Should Casinos Be Legalized - 1514 Words

Should or Should Casinos Not Be Legalized in Thailand? Does Las Vegas sound exciting? Have you ever longed to go there and try your hand at a fortune? Almost everyone has a dream that they’ll win big, and this is why towns such as Las Vegas have such a strong appeal to the public. The problem arises when people visit casinos and take gambling too far. For some this form of entertainment turns into an addiction. This creates a rather big controversy whether casinos should or should not be legalized in certain countries such as Thailand. Some claim that it should be legalized because casinos are beneficial to the economy in that they create new jobs and are advantageous to local businesses, while others oppose it because it does not†¦show more content†¦In addition, the majority of the people who go to casinos are the people from the surrounding area, which does not help either. On a closer aspect, one of the single hardest hit businesses by the gambling industry is perhaps the restaurants around the casinos. Casinos offer an enormous amount of cheap food to attempt to keep people inside. Many of them even have promotions, where free food is offered to cover the slower times of the day, for instance the Palace Casino on the Mississippi Gulf Coast offers a free Buffet every day. (â€Å"Free Stuff..†, 2001) What now? The losers are the neighborhood restaurants many of whom soon go out of business. In Atlantic City, for example, the number of restaurants has decreased by 40 percent since 1997. (Dunstan, 1997) What do you think would happen to street vendors in Thailand? Exactly! They would probably go down the drain. (Which may be beneficial for the society but for the purpose of this argument, the bottom line is they suffer) You see, casinos are nothing but a nightmare to the small locally owned businesses. Furthermore, pros say that there is nothing inherent in gambling and that any activity that attracts large numbers of people may cause an increase in crime rates. It doesnt have anything to do with gambling, inherently. Well I object! Probably the most devastating consequences of casinos are the hidden social costs and problems imposed on the gamblers and often on their families. ManyShow MoreRelatedGambling Should be Legalized.1571 Words   |  7 PagesGambling should be legalized What is gambling? According to www.dictionary.com gambling is taking a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit. Gambling has been around for centuries and has been dated way back to 1492. People have been gambling in America ever since America was found. There are numerous underground cards clubs and casinos all over the country and in major cities. People gamble on everything: sports evens, dice, and cards. Even though people gamble every day in the UnitedRead Morelegalizing gambling983 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Legalizing Casino Gambling in Texas Persuasive Speech Outline Legalizing Casino Gambling in Texas Specific Purpose Statement: To persuade my class about why legalizing casino gambling in Texas is for the better. Thesis Statement: Legalizing casino gambling in the state of Texas would enhance society and will be beneficial for the entire state. Organizational Pattern: Problem-Solution Introduction I. Did you know that gambling generates more revenueRead MoreLegalized Gambling Essay919 Words   |  4 PagesLegalized Gambling Have you ever wagered on a game? If so you were gambling and should have been fined. Gambling should be legalized in the state of Florida. The lawmakers, who have decided that it is evil for you and me to gamble, have justified it as a means to scam billions from citizens in order to compensate for their mismanagement of tax money. First they waste what they collect in taxes and then recover the wasted billions with gambling scams to get more, much more. AddingRead MoreShould Gambling Be Legalized?971 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States. Some people are in favor of gambling because they find their entertainment in playing in casinos. Gambling is to take risks and play the games for money. Most people believe that gambling should not be legal because gambling activities do not benefit our communities and eventually causes: increased taxes, a loss of jobs and money. However, my opponents believe that gambling and casinos are good sources for improving the economic syst em and communities and helps our communities to decreaseRead MoreThe Impact Of Gambling On The United States1650 Words   |  7 Pagesmid 1900’s to present day where some types of gambling remain legal. Throughout multiple decades, people have constantly bickered back and forth stating their opinions on what defines gambling, and if it should be illegal or legal. More importantly, all types of gambling should be legalized in the United States since multiple types of gambling already exist and are considered legal, it’s improper to permit some and leave others out. Moreover, gambling stimulates the economy by bringing tourismRead MoreLegalized Gaming in Mississippi Essay1420 Words   |  6 PagesLegalized Gaming in Mississippi Once given up dead, Biloxi this summer celebrates the 10th anniversary of a casino-driven rebirth that has been dubbed The Mississippi Coast Miracle (Biloxi, Miss., Celebrates... 1). In 1992 the first legalized gaming facilities opened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The casinos gave Mississippis economy the boost it has needed for a long time. Religious groups and other activists were against the legalization of gaming because theyRead More gambling Essay858 Words   |  4 Pageshave wagered $482 billion dollars in the United States. Over eighty-five percent of this wagering took place in casinos which are now legal in twenty-seven states. In the past decade there has been incredible growth in the gambling industry. Twenty years ago if a person wanted to gamble they had to go to Nevada. Nowadays, there are only six states in which no form of legalized gambling exists. Proponents of the gambling industry feel that this growth is a good thing a nd that it is helpingRead MoreEssay on Is Gambling Good?1582 Words   |  7 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After many years of being confined to Nevada, the gambling industry has started appearing in new locations. Of course, this is expansion is not supported by everyone. In some locations, the government allows casinos on Indian reservations and â€Å"river boat casinos.† Certain governments, such as the state of Nevada, allow gambling in all parts of the state. Originally, gambling was only legal in Nevada. The other locations are fairly recent and many other local governments are consideringRead MoreGambling Is An Extremely Well Liked And Entertaining Activity For The Canadian Population1530 Words   |  7 Pageseventually lead to a Criminal Code amendment in 1969. This gave the federal and provincial governments use of the lottery and gambling profits to help fund important projects. Gambling promptly grew to encompass charity casinos , regular bingos and major lotteries (Smith, G., 2012). Legalized gambling in Canada is denoted by the Criminal Code of Canada, which essentially states that all gambling is illegal unless conducted by governments or charities (Innes, D., 2013). Additionally the Criminal Code statesRead MoreThe Lottery And The State Of Georgia1272 Words   |  6 Pagesof Georgia should highly consider legalizing other forms of gambling. States that have granted casinos the permission to operate noticed a significant increase in the employment rate, benefits from state and local tax revenue, boost in retail sales and a revitalized housing market. First, when allowing casinos into parts of the state, it brings with it multiple opportunities for employment, i.e., construction jobs, manager positions, server positions, gaming technicians, etc. When casinos enter a state

David Hume s Argument Against Suicide - 943 Words

David Hume grew up in a time where society was molded by the conservative beliefs of popular religions. So much so, that when the essay - On Suicide- was released, it was removed from the publication itself. In the eyes of the Christian community, suicide was always wrong, but Hume begged to differ. He believed that suicide should be done without blame or guilt, and that there were instances, where suicide should be allowed. His argument encompasses our duty to God, society and ourselves. His claim may be valid if all the premises of the argument are true, but it is not persuasive enough to be considered sound. Hume begins his argument by stating that â€Å"If Suicide be criminal, it must be a transgression of our duty either to God, our neighbour, or ourselves.† (Hume, On Suicide, pg. 55). However, he claims that suicide is not always a violation of our duty to God, our neighbours, or ourselves. Due to the lack of any scriptural prohibitions against suicide, it can be assumed that suicide is not entirely a transgression. The main reason why it is condemned in many popular beliefs is because altering the length of one’s life is not permitted. Hume argues that if the alteration of the length was an issue, then taking medicines and being treated would be a sin as well. But because that is not the case, and medicines are not impious, suicide can’t be so either. (Jackman, Lecture notes, pg. 2). The next premise of the argument is directed to the society as whole. The argument thatShow MoreRelatedKant And David Hume Views On The Matter1457 Words   |  6 Pagesthat lead to an individual to both reason and feel some sort of emotion. Objectively speaking, there is a no fine line between reasoning and how one feels, however there seems to be a distinct difference between the philosophers Immanuel Kant and David Hume views on the matter. Both are life changing philosophers with very opposing views. One sees the feelings in human nature while the other seems to see nothing but rationality. One can argue both are used but according to these two there is only oneRead MoreHow Can You Like For Die?1889 Words   |  8 Pagesa perfect time, a wonderful place and leave the world in their own way. Just like John Keats’ arguments in â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale,† â€Å"I have been half in love with easeful death†¦Now more than ever seems it rich to die, to cease upon the midnight with no pain† (52-54). Nevertheless, those who made their own choice on how to end their life are treated unfairly. Some would say—and some  have  saidà ¢â‚¬â€that  suicide is stupid, pointless, and meaningless.  This is far too casual a judgment, too dismissive of theRead MoreEssay on Steppenwolfs Decision to Live1250 Words   |  5 Pagescommitting suicide. He tries to justify taking his life with religious and philosophical rationales, but in the argument he finds that his life is worth living and suicide not a logical option. Sadly though, the novel provides little evidence beyond the Steppenwolfs own feelings as to why he cannot commit suicide. It is the intent of this paper, with some religious and philosophical references, to shed light on the reasoning behind the Steppenwolfs decision to live. The issue of suicide has beenRead MoreEssay about The Debate Over Euthanasia1216 Words   |  5 Pagestrust and faith held in God and his divine command. It was not until the eighteenth century Enlightenment period that new ideas favoring euthanasia were put forth by philosophers and other prominent figures such as Samuel Will iams and David Hume.4 By the close of the 1800’s, doctors and medical organizations began attacking the idea of euthanasia. They believed that pain medications should be used to control discomfort but not to cause death.5 This debate continues today and the views on it are just asRead MoreEuthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide - Good, Bad, Right, Or Wrong?1860 Words   |  8 Pages Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide – Good, Bad, Right, or Wrong? November 17, 2014 Jennifer Mullen South University Online Euthanasia is a term derived from a Greek word meaning happy or fortunate in death. It is most commonly used now to denote the merciful infliction of death [either actively or passively] to avoid torment in fatal and incurable disease, usually by consent of the patient or his family. Tribal Customs: There are accounts of tribes, ancient and moreRead MoreA Short History Of Self Esteem2742 Words   |  11 Pagesuseful to us, in the conduct of life, than a due degree of pride, which makes us sensible of our own merit, and gives us a confidence and assurance in all our projects and enterprises. David Hume, Treatise of Human Nature, vol. 2 As the quotation from the great 18th century Scottish Enlightenment thinker David Hume shows, the idea that it is important to value and think well of yourself has been around for a long time. However, the first pure psychological use of the term can be traced back to 1890Read MoreGod Is Real : Is God Real?2173 Words   |  9 Pagesreal, and is still apart of our everyday life. However, there is a side that states God is not real and he will not return. Major arguments for this side would be through certain catastrophic events that occurred, such as the Boston bombings or the attack on 9/11. The nonbelievers state that if there was a God he would not put his people through that; and also the argument of evolution, and how man came to be. As for me, I believe that God is indeed real, because the stories of Jesus told through theRead MoreShould Pas Be Legalized?3599 Words   |  15 Pageslegalized. However, there are some who believe that PAS should not be legalized, even if in some cases assisted suicide might be the right course of action, because legalizing PAS would lead to many unpleasant consequences. In the second section of this essay, I will attempt to respond to these concerns by providing empirical data which seems to show that many of these projected consequences against legalizing PAS are ill founded. I. The Value of Human Lives In this section I will try to analyze the valueRead MoreCriticisms Against Ethical Theories8474 Words   |  34 PagesCriticisms leveled against Ethical Theories 1. Criticisms leveled against Consequentialism. Consequentialism is based on the consequences of actions. It is sometimes called a teleological theory, from the Greek word telos, meaning goal. According to consequentialism, actions are right or wrong depending on whether their consequences further the goal. The goal (or, the good) can be something like the happiness of all people or the spreading of peace and safety. Anything which contributes toRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesand permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your reque st to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturers

Contemporary Appraoches To Mental Health Care †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Contemporary Appraoches To Mental Health Care. Answer: Stein (2012) discusses the increased cases of mental health conditions. He is particularly intrigued by cases childhood and adolescent depression. The discusion notes that despite these alarming revelations, the phenomenon is not taken with utmost importance in the health care sector. He notes gaps in research including direct care of acute inpatient psyciatry, changing patterns and nursing care. He acknowledges the industry s collective support for workers and staffing in direct care of acute inpatient units. This is important in ensuring the successful impimentation of nursing care services. This journal also supports studies towards Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing ( CAPN) and its simulation with staffing in direct care (Fowler, Cashin, McGarry, 2012). These agree on challenges in psychiatric nursing care and best approach to psychiatic care. It makes contribution to evidence based decisions on direct nuring care nursing with elements of staffing in direct care. It provides important findings for organizations on how to provide a conducive environment for nurses caring for psychiatri patients. It looks at how to create the best environment for the best outcome in psychiatic care. The knowledge is applicable in the health care and beyond. It provides crucial knowledge for safety, validity and relible outcome in patient verses psychiatric care communities. Mentioned are measures for a health economical and result oriented approach to this health care system. The study involves professional bodies in nursing, health care staffing, industry leaders, and labour organizations in healthcare. It brings out improtant factors for changes in nuring policies and it provides a concrete topic of discussion for experts in health care panels. This gives it a multidimensional approach to healthcare and nursing issues. The journal provides deeper insight to a specific discipline using a wider scope. It has knowledge for mental health practitioners,risk management approaches, illnes focused research, and emerging disciplines. Its approach is beneficial to emotional support services, professional engagement and wellbeing(Oshima Emanuel, 2013). Wand (2013) presents a discusion on contemporary appraoches to mental health care. He brings out the effectivenes of psychotropic medication in the treatemnt of mental health cases. He looks at its use in monotherapy and psychological therapies. In the article, positive health approaches consider pros and cons of a medical process in themanagement of psychiatic disorders (Hibbard Greene, 2013). The article makes postitive contribution towards nursing practice and health care. featuring among the solution oriented practices, it supports the use of wellness instead of illness in creating healthcare solutions. The article features the change in medical care approaches with a focus on the patient. It contrasts the traditional approaches to mental health which focused on themanagement of illnesses using biomedical models. Its approach enlightens clinical assessment, risk managemen and problem based approaches in treating mental health patients. It supports the use of a comprehensive approach that integrates a cost effective treatment, personalised staffing, and quality diagnosis. However, it points out the importance of using individual competencies and abilities in administering positive health. The article notes that patients may have physical incapacities but psoes mental capacities. The article agrees that sound mental abilities can create postive relationships hence these can contribute to individuals wellness. The article further points out that a patients wellness does not always depend on drugs. As a result it questions the constant use of psychotopic drugs. It suggests examples of positive health such as social acceptance and perfromacn, which can improve psychiatric conditions. The article does not support treatment using antidepressants because drugs could worsen the situation. The article identifies research linking antipsychotic medication with clincal conditions like hypertension, obesity and hyperglycaema. It also notes that drugs contribute to the chemical imbalance in the body system causing fatal illnesses. The journal supports the use of healthy medical solutions for better life expectancy(Wilkinson, Kelvin, Roberts, Dubicka, Goodyer, 2011). References Fowler, C., Cashin, A., McGarry, D. (2012, December 17). Child and adolescent psychiatric nursing and the 'plasic man': Reflections on the implimentation of change drawing insights from Lewin heory of planned change. Contemporary Nurse, 41(2), 263-270. Hibbard, J., Greene, J. (2013). What the evidence shows about patient activation: better health outcomes and care experiences: fewer data on costs. Health Affairs, 32(2), 207-214. Oshima, L. E., Emanuel, E. (2013). Shared decision making to improve care and reduce costs. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(1), 6-8. Stein, F. K. (2012). A Welcomed Shift. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 18(1), 15. Retrieved September 12, 2017, from file:///C:/Users/BAT/Downloads/1682217_2025063014_nursing2stein.pdf Wand, T. (2013). Positioning mental health nurinsg practice within a positive health paradigm. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing , 116-124. Wilkinson, P., Kelvin, R., Roberts, C., Dubicka, B., Goodyer, I. (2011). Clinical and psychosocial predictors of suicde attempts and non suicidal self injury in Adolescent Depression Antidepressants ad Psychotheray Trial ( ADAPT). American Journal of Psychiatry, 168(5), 495-501.

Why I Chose To Become a Social Worker an Example by

Why I Chose To Become a Social Worker In every moment of our lives, we make a choice. A choice that is based and anchored on our beliefs, wants, desires, goals and dreams. A preference that would make us happy and contented and a pick that could both/either nourish our body and/or soul. One of the most critical days of my life is when I craft a decision and choose the path that I yearn to travel and to walk on. My mind and my heart conspire, insisting upon me that I need to follow them, thus, I decide to become a social worker in order to touch lives and to make a difference. Need essay sample on "Why I Chose To Become a Social Worker" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Social Work is the profession wherein an agent called social worker helps individuals, groups or communities to improve and enhance or restore their capability for social functioning and making societal situations and conditions favorable to that objective (Definition of Social Work). Moreover, it encourages social change, problem solving in human relationships and liberation and empowerment of people to improve well-being. It also uses human behavior theories and social systems and gets involved at the times where people interact with their environment (The Definition of Social Work). It is also concerned with the interactions amidst people and institutions of society that endeavor to affect and influence the ability of people to achieve and complete life tasks, comprehend and realize aspirations and values and lighten distress. The interactions that transpire between people and social institutions revolve in the context of the larger societal good (Definition of Social Work). Given the aforementioned definitions of the profession, I made up my mind to become an agent for the people: a social worker. I choose to become one because there comes a moment in my life when I realize that I am driven more to people and to commit and give service to a people-oriented work. I strongly grasp within me an advocacy of service to the human race especially for my fellowmen. Furthermore, I know that my decision is right; hence several reasons could be hauled from my choice. First, I, myself is an advocate. I want to do something that would definitely alleviate peoples lives and current situations. I join organizations seeking and promoting for advocacy campaigns with regards to the poor, childrens rights and environmental awareness. I desire to bestow help as much as I could because it gives satisfaction within me. It definitely makes me happy. Second, social works nature of job captures my interest. The tasks and responsibilities are very much diverse. They are not just confined in a four-corner roomoffice. Moreover, there are fieldworks wherein I would be given a chance to immerse with the people of the community. I often look forward into it because I know I would understand them better if I get to be involved in their haven. Third, I desire to have multiple roles and social work has given that to me. I did not dream of becoming a CEO and detain myself inside the office, dealing with complex investments and businesses. I want something that would nourish all the area of disciplines in my life. Social work has provided me a number of choices with regards to roles and responsibilities. Through it (social work), I could be an enabler, a researcher, a broker, an advocate, an initiator, a mediator, an activist, an educator, a negotiator, a coordinator, a group facilitator and a speaker. And those mentioned roles need an interaction with the people, which definitely motivated me. Fourth, I am aware that people are the most fundamental units in a society therefore I want to extend help to improve peoples lives. I desire to aid them function the best way they could in their environment, solve personal and family dilemmas and deal with their relationships so that every individual in the community would work well and cooperate with the society. Lastly, I want to nourish my soul more than I desire to nourish my body. For me, people are my true wealth and not money. I know I exist in this world in order to bestow commitment to public and social services. Furthermore, I realize that the nature of duties of social work is juxtaposed with psychology, another field that interests me because it is also concerned with humanity. Social work is indeed the right profession for those people who love people, who desire to help the needy, and who yearn to help improve their fellowmens lives. There are still other reasons why I choose to become a social worker. And those rationales are anchored on the very nature of work and on my advocacy. Social workers work with organizations that hold objectives and goals of social service, assistance to enhance the social and psychological functioning of families and their children, health-related support, and community-based aid. Given that, I knew I would often see clients who face and suffer a social dilemma such as unemployment, inadequate housing, disability and substance abuse such as alcohol and drugs or life-threatening illness. It would always be an honor for me to touch other peoples lives, facilitate and help them solve their problems, listen to them, comfort them and lend them a hand the best way I can. As a social worker, I would work hard and be devoted to the major purposes of social work in order to become an efficient one: I would improve and enhance problem-solving, coping and progression capabilities of people. And I would encourage and support the useful and humane operation of the institutions and organizations that give people with resources and services. Basically, I chose to become a social worker because of the nature of job which is people-oriented, the diversity of the responsibilities and the variety of roles. Furthermore, they have also been strengthened by my desire to help and my commitment to social and public service, as well as my strong grasp of advocacy campaigns concerning peoples welfare. Works Cited Definition of Social Work. 2008. Wright State University: Department of Social Work. The Definition of Social Work. 2009. Boulder Therapist.com.

Women’s and Gender Studies Essays

Women’s and Gender Studies Essays Women’s and Gender Studies Essay Women’s and Gender Studies Essay Essay Topic: Little Women Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Women’s and Gender Studies Question 1 a) According to Badran, when did the phenomenon of â€Å"Islamic Feminism† emerge? According to Badran, the phenomenon of Islamic Feminism emerged in the 1990s. b) In her view, what are the broad goals of Islamic Feminism? The broad goals of Islamic Feminism are to be treated the same way as men, which is similar to equal treatment of all humankind, as written in the Quran. – How do these goals confirm the worldview of Islam’s earliest authorities? These goals confirm the worldview of Islam’s earliest authorities as patriarchs who ruled to their own advantage. This reflects Islam and Patriarchy as different, since Islam advocates for equal treatment of humankind. – Upon what mythic sources are these goals based? (Be as precise as you can be) These goals are based on equal treatment of all humanity, as stipulated in the Quran. c) Badran notes that Islamic Feminism can be â€Å"controversial and unsettling.† Which two parties are most threatened by Islamic Feminism? There are two parties that are most threatened by Islamic Feminism. The first is men who do not want to lose the privileges they get because of patriarchy and women who do not want to loose the protection gained from patriarchy. The second party is of people who use the view of Islam as giving women subordinate roles, as a tool for politics. d) According to Badran, from which ideological discourses and geographical locations was Islamic Feminism born? Islamic Feminism was born during a movement in the 19th century by the Salafi School. Later in the 20th century, feminists from Middle East fought for more rights for women who were still living in patriarchal societies. e) Where does it flourish? And why do you think this is the case? They influenced Pan-Arab movements. I think that this is the case because of the similarities in their ideologies, which the movements could relate to. f) Where has Islamic feminism had practical effect? (Can this be said of the UAE?) Islamic feminism has had a practical effect in three areas. The first one is Iran where Muslim women and some men associated with the Zanan paper, fought for women’s rights, which had been ignored, explaining their reason as the Qur’an. The second is in South Africa, immediately after apartheid, where men and women fought for gender justice. They particularly focused on rights of women to the mosque and communal area. They wanted equal access as men. The third area was in North America where women in communities of converts and immigrants, experienced contradictions from immigrants on the issue of human equality. The immigrants imposed the patriarchal rule on them. g) What is different between new Islamic feminists and those of the time of NaziraZayn al-Din (fl. 1920s)? The difference between Islamic feminists of the time of NaziraZain Al-Din and the new Islamic feminists is that those of NaziraZain Al-Din time were not well educated and hence this limited them in interpreting the Quran. The new feminists have produced analysis of the Quran on issues of gender. h) Badran (Egyptian) mentions: Asma Barlas, Riffat Hassan, Amina Wadud, Ziba Mir-Hosseini, QudsiyyaMirza and ‘Aziza al-Hibri. Do a little bit of research into their ideas. What general overlaps and contrasts do you find? Asma Barlas, Riffat Hassan, Amina Wadud, Ziba Mir-Hosseini, Qudsiyya Mirza and ‘Aziza al-Hibri all agree on the equality of all human beings. They all fight the equal treatment of every person. However, Asma Barlas refuses to be labeled an Islamic feminist, unless it is fighting for the justice of all beings. i) How specifically do these Islamic feminists explain Qur’an 4:34, a verse that seems explicitly to attribute power to men above women? (Do not rely solely on Badran here, she confuses rather than clarifies this point! I include a more thorough investigation by Mohamed Mahmoud [Content Area]). Mohamed Mahmoud explains this about Qur’an 4:34. Men should supervise their women and have control over them. Men are given a socio-economic role, while women are expected to be faithful and righteous even in their husbands’ absence. When a woman disobeys the man or refuses to fall the norm, she is disciplined by her husband through beating and avoiding her in bed. Finally, when the woman returns to the right ways or the state of obedience, the husband should stop disciplining her. j) To what degree do you agree with the findings/principles of the Islamic feminist movement as this is described by Badran? I agree with the principles of the Islamic feminist movement in as far as seeking equality and fair treatment to all individuals despite their gender. Question 2 a) â€Å"Women†¦ always play an active part that goes beyond the dichotomy of victimization/acceptance, a dichotomy that flattens out a complex and ambiguous agency in which women accept, accommodate, ignore, resist, or protest – sometimes all at the same time† (p. 534). What do you think Macleod means by this observation? (Read up on Gramsci’s concept of â€Å"Hegemony,† and the problems with his â€Å"False consciousness† model, pp. 543 ff) Macleod means that women have also contributed to gender inequality by accepting their subordinate roles in the society. They have not stood a firm ground in defining their place in the community, such that they either agree or refuse to be victimized. Gramsci’s concept of Hegemony suggests that the difference in power relations is not forced on to the victims but rather they comply with it. The dominant class manipulates the subordinate class into acting in a way that would favor the dominant class. The problem with his â€Å"false consciousness† is it suggests that the dominant class has manipulated the subordinate class such that they think they are acting on their own consciousness. Research however, shows people consent to subordination consciously or from political activity, which means, actively supporting it, passively accepting it or hidden resistance. b) What range of meanings does Macleod locate within the traditional Egyptian practice of wearing hijab? (539-40) Macleod gives two meanings for the traditional Egyptian practice of wearing the hijab. The first is that of the protest of women to come from their traditional identity and status in the society. The second meaning is the acceptance by women as that they are supposed to stay in the house and their homes. c) Why is it incorrect to describe these women as â€Å"adopting traditional dress† (545)? It is incorrect to describe these women as â€Å"adopting traditional dress† because they have placed different reasons from the traditional ones of wearing the hijab. A woman chooses whether to wear the hijab and the time to wear it. Different women also have different reasons of wearing the hijab. d) â€Å"Why would these women (541-3), who are educated, dedicated to working, and relatively successful symbols of modernization, return to a traditional symbol like the veil?† (544)What range of ideas is included in Macleod’s answer to this question? (key answer begins: 551) Macleod gives several reasons for veiling. They wear the veil to show their identity and role in the society. A woman gives the reason of wearing the veil as a symbol that one is a wife and a mother. The second reason is that the veil acts as a compensation for the working of a woman, when she should be carrying out her duties as a woman and mother at home. e) In what ways does wearing the hijab represent a woman’s desire to â€Å"accommodate† her tradition, and in what ways does it represent her desire to express â€Å"resistance†? Hijab represents the desire of a woman to accommodate the traditions, when worn by women because it represents their identities as mother and wives. On the other hand, it represents resistance, because it is a woman’s choice to wear the hijab and the time to wear it. f) What dangers are inherent in these women’s choice to adopt the veil? (556) The danger of these women’s choice to adopt the veil is that it might result to unequal treatment of women or gender in equality. This is because the choice of clothing for a woman might become a man or society’s decision. Work Cited Badran, Margot. â€Å"Islamic Feminism Revisited.† Web. 9 June 2012. Macleod, Arlene, E. Hegemonic Relations and Gender Resistance: The New Veiling as Accommodating Protest in Cairo. Chicago Journals (2008). Web. 9 June 2012. 1992

The Big Bang and the Origin of Everything

The Big Bang and the Origin of Everything How did the universe begin? Thats a question scientists and philosophers have pondered throughout history as they looked at the starry sky above. Its the job of astronomy and astrophysics to provide an answer. However, its not an easy one to tackle. An artists concept of what the Big Bang might have looked like, if anybody had been around to see it. HENNING DALHOFF / Getty Images The first major glimmerings of an answer came from the sky in 1964. Thats when astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered a microwave signal buried in data they were taking to look for signals being bounced from Echo balloon satellites. They assumed at the time that it was simply unwanted noise and attempted to filter out the signal. The antenna that Penzias and Wilson were using when they stumbled across the signals from the cosmic background radiation heralding the birth of the universe. Fabioj, CC BY-SA 3.0 However, it turns out that what they detected was coming from a time shortly after the beginning of the universe. Although they didnt know it at the time, they had discovered the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). The CMB had been predicted by a theory called the Big Bang, which suggested that the universe began as a densely hot point in space and suddenly expanded outward.  The two mens discovery was the first evidence of that primordial event. The Big Bang What started the birth of the universe? According to physics, the universe sprang into existence from a singularity - a term physicists use to describe regions of space that defy the laws of physics. They know very little about singularities, but its known that such regions exist in the cores of black holes. Its a region where all the mass gobbled up by a black hole gets squeezed into a tiny point, infinitely massive, but also very, very small. Imagine cramming Earth into something the size of a pinpoint. A singularity would be smaller. Thats not to say the universe began as a black hole, however. Such an assumption would raise the question of something existing before the Big Bang, which is pretty speculative. By definition, nothing existed prior to the beginning, but that fact creates more questions than answers. For instance, if nothing existed prior to the Big Bang, what caused the singularity to be created in the first place? Its a gotcha question astrophysicists are still trying to understand.   However, once the singularity was created (however it happened), physicists have a good idea of what occurred next. The universe was in a hot, dense state and began to expand through a process called inflation. It went from very small and very dense, to a very hot state. Then, it cooled as it expanded.  This process is now referred to as the Big Bang, a term first coined by Sir Fred Hoyle during a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio broadcast in 1950. Although the term implies some kind of explosion, there really wasn’t an outburst or a bang. It was really the rapid expansion of space and time. Think of it like blowing up a balloon: as someone blows air in, the exterior of the balloon expands outward. The Moments after the Big Bang The very early universe (at a time a few fractions of a second after the Big Bang began) was not bound by the laws of physics as we know them today. So, no one can predict with great accuracy what the universe looked like at that time. Yet, scientists have been able to construct an approximate representation of how the universe evolved. First, the infant universe was initially so hot and dense that even elementary particles  such as protons and neutrons could not exist. Instead, different types of matter (called matter and anti-matter) collided together, creating pure energy. As the universe began to cool during the first few minutes, protons and neutrons began to form. Slowly, protons, neutrons, and electrons came together to form hydrogen and small amounts of helium. During the billions of years that followed, stars, planets, and galaxies formed to create the current universe. Evidence for the Big Bang So, back to Penzias and Wilson and the CMB.  What they found (and for which they won a Nobel Prize), is often described as the â€Å"echo† of the Big Bang. It left behind a signature of itself, just like an echo heard in a canyon represents a â€Å"signature† of the original sound. The difference is that instead of an audible echo, the Big Bangs clue is a heat signature throughout all of space. That signature has been specifically studied by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) spacecraft and the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). Their data provide the clearest evidence for the cosmic birth event.   The detailed, all-sky picture of the infant universe created from seven years of WMAP data. The image reveals 13.7 billion year old temperature fluctuations (shown as color differences) that correspond to the seeds that grew to become the galaxies. NASA / WMAP Science Team Alternatives to the Big Bang Theory While the Big Bang theory is the most widely accepted model that explains the origins of the universe and is supported by all the observational evidence, there are other models that use the same evidence to tell a slightly different story. Some theorists argue that the Big Bang theory is based on a false premise - that the universe is built on an ever-expanding space-time. They suggest a static universe, which is what was originally predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Einstein’s theory was only later modified to accommodate the way the universe appears to be expanding.  And, expansion is a big part of the story, particularly as it involves the existence of  dark energy. Finally, a recalculation of the mass of the universe seems to support the Big Bang theory of events.   While our understanding of the actual events is still incomplete, CMB data are helping shape the theories that explain the birth of the cosmos. Without the Big Bang, no stars, galaxies, planets, or life could exist.   Fast Facts The Big Bang is the name given to the birth event of the universe.The Big Bang is thought to have occurred when something kicked off the expansion of a tiny singularity, some 13.8 billion years ago.Light from shortly after the Big Bang is detectable as the cosmic microwave radiation (CMB). It represents light from a time when the newborn universe was lighting up some 380,000 years after the Big Bang occurred. Sources â€Å"The Big Bang.†Ã‚  NASA, NASA, www.nasa.gov/subject/6890/the-big-bang/.NASA, NASA, science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-powered-the-big-bang.â€Å"The Origins of the Universe.†Ã‚  National Geographic, National Geographic, 24 Apr. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/universe/origins-of-the-universe/. Updated and edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Buckingham palace (London) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Buckingham palace (London) - Essay Example designed by John Nash and Edward Blore but later structural and other changes were incorporated in the original design to accommodate the changing needs and tastes of the ruling monarch. The site that is considered the Buckingham Palace today was in the beginning three sites: Buckingham Gardens, Goring House and Arlington House. As the need for more space was required according to the lifestyle of the Dukes and rulers, the surrounding sites were added to the original Buckingham Gardens. Buckingham Palace began as Buckingham House when John Sheffield, the first Duke of Buckingham built the house in 1702. The Palace as one sees it today was quite different from the one that was originally created. The original house was constructed from red bricks but later the entire faà §ade was replaced by Portland Stone. In 1762, George III bought the house for his Queen, Queen Charlotte as her private residence. The house became to be known as the Queen’s House at that time and many court functions took place in the house at that time. George III wanted to remodel the house to suit the needs of the expanding family but did not get the time. When George III was succeeded by George IV, the new king decided to make changes in the house. Later, under the sanction of the government, George IV ordered a structural renovation of the house by architect, John Nash. George IV wanted to make the place into a palace to suit his own lifestyle. He wanted to make Buckingham House into a Palace and change his primary residence from Carlton House to the Buckingham Palace. The idea of the renovation was to make the place a theatrical showplace for the victories and accomplishments of the English rulers. This included a marble arch to commemorate the victories of Waterloo and Trafalgar. George IV made extensive investment in the palace when he bought furniture from France during the French Revolution. George IV was inspired by the French neo-classical design and thus tried to incorporate it

Changing role of computer assisted langauge learning (CALL) Essay

Changing role of computer assisted langauge learning (CALL) - Essay Example Given that scores of tutors and apprentices are already on the social media, the acquaintance with these sites makes it a comfortable avenue on which they can freely communicate and express their views. The SMs are social sites, which enhance socialisation, encourage creativity, as well as sharing of information. Consequently, these sites can be used to boost exchange of ideas and cooperation within the teachers and students body (Josteen, 2012). Page 4 According to Josteen (2012), the popularity of social media is another reason for choosing it as an educative media. The use of various social networks among students proves that a majority of them access SM from desktops or the use of mobile phones. Facebook ranks first in popularity among the other tools for social networking; it has more than eight hundred million subscribers. Linked In and Twitter have fewer users, at around 100 million and 500 million users, respectively. This implies that they are quickly closing in on the gap o pened by Facebook. The increasing trend indicating the popularity in use of technology and social media in both current and incoming students have revealed to educators that social media serves the function of academically reaching out to a large number of students hence fostering apprentices results in the classroom. Therefore, the use of SM facilitates sharing of information thus drawing people with similar educational and technological interests to unite. Page 8 Josteen (2012) asserts that such SM tools as Facebook, twitter, YouTube and Linked In are web 2.0 appliances amplify the creation and exchange of user-generated content. In their elucidation of SM’s relation to Web 2.0, Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) postulate that SM is an Internet-based appliances’ group, which builds upon Web 2.0 ideological and scientific nitty-gritty, and facilitates the generation and sharing of user-generated substance. In SM, user-generated content implies the generated and exchanged dig ital images, text, video, as well as video. Moreover, SM entails a range of web-based appliances, which foster communication (Facebook, Twitter, and blogs), multimedia exchage (YouTube and Flicker), as well as collaboration (social bookmarking and wikis). Page 15 SM allows people to create networks throughout the world and augment relationships by swapping private and expert information. Josteen (2012) indicates that many instructors acknowledge SM’s popularity thereby raising their curiosity in incorporating its usage into the contemporary classroom. Moreover, SM can have a favorable effect on learning professionals via the expansion of a system of contemporaries, community building, as well as membership engagement. By building an enhanced understanding via expert development, instructors can better recognise the best means of implementing SM in order to realise their pedagogical objectives. SM presents a professional advancement opportunity without requiring an individual to leave his/her workstation. In addition, it offers instructors a channel of collecting resources, including research material and publications, for learning novel strategies via blog posts and videos in order to get news and updates affecting their areas of profession. SM saves instructors time and resources in achieving professional requirements while offering skills and experience in utilising SM to boost their teaching. Therefore, instructors should make

Language Arts Lesson Essay Example for Free

Language Arts Lesson Essay Allyssa Satin Capucilli’s Biscuit and the Nest (2008) which is part of the Biscuit Phonics Fun series will be used in this lesson to teach Language Arts to Grade 1 level students. This lesson aims to meet the Sunshine State Standards which are to make students: (1) identify the sounds of vowels in printed words; (2) apply letter-sound knowledge to decode phonetically regular words quickly and accurately in isolation and in context; (3) retell the main events and identify the characters and setting in a story; (4) edit for correct use of common spelling patterns and conventional spelling of high frequency words and for correct use of capital letters for the pronoun I and proper nouns; and (5) communicate effectively when relating experiences or retelling stories heard or read. After the teacher reads aloud the story to the class, the students will perform the succeeding activities. First, students will be paired off and each pair will complete a story frame which goes this way. The story takes place in ________. A character in the story is ________who ________Another character in the story is ________who ________. A problem occurs when ________. After that, ________and ________. The problem is solved when ________. The story ends with ________. Second, the students will complete a Word Sort. They will get and divide a sheet of paper into two columns. At the top of the first column, they write â€Å"vowel sound /e/† and at the second column, â€Å"not vowel sound /e/†. Then, students select words from the story and write these in the columns. Third, students will accomplish a Picture Match. They are to read the words below the picture and tell whether it is a pen or a pin, mien or men, leg or league, nit or net, rid or red, tin or ten, etc. Fourth, students will describe their pet or a pet they would like to have (if they do not have one yet) in writing. They need to write 3 to 5 sentences. Lastly, they will individually narrate to the class a story of their own pet or someone else’s pet. The students will be assessed through the following assessment tools: (1) Students’ writing development will be assessed through their use of capitalization and use of appropriate punctuation marks in their written output in the first and fourth activity. (2) Students’ grammar skills are evaluated when they are able to correctly write the correct setting, character, or event in the story frame and when they properly use subject-verb agreement in their descriptions in the fourth activity as well as in their stories in the last activity. (3) Students’ spelling skills will be assessed through a written spelling assessment to be given after the second and third activity. The teacher will read aloud ten words with the short vowel sound /e/ and ask the students to write them on a piece of paper. Another way to assess their spelling skills is through their written stories in the fourth activity. The spelling pattern that the students will be taught in relation to the story is the short vowel sound /e/. Word examples of the short vowel sound /e/ are egg, fell, nest, get, help, etc. Throughout the activities, the students will use three cueing systems in order to arrive at comprehension. These cueing systems are semantic, syntactic and graphophonic systems. The semantic system refers to language features that bring about meanings to the reader. This is used in the classroom to make students know and understand the correct meaning of a word. The syntactic system includes the interrelationship of the words in a sentence and the sentences in a text. When students are able to complete the story frame activity, they use the syntactic system. The graphophonic system includes the spelling and sound structure of the language and the relationship of these two. This will be taught to the students by demonstrating how words are pronounced based on their spelling or word patterns. References Capucilli, A. S. Schories, P. (2008). I Can Read! Phonics: Biscuit and the Nest. New York: Harper Collins. Florida Center for Instructional Technology. (2009). Florida K-12 Reading and Language Arts Standards. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from http://etc. usf. edu/flstandards/la/new-pdfs/elp-1. pdf.

Life And Times Of Alexander The Great Essay -- essays research papers

Life and Times of Alexander the Great Introduction Alexander the great made an impact on world history that few individuals can profess to have done. He ruled all of the known world, and one of the largest empires ever. His men were the first westerners to encounter tales of the Yeti. They even discovered and classified new types of flora and fauna, such as the red mold that grew on their bread while they were in Asia, and made it appear as if it were bleeding. He expanded the Hellenist sphere of influence to the farthest reaches of the globe. When the king of Greece visited the British colony of India around the turn of the century, the colonial government had some native Indian dances displayed for him. He was shocked when he immediately recognized the dances as the same harvest dances that his fellow Greeks performed near Thessalonika. This was the breadth of Alexander's influence on hundreds of different cultures around the world. Throughout the whole of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, stories of this great man have been handed down from generation to generation throughout the centuries. In many cases Alexander has even taken on a superhuman aura, and many unbelievable legends have been based on his life. When Julius Caesar visited Alexandria, he asked to see the body of the greatest warrior of all time-Alexander the Great. Such was Alexander's reputation, able to impress even the powerful Caesar. He was, without a doubt, one of the most remarkable men that ever walked the face of this Earth. And this is the story of his life. The Life and Times of Alexander the Great The story of Alexander the Great is one of courage, genius, and great accomplishment; but it is also somewhat of a bittersweet one, ending with his tragic death during the prime of his life, at thirty-two. Alexander was born to Philip II of Macedon and Olympias, his principal wife, in 356 BCE, mpic Games. Just three years earlier, Philip had ascended to the throne after the death of his older brother, Perdikkas1, and named the city of Philipi after himself. Shortly thereafter, at the age of twenty, he met Olympias at a religious ceremony on the island of Samothrace. Olympias was of the Mystery Religions, and... ... Alexander had at last learned his lesson and began trusting Philip. Philip, though had finally had enough of Ptolemy and the rest of Alexander's friends meddling in Alexander's business, and exiled them from Macedonia "sine die". In Alexander's twentieth year, Philip was ready to begin his conquest of Persia and Asia Minor, but first he had to cement Epeiros's allegiance to him by marrying off Cleopatra (his only daughter from Olympias) to King Alexander of Epeiros. At daybreak the wedding procession began. Twelve of the Greek deities led the procession with Philip following close behind. A man posing as a guard gained access to Philip's entourage and stabbed Philip in the side before anyone could stop him. This man, later identified as Pausanias, had a horse prepared for a quick departure, but as fate would have it, he tripped over a bush, and was transfixed with a spear before he was able to rise to his feet. But there was no helping Philip- he was quite dead. Alexander was a firm believer in the saying, "The king is dead,

Global Research Paper: the Military Tactics of Mongol Essay

The Mongol civilization was a highly advanced group of people in terms of military characteristics. They had superior weapons and strategic skills that contributed to their success of conquests. The purpose of this investigation is to address the question: To what extent did the Mongols benefit from their advanced military tactics? The major body of evidence will focus on Genghis Khan who was a prominent Mongolian ruler, the Mongol army, their war tactics, the empire and finally, the invading of neighboring countries. These subtopics will assist in answering the research question by describing the significant role of Genghis Khan in leading his empire, and also their advanced military strategies and to what measure of success these factors resulted in. Sources such as books and databases were used to provide research and background information on the subtopics. They have been evaluated according to their origin, purpose, values and limitations. One of the databases, â€Å"Mongol Empire (Overview)† gave me a gist and a clear understanding of how the Mongols used their military skills to conquer many areas. I gained knowledge of some of their strengths and strategies that allowed them to become a powerful army. The analysis of all these documents will help to establish the extent of the benefit that the Mongols obtained through their advanced military tactics. Summary of Evidence The Mongol Empire originated from the nomadic tribes of the Central Asian steppes, now called Mongolia. The high, dry grasslands and mountainous geography on the steppes was not fit for farming, so they raised sheep and horses instead. However, this was one of the reasons to why the Mongols were able to vastly expand. Sheep provided meat, milk and cheese, which were their main diet. Horses were their source of mobility for hunting and transportation. Both of these factors stood as significant advantages for their army. The Mongols, however, were not strongly unified in the beginning. They had no solid foundation for a central government. The civilization was divided into different tribes that were each led by chiefs, and the tribes were always at each others’ throats. In all this time of constant fighting and violence, a man stepped up to unify all of the Mongol tribes and eventually reated an omnipotent empire. His name was Temujin(1162-1227), who later obtained the title, â€Å"Genghis Khan†, meaning universal ruler. A man named Juavini once stated, â€Å"Before the appearance of Genghis Khan they had no chief or ruler. Each tribe or two tribes lived separately; they were not united with one another, and there was constant fighting and hostility between them. † Genghis Khan ruled from 1206 to 1227 and led great military campaigns during his reign that contributed to their Golden Age. The Mongol army and their military campaigns were like tidal waves. They swept away any obstacles in their way and showed no mercy if the enemy resisted against them. One of Genghis Khan’s war strategy was the use of psychological weapons. He manifested terror and panic into the obscure areas of the country. His plan was to create a sense of such fatal destruction that resisting would be foolish. Another explanation to why the Mongol army were successful in their conquests was extreme mobility (up to 100 miles a day) and advanced weapons. The cavalry were always seen to be galloping on their horses. They shot arrows while charging at the enemy and moved with tremendous speed. The Mongols were also able to adopt new tactics and master new technologies. When Genghis Khan realized their weakness in capturing fortifications, he took captives of Chinese siege engineers and learned siege tactics such as building catapults and ladders. On the battlefield, the Mongols liked to fight in teams rather than individually. While the Japanese army was trained to present their skills by fighting in single combats, the Mongols were trained to work together as a team. If a samurai individually stepped up to a Mongol for a battle, the samurai would be surrounded and killed. A Japanese warrior named Hachiman Gudokun explained, â€Å"According to our manner of fighting, we must first call out by name someone from the enemy ranks, and then attack in single combat. But they took no notice at all of such conventions. They rushed forward all together in a mass, grappling with any individuals they could not catch and killing them. † This may seem unfair; however, this is one of the barbaric ways that the Mongols fought and it gained them victories. The Mongols were able to conquer lands and expand their territory; however, the extent of the benefit does not terminate there. Since the Mongol Empire controlled most of Asia and parts of Europe, they ruled much of the territory through which the Silk Road journeyed. Due to the peace within the empire, there was a great flow of merchants, craftsmen and missionaries traveling along the road, exchanging new ideas and creating cultural diffusion. The Mongols brought back new goods and cultures from the area that they conquered. When Genghis Khan retuned to Mongolia from China, he brought back engineers, musicians, translators, doctors and scribes. He also brought back goods such as silk, porcelain, iron kettles, armor, perfumes, jewelry, wine, medicines, gold and much more. From then on, they received goods from China in a steady flow. Because the Mongols, despite that they were barbaric and strictly militaristic, were able to keep peace and control in their empire, trading and traveling increased and exposed people to new ideas and culture. These factors led to the Golden Age of the Mongol Empire, Pax Mongolica. This golden age gave the Mongols a chance to advance in not only military, but economically and socially also. They were able to prosper with all the riches that they obtained from various trades and they were able to develop their society with the new ideas that were brought over from different cultures. Evaluation of Source The book Genghis Khan and the Mongol Conquests 1190-1400 was written by Stephen Turnbull. He is a historian specializing in eastern military history and wrote other books relating to the history of the Mongols, such as the Mongol Warrior. The publisher, a credible source, Routledge was founded in 1851 and became a major publishing house. The author’s intention for writing this book was for scholars, teachers, and students who are interested in studying the history of the Mongols. The book sought to answer questions such as: How did the Mongols obtain such power with their army? What tactics and strategies did they have in order to succeed in conquest? Therefore, there were some value as well as limitations to this book as it was used for research. There were quotes from other people who observed the Mongols, for example, soldiers who fought them. They described them to be barbaric and somewhat unfair. However, the book only shows the view of others, mostly the Mongols’ neighboring countries and enemies. There were no quotes from the Mongols that allowed to defend themselves. Another limitation was the fact that this was a secondary source and the author was not a witness to this event. This is a limitation because the information may not be accurate due to the time difference between the event and now. There were also some unanswered questions such as how their advanced army benefited them with a golden age and how their golden age had a great impact on their society. This limited my amount of research and therefore, I had to look for another source with that information. Analysis The Mongols had two different faces. They were brutal and fierce. They brought destruction among their enemies if they chose to fight. On the other side, they were benevolent and kind with those who yielded to them. It is seen that the Mongols were merciless and barbaric people; however this is not the whole truth. The Mongols did not torture or mutilate, while their enemies did. They preferred to slaughter in one quick motion which allowed their enemy to feel barely any pain. European rulers often enjoyed bloody executions such as stretching and hacking the body into pieces, but the Mongols did not take part in such gruesome activity. In fact, these horrible executions were carried out on the captured Mongols. An explanation to why the Mongols were able to have a benign side was because of their leader, Genghis Khan. He is known to be a fierce man but he has a bit of a merciful characteristic also. Genghis Khan said to a man who attempted to assassinate him, â€Å"When an enemy wishes to kill someone, he keeps the fact secret†¦But you have been frank with me. Become, therefore, my companion. In memory of your deed, I will name you ‘Jebei’–the arrow. † This portrays not only the act of forgiving, but the tremendous amount of confidence that Genghis Khan had in himself by befriending an assassin. On the other hand, he was not so forgiving on the battlefield. He intimidated his enemies to the point where some even fled before the fight began. Having such a confident leader affirmatively impacted the Mongol Empire and its army. With Genghis Khan leading them, they were fearless and confident that they will take victory. â€Å"My friends, Temujin knows how to range men for battle much better than Baibuga,† said Jamuka, who fled from battle after seeing Genghis Khan’s fighting arrangement. The Mongol army were able to conquer and create a vast empire. From the perspective of the conquered people, it may be negative, considering all the orrid destructions that were brought by the Mongols. However, the Mongol Empire was extraordinary. It brought almost the entire continent of Asia under one control. There was no division in the land because there was religious and cultural tolerance. Relevant to culture, as mentioned in the summary of evidence, the Mongols had an impact on the Silk Road. Trade along the Silk Road had decreased si nce the fall of the Tang dynasty but revived during the Mongol Empire because safe travel was guaranteed throughout the entire empire. Therefore, it created a huge economical boom and a great deal of new culture and knowledge reached Europe while the Mongols were able to experience a Golden Age. Conclusion The extent of the benefit that the Mongols received from their successful military was a time period of peace, prosperity and technological advancements. They were introduced to many new cultures as well as weapons and goods like silk and gold from China, which allowed them to prosper and become even more powerful. Pax Mongolica, their Golden Age, was the climax of their empire, and the extent of their power. The Mongol Empire can be compared to the Hellenistic Age. Figures like Alexander the Great and Augustus had conquered great amount of land and expanded their territory just as Genghis Khan did for the Mongols. However, both empires fell after their period of prosperity, which showed another similarity between two great civilizations. What would have happened if the Mongols did not fall after their golden age? The extent of their benefit from their advanced military tactics may have been greater. Reference http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h11mon.htm

Gender Roles Defined

All the Pretty Horses would be widely considered a fairly typical western in the traditional sense. There are many of the common western tropes that exist explicitly and implicitly within the novel. While much of the idealistic â€Å"western† characteristics appear in a blatant manner, the novel is laced with incidents and dialogue of seemingly little consequence or significance at first glance. There are many occurrences which are overlooked in the story that represent and support a common and major idea that is stated in a more major or explicit form at other times.The role of gender is one such idea. In the early stages of the novel, the conflict which sets the entire story in motion takes place as Cole's mother has decided to sell the ranch now that his grandfather has died. Cole is distraught over this as the ranch is his desired lot in life. He attempts to talk to the familys attorney after attempts at persuasion with his mother fail only to reach similar end. The reason ing the attorney postulates for his mother's decision is a minute detail of the scene but brings about an interesting and otentially underlying idea throughout the story.His rationalizes her motives on the basis that, â€Å"she's a young woman and my guess is that she's like to have a little more social life than what she's used to† (McCarthy 17). This determination does not come off as explicitly Judgmental but simply a plausibly suggestion for her actions. Upon closer examination however, it proves to be more meaningful. The attorney is asserting Cole's mother's social life as a legitimate reason for her to forfeit the ranch her father had built from the ground up and worked so hard for.There is no such concern mentioned for the sixteen year old John Grady whom is interested in not only keeping the ranch, but running it himself. The adolescent stage of life in generally considered the pinnacle of social importance in society as adult relationships begin to form and develop. This is a very biased Judgment on the attorneys part based on a very glaring difference between Cole and his mother which is their gender. Mrs. Cole's social obligations appear to him as a legitimate reason for her to back out of the hard work, and presumably things considered â€Å"man's work† ecessary to run the ranch which she had inherited.It appears through his acceptance about Cole's mother and her decision, reaction to Cole's request, and lack of concern for his social needs that the attorney is convinced of his mother's inability to run the ranch without much displeasure because of her gender inferiority. There is no question of the ability and willingness to struggle by both Cole and his grandfather but there is a quick dismissal of the lack of drive and ambition to keep the ranch by the female entity.Such a characteristic of women as playing an inferior role to males is shown elsewhere in the novel. Examples of this ideal being maintained in the story came also in more explicit form. One such an example is in an exchange between Rawlins and Blevins as they discuss the riding skills of Cole. Rawlins is fishing for a positive response from Blevins to support his highly held esteem of Cole so asks he poses a clearly untrue and negative statement that, † suppose I was to tell you he's never been on a horse a girl couldn't ride† (McCarthy 8).This assertion is intended to draw a clear reaction to me being false due to the absurdi ty ot a male, let alone the Jonn Grady Cole, be ot a lesser ability ot riding a horse than a female. The reference to the female gender inferiority in that statement is understood by Blevins despite not being in close relations previously with Rawlins which shows an encompassing ideal that women are inferior to men. The male superiority trope surfaces again later in the novel as Rawlins and Cole come across the ranch which they work for. Rawlins observes the use of female horses as work horses and is surprised by such an act. Well†¦ I can see why theyre hard on a horse. Putting up with them bitches† (McCarthy 102). Rawlins is suggesting by his surprise in the use of female horses to perform work as opposed to males that the females are incapable, whatever the species, of performing the tasks and duties that are expected of and within the ability of a male. Along with their inadequacy he also sympathizes with the ranchers having to deal with the less desirable temperament of he females and promotes the subsequent assertion of physical dominance over the animals do to their supposed inferior gender.Such dominance would be easy to gain due to the lack of supposed equality between rider and horse as the riders are male and therefore more capable according to the ideology. Gender inadequacy is even given as verbally explicit presence in the eyes of the novel as possible when Alfonsa. Her concern for the relationship between Alejandra and Cole rests in the unfair but concrete views o f society on the morals of women compared to that of men â€Å"There is o forgiveness. For women. A man may lose his honor and regain it again. But a woman cannot. She cannot† (McCarthy 137).Alfonsa's extremely blunt but realistic views on how people perceive and forgive actions committed by men and women paints a black and white picture of the glaring inadequacy the novel's ideals carry for gender. Essentially she is saying that males lay above reproach or at least may atone for their sins or supposed sins but females are held to a much harsher standard with a greater punishment in that they cannot regain the positive image society has nitially placed upon them no matter what action that take to rectify simply because of their sex alone.The implicit and roundabout assertion of the attorney to Cole lay the foundation for a very prominent ideal of the story. Female inferiority to males is illustrated explicitly and has no bounds in terms of the realm of inadequacy or even the species as it appears to be universal. Such flaws of women can't even be atoned for in the eyes of the story as forgiveness is only available to those fortunate enough to be seen in society as forgivable because of their superiority.

150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You

150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You 150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You 150 Foreign Expressions to Inspire You By Mark Nichol Here’s a writing challenge for you: I’ve listed foreign expressions, mostly in Latin, that offer wisdom or otherwise encapsulate a thought-provoking idea. Select one (or more) that resonates with you and employ it as a writing prompt. Note the evocative strength of â€Å"Alis volat propiis,† or the motivating force of â€Å"Audentes fortuna juvat.† Can you taste the bitter regret of â€Å"Dis aliter visum†? What kind of cynical crime noir can you concoct around â€Å"Cherchez la femme†? You’re welcome to suggest others. (Note, however that these are all complete sentences. I have phrases set aside for another day.) 1. Abeunt studia in mores: Practices zealously pursued pass into habits. 2. Absit invidia: Let there be no envy or ill will. 3. Abusus non tollit usum: Abuse does not take away use. (Abuse is not an argument against proper use.) 4. Age quod agis: Do what you are doing. (To the business at hand.) 5. Aide-toi, le ciel t’aidera: Help yourself, and heaven will help you. 6. Alea jacta est: The die is cast. 7. Alis volat propriis: She flies with her own wings. 8. Amor vincit omnia: Love conquers all things. 9. Ars est celare artem: It is (true) art to conceal art. 10. Ars longa, vita brevis: Art is long, life is short. 11. Au pays des aveugles les borgnes sont rois: In the country of the blind, the one-eyed men are kings. 12. Audentes fortuna juvat/Fortes fortuna bravat: Fortune favors the bold/Fortune favors the brave. 13. Bis dat qui cito dat: He gives twice who gives promptly. 14. C’est autre chose: That’s a different thing. 15. C’est la guerre: That’s war. (It cannot be helped.) 16. C’est la vie: That’s life. (That’s how things happen.) 17. C’est plus qu’un crime, c’est une faute: It is worse than a crime, it is a blunder. 18. Ca va sans dire: It goes without saying. 19. Caveat lector: Let the reader beware. 20. Ce n’est que le premier pas qui coute: It is only the first step that costs. 21. Cedant arma togae: Let arms yield to the toga. (Let military power give way to civil power.) 22. Cetera desunt: The rest is missing. 23. Chacun a son gout: Everyone to his taste. 24. Che sara, sara: What will be will be. 25. Cherchez la femme: Look for the woman. 26. Corruptio optimi pessima: The corruption of the best is the worst of all. 27. Credo quia absurdum est: I believe it because it is absurd. 28. Credo ut intelligam: I believe so that I may understand. 29. Damnant quod non intelligunt: They condemn what they do not understand. 30. De gustibus non est disputandum: There is no disputing about tastes. 31. De minimis non curat lex: The law takes no account of trifles. 32. De mortuis nil nisi bonum: Of the dead (say) nothing but good. 33. Dis aliter visum: The gods decreed otherwise. 34. Docendo discimus: We learn by teaching. 35. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori: It is sweet and seemly to die for one’s country. 36. Dum spiro, spero: While I breathe, I hope. 37. Dum vivimus vivamus: While we live, let us live. 38. Dux femina facti: A woman was leader of the exploit. 39. Ecce signum: Behold the sign. (Look at the proof.) 40. Ecrasez l’infame: Crush the infamous thing. 41. Eheu fugaces labuntur anni: Alas! The fleeting years glide on. 42. Est modus in rebus: There is a proper measure in things. 43. Ex nihilo nihil fit: From nothing, nothing is produced. 44. Ex pede Herculem/Ex ungue leonem: From the foot (we may judge the size of) Hercules, from the claw (we may judge) the lion. 45. Exceptio probat regulam de rebus non exceptis: An exception establishes the rule as to things not excepted. 46. Exitus acta probat: The outcome justifies the deed. 47. Facilis descensus Averno: The descent to Avernus is esay. (The road to evil is easy.) 48. Fas est et ab hoste doceri: It is right even to learn from an enemy. 49. Fata viam invenient: The Fates will find a way. 50. Festina lente: Make haste slowly. 51. Fiat experimentum in corpore vili: Let experiment be made on a worthless body. 52. Fiat justitia, ruat caelum: Let justice be done, though the heavens fall. 53. Fiat lux: Let there be light. 54. Finem respice: Consider the end. 55. Finis coronat opus: The end crowns the work. 56. Fluctuat nec mergitur: It is tossed by the waves but does not sink. 57. Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit: Perhaps this too will be a pleasure to look back on one day. 58. Fronti nulla fides: No reliance can be placed on appearance. 59. Gardez la foi: Keep faith. 60. Gaudeamus igitur: Let’s make merry. 61. Gnothi seauton: Know thyself. 62. Hoc age: Do this. (Apply yourself to what you are about.) 63. Hoc opus, hic labor est: This is the hard work, this is the toil. 64. Honi soit qui mal y pense: Shamed be he who thinks evil of it. 65. Humanum est errare: To err is human. 66. Ignorantia juris neminem excusat: Ignorance off the law excuses no one. 67. Il faut cultiver notre jardin: We must cultivate our garden. (We must tend to our own affairs.) 68. Ils ne passeront pas: They shall not pass. 69. In hoc signo vinces: By this sign you shall conquer. 70. Invenit/Pinxit: He (or she) devised/painted it. 71. Ira furor brevis est: Anger is a brief madness. 72. J’y suis, j’y reste: Here I am, here I remain. 73. Jacta alea est: The die is cast. 74. La reine/le roi le vuit: The queen (or the king) wills it. 75. La reine/le roi s’avisera: The queen (or king) will consider. 76. Lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch’entrate: Abandon hope, all ye who enter. 77. Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connait point: The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of. 78. Magna est veritas et praevalebit: Truth is mighty and will prevail. 79. Medio tutissimus ibis: You will go most safely by the middle course. 80. Morituri te salutamus: We who about to die salute you. 81. Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur: With the name changed, the story applies to you. 82. Natura non facit saltum: Nature makes no leap. 83. Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret: You may drive Nature out with a pitchfork, but she will keep coming back. 84. Ne cede malis: Yield not to misfortune. 85. Nemo me impune lacessit: No one attacks me with impunity. 86. Nil desperandum: Never despair. 87. Non omnia possumus omnes: We can’t all do all things. 88. Non omnis moriar: I shall not wholly die. 89. Non sum qualis eram: I am not what I used to be. 90. Nosce te ipsum: Know thyself. 91. Nous avons change tout cela: We have changed all that. 92. Nous verrons ce que nous verrons: We shall see what we shall see. 93. Oderint dum metuant: Let them hate, so long as they fear. 94. Odi et amo: I hate and I love. 95. Omne ignotum pro magnifico: The unknown tends to be exaggerated in importance or difficulty. 96. Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis: All things are changing, and we are changing with them. 97. Omnia vincit amor: Love conquers all. 98. Ora pro nobis: Pray for us. 99. Ou sont les neiges d’antan?: Where are the snows of yesteryear? 100. Panta rhei: All things are in flux. 101. Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus: The mountains are in labor, and a ridiculous mouse will be brought forth. 102. Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerunt: May they perish who have expressed our bright ideas before us. 103. Pereunt et imputantur: The hours pass away and are reckoned on our account. 104. Place aux dames: Make room for the ladies. 105. Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose (sometimes abbreviated to just â€Å"Plus ca change . . .): The more things change, the more they stay the same. 106. Poeta nascitur, on fit: A poet is born, not made. 107. Primum non nocere: The first thing is to do no harm. 108. Qui facit per alium facit per se: He who does through another does through himself. 109. Qui s’excuse s’accuse: He who excuses himself accuses himself. 110. Qui va la?: Who goes there? 111. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes: Who will keep the keepers? 112. Quo vadis?: Where are you going? 113. Quos deus vult perdere prius dementat: Those whom a god wishes to destroy he first drives mad. 114. Quot homines, tot sententiae: There are as many opinions as there are men. 115. Rem acu tetigisti: You have touched the point with a needle. 116. Requiescat in pace: Rest in peace. 117. Respice finem: Consider the outcome. 118. Resurgam: I shall rise again. 119. Revenons a nos moutons: Let us return to our sheep. (Let us return to our subject.) 120. Salus populi suprema lex esto: Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law. 121. Se non e vero, e ben trovato: Even if it is not true, it is well conceived. 122. Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait!: If youth only knew, if age only could! 123. Si monumentum requiris, circumspice: If you seek his monument, look around. 124. Si vis pacem, para bellum: If you wish peace, prepare for war. 125. Sic itur ad astra: Thus one goes to the stars (Such is the way to immortality.) 126. Sic semper tyrannis: Thus ever to tyrants. 127. Sic transit gloria mundi: So passes away the glory of the world. 128. Silent leges inter arma: The laws are silent in the midst of arms. 129. Similia similibus curantur: Like is cured by like. 130. Similis simili gaudet: Like takes pleasure in like. 131. Siste viator: Stop, traveler. 132. Solvitur ambulando: It is solved by walking. (The problem is solved by a practical experiment.) 133. Sunt lacrimae rerum: There are tears for things. 134. Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis: The times are changing, and we are changing with them. 135. Tempus fugit: Time flies. 136. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes: I fear the Greeks even when they bring gifts. 137. Tout comprende c’est tout pardonner: To understand all is to forgive all. 138. Tout est perdu fors l’honneur: All is lost save honor. 139. Truditur dies die: The day is pushed forth by day. (One day hurries on another.) 140. Tuebor: I will defend. 141. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness. 142. Vada retro me, Satana: Get behind me, Satan. 143. Vae victis: Woe to the vanquished. 144. Varium et mutabile semper femina: Woman is ever a fickle and changeable thing. 145. Verbum sat sapienti est: A word to the wise is sufficient. 146. Vincit omnia veritas: Truth conquers all things. 147. Vive la difference: Long live the difference (between the sexes). 148. Vogue la galere: Let the galley be kept rowing. (Keep on, whatever may happen.) 149. Voila tout: That’s all. 150. Vox populi vox Dei: The voice of the people is the voice of God. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? 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Elude vs. Allude vs. Illude

Elude vs. Allude vs. Illude Elude vs. Allude vs. Illude Elude vs. Allude vs. Illude By Michael The commonly misused words elude, allusion and illusion share a common root word (Latin ludere: to play), but their meanings arent similar at all. Fortunately, recognizing the prefixes can help keep these two words separate in your mind. The Latin prefix e means out, so elude originally suggested the end of a game or a sword fight, where a clever winner tricked his opponent by playing out. A fugitive can elude his pursuers by making them look for him outside of where he really is. The prefix a or ad often comes from the Latin ad, which means to. For example, an adjunct professor is a part-time instructor who is joined to the faculty to teach a few classes. So an allusion is an indirect reference played to something else, such as a quotation that you expect your readers will recognize without having to be told where it came from. The prefix in or sometimes il or im often comes from the Latin in, which means at, in, toward, among other things. It gives illusion the meaning of play with. An illusion is something that isnt real somebody is playing with your mind and trying to fool you. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of Rhyme15 Words for Household Rooms, and Their Synonyms5 Tips to Understand Hyphenated Words

Why a Human Mind Seeks Attraction to a Beach Essay

Why a Human Mind Seeks Attraction to a Beach - Essay Example Every human mind is related with nature at a certain plane. And not a single person can ignore its mighty existence and unending influence on the mind and life of a man. Some people are attracted to mighty snow–capped mountains, some to green vales. Some minds get lost in the mystery of the woods and some lose their heart at the roaring waves of an ocean which crushes at the beach and to touch their feet. The beauty of a golden beach lying as a stretch on the bank of a sea or an ocean is always attractive for most of the people. It does not captivate the obscurity of woods and hardship of mountains. For a perfect destination to relax, rejuvenate and feel the mirth and warmth of life, beach is the best resort. It does not involve any physical hardship to stay or reach a beach. And the beauty of a beach is always more exploring with the progress in the hour clock. The color scheme of the stretch of land changes with the changing season. This glorifies the aura of the beach attra cting millions of tourist across the world every year. Thesis Statement This essay intends to analyze and explore the reasons why a human mind seeks attraction to a beach and tries to describe the beauty and blessings of nature bestowed upon this physical feature on earth. Beauty of a Beach To many people it might seem at the outset that a stretch of land covered with sand and rock cannot seem actually beautiful. However, to many others who have been attracted, enchanted and mesmerized with the glory, charm and enigma of a beach know that what fascinates them towards the stretch of land in reality. The golden sand dunes and the rocky cliffs situated at the shore of a vast water-body yielding magnificent and gigantic waves is a sight to watch from a considerable distance. The gigantic waves roar like thunder and then crush and efface on the banks. It seems that their mighty existence somewhere fall short, minor and tiny in front of the golden stretch of land (United Nations Education al, Scientific and Cultural Organization, â€Å"When Sand Dunes Have Been Destroyed†). The beach that is rocky or has cliffs is just another beautiful spectacle of nature. The waves evolving from the middle of the ocean, takes a magnificent aura before crushing down to the rocks and cliffs on the beach. It seems that those cliffs are the ring master of a circus taming a lion, making it ready for the show. The beast may roar, deny, show its magnanimity but before the rock-solid existence of the ring master and his agile hunter, the beast is ought to succumb and break down. The same spectacle evolves before the eyes of a person who stands at the rocky beach and watches the waves crushing down before the Rocky Mountains situated at the beach. The crushing of the waves produces beautiful foam which seems like some cluster of stray clouds on a blue sky. The poetic mind which operates above the mundane scientific theories of daily life perceives it as a reflection of the phenomena taking place up in the sky (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, â€Å"When Sand Dunes Have Been Destroyed†). Sunrise and sunset both occur with vivacity and grandeur at the beach. Sun and the sand play all through the day changing mood and color with the passing season. With its first ray the sun turns the beach into a casket of red light. The air gets warm slowly and the waves dance with the rays of the sun

IKEAs Resources and Competences in Developing Competitive Advantage Essay

IKEAs Resources and Competences in Developing Competitive Advantage - Essay Example With specific references to its competencies, it is apparent that since its inception, IKEA has always shown a great concern for people and the environment. This is based on its vision which is to create a better everyday life for many people. Indeed, its concern for people and the environment enhances its proper use of resources. Thus, it endeavors to keep its cost as minimum as possible. The IKEA entrepreneurial culture is enduring. For instance, its founder Ingvar Kamprad exhibited elements of entrepreneurship early in his childhood. As a fact, entrepreneurs are usually born and/or made. This way, the environment in which IKEA’s founder was raised up in nurtured his entrepreneurial skills. The Smalanders for instance, are famed for their informality and entrepreneurial spirit. For instance, His aunt would send him large quantities of matches which he would sell in small quantities at a lucrative price. Thus, he was exposed to an entrepreneurial culture early in his life. The leadership and organizational structure of IKEA are also ideal. Peter Hogsted, the CEO is subscribed to the idea of cost-cutting and promotes informal structure within the organization. Through the Hawthorne experiments, Elton Mayo, a renowned behavioral theorist was able to affirm that work satisfaction and performance among workers is basically not economic. It is rather more contingent on working conditions and attitudes. This includes proper communication, positive management response and encouraging employees to work hard by motivating them.

History paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

History paper - Essay Example Children’s Rights narrates the story of the horrible neglect of children by responsible elders and the cruelty inflicted on them. It also tells us how the lawmakers finally realized the need to protect the children, both physically and mentally. Mary Ellen’s case in 1874 is taken in this book as a fine example of the extent to which child abuse can reach. Born to an immigrant woman, the baby Ellen’s fate was to grow under the carelessness of different mothers, finally ending up in the cruel hands of Frances Conolly. She could not know even the warmth of a kiss, or caress, her body carried the bruises of perpetual whipping, starved beyond imagination, and could not even see the sunlight. A social worker, Etta Angel Wheeler, who discovered the plight of Mary Ellen, failed to get help either from police or from any charitable institutions to rescue the child, as they wanted legal proof. â€Å"Though social workers often witnessed scenes of cruelty, poverty, and gri ef, Wheeler found Mary Ellen’s plight especially horrifying†, says the writer (Stevens). Finally it was the founder of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Henry Berg, who came to her aid. The child was considered as a living animal, which was subjected to cruelty, and a case was registered with enough proof. Mary lived a decent life thereafter. Conolly was punished and the world opened its eyes to protect the children from abuses. Thus Children’s Rights reflects the utter ignorance of the society and the government on a very vital issue. The Needless War with Spain shows America’s greed for aggressive and expansionist policies. It is about America’s involvement in the domestic affairs of Cuba. McKinley was the President of America at that period. He was a very weak President. If he had possessed the sharp political will, the war with Spain could have been avoided. But,

European Attitudes Towards Benin Bronzes

European Attitudes Towards Benin Bronzes The Art of Benin Read Reading 2.3 On the British loss of antique works of art from Benin in AA100 Book 3, Chapter 2 and look closely at Plate 3.2.25 Display for Benin bronzes at the Horniman Museum, London, 2007 and Plate 3.2.26 Display of Benin bronzes at the Horniman Museum, detail, 2007 in the Illustration Book. Drawing on your understanding of these sources, discuss the ways in which European attitudes to the Benin bronzes have changed over time. To discuss the ways, in which Europeans attitudes to the Benin bronzes have changed over time, we need first to go back to the period when they first were discovered, in 1897, following the British invasion of the Benin kingdom. We will also look into how the Victorian viewed the bronzes, and their craftsmen. Since the discovery of the artefacts, the bronzes have caused lots of debates and different opinions. It has been debates who produced the bronzes, when and for whom, and as a consequence museums and anthropologists have debated how they should be displayed. The Benin bronzes were discovered in 1897, during the time period, when the great interest in the British empire was flourishing, and stories of the imperial adventures around the world were very popular by the people in Britain. In the 1880s and 1890s, when Africa was heavily and brutally colonised by the Europeans, a new trend developed back in Europe. The deeper the colonists expanded into Africa, missionaries, civil servants, capitalists were not far behind. Letters, pictures and unusual objects were sent home to Britain, to later be shared and reproduced in books, newspaper and museums. Tales of estranged encounters and experiences with the natives, in particular primitive rituals, involving sacrifices and cannibalism, were very much on the agenda at the time. When the Kingdom of Benin was conquered by the British in 1897, it resulted in a traumatic end of the centuries-old kingdom and their ruler, Oba, the god-king. The news travelled fast about the British invasion, and the frontline journalists arrived just a few days later after the conquest. The weekly illustrated newspaper The Illustrated London News (ILN) was particularly interested in reporting stories that created a sense of drama. Artists along with journalists were at the frontline to convey in pictures about the events within the British empire. There were lots of eyewitness accounts of the events around the conquest. However, it needs to take into consideration, that they are somewhat biased as they were written by the British for the British, which resulted in a style of reporting that portrayed scenes of savagery and brutality by the natives. In the extract from the ILN, written in March 1897, for example, Benin is described as a city of blood having its pit full of dead and dying; human sacrifices were strewn about on every hand (Reading 2.1 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 79). Taking those eyewitness accounts into consideration, with the findings of the artefacts, it is not strange the bronzes were described as having the most grotesque appearance (Reading 2.1 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 79), and that the Africans were seen as dark and dangerous people (Loftus and Wood, 2008, p.45), a stark contrast to the white civilised Europeans. As a result, the significance of the bronzes was somewhat tainted by the preconceptions of the primitive and uncivilised African culture that little attention was given how the bronzes had been displayed or used before they were removed from the scene as the photograph shows (Figure 2.2 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 50). Afterwards, the artworks and objects were brought to Britain, to the frustration of Henry Ling Roth, anthropologist who wrote in his book; and sold for a few hundred pounds a large number of castings which had cost thousands to obtain, as well as much blood of our fellow countrymen. (Reading 2.3 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 80). But, it did not take long for collectors, scholars and art historians in Europe and America to realise the pure craftsmanship and the value of the Benin bronzes, thus tried to obtain the finest pieces. Roth points out; From what I can ascertain, the bulk of these bronzes has been secured by the Germans (Reading 2.3 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 81) suggesting if the British government have had the proper knowledge of the study of anthropology, the Bini articles would be represented at British Museum, instead of the Royal Museum for Ethnography, in Berlin where the largest collection of 580 Benin artworks was acquired. Art historians and scholars were at first somewhat dubious that the bronzes had been produced by the craftsmen of Benin. Instead they were looking for other explanations, even so far as whether there was a possible link between Benin and ancient lost civilisations such as the Gnostics. The British Museum had to rush and to produce research about the Benin artworks as the popular interest in the African culture corresponded with the growing debates about the history of the human race. The debate about the origin of the Benin bronzes was considerable. Questions were raised about how the aesthetic qualities shown in the bronzes could possibly been created by a society such as Benin, which was perceived backwards and primitive, with stories of human sacrifices and brutality. When the British Museum held an exhibition of the Benin bronzes in September of 1897, the Times wrote a report, that no evidence or links, between Benin and lost ancient civilisation had been found, and the report concludes unexpectedly, with a surprise, that the magnificence bronze work was made by negro craftsmanship (Reading 2.2 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 79) and not by any ancient lost civilisations. Subsequently, this new information caused somehow confusion for the British Museum, as the Benin plaques did not fit into the chronology of events as first presumed, and therefore the choice to display the Benin bronzes in the Assyrian basement can only be seen as an alternative option, given the difficulty of placing them among already existing artefacts with established chronological narrative. The Times describes the choice of display; An exhibition of a remarkable kind has been arranged in the Assyrian basement in such uncongenial surroundings (Reading 2.2 in Loftus and Wood, 2 008, p. 79). Consequently, when the Benin bronzes entered museum collections, both anthropologists and museum curators had difficulty to explain how these uncivilised primitives could produce something equivalent, in technical mastery, like the sculptures from the Italian renaissance for example. The way the artefacts and objects are displayed and described in museums are important for communicating the skilled knowledge about history and art to the general public. However, it is always difficult for the historian to know how the material has been interpreted by the viewer. Even tough, the facts about the new knowledge of the Benin artworks had been presented, it did little to change the racists ideas. Artworks were seen as evidence of civilisation, something Africa did not demonstrate in terms of progress, and therefore was seen as backward by the Europeans. The ethnographic museums, were likely to put together the display of what we regard today as artworks, together with functional items; like tools and weapons and utensils, which used to represent ideas how the primitives lived. Non-western objects were seen as scientific evidence and provided cultural knowledge, but not as art. One of the biggest changes that the modern movement brought, was the way art was displayed. One can probably say for certain, that the change evolved naturally, as art is always receptive to outside influence. Ann-Christine Taylor says in the interview about the exhibition in Paris; French museums with large ethnographic collections, were deserted by the public. Nobody knew what to do with these collections anymore. (Taylor, A. speaking in The Art of Benin, 2008). The problem they had on their hand, developed into the idea, to create a brand new cultural institution. Their aim was to try to capture peoples attention and interest by using visually spectacular objects. Their idea resulted in the exhibition, Benin, Five Centuries of Royal Art, shown in Musee de Quai Branly, in Paris. The museum made use of space and lightning, to emphasise each of the objects artistic quality in its own rightful way. There is some anthropological information about the plaques, to not solely adopt an aesthetic route. Nevertheless, many anthropologists were angry, as the exhibition was presented as works of art, emphasising on the visual impact rather than testimonies of cultural diversity (Taylor, A. speaking in The Art of Benin, 2008) While the debate how to best display the Benin bronzes continues, many museums were adopting the cross-referencing, bonding the gap between art and anthropology. However, some museums, such as The Pitt River Museum in oxford for example, has resisted and deliberately kept the traditional way of displaying objects with explanatory labels in glass cases. (Figure 2.9 in Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 72). The Horniman Museum on the other hand, decided to take a step further and changed their display of its Benin bronzes, and incorporated both anthropological and aesthetic aspects. (Illustration Book, Plate 3.2.25 and Plate 3.2.26) Most significantly, it does not stop at the moment of aesthetic contemplation, it continues deeper into the entire culture of Benin, in the past and present. Making use of a variety of texts and photographs with new information based on contemporary research by Joseph Eboreime, a Nigerian historian. (Loftus and Wood, 2008, p. 75) The controversial views of the Benin bronzes have undergone a natural evolution since the discovery in 1897. But it is not only the bronzes, it is the whole transformation of western views towards Africa that has taken place. The Benin bronzes were mystifying for the Victorian anthropologists, and not easy to fit into a racist representation of primitive ways of life. Later throughout the twentieth century, the works of art started to become almost solely of aesthetic admiration rather than as a kind of historical evidence. There are signs, like those, that can be seen in The Horniman Museum, that the world of art is in for a new movement. Primitive art has become world culture, and the Benin bronzes stands as evidence of a shared human history. (word count 1633) Bibliography AA100 Illustration Book: Plates for Books 3 and 4 Loftus, D. and Wood, P. (2008) The Art of Benin: Changing Relations Between Europe and Africa II, AA100 Book 3, Chapter 2. The Art of Benin (2008) AA100 DVD ROM