Essay on Analysis of an Xterra Advertisement - 1227 Words

Analysis of an Xterra Advertisement With red letters one and a half inches tall, this advertisement screams â€Å"Couch for sale.† In this advertisement, the advertisers want the consumer to sell their couch. It is an automobile they are trying to sell me. Why would I need to get rid of the furniture in my house? In smaller white text across the bottom of the two pages, the ad goes on to explain that the only enemy of the Nissan Xterra sports utility vehicle is the â€Å"fluffy cushions† of a sofa. How could an automobile maker get consumers to believe that two inanimate objects are natural enemies? Moreover, is that really what Nissan wants consumers to believe so consumers will buy the Xterra truck? This advertisement is in the†¦show more content†¦There are plenty of â€Å"pretty† sport utility vehicles out there; the Xterra is a rugged truck. In addition, it could also be because silver is one of the top selling colors of automobiles. The Xterra is shown zooming down a dirt road and heading to the mountains. The advertisers are showing the consumer the rear of the Xterra. Could this be because the advertisers want the consumer to inquire what is the protrusion for? I am surprised the advertisers left out that little tidbit of information because the Xterra is the only sports utility vehicle to provide the onboard first-aid kit. It is located in that protrusion. The Xterra is barreling by the trees and the clouds are rolling in over the mountains in the distance. The windows are tinted so the consumer cannot see inside. However, the consumer can almost imagine that the driver is a rugged person wearing a flannel shirt, blue jeans and hiking boots. The person driving the Xterra is not some yuppie â€Å"Marinite† who has a sport utility vehicle just to say, â€Å"I drive a SUV.† There are five smaller pictures in the advertisement. Each picture portrays a different use for the Xterra. In all of these pictures, the rugged outdoors people are shown pushing themselves to the limit while engaged in a strenuous activity. For example, there is a mountain biker carefully maneuvering his mountain bike across a tree that has fallen across a river. In the picture belowShow MoreRelatedNissan Corp Swot5421 Words   |  22 PagesSWOT Analysis: External Analysis of Opportunities and Threats Opportunities Threats Global interdependence: possible new markets Government regulations: abroad in other countries as well as US and the US; global warming, CAFÉ standards, safety issues Growth of existing market: widen market New entrants: threat of potential inclusive of generation X,Y and baby boomers new competitors Strong economy: economy not faltering; Changing market tastes: need for consumers

Risk and Safety in Rail for Physical Health - myassignmenthelp

Question: Write about theRisk and Safety in Rail for Physical Health. Answer: Introduction: Risk can be described as the uncertainty of divergence from the anticipated outcomes. It is related with potential loss or gain of different values like physical health, social or financial status, emotional health or others. This uncertainty cannot be predicted or controlled. The actions taken based on this uncertainty are risks (Mara, Massimo Giuliano, 2014). Safety is the condition which defines the protection from harmful events. It is also related with the uncertain outcomes of anything. Risk can be brought down to an acceptable level by controlling the factors of known dangers. Risk and safety, both the words are very much connected to each other. Freedom from risk is achieved by safety. Risk consideration is must if one wants to achieve safety. The external and internal vulnerabilities caused by risk can be diminished by safety practices (Mller, 2012). Every working system now-a-days have the safety and security protocols in order to avoid every kind of risks. The topic discussed here is the safety and risk management in train systems (Glendon, Clarke McKenna, 2016). The purpose of this study is to investigate a train accident and find evidences related to safety breaches and risks. An assessment is made on safety and risk management to help this report. Safety and Risk Management: Both the terms are correlated with each other. Assessment of risk of any process generates the measurement of uncertainty where deviations can occur. The area of analysis of risk is very large as each and every factor associated with life can be subjected to risk assessment (Hale Borys, 2013). Management of the overall system that counters the risk factors by defining policies and objectives that ultimately results in safety and security is called safety management (Leveson, 2015). Safety management is associated with a vast range of initiatives, objectives, responsibilities, procedures and resources that help in maintaining the values of a system. Safety policies can be determined on the aspects of human life, technology, organizational matters, community, environment and other major aspects (Jafarian Rezvani, 2012). Advantages of risk management incorporates the economic efficiency, reduce the amount of accidents and incidents, more liable decision making process with decision in each phase and some others (Glendon, Clarke McKenna, 2016). Investigation of Events: Certain events are caused due to high risk factors and safety breaches. To find out the cause an event needs to be investigated properly. This investigation is a fact analysis process based on the collectible data, which develops a report with certain recommendation. This identifies the errors in the system and recommends areas for improvement (McNeil, Frey Embrechts, 2015). An accident is very integrated event with risk and safety management. Applying several methods and techniques an accident can be investigated to find out the safety breaches those have caused it. Accident Analysis Models: Accident is mainly caused by the combination of human and technical failures (Mller, 2012). To draw out the failures and predict safety measures to eliminate those, the analysis can be done using different models like Sequential accident models, epidemiological accident models and systematic accident models. Risk and Safety Management in Rail System: Analysis of rail management is a combine application of screening and assessing tools. The methods of analysis should be documented properly. Prediction of accidents is a result of data and fatality rate which is calculated using deaths per annum. Fatality rate is a measure for the death of people per 100 million submission hour (Leveson, 2015). There are two scales of risks those are upper bound and lower bound. Upper bound level is the maximum limit of risk toleration. According to Australian standards for rail management 1 rail personnel in 1,000 and 1 passenger in 10,000 is the upper bound for deaths per annum. Main causes behind railroad accidents are technological failures, derailments, human errors, track problems, obstructed railroads for immobile cars, diverted pedestrians and suicides (Liu et al., 2015). Technological failures are associated with mechanical collapses like low quality design and maintenance, unchecked damages and fire breakouts and engineering faults like bridge, tunnel and track faults (Jafarian Rezvani, 2012). Another major error is human error. This can be classified into drivers, signalmen and pedestrians errors. Passing signals with excessive speed, irregular checking of brakes and safety systems, not stopping at required location and fumbling of the engine are the errors performed by a driver (Hammerl Vanderhaegen, 2012). Signalmens error is generally mishandling the signalling operations and misuse of equipments. The main error of pedestrian is the unawareness of surroundings. Diverted movement of pedestrians and other vehicle not only cause delay in train sch edule but cause accidents. Sometimes obstruction is caused by nature. For example- avalanches, landslides and floods sometimes block the track, foggy weather causes problems to follow the signals or the track. There are different safety protocols which can minimize the risks (Hale Borys, 2013). Train employees are the functional body of a rail system. Their duty hours should contain a minimum gap of 10 hours to ensure their effectiveness. Use of electronic devices affects the concentration of an employee and it is a major reason for accidents. Generally employees like locomotive engineers and others are restricted from using electronic devices while running the train, assisting in movement operation and switching operation or rolling equipments (Mara, Massimo Giuliano, 2014). Railway track maintenance should be performed repetitively within short intervals as railway tracks are affected by seasonal weather change. Different seasonal plans should be incorporated to the maintenance like cleaning of snow and debris during winter and cleaning glasses during spring. Railcars should be examined properly and daily. Hand brakes and air brakes should be checked before any journey (Hammerl Vander haegen, 2012). Any problems with hand wheel, chain or lever should be solved right away. Application of the brakes should be done accurately. The doors should be checked for smooth opening and closing purposes. Wheel contamination and other leaks in the system should be reported immediately. Employees should be trained appropriately in application of signals and flags, in using of different equipments and in controlling the train properly (Raspotnig Opdahl, 2013). Another safety measure is railway clearance, which ensures the safety of people and equipment from rail. Vertical clearance in calculated from the top of the rail, lateral clearance is calculated from the middle of the track and restricted clearance is estimated from a given limit. Rail Accident in Granville: An example of a terrible rail accident is the one occurred at Granville, Australia. On 18th January, 1877 a well-crowded, passenger train had derailed resulting in death of 83 civilians and injury of approximately 213 others ("Granville: The rail disaster that changed Australia - BBC News", 2017). The train derailed at the curve at Granville, moving at a speed of 80 km/hr and collided with the supports of Bold Street bridge situated just above the track. The derailed engine and first two carriages broke free and eight passengers were killed during the collision of the first carriage with the bridge. The remaining carriages stopped after the first collision of the train with the support of the bridge, however the supportive mast fell down within a few moments on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th carriage instantly killing a lot of people. Leaking of gas was creating more problems for the passengers inside and causing a delay in rescue process restricting the use of power tools. Reasons of Granville Accident: Granville rail accident is one of the worst rail disasters in history of Australia. The accident had showed a vast amount of deficiency in risk and safety management of New South Wales railway maintenance division. An investigation had been launched by the chief judge of NSW District Court in February, which had revealed the causes behind this accident. The main reason for this derailment was the poor and undesirable condition of the railway track (Pritchard PMP, 2014). The alignment of the track was not accurate and the width the track was more than a gauge. This had caused the front left wheel of the locomotive to drop inside the track. It was an example of poor inspection procedure and lack of track maintenance. The maximum speed limit had not been showed properly. There was no prevention for leaking of gas, which had caused severe damages. The carriages were not fit for emergency operations. Another cause was the bridge structure, as it was on metre lower than the connecting roa d and to adjust the level concrete had been used on the top of the bridge. Thus excessive weight of the bridge had crushed the train instantly ("Granville: The rail disaster that changed Australia - BBC News", 2017). The turnover of the accident into a big disaster had proved the absence of disaster management system. Absence of psychological support to the emergency workers resulted in depression and anxiety within the emergency work employees (Liu et al., 2015). Lot of lessons had been learned by the government form this accident. A big raise in the rail budget was the primary effect. The defects in the track were repaired immediately (Raspotnig Opdahl, 2013). Inspection procedures had been remodelled and number of staffs for track inspection had been increased. Recommendations for a disaster management plan had been approved and applied methodically. The government planned to apologise to the families of the victims. Conclusion: Therefore, from the above discussion, it is deduced that risk and safety are two major ideas linked with social life. These ideas can be effectively developed from the viewpoints of a student. Risk explains the uncertainties of different aspects and safety shows methods to eliminate them. Accidents are general results of high level risks. During the hectic schedule of daily life, many uncertain factors arise uncontrollably. It is very important to prepare safety measures to diminish the effects. Railroad accidents are often occurred due to negligence or unchecked faults, which results in death of people. The primary focus of any system as big as rail should be to develop safety policies, train the employees accordingly and make people aware. References: Glendon, A. I., Clarke, S., McKenna, E. (2016).Human safety and risk management. Crc Press. Granville: The rail disaster that changed Australia - BBC News. (2017).BBC News. Retrieved 6 September 2017, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-38645976 Hale, A., Borys, D. (2013). Working to rule or working safely? Part 2: The management of safety rules and procedures.Safety science,55, 222-231. Hammerl, M., Vanderhaegen, F. (2012). Human factors in the railway system safety analysis process.Rail Human Factors Around the World: Impacts on and of People for Successful Rail Operations, Taylor Francis, 73-84. Jafarian, E., Rezvani, M. A. (2012). Application of fuzzy fault tree analysis for evaluation of railway safety risks: an evaluation of root causes for passenger train derailment.Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit,226(1), 14-25. Leveson, N. (2015). A systems approach to risk management through leading safety indicators.Reliability Engineering System Safety,136, 17-34. Liu, P., Yang, L., Gao, Z., Li, S., Gao, Y. (2015). Fault tree analysis combined with quantitative analysis for high-speed railway accidents.Safety science,79, 344-357. Mara, L., Massimo, G., Giuliano, R. (2014). The Management of Uncertainty: model for evaluation of human error probability in railway system.American journal of applied sciences,11(3), 381. McNeil, A. J., Frey, R., Embrechts, P. (2015).Quantitative risk management: Concepts, techniques and tools. Princeton university press. Mller, N. (2012). The concepts of risk and safety. InHandbook of risk theory(pp. 55-85). Springer Netherlands. Pritchard, C. L., PMP, P. R. (2014).Risk management: concepts and guidance. CRC Press. Raspotnig, C., Opdahl, A. (2013). Comparing risk identification techniques for safety and security requirements.Journal of Systems and Software,86(4), 1124-1151.

Spanking Essay Example For Students

Spanking Essay Word Count: 884DoesLead Child Abuse?Were you spanked as a child? Do you think spanking effected you? Every parent has been in a situation where a good spanking seems like the only way to put an end to little Juniors temper tantrum. Parents use a number to reasons, some you may have heard, to use spanking as a form of discipline. They may say Spare the rod and spoil the child. Or I was spanked and I turned out okey. Even Kids need spanking to show them whos boss.The issue I wish to present is whether or not spanking leads to a rise in child abuse and later violence. Do children who are spanked or physically punished see spanking as a violent act? Do they learn to see violence as an acceptable way to solve a problem? When parents spank their children are they guiding them or controlling them?Nancy Samalin, author of Love and Anger, believes that spanking is nothing more than a big person hitting a smaller person and it can do damage to your childs conscious. A child who obeys because of the fear of being spanked, she explains is most likely not to develop a sense of right or wrong without being policed by a more powerful authority figure. (Samalin, p. 154). We will write a custom essay on Spanking specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now She believes that spanking the child you have not set an example that you want your child to follow in the future. New studies have shown that children who are abused by their parents physically, emotionally, or sexually grow up and become abusive parents themselves. Further studies have shown that children who are physically punished lack empathy and concern that helps them care for others. A public opinion poll conducted by the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse in 1994 asked parents how they disciplined their children in the previous year. Denying privileges was used by 79 percent of the parents; confinement to a room was used by 59 percent; 49 percent spanked or hit their children; and 45 percent insulted or swore at their children. What was amazing about these statistics was that 51 percent did not spank their children. Now consider the rise in child abuse cases that has caused public-health officials scrambling for an explanation blaming spanking made sense. Trouble is, while spanking is down, child abuse is still up. Joan McCord, author of Questioning the Value of Punishment, believes that punishment in general is the reason for the increase in child abuse and violence. She found that neglected, abused, rejected, as well as those physically punished tend to become antisocial. Many childhood development experts suggest that reasoning, talking, and listening to children work well in teaching what is right and wrong. According to University of New Hampshire sociologist Murray Straus when parents use corporal punishment to reduce antisocial behavior, the long-term effect tends to be opposite. (Time, p 65). He also suggests that sparing the rod will help reduce overall levels of violence in America. Stratus found that children whose parents spanked them, when compared to those not spanked, were more aggressive, had higher rates of juvenile delinquency, had higher rates of spousal abuse, had lower economic achievement, and showed higher drug and alcohol abuse rates. By spanking, he claims, parents model the norm of violence and legitimizes it as a way to solve problems. (Straus, p127). In proving his claim Straus collected information from phone interviews conducted by the United States Bureau of Labor. Statistics started in 1979 with 807 mothers with children ages six to nine. They were asked how many times they had spanked their children in the past week and what the childs behavior was like- did they lie, cheat, steal, act up in school? Two years later the same group was polled again and sure enough, the children who had been spanked had become antisocial. .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 , .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .postImageUrl , .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 , .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:hover , .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:visited , .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:active { border:0!important; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:active , .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786 .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6c24e4972f530c769c5a8dce896bf786:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Dead Poets Society Essay Introduction However in looking at the statistics more closely, Dr. Den Trumbull, a pro-spanking devotee, found that the mothers ranged in the age from 14 to 24. Those who spanked did so on an average of twice a week. He also observed that the limiting the age to six to nine years old misrepresented the results. By the age of six to nine the children can understand the consequences of their actions. For them physical punishment, such as spanking, is more likely to be more humiliating and traumatizing. These factors, says Trumbull, plus the fact that some of the kids were as old as nine are markers of a dysfunctional family in the mind and in the minds of most psychologist and pediatricians. (Time, p. 67). According to Trumbull, many other studies have shown that physical punishment is effective and not harmful to childhood development if it is restricted to children between 18 months to 6 years of age. Children between these ages have poor understanding of the consequences of their behavior. He also suggests that spanking should be only as a last resort. After putting the child on a time-out then warn him or her that the next act up will bring on a whack on the bottom.

Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Introduction ‘Things Fall Apart’, is story written by Chinua Achebe in 1958. It talks of the social and cultural aspects of pre-colonial Africa and the effects of western civilizations (Ogbaa xv). The author criticizes imperialism and British colonization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is a tragic story where the protagonist is Okonkwo. It talks of a man named Okonkwo, who was a wrestler and an influential leader in an African village called Umofia, inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group. He initially amasses fame, and honor in Umofia through victorious wrestling but finally comes to a tragic downfall. Okonkwo was polygamous with three wives and several children. The novel emphasize on the encounters of the pre-colonial Africa and the effect of British colonialism during the 19th century (Bloom 51). This paper shall discuss culture and tr adition as a social issue involved in the Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart. Culture and Traditions of Igbo The author emphasize on cultural and social aspects on the brink of change thorough different characters, creating tension on if to embrace change or to remain for status quo. Okonkwo disregard the new system religiously and politically, may be because he would lose his social status. The Igbo however, have been oppressed by these traditions and therefore find refuge in the new system, where once outcasts, are now be recognized. There exists a dilemma on the new dawn that scares them since it could interfere with their social life such as farming and trade. Okonkwo is a rich and respectable African warrior in Umofia. However his late father, Unoka was a lazy man, a coward, disreputable and died with several debts since he concentrated on taking palm-wine, leaving his family to go hungry. Unoka became the laughingstock of Umofia being referred to as Agbala to mean, †˜womanly weaknesses’ Unlike him, Okonkwo is resentful to his father and evades being like him by becoming ‘manly’ as a clansman, a wealthy farmer, and a respectable warrior not to mention him being a controlling family man. This parent-child relationship affects him to become violent, over-ambitious and disrespectful, associating masculinity with aggression and acts irrationally (Bloom 141).Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Okonkwo‘s son, Nwoye is lazy and it disturbs Okonkwo that his son might take after his grandfather, Unoka. This indicates that the villagers believed in passing inheritable aspects to future generations. Moreover, they engage in adoption, for instance the village adopts a young boy called Ikemefuna whom Okonkwo takes guardianship as a surrogate son, for peace offering from the village, Mbaino to maintain peace after t he boy’s father murdered an Umofian woman. He has to live with the boy until further instructions are given to elders from the oracle. The two becomes so close to each other, as the boy regard Okonkwo as a father and Nwoye becomes friends with the boy. Ikemefuna coexist happily with the family for three years, becoming part of them. In another instance, Okonkwo’s kinsmen particularly, Uchendu his uncle, welcomes him and his family in his maternal village called Mbanta after they are sent into exile. He seeks refuge in his motherland as Uchendu states that; It is true that a child belongs to his father. But when the father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mothers hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness, he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme (Achebe 134). The quote not only emphasizes th e position of women in the village but also the importance of having good family relationships. He is built his huts and given yam seed to plant in his motherland although he is still depressed, blaming chief his spirit for disappointing his greatness in the village. After exile, he had gone back to Umofia after organizing a farewell ceremony to thank his kinsmen for the stay. This emphasizes on the significance of maintaining close family bonds to the Igbo (Bloom 39). Wife beating and carrying out sacrifices are other practices in the village. Okonkwo proves volatile and easily provoked as he beats his youngest wife called Ojiugo during an important period referred to as Week of Peace, accusing her of neglect of the family.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This interrupts with the peace meant to prevail the whole week but Okonkwo has to sacrifice to p ay up for his sins and to show repentance. Okonkwo also shoots Ekwefi, his second wife due to a small issue of wrapping food with Okonkwo’s banana leaves during Feast of the New Yam. From this practice, the reader is enlightened of the significance of ceremonies and farming in Umofia. It is clear that the Igbo practice farming and trade as depicted where Okonkwo receives cowries from selling yams from Oberika who promise to sell them until he would go back to Umofia. Clansmen preside over public trials in Umofia, where nine clansmen have met to signify the ancestor’s spirits. The nine clansmen also referred to as Egwugwu, signify the nine Umofian clans. Okonkwo is separated from the rest of the clansmen to settle a domestic case where Mgbafo, a woman has suffered assaults from his husband, taken back to her motherland, but the husband needed her to go back. The Egwugwu, advices the man to offer palm wine to his in-laws to appease the wife to return home. This case is t oo trivial to be presented to the Egwugwu as some elders perceive it (Heiser 26). The villagers believe in unnatural phenomenon, which have to be prevented through human sacrifice to appease the gods. When locusts invade the village, the elder informs Okonkwo the Oracle’s guideline, which require killing of Ikemefuna to avenge for Umofian woman murdered in the previous year in Mbaino. He is warned of killing Ikemefuna as it would despise the earth goddess who could show his vengeance to the village. Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna irrespective of being warned by a village elder, Ogbuefu Ezeudu. Following this event, he lie to the boy that he is to be returned to his home village as the entire family mourns his departure. However, the boy is excited to reunite with his family but he is unfortunately attacked by Okonkwo’s clansmen. On seeking help from Okonkwo, he kills the boy to showoff his might to the clansmen irrespective of the Oracle’s caution. Consequently, things start to fall apart. This emphasize on the need to adhere to elders and more so, the religious directives. As Okonkwo becomes greatly saddened, he loses his appetite and spends sleepless nights and decides to visit Obierika who is disappointed with Okonkwo’s act. He is however consoled and is able to find sleep. Bad omens follow consequently, as his daughter becomes ill. As a result, the use of herbal medicine among the Igbo is manifested as Okonkwo prepares some for his daughter, and she recovers after taking the medicine.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Igbo are religious as seen through various rituals. Besides, there are priestess e.g. Chielo, who advice the second wife of Okonkwo, Ekwefi that Agbala required the sight of Ezinma, which makes Okonkwo to argue. Chielo present Ezinma to the nine clans and moves inside the cave of the Oracle. Ekwefi has been following in secret despite being warned by Chielo and stands beside the entrance to be surprised by appearance of Okonkwo as they wait together. The following morning Ekwefi is offered Ezinma by Chielo and they sleeps together. Moreover, the Igbo conduct funeral ceremonies where clansmen take the lead. When the elder, Ogbuefu Ezeudu dies his death is announced using ekwe. This depresses Okonkwo more since he failed to adhere to the elder’s advice. During his funeral ceremony, Okonkwo’s gun fatefully shoots at teenage boy, who is Ogbuefu Ezeudu’s son unexpectedly. Since causing death of a village elder is a despicable act for the earth goddess, he is take n hostage in exile for a period of 7 years for atonement. Moreover, his properties are burnt in order to cleanse. Additionally, Enoch, a Christian convert reveals Egwugwu on an occasion meant to adore earth god. This act is so despicable and is compared to putting to death ancestral spirits (Whittaker Msiska 120). The upset of these traditions and cultural practices begins as missionaries and colonialists arrive in the village as tension and dilemma prevails. Okonkwo is informed by Oberika, who visit him in his second year that Abame, which is a neighboring village, was put to destruction by a white man who arrived with a bicycle. After conferring from the oracle, they became aware that the foreigner and his fellows would put into devastation, the clans, which led him to be killed but the villagers. In vengeance, the villagers were killed in mass by the white men. Okonkwo see the villagers as having acted foolishly to murder a stranger. Later, six missionaries arrive in Mbanta led by Kiaga, the interpreter of Mr. Brown who addresses the villagers on Christianity, and whom Okonkwo sees as being cynical. Conversely, Nwoye is converted to become a Christian. Brown points out that the villagers serve a false god and having several gods for worship is idolatry, advocating for Holy Trinity as the supreme deity. The missionaries are offered a land to build the church by the elders whose intention is to kill them all since the land lies within the Evil forest, a cursed land. Unexpectedly, they do not die and villagers maintain that the missionaries have unusual power or magic. This depicts their conservativeness and permittivity in thinking, being led by traditions rather than rational thinking or reason. However, the social outcasts such as women and some men are given a privilege in the new system. The first convert is Efulefu, a useless villager, followed by women. However, the system has no place for conservatives such as Okonkwo, whose term in exile has ended. H e is surprised how things have changed in the village with many Christian converts. In Umofia, the missionaries start a school in which Nwoye attends, leaving his family behind. There is even a prison built by the whites having a governmental legal court, used for trying the law breakers, where native Umofians have been employed. He wonders why the villagers have not reacted back to chase away Christianity and oppressive government. The villagers have been assimilated in the new political system. As a way to show cultural assimilation, Mr. Brown shows regard for the traditions of the natives and aspires to learn of their culture and even befriends the clansmen. He advocate for education for all, as seen by Nwoye who now is called Isaac and has been attending the teacher’s college. However, Okonkwo is not pleased with the changes. Mr. Brown only hopes to convert the villagers to Christianity (Ogbaa xix). His health deteriorates and he is forced to go back home and Reverend Jam es Smith takes over. He is stricter and does not tolerate the traditions of the clans, though he amasses several converts e.g. Enoch an extremely zealous convert. When Egwugwu puts Enoch’s compound on fire and brings down Reverend Smith’s church, the acts disappoints the District commissioner who demands meeting with the six leaders. They are arrested an imprisoned and fined 250 cowries bags where the villagers gather them and the six are released. On their freeing, a gathering is held by clansmen but is dispersed by a court order. Okonkwo resists courageously and portray his bravely expecting support from clansmen as he murders the messenger leader using a machete. The crowd releases other messengers, which makes Okonkwo to realize he is alone in the fight and the village has surrendered since the social values and cohesion has been compromised in his absence realizing that, things have fallen apart. The DC goes to Okonkwo’s compound only to realize that he com mitted suicide through hanging, an act which he ironically meant to express his manliness and forever escape to be defeated. Oberika, his friend claims that suicide is inauspicious thus the tradition prevents the clansmen to touch him (Achebe 125). Conclusion The novel handles the experiences during the 1890s in Umofia, a small village along the Niger River in the African nation, Nigeria. After the British colonialists arrived in the village, there were missionaries already and people sought solace in the churches. Western civilizations interfered with cultural, economic and social values of the village. Villagers inhabited Umofia in patriarchal political system where decisions came from council, made up of nine clansmen who sometimes, got directives from religious leaders. British arrival however, upset this socio-political system and began to interfere with social disputes, even establishing courts and prisons. This disregarded the traditional social setup and the reallocation of power in this village, leading to the tragedy of Okonkwo, who would rather be seen dead than alive but helpless (Whittaker Msiska 66). Igbo people are depicted by the author as having powerful social institutions such as wrestling, practice of human sacrifice, religious rituals, ceremonies, and family. They rely heavily on traditions regarding justice as the people are led by the council made of elders, in this democratic village. The males are decision makers and leaders while the position of a woman is home making. Gender disparity is clear in this village and the crimes are identified with gender where the accidental killings by Okonkwo are referred to as female. Women are underrated in the village and oppressed by culture and traditions seen as child bearers, properties to their husbands, to be beaten and reprimanded. Men are allowed to marry as many wives for a status symbol. However, the colonialists interfere with these social setups, and introduce new ones. Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers. 1958. Print. Bloom, Harold. Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart. New York: Infobase Publishing. 2010. Print. Heiser, Fred. Things Fall Apart. Lincoln, NE: Writers Club Press. 2002. Print. Ogbaa, Kalu. Understanding Things Fall Apart: A Student Casebook To Issues, Sources, And Historical Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. 1999. Print. Whittaker, David and Msiska, Mpalive-Hangson. Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart. New York: Routledge. 2007. Print.

Gender Bias Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Gender Bias - Essay Example To start with, the author of the text is definitely a man. This is easy to tell since the work has been written from the third person perspective. This simply means that he is sharing experiences that are foreign to him. The author uses simple sentences and a limited description of objects, people and events. This is common among men who are unable to express their feeling accurately using words. His reference to the imagery of the â€Å"American wife† clearly shows the author is a man as all other men do in the American society (Hemingway 695). The description of how she went out to look for the cat shows the caring and compassionate nature of women while her husband accompanies her although he is unwilling. This shows that the author is a man since he clearly captures her husband’s reaction. The author explains how the woman is attracted to the hotel keeper who is described as being serious, mature and cold. The author captures the manly features that attract the woman to the hotel keeper. He states that the woman is interested in fine things, romantic dining, long hair and a cat (Hemingway 695). He describes these things as being foreign to him and could have described them better if he were a woman. The author vividly points out her husband’s interests and this could only mean that he is a man as well. This text clearly shows the plight of an African-American woman who works hard by cleaning laundry for the white people. From the beginning of the text, it can be seen that the author is a woman from the way that she describes Delia as being a hard worker and provides for her husband Sykes. On the other hand, her husband is depicted as being lazy and does not treat her well too (Hurston 697). He once played a trick on her by placing the bullwhip in her laundry. He was well aware of the fact that Delia was scare of snakes. This shows that he is

Truth in Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Truth in Politics - Essay Example For Machiavelli, 'virtu' or skill as wielded by a ruler would make for a state that would thrive and protect itself from the machinations of enemy-states. War for Plato is essentially unjust and the only justification for it is for defending the state, while for Machiavelli a state exists to wage war against other states - thus, war, is a natural condition in a state's existence. Plato and Machiavelli also lived in different eras. For the former, philosophy is concerned with the truth, as embodied by principles and how things should be, and this concern would naturally result in a perfect society. For the latter, philosophy is allied with the realities of power, in how things are as they are. Philosophers in Plato's Republic are the only ones ideal to rule (and become kings) because they love and search for the truth - as opposed to the other two classes, the people who are mainly concerned with honor, and the masses, who are concerned with money and the indulgence of physical appetites. The philosopher-kings possess the quality of truthfulness who "will never intentionally receive into their minds falsehood, which is their detestation, and they will love the truth." Truth as conceived by Plato is absolute, dealing with the eternal and the unchanging, the "forms" opposed to the fickle, the merely seen and experienced.

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Example for Free

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Mixed Racial and Cultural Groups is increased by a marginal number in the United States. The growth of these multiracial groups started to surface through migration of different ethnics and raised most of their families in the United States even through marriage. These are some of the issues that have been raised by individual people of having an entity separation of mixed race and cultural or to considered them as Americans without a hyphen. Thinking about this issue myself, and thinking of my two children who married to a different ethnic rather than Samoans. These questions come to mind about this issue: How, Why, and what the three words that needs a big explanation about this matter. According to multiracial Americans, Americans whose identity as two or more races identifies with just one group culturally and socially. From statistics that I got from online, stated that about 2. 9% of the population in the year 2010 are self-identified as multiracial. The identity or the classification of the people’s identification is generally according to the culture they were raised in. Social segregation in many areas of the country is forming interracial unions or cultural group. The diversity of social conditions through migrations brought new groups of people to the United States. Through these migrations, mixed races started to rise when interracial marriage were born and started to increase in the United States. The movement of multiracial identity by more than one ethnicity has taken place and strong. Statistics from the year 2010 census in the United States shows that the largest multiracial groups were white and black which is 1. 8 million. The other 1. 7 millions are white and some other race, white and Asian is 1. 6, white and American Indian and Alaskan Native is 1. 4 million. I have learned that the largest growing group in multiracial is white and black which is about 134%. That is more than 1 million people. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP According to Susan Saulny of the New York Times, title Race Remixed, said that â€Å"sea of change is how we think about race, ethnicity and its place in society†. I believe that a challenge to trend towards multiracial from a sociological perspective is a leap that we should take. The understanding of racial and ethnic categories of their boundaries can be a problem to other multiracial groups. I think that ancestry is the biggest influence in identities through a number of generations through migrations. I also believe that each multi mix or racial group should be treated the same regardless of their identity. If they are legally citizens of the United States, they have the right to be treated equally. I believe that they have contributed to the wellbeing and welfare of the United States through their services in employment within the government, military or private companies. Regardless of the race and ethnicity, they should be treated and considered Americans. President Obama is good example of what I mean about treating them the same no matter what color of their skin or where they are from. I know that some of these mix race entities are trying to separate themselves with-in the United States but when they travel to other countries of the world, they considered be call Americans. As a citizen of New Zealand, I am proud to call myself to be an American and I respect the land that my children were born. What can the United States or these multiracial groups gain from wanting to be separated from their identity. Through my search online, I came across Mrs. Karissa Sulliva’s draft and she said that ancestry influences identities. She said that socialization is the crucible of racial and ethnic identity formation. Farley in 2002, construct racial and ethnic classifications which was adopted by the government for each race or reconsidered themselves to either refuse to identify their own race and ethnic category. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP. I believe that mix racial and cultural groups are increasing daily by the number throughout the United States. However, research shows that children with an original multiracial identity grow up to be happier than those of single-race identity. Some of the statistics shows that another addition to the growth of mix race is through adoption of children from countries outside of the United States. According to Fact’s for Families 2010, parents are coping with these pressures in having open communications with the families about their culture and race. Encouragement and support in every multicultural group for families to be familiar with their language, traditions and customs within their families. They have to support and try to establish a good relationship by creating a network for their children, parents, family member, relatives and the community. In conclusion, the separation and classifications between mix racial and multicultural groups is not an easy task or thing to do. Two of my children are married to different ethnic. My oldest daughter is married to an African American and my son is married to a girl who is beautiful and white but has about four or five mix blood in her. I believe in democracy and the United States is nowhere in having a separation of any mix race and cultural group who are living in the United States. God Bless America, God bless the people of the United States. References: Perez, Anthony Daniel, Hirschman, Charles. The Changing Racial and Ethnic. http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882688/ The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March-2011). Facts for Families, no. 71 Multiracial Children. http://www. aacap. org/galleries/FactsForFamilies/71_multiracial_children. pdf Dr. Nicole Martinez and Mrs. Karissa Sullivan. May 6, 2013 .docx.