Voter Identification Laws

Common Application Essay on a Meaningful Place

Common Application Essay on a Meaningful Place Note that this essay option was dropped from the Common Application in the 2015-16 admissions cycle. This does not mean that applicants can not write about a meaningful place with the current Common Application. The topic of your choice option allows you to write about anything, and its also possible that an essay on your background or identity could focus on a meaningful place or environment. The fourth essay option for the 2013 and 2014 Common Application  asked applicants to discuss a place or environment that is meaningful to them: Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? Except for the rare student who isnt content anywhere, this question will be a viable option for a wide range of applicants. Nearly everyone can identify a location that brings contentedness. But this doesnt mean the prompt isnt challenging. Applicants who choose this option will need to make sure they are presenting their chosen location effectively. The tips below can help: Choosing a "Place or Environment" Step one in tackling this prompt is coming up with a place or environment where you are perfectly content. You have a lot of latitude hereyou can write about any specific location on the globe (a place), or you can be less focused and discuss the type of surroundings (environment) that brings you contentedness. The place can be small or large, inside or outside, commonplace or extraordinary. You could also bend the question to explore imagined placeslocations accessible only through your imagination. As you brainstorm this essay prompt, think broadly about the place or environment you are going to discuss. Your options include: A building: Your house, church, school, tree fort, or grandmas home. A store, movie theater, cafà ©, restaurant, fitness club...An interior space: your bedroom, the secret room under the stairs, your science classroom, the locker room, your aunts kitchen, the shower, the drivers seat of your favorite car...An exterior space: the woods, the ocean, the lake, a city street, a rooftop, a meadow in bloom, the dessert at night...A travel destination: Machu Picchu, the San Diego Zoo, the top of Mount Washington, the Avenue des Champs-Élysà ©es, a food market in Shanghai, a tent in the Bad Lands...A performance or athletic venue: the stage of a concert hall, a tennis court, the football field, the shoulder of the road on a bike, the theater...An imagined place: the world portrayed in a painting, J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, Diagon Alley, the Star Ship Enterprise, Jane Austens England, Downton Abbey... The list could be much, much longer, and please dont let these limited suggestions steer you away from your own place of contentedness. What Does "Perfectly Content" Mean? Many students have interpreted this question to be asking about a place where they are at peace. Indeed, that is one way to read the question, and being in a peaceful state is one type of content state. But the word content can mean much more than a state of peacefulness. It is also a state of satisfaction, and you dont need to be peaceful to be satisfied. An adrenaline junkie might be most content when skydiving, and a musician might be most content when performing a solo to a standing-room-only crowd. These high-pressure situations can be magical, meaningful and content moments, but they are not peaceful. Be Careful When You "Describe" Always keep in mind that the essay is a place for you to tell the admissions folks more about yourself, and for you to demonstrate that you are well prepared for college. The first task asked of you in prompt #4 Describe a place or environment is also the least challenging part of the question. Describing, unlike analyzing, is a pretty low-level form of thinking. This part of the essay has no self-analysis or introspection, so it is not saying much about you, your passions, or how well your mind works. Because of this, dont spend too many of your 650 words describing. Be clear, concise, and engaging as you describe the place you have chosen, but then move on. The description should not be the bulk of your essay. The "What" and the "Why" The end of the prompt is most important. The question is asking you why you feel and act the way you do in your special place. Why is this place or environment meaningful to you? Dig deep. A shallow response isnt going to impress anyone. The student who writes Im most content on the soccer field because Ive always loved soccer hasnt really answered the question. Why do you love soccer? Are you a competitive person? Do you like the teamwork? Does soccer help you escape from other parts of your life? Does it make you a better person? How has your time on the soccer field made you grow? What exactly makes the soccer field so full of meaning for you? A Final Word About an Essay on a Meaningful Place If you really explore the why of this question and go easy on the describing, your essay will be on track to succeed. It might help to rethink prompt #4 in these terms: Tell us about a place that is meaningful to you so that we can get to know you better. The college is asking for an essay because it has holistic admissions, and the admissions officers really do want to get to know you as an individual. The essay is one of the only places on your application (aside from an interview) where you can put forth your personality, interests, and passions. Whatever you focus on in your application essay- whether it be a place, a person, or an event- the essay needs to be about you at its core. To test out your essay, give it to an acquaintance or teacher who doesnt know you particularly well, and ask what that person learned about you from reading the essay. Ideally, the response will be exactly what you want the college to learn about you. Last of all, no matter which essay prompt you choose, pay attention to style, tone, and mechanics. The essay is first and foremost about you, but it also needs to demonstrate a strong writing ability.

Business Psychology and Organisational Behaviour Essay - 3

Business Psychology and Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example It is believed to be gathering together the biological aspects or inborn features related to desires, urges, needs and impulses to seek immediate gratification. Id ignores consequences. Every individual tend to focus on the pleasure principle to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. In order to release tension it fantasizes and applies pleasurable sensations or feelings to any bodily functions (McKenna 31). The ego, Freud described, was related to the thinking and the problem solving aspect of personality. It has ability to learn through experience. It is based on reality principle. The ego controls id i.e. behavior and movements of the person through conscious approach. The ego selectively satisfies desires by avoiding negative impacts of the act. In other words, the ego postpones the release of the ids psychic energy until the right object or method is found. The concept of the ego is based on the individual’s conscious sense of himself (Edgcumbe 212). Superego emphasizes on the moral development standards and ethical values procured from parents or society. Every human being tends to internalize parental standards as their own. Superego uses guilt/anxiety as an important function. When aggressive forces stored in the superego are opposed with mental processes related to ego, it might lead to depression. When an individual is progressed from dependency towards autonomy, superego gradually becomes impersonal. The values acquired from parents get substituted by admired figures in society or high social ideals. His conscience acquires ethical character by the recognition of distinct principles and ideals. The interaction between these three mental processes gives rise to struggle which influences personality structure (Chan et al. 27). Id is a reservoir of psychic energy which does not obey any rules and regulations, while superego inhibits these intrinsic desires.  

Film Critique-Bioethical Imperatives Scholarship Essay

Film Critique-Bioethical Imperatives - Scholarship Essay Example With this concern, the essay examines the bioethical issues highlighted in the plots of these two movies by comparing and contrasting them, at the backdrop of the present relevant theories. Correspondingly, four ethical frameworks, including ‘justice’, ‘rights’, ‘duty’ and ‘virtue-based ethics’ will be addressed in this essay while comparing the above two films. The movies â€Å"And the Band Played On† as well as â€Å"The Rain Maker†, both addressed certain bioethical issues that emerged in the early 20th century based on the then conducted medical research. However, the former was a drama based on the suffering of the people and their lack of consciousness, giving an indication of the gaps persisting in the conservative society, while the later complied with the dimensions of all mystery, suspense and drama. â€Å"The Rain Maker† movie elaborated on a financial crisis faced by a boy suffering from leukemia, who could have been saved if only the insurance company was on agreeable terms to pay for the bone-marrow transplant (Cohen, n.d.). Subsequently, the plot for â€Å"And the Band Played On† was majorly focused on the ethical issues surrounding the rapidly increasing rate of HIV infection in early 1980s, indicating the influence of political factors on such issues (Noonan, 2008). The bioethics reflected in the latter revolves around the dimensions of medical ethics and its loopholes under the impression of strong socio-political judgments (Sass, 2007). Depending on the bioethical imperatives, four ethical frameworks have been considered to compare and contrast the plots in the two selected movies. The justice-based approach implies that people should be treated according to their respective hard work. However, the present world reflects a huge imbalance arising from uneven social power or financial power delegations (Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, 2014). For instance, â€Å"The Rain Maker† focused on the inequality

Mandatory Military Service in the United States Research Paper

Mandatory Military Service in the United States - Research Paper Example Conclusion III. References Abstract A mediocre interpretation of the word â€Å"mandatory† will be obligatory or compulsory. The Mandatory Military Service of America carries out compulsory enrollment and induction into its services as part of its functions. With reference to the Legal Dictionary, enrollment is done through conscription also known as â€Å"draft†. However, draft and conscription are two different concepts. Conscription is the compulsory induction of individuals into the armed forces, as compared to draft which is the procedure by which people are conscripted. Men within a certain age group must register with the Selective Service for possible conscription, but this concept was suspended by 1973. According to this said source, conscription typically involves individuals who are deemed fit for military service. At times governments have instituted universal military service in which all men or people of a certain age are conscripted. Some American colonie s employed conscription. During the Revolutionary War, the American government used selective, temporary conscription to fill the ranks of its military. Congress passed the Selective Draft Act (40 Stat. 76). The act created a government office to oversee conscription. It also authorized local draft boards to select eligible individuals for conscription. The following year, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of conscription, noting that Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to "raise and support Armies". Presidential authority to conscript individuals into the U.S. armed forces ended in 1973. No individual has been conscripted into the military since then. Inception of the draft The idea that members of a community have a duty to defend it is as old as civilization itself. In a free society like ours, forcing citizens to fight involves conflicting notions of civic duty, individual freedom and equality. Although America has relied on an all-volunteer milit ary for most of its history, it was forced to draft men to fight the civil war and the wars of the 20th century. (Cited from Paul Ruschmann, Mandatory Military Service) George Washington was the first of a number of presidents to propose compulsory military training for all men. â€Å"Every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government, not only owes a proportion of his property but also some of his personal services for the defense of it, and consequently that the citizens of America†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦should be borne on militia rolls†. Despite his proposal, his advice was overlooked and the all-volunteer militia remained. However, at the time of the civil war, there was enough man power to go to battle. The Confederacy which had a much smaller population than the Union authorized a draft. The next year, lawmakers followed suit. Despite attractive bonus packages, the Military was not attracting enough persons to raise an army strong enough to win the war. With the draft l aws conceived by the Union and the Confederacy, they allowed a man to hire a substitute to fight for him. During that era, that was the most intelligent means of exempting men engaged in essential civilian occupations. The law also exempted a man from serving by paying a $300 commutation fee to the government. Many Northerners complained that the civil was a â€Å"rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight† and anti-draft violence broke out in a number of cities. The worst unrest occurred in New York City, where anti-draft protests

History of Cricket in India

History of Cricket in India Cricket is religion in India. How many times have we heard that in the news, read that in newspaper, quoted in conversations? Though the National game of India is Hockey but it is cricket that has the Indian publics heart. People follow this game like a religion. People in India might not be aware of Indian Hockey teams captain but they are aware of cricketers playing for the first time in national colours. Corporate houses, politicians, even the media wants to get associated with cricket in one form or the other. This wasnt always the case with cricket. There was a time when cricket was a game only for the royals and the privileged and the common man had no or very little access to it. Cricket was started in India by the British as early as 1791. It wasnt late in the 19th and early 20th century that it was played with a lot more interest. In 1932 India became one of the few counties to be given the right to play international cricket. A lot of people along with the then king of England followed the game. India, along with other countries became a regular in International cricket, but it was an average cricket playing nation. It was followed by a lot of people now, but there was very little media coverage. This might have been due to the poor performance of Indian cricket team during this time. This might also be attributed to the fact that Indian Hockey was at its best during this time racking in medals after medals at Olympics and other International events. In 1983, a shocking turn of events took place; India won the World Cup. They did so by beating the then cricket powerhouse West Indies in the finals. Indian cricket team received a heros welcome. They were the new talk of the town. Everybody wanted to see them, talk about them and know about them. Around this time, television also started making its way into Indian peoples drawing rooms. This is when the media, though limited in its scope, got a chance to bring these cricketers closer to Indian audiences and fans. This was to open a door of endless possibilities which were beneficial for both the parties. This was the first time Indian cricketers started making money through endorsements and sponsorship deals. This trend was started by Sunil Gavaskar. But Media had a big hand to play in it. The popularity of these cricketers was as much due to the coverage of their feats in the newspapers, television news (mainly Doordarshan) and radio. In the 90s two other new changes came which were about to revolutionize cricket and media both. The advent of cable television was about to change how news was viewed and how Indian audiences looked at entertainment. The rise of Sachin Tendulkar also was a phenomenon which brought unlimited money into cricket and cricketers became richer and richer through sponsorship deals and endorsements. In 1995, worldtel signed Sachin Tendulkar for Rs 30 crore, and after this, there was no looking back for cricketers. The beginning of 24 hours news channels saw the start of entertainment and news merging together. The media got too involved in the lives of cricketers and everything a cricketer did was in the limelight. The audience wanted to know everything about their favourite cricketer and the media delivered. This led to the crazy idolization of cricketers when they performed and their fall was even more dramatic whenever they failed. Media was instrumental in shedding light on the match fixing scandal that shook the cricket world. Before that, the cricket world used to talk about it in hush tones and nobody was sure what was going on. But the whole Hansie Cronje incident also brought down many big names and media had a big role in providing evidence against the culprits. Initially the role of the media in Indian cricket was progressive during the transitional period in the Indian cricket, where we were transitioning from an average cricket playing nation to a force to reckon with. But now, the Indian media, in my opinion (particularly the electronic media) does not serve the interest of the people and cricket in general in fact some of it is positively anti-cricket. The Indian media today is busy making profits or helping some political party fulfil a political agenda. Earning money through selling stories about crickets to the masses and bringing controversies like these are not the only motive that media has with cricket. Media often diverts the attention of the people from real issues to non-issues. The real issues in India are socio-economic. Even in cricket the real issues are development based. In olden times emperors used to say if you cannot feed them bread, then give them circus This is what the Indian media is doing today. Nobody would disagree with the fact that a little entertainment in news would not harm anyone, but today the media is overdoing it. Media distracts people from real issues using entertainment and what better way to distract people than cricket. The best example of this would be India-Pakistan relations. The partition of 1947 and the resultant turmoil triggered off hatred, distrust and prejudice in almost every sphere of activity in the sub-continent. Interestingly, it was cricket that formed the first bilateral exchange in 1952 when Pakistan, led by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, toured India, evoking a spontaneous, albeit tense, response. It was reciprocated two years later when India paid the first official visit under Vinoo Mankad, generating an equally sensitive response. Yet since 1947 a cricket conflict brewed simultaneously between the two countries, based on the nationalist antagonism between the two teams and backed by passionate fans on both sides. And even today whenever there is a talk of the Indian and Pakistani dialogue over politics and peace process, it starts with resuming Indo-Pak cricket ties. And thus starts the agenda of distracting the general public from the real issues. Indian public, (not as a generalisation) is not disappointed with the failure in the peace negotiati on as long as we win the cricket match between the two countries. Today Indo-Pak cricket offers a striking case study to see how a political conflict between two states has trickled down to the mass level and saturated the mass psyche to such an extent, that political hostilities are not only played on the Line of Control but also on the cricket field. This mass psyche of a purported nationalist conflict has been also revved by years of state propaganda against the enemy country, which permeated in all forms of interaction and exchange with the enemy be it sports or war. Media often divides people. Be it about bomb blast, Indias Foreign policy or Indias chances in the next cricket world cup. It is healthy for a country and its people to have debates and opposing views, but the way media works in India, we are being fed opinions about how we should think about policies, personalities and situations. Our views and opinions are polarized by the media and we see through their eyes. There was a time when Indian cricketers did not have money, and except for the cricketers playing at the international level, domestic cricketers had to struggle with their career and money. But Indian cricket board became one of the richest sporting bodies in the world. And then came IPL, the country was divided between whether it was fair for cricketers, especially young cricketers starting their careers, to get ridiculous amount of money. Then there was corruption and this heated up the debate even more. IPL was used by politicians, movie stars, corporate houses and media houses as well to their advantage (not taking into account Deccan chronicles recent decline). IPL became a way for everyone to earn money and easy publicity. Media also became a part of this honey pot. Constant coverage of not just cricket but of the cricketers activities, the parties and the over analysis of performances, all became part of what media circus that was IPL. Media has now become so powerful that based on one failure or success it can create stars and make villains. The Ganguly-Chappell controversy was brought to the general public by the media. Something that was supposed to stay in the dressing room was now at the medias disposal. It led to the downfall of both Ganguly as well as Greg Chappell. Media and the players have started to understand how to use each other for their own benefit. Players have started using media to increase their popularity, joining social networking sites, remaining in the public eye. All this gets them bigger and better pay checks. Today the fee these stars charge for a single endorsement is astronomical. Media has had a big role to play in that. Also a lot of players make up some controversy right before they release their autobiography. They leak some controversial part of the book and then media does the rest. But Media also benefits from these cricketers. Players give them sound bites, come as guests for expert opinions, which raises the TRPs of their programs and gets them advertising spots as well. Indian Public has been fed with large amount of information by the 24 hours news channels but the quality and standard of its content have become extremely narrow. The glitz and the glamour of television have taken the Indian viewer by storm. They surf from channel to channel, mindlessly viewing and getting information that they might not need leaving them confused and perplexed and unable to think for themselves and thats when media feeds them information that they want the viewer to take. The amount of money involved in cricket today and the influence it holds over the general Indian public is huge, and that make a very powerful motivator for the media to use cricket as a tool to further its agendas in India and the world.

Improving Management Styles Essay -- essays research papers

Improving Management Styles and Their Function   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the article When the Problem is Management, author Lawrence Sawyer takes a look at the different styles that managers have in their practice, how they can better perform their functions and how they relate to the four basic functions of management. As an internal auditor, Mr. Sawyer provides some insight to these managers in helping them and their departments make better use of the tools they have and points out what basic function they are violating. This article and its basic points relate directly to the assigned 1st week’s reading in our Management 330 textbook and is an excellent example in how to relate the reading to a real life example. Ways to improve one’s own organization or their specific department in their own organization can be taken and applied as well, as this article is an excellent review on the functions of management and how they put their practices into effect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the article, Mr. Sawyer recalls many experiences he has had in dealing with managers of different organizations and how he has found that whatever flaws was found could be directly related to the four basic functions of management, which are planning, organizing, directing and controlling. Planning is described as the function preceding all other functions and allows a smooth and proper flow through the remaining functions by establishing objectives and goals and following procedures and rules that have been set. An excellent example was given of an audit performed for a company where a manager’s practice in governing his engineer’s time schedule was scrutinized. The manager was made to realize from his own work how he had three years of planned backlog. This was seen and accepted by the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Management Functions 3 manager and corrective action was taken to regain control of the tasks at hand. Better planning practices were implemented to establish priorities and cut completion time expectations for his engineers. Good organization practices are described more as a counter to failure than a guarantee for success. Responsibility, auth... ...ecisions that are very routine often consume much time in getting supervisory approval and would be very easy to delegate to the agents responsibility. Also, upper level management be surprised at how interesting it would be to an ordinary agent to learn about how forecasting works and the outcomes of other reports in our department. In conclusion, Lawrence Sawyer’s assessment of the importance of the four basic functions of management and the different styles managers have in implementing them was very informative. Anyone should be able to take this evaluation and better improve their own personal management habits and styles and see how they can be applied to their surrounding work environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Management Functions 6 Resources Sawyer, Lawrence B. (1998, August). When the problem is management. Internal Auditor Vol. 55 Issue 4, p33, 6p. [EBSCOhost]. University of Phoenix Online Collection. Available: http://www.apollolibrary.com/srp/ubm/mgt330.asp: (2002, August 5).

Postcolonial Novel Essay

To fully understand Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart, one must not fall for the idea that there is one main purpose for the novel. Simply stated the story is much too rich and complex for that. The themes of Okonkwo’s life, and the Ibo culture, are twofold: it is the relation of the conflict between an individual and society, and also the description of the conflict between the larger forces of cultures clashing. Support for this dual thesis is overwhelming. To begin with the text itself demands that interpretation. Things Fall Apart clearly begins with a focus directly aimed upon the main character of Okonkwo. It is going to revolve around his life. However, at the very same time, the protagonist is not mentioned even one time early on without being connected simultaneously with thoughts of both his home village and the larger culture of the Ibo people. This cannot be ignored. One could argue that rather than being a larger purpose book Things Fall Apart is just a novel of the life and growth of one man, but this is rather silly and simple. The title of the book puts one right on the path to refuting this, giving context to a larger meaning. It is clearly encouraging one to look at larger ‘things’ as opposed to a person. This is coupled with the basis for the title itself, quoted on the flyleaf: The Yeats’ poem The Second Coming: Turning and turning in a widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. (Quoted in Things Fall Apart). Therefore given the context of a large chaotic world it would be more than naive to assume a different interpretation, that of a more concentrated work based upon an individual. To best prove the ambivalent statement of purpose about Achebe’s novel it is vital to review critical and popular commentary. This book has struck a highly resonant chord with readers in the fifty years since its first publication. It unabashedly describes an African culture in such a way that the power of the society is shown, and the power of the African individual is also demonstrated. Naturally, all minority groups and oppressed people can find inspiration within the pages. As a result, as may be expected, strong opinions have been catalogued as analysis over time. This paper reviews two such supports for each purpose stated in the thesis. The first part deals with the conflict between individuals and society. The primary source naturally is the book itself. Briefly paraphrased Okonkwo is a well known warrior. He is extremely self centered and important at the beginning of the novel. This has as its roots a severe cynicism regarding the life and experiences of his father Unoka. In a world where the society of Ibo is stronger than the individuals, this lack of respect seeps into Okonkwo’s world. The foible is too much and eventually pits him at odds with his society. Charles H. Rowell held a conversation regarding this aspect of Things Fall Apart with the author himself. What resulted was a fine understanding and awareness of this thesis through the words of Achebe. One example of his thought process and the workings of the story of Okonkwo on a personal level is this answer. â€Å"People are expecting from literature serious comment on their lives. They are not expecting frivolity† (250). Or as Rowell comments, the creation of Achebe’s stories such as Okonkwo’s are not made just to entertain. They are to connect with readers about their own experiences and then instruct them from there. Rowell’s interview shows an awareness of the importance of the social story. His questions aim to reveal this oft overlooked aspect of writings such as Things Fall Apart. It is tempting, he relates to merely dismiss (if this is even fair wording) the book as commenting only on the larger theme of Ibo society and what happens when an established social realm is invaded by foreigners. Instead he and Achebe through the discussion point to the power of a narrative surrounding the conflict that one can have on a smaller, more concentrated level: the conflict that occurs when one runs counter to their own society’s expectations. When Okonkwo becomes too heavily involved on a personal level with the sacrifice of the neighboring Mbaino culture, he runs into direct opposition to the world directly around him. That and his character traits create early conflict and show to the world a story based upon that – an important revelation to readers across the spectrum that may find themselves sometimes in this predicament. The biography of Achebe by Ezenwa-Ohaeto reveals this purpose to be true as well. And this comes from a treatment of just where Achebe was in his own personal life and the moods and hopes that he possessed while writing the book. He was working as a controller at the time in Eastern Region when he first began attempting to introduce Things Fall Apart to the publishing world. At this time, he ran into the sort of direct conflict with his own society, ironically, that he would develop in the story of Okonkwo. There was great objection to a book about Africans by Africans at the time. The 1950s were not exactly a compassionate moment for the words of Africans. Independence was on the horizon for many countries, but there was also a great deal of fear. This desire of many to not rock the boat, so to speak, put those who would speak out in a path of intersection with their own society (65). This only encouraged Achebe to produce a vision of that for his protagonist. There must be the strong character trait in one that wishes to change his social culture for the better, he reflects in his novel. The experience of Okonkwo is the experience of an individual in conflict with his society and the results that may come, unexpected or not, from that. The second section concerns itself with the conflict inherent when two cultures clash. This is the broader perspective, necessarily, compared to the experience of the individual. This also is the more basic and popular understanding of the novel. It is very easy to see all of the reasons why. Again, a look at the primary source of the novel is the starting point for any discussion. Commentary on the book will never quite serve the reader as well as the book itself. And what does it indicate? Most of the second section of the story is examining what happened to the Ibo people and their culture when the white culture insidiously worked their way into it. It broke the home culture into pieces. Things did, indeed fall apart. Consider this quote directly from the book: If we fight the stranger we shall hit our brothers and perhaps shed the book of a clansman. But we must do it. Our fathers never dreamed of such a thing, they never killed their brothers. But a white man never came to them. So we must do what our fathers would never have done. (Achebe 203). There is no better analysis of this second theme of Achebe’s work. Two cultures clash. Chaos results. And yet that is only the superficial layer of the problem, as this quote clearly shows. The problem that occurs when cultures come into contact and then conflict with each other is the assimilation effect. There will always be faction that fall prey to the invaders and their attractive ideas. Sometimes that is enough for them to forget the values of their peoples. This conflict then with their own home society can cause open resentment and actual warfare. Then the culture falls into shambles even worse as shared societal values are discarded. In the end there are not only two social cultures left: the home and the invaders. There are three: the home culture, the invaders, and the home culture that is infected by the invaders. None of them are true allies and only further conflict can be expected. Chapter three of John Ball’s book Satire and the Postcolonial Novel (79-114) examines this issue and the breakdown that results from it. He takes the even larger view that is used often as well when looking at the clashing of the Ibo with the whites that have come into their world. He reviews this setting of Things Fall Apart to be a criticism and revelation of the greater issues of colonialism in Africa (and other parts of the world, for that matter) as seen through one African author’s eyes. Rather than look too thoroughly at the early parts of the novel, he focuses rather on the part of the book in which the two cultures come into contact. This is the point of departure for this second theme. It is accurate to say that most of the pages from that spot and onward deal with this cultural clashing issue. I think, too, that it is accurate that this does work as a satire. That is to say that I fully believe that Achebe is trying to achieve this effect. Only too well did he personally understand what happens when two completely variant cultures meet. His hope and the hope of the Africans around him was that if treated peacefully, the foreign culture would come in and only benefit them, but he also saw the harsher side of the realities. This is how Things Fall Apart deals with the situation. Ball is not the only one who could see this expression in the novel and in other works by Achebe. It is a strong defense of the idea that one of the two main themes of the book is that of what happens when two cultures clash. A final proof would use is Isidore Okpewho’s commentary on Achebe in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. She sees too this problem with assimilation, cultural conflict and resultant expectations. These are all the values and stories of Things Fall Apart. Seen from the outside she has several comments and thoughts about how these topics are addressed by connecting them to the outside world at the time of the writing. She describes the authorship of this book as being a â€Å"succession of forces controlling his [Achebe’s] development as a writer† (5). This is a great assessment. It sets the stage for understanding the direction of his landmark work Things Fall Apart. It is indeed this stage that the book concerns itself with. There is a succession of forces, to use Okpewho’s words, that are acting upon the Ibo culture. These control the development of the world of that African region and create mass conflict between the two cultures. The assimilation effects, she continues, were strongest in the Ibo part of the world. This is accurately reflected, too, in the sinister ways in which the foreigners crept in with their influences. That is the warning cry of Okonkwo with the text. He sees that the policy of indirect rule is only designed to place one group of people into opposition with another group of their own people. This splinters and fragments the strength of the initial cultures. It created enemies where there weren’t any other, as reflected in the quote concerning the killing of brethren, used above. This was the white way. It is no surprise then, that this theme would find its way so strongly into Things Fall Apart. The topic is addressed as a cautionary tale. Achebe had already seen this happen in his own world. He saw the sad results. He knew how destructive the penetration of home cultures could be. All of these can be found in Part Three of the book. â€Å"It is already too late,† said Obierika sadly. â€Å"Our own men and our sons have joined the ranks of the stranger. They have joined his religion and they help to uphold his government† (176). It is the despondent tone of the theme describing the clash of cultures. All of the above commentary from several sources, combined with a close and analytical reading of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart reveals the thesis to be strongly supported. Of the novel’s purpose, two things then are true: it aim to relate an expression of conflict between an individual and society, while concurrently exploring the description of conflicts resulting from the larger forces of cultures clashing. References Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor Books, 1994. Print. Ball, John C. Satire & the Postcolonial Novel: V. S. Naipaul, Chinua Achebe, Salman Rushdie. New York: Routledge, 2003. 79-114. Print. Ohaeto, Ezenwa. Chinua Achebe: A Biography. Oxford: James Currey, 1997. Print. Okpewho, Isidore, Ed. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Oxford: UP, 2003. Print. Rowell, Charles H. â€Å"An Interview with Chinua Achebe. † Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart: A Casebook. Ed. Isidore Okpewho. Oxford: UP, 2003. 249-272. Print. Conversations with Chinua Achebe. Ed. Bernth Lindfors. Jackson, MS: UP, 1997. Print.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton essays

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton essays What would happen to a lonely married old man, an ailing wife and a young cheerful girl when they were living together in a house? Thats totally what happening to Ethan Frome, his wife Zeena Frome, and her companion Mattie Silver. I would like to tell you about the major characters individually. Ethan is a farmer whose family has been on the same farm for ages. He feels a strong connection to the young pretty girl, Mattie, his wifes cousin. He was attracted by Mattie on the day she came. He never has good mood with his wife, Zeena. Although he is not satisfied with his wife, he never dares to express his feeling. Once he wants to say we shall never be alone again like this to Zeena in the kitchen. Zeena Frome is Ethans sickly wife. She is interested in the treatment of her own illness, displaying her imagined illness to catch others attention. She loves to be the center of people. Because of her physical sickness, she holds the dominant position in their family. Her cousin, Mattie, is employed to be the dominant helper because Zeena is always sick and not able to do the housework. Matter is Zeenas cousin, who is employed as household help by Zeena. Her father and mother died when she was twenty. With her fifty dollars from the sale of her piano, she comes to assist the Fromes with their domestic tasks. She falls in love with Ethan as he is the only one who treats her well and being nice to her. When Zeena wants to adopt a kid and let the kid replace Mattie. Mattie and Ethan both find that they cant leave each other. Mattie wants to go down the coast with Ethan and never comes up anymore. But finally she and Ethan didnt die. The author, Edith Whartons style is characterized by simplicity and sometimes even barrenness appropriate to the stark and tragic quality of the whole story. She controls her style is the best using of words. Her imagery is always ...

How Lobbying works

How Lobbying works In the United States, lobbyists work on behalf of big companies or the public. The lobbying process usually assumes two categories, the indirect and the direct kind. Direct lobbying involves â€Å"meeting a politician and providing him/her with details relating to a law or a bill that is under vote† (Nownes 14).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on How Lobbying works? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Indirect lobbying can also be referred to as grassroots lobbying and it involves influencing the politicians’ votes by changing public opinion. Public members then contact their representatives and inform them about their acquired opinions on the issue under discussion. Lobbyists usually come into contact with both legislators and their aides. During the lobbying process, lobbyists advocate for interests that might be affected by changes in legislation. The main purpose of lobbying is to employ checks and balanc es to the law making process. The status of a lobbyist is not the same as that of an ordinary voter because while a voter has only one vote, a lobbyist has the power to influence politicians directly. In addition, lobbyists usually have access to a lot of money and this gives them immense influence. Lobbying activities do not depend on which party is in power. Lobbyists have the ability to work against party policies and manifestos. The independent nature of lobbying makes it a good tool of democracy. The lobbying process is enshrined in the constitution through the First amendment. This Amendment gives the people â€Å"the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances† (Nownes 34). This right is enjoyed by individuals, professionals, nons of lobbying activities might include a campaign spearheaded by oil companies that are interested in convincing the Congress to amend oil-drilling rules, a campaign by software companies that seek to convince the Congress to t ighten copyright laws, and a campaign by a humanitarian society that wants the government to increase the welfare budget. On the other hand, indirect lobbying involves trying to appeal to an elected official’s electorate. Indirect lobbying might involve sending letters to voters explaining a certain issue and then asking them to contact their representatives. In addition, lobbyists might address rallies or public forums that urge citizens to sway their politicians’ opinion on a certain issue.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nowadays, lobbying is often marred by controversy. Lobbyists are viewed by most citizens as individuals who would stop at nothing to sway politicians even if the process involves corruption. For instance, a lobbyist by the name Jack Abramoff claimed to have spent over one million dollars in one year through politicians’ incen tives. Some people are of the view that the only way to eliminate corruption from lobbying is by abolishing it entirely. However, lobbying has proved useful in some instances and it is protected by the constitution. Lobbying has at times worked against the interests of citizens. During the Ford Pinto disaster, lobbyists made the situation worse by delaying the recall of the faulty vehicle models. This delay proved fatal because several innocent citizens lost their lives. Almost everyone can engage in lobbying because no certification is required before becoming a lobbyist. Lobbying is important to the country’s law making process. However, the process is often misused by politicians and big corporations. The solution to this misuse lies with the politicians. Politicians are still answerable to those who elect them to office. Therefore, being swayed by unscrupulous lobbyists might cost politicians their political careers. Nownes, Anthony. Total Lobbying: What Lobbyists Want ( and how they try to get it), New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print.

Critical Incidents Response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Incidents Response - Assignment Example ense to establish agencies that control data centers in the states/cities and who can be of assistance when a state is under duress, whether medical, weather-related or physiological. Such agencies do exist, but have yet to pick up speed as was shown up in the tragic carnage in Virginia Tech. This Paper examines how the national grid has been networked and its command and control set up. In any data gathering and collating agency, the inputs can be inundating in volume, with a high level of irrelevance. All the same, every bit of information must be considered as actionable intelligence until proved otherwise. ‘Analysis must be objective and independent of political considerations. Since no single Agency has the ability to cater to the variability, pace, activity level and anticipated quantum of demands of information and its analyses, it must utilize distributed expertise, regardless of where in the Intelligence Community (IC) this expertise is. Collaboration must the norm in the IC, overcoming technical, policy and administrative barriers. The analytical process must be transparent, with logical argumentation and evidence-supported analyses. If intelligence gaps cannot be covered within the IC, the IC must tap external expertise to obtain relevant data, even if international agencies are to be involved’ (www.fas.org). As far as practicable, data and a nalysis sharing must be in real time and all operating agencies and operators data-linked. In an emergent situation, one of the most critical information systems is the Public Information System. ‘The US National Incident Management System (NIMS) requires that public information be organized around a Joint Information System (JIS) that is overseen by the Public Information Officer (PIO). The Public Information Officer (PIO) represents and advises the Incident Commander on all public information matters relating to the management of the incident. The PIO handles: The PIO also oversees other functions required

Role of Parole Officers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Role of Parole Officers - Essay Example (Michigan Civil Services Commission, n.d.). The positive aspect of being a parole officer is the sense of achievement of having made a positive contribution towards the rehabilitation of an offender and towards the protection of society. The salary is attractive and increases commensurate with experience and educational qualifications. Free training is gained and a pension after 20 years. The disadvantages of the job are the risk of career burn-out and developing a distorted view of society. It must also be acknowledged that home visits to offenders do involve a degree of risk. The irregular work hours are another con of this position. The required qualifications are a working knowledge of psychology, sociology and criminology, department laws and parole rules and regulations, interviewing techniques, effective communication and public relations skills, high stress tolerance, and the ability to conduct investigations, evaluate findings, and prepare reports. (Michigan Civil Services Commission, n.d.). I am not interested in this career as I am not confident that I have the ability to tolerate continuous exposure to offenders. This requires a level-headedness and a certain toughness which I do not possess. My ability to empathize with people is one of my strengths. I am not certain that this empathy will serve me in good stead as a parole office. This role requires the ability to provide practical guidance and not