Difficulties Faced by Interracial Couples

Difficulties Faced by Interracial Couples Interracial relationships have taken place in America since colonial times, but couples in such romances continue to face problems and challenges. America’s first â€Å"mulatto† child was born in 1620. When slavery of blacks became institutionalized in the U.S., however, anti-miscegenation laws surfaced in various states that barred such unions, thereby stigmatizing them.  Miscegenation is defined by  sexual relations between people from different racial groups. The term  stems from the Latin words miscere and genus, which mean to mix and race, respectively.   Incredibly, anti-miscegenation  laws remained on the books until the latter half of the 20th century, making interracial relationships taboo and posing barriers to mixed-race couples. Interracial Relationships and Violence A major reason interracial relationships continue to carry stigma is their association with violence. Although in early America members of different races  openly procreated with one another, the introduction of institutionalized slavery changed the nature of such relationships entirely. The raping of African-American women by plantation owners and other powerful whites during this period have cast an ugly shadow on relationships between black women and white men. On the flip side, African American men who so much as looked at a white woman could be killed, and brutally so. Author Mildred D. Taylor describes the fear that interracial relationships invoked in the black community in the Depression era south in Let the Circle Be Unbroken, a historical novel based on her family’s real-life experiences. When protagonist Cassie Logan’s cousin visits from the North to announce that he’s taken a white wife, the entire Logan family is aghast. â€Å"Cousin Bud had separated himself from the rest of us†¦ for white people were part of another world, distant strangers who ruled our lives and were better left alone,† Cassie thinks. â€Å"When they entered our lives, they were to be treated courteously, but with aloofness, and sent away as quickly as possible. Besides, for a black man to even look at a white woman was dangerous.† This was no understatement, as the case of Emmett Till proves. While visiting Mississippi in 1955, the Chicago teen was murdered by a pair of white men for allegedly whistling at a white woman. Till’s murder sparked international outcry and motivated Americans of all races to join the civil rights movement. The Fight for Interracial Marriage Just three years after Emmett Till’s horrific murder, Mildred Jeter, an African American, married Richard Loving, a white man, in the District of Columbia. After returning to their home state of Virginia, the Lovings were arrested for breaking the state’s anti-miscegenation laws but were told the one-year prison sentence given to them would be dropped if they left Virginia and did not return as a couple for 25 years. The Lovings violated this condition, returning to Virginia as a couple to visit family. When authorities discovered them, they were again arrested. This time they appealed the charges against them until their case made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled in 1967 that anti-miscegenation laws violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In addition to calling marriage a basic civil right, the Court stated, â€Å"Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.† During the height of the civil  rights movement, not only did laws change regarding interracial marriage but public views did as well. That the public was slowly embracing interracial unions is evidenced by the theatrical release of a 1967 film based entirely on an imminent interracial marriage, â€Å"Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?† To boot, by this time, the fight for civil rights had grown very integrated. Whites and blacks often fought for racial justice side-by-side, allowing interracial romance to bloom. In Black, White and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self, Rebecca Walker, daughter of African American novelist Alice Walker and Jewish lawyer Mel Leventhal, described the ethos that impelled her activist parents to marry. â€Å"When they meet†¦ my parents are idealists, they are social activists†¦ they believe in the power of organized people working for change,† Walker wrote. â€Å"In 1967, when my parents break all the rules and marry against laws that say they can’t, they say that an individual should not be bound to the wishes of their family, race, state, or country. They say that love is the tie that binds, and not blood.† Interracial Relationships and Rebellion When civil rights activists married, they not only challenged laws but sometimes their own families. Even someone who dates interracially today runs the risk of incurring the disapproval of friends and family. Such opposition to interracial relationships has been documented in American literature for centuries. Helen Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona is a case in point. In it, a woman named Seà ±ora Moreno objects to her adoptive daughter Ramona’s impending marriage to a Temecula  man named Alessandro. â€Å"You marry an Indian?† Seà ±ora Moreno exclaims. â€Å"Never! Are you mad? I will never permit it.† What’s astonishing about Seà ±ora Moreno’s objection is that Ramona is half-Native American  herself. Still, Seà ±ora Moreno believes that Ramona is superior to a full-blooded Native American. Always an obedient girl, Ramona rebels for the first time when she chooses to marry Alessandro. She tells Seà ±ora Moreno that forbidding her to marry him is useless. â€Å"The whole world cannot keep me from marrying Alessandro. I love him†¦,† she declares. Are You Willing to Sacrifice? Standing up like Ramona did requires strength. While it’s certainly not wise to allow narrow-minded family members to dictate your love life, ask yourself if you’re willing to be disowned, disinherited or otherwise mistreated to pursue an interracial relationship. If not, it’s best to find a mate of whom your family approves. On the other hand, if you’re newly involved in such a relationship and only fear that your family may disapprove, consider having a sit-down conversation with your relatives about your interracial romance. Address any concerns they have about your new mate as calmly and clearly as possible. Of course, you may end up deciding to agree to disagree with your family about your relationship. Whatever you do, avoid springing your interracial romance on family members by unexpectedly inviting your  new love  to a family function. That could make things uncomfortable for both your family and your partner. Examine Your Motives When involved in an interracial relationship, it’s also important to examine your motives for entering such a union. Reconsider the relationship if rebellion is at the root of your decision to date across color lines. Relationship author Barbara DeAngelis states in her book  Are You the One for Me? that a person who consistently dates individuals with qualities diametrically opposed to those their family finds appropriate may be acting out against their parents. For example, DeAngelis describes a white Jewish woman named Brenda whose parents want her to find a white  Jewish, single and successful man. Instead, Brenda repeatedly chooses black Christian men who are married or commitment-phobic and only sometimes professionally successful. â€Å"The point here is not that relationships between people of different backgrounds don’t work. But if you have a pattern of choosing partners who not only don’t fulfill you but also upset your family, you are probably acting out of rebellion,† DeAngelis writes. In addition to dealing with family disapproval, those involved  in interracial relationships  sometimes deal with disapproval from their greater racial community. You may be viewed as a  Ã¢â‚¬Å"sellout†Ã‚  or a â€Å"race traitor† for dating interracially. Some racial groups may approve of men dating interracially but not women or vice versa. In  Sula, author  Toni Morrison  describes this double standard. They said that Sula slept with white men...All minds were closed to her when that word was passed around...The fact that their own skin color was proof that it had happened in their families was no deterrent to their bile. Nor was the willingness of black men to lie in the beds of white women a consideration that might lead them toward tolerance. Dealing with Racial Fetishes In today’s society, where interracial relationships are generally accepted, some people have developed what are known as racial fetishes. That is, they’re only interested in dating a particular racial group based on attributes they believe people from those groups embody. Chinese-American writer Kim Wong Keltner describes such fetishes in her novel  The Dim Sum of All Things, in which a young woman named Lindsey Owyang is the protagonist. â€Å"Although Lindsey was admittedly attracted to white boys, she†¦hated the idea of some pervert honing in on her because of her black hair, almond-shaped eyes, or any of the submissive, back-scrubbing fantasies her physical features might suggest to a large, clumsy mammal in tube socks.† While Lindsey Owyang rightfully shies away from white men drawn to Asian women based on stereotypes, it’s equally important that she examines why she exclusively dates white men (which is revealed later). As the book progresses, the reader learns that Lindsey harbors considerable shame about being Chinese-American. She finds the customs, food, and people largely repellent. But just as dating interracially based on stereotypes is objectionable, so is dating someone from another background because you suffer from  internalized racism. The individual you’re dating, not racial identity politics, should be your primary reason for entering an interracial relationship. If it’s your partner and not you who exclusively dates interracially, ask probing questions to find out why. Have a full-on discussion about it. If your partner finds members of her own racial group unattractive that reveals much about how she views herself and other groups as well. The Key to a Successful Relationship Interracial relationships, as all relationships do, pose their fair share of problems. But the tensions that arise from loving cross-racially can be overcome with good communication and by settling down with a partner who shares your principles. Common ethics and morals arguably prove more significant than common racial backgrounds in determining a couple’s success. While Barbara DeAngelis acknowledges  that interracial couples  face serious difficulties, she’s also found, â€Å"Couples who share similar values have a much greater chance of creating a happy, harmonious and lasting relationship.†

3 Ways to Write a Great Personal Statement for College!

3 Ways to Write a Great Personal Statement for College! (This article has been updated to reflect the new 650-word limit for the Common Application) The New York Times has been rife this season with articles about the college application essay.   The Common Application’s newly reinstated 650-word guideline is the topic of much conversation, as are general themes and strategies for the personal statement. It is now early November.   Some early application deadlines have come and gone, and November 15 deadlines are around the corner.   Is your high school senior still stuck or struggling with his or her personal statement? Many people, not just college applicants, have a hard time writing about themselves.   Yet that’s exactly what you need to do when writing a personal statement.   No matter how much you might not like it, your personal statement is about you.   There’s really no way around it. Today I will provide some assistance and resources to help any college applicant to get those 650 words written. 1.   Relax!   Have fun! â€Å"It’s all about loosening up,†Ã‚   says a California college professor in Crafting an Application Essay That ‘Pops’, a New York Times article which reported on the recommendations of 5,000 admissions officers and counselors who gathered at the latest NACAC conference.   I couldn’t agree more. To help students have fun with their personal statements, Stanford University has come up with an interesting twist:   They ask applicants to write a letter to their future freshman roommates. Here are some samples, quoted in the article, of how students approached the essay: â€Å"If you want to borrow my music, just ask. If you want to borrow my underwear, just take them.† â€Å"I eat ice cream with a fork, and I drink orange juice right after I brush my teeth just for the sour taste.† â€Å"If you have anything other than a Dodgers poster on the wall, I will tear it down.† Note that all these lines are written in the first person – unfortunately to some, a required element of writing about yourself.   And note that all the lines are unique.   It’s unlikely that two applicants would have written the same thing. Here’s the key to writing a great essay:   Write something no one else could have written. If that sounds like a daunting task, loosen up!   Take a cue from Stanford’s essay question, no matter what topic you choose to write about.   All you have to do is tell stories about yourself. 2. How NOT to Start your College Application Essay One common pitfall students fall into is trying to write an essay about their reasons for applying to school, instead of simply telling a story.   One of my recent clients started her essay to graduate school with, â€Å"I am applying to the XX school for several reasons.†   I coached her to simply start telling her story.   This approach made the project a lot easier, and made her essay a lot more interesting! Here’s the start of an essay that meets this requirement: When I went to Fall Out Boy’s Chicago radio show, there was the comment from the drummer, â€Å"The girl from New York is here.†Ã‚   When I fought my way to the front of the crowd in Florida, there was the bassist’s point of his finger at me as he mouthed one of my favorite lyrics: â€Å"I still hate you.† This opening line works because it tells a story no one else could tell.   It brings us into a world unique to the applicant.   And it sets us up to think something interesting is going to happen in this essay.   The reader is compelled to read the next line. Contrast this to an alternate version of the essay that might have read, â€Å"Music is one of my passions, and because of that I attend a lot of rock concerts.   My favorite band is Fall Out Boy.† You might laugh, but version two is the way many college essays read.   Or, to avoid boring the committee, applicants swing the other way:   â€Å"Raindrops heated by the flashing lights above, falling abundantly and without end, singeing my hair, my skin, my eyes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Here’s a tip:   If you are not a brilliant creative writer, just stick to the facts.   They will set you free. 3. Doing it in 650 Words The Common Application now sets a 650-word limit for a college application essay.   The more you stick to a story – a story that is directly linked to the point you want to make in your essay – the easier it will be to stay within that limit and to knock the socks off the admissions committee! The New York Times’ â€Å"The Choice† blog provides spot-on advice for how to stay succinct in Advice on Whittling Your Admissions Essay.   Read this article immediately if you are over the limit and unsure of how to cut your writing down to size! You might also gain some breathing room from Matt Flegenheimer’s October 28, 2011 article, College Application Essay as Haiku?   For Some, 500 Words Aren’t Enough. Need Help with your Personal Statement for College? If you’re still stuck, panicked, or unsure, consider getting some help.   The Essay Expert’s Ivy-educated consultants are skilled in working with students to craft essays that say more than you might even imagine can be said in 650 words.   Just try us!

Politics in Portugal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Politics in Portugal - Essay Example In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986† (CIA – World Fact Book) During the past 3 000 years, Portugal has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of civilisations. Phoenician, Greek, Celt, Carthaginian, Roman and Arabic cultures have all left their imprint.(Europa) This paper details the politically relevant history, economy, culture and political situations of Portugal. Julius Caesar and Augustus conquered the province of Lusitania which was occupied by the early tribal people of Portugal. The territory adopted Roman ways of living and the language of Portuguese took its root from Latin. The invasion by Romans happened in the period of 1000 B.C. In the early 8th century Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula in which the early territory of Portugal was situated from Visigoths – the Germanic invaders. Muslim culture had its own impact and resulted in a large minority getting converted into Muslims. (Encyclopedia) Portuguese nation was created by the re-conquest of the territory by the Christians. The Moors were driven out of the territory by the King of Asturias during the 8th century. Alfonso VI of Castile is a key person in the Portuguese history and with the aid of France he won the war against the Moors to retain control over the Portuguese land. The dynasty descended with Henry of Burgundy and his son Alfonso Henriques who styled himself Alfonso I, King of Portugal. The country was recognized by Spain in the year 1143 and by Pope in the year 1179. The rule of A great task of recapturing other regions of Portugal from Moors was placed on the successors of Alfonso. The country of Portugal witnessed continuous strife ridden days because of the conflicts between

Internationa human rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internationa human rights - Essay Example dom for one to manifest his or her beliefs or religion is subjected to various limitations clearly defined by the law and is significant in a society that is democratic in the safety of the interests of the public. This paper hence seeks to critically assess the interests that are at stake and how the court has balanced this interest in dealing with the cases concerning the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief (Berns, 1976). The article 9 of the Europe Council of Human Rights has been evaluated and applied in several of court cases within Europe. The law of Europe has hence moved to recognize categories of belief or religion and handled or treated them as almost one category with religion or belief having not merely a vacuous but a wide interpretation. This has seen the court balancing the interests of both the public and the state. In Kokkinaski vs Greece (1994) 17 EHRR 397, paragraph 31, the freedom of conscience, thought and religion makes one of the things considered the foundation of the society that is democratic in the meaning of convention. In balancing such interest of the community, the court stated that it is the dimension of the religion, one of the most significant elements that make up the conception of life and the believers’ identity; nevertheless, it matters to atheists and the skeptics (Morgan, 1972). In another court effort to balance the interest of the freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief, the court passed judgment in the case of Manoussakis vs Greece (1996), EHRR 387, paragraph 47 that the freedom of religion that is guaranteed in the Convention does not include any discretion on the side of the state to decide on whether the religion or the manner of expressing such religious belief is legitimate or not. Belief in the light of the court is more than just feelings that are deeply held or opinions. But there must be firmly held philosophical or spiritual convictions with identifiable content that is practically formal.

The Turn of the Screw Essay Example for Free

The Turn of the Screw Essay With detailed reference to Marxist debates about the relationship between literature and ideology, examine the ways in which The Turn of the Screw can be read as reinforcing, and/or undermining dominate modes of thinking. Within this assignment, I intend on providing a detailed analysis of Henry James novel The Turn Of The Screw in relation to Marxists debates over the relationship of Literature and Ideology. Through this close analysis, I will be showing the main concepts of a Marxist perspective in relation to The Turn Of The Screw and how this contributes in the creation of the notion of Literature and Ideology. In order to achieve this, it is crucial to gain an understanding of the notion of Literature and Ideology. In order to gain an appreciation of the term of Ideology, it would be important to consider the work conducted by Terry Eagleton1, this can be achieved through the statement that Ideology provides lucid accounts of major Marxist thinkers, and examines the thought of non-Marxist theorists such as Schopenhauer, Nietzasche, Frued and the poststructulists2. From this, it is possible to interpret the notion that Ideology presents a new way of thinking for Eagleton and thus is presented with ideas surrounding Poststructulism3, Nietzasche4, and Schopenhauer5. In relation to the question, it is possible to argue that through using the Ideological perspective of Marxism, we will be examining Henry James novel of The Turn of the Screw from a new approach. Firstly, it is imperative that we gain an understanding of the term of Marxism and how this holds a relationship to Henry Jamess novel The Turn of the Screw. Marxism was developed by the German philosopher Karl Marx and also the German sociologist Frederich Engles6 (1820-95), which they themselves called their economic theories Communism (rather that Marxism), designating their belief in the state ownership of industry, etc, rather than private ownership7. From this, it is possible to debate that Marxism dose have relevance in regards to Ideology, as it is presenting a new mode of thinking upon German society. Furthermore, if we take into consideration that The simplest Marxist model of society sees it as constituted by a base (the material means of production, distribution, and exchange) and a superstructure, which is the cultural world of ideas, art, religion8 it is possible to argue that Marxist through analysis society in relation to all members of society considered as equals and thus bringing about a classless society. In addition to this, he also argued that it is only philosophical ideas, which make up the superstructure and therefore underpinning his ideological belief that there is a class structure within the society. One of the most important arguments that is raised in relation to Henry James novel The Turn of the Screw and the notions that is associated with Marxism, it is possible to argue that Henry James is underpinning the modes of Marxism. This is clearly evident within the characterisation of Miles and the quotation of: She was the most agreeable women Ive ever known in her position9. From this particular quotation, it is possible to argue that Miles encompasses the attributes, which reinforcing the notions of Marxism, as he is enforcing the hierarchy that exists within the class structure. The reason for this is although he is acknowledging that there a division of class dose exist within the context of the novel, however, through his description of her being the most agreeable women10, he is showing a likeness to the qualities that she possess within her and is automatically disregarding the social hieratical differences that exist between them both. In relation to this particular quotation, it is possible to argue that through the character of Miles, Henry James is acknowledging the work conducted by the French structuralist Marxist, Louis Althusser11 (1918-1990). His work was mainly centred on the analysis of what he termed the state and the subject and through this work; he provided clear distinctions between the terms of ideologies, which he said was mainly historical and social, and ideology, which he denoted as the main structure of the society in which we live in. From this distinction, he made the acknowledgment that within civilised society, there is a need for a number of employees, which are low and middle classes and also there is a need for employers. Within this distinction, Althusser provided the term of willing subjects for those workers who worked within manual labour that were able to be employed by the employers and provided them with the term of Interpellation. From this it is possible to see that through the use of Interpellation, we do take into consideration class structures, as it ultimately defining the differences from Working Classes and Middle Classes. Because of this factor, it is possible to say that it is showing the binary opposition of the notion of Marxism and therefore it is showing a new Ideology. In regards to Henry James novel The Turn of the Screw, it is possible to suggest that the term of Interpellation is evident through the representation of the servants at Bly in comparison to such characters as the Master and Miss Jessel, this is clearly evident within the quotation of: Mrs. Grose, since then, in a way of manners and things, had done as she could for Flora; and there were, further, a cook, a housemaid, a diarywoman, an old woman, an old groom and an old gardener, all likewise thoroughly respectable.12 From this particular quotation, it is possible to argue that it is clearly demonstrating the concept of Interpellation, as it is showing the collective representation of the working class community within the house of Bly and also a clear distinction between themselves and the Master. In relation to the question, it is therefore possible to argue that it is disregarding the notion of Marxism. However, it is a clear demonstration of Ideology and therefore it is possible to suggest that through the medium of literature, authors such as Henry James are able to express different interpretations and therefore it is possible to argue that literature on a whole is means to show ideological expression. Another important argument provided by Althusser was the meaning of words, which he suggested that words do not reflect the world, but produces a perception of it. From this, it is possible to argue that term of Interpellation is another way of viewing the world. In relation to Henry James novel, The Turn Of The Screw, it is possible to argue that through the relationship that exists between Miles and the Governess, Henry James is demonstrating the notion of Interpellation, this is evident within the quotation of: I pressed again, of course, the closer for that. You are reminded that Quint was only a base menial?13. From this particular quotation, it is possible to argue that this is clearly showing the notion of Interpellation, as it is reinforcing the class differences that exist between the characters of Miles and Quint. However, it is also possible to suggest that this particular quotation is a demonstration of the Governesses influence over Miles, as she is reinforcing the notion of Interpellation into Miles as an attempt to over-rule his own Marxist perspective on life. The reason for this might be due to the fact that she comes from a lower class then the family, and she feels that they should not mix with the lower classes. From this, it might be important to take into consideration the work conducted by the Italian writer Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937)14, in particular, the importance of Hegemony. The notion of Hegemony involves a low regime sustains power within society; this can be achieved through either consent, which is the role of persuasion or enforce, which is the role of gaining power through force. This is clearly evident within Henry James novel, The Turn of the Screw, and the quotation of: He has put them in possession of Bly, which was healthy and secure, and had placed at the head of their little establishment but below stairs only- an excellent women, Ms Grose15 As you are able to see from the quotation that I have provided, it is possible to argue that within the household at Bly, Antonio Gramscis notion of Hegemony has been put to full effect and therefore it is creating a class rank within the novel in regards to a hierarchal structure of the household. Therefore, in relation to the original question, it is possible to argue that this particular extract of Henry James novel is undermining the dominant modes of Marxist thought, and presenting a new ideology in relation to the structure of class and society. Another issue that we might take into consideration in regards to the notions of Marxism and the characterisation of Miles is his relationship with Quint. Through their friendship, Miles is disregarding the status structures within society and thus is being as Marxist himself, this is evident within the quotation of: It was neither nor less then the particular fact that for a period of several months Quint and the boy had been perpetually together.16 From this particular quotation, it is possible to see the qualities in which Miles characterisation processes, which is to disregard the attributes that is associated with the class structure, and thus making it possible for his to befriend who ever he wishes. Through this, it is possible to argue that Miles is echoing the work conducted by Louis Althusser. In conclusion, it is possible to suggest that the relationship between Literature and Ideology in regards to how they comment upon Marxist debates, is that it allows the authors to choose an Ideological perspective and use their novel as a demonstration of the particular perspective. Through the use of Marxism, it is possible to suggest that we are able to comprehend the issues that are presented within Henry James novel and this allows use, the critic, to use the novel as a clear demonstration of the issues that presents the key aspects of Marxism and thus makes it easier for use to comprehend. Bibliography Within this assignment, I have used the following books: 1. Peter Barry Beginning Theory An Introduction To Literary And Cultural Theory 2002 Manchester University Press 2. Henry James The Turn Of The Screw 1992 Bedford Books of St. Martins Press 3. Warren Montag Louis Althusser 2003 Palgrave Macmillen Within this assignment, I have used the following Internet search engines: 1. http://www.yahoo.com 2. http://www.yahoo.co.uk 3. http://www.google.co.uk/ 4. http://www.askjeeves.co.uk/ Within this assignment, I have used the following Internet articles: 1. Terry Eagleton Ideology An Introduction URL: http://www.versobooks.com/books/cdef/ef-titles/eagleton_ideology.shtml 21/10/03 2. Marry Klages Louis Althussers Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses URL: http://www.colorado.edu/English/ENGL2021Klages/1997althusser.html 24/10/03 3. Wikipedia Antonio Gramsci URL: http://en.mikipedia.org.wiki/Antonio_Gramsci 24/10/03 4. Richard Wolff Ideological State Apparatus URL: http://dogma.free.fr/txt/RW_IdeologicalApparatuses.htm 24/10/03 5. Louis Althussers Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses URL: http://www.colorado.edu/Egnlish/Engl2012Klages/althusse.html 24/10/03 6. Daisy Miller The Turn of the Screw URL: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/barrons/turnscr2.asp 24/10/03 7. Richard Strickland Confrontational Pedagogy and the Introductory Literature Course URL: http://www.english.ilstu.edu/strickland/confront.html 24/10/03 Word count = 1656 1 Terry Eagleton is Thomas Warton, Professor of English at the University of Oxford. 2 This quotation was taken from an Internet article, which is fully referenced in my bibliography as number 1. 3 This was an approach to literature that, proceeding from the tenets of Structuralism, maintains that, as words have no absolute meaning, any texts is open to an unlimited amount of interpretations. 4 Notion presented by Friedrich Wilhelm, mainly surrounding the concept of the Superman and the rejection of traditional Christian values. 5 Notion presented by the German philosopher, he expounded the view that will is the creative primary factor and idea the secondary receptive factor. 6 German socialist leader and political leader. He collaborated with Marx on The Communist Manifesto (1840). 7 Peter Barry (ed), Beginning Theory An Introduction To Literary And Cultural Theory, Second Edition, (Manchester University Press, Manchester, Clays Ltd, 1992) Page 157, Lines 9 10. 8 Peter Barry (ed), Beginning Theory An Introduction To Literary And Cultural Theory, Second Edition, (Manchester University Press, Manchester, Clays Ltd, 1992) Page 157, Lines 2 3. 9 Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, (Hampshire, Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997) Page 23, Lines 14-17 10 Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, (Hampshire, Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997) Page 23, Line 14 11 French Marxist philosopher, author of For Marx (1965) and Reading Capital (1965). 12 Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, (Hampshire, Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997) Page 26, Lines 25-28 13 Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, (Hampshire, Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997) Page 23, Lines 20-21 14 Information obtained from an Internet article, which is fully referenced in my bibliography as number 3. 15 Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, (Hampshire, Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997) Page 26, Lines 9-12 16 Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, (Hampshire, Macmillan Press Ltd, 1997) Page 60, Lines 10-12

Essay --

It should be necessary to provide hydrogen in an enormous amount at a great price. However, it is possible to accept if hydrogen is produced without CO2 emission because CO2 elimination is energy demanding and costly process related with environment problem, such as greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, currently conventional process of hydrogen production is the steam reforming process which has highly CO2 emission. Currently, approximately 48 % of hydrogen derives from natural gas by steam reforming process, 30 % from oil reforming in the chemical manufacturing and 18 % from coal gasification.3 It replies that 96 % of the hydrogen production derives from fossil associated with a huge amount of CO2 emission. Only 4 % of hydrogen production is come from water electrolysis.4 It also expected that hydrogen production without CO2 technologies are the great wish for the future of a sustainable hydrogen economy. Zero CO2 emissions are possible when the raw materials are from renewable source such as bio-gas. For instance, water electrolysis with renewable electricity and thermo-chemical cycle processes using renewable heat are the representative hydrogen production without CO2 emission.5, 6 However, the cost of hydrogen production using renewable processes is currently prohibitive cost. Thus, a changeover to a hydrogen economy would probably start with hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, especially natural gas (NG). Steam reforming of natural gas process is the most efficient and generally used process for the hydrogen production in commercial field.7 Steam reforming process is basically the transformation of methane and water to hydrogen gas and carbon oxides, and has two main reactions, as shown in Fig. X:7 Synthesis gas genera... ...ches have a catalyst deactivation problem related with the carbon, which come from methane decomposition, can be covered on the catalyst surface. Therefore, it needs the burning process17 or gasifying with steam18 for removing carbon on the catalyst surface. However, gasification or combustion of carbon residues on the catalyst surface causes to produce a huge amount of CO2 as byproduct. So, there have been researched the concurrent production of hydrogen and nanostructured carbon by Ni-and Fe- catalyst for decomposition of methane.19, 20 Also, another group reported the possibility of using carbon materials as catalyst for thermal decomposition.21, 22 They reported carbon catalyst is an environment-friendly method to the production of hydrogen and carbon. Carbon is precious byproduct of the thermal-catalytic process. It could reduce the cost of hydrogen production.

Drama Essay Essay

â€Å"Drama and theatre in their content and style reflect the society from which they spring† – To what extent is this true of contemporary Australian theatre practice? Theatre is a direct reflection of life and society. Any script is written, including their themes and genre, in the attempt to draw on and display our surrounding world to ultimately impact audiences. Our unit of drama including Matt Cameron’s Ruby Moon and Jane Harrison’s Stolen does exactly this, but more specifically reflects on contemporary Australian culture and events. This combined with our experiential learning proved that theatre indeed is a mirror to society. Ruby Moon’s depiction of suburbia and its â€Å"dark underbelly that lurks beneath an idyllic, picture-perfect veneer† serves as the main content of the play and a powerful comment on Australian society. Growing up in suburban Melbourne, playwright Matt Cameron reflects his childhood experiences through contemporary theatre. This involves an abandonment of genre classification through a deliberate pastiche of styles, creating dramatic tension and stimulating audience. Non-realism, the fractured fairy tale, absurdism, horror, gothic, crime, humour, vaudeville and surrealism all combine to create ambiguity and therefore unpredictable tension. In addition, Ruby Moon is typically non-realist and non-traditional, and this ambiguity is evident in the unresolved ending of Ruby’s existence; â€Å"was there a child, Ray?†¦or are we just having the same nightmare?† Leaving the audience with more questions than answers opts out of the traditional resolution and rather mirrors the confronting complexities of contemporary Australian society, we are not the â€Å"lucky† or â€Å"perfect† country, rather as Cameron quotes; â€Å"a picture-perfect veneer†, a paradox that the seemingly suburban proximity that defines Australia does not equal â€Å"intimacy, fraternity, community†. This is especially evident through experiential learning, the pair undertaking the final scenes tended towards Realism and believable Stanislavsky styled acting, which for audiences, conflicted against Cameron’s covert intent of ambiguity. However, the opening scenes  performed in our class took the opposite approach; Brechtian in style, especially in the â€Å"stripped back† manner of set; two chairs were the only props used, and alienation of audience through lighting and variation in pace and volume. Supporting this was the mixture of styles between heightened realism and absurdism contrasted within character – Ray was played as the ‘straight man’, realist and serious in nature, responding and contrasting to Dulcie’s eccentric, loud and absurdist representation. This only heightens her unpredictability, presenting the pastiche of genre and style through character and the ambiguity beneath the suburban faà §ade. Lighting again featured as a major theatre technique in my own performance of Ruby Moon. To consolidate for the harsh white lights of our theatre space, we made the choice to turn off ‘house lights’; using darkness and a warm-yellow glow lamp. This provided a non-realist, eerie and uneasy atmosphere, with up-lighting on our faces; a stereotypical â€Å"horror† visual to highlight the multi-facets of our character’s personas and emphasis on the sinister undertones in the surrounding darkness. The intimidating atmosphere heightened the intimacy of the actor-audience relationship as viewers themselves were enveloped in darkness and focus drawn to the only light source on stage. This also presented Brecht’s alienation technique through uncertainty and discomfort instilled into the perception of the fear of the unknown within darkness. This certainly juxtaposes the idyllic and conventional nature of suburbia; lights always on inside; inviting and nothing to hide, reflecting Cameron’s ideals of theatre and Australian society; â€Å"that is the ingenious deceit of suburbia†¦it is as much about the surrounding darkness as it is about the light.† Stolen, whilst still in the realm of contemporary Australian theatre and non-realism, differs in its theatrical content, style and reflection of society. The theatre piece reflects a vital part in both our past and present Australian society; that of the Stolen Generation, dramatising the fear, agony and ongoing aftermath even in contemporary times. The style is far more overt than Cameron’s world of deceit; Harrison stresses the themes of identity, culture, hope and emotions of this event in a post-modern, extensive mix of performance styles and a non-linear narrative structure. This episodic sequence allows for a merging of past and present, and was carried through in our own experiential  learning. When witnessing the performances of Stolen, it is clear the focus both groups put on emotion, non-linear structure and effective use of props to convey style and content. For example, the use of a white sheet and spotlight to create silhouettes for storytelling was a powerful motif and use of a theatrical prop to not only portray the non-realist and narrative style of Stolen, but to enhance the content of family and fear. Dual scenes were simultaneously presented; one in dialogue, and the other in silhouetted visuals that emphasised and emotionalised the horrors of our Australian past. As Harrison quotes; â€Å"What I wanted was to make an emotional connection†¦I want them to think ‘that happened to people. How would I feel?† The play also incorporates elements of Brecht’s ‘breaking of the fourth wall’ and Realism in both the scripted and our class performance of the final scene. As the original script’s stage directions dictate; â€Å"they line up diagonally†¦just like in the first scene. Then the actors break out of their roles and talk in turn about their own experiences.† The original production in 1998 did just this in relation to indigenous actors and their role in the stolen generation. However, for our class performance, students emulated the directions through their experiences in workshopping, characters, researching and performing Stolen. This simple, stripped back and realist Brechtian ending was the perfect theatrical technique and choice to reflect the plays content and importance of personal connection and emotion, adding and a contemporary spin on Australian theatre. As an audience member, it was incredibly powerful hearing actors talk unscripted and bring a true sense of realism and conviction when recounting their own experience; strengthening the actor-audience relationship through understanding and empathy. One can only imagine the immense power of individuals exposed to the stolen generation and Australia’s dark past, and their re-telling of stories as actors on stage in Stolen. Witnessing our class performances, it was clear Harrison’s intent of emotional connection with the audience and an empowered empathy towards the story and our own traditional and contemporary society. Theatre is simply a mirror to our society; a reflection of our past wrongs and future endeavours with the aim of social comment and audience engagement. Both Cameron’s ‘Ruby Moon’ and Harrison’s ‘Stolen’ address  contemporary Australian society content: whether it is the warped world of suburbia or our country’s mistakes, both employ dramatic and theatrical techniques and style to reflect this and strengthen the actor-audience relationship. As Matt Cameron quotes, â€Å"theatre exists in the imagination of the beholder†¦it is not necessarily about the black hat. It is about the blind man in the dark room looking for it.†

Recovery Group Field Trip and Paper Essay

I attended a local Narcotics Anonymous meeting held at the Salvation Army building in my hometown. Upon entering the meeting room, the few people that were in the room did say hello to me, however, no one asked me why I was there. I was left alone to choose my seat wondering what was next. Eventually, a middle-aged man entered the room. I soon learned that he was running the meeting. He asked if it was my first time there. I told him that it was and before I could explain my presence I was handed several brochures and asked to read a laminated sheet when called upon. He quickly moved on with his meeting set-up duties. So, being a bit nervous, I chose to sit quietly and review the materials given to me. As others entered the room, I noticed that many were in probably in their twenties and then some in their thirties, forties, and beyond. Some were well dressed and others poorly dressed, coming from all walks of life. There were more men in attendance than women. It was obvious that many of them knew one another as they were having conversations. Some brought their small children probably not having babysitters or able to afford one. Once the meeting started, it moved along according to an agenda. Others had been given materials to read as I had. As people were called upon to read what was given to them, I realized that these materials were read at every meeting as they all seemed to have them memorized and recited along with the reader or when the reader came to certain parts of the reading, they had a response. Once the Who is an Addict? and, What is the Narcotics Anonymous Program were read then everyone introduced themselves by first name only – Hello, my name is _______ and I am an addict. The group responded with, Hello, ________. Following this, members read Why are We Here?, How it Works, The Twelve Traditions of NA (my reading). At this point in the meeting, the leader asked for volunteers to  share their recovery stories. I was then asked to share my story. This is where I explained that I regularly attend Al-Anon meetings and was attending the Narcotics Anonymous meeting for a school project and apologized for the confusion. Everyone was still very receptive to my presence. It was even explained to me that it is suggested that those attending Al-Anon attend an Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous meeting at least once. After all stories were shared, announcements made and chips given out for benchmark of sobriety, the group formed a circle holding hands and recited the Serenity Prayer together to end the meeting. Two things that I felt were effective about the meeting were the readings and the sharing of stories. The memorization of the readings told me that those members attend regularly and take their recovery seriously. The other thing that I felt was effective, and most significant, was hearing about each person’s addiction, struggles, failures, and successes about their recovery and the advice they had to share. It was very moving. It helped to relate to and better understand my boyfriend’s addiction to drugs and alcohol. It was also comforting to have confirmed that the addict or those close to the addict who are affected are not alone in this disease. Some admitted that they were there because it was court ordered, which was quite a few. I could definitely tell those who were there and took their recovery seriously versus those who were there because they had to be and did not take their recovery seriously. I honestly did not find anything that was counterproductive or ineffective about the meeting. I thought it was run well and efficiently. I do think though that the leader should take a bit more time to speak to someone who is a newcomer and find out if they are there as an addict, visitor, etc. and not assume that they are there because they are an addict. As I stated previously, I found the meeting to be very moving. It was very helpful for me to be able to hear all those different stories about how people became addicted, came to realize that they need help, how they are working their Twelve Step Program, keep their families together, take care of their kids, and how they are trying to survive each day by working their program. I cannot really say that I was surprised by anything that I heard in that room. It has impacted my view of those with addictions by learning to better understand them and not be so quick to judge them and ask why they cannot stop. As I have learned from my boyfriend’s recovery, from attending the  Narcotics Anonymous meeting, and attending my own Al-Anon meetings, it is not that simple. I definitely have more patience and compassion for people who suffer from addictions.

3 Cases of Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Confusion

3 Cases of Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Confusion 3 Cases of Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Confusion 3 Cases of Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Confusion By Mark Nichol In each of the sentences below, a phrase is erroneously treated as essential or nonessential to the statement when, based on the context, it should be the reverse. An explanation and a revision follows each example. 1. A number of factors are at play for the industry, including the UK’s Brexit vote that continues to have an impact on financial markets. Here, the implication is that two or more Brexit votes occurred, though only one continues to have an impact on financial markets. But â€Å"continues to have an impact on financial markets† is merely an explanatory phrase describing a consequence of the Brexit vote, only one of which occurred, so the explanation should be framed in a subordinate clause set off by a comma and beginning with which: â€Å"A number of factors are at play for the industry, including the UK’s Brexit vote, which continues to have an impact on financial markets.† 2. The company is a growing business-to-business payments provider, which has been established by a collaboration of banks. Because the company is only one of many such businesses, the phrase describing by whom it was established is essential to the statement, so that phrase should not be set off as a subordinate clause: â€Å"The company is a growing B2B payments provider that has been established by a collaboration of banks.† (However, the statement can be made more succinctly: â€Å"The company is a growing business-to-business payments provider established by a collaboration of banks.†) 3. Offshore finance changed forever in April 2016 with the leak of 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm which specializes in the formation and management of entities in tax havens. Here, again, the description is essential to the sentence, so it is correctly treated as integral to the sentence and not set off by a comma. However, for additional clarity, that should replace which: â€Å"Offshore finance changed forever in April 2016 with the leak of 11.5 million documents from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm that specializes in the formation and management of entities in tax havens.† 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 Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should KnowList of Greek Words in the English LanguageWhen to use "an"

The Battle of Khe Sanh in the Vietnam War

The Battle of Khe Sanh in the Vietnam War The Siege of Khe Sanh occurred during the Vietnam War.  The fighting around Khe Sanh began January 21,  1968,  and concluded  around  April 8, 1968. Armies and Commanders Allies: General William WestmorelandColonel David LowndsApprox. 6,000 men North Vietnamese: Vo Nguyen GiapTran Quy HaiApprox. 20,000-30,000 men Battle of Khe Sanh Overview In the summer of 1967, American commanders learned of a build-up of Peoples Army of North Vietnam (PAVN) forces in the area around Khe Sanh in northwest South Vietnam. Responding to this, the Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB), located on a plateau in a valley of the same name, was reinforced by elements of the 26th Marine Regiment under Colonel David E. Lownds. Also, outposts on the surrounding hills were occupied by American forces. While KSCB possessed an airstrip, its overland supply route was over the dilapidated Route 9, which led back to the coast. That fall, a supply convoy was ambushed by PAVN forces on Route 9. This was the last overland attempt to resupply Khe Sanh until the following April. Through December, PAVN troops were spotted in the area, but there was little fighting. With the increase in enemy activity, a decision was needed regarding whether to further reinforce Khe Sanh or abandon the position. Assessing the situation, General William Westmoreland elected to increase the troop levels at KSCB. Though he was supported by the commander of the III Marine Amphibious Force, Lieutenant General Robert E. Cushman, many Marine officers disagreed with Westmorelands decision. Many believed that Khe Sanh was not necessary to the ongoing operations. In late December/early January, intelligence reported the arrival of the 325th, 324th, and 320th PAVN divisions within striking distance of KSCB. In response, additional Marines were moved to the base. On January 20, the PAVN defector alerted Lownds that an attack was imminent. At 12:30 a.m. on the 21st, Hill 861 was attacked by about 300 PAVN troops and KSCB was heavily shelled. While the attack was repulsed, the PAVN soldiers did manage to breach the Marine defenses. The attack also revealed the arrival of the 304th PAVN division in the area. To clear their flank, PAVN forces attacked and overran Laotian troops at Ban Houei Sane on January 23, forcing the survivors to flee to the U.S. Special Forces camp at Lang Vei. During this time, KSCB received its last reinforcements: additional Marines and the 37th Army of the Republic of Vietnam Ranger Battalion. Enduring several heavy bombardments, the defenders at Khe Sanh learned on January 29 that there would be no truce for the upcoming Tet holiday. To support the defense of the base, which had been dubbed Operation Scotland, Westmoreland initiated Operation Niagara. This action called for the massive application of aerial firepower. Utilizing a variety of advanced sensors and forward air controllers, American aircraft began pounding PAVN positions around Khe Sanh. When the Tet Offensive commenced on January 30, the fighting around KSCB quieted. Fighting in the area resumed on February 7, when the camp at Lang Vei was overrun. Fleeing from the scene, Special Forces units made their way to Khe Sanh. Unable to resupply KSCB by land, American forces delivered needed materials by air, dodging an intense gauntlet of PAVN anti-aircraft fire. Ultimately, tactics such as the Super Gaggle (which involved the use of A-4 Skyhawk fighters to suppress ground fire) allowed helicopters to resupply the hilltop outposts while drops from C-130s delivered goods to the main base. On the same night that Lang Vei was attacked, PAVN troops assaulted an observation post at KSCB. In the last week of February, fighting intensified when a Marine patrol was ambushed and several attacks were launched against the 37th ARVNs lines. In March, intelligence began noticing an exodus of PAVN units from the vicinity of Khe Sanh. Despite this, shelling continued and the bases ammunition dump detonated for the second time during the campaign. Pressing out from KSCB, Marine patrols engaged the enemy on March 30. The next day, Operation Scotland was ended. Operational control of the area turned over to the 1st Air Cavalry Division for the execution of Operation Pegasus. Designed to break the siege of Keh Sanh, Operation Pegasus called for elements of the 1st and 3rd Marine Regiments to attack up Route 9 towards Khe Sanh. Meanwhile, the 1st Air Cavalry moved by helicopter to seize key terrain features along the line of advance. As the Marines advanced, engineers worked to repair the road. This plan infuriated the Marines at KSCB, as they did not believe they needed to be rescued. Jumping off on April 1, Pegasus met little resistance as American forces moved west. The first major engagement occurred on April 6, when a day-long battle was waged against a PAVN blocking force. Fighting largely concluded with a three-day fight near Khe Sanh village. Troops linked up with the Marines at KSCB on April 8. Three days later, Route 9 was declared open. Aftermath Lasting 77 days, the siege of Khe Sanh saw American and South Vietnamese forces suffer. In the end, there were 703 killed, 2,642 wounded, and 7 missing. PAVN losses are not known with accuracy but are estimated at between 10,000 to 15,000 dead and wounded. Following the battle, Lownds men were relieved and Westmoreland ordered the base occupied until he left Vietnam in June. His successor, General Creighton Abrams, did not believe that retaining Khe Sanh was necessary. He ordered the base destroyed and abandoned later that month. This decision earned the ire of the American press, who questioned why Khe Sanh had to be defended in January but was no longer needed in July. Abrams response was that the then-current military situation no longer dictated that it be held. To this day, it is unclear whether PAVN leadership in Hanoi intended to fight a decisive battle at Khe Sanh, or if operations in the area were meant to distract Westmoreland in the weeks before the Tet Offensive. Sources: Brush, Peter. Battle of Khe Sanh: Recounting the Battles Casualties. HistoryNet, June 26, 2007. Unknown. The Siege at Khe Sanh. PBS.

How Wi-Fi Works Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How Wi-Fi Works - Essay Example Considering the significance that Wi-Fi has in technological development and advancement, it is essential that critical analysis is done on its mode of operation (Harrington 18). Based on such a perspective, this paper discusses and analyzes the operation mechanics of Wi-Fi, in easier terms, how Wi-Fi works. As already stated above, Wifi is a technological aspect that allows for the sharing of data and internet connectivity, where it emits frequencies between 2.4 to 5 ghz depending on the data amount available on the network used (Trulove 102). This is a very higher frequency compared to that used by cell phones and televisions and hence allows for the distribution of more data. It is projected that by the pace of current technological development, it will be possible to access the wireless network from any part of the world at any one particular time. One aspect of substantive significance in the study of technology and most especially the wireless technology is that despite its widespread use across the globe, very few individuals actually understand even the basics involved in the operation of these wireless technologies (Wei 61). Like other wireless connections, Wifi uses radio waves for the transmission of information over a particular network (Wei 78), with a major advantage of its high compatibility with almost all operating systems, over other many technologies. However, one critical contrast about Wifi in comparison to other wireless connections is that whereas other wireless connections require access points and routers, essential for the coordination of network traffic for many clients, Wifi operates without any access point instead it supports ad hoc mode connection type allowing devices to network in a peer-to-peer fashion (Harrington 29). In their operation, Wifi works with 802.11 standards of networking (Trulove 107).

Assignment 4 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assignment 4 - Research Paper Example The African American employees filed a class action suit in which they argued that these practices were a violation of Title VII. This is because neither possessing a high school education nor passing the tests was a necessity for successful performance on the jobs in question. In the suit, they argued that the practices were illegal since a higher proportion of the African Americans did not have high school educations. On its part, the company put forward the argument that the requirements were based on its judgment and that they would generally improve the general quality of the workforce, and that the company had no discriminatory intent in instituting these requirements. Further, the company argued that its lack of discriminatory intent was demonstrated by its efforts to assist uneducated employees by financing two thirds of the tuition cost for high school education, (Rue & Byars, 2008). The Court Ruling However, the Supreme Court made a ruling in favor of the African American e mployees, (Rue & Byars, 2008). Meaning of the Ruling The ruling meant that the Duke Power Company could not use the two tests as the criteria for transferring incumbent employees from an outside job to an inside job. Based on the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, businesses, including the Duke Power Company, should adhere to the several key provisions stipulated by Section 703. These provisions outline unlawful employment practices for businesses and companies. It is an unlawful practice for any employer to refuse or fail to hire or discharge any person, or otherwise to discriminate against any person with respect to his terms, privileges, compensation, or terms of employment, based on the person’s color, sex, race, religion, or national origin. It is also unlawful to segregate, limit, or classify employees or applicants for employment in any manner that would tend to deprive or deprive any person of employment opportunities, or affect his position as an employee adv ersely, due to the person’s color, sex, religion, race, or national origin, (Rue & Byars, 2008). According to Rue & Byars (2008), it is also unlawful for an employment agency to refuse or fail to refer for employment, or otherwise discriminate against any person based on his or her color or race, or to refer or classify for employment any person based on his color, race, sex, or religion. Also, a labor organization can not expel or exclude from its membership, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the basis of his color, race, sex, or religion. The organization can also not cause an employer to discriminate against any person. The labor organization can also not classify its membership or applicants in a way that is deemed discriminatory. Therefore, the provisions stipulate that an employer, a labor, organization, and a joint labor-management committee that controls apprenticeship or training, to discriminate against another person. This ruling, as well as the provi sions listed above, has major implications on the Duke Power Company and other businesses in general. First, a violation of any of the provisions results in an unlawful employment practice. Such unlawful employment practices are quick to attract lawsuits. According to Hersh (1991), lawsuits are costly and time consuming, and many companies try to avoid them. Lawsuits also might be a stain to the company’s image and reputation. Therefore, the ruling would go a long way in ensuring that companies and businesses strictly adhere to the