War Is One Of The Biggest Atrocities That Man Must Commit

After looking through the slideshow for this portion of the class I felt a mixture of sadness and hope, disgust and inspiration, confusion and clarity. These images bounce back and forth from a crying child to one who has had access to medical attention, a naked child screaming in terror in the streets to an image of the same woman as an adult, happy and healthy. War is one of the biggest atrocities that man must commit but at the same time people are never as beautiful or as courageous as when they are in the midst of crisis.Take the picture of the Young Beggar’s in Saigon for example. This picture is bittersweet. It is extremely sad but also really beautiful. The infant in the box makes me want to weep but I am comforted by the fact that these two young people are holding hands. They have each other. If nothing else these two have that little human contact that will make their situation bearable. Other examples of this include the shoeshine boys who have congregated together to form a young Saigon gang. Is this an ideal picture, no, but it is real.These children may have to grow up quickly but they have each other and they are living the only childhood they will ever know. But then there are photos of the young victims of war, bombing victims and women trying to smuggle her children out of the war zone. These are not pretty pictures but again they illustrate the beauty of the human spirit. Could I appreciate life if I had never seen with my own eyes the sadness of a life taken too soon? Could anyone ever know real strength and courage if they had never felt the tinges of fear?There were other pictures that were slightly confusing, such as the photo of the US Marine giving the young girl a cigarette. At first I thought, â€Å"Why would he give such a young child a cigarette? † But then I realized it was because that was all this soldier had to give. I am sure that being an American, used to children having the right to grow up healthy and safe, m akes it difficult to see children growing up in the midst of a war zone. It makes one want to â€Å"rescue† each other. And again that is admirable. Look at the girls face in that photo. She is radiant. She is the lightness in an otherwise bleak world.In response, I really don’t know who the â€Å"good† guys are and who the â€Å"bad† guys are in these photos. And truly I don’t know that it matters. I was truck by the strength and beauty that was represented here. Look at the faces in these pictures and you see strength, perseverance, tradition and even love. For example, look at the woman in the photo A Vietnamese Woman, the trials and tribulations of life are etched all over her face. Ultimately these photos represent the good and the bad, the yin and yang of humanity. For some strange reason man does not appreciate life until life is taken away.And unfortunately the world is a better place after we have had to clean up the rubble of war and huma n greed. Somehow in the midst of destruction we find the strength to help each other, pick up where we left off. Yet, when all is well in the world we get greedy and seek to destroy. These images are timeless. Despite our disgust at seeing a young child tortured we, as a race, will continue to commit these crimes. Maybe as a species man has self destructive tendencies. Maybe we can only appreciate the beauty of life when we see the ugliness in death.

Globalization of International Relations

Globalization is a relatively new term used to describe a very old process. Since the first appearance of the term in 1962 ‘globalization' has gone from jargon to cliche. The Economist has called it â€Å"the most abused word of the 21st century. † It is much exploited in the modern century and is seen as both a curse and a blessing. Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world. For thousands of years, people have been buying from and selling to each other in lands at great distances, such as through the Silk Road across Central Asia that connected China and Europe. Likewise, for centuries, people and corporations have invested in enterprises in other countries. But policy and technological developments of the past few decades have spurred increases in cross-border trade, investment, and migration so large that many observers believe the world has entered a qualitatively new phase in its economic development. It involves a stretching of social, political and economic activities across political frontiers, regions and continents. It suggests the growing magnitude, of interconnectedness and flows of trade, investment, finance, migration, culture, etc. The growing extensity, intensity and velocity of global interactions can be associated with their deepening impact such that the effects of distant events can be highly significant elsewhere and even the most local developments may come to have enormous global consequences. In this sense, the boundaries between domestic matters and global affairs can become increasingly blurred. Introduction to International Relations The study of IR involves looking at the nature and principal forces of international organization as well as the political, social, economic organization of political life. IR is also concerned with an examination of elements of national power, including the limitation of national power and examining how it can be controlled. IR also focuses on the instruments available for promotion of national interest, with foreign policies of major powers and of smaller (strategic) powers and considers other historical ingredients as a background for events affecting the current sphere of International Relations. International Relations is wider in scope than international politics. International Relations embraces the totality of relations among people and groups of people in global society, which go beyond looking at political forces to an examination of socio-cultural and economic processes as well. The international relations are series of global issues and relations which are among the nations, states and organizations with the framework of international system. With regard to this definition, international relation has been explained in the framework of international system. As a process of interaction and integration among people, companies and governments of different nations Globalization is a process driven by the International Trade and Investment and aided by Information technology. This process on the environment on culture, on political system, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world The effect of globalization upon economy Economic globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital and wide and rapid spread of technologies. It reflects the continuing expansion and mutual integration of market frontiers, and is an irreversible trend for the economic development in the whole world at the turn of the millennium. Economic globalization is generally associated with neo-liberal policies. Such policies include reductions in tariffs, the reduction or elimination of restrictions on foreign investment, and the inclusion of services such as banking and insurance in trade regimes. By late 1990s the GDP of the richest 20% of the population was 86% where as the poorest 20% of the population possessed only 1% of the GDP thus affirming, the gap between the rich and the poor, which is being more and more defined day by day and is being blamed upon globalization. The increases in economic cross-border flows that have resulted in more â€Å"open† economies are a result, in part, of World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies. All this change is supported by a new international architecture – from the United Nations and international organizations, such as WHO, to economic blocs such as the European Union, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The rise of globalization has created interdependent markets that highlight the pros and cons of leveraging foreign exchange. Many proponents of global business argue that mutual benefits derive from the global specialization of products and services. The general stance is that the benefits of globalization outweigh the economic and social costs by achieving higher efficiency and by providing GDP growth in underdeveloped regions Supporters of globalization argue that the benefits of a more interdependent global economy outweigh the drawbacks. However one cannot be completely blind to the disadvantages posed by this. †¢Foreign exchange allows more products and services to be available, while also lowering costs, because of specialization. †¢Free trade is a way for countries to exchange goods and resources. This means countries can specialize in producing goods where they have a comparative advantage. However Developing countries often struggle to compete with developed countries, therefore it is argued free trade benefits developed countries more. There is an infant industry argument which says industries in developing countries need protection from free trade to be able to develop. †¢In terms of free movement of labour, increased labour migration gives advantages to both workers and recipient countries. If a country experiences high unemployment, there are increased opportunities to look for work elsewhere. This process of labour migration also helps reduce geographical inequality. However, certain countries have a tendency of being pressurized on housing and social services. It can be seen that developed countries such as USA, Canada, and Australia are now restricting the labour intake. Furthermore, some countries find it difficult to hold onto their best skilled workers, who are attracted by higher wages elsewhere. Globalization has also enabled increased levels of investment. It has made it easier for countries to attract short term and long term investment. Investment by multinational companies can play a big role in improving the economies of developing countries. †¢Domestic monopolies used to be protected by lack of competition. However, globalization means that firms face greater competition from foreign firms. This puts pressure on firms to be increasingly efficient and offer better products for consumers. Multinational Companies may be able to force out local retailers, leading to less choice for consumers and less cultural diversity. It is evident that globalization has played a massive role in the economy. It has undergone rapid changes within a short period of time exposing the society to both risks as well as benefits. It is up to the rationality of man to choose between and come to the most beneficial conclusion while keeping in mind that a sustainable economy has to be built for the future generations. Globalization and Politics Globalization affects politics in many profound ways. As the borders between countries get blurred, politics get more complicated. When politicians once had to consider only their own constituency things were simpler, but now we are dealing with things on a more global scale at which point everyone is more involve further complicating the governance. All of the economies are interconnected and what happens in one country can have negative consequences for another. Traditionally politics has been undertaken within national political systems. National governments have been ultimately responsible for maintaining the security and economic welfare of their citizens, as well as the protection of human rights and the environment within their borders. With global ecological changes, an ever more integrated global economy, and other global trends, political activity increasingly takes place at the global level. Under globalization, politics can take place above the state through political integration schemes such as the European Union and through intergovernmental organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Political activity can also transcend national borders through global movements and NGOs. Civil society organizations act globally by forming alliances with organizations in other countries, using global communications systems, and lobbying international organizations and other actors directly, instead of working through their national governments. An obvious characteristic of globalization is that money, goods and manufacturing have become far more mobile than they once were, with the result that corporations are freer than ever to move, and finance to invest, wherever they choose. Therefore, national governments are less able to control the activities of mobile businesses than in the past, while corporations and finance are in a better position to dictate to national governments. The national state is not so much being subordinated or sidelined as acting on its own, in response to complex stimuli, to reduce the scope of its control over society through privatization, contracting out of government work, creation of semi-independent government agencies, and delegation to other levels of government. The benefits and disadvantages under this topic are also controversial. †¢International organizations and other nations play a role in the politics of every nation. The political system exists as a composite system. Owing to this the countries are wary of their national interest and their interference could have both positive and negative impacts. For example the war in Sri Lanka with the LTTE was under constant scrutiny by the rest of the world. The interference possibly caused the war to extend for a longer period of time, hence making the stabilizing peace in the country a slow process. Sri Lanka also was supported by certain countries and certain others were critical. †¢The politicians are less likely to dominate the society as a whole and reap the benefits for themselves as the political system is under scrutiny and their defects in the world limelight could create chaos in the society and lead to further intervention. †¢Intervention can also lead to unhealthy relations. For example with USA inventing and aiding South Korea, the world immediately split into those favourable with South Korea and North Korea creating further disputes among nations. Even though globalization is in place, every nation does not have equal power. United States is still considered to be the super power and their decisions will play a huge role upon the political system hence creating an illusion of globalization. It is no hidden agenda that many organizations are in fact heavily influenced by the authority of such super powers Globalization and International Law Globalization c hallenges many of the traditional assumptions about International law, its relationship to domestic law, the ways in which it is created and the methods of its enforcement. Law has traditionally been the province of the nation state, whose courts and police enforce legal rules. By contrast, international law has been comparatively weak, with little effective enforcement powers. But globalization is changing the contours of law and creating new global legal institutions and norms. Diplomats and jurists are creating international rules for bankruptcy, intellectual property, banking procedures and many other areas of corporate law. In response to this internationalization, and in order to serve giant, transnational companies, law firms are globalizing their practice. The biggest firms are merging across borders, creating mega practices with several thousand professionals in dozens of countries. In recent years and currently human rights law involves areas such as cultural rights, environmental rights, indigenous and minority rights, privacy and data protection, human rights while countering terrorism, access to justice, international mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and the interface between human rights law and international humanitarian law, particularly in the context of the changing nature of armed conflicts. Increasingly, issues of international criminal law are integrated into the research conducted. The impact of new technologies upon the enjoyment of human rights receives careful attention, including biotechnologies and detection and surveillance technologies. Globalization has led to more legal topics than existed before which inevitably leads to a widening in international scope. Globalization has unified the world at which point law cannot be concentrated to one nation and its regulations only. A common ground is sought after to equalize and stabilize the platform of law as well. To be effective, regulatory decisions must increasingly involve the international level. International law today already recognizes a core commitment to deliver basic rights, subsistence food and shelter, and some minimum level of security, as a function of our basic humanity. The task of international legal theory, or global legal theory as it should be, is to draw upon both traditional domestic political theory, and innovative studies of our new global social reality, to design the next generation of global institutions and doctrines capable of delivering global justice for a global community. Globalization and International Relations International Relations (IR) is the study of relationships among countries, the roles of sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations (IGO), international non-governmental organizations (INGO), non-governmental organizations (NGO), and multinational corporations (MNC). International relations is an academic and a public policy field, and so can be positive and normative, because it analyzes and formulates the foreign policy of a given State. Earlier the impact of globalization upon international law, economy and politics was discussed upon, creating the back drop for the discussion of International relations with regard to globalization. It is evident that many changes have taken place and that states are involved in a co-existence where it can be seen that national matters play a massive role in the international scope. The changes that have been made in the above fields create the core of the effect of globalization upon the study of International Relations. Globalization is a complex interconnection between capitalism and democracy, which involves positive and negative features that both empowers and disempowers individuals and groups. Diplomats and representatives aim to preserve national communities and heritage in various ways, from issuing passports to drafting peace talks. Globalization has demonstrated the importance of interdependent governments and economies. Alliances such as the European Union, NAFTA, WTO, etc have made international relations stronger and powerful. Even though globalization has benefited strong countries and cultures, it can make it difficult for other nations and countries to compete globally. Foreign policy is becoming more aware of how globalization affects its government and people. Diplomats still compromise and support their home countries views and actions, and globalization, in terms of communication and accessibility. Conclusion I relation to the advantages and adverse effects, it should firstly mentioned that Globalization is inevitable and it has played a massive role in the society. Blurring of the lines between State and civil society, increasing political relations between people of different countries, raising the standard of living for the majority of the world’s people, increased impact of global forces of all kinds on local life, expansion of the range of financial, commercial, cultural and soc ial interactions among foreign ountries and nationals, systems of interaction between the global and the local, progressive strengthening of democratic values and institutions, development of new information technologies and unprecedented trade liberalization can be cited as a few effects of globalization. However as with every matter, negative impacts can be seen a plenty. The biggest challenge and disaster that has been brought upon is the effect upon the environment which is not seen as beneficial. Uneven Distribution of Wealth, Income Gap Between Developed and Developing Countries, where the wealth of developed countries continues to grow twice as much as the developing is another issue at hand. It is evident that the super powers still hold the upper hand in international affairs despite the effect of globalization. In fact more countries are beholden to the corporate giants and they have in turn amassed power establishing more security at their positions. Cultural expression is also at risk with the growing concept of globalization. With social media playing a giant role in daily lives in bringing people together it can be seen that western culture is being more propagated, especially in suburbs and that the indigenous cultural heritage of different nations is being slowly washed away. However despite the outcry, it is an accepted fact that globalization is here to stay, whether one likes it or not. It is a process which is almost cliche that has been taking place since the ancient ages and has boomed with the industrial revolutions and technological advances. It is the responsibility of the society as a whole to make wise decisions and adapt to the social changes. However it the super powers appear to be making most use of this concept and it does not seem as if any change will take place soon, even though it is quite necessary especially for developing and third world countries to rise. International Organizations and other necessary associations should play a main role in this situation as they play a rather vital role in the scope of international relations and the betterment of the world as a whole. â€Å"Today, the rich are the haves and the poor are the have-nots. Tomorrow, the rich will be the have-food and the poor will be the have-not food. † ? Bill Gaede

Restructuring the Siemens Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Restructuring the Siemens Company - Case Study Example There are a number of definitions of corporate restructuring ranging. Froud (2000) defines restructuring as the collective activities that involve the introduction of financial instruments, dissolution, increasing equity ownership and reduction of corporate assets. Usui (1996) defines restructuring as activities that a corporate engages in when under pressure, Bowman (1999) on the hand states that restructuring involves the reorganisation of division, streamlining of operations and spun offs with the aim of improving performance and restructuring is the utilisation of assets in a more productive way in order to improve share holder returns. Bowman (1999) states that there are three modes of restructuring which include portfolio restructuring, financial restructuring and organisational restructuring. Portfolio restructuring include those actions aimed at changing the asset mix owned by a firm and they include spin offs and sale of assets. Financial restructuring on the other hand are those actions aimed at changing the capital structure of a company and they include leveraged buyout and debt equity swap. Finally organisational restructuring involve changes in the organisation structure of the firm and they include redesigning and employee downsizing. Restructuring has both negative and positive impacts. Positive impacts include enhanced productivity, reduced production costs and increased shareholders' wealth and Negative impacts include lay offs. Bowman (1999) states that performance is determined by market performance and accounting performance. Market performance relates to change in the share prices of a company after restructuring while accounting performance relates to changes in profit, return on investment and equity. Restructuring in the Siemens Company: Restructuring of the company started in 1966 whereby the company the company organised its production into division and there was decentralisation of control, this was aimed at improving the response to consumer requirements, the division included data system, power engineering, electrical installation, medical engineering, components and electrical installations which all worked independently, Siemens (2009) states that sales during these years ranged at DM 10 billion a year and employment was approximately 270,000 employees. Further restructuring efforts were evident in the year 1969 when the company made it possible for employees to purchase shares at discounted prices. In 1990 further changes were implemented, the seven units were further divided into 15 units, (Siemens (2009)) Before 1990 over 60% of Siemens consumers were public institutions, this protected the company from fluctuating prices in the market and product prices remained relatively constant, privatisation of public institutions began in the 1990's and this led to a decline in domestic sales, because the domestic market was already saturated the company opted to expand its market size by investing abroad, in 1985 domestic sales amounted to 53% and only 10% in the US and by the year 2001 domestic sales am

Margret thatcher other people bring problems , but he brings me Essay

Margret thatcher other people bring problems , but he brings me solutions - Essay Example In 1992, Margaret Thatcher was appointed as a peeres in the House of Lords effectively relinquishing her post in the House of Commons. There she assumed the title of Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven which in this capacity she gave the quote Other ministers bring me problems, David brings me solutions.† She however did not mean the Prime Minister David Cameron but the other David who was appointed as a the â€Å"enterprise czar†. In 1974, Thatcher challenged Heath for the leadership of their party and won. In 1979 national election, Thatcher became the Prime Minister of England where she was known as the â€Å"iron butterfly† due to her steadfastness in making difficult decisions. This moniker came about when Margaret Thatcher assumed as the Prime Minister of UK in 1979 where UK had been experiencing high unemployment rate under a series of trade union strikes which the media dubbed the â€Å"Winter of Discontent† because the Labour led government implemented a freeze on the pay increase of the workers to control the lingering inflation of 20% (Hall and Jacques 1983). Upon assumption of office, Margaret Thatcher implemented her policy programs which are popularly known as â€Å"The Thatcherite Agenda†. The Thatcherite Agenda was characterised by neo-liberal policy of a market oriented economy and neoconservative policy which emphasises the traditional Tory values of One Nation Conservati sm, national interest, law and order. Consistent with her market oriented economic policy; she curbed the traditional prerogatives of trade union to hold strikes (by holding them accountable of the loss during labour disruption) and prevented the artificial rise of wages which contributed to the lingering inflation and inefficiency of UK industries (Gamble 1994). Thatcher once quoted saying â€Å"Other ministers bring me problems, David brings me solutions.†

The English Patient Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The English Patient - Essay Example He takes fragments and paragraphs cut out of other books and includes them in his novel. There is intertextuality richness in the novel including statutes, myths, christian imagery, desert images and references to portraits. His novel is swollen with different images just like Almasys common place book swollen to twice the original thicknes. The emphasies on the importance of maps is evident in The English Patient. Books, people, faith and art work are all reduced to maps to their skeletal structure. The reduction is a form of econstruction similar to the one of bombs in the novel. For giving the germans the desert maps, Almasy is considered a traitor and his treason justifying the preoccupation of the novel with maps. In the analysis highlighting the importance of maps, the gravity of his crime is evident. As a form of knowledge, maps give power to those who have them. Almasy claims that his map drawing ability motivated the Bedouins to save him. He goes further to explain that â€Å"they kept me alive for a reason. I was useful you see... I am a man who can recognize an unnamed town by its skeletal shape on a map† (Ondaatje, p.18). The Bedouins try making use of Almasy’s vast reservoir of information. For some, he draws maps going beyond their own boundaries and for other tribes explains the mechanic of guns(Ondaatje, p.22). Almasy claims having information like a sea in him and that he knew maps of the sea floor. maps depicting weaknesses in the earths shield, charts painted on skin containing various routes of the crusades. These maps have great destruction power since they depict weaknesses in the earths shield. The weaknesses would be exploited to create a destructive earthquake or to errupt a volcano in the land of the enemy. Heble observes Ondaatje’s based character of Almasy on that of a real person. Almasy’s slippery identity is an analogue to the English patients in the novel. Totosy argues that Almasys fictional position,

Religious freedom in prison Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Religious freedom in prison - Research Paper Example Denial of religious freedom may hinder inmates to access moral compass that may have guided them away from the criminal lifestyle. Recently, there has been applauding of some religious programming to due to increasing need for rehabilitation among inmates. Among the supporters of this religion –based programs are prison’s policy makers and prison officials. The primary purpose of this paper is to describe religious freedom in prison by keenly analyzing hindrances of freedom of religion, benefits of allowing inmates to practice religious freedom as an individual and to the society as a whole. In addition, there will be an analysis of the constitutional human rights. Initially, almost every prison in the world, inmates are subjected to discrimination to religious freedom. Policies that are implemented in jails and freedom are designed in such a way that the rights of the individual are not respected. In US, over two million Americans were denied their freedom to exercise their faith. This means that around two million individuals are denied an opportunity to change their lifestyle from a religious point of view. Some researchers argue that religious freedom in prison should not be permitted as sometimes it brings unnecessary discrimination between inmates which causes murders or unfair treatment. Correction centers comprise of prisoners of the different religion. For instance, In the US, there are various religion among inmates including; Christianity, Islamic, Judaism, among others. This means that if the religious freedom of every offender is to be respected, there should be religious structures and unions for quite a number in every prison. F ailure to honor religious freedom of inmates can cause humanitarian and other human rights organization to file up cases against any prison department that goes against human rights. On the other hand, if they are given freedom inmates tend to

Hotel Paris Training Program Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hotel Paris Training Program - Case Study Example It is clear from the discussion that the CFO team should come up with an integrated information technology training system that offers a comprehensive interactive platform to employees at different departments within the organization. As such, it would provide an important potentiality and diversity for every employee to offer assistance at every department whenever there is a need (253). Since the recruitment of employees is not a guarantee to a direct performance, it is vital for Lisa and Hotel Paris training department to design an appropriate training program. Such a program will enable new recruits to understand the organization in a broader sense right from the history to mission and visions of the future. Moreover, the organization should align the training strategies towards achieving the organizational goals and objectives. Therefore, it will be very easy to distinguish employee’s behavior right from the time a person joins the institution and determine the worth for the progressiveness of an organizational achievement (224). From the study, it can be resolved that Lisa and the CFO did not carry out proper investigation ascertaining why there existed a fall in Hotel Paris Training program. For instance, Hotel training department only spends a fraction of training duration as compared to the other companies. The CFO simply went ahead and recommended for the development of a separate training program that lacked a consultative approach towards achieving the competitive advantage of Hotel Paris. The organizational training advisory team should have considered conducting a different training need analysis to identify what employees need to fill up job vacancies.

ASEAN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

ASEAN - Essay Example ASEAN has made exemplary pursuit in achieving this objective for the South East Asian countries. The achievement of ASEAN in this region is commendable. There are various challenges that this organization faces in maintaining its principle objective of economic strength, peace and security of the region.. In the forthcoming years, it is imperative that ASEAN strengthens its political-security support system due to the increasing threat of international terrorism that may prevail in this region. This is imperative to attain and sustain its primary goal. Association of south East Asian nations or ASEAN consists of the countries from the south East Asian region that work towards mutual economic progress. It can be defined as an organization for cooperation on security and economic concerns. [Mead, ,n. d, 207] The creators of the Association of South East Asian Nations – ASEAN, visualized it as ultimately assembling all the nations of the region and managing them to lend a hand in assuring the peace, permanence and growth of the area. While the area was in a state of turmoil, a lot of nations were under pressure for the existence of the nation or autonomy. First of all the five founding states had planned that ASEAN will be, in keeping with its abbreviation distinctly suggesting a unity of South East Asian countries working together willingly for the mutual betterment. The basic objective of the organization was tranquility, financial, societal and cultural progress, and the perception being: with tranquility in the area, stabi lity will not be far behind that would result in the financial affluence of the population in the area. It was not destined to be a supranational identity, discharging its objectives discretionally of its member nations: It was not to have any regional parliament or authority to frame regulations; devoid of a judicial system and having no authority of executing powers. United

Living Forever in a Young Body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Living Forever in a Young Body - Essay Example They fear to lose their life through death. According to me, I will feel comfortable to see an end to aging since there are advantages associated with it. Aging will make it possible for me to have less negativity and high self-esteem: there is a tendency that when an individual becomes older day by day, the negativity will keep on diminishing, and he or she will be in a position of developing high self-esteem. Moreover, aging brings about more positive health. At this point, an individual can establish greater emotional stability that will encourage his or her well-being. As you become of age, the negative emotions, such as sadness and fear happen to be less pronounced. Another great advantage that comes with aging is that one develops brain plasticity (Gottberg, 2014). Nevertheless, I would not like to see an end to aging because of the following reasons: My body is starting to separate and come up short. My vision becomes poor as is the hearing. I can't rest extremely well, and various minor and significant diseases make every day be a great challenge. If I neglected to spare satisfactorily and contribute legitimately, I might end up scratching by every day. What is more, I invested an extraordinary arrangement energy agonizing over my costs; I do not work, and I will need to figure out how to fill the time in my life that was already possessed by work or my profession; When I have a couple of pastimes or intrigues this may be troublesome, and numerous days may appear to be dull and unending.

Carol Ann Duffys poetry Essay Example for Free

Carol Ann Duffys poetry Essay Delilah by Carol Ann Duffy has an undeniably sexual element running throughout an element which is highlighted by its suggestive language and presentation of gender roles between the characters Samson and Delilah. Many of Duffys poems have a similar element running through them such as in Salome, Little Red Riding Cap and Pygmalions Bride therefore it can be said that her poetry is mainly concerned with the politics of sex. However, Carol Ann Duffy states in an interview in 2005 that Delilah is not about sex but is a love poem exploring the nature of Samsons wish to become gentle, loving and tender. This would therefore suggest that the main concern of the poem is more to do with love, power and gender. There are several references to sex throughout the poem, however the most direct reference comes in the fourth stanza where Samson fucks Delilah. This is in stark contrast to his request in the third stanza only three lines above of wanting to learn how to care, or be gentle or loving or tender. Despite wanting to become gentle, Samson fucks Delilah rather than makes love to her, implying that his wish was only a half-hearted one i.e. a wish he only makes but not something he would act upon. He fuck(s her) again further shows this is not the first time Delilah has been fucked suggesting a repetitive nature of this act. Furthermore, Delilah allows herself to be fucked through Delilahs submission, Duffy could be making a statement that women can not break free from this subordinate role in sex. Samsons language is also sexually suggestive, possibly implying that a man can not have his libido driven out of him regardless of the situation. For example, in the second stanza Samson is boasting about his achievements which demonstrate his strength and fearlessness, however he is distracted by a sexually suggestive note, telling Delilah to put your hand here -. This continues in the third stanza; he asks for a cure for his inability to be gentle and in the following line proceeds to fuck her as though he believes the cure is in fucking her. The situation Samson opening up to Delilah about something personal- would usually be assumed to be free from anything conjuring violence however Samson fucks her anyway suggesting that regardless of the time or place, sex is something which remains rampant in a mans mind. On the other hand, it could be said that rather than sex, the main concern of the poem is with power distribution in this relationship. Whilst many would argue that Delilah was dominated by Samson in the poem due to the sex, in the end Delilah cut Samsons hair which biblically represented the demise of his strength. Cutting his hair in the poem may be symbolic of her dominating Samson as she has successfully seduced him and at his most vulnerable (during slumber) she has taken away his strength. This is also in sync with the biblical story in which Delilah disarms Samson and gives him up to the Philistines, ultimately dominating him. Sex is only a way by which Samson is pacified after which he goes to sleep and becomes soft, thus vulnerable. Furthermore, Delilah cuts Samsons hair with deliberate, passionate hands suggesting she enjoyed disarming him and stealing his power away from him. This is a reversal of the typical gender roles in literature and Delilahs passionate hands may be showing that Delilah enjoyed this. Furthermore, the idea that Delilah had to pacify Samson through sex suggests an element of power on Delilahs side as sex was a method through which she satisfied Samson and put him to sleep, leaving him vulnerable. Duffy may be making a statement through this that women can use their sexuality as a weapon to weaken men and thus overpower them. This interpretation is concerned with both sexual politics and power distribution demonstrating that Duffys poetry is not only concerned with the politics of sex.

Masculinity in Great Expectations

Masculinity in Great Expectations Late Victorian Masculinities are bound up with discourses of evolution and aesthetics. Analyse this statement in relation to Charles Dickens Great expectations and Oscar Wildes The Picture ofDorian Gray This essay will try to assess the validity of the abovestatement using the texts stated, and also referring to existing criticism onthe subject. In answering the question, I shall break the statement into twosections. Firstly, I will discuss masculinity in Great Expectations inrelation to evolution, looking at Pips transition from humble beginnings to amore flamboyant existence, and how this fits in with Darwins theory ofevolution. As well as this, I will look at how masculinity is represented insome of the other characters, and lastly to what extent Pips life story cantruly be said to be an evolution. Next, I will discuss masculinityin The Picture of Dorian Gray in relation to aesthetics. This part ofthe essay will focus on how the portrayals of masculinity in the novel fit inwith the idea of Art for arts sake, promoted by followers of the aestheticmovement. In particular I will examine the identity of the eponymous hero, whoembodies much of the aesthetic ideal. There will also be a consideration of theunderlying theme of homosexuality and how some criticism has suggested that theaesthetes used such themes in order to illustrate their own ideas aboutidentity and masculinity. I will then consider to what extent aesthetics arepart of the representation of masculinity in the novel. Masculinity in Great Expectations doescertainly intertwine with the idea of evolution. Pip is in many ways thearchetypal bildungsroman, progressing from a simple domestic life in ruralKent, to London and fortune (although his ending does represent a variation onthis concept). His masculinity is developed along the way. In earlier chapters,he is governed largely by fear, as in the readers first encounter with Mrs.Joe, in which he is informed that he is in trouble. At this dismal intelligence,Ilooked disconsolately at the fire. Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane. Contrast this with his behaviour later on in the book, after he has begun to make his way in the world Being on one occasion threatened with legal proceedingsI went so far as to seize the Avenger by his blue collar and shake him off his feet. By comparisons such as this, we can observe a correlation between the kind of personal evolution, common to the Victorian novel, undergone by Pip, and an increase in perceived masculine traits, such as dominance and physical aggression. However, underneath this, there is perhaps amore scientific form of evolution under discussion. No novel exists in avacuum, and being published in 1861, Great Expectations Darwinsgroundbreaking Origin of Species by only two years. Darwin mentions theStruggle for Existence, in which all life strives to be successful,identifies some key factors in this success. I should premise that I use theterm struggle for existence in a large and metaphorical sense, includingdependence of one being on another, and including, which is more important, notonly the life of the individual but the success in leaving progeny. Pips struggle is clearly dependent on others, for example Magwitch, his benefactor, and it is ultimately Joe who helps him in his time of need. Interestingly, however, he does not have an heir. Indeed, in the original ending, Pip notes in an unmistakably gloomy tone Estellas reaction to Little Pip, She supposed the child, I think, to be my child. In this sense, Pips evolution can be seen to be incomplete. But what does this mean with regard to masculinity? It is interesting to note that masculinity in GreatExpectations is not limited to the male characters. One example of this isMrs. Joe, who, as one critic notes, wore the pants in the household, while Joeserves as an effete and effeminate child like figure.Since Joessimple character evolves less than Pip, this might be seen as fitting in withDarwin, but, as has already been mentioned, Joe achieves the ultimate inevolution leaving progeny while Pip does not. Similarly, Mrs Havisham isgiven a somewhat masculine-tinted description her voice had dropped, so thatshe spoke low, and yet she is arguably the most static characterin the book, being unable to move beyond the trauma of her past. In the lightof this, it seems doubtful that Dickens intended a purely evolutionary picture. Although there is a link in the novel between masculinity and evolution, the two do not go entirely hand in hand. Dickens uses the bildungsroman model, but Pips development is one of acceptance of his role in life rather than the outright triumph evolutionary theory suggests. However, I do not believe that Dickens set out to critique Darwin either. The novels discussion of masculinity sometimes coincides with evolution, and sometimes does not. I think it would be fair to say that Dickens was influenced by the effect of evolution on masculinity, but his characters successes and failures do not fit in with any definite theory. In The Picture of Dorian Gray,masculinity is linked less to evolution and more to aesthetics. This is largelya result of Wildes adherence to the principles of the aesthetic movement,particularly that of Art for Arts sake. This consists of the idea, outlinedin the novels preface, that Art is an entity in itself and that its ownbeauty, and not its meaning or purpose, is what gives it the right to exist -All art is quite useless.This idea permeates the main character,Dorian Gray, in lots of ways, not least in the identity of his masculinity.This can be seen in Lord Henrys description of him in the first chapter -this young Adonis, who looks as if he was made out of ivory and rose leaves.Whyhe is a Narcissus.With its classical references and focus onphysical attributes rather than personality characteristics, this represents aquite different masculine ideal from that which the evolutionists favoured.Masculinity here is perhaps closer to the Platonic ideal, and there is noparticular empha sis on such traits as physical strength and courage, eitherphysical or moral, with which the bildungsroman might be associated. Moreover, some of the most fundamental aspectsof masculinity are challenged. Wilde was, of course, a homosexual, and thistheme is implicitly covered in The Picture of Dorian Gray. For instance,although all of the main characters have heterosexual relationships, such asDorians love for Sybil Vane, there is a suggestion of homosexuality as well.The men are certainly homosocial, and there are implications in therelationship between Lord Henry and Dorian. The former talks very dotingly tohis protÃÆ'Â ©gÃÆ'Â ©, right up to the end of the book, My dear boy, You are much toodelightful, and so forth, and perhaps more significantly, it isDorians good looks that first attract him. This affects the way masculinity isdealt with in the novel in the respect that it removes the element of trying towin the female love interest that we see in Great Expectations. DespiteDorians brief fixation with Sybil, women seem largely incidental to the livesof the principal male characters. This is arguably b ecause they are onlyrequired when they are of aesthetic value, not for their emotional input.Dorian does not ultimately let Sybils suicide interfere with thepseudo-homosexual, and more aesthetic, relationship he has with Lord Henry. Critics have suggested that thisis part of a movement in society in which Wilde and others brought forwardidentity politics, the concept that individuals can view themselves in thelight of their deviations from the norms of society, often enjoying aspects ofthemselves that some might consider abnormal or even immoral. As Audrey Jaffenotes, the contrast between beautiful and ugly images of Dorian Grayreproduces the aesthetics of contemporary identity politics, in which identitytakes shape as the difference between negative and positive culturalprojections.This is perhaps the biggest contrast with GreatExpectations. Whereas Pips manhood is seen as complete when he has learned to accept his place in the world, Dorians masculinity is defined by his unwillingness to conform. It is his aesthetic makeup that makes him a man. The implied homosexuality is part of that, since it involves breaking the taboos of society. According to Jaffe, we may catch the early strains of an identity politics whose anthem will eventually become loud enough to make itself heard even on St Patricks Day.In this respect, aesthetics are central to the novels portrayal of masculinity, although characters like James Vane do represent a more traditional viewpoint, showing such traits as confrontation, family loyalty and defence of ones honour. In conclusion, the representationof masculinity in Great Expectations does nod to a discourse onevolution. Dickens uses the bildungsroman model, and there is a genuine senseof progression, and with it, the rise of masculinity. In some respects,Darwinian theory is supported, as in Pips dependence on others in thestruggle for existence. However, his failure to sire offspring and hissomewhat humbled ending conflict with theories of evolution. As well as this,there is the consideration that masculine characteristics are often given tocharacters that do not evolve, such as Miss Havisham, while the hen-pecked Joeachieves the ultimate evolutionary success in reproducing. This would seem tolead to the conclusion that Dickens was aware of evolution, and to some extentinfluenced by it, but did not use it as the sole basis for portrayingmasculinity. By contrast, The Picture ofDorian Gray shows a direct link to the principles of the aestheticmovement. With his looks and his sensual approach to life, Dorian embodies muchof the movements ethos, and his masculinity is defined in terms of his charmand visual appeal. The undercurrent of homosexuality in the book reinforcesthis. By failing to conform to the ideals of Victorian society, Dorian isrepresentative of a form of masculinity that relates to identity politics.Rather than taking the moralistic route to manhood, he celebrates the beauty ofhis deviance. In this respect, his masculinity is entirely aesthetic, as it isdefined by his individual beauty, and the contrast between positive andnegative views of him. However, Wild does portray other, more traditional formsof masculinity, albeit marginally, in the character of James Vane. Evolution and aesthetics,therefore, do play a major part in late Victorian masculinity. Thebildungsroman is an evolutionary figure, while aesthetic portrayals of men werebeginning to come to the fore in this period. However, it is important toremember that these ideas do not govern masculinity entirely, mainly becausewriters are artists and not merely theorists. Although Wilde does adhere to aprincipal more closely than Dickens, both authors show a willingness to breakaway from theory when it is necessary for artistic purposes. References Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 2, pg. 7) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 34, pg. 223) Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1859, (Ch 3 The Struggle for Existence) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (original ending) Wayne Huang, Problems of autobiography and fictional biography in Great Expectations, www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ge/huangcd.html (1997) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 8, pg. 50) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Preface, pg. 4) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Ch. 1,pg 5) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Ch. 19, pg. 147) Audrey Jaffe, The Aesthetics of Cultural Identity: Embodying Culture, www.victorianweb.org/authors/wilde/jaffe2.html (No date) Audrey Jaffe, Sympathy and the Embodiment of Culture in Wildes Portrait of Dorian Gray, Cornell University Press, 2000 (pg. 167)

The Lying Witches and the Downfall of Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Lying Witches and the Downfall of Macbeth      Ã‚   A false statement or a statement intended to deceive someone is known as a lie.   Of course, there are many different types of lies. There are those blatant lies that have no truth in them whatsoever, lies of omission, and half-truths.        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, evil witches deceive their victim, Macbeth, by telling him half-truths about his prophecies.   As a result of this new "half-true" knowledge, Macbeth makes rash decisions that lead him to paranoia, grief, and eventually his downfall.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first set of prophecies that the witches reveal to Macbeth in act 1, scene 3, stated that Macbeth was to become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and finally be crowned king.   They also said, "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none."   Macbeth was shocked when the first two prophecies came true.   In act 1, scene 3, he spoke of his fears, saying "unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock at my ribs." In Elizabethan times, witches were known as creatures of the devil, satanic creatures who roam the world to cause destruction and chaos.   But how could devils speak of great truths? Macbeth's new knowledge was then reported to his wife.   He writes about how he will become king.   But how would he do this?   One of Macbeth's rash decisions was to murder the present King.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Macbeth had invited the King and the King's men to his castle to celebrate the victory of the battle that had been won.   That night, while everyone was asleep, Macbeth took a dagger and killed the King. After the murder he became very paranoid.   In act 2, scene 2, he cries: "Didst thou not hear a noise? ...There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried `murder!', Methought I heard a voice cry `Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep'...I am afraid to think what I have done; look on't again I dare not."      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Macbeth become king. As a result of his Paranoia, he called upon murderers to execute Banquo, a friend of his that knew about the prophecies.   Paranoia had taken over his life so much that his wife was left out of his plans.   He had become so paranoid, his feelings had become numb. This is shown in act 5, scene 5, when he says: "I have almost forgot the taste of fears: The time has been, my senses would have cool'd to hear a night-shriek.

English Speech Against Physical Punishment of Children :: Papers

English Speech Against Physical Punishment of Children Good Morning/Afternoon ladies, gentlemen and chairperson. I am also arguing against the motion that states, this house believes that physical punishment including smacking young children is wrong. I am a firm believer that a short, sharp smack can keep children under control. This doesn’t mean they should be beaten up or even marked, but strict and fair punishment will benefit a child in the long run. Please picture this scene: a young child of around 3 years is having a temper tantrum in the middle of a busy high street because his mum won’t buy him a toy car. He tries to run away from his mother, screaming and shouting at the same time. To stop the noise the mother gives in a buys the toy car. Now ask yourself who is in charge here, the mother or the child? After all, the child gets his own way and now knows exactly what to do next time he wants something. In these circumstances, parents may have to resort to a smack to one, get the child listening and doing what they are told, two, stop the noise and temper tantrum and finally, for the child’s benefit and own safety. Also, what or who is going to stop an out of control child running out into the middle of a busy road? A quick smack is a lot less pain full then getting knocked down by a car or even a bus! There are many in favour of the government leaving the law as it stands that parents have the right to smack their children. Groups such as Family and Youth Concern feel politicians should let parents get on with bringing up their children as they see fit, and warn that any change in the law would risk turning thousands of parents into criminals. They also feel a ban on smacking would be impossible to enforce. The opposition may argue that there are other forms of punishment which are just as effective as smacking. For example, ignoring the

The Satire of Gullivers Travels Essay -- Gullivers Travels Swift Es

The Satire of Gulliver's Travels      Ã‚  Ã‚   During the eighteenth century there was an incredible upheaval of commercialization in London, England.   As a result, English society underwent significant, "changes in attitude and thought", in an attempt to obtain the dignity and splendor of royalty and the upper class (McKendrick,2).   As a result, English society held themselves in very high regards, feeling that they were the elite society of mankind.   In his novel, Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift satirizes this English society in many ways.   In the novel, Swift uses metaphors to reveal his disapproval of English society.   Through graphic representations of the body and it's functions, Swift reveals to the reader that grandeur is merely an illusion, a facade behind which English society of his time attempted to hide from reality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On his first voyage, Swift places Gulliver in a land of miniature people where his giant size is meant as a metaphor for his superiority over the Lilliputians, thus representing English society's belief in superiority over all other cultures.   Yet, despite his belief in superiority, Swift shows that Gulliver is not as great as he imagines when the forces of nature call upon him to relieve himself.   Gulliver comments to the reader that before hand he, "was under great difficulties between urgency and shame", and after the deed says that he felt, "guilty of so uncleanly an action" (Norton,2051).   By revealing to the reader Gulliver's shame in carrying out a basic function of life, Swift comments on the self imposed supremacy of English society.   By humbling their representative, the author implies that despite the belief of the English to be the most civilized and refined soc... ...and nobility.   Through clever representations, Jonathan Swift successfully humbles this society's pride and human vanity.   He reveals the flaws it their thinking by reducing them to what they are, human beings, which, like any other group of human beings is able to do, have merely adopted a superficial self righteous attitude. In doing so, Swift makes a broader statement about mankind today.   Despite all the self acclaimed advances in civilization and technology, we are still merely human; suffering from the same forces and flaws, impulses and imperfections as everyone else.    Works Cited McKendrick, Neil. Brewer, John. Plumb, J.H. The Birth of a Consumer Society, Indiana Universtiy Press, Great Britan, 1982. Swift, Jonathan. "Gulliver's Travels".   Norton Anthology of English Literature. 6th Ed. M.H. Abrams, vol.1, New York: Norton, 1986.

Amadou Ham Pate Ba

Amadou Ham pate Ba (1901-1991), Malian ethnologist, narrator and author, played an important role in introducing the world to African oral heritage, especially the folktales of West Africa. The man known as the â€Å"living Memory of Africa† he liked to say he was â€Å"one of the eldest sons of the century,† was one of the major intellectual literary figures of the 20th century. The saying with which he will always be associated for (his often quoted statement), that â€Å"In Africa when an old man dies, a library has burned down† has become so famous that it is sometimes used as an African proverb.He was commenting on the loss of African oral heritage, in praise of both old age and oral tradition, which contributes to the historical components of humanities memory. â€Å"The folktale is a key source of oral tradition, as are other forms of narrative and rituals that are considered essential components of cultural anthropology and ethnology†. (folkculture . org) There is a certain characteristic and significance of indigenous knowledge, especially in Africa. Indigenous knowledge has been defined as the local knowledge. Knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society.The expressions traditional local and indigenous knowledge, are used in the literature inter-changeably, is learned through repetition which aids in its retention and reinforcement. Agricultural or desert-based societies slowly created communities that were mostly self- contained and based on self-help. Their approach to problem solving was through ambulated individual or communal experiences and knowledge derived from trial and error. This aggregated validated knowledge improved and increases in time but remained mostly unrecorded. Even in the present information age, agricultural and desert-based communities, have remained practically cut off, thus they have been out of the mere necessity and for the sake of their survival, depending on and making use of their tr aditional unrecorded knowledge†. (Anwar, 1998) Amadou Ba feared that a lot of it is being lost due to rapid urbanization and continuous attrition in the older population. â€Å"Indigenous knowledge is predominantly tacit and embedded in practices and experiences and exchanged within the community through oral communication and demonstration.Recording and disseminating it across communities is not easy† (Anwar. 2005). It’s sometimes fragmented. It does not exist in its totality either in one place or one individual. It is distribution is socially differentiated, based on gender and age. â€Å"When discussing language, ethnic groups, cultures (and subcultures), and religions. The key concepts are diversity and complexity. There are conservatively many hundreds of different ethnics groups. Thus, there are many hundreds of distinct languages and cultures.The sheer number of such groups throughout Africa makes this dimension unique to the continent. † (The Oth er World ch. 6 pg. 187) Amadou Ham pate Ba passed away in 1991, leaving the world a library and an extensive archive to protect the wealth of knowledge that he had collected from fire, which he warned about repeatedly. He said â€Å"that part of every speech is lost to fire; chaos can result from tiny sparks just as a match can lead to a fire that destroys an entire village†. (folkculture. rg) What role do oral traditions play in the displacements and/or migrations of communities? Oral tradition: â€Å"the process of handing down information, opinions, belief, and customs by the word of mouth or by example† (Merriam-Webster unabridged 7th Ed). A transmission of knowledge and institutions through successive generations without written instruction. Thus an inherited principle, standard, or practice serving as the established guide of an individual or group. In comparing different cultures we tend to evaluate the custom of others in light of our own beliefs and values.Mem bers of all cultures assume that their own design for living is the best and only correct way. The belief that one’s own culture is the only true and good way, as well as the tendency to judge other cultures by those standard, is call Ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism serves several important functions for individuals and groups. Certainly about the rightness of one’s beliefs and behaviors reinforces the tendency to confirm and to defend one’s society. Ethnocentrism becomes dysfunctional when beliefs in one’s superiority lead to hostility and conflict. More important, oral traditions can provide a rich history predating the written word. † (The other world ch6 pg. 189) In traditional soufies people tend to regard the way things have always been done as sacred, which stems from the beliefs and practices passed down from generation to generation. Account of first European contacts with black Africa are a study in Ethnocentrism the letters and journals of 1 5th and 16th century explorers, merchants, and missioners, overflowed with lurid descriptions of cannibalism, incest and unbridled lust. Since the Africans did not practice Christianity they were labeled ‘heathens’; since their laws were incomprehensible to the European, they were said to be ‘LAWLESS’; and since their marriage and family practices differed from those prevalent in Europe they were judged to be ‘savages’ and ‘barbarians’. (George 1968) â€Å"Africa was artificially divided to suit the objectives of the colonial governments. Preexisting ethnic, linguistic, and cultural until were ignored. Throughout Africa, closely knit people speaking the same language were suddenly separated†. The other world Ch6 pg. 190) As evident in the class text book (see enclosed references) European colonization of the coast of Africa in 1884 (see fig 6. 2) undoubtedly hasten the displacement and migration of the indigenous people furt her inland toward the desert (see fig 6. 1) so they could control; the rich fertile land. By 1895 (see fig 6. 3) it only got worse. Even today the African map reflects the extraction goals of the imperial powers. ‘’ Moreover, foreigners exploited the natural habit in many parts of the region.For instance, the colonial powers instituted cash crops and export of livestock, which in turn meant widespread clearing of the land and sometimes depletion of the soil. Similarly, Europeans carving up the continent created or heightened local rivalries, which resulted in conflicts that also affected the landscape (ch6 p. 201) Carried to an extreme, ethnocentrism is destructive as evidence by the Nazis in Germany who believed in absolute superiority of the white Aryan race and culture.The result was the displacement and death of millions of people who didn’t fit that category mostly Jews. In American history, each different ethnic, religious, or racial group was thought to be inferior to white Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASP) and therefore deserve less than humane treatment. â€Å"Ethnic divisions are a powerful force today. Ongoing struggles in such diverse states as Angola, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya,Liberia Mauritanian, Nigeria, Ruanda and Sierra Leon may be explained in past by deep-seated ethnic division

Eating Healthily with a Busy Lifestyle

Comm 1100 – Pergrem Speech 1 – Informative Speech Assignment & Examples Hybrid-Online & Online COMM 1100 Spring 2012 Assignment Basics Speech: Present an extemporaneous informative speech to the class on a topic of your choosing in the format described. Time limits: 3-5 minutes Outline: â€Å"Write† your speech in the form of a detailed outline as discussed. Avoid using complete sentences; use bullet points. Do NOT write out your speech like an English paper.Notes: The outline you create will serve as your speech notes (you may bring these to the front of the room with you). You will need an extra copy for yourself. Visual Aid: A professional, college-level visual aid is required with your presentation. Bibliography/Copies of Sources: Include with your speech outline a printed, properly formatted Works Cited or References page. You may use either MLA or APA style. You must also include actual copies of your research sources (print the webpage, copy the magazine a rticle, etc. hat you use). Vocal Citations & Supporting Material: Include at least 3 vocal citations (â€Å"According to a December 2009 article in the New England Journal of medicine, obesity is the number one heath epidemic of the 21st century†) within your speech. Include at least 3 different types of supporting material (stats, examples, quotes, stories, etc. ) in your speech. Research Sources: Use at least 3 credible and scholarly (if possible) research sources (books, journals, magazines, websites, etc. ) when creating your speech.These are in addition to any personal experience you might have (you can’t count yourself as one of these sources). Turn in: At the time you give your speech, turn in the outline, bibliography and copies of sources with a copy of the â€Å"speech evaluation sheet† on the very top, your name and topic filled in. Staple these items together to make a â€Å"speech packet. † Make an extra copy of the outline to use as your spe ech notes. You may not present your speech without turning in your completed speech packet. Detailed Information What is an informative speech? An informative speech relays information to the audience.The primary goal is to increase the audience’s knowledge, understanding, or awareness of a topic. Informative speeches may: (A) Explain something (explain how to do something, how something is made, how something works, or how something occurs) Example: â€Å"How to Choose the Home Loan That’s Right for You† (B) Describe something (describe what a person, object or event is like) Example: â€Å"A Day in the Life of a Typical Third-Grade Teacher in Georgia† (C) Define something (define, elaborate or clarify a concept) Example: â€Å" What Freedom Means to Me,† or may cover any combination of these objectivesWhat are the objectives of the informative speech assignment (why are we doing this)? To provide an opportunity for practicing presentation skills, to promote the critical thinking skill of being able Comm 1100 – Pergrem to consider/reason from/understand a variety of perspectives oth er than one's own, to encourage informed global citizenship through the presentation process, to promote information competency/literacy. What are the time limits: 3-5 minutes Failure to meet these time guidelines (short or long) will result in a lower evaluation.Consider that you may be nervous so you may speak faster or slower than normal. You should practice and time your speech many times. When is this due? ? See the course syllabus for presentation dates. ? We will begin with volunteers and then I will go by the roll in order until everyone in the class has spoken. Speeches not completed by the time we move on to the next activity will not be heard and will be counted as missed. What do I turn in on speech day? At the time of your speech you will turn in: 1) A printed, stapled, detailed comprehensive/detailed outline of your peech. Fo llow the example provided at the end of this handout. Outlines that do not conform to appropriate outline standards and do not contain appropriate detail will be penalized. 2) A printed, stapled, detailed Works Cited or Reference page in correctly formatted APA or MLA style. Visit the Georgia Highlands Library site for more information/examples of how to cite sources correctly. 3) A Copy (printout or photo copy) of at least the first page of all research source materials used, including copies of webpages, magazine articles, portions of books, etc. ) A blank copy of the speech evaluation form from the course webpage, name and topic filled in. stapled All of these items must be together, evaluation sheet on the very top, with your name on them. If I do not receive all of these items stapled together with your name at them I will NOT li sten to your speech and those points will be lost. I know it sounds picky but please do not paperclip these items or put them in folders, please stapl e them beforehand. I will not have a stapler with me so you will need to staple them at home or bring your own stapler with you.Again, you may not present your speech without your speech packet. What are the research guidelines for this assignment? – Assignment must contain at least 3 credible and (if possible) scholarly research sources in addition to your own expertise (your own personal knowledge does NOT count as one of the 3 sources). – Wikipedia is not an appropriate source, though it can certainly be a starting point for gathering information. Neither is ask. com nor any of those types of websites. Remember, any time you cite statistics, stories, etc. n your speech you must tell us where the information came from (provide vocal citations – cite your sources). For example, â€Å"According to a 2008 study reported recently in National Geographic, forty-percent of the earth’s animals are considered endangered species. † You are required to have at least 3 vocal citations in your speech. What type of visual aid is required? This speech requires a professional looking college-level visual aid. What does that mean? It means a visual aid that one might find in a college class or the professional world.In other words, not a poster that looks as if a third-grader with crayons made it; not simply writing or drawing on the whiteboard; and not merely an object desperately thrown in at the last minute to meet the visual aid requirement. A good visual aid is well thought out/meaningful, large enough to be easily seen by every person in the room, clearly labeled, simple enough that the viewer can easily figure out the point, and is fully Comm 1100 – Pergrem incorporated into the speech – – NOT just tacked on at the end like â€Å"Oh and here's my visual aid.It's a picture of a dog. † What makes a good visual aid? An object can be a good visual aid. For example, I'm talking about par ts of a skateboard and I bring my board in as a model to show to the audience. A picture/chart/graph/drawing, etc. can be a good visual aid. Again, it should be large enough for everyone to see. How can you accomplish this? Enlarge it at Office Depot, Staples, etc. and put it on foam board (much better than poster board). Charts, graphs, etc. should be done on the computer and labels typed, not drawn by hand.Another option is to pass out a copy of our visual to everyone, for example, a National Guard recruitment brochure for everyone in the class to be passed out before you begin your speech. DO NOT PASS STUFF AROUND DURING YOUR SPEECH. This is very distracting for the audience and for you the speaker. And of course you can put graphics into a PowerPoint slideshow or other electronic medium and display them on the screen (you don't have to do a full-blown PowerPoint presentation to put the graphics up). This can be a very good way to get pictures, charts, etc. into a format that everyone can see.How do yo u do it? Create your stuff and then either email it to yourself or save it on a flash drive (do not save it in your student folder). I will have the projector and computer up at the front of the room. You will bring your flash drive up and plug in, or you will pull up your email on the computer and open your PowerPoint from there. NOTE: You cannot login under your name/password on the instructor computer at the front of the room. Therefore, you cannot access your visual aid if you store it in y our student â€Å"folder. † You can, however, access your student email. What about video clips as a visual aid?These are fine as long as they are 20 seconds or less. You must actually speak for three minutes. What if you have a Mac? You must get your Mac stuff into some type of format our windows based machines can read. It will not work to try and plug your Mac into our video system. How should I dress? I am not requiring that you wear dress clothes to present your speech. I am requi ring that you look reasonable and appropriate for a semi -formal classroom presentation: DO NOT wear a hat, DO NOT wear anything that distracts the audience, DO wear reasonabl e clothes that are neat and tidy.For example, your clothes should not look as though you were just mauled by wild animals, that you are auditioning for the adult entertainment industry, that you just finished plowing, that you are about to star in a musi c video, or that you are about to walk onto the playing field for a grudge match. What steps do I take to create a speech? 1. Analyze your audience and your interests, selecting an appropriate, worthwhile, and interesting topic on which you can find adequate research. 2. Develop and design your speech using adequate research material to meet the time limits. Decide upon your main points and sub-points.Be sure to include varied support devices (at least 3 different types) as discussed (stats, stories, examples, compare/contrast, etc). 3. Create your speech usin g a clearly organized structure: a. Use an introduction that includes an attention-getter, thesis, and preview. b. Organize a body that includes main points, supporting ideas, and varied support devices. c. Use transitions. d. Have a conclusion that reviews/summarizes the main points and lets the audience know the presentation is ending (provides closure). 4. Use at least vocal 3 citations as explained. Comm 1100 – Pergrem 5.Use appropriate, visible, professional (college-level), and useful visual aids. Practice using them beforehand. 6. Language/Nonverbal – Work on these elements: eye contact, appropriate gestures and posture, avoiding â€Å"uhs†, rate, volume, articulation, professional yet conversational tone, and appropriate language and grammar. Use correct pronunciation. No gum. Remember the â€Å"3 C’s† of speaking: Strive to appear confident, competent, and conversational. Be enthusiastic. 7. Delivery Style – This is an extemporaneou s speech! DO NOT READ YOUR SPEECH. Do not memorize your speech. You may have notes (your outline) while you present.Notes should be used as support, not as a crutch. Do not write out your speech in complete sentences (this makes you want to read). 8. Practice, practice, and practice. You should practice until you feel as though even if you lost your place you could find it in your notes and keep right on going. 9. Use proper speech etiquette: Turn off cell phones, do not use the computers, do not speak to others during speeches or be inattentive, and do not enter the classroom during a speech. 10. In this class we are here to improve our communication skills, not engage in moral, ethical or political debate over speech content.Disrespect for fellow speakers will not be tolerated. Just because you don’t happen to agree with a speech doesn’t mean it’s a bad speech. However, disrespect for the audience by a speaker will not be tolerated either. No profanity or inap propriate language should be used in speeches. 11. Remember, it is OK to have opinions but don't allow your personal views or emotions to dictate your speech. Find objective information. This is an informative speech. Do not let your feelings get in the way of good research. How will I be graded? A copy of the Speech Evaluation Sheet used for grading will be made available on the class website.I will return your grades via Vista (will take at least a week after presentation are completed). Automatic Point Loss on Speech Grade: ? Incorrect Works Cited or References page – 20 points This is pass/fail. Your works cited is either correct, in which case you lose no points, or incorrect, in which case you lose the entire 20 points. ? Failure to staple materials together – 5 points ? Failure to give your speech on the assigned date without prop er documentation – up to 20 points on your speech grade plus 20 additional points for each class day you do not give your spee ch. Failure to include an appropriate visual aid – 20 points ? Failure to turn in any part of the assignment or incorrectly submitting the assignment – 20 points for each missing item and for each item incorrectly submitted. For example, you only have two research sources instead of three – 20 points off the top of your grade. This is very important! ? You cannot present unless you have your speech packet As you can see, it is possible to lose a large number of points off the top for not following the instructions of the assignment. Follow instructions and keep the points! Comm 1100 – PergremExample Informative Speech Outline See textbook for additional examples, though it writes points out in complete sentences a bit too much â€Å"Eating Healthily With A Busy Lifestyle† Purpose: To inform the audience how to eat healthily on the run Introduction: I. How many of you want to be healthy? How many of you find it a challenge to eat well because you ar e always running somewhere such as from work to school or from school to another activity? Many of us find ourselves in that situation all too frequently and sometimes it just seems too difficult to overcome. (Get attention and establish audience relevance) II.However, with a little thought and planning you can still eat healthily even on the go. Today we will discuss ways you can incorporate healthy eating into your lifestyle. (Thesis) III. Packing a lunch, choosing restaurants wisely, and keeping nutritious snacks on hand are a just a few of the ways you can still manage to eat something wholesome while maintaining a hectic pace. (Preview of points) Transitions: Fully develop and smoothly move through attention-getter to thesis and preview, building upon each Body: I. Pack a lunch for healthy inexpensive choices A. Can choose healthier options than if eating out Statistic: from sources regarding fat and calorie content ; be sure to use vocal cite of source) 1. Turkey sandwich from home vs. turkey sandwich from Arby’s (nutrition breakdown) 2. Canned soup from home vs. a Big Mac B. Usually less expensive than eating out (Compare: Stats regarding cost of taking a lunch vs. cost of eating out) C. Many convenient options available (Examples: ) 1. Pre-cooked, pre-cut chicken, turkey, etc. 2. Fruit cups, apple sauce, etc. 3. Pre-cut veggies D. Can prepare the night before for convenience so easy to eat healthy (Story: how I pack each night to have something healthy to eat for breakfast in the car )Comm 1100 – Pergrem E. Microwaveable frozen healthy dinners are another option (Cite article from Good Housekeeping Magazine regarding the best new frozen dinners) (Examples: ) 1. 2. II. Lean Cuisine – nutrition content Healthy Choice – nutrition content Choose wisely if eating out A. Many restaurants (both fast-food and others) incorporating healthier choices into their menus (Examples: ) 1. Salads – McDonalds, Wendys, others 2. Baked o r grilled entrees 3. Low-carb options 4. Fruits and yogurts B. You can make choices that are healthier when eating out (Examples & Personal Stories: ) 1.Ask to hold the mayo and other fattening sauces 2. Choose broiled or grilled instead of fried 3. Leave off the French-fries and opt for a healthier side or none at all C. Some restaurants geared toward healthy eating (Examples: ) 1. Subway (Quote: regarding Subway’s commitment to healthy menu choices) 2. Sweet Tomatoes III. Keep healthy snacks easily accessible (in the car, etc. ) to stave off hunger (Examples: ) A. Fruit B. Low fat yogurt smoothies (also a good breakfast on the go) C. Whole grain cereal bars D. Water – lots of it E. Nuts Comm 1100 – Pergrem Conclusion: I.Today we have looked at various options for eating healthily on the go. We have learned how packing a lunch, choosing a restaurant and entree wisely, and keeping nutritious snacks on hand can all contribute to better eating habits even with a b usy lifestyle. (Summary of main points) II. The next time you think about heading to the drive-thru to order that burger and fries consider this: with just a little planning you can enjoy a meal that’s delicious AND healthy so that YOU don’t end up super -sized. (Provide closure) Comm 1100 – Pergrem Parts of a Speech Outline – Informative Speech (Use this as a guide when creating your outline)Topic/Name: Topic/Name of your speech Purpose: â€Å"To inform the audience . . . . . † (This is for your benefit so that you can craft a speech around your purpose. You do not read this section to the audience). Introduction: (Show relevance to the audience during this section) I. II. III. Attention-getter: story, actual or rhetorical question, quote, surprising fact or statistic, etc. Thesis statement: the main point or idea of your speech Preview of Main Points: Preview your upcoming main points Be sure to transition smoothly from attn-getter, to thesis & p review of main points, to the body (Main Point 1).Continue to use transitions to move smoothly from one point to the next and on to the conclusion. Body: I. Main Point 1 A. Supporting Ideas/Subtopic of Main Point 1 B. Supporting Ideas/Subtopic of Main Point 1 – These are backed up by Supporting Material: definition, statistics, example, illustration/story, testimony, compare/contrast. Use vocal citations when appropriate. Transition. II. Main Point 2 A. Supporting Ideas/Subtopic of Main Point 2 1. Additional supporting ideas 2. Additional supporting ideas B. Supporting Ideas/Subtopic of Main Point 2 1. Additional supporting ideas 2. Additional supporting ideas These are backed up by Supporting Material: definition, statistics, example, illustration/story, testimony, compare/contrast. Use vocal citations when appropriate. Transition. III. Main Point 3 A. Supporting Ideas/Subtopic of Main Point 3 B. Supporting Ideas/Subtopic of Main Point 3 – These are backed up by Suppo rting Material: definition, statistics, example, illustration/story, testimony, compare/contrast. Use vocal citations when appropriate. Conclusion: I. II. Summarize Main Points: Provide closure (closing statement, quote, story, etc. ): Comm 1100 – Pergrem Check List for Speech Day Printed comprehensive outline ? Printed works cited or bibliography page, correctly done ? Printed out actual copies of research sources (web pages, magazine articles, etc. ) ? Printed out the speech 1 evaluation sheet with name and topic completed ? Stapled all of the above together with evaluation sheet on top ? Visual aid (fully incorporated into speech) ? Practiced so that speech is within time limits and to the extent that I feel comfortable looking down and my outline and continuing should I lose my place. ? Practiced using a competent, conversational tone, not reading, and looking at audience

Economy Scale: Inequality for All Essay

In the Documentary Inequality for All, scholar Robert Reich dissects the staggering facts on an unequal distribution of wealth between classes and its shattering effects on the American economy. He focuses on the fact that our middle class, which makes up 70% of our economy, is being kept on a tight leash from the wealthy that only make up the miniscule 1% of society, making the same amount of income as half of the country. He begins explaining how In the late 1970s inequality became a prominent issue, not necessarily on a declining economy, in contrast he clarifies that the GDP (gross domestic product) kept on increasing. The problem arises from the unparalleled income of the American workforce compared to the increasing prices of health care, housing, college and everyday costs of living. As expenditures increased for American households so should of workers wages, but instead many dropped or remained the same throughout the economic boom and even until now in our current date. This â€Å"huge gap† as Reich describes, between wages and rising economy became a problematic concern to all Americans constituting the middle class. The economy entered a vicious cycle as Reich explains it to be, a cycle on which low wages cause low consumer spending thus leading to a troubled economy for all. At first the middle class leaned on to borrowing from banks to get through their struggle balancing high living prices and low wages, another coping mechanism that kept the middle class going for a while was that women began entering the workforce to aid in the responsibilities of their households. Yet, these efforts weren’t enough for the two underlying issues; globalization and new technology whom were responsible for contributing to the flattening wages since 1970. An example of this can be seen with Amazon.com, a company that is responsible for taking out of the market many small businesses. The businesses that once performed the same work that Amazon.com does now, did so with many more workers, thus, propelled many more jobs than what amazon provides currently. With higher living standards and not enough disposable income the middle class go through daily struggles, only enough to make it on to next day while the wealthy keep storing away unimaginable sums of money that they themselves have no clue what to do with. With the raising inequality on the middle class, they are constrained to battling hurdles that make their efforts of moving upwards in life all the more difficult.  Reich suggest that the attention needs to be shifted towards the working class, primarily with their education; â€Å"prosperity generates prosperity. Preparing our workforce to specialize and become well-educated individuals will just add on to a thriving stable economy; making education affordable and investing on them expands the middle class as well as the success for both the wealthy and t he working class. The rich believe they do enough since they see themselves as job providers, and think that if it weren’t for their role in creating jobs, that our economy would be much worse. With this they argue on issues such as getting taxed too much and how the â€Å"job creators† are being attacked. In reality they are not making any genuine effort on balancing out our economy. The wealthy making over six figure salaries a year manage to pay 15% on taxes while the average middle class male that makes anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000 a years will get taxed double, paying an average of 30% or more on their taxes. Instead they keep accumulating money and invest in other things that give them a profitable return to themselves but not to the rest of the economy. With big companies such as General Electric (ge) who prioritize on making a profit rather than good jobs, by creating overseas jobs rather than providing them to laborers in America. Inequality is monster on its own that’s is growing out of proportion, taken down with it many middle class members jobs, homes and destabilizing their every day lives. As executive pay continuous to go up, they have enough money to buy government and their decisions. Inequality is a matter that came about those decisions driven by the wealthy on to the government that make choices for its people. No real effort to counter act the issue has been taken into place, still we are responsible for getting the message out to the masses and begin making a change for a united workforce. If we continue with the trend that began in the late 1970s and has made its way all the way until the present, it will only continue to get a lot harder for upcoming generations to have a fair way of life. Workers having no say on the matter will add more gasoline to the fuel that has begun to wash away many Americans hopes and dreams. This Documentary is a wide opening realization to all the factors that are contributing to many economic problems that have affected many, including me personally. Many are still blinded by the government’s false efforts of aiding every one towards the perfect â€Å"American Dream†. The issue falls on our hands from this  point on to make advancements in our education and expanding the capacities of our work force.

Allergies Involving Children

Allergies Some children have food allergies which means that they cannot tolerate certain foods and they may become very ill which may lead to going into anaphylactic shock if they eat certain foods. Some children are allergic to nuts or eggs and it is very important to make sure these foods are avoided which means checking the ingredients of some food products very carefully as every small amount can cause problems for allergic children and also some medical conditions can be cause by a child’s diet e. g. ood additives can affect the behaviour of some children with Attention Defiat Hyperactivity Disorder. Common food intolerances are:- Lactose – This is found in milk and dairy products Histamine – This is found in strawberries and ripe tomatoes. Tartrazine – This is mainly found in yellow food colouring, some drinks and sweets. Establishing different dietary requirements in your placement can be done by referring to the child’s parent, referring to the child’s record, speak to the children and referring to the other practitioners in your setting.Point which need to be considered are procedures, insurance, first aiders, allergies, photos in medical records, staff awareness, trained staff for administering medication and close contact with parents. Children with different dietary needs In a childcare setting you will encounter children with different dietary needs which are important because you may need to understand what can affect a Childs dietary requirements. Medical ConditionsMedical conditions can affect a child’s diet in the following ways:- Diabetes which means that the pancreas cannot regulate the body’s sugar levels and children will need to avoid sugar but should have regular meals and snacks and also each child’s needs will be different and you will have to work closely with your supervisor and the child’s parent to support a diabetic child. Coeliac disease means that children can not absorb their food normally and will need to avoid gluten which is mainly found in cerals such as wheat and barley and coeliac disease is usually detected after a child has been weaned from breast milk.Food Preferences Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or any other products which come from animals such as milk, eggs and cheese. Also if children follow a vegetarian or vegan diet then special care must be taken to make sure all the essential nutrients are included in their diet. All children in your care must be able to eat and drink safely so that food poisoning or related illnesses are avoided and also bacteria can grow quickly on food and your role in handling food and drink appropriately is essential and you will need to understand how to store, prepare and serve food.Establish Different dietary requirements of children and young people There are various dietary requirements that you need to consider to meet the different needs of children which include religious, cultural, all ergies, health requirements and individual choices or preferences. Religious and cultural Muslims – * Eat halal meat, fish, shell fish which is slaughtered and is prepared in a certain way. * Do not eat pork or dairy products that contain rennet which is curdled milk from the stomach of an unweaned. * Fast during Ramadan Jews- Do not eat dairy products with meat * Eat kosher lamb, beef and chicken which is slaughtered and prepared in a certain way. * Fast during Yorn Kippur * Fish should have fins, scales and backbones. Sikhs- * Do not eat beef as the cow is a sacred animal. * Some Sikhs may eat chicken, cheese, fish and shell fish. * Rarely eat pork Hindus * Do not eat meat as the cow is seen as a scared animal. * Do not eat dairy products that contain rennet * Usually vegetarian * Eat fish with fin and scales Rastafarians * Do eat lamb (some do) beef and chicken but do not eat shellfish.

Complete a lab report using the scientific method

Complete a using the scientific method - Lab Report Example is case, the understanding the microvariability degree of the soil in an area, together with factors that lead to variability is extremely vital for experimental and practical agriculture (Kang, 2008). In order to gain knowledge on soil microvariability, this paper explores the variation degree in some soil and the maize yield. In this paper, we hypothesize that there would be more yield in an arable land than in nonarable land. The null hypothesis of the study will be that there would be a higher maize yield in arable land than in non arable land. The impact of mineral nitrogen fertilizer was observed on the yield of maize crop. This yield was measured in milligrams of dry mass harvested in 100 acres for a period of a year. The process was done for both arable and non arable land in the sites close to Germany, and Malle. The maize yield was observed from 1990 to 1988. The climate variation on both types of land were also recorded. From the results, it is evidenced that in a percentage nitrogen concentration of 0.12, there was more maize yield in nonarable land than in arable land. This shows that there were differences in the management practices involved in the arable, and in nonarable land (Moss, 2007). It can also be agued out that the amelioration, and fertilizer addition in the different soils were responsible for the different yield of maize (Murphy, 2006). In this respect, the study rejects the null hypothesis thus adopting the alternative hypothesis of the experiment. In this respect, the alternative hypothesis includes; a lower yield in an arable land than in nonarable

The Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s - Essay Example The war, however, was frustrating for both parties, with a victory that was decisive eluding them both. Various factors relating to the regime changes in both countries led to a full-blown war between Iraq and Iran, and a proxy war between Iran & the US. The premise of this paper is to analyze this war and the role the US had to play in it. 2. Iraqi army and Iran troops In 1979, Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, took over power in Iraq, and set out to make Iraq the leading state in the Middle East (Kilborn 79). While Saddam and most of his supporters were Sunnis, the majority of Iraqi’s were Shia’s. Saddam did not trust them. Iran a neighbour to the east was predominantly Shia. In 1979, the Iranians, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, also overthrew their government, which had been under the Shah, a treasured ally of the US and Israel, and this led to an enmity brewing between these two entities. The revolution in Iran also marked the first time that clerics of Islam had harnesse d the authority of religion to overthrow a modern and secular state with a theocracy (Jacek 39). 3. Saddam Hussein’s personality The most potent catalyst for the Iraq-Iran war was Saddam Hussein’s personality. Repeatedly, he aggressed against the Iranians, and it was only a matter of time before war broke out. A number of reasons were to nudge Saddam into starting a war. These were longstanding issues like access to the gulf of Persia by the Iraqi’s, & a few recent ones like the mistrust that the Iraqi’s felt towards the Iranians and their new government (Phythian 71). The Iraqi has historically claimed the oil rich province of Khuzestan, which had a large Arab population of non-Persian population, with historical ties to Iraq. A few small islands in the gulf of Persia, which were militarily occupied by Iran, were also laid claim to by Iraq. There was also the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which was disputed by both countries. 4. Diplomatic ties between Iraq an d Iran Tensions between Tehran and Baghdad heightened in 1980. A group sponsored by the Iranians attempted to assassinate the foreign minister of Iraq, while Iraq captured and hanged Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, the grand Ayatollah, and a staunch, public defender of the Islamic Revolution (Phythian 79). Diplomatic ties were cut, with minor skirmishes along the border. Iraq, in September, declared Shatt al-Arab waterway as their territory, before invading Iran on the 22nd. The invading Iraqi’s were remarkably successful at first, managing to gain large swathes of territory, including Khuzestan. However, their march began to lose steam, due in large part to the ferocity with which the Iranian public responded, and the bravery of the Air Force of Iran. In January of 1981, the Iranians mounted a counteroffensive, which was unsuccessful & led to a stalemate period (Kilborn 91). 5. United States’ Contributions During the war, both countries attacked oil tankers bound for each oth er’s nation, in an attempt to cripple their foreign exchange sources. As the stalemate dragged on, neutral vessels were attacked with increasing regularity in the middle 1980s. This was especially a paramount concern for Western oil importing countries. After Iranians attacked Kuwait’s vessels, the United States’ president, Ronald Regan, gave the green light for Kuwaiti vessels to fly under the US flag, placing them under the patronage of the US, and giving the US the right to strike back if these ships were attacked