from curiosity, but the predator part wants them just to satisfy her body. She â€Å"dug in the sand to the depth of nine inches more or less† (Oliver 21), trying to find the small turtle eggs. After she successfully uncovers them, she feels the greatest sense of accomplishment and satisfaction: â€Å"I scrambled them. They were a meal. Not too wonderful, not too bad. Rich, substantial† (Oliver 21). Acquiring these eggs took the protagonist a significant amount of time, from studying the turtles’ habits to digging for them. Completely aware of the effects of her actions, â€Å"[she] ate them all, with attention, whimsy, devotion, and respect† (Oliver 22). Not only does she find pleasure in the food itself, but eating also brings about a sense of victory and peace. She finally decides that â€Å"[the body], which must be fed, will be well fed† (Oliver 22) and learns that natures cycle benefits everyone who takes part in it. The protagonist in â€Å"Sister Turtle† demonstrates perseverance and hard work, which allows for rewards such as food and an understanding of her body. On the contrary to â€Å"Little Heathens† and â€Å"Sister Turtle†, the hunger artist rejects food and rather than laboring in fields like the townspeople, he sits in a cage. His profession believes fasting stages a great performance and it disappoints his honor to even â€Å"swallow the smallest morsel of food† (Kafka 1). The hunger artist enjoys the attention of being a celebrity in the town, but he does nothing while bystanders glance at his frightening â€Å"skeleton thinness† (Kafka 2). Unlike the protagonists in â€Å"Little Heathens† and â€Å"Sister Turtle†, the hunger artist does not work hard; he â€Å"[knew] how easy it was to fast† (Kafka 2). He lives life with relative â€Å"ease† for he has no responsibilities and does not contribute to the economy like the townspeople do. The hunger artist finds self-expression through the art form of fasting more important than embracing essential parts of life like food. As a consequence of refusing to eat, the hunger artist leads an angry and unfulfilling life. He misses out on the pleasure and excitement from consuming good food. Furthermore, he alienates himself when he joins a circus, only to sit in another cage (Kafka 4). As a result, he lashes out and expresses his anger â€Å"with an outburst of fury and to the general alarm began to shake the bars of his cage like a wild animal† (Kakfa 3). He feels cheated of his fame and exercises no patience for people who do not understand him. For example, the impresario sells photographs of the hunger artist that show him â€Å"almost dead from exhaustion† (Kafka 3). The hunger artist wants to fight back against this â€Å"perversion of the truth† (Kafka 4) about his profession. He constantly feels irritated and impatient because he cannot relate to others in the community who enjoy working hard to produce their own food. Not only does the hunger artist occasionally lash out in frustration, but he also feels dissatisfied. The hunger artist strives for only one thing in life: the admiration of others. Kafka portrays him as a weak character that feels â€Å"cheated† in life (Kakfa 6). The majority of people in the town, such as the butchers, have to work hard to provide resources for the town and put food on their own table at home. The hunger artist, however, does not take on these responsibilities and does not see the importance of food. Therefore, â€Å"he was never satisfied† (Kafka 2). In the end, the hunger artist finally admits his reasoning behind fasting: â€Å"I couldn’t find the food I liked. If I had found it, believe me, I should have made no fuss and stuffed myself like you or anyone else† (Kafka 6). His body rejects food because his mind tells him it is not worthwhile since he does not like anything. The hunger artist’s life is marked by anger, frustration and melancholy because he fails to appreciate and see the importance of food as the protagonists do in â€Å"Little Heathens† and â€Å"Sister Turtle†. Kalish quickly adapts to modern technology in her adult life, but realizes in her memoir that her upbringing on a farm has made a more mature person who appreciates life and food. The protagonist in â€Å"Sister Turtle† does not let her mind or body overtake the other. Regardless of how she decides to live her life, whether to eat meat or not, she is conscious of the work required to produce the food she consumes. The hunger artist never understands the simple rewards food brings and therefore, he is never satisfied and happy. Often taken for granted since it is part of one’s daily routine, food can only be achieved through hard work and perseverance, which Kalish, Mary Oliver and Kalish demonstrate in their works.

Gerontology Case Study Essays

Gerontology Case Study Essays Gerontology Case Study Essay Gerontology Case Study Essay Comprehensive Scholarly Paper Gerontology is the scientific study of old age, the process of aging, and the particular problems of old people. With maturation the elderly suffer from age- related changes that effect their overall health and day to day living. Even those these changes provide limitations that can be lived with, these changes can also exacerbate many medical conditions. The elderly client I decided to evaluate, H. J. is a 76 year old african american female, that has a past medical history of chronic heart failure, myocardial infarction, hypertension, asthma, and renal mass. H. J. also has a past surgical history of a left mastectomy. She is retired and lives at home by herself and has one daughter. Some of her medical conditions are definitely effected by age as well as lifestyle. With age the heart and blood vessels undergo many changes. In the heart with age the SA node loses some of its cells, this may result in a lower heart rate. Abnormal rhythms such as atrial fibrillation, these arrhythmia are often due to heart failure. Hypertension in the elderly is also common. With an increase in age the systolic blood pressure can increase up to 20 mmHg on its own. : The baroreceptors become less sensitive with aging. This may explain why many older people have orthostatic hypotension. With all of these heart changes it is important that the elderly are educated about lifestyle changes. While H. J was a patient in the hospital she ordered a heart healthy diet, which helps control blood pressure and cholesterol. The patient also had a history of a stroke, which also has to do with lack of blood flow to the brain. The prevalence of all these medical conditions increase with age when the elderly are not properly taking care of themselves. It is important to be eating a healthy diet, exercising, and refraining from the abuse of substances. By this client being a previous intravenous drug abuser she is even more exposed to complication. Drug abuse can, cause cardiovascular conditions ranging from abnormal heart rate to heart attacks. Injected drugs can also lead to collapsed veins and infections of the blood vessels and heart valves. There are many considerations when it comes to medications and the elderly. Age-related changes often affect the action and availability of the medications in the body. Many of the elderly are also non-adherent to medication. For example although H. J was administered several medications in the hospital such as lovenox, protonix, Plavix, bactroban, methadone, and multivitamins, there was no list of medications in her file for reconciliation and I am almost certain it is because she refuses to take them. Just in that day I witnessed her refuse several medications as well as labs, while in the hospital. Following her many hospital visits she has been ordered several medications to be continued at home, but does not want to take them for her own ersonal reasons. There are many factors that can contribute to non-adherence which include; depression, cognitive impairment, isolated living conditions, finances, beliefs, adverse effects and knowledge deficit. It is likely this patient did not want to about how much the medicine could help her if she did take it. The medicine she was sure to take was her methadone. Methadone is mainly given to patients who suffered from a drug dependency and causes irritability when in between doses. Drug users who are struggling with a dependency definitely have a cognitive impairment and are ot often thinking with a clear head. Polypharmacy is also a issue with the elderly because of drug interactions. The elderly are more at risk for medication-medication interactions due to the fact they are prescribed so many medications. H. J did not have many functional limitations documented on her chart. She was able to feed herself without assistance, but did require assistance getting to the bedside commode. Since she is unable to get to the restroom alone in the hospital, it is a wonder how she maintains living at home alone. With her ambulation problems he is definitely at risk for falls at home. Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can increase the risk of early death. It is important to teach older adults who live at home alone how to decrease the risks of falls. They must remove tripping hazards such as rugs, improve lighting, and add grab bars where needed. Instrumental activities of daily living would be even more difficult to complete for H. J. Assessment of her functional status in the hospital showed that some level ssistance would be necessary at home to complete tasks such as medication management, transportation, and bathroom assistance. Upon assessment I did observe some cognitive impairment which I believe was due to the effects of medication. Prior to the administration of methadone H. J was very uncooperative and unable to answer basic questions related to pain rating and orientation. She did not want to be bothered or assessed at all. About an hour and a half later following her medication administration she was much more talkative playful and willing to answer any questions I had to ask. She was also even willing to explain why she refused her MRI which was due to claustrophobia. Elderly people are more likely than younger patients to develop cognitive impairment as a result of taking medications. This reflects age- and disease-associated changes in brain neurochemistry and drug handling. The client felt very relaxed and at ease when her daughter came to visit. H. J was even more lively and at ease when her daughter came to visit. Family support is very important to the elderly. Without family visits or attenti on, the elderly may fall into a depression, or feel all alone. A big part of any elder care program is to give emotional support. Studies show that this can improve life expectancy by several years, and create a more positive and optimistic environment for the aged. H. J lives independently at home, but with the amount of assistance she requires in the hospital setting revealed that assistive devices such as a cane or walker may be necessary. After observation I also think it would be a excellent idea for her to move in with a family member or live in a assisted living facility if someone in the family is unable to provide care. Many elderly people will live without assistance until it is offered or they are hurt. Transitioning from independent living to assisted living can be difficult. It is important to remind the client that they are not being stripped of their independence. include educating her. Most of her issues, such as refusal of medication stem from not being educated on how medication and lifestyle changes can help with her overall health. Many elderly clients are set in there ways and are not educated about modern methods of treatment. None of the nurses really explained to her why he should get the MRI or take lovenox when she refused them. Sometimes a personal relationship needs to be built, so that a client can understand you genuinely have their best interest at hand. Physical therapy would also be a recommendation. Physical therapy is a non-medicinal method to increase strength, flexibility, range of motion, endurance and alleviate pain. Falling is such a big risk for the elderly, physical therapy puts patients at a lower risk for falls. People often are unsure about physical therapy because of the financial aspect, but some Medicare nd Medicaid plans cover the costs. I would also recommend another type of housing option. A continuing care retirement community or assisted living facility would be good options. They both offer nursing home care, however a assisted living community would go a little further and offer meals, social activities. Having elderly clients transition from a independent home setting to an assisted living facility can be difficult and also is sometimes associated with a negative image, but it is important to explain to the client how much safer it is. Their are many myths about age. People believe that with age decline is inevitable, but it is important to remember that regardless of age every elderly person should have the right and opportunity continue to live a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable life. And even with decline there are many options out there to make sure there is good quality of life available to patients that are suffering. References Aging changes in the heart and blood vessels: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2012, September 4). U. S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from nlm. nih. ov/medlineplus/ency/article/004006. tm Aging changes in the kidneys and bladder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2012, November 10). U. S National Library of Medicine. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http:// www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004010. htm Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview. (2013, September 20). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from cdc. gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/ falls/adultfalls. html Feature, W. (n. d. ). Physical Therapy a Boon for Seniors. WebMD. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from webmd. om/healthy-aging/features/ hysical-therapy-benefits-for-seniors Miller, C. A. (20122012). Nursing for wellness in older adults (Sixth ed. ). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Moore, A. (1999, July 15). Result Filters. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/10459729 The Importance of Family Support for Elderly Well?„ Being. (2011, April 27). San Diego Home Care. Retrieved December 9, 2013, from http:// homehealthcaresandiego. wordpress. com/2011104/27/the-importance-of-family- support-for-elderly-well-being/

Maritime Applications for Machine Learning and Data Science

Maritime Applications for Machine Learning and Data Science    As data collection and analysis seeps into the conservative maritime industry we are beginning to see cracks in this grand old system based on tradition and trial and error. When I say old, I don’t mean the 1980’s or even the 1880’s. Opinions vary on the exact time shipping became modern as any sailor or longshoreman would recognize today. When the English and Dutch began standardizing shipping practices between their two countries to increase safety and profit the practices soon spread. This was happening in the late 1600’s and if you wanted to be part of the shipping economy you looked to the English, Dutch, and to a lesser extent, the Spanish. Today we can see another example of this technology clustering having a lasting effect on a growing industry. Starting in the 1960’s California became the place to be if you were a part of the new generation of electronics companies. Standards were set and the jargon and culture of Silicon Valley we have today is a direct result of this small but powerful geographic area. In addition to soft concepts like jargon, deep architectural standards like eight digit binary numbers were solidified. The same sorts of transactions and relationships were also true of shipping as it became a standardized business. Global shipping today represents many cultures and values and it must be responsive in the era of pervasive media and digital content, or it will be demonized and lose the minimal goodwill available to a largely invisible industry. Yet when they see a good idea, which is one that will save money, it is quickly adopted by the upper levels of management. Workers are sometimes resistant to change for fear of job loss. Both of these behaviors occurred when the intermodal shipping container was introduced in the 1950’s as a cost saving measure. Automation of ships and ports will be a much more difficult journey than the one fought by the proponents of the modular container in the early days. Job loss among longshoremen was real and the sealed container ended the common practice of pilfering some of the cargo. This was common, and still happens occasionally today, with some Masters sanctioning the activity. The fact was it took much less labor to load a ship with large boxes than it did individual sacks or grain or crates of equipment that varied in size and weight. Automated ships and ports will eliminate some jobs that are hazardous or dirty and most people will not miss this kind of work. Jobs that have a high value are a different story. A totally autonomous ship is in the future and that means less risk for deck hands while increasing profits substantially for ship owners. The savings are similar to autonomous car savings, less risk, less insurance costs, more efficient operation, better traffic management, and elimination of human error.    The elimination of human error on the operational level is important since most accidents happen because of failure due to poor design or human error in some aspect of vessel operation. Machine learning is giving us insights into the marine world we never had before, and some of the revelations are contrary to accepted beliefs. A good example of this is the Digital Deck product for commercial fishermen that was developed by the company Point 97. Digital tracking of fishery data collected by fishermen in their daily operation led to discoveries local regulators used to manage fish stocks and reduce the resources needed to search for illegal fishing activity. Automatic importing of data allows for near real-time insights not only for regulators, but also fishermen. Now a new class of data is emerging with the announcement from MIT that they have developed an algorithm that monitors wave data in order to predict rouge wave formation. Rouge wave are giant and often deadly waves that form in the open sea where two wave fields combine. Rouge waves are often in the form of a peak and not a long running wave like those produced by tsunami. This is a new class of data because it needs quick action to work. Automatic avoidance systems are not generally accepted and permission to change course could take minutes. Rouge waves form and do their damage quickly so the best use of this data is in an automatic system that will change course or turn to face the wave bow-on. This will make mariners uncomfortable but the alternative is worse. Classification societies, insurers, and regulators all stand in the way of more automation but like self-driving cars, they will be accepted because of greater convenience and cost savings. We have already reached a point where there is too much data for one human to absorb. All that data on the helm displays can be better managed by computers which already run many parts of a modern ship. The few sailors that do remain on ships of the future will likely be technicians with few hands on duties unless automated maintenance and repair systems fail.

Art History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Art History - Essay Example The rise of humanism promoted a renewed interest in pagan themes. The writings of the classical authors such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates were influential in the new philosophies of the period. Therefore, an interest in the writings promoted an interest in the mythologies of the ancient Classical period (Hankins 14). However, the paintings would reflect the cultural aesthetics of the time period in which they were painted through the clothing and styles that were used upon the figural representations. Their were distinct differences in the work that was created in the late 15th century to that of the early 16th century. The work of the later half of the century was typified by large groupings of figures who created a story based on period interpretations of the concepts of mythological representations, where in the 16th century there is a shift to fewer figures with attention giving to the realism and curvature of the body. Two paintings that can be compared for these attributes are Francesco Cossa’s Triumph of Venus 1469-1470 and Raphael’s Three Graces 1501-1505. The transition between the two centuries happened very rapidly as the abandonment of the Gothic period with its flatter representations gave way to the appeal of the transformational quality of the use of light to reveal curve and depth. In looking at these two pieces of artwork, it is clear that the representation of the three graces are similar in composition, but distinctly different in the way they are presented. The purpose of the Three Graces are to represent the concept of benefits. In most ancient depictions they are shown nude as or in sheer clothing, according Seneca, benefits should be visible (Algazi et al 348). The goddesses are known for the affiliation with beauty, charm, human creativity, fertility and beauty. They are most often depicted as three represented by Aglaea who is

Comparing Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparing Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau - Essay Example One of the key problems involved in the debate on justification of political authority is the balance between limitations imposed by any political authority and individual freedom. On the one hand, freedom is exceptionally important to the life of a person in many senses. On the other hand, an individual can not be allowed to act solely at his or her will: there must be certain rules for behavior. Establishing this balance between individual freedom and interests of the community is the key task of any state and government which acts like a stabilizer. In case this balance is in place, the highest level of individual freedom is achieved while the risk of falling into total anarchy is avoided (Popper, 1985). According to Thomas Hobbes, in prehistoric uncivilized times before any sort of government emerged, there was constant war with â€Å"every man, against every man† (Hobbes, 1668, p.12). Consequently, Hobbesian justification of authority logically followed from the total brutality of human beings in their natural state characterized by intolerance: submission to authority was the only way to eliminate the brutality and intolerance of the State of Nature (Hobbes, 1668). By contrast, John Locke believed that the original state of man was not as hostile as Hobbes thought. In Locke’s opinion happiness, reason and tolerance were the core characteristics of the natural man, and all humans, in their original state, were equal and absolutely free to pursue things, considered as indisputable rights, namely â€Å"†¦life, health, liberty and possessions† (Locke, 1990, par. 6). However, Locke’s State of Nature is not chaotic with every individual pursuing its own egoistic goals. Despite absence of any authority or government with the power to punish the subjects for wrong actions, Locke believed that the State of Nature was effectively regulated by morality. Since all human beings in the

Disraelis policy during the Bulgarian Crisis of 1876 Essay Example for Free

Disraelis policy during the Bulgarian Crisis of 1876 Essay To what extent was Gladstones religion the driving force behind his attempt to sabotage Disraelis policy during the Bulgarian Crisis of 1876? Of all the Bulgarian atrocities perhaps the greatest1 was the label Disraeli ascribed to Gladstones 1876 pamphlet The Bulgarian Horrors and the Question of the East, which concentrated into a single utterance a profoundly excited public mood struggling for articulation.2 With the publication of this pamphlet, Gladstone effectively undermined Disraelis policy of unwavering support for the Turks in the face of the Bulgarian massacres, and emerged at the forefront of the Bulgarian Agitation. The popular pressure that ensued ultimately forced Disraeli to abandon any overt military support of the Ottoman Empire, and to declare neutrality in the issue. While the consequences of Gladstones action are known, his reasons for involving himself in the debate are questionable. Gladstones fervent religious beliefs could have provided the main impetus for his involvement, but other arguments, such as his intervention being an anti-Conservative political strategy, are perhaps more plausible given an examination of the evidence. In examining this issue, it is important to understand the depth of contempt that Gladstone and Disraeli held for each others foreign policy. It was not their principles that differed: both believed in a policy of non-intervention in European affairs except for in those that could impact British interests. However, their methods were entirely different. Disraeli believed very strongly in the ruling right and superiority of the established aristocracy in Britain, and this certainly transferred across to his foreign policy, as illustrated by his endorsement of Austrian aristocratic Habsburg rule in Italy in 1851. He felt that Britain had a duty to Europe as the wealthiest and most powerful Empire, and that this would best be served by preserving British influence and furthering the spread of the British Empire. Gladstone also wished to preserve British interests, but often found this to conflict with his nationalism, sympathy with the unalienable rights of smaller nations to their nationhood3. In terms of Italy, therefore, Gladstone could not support Austrian rule because it contravened his nationalistic beliefs, despite the fact that Habsburg domination could have proved more beneficial to Britain. This is mirrored in his stance in the arbitration of the Alabama settlement: Gladstone appeared to capitulate to American demands as opposed to supporting British interests, as he believed that it was the most moral course of action. It was from these differences that the deep opposition to each others foreign policy was born. Disraeli saw Gladstones policy as counter-productive in terms of British interests, accusing him of wanting to dismantle the Empire, while Gladstone found Disraeli to be far too much of an imperialist and insensitive to the rights of foreign nations. Disraeli not only poured scorn on Gladstones foreign affairs, but also disliked his dogmatic religion. It is possible that the modern focus on Gladstone as a highly religious politician was brought about by Disraelis very public attacks on his fervent religious beliefs. Disraeli held nothing but scorn for Gladstones religion, and talked with disdain of him always preaching, praying, speechifying or scribbling4. For Disraeli, Gladstone used his religion to mask his true intentions to appear pious while actually manipulating and manoeuvring his way through politics. Perhaps it is Disraelis emphasis on ridiculing Gladstones religious beliefs that has inspired the concept that he was first and foremost a highly religious man. However, the general consensus is that Gladstones Evangelical upbringing led to a strong sense of religious morality that could be said to have permeated all aspects of his life, including his politics. In modern Britain it would rarely be expected for a Prime Minister to admit to religion colouring their policies: as Alastair Campbell famously declared, we dont do God. Blairs revelation that he ultimately looked to religion for his decision in declaring war on Iraq was frowned upon by many who felt that personal beliefs and convictions should not have an impact on decisions that will affect whole countries. However, in the far more religious Britain of 1876 this was not so controversial. Religious issues permeated every aspect of life, including law and politics. The attitudes of the day are clearly demonstrated in the Bradlaugh Case, in which confirmed atheist and elected MP for Northampton Charles Bradlaugh was barred from taking up his parliamentary seat because of his refusal to take the religious Oath of Allegiance required for entry. This issue was disputed regularly in parliament, showing the height of religious feeling of the time. Gladstone in particular made no secret of his religion, or of his beliefs that it was entirely applicable to politics. In his book The State in its Relations to the Church (1838), Gladstone raised the idea that religion and politics were inextricably linked: the Church was the conscience of the State, while the State had a duty to lend its consistent, unwavering support to the Anglican Church. Although his views later changed to reject the exclusivity of the Church of England, throughout his life he retained the belief that religion should be firmly ingrained in the running of the country. Gladstones beliefs caused him to take an ethical stance in foreign policy, which contrasted greatly with Disraelis firmly imperialist Beaconsfieldism that attempted to secure the best outcome for Britain, sentiments that prefigured the practical criticism of mixing religion and politics today. Disraeli and Gladstone held the greatest of contempt for each other in their foreign affairs, each believing the others policy to be entirely nonsensical and unworkable, attitudes that stemmed from their differing interests. While Disraeli held British interests at heart, Gladstone had a catholic largeness of vision and sympathy embracing Europe as a cultural and spiritual community5 stemming from his views on the unity of the Christian church, and believed that European affairs should be conducted with the best interests of the community at heart. Although Disraeli felt that it was necessary to support the Turks despite their actions in Bulgaria in order to deter Russia from gaining power on territory on the pretext of moral intervention, Gladstone would have found this inexcusable according to his personal moral code and European sense, principally derived from the intense fervour of his Christianity6: as Magnus perceptively states, Gladstone felt that Disraelis interpretation of [British] interests excluded considerations of justice, or of humanity7. It was not only Gladstones European sense that would have rendered support of the Turks inexcusable, but the very nature of the events taking place in Bulgaria. Gladstone consistently cast himself as a moral crusader in his policies, particularly regarding Ireland and in his opposition and criticisms of Beaconsfieldism. Following the brutal massacre of 15,000 Bulgarians, Jenkins argument that the moral Gladstone was spontaneously seized with a passionate sympathy for the sufferings of the Balkan Christian communities8 seems plausible. Gladstone would most likely have been incensed by Disraelis initial denial of the rumours of the massacres, already believing Disraelis foreign policy to be aggressive, expensive and unprincipled. However, Abbot refutes Jenkins claims in stating that the part playedby Gladstones high moral principles has tended to be exaggerated9, and states that the vast majority of his moral outbursts in terms of foreign policy were made when he was in opposition. As a moral stance in foreign policy was a common one for the opposition to take at the time, this indicates that Gladstones intervention was possibly not entirely fuelled by religion. Gladstones role as a cabinet minister during the Crimean War could have provided another factor in his intervention. The Treaty of Paris that brought the war to a close increased the necessity for co-operation within the concert of Europe, as it had substituted a European conscience expressed by the collective guarantee and concerted action of the European powers10 for a pre-Crimean war guarantee of the protection of Christian minorities by the Russians. Turkey had promised better treatment for the Christians of the Ottoman Empire, and Gladstone felt morally obliged to ensure that the terms of the Treaty were not breached, particularly with reference to the protection of the Balkan Christians. Following Russias breach of the Black Sea clauses in 1870, Gladstone was even more determined to ensure that the European Concert continued to function in its protection of the minorities. It seems unlikely that Gladstone wanted to preserve the terms of the Treaty of Paris for purely political reasons, as the maintenance of the balance of power within Europe required Russia to be contained, not encouraged to expand into the Balkans supposedly in order to protect the inhabitants. It is possible then that Gladstone intervened for the same reason as the Russians gave: in order to protect the Christians from an alien nation with an alien religion that mistreated them. A sample from his pamphlet gives a clear indication of his attitude towards the Turks Their Zaptiehs and their Mudirs, their Bimbashis and their Yuzbashis, their Kaimakams and their Pashas, one and all, bag and baggage, shall I hope clear out from the province they have desolated and profaned11. While this has racist overtones, it is difficult to determine whether this is due to a difference in religion. Jenkins raises the possibility that Gladstone could have felt sympathetic towards the Christians, but quashes it with the statement that Gladstone was stronger on the rhetoric of indignation than on detailed knowledge of what was happening in the Balkans12, never having visited the area or displayed any previous interest in it. Indeed, on the subject of previous massacres of Christians, Gladstone had remained suspiciously quiet, despite episodes like the massacre of the Maronite Christians in 1860 which left between 7,000 and 11,000 dead. It seems unlikely that a wild desire to protect those of the same religion only appeared during this particular occurrence, particularly as Gladstone failed to intervene when the news of the massacres initially broke, waiting another two months to bring himself into the limelight. Although Feuchtwanger claims that Gladstones life in politics was a constant quest for God13, the historians emphasis on Gladstone as a singularly moral, religious politician is overly simplistic, and does not take into account Gladstones practical, political nature. There is an obvious practical angle for Gladstones participation in the Bulgarian Agitation: propping up a declining Ottoman Empire was not a viable long term policy for Britain. The tradition of Palmerstonian foreign policy supported Turkish rule in the East, partially in order to maintain a balance of power in Europe, but mostly as a matter of self-interest: in order to protect trade routes in the Mediterranean. Particularly following the Crimean War, the expansion of a hostile Russia would have been detrimental to British trade and to British power and influence within Europe. In the short term a strong Turkey would act as an efficient barrier to Russian expansion, but the Ottoman Empire had become increasingly corrup t and weak; the Bulgarian uprising and subsequent massacre was not the only such occurrence. Moreover, overtly supporting the Ottomans would anger the Dreikaiserbund of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia: although it was best not to allow the alliance of these three countries to grow too powerful, neither was it sensible to pursue a policy of mindless support for the Turks whose influence was already declining. Prior to the confirmation of the truth of the massacres, Disraeli, advised by the pro-Turkish British ambassador Elliot, had made moves towards supporting the Turks against Russia, and even went so far as to dismiss the rumours of the massacres as coffee house babble. In sabotaging Disraelis policy by stirring up public opinion, Gladstone effectively limited the options open to the prime minister and possibly prevented him from forming a dangerous alliance with Turkey. Furthermore, it has been suggested that Gladstone in fact saw a better solution to the problem of Russian expansion than bolstering Turkey. From his attitudes towards Italy it is clear that Gladstone favoured nationalism, and believed that all people had the right to national self-determination. Blake claims that Gladstone was hostile to any sort of forward policy14, an unnecessarily harsh statement from the pro-Disraeli biographer: in fact, in supporting nationalism, Gladstone proposed a solution ahead of his time. The creation of Balkan states was the solution used in 1935 to contain Russia, but it would have been equally applicable here. It could be argued that Gladstone was contradicting Disraelis policy because he could see a flaw in the reasoning. It is evident from his pamphlet that he wanted the Turks removed from Bulgaria, but further to this, Magnus claims that he repeatedly urged that the matter should be taken out of Russian hands15 and that this was a solution more realistic16 than Disraelis. Ever politically expedient, Gladstone intended to attack British support of the Turks as well as advocating Russian containment, reasserting the balance of power in Europe. Of course, it is entirely possible that Gladstone was simply launching a direct attack on the policies of the government without any real moral or religious reasoning. A response not born out of righteous indignation or passionate sympathy for the suffering of the Bulgarians but of an attempt to make the government appear weak or badly led would explain his delay in joining the Agitation. Gladstones particular rivalry with Disraeli would have provided motive enough for such an attack: the two men held the greatest contempt for each other, stemming from the repeal of the Corn Laws and the split of the Conservative party in 1846. Although their practical aims were often remarkably similar in foreign affairs, their ideologies differed vastly and each held the others principles in utter contempt. It would not be beyond the bounds of rational thought to assume that in sabotaging Disraelis policy the only thing that Gladstone intended to do was to make him look like a fool. It could be argued that even in this there was a religious motivation. Disraelis Jewish background has led to the suggestion that his anti-Russian foreign policy had more to do with anti-Christian feeling. Feuchtwanger claims that Gladstone was aware of this and distrusted Disraeli for it: all his deep suspicions about Disraeli were aroused; he now even suspected him of being influenced by Judaic sympathy for the Turks and hatred of Christians17, although Blake dismisses such suspicions as absurd18. At a stretch, the poor relationship of the two politicians could also be said to have its roots in their differing religious views. Gladstone may have resented Disraelis conversion from Judaism to Christianity, which could be interpreted as only having been undertaken for social gain and not true faith. Shannon suggests that Gladstones return to the political arena could have been for selfish reasons; that he wanted to restore his bond of moral rapport with the masses19 and adds that it was less a case of Gladstone exciting popular pressure than popular pressure exciting Gladstone20: rather than Gladstone carefully crafting his attack on Disraeli, he merely saw an opportunity to join the virtuous passion21 sweeping the nation and manipulate it to his advantage. Again, this would explain the delay between the beginning of the Agitation and Gladstones involvement. His action in publishing the pamphlet drew him back to the forefront of political life, and his continuing focus on the Midlothian campaign throughout the next four years was an important factor in ensuring his re-election as Prime Minister in 1880. Many historians agree with Shannons interpretation that Gladstone wanted to reforge his links with.mass audiences22, but disagree on the reasoning for this. Shannon and Blake are both of the opinion the Gladstone simply seized upon the opportunity to take part ina moral crusade23 in an attempt to inject himself back into the contemporary political field. Although the consequences of his action suggest that this is a realistic motive, and that he could have chosen to speak out against Disraeli to ensure his own self-advancement, this does seem unlikely considering Gladstones character; Blakes portrayal of Gladstone is excessively negative, probably due to his pro-Disraeli sentiments. The perhaps more reliable Jenkins contradicts these claims of intervention for self-advancement, as It did not follow that what he did was contrived for his own convenience24 and claiming that he was driven on Bulgaria by the same sort of elemental force which had seized him at the time of his Neapolitan pamphlets25. This is a far more accurate judgement given the evidence: Gladstone constantly looked to his moral principles in seeking to do what was best for Britain and for Europe, and it seems unlikely that he would have stirred up such a commotion merely to return himself to the forefront of political affairs. Shannon states that Gladstones first love had been the Church, and to the Church he remained ever faithful26, but despite the politicians overt Christianity historians are unable to agree on the extent to which his religion impacted his policies. In terms of his reaction to the Bulgarian Atrocities alone, numerous theories have been put forward as to the cause: his animosity towards Disraeli, his strong belief in nationalism, a wish to unite with the masses protesting a cause. Although these theories are superficially disparate, a closer examination reveals that they are all underpinned by Gladstones strong sense of morality. This morality caused him to reject Disraelis policies as unprincipled, to campaign for the creation of the Balkan states and to view Europe as a spiritual community that Britain had an obligation to protect and preserve. Ultimately, Gladstones politics were motivated by morality; a morality derived from his fundamental, unwavering religious beliefs. 1 Blake, R., Disraeli, St. Martins, 1967, p.602 2 Shannon, R.T., Gladstone and the Bulgarian Agitation 1876, Nelson, 1963, p.110 3 Abbot, B.H., Gladstone and Disraeli, Collins, 1986, p.95 4 5 Shannon, R.T., Gladstone and the Bulgarian Agitation 1876, Nelson, 1963, p.4 6 Shannon, R.T., Gladstone and the Bulgarian Agitation 1876, Nelson, 1963, p.5 7 Magnus, P., Gladstone, Penguin Books, 2001, p.240 8 Jenkins, R., Gladstone, Macmillan, 2002, p.401 9 Abbot, B.H., Gladstone and Disraeli, Collins, 1986, p.22 10 Magnus, P., Gladstone, Penguin Books, 2001, p.239 11 Feuchtwanger, E.J., Gladstone, British Political Biography, 1975, p.183 12 Jenkins, R., Gladstone, Macmillan, 2002, p.404 13 Feuchtwanger, E.J., Gladstone, British Political Biography, 1975, p.13 14 Blake, R., Disraeli, St Martins, 1967, p.760 15 Magnus, P., Gladstone, Penguin Books, 2002, p.241 16 Ibid. 17 Feuchtwanger, E.J., Gladstone, British Political Biography, 1975, p.181 18 Blake, R., Disraeli, St Martins, 1967, p.600 19 Shannon, R.T., Gladstone and the Bulgarian Agitation, 1876, Nelson, 1963, p.13 20 Ibid. p.110 21 Ibid. p.107 22 Jenkins, R., Gladstone, Macmillan, 2002, p.406 23 Blake, R., Disraeli, St Martins, 1967, p.600 24 Jenkins, R., Gladstone, Macmillan, 2002, p.401 25 loc. cit. 26 Shannon, R.T., Gladstone and the Bulgarian Agitation 1876, Nelson, 1963, p.3

Essay on Metaphors for Death in Shakespeares Sonnet 73 -- Sonnet essa

Metaphors for Death in Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 73: That Time of Year Thou Mayest in Me Behold" is a sonnet that examines the fears and anxieties that surround growing old and dying -- a topic that resonates within us all. Shakespeare's use of metaphor to illustrate decay and passing are striking, and sets a somber tone throughout. He uses the season of Fall, the coming of night, and the burning out of a flame as metaphors for old age and death, and then uses the last two lines to suggest that we should love and cherish life while we can. The first four lines of the sonnet reflect the changing of seasons, and the oncoming of Fall: Â   That time of year thou mayest in me behold, When yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. Â   Â   The season of Fall has often been used as a metaphor for the passing of time. The seasons of Spring and Summer -- the time of blooming flowers, vibrant colors, and long, hot days -- are gone. Fa...

The Validity of Chinese College Entrance Exam Is Questioned

Xiaoqi Jin (Jessica) Professor Karen College English Writing 23 July 2012 The validity of Chinese college entrance exam is questioned Introduction The Chinese College Entrance Exam is some ways like the SAT, except it lasts more than three times long as the SAT tests. It is offered just once a year and the result of the two days exam greatly affect the future of any Chinese student. The score determines whether you can receive the college education and what level of the education you can enroll in. For most place of China, only a half of the students are eligible for the college education.One Chinese compared the exam to a stampede of â€Å"Thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of horse across a single log bridge. † The time and difficulty it takes for all the soldiers to cross the bridge showcases the students rush to pass the exam. Only a few students qualify to sit and pass the exam. Most colleges rely on the composite score, rather than individual subject scores, the value of the entire exam is questioned by the study (Shum & Zhang 55). History of the exam The exam is a national determinant in the academic council in China.Taken annually, the exam is a prerequisite in almost all education institutions in China universities. Students are required to take the exam in the last year of their high school education. No age restriction is placed on the individuals taking the exam hence the number of candidates’ increases as years go by (Hargreaves, Lieberman, & Fullan 352). The exam helps the Chinese education system to develop a simple method of placing individuals in the correct course. Regulation of the number of students enrolled in the educational system aids regulating student population growth in the institution of education.The exam sets to enroll students with specified standards into higher education systems. The procedure The exam runs under equivalent rules as those of SAT. The exam runs to 2 or 3 days with papers offers in Mathemat ics, Chinese and a foreign language. The entrance exam also requires the candidate to handle papers in six other standard subjects, 3 being sciences and 3 being humanities. The program a student hopes to study determines the subjects examined. On an overall experience, the students go through a science integrity test, a general integrity test, and a humanity integrity test.The general procedure and requirements of the exam is set within the constitution of the republic of China. The student taking the exam has to have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Health is also an important factor the education system considers. The examination council does not allow for students enrolled in a higher education program to take the exam. Students applying for special courses such as the military are allowed to take the exam with special specifications (Shu 52). The advantages and disadvantages of the examThe exam is important to the Chinese people as it offers a fair platform for talents p resented by the China students. Every student is considered equal before the marks, which makes it fair for students to enroll in colleges. The exam elevated the will of teenagers to accomplish in the academic sector. In a technological oriented country like China, the exam is important as it improves the level of education. Students strive to perform well as it determines their success. The exam works with individual groups within a community who associate with leadership of an area.This helps gain control over the set territory in the community. The exam helps the country deal with illegal behavior, either as a group or individually (Burger 177). The youth are vulnerable to becoming unproductive gang members as they have all characteristics that meet the gang demands. Various ethnic backgrounds have gangs operating on the streets. Young people become gang members for benefits such as protection, respect, money and power. The vulnerability of the youth provide an easy time for gang leaders, as the benefits are influential. The benefits are the main reason as to why individuals join the gangs.In most cases, the youth lack the benefits hence; do not hesitate on joining the gang. The community fails in supporting the youth realize success, safety, and financial security hence they opt to join a gang instead. On joining the gang, the youth gain a feeling of identity as they have relations through bonds created in the gangs. Placing the examination provides the students with an opportunity of leaving a better life (Burger 177). Geographical boundaries defined by cultural, social, and economic forces are the distinctive characteristics in taking the examination.Institutions protecting other institutions are common in identification of which class each education system relates to in the community. Characteristics common to various education institutions across boundaries include social adjustment problems, tribulations or trials of the members, handling the business , and the jobs offered to the members. Most of the youth have no choice but to join these institutions to further their studies. Poverty and unemployment is a significant contributor to the youth enrolling into these institutions.The reason is the same across boundaries as the youth enrolling in the youth lack needs due to effects of poverty, and unemployment. Once joining the institutions, the youth expect to have a bright future, which is not the case. The exam system makes the students concentrate of blue-collar jobs forgetting the skills they could deploy in practical oriented jobs. Youth that face challenges are prone to joining the job marketing to gain the advantages that come with joining the industry. The study comes with distinctive identities such as money, security, and popularity.Vulnerable youth with no financial support find refuge in deploying for the exam to match up to pressure from their peers. The educational system does offer individuals from different backgroun ds the same environment of study. A less privileged youth falls into gang activity to secure comfort. The youth who are technologically advanced fall prey of joining gangs. The progress is visible in social networking sites. Social networking sites establish as a distinct with graffiti tags, signals, and colors, which attract the youth to joining.The study attracts individuals from one location as it becomes easy to find them online, and offline. Technology and study grows, and in China, the students elevate the ideas through sharing the ideas on the social networking framework (Shum & Zhang 52). How does the exam affect the well being of the youth in China? The age of individuals allowed take the exam is not limited to teenagers as they come with the characteristics required to run activities. Teenagers are vulnerable to lack money, security, and power. They are willing to earn this at every cost.The exam controls teenagers easily as opposed to young adults who attain the benefits on their own. Age affects the performance of the exam by setting the limit of the people who can sit for the exam annually. Some gangs have different age sets for different jobs. Research shows that the benefits for the exam include protection, respect, money and power. Individuals who do not meet the exam targets suffer distortion from the leaders. Threatening is common against the members, and their family members if they do not meet the rules set by the exam.Research displays the benefits of passing the examination with the vulnerable wants that the youth lack. Youth from poor backgrounds lack the pleasures that come with constant financial supply. They become vulnerable to the conditions set by the educational systems (Hargreaves, Lieberman, & Fullan 352). Conclusion Different examinations set to acquire different purposes. Taking the exam requires the individual to pass the set subjects. A target placed on the pass mark is keenly followed, failure to which the member faces cons equences.A student who fails to acquire the pass mark result is subjected to passing the exam once more. China’s system of education may mimic the SAT certification but it plays a role in ensuring that the students acquire basic education before setting to study a higher program in the university. Enrolling the students to university through the examination is essential in setting pace for the right direction. Instilling the importance of knowledge through examination may sieve the success path of many students, but they elevate level to which students find education important.The rush for students to achieve excellent results remains a challenge as the pass mark rises according to the results.Works Cited Burger, Jerry M. Personality. New Jersey: Cengage Learning, 2010. Hargreaves, Andy, Ann Lieberman and Michael Fullan. Second International Handbook of Educational Change, Volume 2. New York: Springer, 2010. Shu, Hui. Sojourners in Transition: Chinese Women Undergraduate Stud ents at an American University. New Jersey: ProQuest, 2008. Shum, Mark Shiu Kee and Delu Zhang. Teaching Writing in Chinese Speaking Areas. New York: Springer, 2005.

Johannes Vermeer’s “Woman Holding a Balance” Essay

The nationalgalleryofart.gov website features an artist by the name of Johannes Vermeer. Johannes Vermeer’s â€Å"Woman Holding a Balance† exhibit consists of that single art piece, which was created in 1664 with oil on canvas. This realistic piece of art shows a woman holding a balance, seemingly lost in her thoughts. In the background is a painting of â€Å"The Last Judgment†. Vermeer made it hard to perceive what the woman may be balancing, whether it is the gold chains and the strings of pearls that are lying on the table in front of her, or if it’s her thoughts that she is trying to balance out. That idea is up to the audience to decipher and debate. Looking at the basic characteristics determines the artist’s style. Vermeer distinctly places background lines that fade into the vanishing which happens to be the woman’s finger, which helps in balancing the painting. In another attempt to balance the painting, Vermeer placed the balance point precisely in the middle of the painting. He also makes the woman a positive shape, meaning she is at the for-front of the painting, while the work of art and jewelry are perceived as negative shapes, meaning they are in the background. Vermeer also uses light to enhance this painting. The light seems to aggrandize the woman, making her the focal point of this work. He uses different types of paints to create wool like texture of the woman’s orange dress. He understood the concepts of different colors; for example, using the lighter color orange dress under the dark blue shawl, gave him a chance to lighten the painting. The size of the painting behind the woman suggests that the woman is small, actually making everything in the work smaller than it. Implied motion is shown in the painting also, by the woman holding the balance, in the process of waiting for it to reach equality. By combining these characteristics, one can determine the style Johannes Vermeer uses in this painting. Realism is the style of this work. Because everything in this painting could have really happened in his time of the 17th century, concludes the fact that the style is realism. In this work of art, I see a pregnant woman holding a balance contemplating something. I can be certain she is holding a balance, but it is what she is balancing could be up for debate. I think she is balancing her thoughts about the future of being a new mom vs. just a wife, or maybe the thought her religion and what is to come of it. The painting of â€Å"The Last Judgment† inquires this thought process. These symbols that Vermeer uses serve to support the message being conceived as the balancing of life-what religion holds for her, and what the real world holds for her. Vermeer’s biography explains that he grew up, settled, and died in Delft. He was raised as a Protestant, but before marrying he converted to Catholicism. In the 1600’s religion was a big part of life, which supports the logic about the symbolism, and their meaning of the painting. His culture is relayed in the painting, by the clothing the woman is wearing, and the artifact she is holding. His style seemed to be realistic historical or realistic religious. This fact is also supports the idea of this painting being about religion. The art of the 17th century was â€Å"Baroque† which communicated religious themes. The Catholic Church was a big influence at this time, and seemed to encourage art relating to religion. I found that minute details in a painting can help one understand it better. The biography of the artist can help a lot also. When looking at a piece of art , one has to literally pick it apart, and then look at it all together because the smallest thing could change the meaning being portrayed. The most important information I embarked on was everyone has a different opinion of what a painting is implying, and no one is wrong. Works Cited Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance, c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Widener Collection

How America Should React To Homosexuals Essays - Gender, Free Essays

How America Should React To Homosexuals Essays - Gender, Free Essays How America Should React To Homosexuals How America should react to homosexuals Many experts agree that homosexuality has existed as long as human beings themselves, although the attitude towards them has undergone dramatic changes in some countries. Accepted by many societies during Greek and Roman era, most of the time homosexuals were considered to be sinners against nature and even criminals. In Medieval and modern periods homosexuals were prosecuted. Enlightenment brought some liberation, substituting death penalty by imprisonment. In Nazi Germany so-called doctors tried to cure gays by the ways of castration and extreme intimidation. Until 1973 attempts to find a cure against homosexuality, what by majority was viewed as a disease, were continued. Today, when research on twins suggests that sexual orientation is not a choice, but our genetic predisposition, homosexual acts are still considered to be immoral and even illegal in majority of countries and in the eyes of most religious groups homosexuals, probably, always will be the subjects of anathema. As m uch as the future may look gloomy for many gays and lesbians all over the world, there are remarkable changes in public opinion and officials attitudes toward homosexuals in some countries. For example, in 1989 Denmark was the first to allow the same-sex marriage. In the United States the subject of homosexuality remains controversial. For example, In Hawaii three homosexual couples asked the court to recognize their right to get married and the court did. However, the state government refused to legalize this marriage. Consequently, a new amendment was introduced to the state Constitution. At the same time, majority of the states are not even considering this option and homosexuality itself is still illegal there. Still, not only authorities try to determine the position they should take towards homosexuals, many common Americans also have no clear understanding of how to react to homosexuality. Why should we bother to find the answer to the questions: who are the homosexuals and where do they belong in our society? First of all, it is important to realize that homosexuals are an integral part of our society. Your neighbor, your co-worker, your hairdresser, your child and even your spouse can be one of them. According to Richard D. Mohr [t]wo out of five men one passes on the street have had orgasmic sex with men. Every second family in the country has a member who is essentially homosexual and many more people regularly have homosexual experiences(186). Should we avoid them, ignore, express our anger and disgust? Unfortunately, many people feel that way because they have a remote idea about people of different sexual orientation. For them homosexuality is perversion, abnormality or decease. The ignorance may foster fear, which in its turn leads to hostility. Homophobia is dangerous, because it affects all groups of people heterosexuals and homosexuals, grown-ups and childre n, men and women. It may lead to violence and even death. There are numerous cases when people were actually killed because of homophobia. To name few of them Matthew Shepard(homosexual), John Braun (heterosexual), Steve Kennedy (homosexual) and the list can be continued. As Jeffrey Nickel puts it, [p]rejudice against homosexuality sharply limits how all men and women may acceptably behave, among themselves and with each other( 529). It is obvious that we can no longer pretend that the homosexual issue is none of our concern. In attempt to evaluate our attitude towards people of different sexual orientation we will be able to understand them better. What is more important, we may overcome our prejudice, which often results in discrimination of one group against another. To acknowledge that there are people who are different and learn to tolerate them means to live in a safer world. The next question is: Do we have the right to discriminate against homosexuals? Until recently homosexuals were invisible minority. Therefore, many Americans were unaware that gays and lesbians were discriminated against. But homosexuals were and still are treated unfairly on the basis that they undermine our morality, that they present danger to our children and that they are transmitters of AIDs far more than heterosexuals. Today many gays and lesbians come out of the closet and demand the same rights that heterosexual take for granted. We have to admit

6 polite and professional ways to call out a lazy coworker

6 polite and professional ways to call out a lazy coworker It’s not your job to motivate or police your coworkers. If it were, you would be their boss. But if you have a lazy coworker it can be a drag on your department or a team project- and in large and small ways, a coworker’s laziness can grate on you and affect your work life for the worse. Mix in a sense of unfairness about what some coworkers get away with, and you have a recipe for frustration and job dissatisfaction. But you don’t just have to throw up your hands and despair- there are a few ways to make sure someone else’s laziness doesn’t create a dysfunctional work day for you.1. Be directThe worst thing to do would be to engage in passive-aggressive behaviors- jokes, subtle hints, and sarcasm rarely land the way you want them to and your message may not be taken seriously or received at all. Make it easy on yourself: sum up the problem and how it affects you in one sentence and ask to have a short conversation with your coworker. You donâ€℠¢t need to agonize over a carefully worded email. Don’t be too confrontational or accusatory; just keep it simple, like: Could you pay more attention to this? When you don’t, I have more work to do. Sometimes laziness continues precisely because no one points it out. The simple antidote? Be direct.2. Be quickNever call out a coworker when you are truly annoyed, because that will surely lead to unprofessional behavior. On the other hand, it’s best to address an issue soon after it happens, so your coworker is clear on a specific time they were engaging in lazy behavior, and they don’t perceive you as nursing a weird grudge. Waiting too long after the fact can make it seem like you’ve been stewing for days- and rehashing the past can add another toxic element to the mix, causing your coworker to become defensive. Again, be direct, and point out something concrete that will make things better, and help your coworker snap out of their lazy habits.3. As k a favorIf either of the first two options seem too confrontational, you can directly ask your coworker for help on a project. It’s easy for some to ignore a task; it’s much harder to ignore a human being asking for help. This puts the lazy coworker in an awkward position: either they have to take the strong stance of saying â€Å"No,† or simply help. Just something to keep in mind- a lazy person is not necessarily a discourteous person, but the favor will pit their laziness against their sense of decency to their coworkers.4. Set up check-in meetingsA deadline can be a great taskmaster for the go-getter. Why not try this out for the lazy? A check-in meeting where each coworker sums up their progress on a project creates a certain level of accountability. The lazy coworker will be lagging behind, have nothing to report, and it will be obvious to everyone in the room. In essence, the lazy coworker will call themselves out, and the burden won’t be on you.5 . Suggest a better workflow to your supervisorThis doesn’t mean rat someone out or complain about their laziness to a supervisor, because that may not appear professional either. This option acknowledges that it’s not your job to pick up the slack for coworkers, nor is it your job to get them to do their work. If you see a better way to divide and conquer a task and you suggest it, this shows you are taking initiative and can help change the dynamic of how your team or department works together.6. Form a bondSometimes the only real thing you can change about your work situation is how you react and feel about it. If your frustration over your coworker’s laziness has reached the boiling point, take it down a notch. You don’t know what personal life issues your coworker may be facing. Be friendly. Bond with your coworker and try to reach a better understanding of them on a personal level. This can help reduce your frustration and make it easier if you ever do need to call them out on their behavior in the future.