The Myth of the Melting Pot Essay Example

The Myth of the Melting Pot Paper Allison Bergonia English 100 20 september 2013 Myths of the Melting Pot Modern America is considered to be a melting pot, in which a variety of races, cultures, or individuals gather into a unified whole. The ideas of being a new American for people who have migrated from their homeland to America are to leave behind all their past cultures and practices and embrace their new American ways. Is that what really happens? If it was, would there be still racism in America? The number of people immigrating to America has risen over the years, but so has the number of active hate groups. The idea of unity in the melting pot of America is a yth because of racism, stereotypes, prejudice, and cultural segregation of its people. Most people would say that racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race. Its more than that. Its the belief that those characteristics of each race determine whether or not the race is superior or inferior to the other races. Racism has dated back to hundreds of years in the past. Even former president Thomas Jefferson said, l advance it, therefore, as a suspicion only, that the blacks, whether originally a distinct race, or made distinct by ime and circumstances, are inferior to the whites in the endowments both of body and mind Oefferson, 502). To Thomas Jefferson emancipated slaves as well as the owned slaves and their physical and mental characteristics were not up to par with their white owners. Not Just because of their status as slaves, but because what race they were. We will write a custom essay sample on The Myth of the Melting Pot specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Myth of the Melting Pot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Myth of the Melting Pot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Only because they were a bit different from the white people that owned the land at the time. One of the most interesting, yet unsettling facts was that many of Americas founding fathers practiced the principle of ethnocentrism and did not eem to consider this an act of racism. Ethnocentrism has been defined as a generalized rejection of all out groups on the basis of an in group focus (Parrillo, 505). An example would be how some races have been identified as dirty, violent, or law breaking. This grew even more in the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 1 1 . It is very important to understand that prejudice is rejection of a person or people based on the group or race in which they share similarities. That is not to say that either of these should be acceptable if the intent is to improve the social condition. Another barrier to improving racial and ethnic relations is created by how the media presents situations that have occurred involving people of race and ethnic background. For example, during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina many of the pictures portrayed people of different ethnicities finding food from a grocery store. However from the two pictures the white couple were considered survivalists while the single black male was considered a looter, People complained that the captions accompanying the images were racially suggestive: black people loot and white people find (Harris and Carbado, 525). Its not very fair to say one is looting and the other as having found their supplies by looking at their race, but this is how to do with the reinforcement of prejudice and self-worth by presenting stereotypes that clarify class standings often portraying race and ethnic diversity in a negative way. This is a form where self-justification serves as a source of prejudice is the dominant groups assumption of an attitude of superiority over other groups. In this respect, establishing a prestige hierarchy ranking the status of various ethnic groups results in differential association (Parrillo, 508). This also clarifies how the myth of difference and hierarchy is established since the weaker group will submit to the stronger group and thereby establishing a so called pecking order. Sometimes the pecking order is very subtle, such as the idea that an Africa-America could become president gave hope to the idea that racial and ethnic relations could improve. Many people of all races and ethnic diversity considered this a turning poi nt in history. That hope crashed quickly after the smoke cleared and the illusion faded in the knowledge that the president did not have the power to make this happen. Erin Kaplan makes this very clear when she wrote, Its a schizophrenic attitude: we are encouraged by the black persons potential enough to give him a Job, but are we ever wary of giving him power. This is why as soon as Obama stepped into the White House, he had to be punished. Whites are used to controlling black opportunity, to giving and taking it as they see fit. President Obama in that way was never president-in-waiting, he was an opportunity the bright and capable intern who deserved a shot. But being in charge was not part of the deal (Kaplan, 545). America is known as the land of equal opportunity. Sure there are opportunity in Jobs for all races and even education. The myth of unity is truly the fantasy about this amazing land of opportunity that so many immigrants wanted and expected once they arrived in America. Instead, the citizens and the life style established in local communities rejected them. The cognitive level of prejudice encompasses a persons beliefs and perceptions of a group as threatening or nonthreatening, inferior or equal, seclusive or intrusive, impulse gratifying, acquisitive, or possessing other positive or negative characteristics (Parrillo, 505). We focus on most of the negative racial stereotypes about people that we drive them away from our communities and force them into places like the ghetto or less fortunate places because we dont give them the opportunity that they dream of and that they really deserve. Racial segregation even takes place in schools. Kids found it easier to get along with their own race. When I was in high school kids were first separated into little cliques of the average high school, like football players, band kids, kids who went to certain clubs, and leadership, etc. Then there were the sub-cliques which were by race. All the white cheerleaders would hang out separately from the others, the ghetto football players would hang out together, and Asians in drama would stay together. Even though my high school was known for its diversity, everyone was still segregated. The kids would make stereotypical comments about one another. As one of the Asian kids in high school I had a lot of Asian friends. There was even a place in my high school where all of the Asian kids would hang out after school called Asian avenue. People would always ask me if I was good at math or say that I only get good grades because I was Asian, since the stereotype is that Asians are uper smart. Social norms the norms of ones culture form the generally shared automatically accepting the prevailing prejudices, an individual is simply conforming to those forms (Parrillo, 515). I gave into this social norm of how Asians were smart and got good grades. In conclusion, America is considered a land of opportunity, but for some that was true, while others were Judged by the way they looked and cultural differences. There have been barely any attempts to stop the hate crimes in the media and on the street. With a new president in term people hoped for a change, however many were disappointed by the outcome. The land of equality is a lie to many who are looked down upon Just because of the color of their skin. Each time change might occur the hierarchy manipulates it into submission and causes tension to rise. Works Cited Harris, Cheryl l. and Devon W. Carbado. Loot or Find: Fact or Frame? Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. 9th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. 524-538. Print. Jefferson, Thomas. From Notes on the State of Virginia. Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. 497-502. Print. Kaplan, Erin Aubry. Barack Obama: Miles Traveled, Miles to Go. Rereading America:Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. 9th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. 540-552. Print. Parrillo, Vincent. Causes of Prejudice. Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cu llen, and Bonnie Lisle. 9th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2013. 504-516. print.

The History and Domestication of Cassava

The History and Domestication of Cassava Cassava (Manihot esculenta), also known as manioc, tapioca, yuca, and mandioca, is a domesticated species of tuber, a root crop originally domesticated perhaps as long ago as 8,000–10,000 years ago, in southern Brazil and eastern Bolivia along the southwestern border of the Amazon basin. Cassava is today a primary calorie source in tropical regions around the world, and the sixth most important crop plant worldwide. Fast Facts: Cassava Domestication Cassava, commonly called manioc or tapioca, is a domesticated species of tuber, and the sixth most important food crop in the world.  It was domesticated in the southwestern Amazon of Brazil and Bolivia some 8,000-10,000 years ago.  Domesticate improvements include traits which must have been added by means of clonal propagation.  Burned tubers of manioc were discovered at the classic Maya site of Ceren, dated to 600 CE.   Cassava Progenitors The progenitor of cassava (M. esculenta ssp. flabellifolia) exists today and is adapted to forest and savanna ecotones. The process of domestication improved the size and production level of its tubers, and increased the photosynthesis rate and seed functionality, by using repeated cycles of clonal propagation- wild manioc cannot be reproduced by stem cuttings. Archaeological macro-botanical evidence of cassava in the little-investigated Amazon basin has not been identified, partly because root crops do not preserve well. Identification of the Amazon as the point of origin was based on genetic studies of cultivated cassava and all various possible progenitors, and the Amazonian M. esculenta ssp. flabellifolia was determined to be the wild form of todays cassava plant. Amazon Evidence: The Teotonio Site The oldest archaeological evidence for manioc domestication is from starches and pollen grains from sites outside the Amazon.  In 2018, archaeologist Jennifer Watling and colleagues reported the presence of manioc phytoliths attached to stone tools at the southwestern Amazon Teotonio site in Brazil very near the Bolivian border. The phytoliths were found in a level of dark earth (terra preta) dated to 6,000 calendar years ago (cal BP), 3,500 years older than any terra preta anywhere else in the Amazon to date. The manioc at Teotonio was found alongside domesticated squash (Cucurbita sp), beans (Phaseolus), and guava (Psidium), indicating that the inhabitants were early horticulturalists in what is becoming recognized as an Amazonian center of domestication. Cassava Species Around the World Cassava (Manihot esculenta), root and ground for dinner.   Rodrigo Ruiz Ciancia / Moment / Getty Images Cassava starches have been identified in north-central Colombia by approximately 7,500 years ago, and in Panama at Aguadulce Shelter, about 6,900 years ago. Pollen grains from cultivated cassava have been found in archaeological sites in Belize and Mexicos Gulf coast by 5,800–4,500 bp, and in Puerto Rico between 3,300 and 2,900 years ago. Thus, scholars can safely say that the domestication in the Amazon had to happen before 7,500 years ago. There are numerous cassava and manioc species in the world today, and researchers still struggle with their differentiation, but recent research supports the notion that they are all descended from a single domestication event in the Amazon basin. Domestic manioc has larger and more roots and increased tannin content in the leaves. Traditionally, manioc is grown in the field-and-fallow cycles of slash and burn agriculture, where its flowers are pollinated by insects and its seeds dispersed by ants. Manioc and the Maya The Pompeii of North America, Joya de Ceren, was buried in a volcanic eruption in August 595 CE. Ed Nellis Members of the Maya civilization cultivated the root crop and it may have been a staple in some parts of the Maya world. Manioc pollen has been discovered in the Maya region by the late Archaic period, and most of the Maya groups studied in the 20th century were found to cultivate manioc in their fields. The excavations at Ceren, a classic period Maya village that was destroyed (and preserved) by a volcanic eruption, identified manioc plants within the kitchen gardens. Manioc planting beds were discovered some 550 feet (170 meters) away from the village. The manioc beds at Ceren date to approximately 600 CE. They consist of ridged fields, with the tubers planted on the top of the ridges and water allowed to drain and flow through the wales between the ridges (called calles). Archaeologists discovered five manioc tubers in the field which had been missed during harvesting. Stalks of manioc bushes had been cut into 3–5 foot (1–1.5 meter) lengths and buried horizontally in the beds shortly before the eruption: these represent preparation for the next crop. The eruption occurred in August of 595 CE, burying the field in nearly 10 ft (3 m) of volcanic ash. Sources Brown, Cecil H., et al. The Paleobiolinguistics of Domesticated Manioc (Manihot esculenta). Ethnobiology Letters 4 (2013): 61–70. Print.Clement, Charles R., et al. The Domestication of Amazonia before European Conquest. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282.1812 (2015): 20150813. Print.De Matos Viegas, Susana. Pleasures That Differentiate: Transformational Bodies among the Tupinamb of Olivenà §a (Atlantic Coast, Brazil). Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 18.3 (2012): 536–53. Print.Fraser, James, et al. Crop Diversity on Anthropogenic Dark Earths in Central Amazonia. Human Ecology 39.4 (2011): 395–406. Print.Isendahl, Christian. The Domestication and Early Spread of Manioc ( Manihot Esculenta Crantz): A Brief Synthesis. Latin American Antiquity 22.4 (2011): 452–68. Print.Kawa, Nicholas C., Christopher McCarty, and Charles R. Clement. Manioc Varietal Diversity, Social Networks, and Distribution Constraints in Rural Amazoni a. Current Anthropology 54.6 (2013): 764–70. Print. Sheets, Payson, et al. Manioc Cultivation at Ceren, El Salvador: Occasional Kitchen Garden Plant or Staple Crop? Ancient Mesoamerica 22.01 (2011): 1–11. Print.Watling, Jennifer, et al. Direct Archaeological Evidence for Southwestern Amazonia as an Early Plant Domestication and Food Production Centre. PLOS ONE 13.7 (2018): e0199868. Print.

Writing Research Papers

Writing Research Papers Writing Research Papers Writing Research Papers: Steps to Walk Writing research paper is a rather complicated task as it demands a lot of efforts from students. However, it becomes much simpler to cope with the task if you are acquainted with the main steps you have to walk while writing research paper. In this article, we are going to make you acquainted with these steps of successful writing research paper. Step 1. Choose the proper topic for your writing. You see if you like the topic, you are dealing with in your writing research paper, you have enough enthusiasm and desire to complete it and you do not have to torture yourself while writing it, as writing is like an exciting adventure for you. Of course, if you do not like the topic of your writing research paper, you will have to make yourself writing it, and it will be rather boring for you to deal with the task. If a person does something without a proper desire it becomes too difficult for him or her to succeed in completing the task. Step 2 . Searching for information. The majority of professors advise their students to make use of primary sources for gathering information for writing research paper such as libraries and textbooks. Of course, when you have enough time this is the best way to get your information. However, if you have limited time, we recommend you to serf the Internet. You see by clicking different links you may find useful information much faster than reading through hundreds of pages of textbooks. That is why if you have compressed time for completing your writing research paper, we recommend you to gather your information with the help of the Internet. Appeal to some custom writing service in order to make your search of information fast and effective. Step 3. Make an outline for writing research paper. You see in order to structure all the information you have gathered it is recommended to spend your time for writing research paper outline. This outline helps students to concentrate upon th e main points of view in their writing research paper and not to forget any important idea he or she wants to present. That is why we consider writing research paper outline to be necessary step to walk. After you have walked all the steps, it is high time to start writing research paper. We wish you good luck with your work.

Women in the Second World War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women in the Second World War - Essay Example This essay will compare and contrast the wartime experiences of these three great women. Therese Bonney achieved world fame as a photo journalist during the Second World War. She is greatly popular for her work which revealed the havocs of war on an innocent group of people. She initially acquired attention for her revelation of the war between Russia and Finland. Being the only correspondent who was there, she had the whole account to herself and was honored with the White Rose of Finland for her courage. Throughout the Second World War she toured all over western Europe capturing the miseries of the affected children in her photographs which she soon after included in her master work ‘Europe’s Children’. It was her objective to aid in building international ties between European populations, specifically the Americans and French. She also joined the Red Cross campaigns throughout France. She was grandly celebrated in the United States and Europe. Just like Bonney, Toni Frissell became a major female figure in photo journalism during the World War II. She voluntarily shared her photographic talents to the American Red Cross in 1941. Afterward she served the Eight Army Air Force and became the certified photo journalist of the Women’s Army Corps. She photographed a vast number of images of soldiers, nurses, and abandoned children for the services of the aforementioned organizations. Her moving pictures of African American air fighters and military women were employed to promote public support and sympathy for African-American and women in the service. Her only difference with Bonney is the extent of her fame. She is widely known locally but she did not achieve the same international fame that Bonney achieved. Meanwhile, a remarkable woman who became renowned during World War II, Janet Flanner, raised her name to the pedestal through writing. Janet

African American film genre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

African American film genre - Essay Example Long before John Crow's laws,white Americans had already a pre-conceived view of black people as inferior,which helped them justify slavery.After all they were unable to learn English and spoke Pigeon English,another proof that blacks were not intelligent. From the 1620s, blacks were stereotyped and the emergence of minstrel shows in the 1840s only helped in branding even more this misconception, (Davis) and introducing black caricatures, portrayed by white actors with black-make-up, as the coons, the toms, and the mammies at first, and later on followed by the mulattoes and the bucks. The first movie ever where African Americans appear was screened in 1898, where it showed black soldiers in the Spanish-American war. But it was with the 1903 movie with a black character, Uncle Tom, directed by Edwin S. Porter, a white man, that we can pinpoint the beginning of the American film industry incorporating black characters. Tom was portrayed by a white actor with black make-up. In the movi e, Tom is the typical skinny, middle-aged, desexed slave, totally loyal to his white master, a far cry from the original Tom portrayed in Harriet Beecher Stowe's book Uncle Tom's Cabin, which showed a gentle, kind, and forgiving man. This first portrayal of a black in film sealed even more this misconstrued idea of black inferiority and became a vehicle used to the advantage of whites not only for entertainment but also for economic reasons - advertisement for sellable products -. What no one foresaw then was the planting of the seed of the actual African American film industry with a slew of black actors who "elevated [these roles] and brought to [them] arty qualities if not pure art." (Bogle 23). That was the essence of black film history. When one tries to discuss and describe African American film industry, one cannot help but go back in time and start with the characterization that white people so strongly believed in, leading them to create caricatures of black people in the burgeoning entertainment industry. So, it is impossible not to describe the four categories of stereotypes that kept reoccurring throughout the twentieth century. These four characters were the foundation of the entertainment industry as seen by white producers, who soon came to realize that it was also a tool to instigate war or peace, tolerance and understanding versus discrimination and segregation. The four black figures were the Tom, the Mammies, the Coons, and the Bucks. The Tom, the ever subservient, good-natured, stoic, selfless and loyal to a fault, as seen in Jezebel (1938), Love Thy Neighbor (1940), where Tom was portrayed by Eddie Anderson, Edge of the City (1957), and The Defiant Ones (1958), where Sidney Poitier characters sacrifice themselves for their white friends. The Coons with very black faces, bulging eyeballs and thick red lips, which represented the black buffoon, himself subdivided into two groups, the Pickanny and the Uncle Ramus, "a cousin to Tom. (Bogle 8) Mantan Moreland made the coon character renown from the late 1930s to the early 1970s when "he still [made] cameo appearances"(Bogle 72). The Mammy, usually fat, big and cantankerous, but still sweet and good-tempered, made her first big appearance in 1914's Lysistrata, and was used as the recognizable face on pancake boxes and syrup, but was made famous by Hattie McDaniel in the 1930s (no one can forge t her in Gone with the Wind). Of course, the tragic Mulatto caught between the white and the black world and unable to find her place in neither one of them as portrayed in the 1912 movie The Debt, and the tear-jerker movie Imitation of Life in 1934. Finally, the last of the categories, the Buck, whose introduction in the 1915 racist movie by D.W. Griffith, The Birth of a Nation, brought a slew of controversies, was a brute, a liar, a cheat and a rapist. This blatantly anti-black movie that became a propaganda vehicle for the Ku Klux Klan, was also the coup de

Soap operas Essay Example for Free

Soap operas Essay Although this is true, it is still an issue that teenagers, especially, must be aware of. For this reason alone, I think that there should be more discussion about how to avoid date rape, and how to protect oneself from even getting into a situation where one could be raped. In the soap operas All My Children, and Sunset Beach, there are sexual issues that revolve around teenage relationships. There were discussions about whether or not to wait before having sexual intercourse. In All My Children, the storyline was about a teen-aged birth mother suing the adoptive parents for custody of her child. This storyline allowed for several discussions about the consequences of unplanned and unprotected sexual activity, and about the importance of waiting until one is ready before engaging in sexual intercourse. Although soaps sometime discuss the consequences of sexual acts, there are too many episodes that let sex just happen without any real discussion of its consequences. For instance on the soap Sunset Beach, there is a character, Annie, who is about twenty five years old, who sleeps with everyone on the show who has something that she wants. She is very rich and extremely manipulative. Through her conversations with friends, the audience learns that, deep down, all she wants is to find true love. Obviously she will not achieve what she really wants by being so sexually promiscuous and amoral, but some audiences may think that you can get what you want by sleeping around. If there are all of these negative images and ideas portrayed throughout soap operas, then why is it so popular to women? In a recent study done by Woods, he asked 100 high school girls about 23 possible reasons for watching soap operas. The top ten reasons were, (a) I just enjoy watching them, (b) it gives me something to do, (c) soaps are fun, (d) they fill up time, (e) its a pleasant way to rest, (f) they relax me, (g) soaps are a habit, (h) I can forget about school, (i) I can get away from my family, (j) and soaps cheer me up. It is apparent that these responses are what people might say for any television show. What attracts people to soap operas and the reasons behind them being fun and relaxing is because they deal with issues that happen in real life. Not everyone is going to get raped, or accidentally pregnant, but everyone should know that it can happen to them and they should be careful. It is interesting to think that maybe women are so attracted to soaps because it makes their lives seem more normal. Greenberg and Woods used a survey by the author Compesi to compare adult and adolescent results to similar questions on the reasons for watching soap operas. He mailed 52 surveys consisting of gratification items for the viewers of, All My Children. the findings for soaps and adolescent gratifications are a close match to those for soaps and adult gratifications. Although people do change, I feel that the foundation of what draws people in and interests continues in one way or another throughout a persons life. It is not an unrealistic assumption that sexuality is exciting to watch and learn about, especially for curious young individuals. Recently the issue of homosexuality has been incorporated within soap operas. In All My Children, the teenaged character Bianca came out as a lesbian. Along with this came her struggles of being accepted and the ability to find a happy relationship. There were a few episodes dealing with Biancas romantic happiness and with the fact that she had a crush on a straight woman. There was one episode where Bianca asked Frankie, a homosexual female that she was friends with, if she was afraid that Bianca would make a move on her. Frankie insisted that she didnt feel uncomfortable with her and also assured Bianca that she didnt want her to give her more space and that she valued their budding friendship. When another character, Vanessa, arrived, she ordered Frankie to leave Pine Valley because she lied to her about her sexuality. She asked Frankie to move out, saying that Frankie should have been honest from the beginning. Alone, Bianca offered to help Frankie find another place, but Frankie rejected her. Bianca told Frankie that, as usual, someone she liked was pulling away from her. In this example it is apparent that it is rough on a persons self-esteem to not be able to find love or a true friend because of ones sexuality or sexual preference. I would imagine that these episodes are not unrealistic in the life of a teenage lesbian, but I noticed that they did not portray a fulfilled life for one. The steamy love scenes are the norm for heterosexual couples, yet when it comes to homosexuals, they are rarely even allowed to touch. Every few scenes within an episode show two heterosexuals kissing, or being sexual with each other. When it comes to homosexuals, there is usually just discussion about the hardships that the person is enduring, and there are rarely any visual depictions of sexuality. Starting a few years ago was the first time that a lesbian kiss was even shown on daytime television. This issue of homosexuality is more open and talked about then it used to be, but they still do not seem to be portrayed the same as heterosexuals. Although gays are not represented accurately, watching them interact can desensitize some people that are uncomfortable dealing with those people who choose that lifestyle. Soaps deal with the issue of pregnancy as well. Having a baby could be a happy and exciting thing for some people, but it seems like most of the pregnancies on soaps deal with the negatives of pregnancy, like teenage pregnancies, pregnancies due to rape and pregnancies with twisted stories to them. An example of this is from the soap Sunset Beach, where the character Vanessa, an engaged woman, was impregnated in vitro. Due to an accident she was unconscious and the woman who was jealous of her boyfriend gave her the injection. It was not the sperm of her fianci , Michael, but a different male. Michael, who is now sterile, thinks that she is pregnant from him, but knows that he could not be the father. He thinks that she must have slept with another guy, and the saga continues. The is an exaggerated scenario, of course, but this type of situation allows for the audiences thoughts and discussion of safe sex and trust in ones partner. These are issues that every individual must deal with at one point or another, which may be another reason for the popularity of soap operas. If I were to speculate on the potential effects of viewing such content, I would say that viewers are getting ample information about sexual activity that promotes the idea that sexual activity is appropriate and beneficial for heterosexual couples in established relationships. The issues of rape, teenage sex and pregnancy, single parenting, drug addiction, abortion, infidelity, and death are all issues in which characters have dealt with. This allows the audience to discuss these issues without talking about themselves, which can be uncomfortable. An individuals morals and values about sex should stem from the home. It is the parents job to try and teach their children what sex and being a sexual person is all about. If these values are implemented, the young viewer should be able to decipher between what is right, what is wrong, and what is exaggerated. There are a variety of reasons for women to be attracted to soap operas, and sexuality is definitely one of them. Being a woman is a very powerful thing, and many people do not understand that. Some women and teenagers may feel that power when watching a sexual encounter, knowing that they have the power to do the same thing (less dramatically of course). Sex and being sexual are intriguing concepts that are very mysterious to some. By watching soap operas, we see the dramatic portrayal of how relationships should and should not be. There is the right and wrong way to go about becoming sexually active. Soap operas are an excellent way to see and learn about all of the right and wrong ways of dealing with issues, especially ones that deal with sexual relationships. People are always looking for a way to improve their relationships or spice them up, and soap operas are an excellent way to either learn something new, or fanaticize about the perfect relationship. The fact that soap operas are so exaggerated, I feel, is the major draw to them because they make reality and everyday life seem more normal. References: Greenberg, S. B, Woods, M. G. (1999). The soaps: their sex, gratifications, and outcomes.The Journal Of Sex Research, 36(3), 250. Committee on Communications, American Academy of Pediatrics. (1995). Sexuality, contraception, and the media. Pediatrics, 95(2), 298.

Free College Admissions Essays: Human Resources Management :: College Admissions Essays

Human Resources Management    I am applying for a course in the studying of human resources management because it is a subject that interests me greatly. The gobalization has provoked a serious crisis in the actual world economy giving human resources management an important role in finding a solution to this crisis. I believe that human beings are the principal players in any organization, they are flexible and the only ones who can mange the process of change that enterprises need to respond to this difficult times.    As a psychologist I believe I have much to offer in this area as a catalyst and a consultant for organizational change as it affects the members of the organization.. For successful change the employees need to be motivated, integrated and identified with the organization. Companies that are able to achieve will have a competitive advantage.    After my graduation I came to England to study English and I realised that this was a highly developed country in terms of business, economics and human resources management. Developing countries like Colombia can a learn a great many things from England and for this reason I think it will be a very good experience if I can study in UK university. As my references testify, I am a conscientious and serious student who would be of great benefit to your university.    I hope one day I will be able to join a large and dynamic company and follow a career in human resources management. I am sure that the successful future of any ambitious company lies here. I also hope to acquire a lot of experience in order to be able to manage my own business.

Drinking & congenital birth defects: alcohol awareness in the northern rivers region

Alcohol consumption has been identified as one of the leading aspect of social life in Australia. The purpose of this article as to develop guidelines in order to minimize risks associated with excess consumption of alcohol in Australia by changing the cultural attitudes and promoting the health of the Australian population.This study, which was carried out in the semi-rural Northern Rivers in New South Wales, was conducted to enquire about the attitudes towards maternal drinking and awareness of the birth defects which are closely related to alcohol consumption of alcohol among women.In the results, the study found out that 69.8% of the participants responded acknowledged that women should drink during pregnancy with increased trend favoring 4-8 glasses of beer ever week during pregnancy.The study also found that education was negatively related to the recommended quantity of alcohol consumption but positively related to the respondent knowledge on alcohol-related birth defects. The study asserted that education was an important tool in bringing about an effective change in attitude and therefore it should be used to raise social awareness on maternal drinking issues.Three main pointsThere are important points in this article. First, it is clear the alcohol consumption is one aspect of Australian culture. Alcohol consumption is an accepted social culture in Australia. However there are no cultural barriers that have been created to cushion negative effect of alcohol consumptionIn my opinion, alcohol consumption is not only an acceptable culture in Australia but it is a major problem in the country.   Alcohol consumption forms one of the most important social leisure activities of Australian and therefore any negative consequence are likely to affect the people in a great way.Second, there is low understanding of the effect of alcohol on the population. With 69.8% acknowledging the use of alcohol during pregnancy, it is clear that there is low level of awaren ess in the public on the effects of alcohol consumption. Increased birth defects in the country can therefore be attributed to alcohol consumption during pregnancy.I feel that alcohol may have more negative effect on the Australians than many studies have projected. This is because these studies have focused on only one negative aspect of alcohol leaving out several other negative effects. There is a very low level of understanding on the effects of alcohol among the population which may have led to many negative health effects.Third, changing cultural attitude on consumption of alcohol can play a pivotal role in changing the pattern of alcohol consumption in the country. This means the education can be used to increase public awareness on the effects of alcohol and change their attitude.In my opinion, I feel that education can play an important role in changing the culture perception and attitude of the population about the effects of alcohol. It is very difficult to change cultura l attitude since it is a part of life of these people. However education can increase the awareness of the population on negative effects of alcoholThere is no bias in the article. The article fairly looks into the issue and carries out am alcohol survey with informed consent and assurance of confidential in the research process with voluntary participation. In the selection process both males and female were selected according to demographic of the area.The writerThis article was published following as study carried out by Tony Yeigh who holds a bachelor of psychology and post graduate diploma in education, and Brian Kean who is a Ph.D. holder, both from Brigham Young University in the department of Heath science. I believe with what these authors say on the low level of awareness of the effects of alcohol on the Australian population. This is because the same result have been found in other studies by the National Alcohol Strategy 2001-2003 and also by NSW Alcohol Summit 2003

Miller vs. California

Miller vs. California is a landmark case held in 1973 that led to a legal definition of obscene and a confirmation that the 1st amendment does not include pornographic materials. In this case Marvin Miller had appealed in the Supreme Court against a ruling that had seen him being guilty of a misdemeanor. He had carried out an activity of mass mailing advertisements for adult books. This particular case had seen him send these materials to a hotel; the hotel manager and his mother opened these. They sued Marvin miller claiming that they had not solicited for them. A California court had found him guilty for knowingly and intentionally having distributed pornographic materials. The case was forwarded to the Supreme Court where the former ruling was affirmed. Miller’s arguments were revolving around the perceived protection of the freedom of speech by the first amendment. His act was protected by the constitution. There was also contention on the legal definition of the word obscenity. The judge’s decision was based on an argument that obscenities and pornographic materials were not protected by the first amendment. The state, the court argued, had the powers, and the right to regulate the flow of those materials. What is obscene, they stated was to be determined by the application of â€Å"contemporary community standards† as opposed to â€Å"national standards† (www.acluprocon.org) The court in making this ruling had a gigantic task trying to define pornography and obscenities. In the end, the court was in agreement after, long reviews, of the legal definition of obscenity which hence it said would be: †¦limited to works which taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest in sex, which portray sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, an which taken as a whole, do not have serious literacy, artistic, political or scientific value. (www.law.kmkc.edu). If an average person finds these materials appealing to sex in a morally corrupt manner and if it lacks in any political artistic or social usefulness then it shall be considered offensive and the publicist be liable to a misdemeanor. The miller’s arguments on the protection of his publication by the first amendment were quashed on those grounds. This ruling drew much opposition as well as support. It was as controversial as the subject itself. It was playing around a thin balance of morality and the fundamental freedom of speech. One of the fallacies available in this court ruling emanates from the belief that the state and the court are supposed to uphold the freedom of speech as one of the key constitutional rights. How then does this same court rule against a principle it real posits to protect. The ruling that the first amendment does not extend to protect pornography is not understandable. It seems the court holds pornographic materials as being special and not a form of expression. The decision on what was to be considered obscene and what is to be regarded as socially acceptable was made in a very subjective manner. This was worsened by the claim that it was to be made by an average person in consideration of â€Å"contemporary community standards†. This means that there will be differing criterion to gauge the obsceneness of materials and contents. Different federal states hence can arrive at different verdicts regarding the issue of pornography. The question would be posed about why double standards were to be applied in the different states. The agreement also on community standards is also bound to be confusing. There is no specific criterion on how the people in a state would come to an agreement as to what community standards are to be considered proper. The definition of obscenity passed in the ruling excludes serous political and literary materials or any material that can be considered important to the society. Ambiguity thrives in the term serious. It is not also clear who is supposed to decide what is to be termed as serious or not serious. Serious materials would mean different things especially in the diversities that exist in the United States (www.csulb.edu). The ruling had it that the state had authority to censor any materials considered obscene. It is to act as a moral guardian. Questions rages on the harm caused by these publications that would see the state go to an extent of suppressing freedom of speech. The consequences of allowing pornography are not clear as other materials such as films with violent scenes are allowed free circulation and yet people do not get violent. It is understandable however where the court was coming from unsolicited obscene mails is not excusable but gagging their publication and public’s voluntary access to them is not understandable. Work Cited Miller Vs. California. Aclu Procon.org case No. 250. September 2007 Miller Vs. California. Supreme Court of the United States. Decided on June 21, 1973. 12 September 2007 http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/miller.html Julie C Van Camp. Freedom of Expression at the National Endowment for the Arts. 4th July 2005.   12 September 2007

French Paradox Essay Example

French Paradox Essay Example French Paradox Essay French Paradox Essay In many circles, there exists a paradox which astounds many the French Paradox. The French, famous for their diets rich in, well, rich foods foods high In saturated fats and full of butter have confused and annoyed world observers because of their ability to eat such delicacies and drink fine wines and yet maintain near perfect physiques. In essence, the French are able to have their cake and eat it, too. During the late sasss, the French sought to experience a sort of similar paradox during the French Revolution. While the French Revolution began as somewhat similar to the American Revolution in that it was part of a movement seeking freedom from a ruler that refused to grant concessions regarding representation, the French Revolution soon evolved Into something greater; however, while the French masses sought to achieve greater liberties, they were not interested in being the clown of Europe. They wanted strong, stable leadership as long as it wasnt oppressive of their rights and freedoms. Herein was the French Paradox of 1789, an internal struggle between two forces that, by their very nature, typically stand at opposite ends of the revolutionary picture CM liberties and freedom versus strong, central, Internationally respected government. In Napoleon, the French thought they had the right mixture of the two. He was a man who talked like a son of the Revolution. HIS life story perhaps best exemplified the ideals of the Revolution a poor boy rising to the top based on qualities, not favoritism or social class. Yet while Napoleon could talk the talk, he would have far greater difficulty practicing what he preached. : An examination of Napoleons foreign affairs as well as his domestic suppression of individual liberties and Internal dissent to his authority reveals that this son of a poor nobleman was by no means a son of the Revolution but rather a Dictator. Although Napoleon accomplished several challenges in Europe, he also enforced his rule on the Europeans. Beginning, with the Spanish, Napoleon conquered them and forcefully reduced the number of convents and religious involvement in Spain (Doc 5). Not only did he enact certain despotic policies, he also created a dynasty all over Europe. He did this by strategically placing family members in power of enquired nations to suppress dissent and to maintain Napoleonic rule. In order for France and the rest of Europe to run properly, Napoleon believed there had to be hereditary power (Doc 6). In many aspects Napoleon was simply just a military despot (Doc 2). He, on some occasions, began war without any reason at all, specifically with the Russians. He was clearly Just power-hungry and looking to better himself, not France. He always portrayed himself as this magnificent ruler, but on the inside, he was no better than Louis XIV (Doc 9). Being self-conscious of his height, Napoleon always had to be seen as taller and as a powerful warrior (Doc 8). He was not looking out for France In the least bit but rather for himself. With the Berlin Decrees and the Continental System, Napoleon was only looking to hurt his rival, the British. Instead it backfired and hurt his satellites economy. Although Napoleon may have had a strong army, he got too involved with fighting and essentially began to fight all of Europe at once. To maintain the balance of power, multiple coalitions were formed against him, but he continued to pursue his policy of military aggressiveness. His own diminishing France back to its borders of 1792. A true son of the French Revolution would have concerned himself with ensuring the prosperity of the French, not be concerned with expanding an empire, thereby supporting the position the Napoleon is more accurately described and depicted as a dictator than as a son of the Revolution. Many of the civil and domestic liberties that the revolution had promised were swiftly taken away once Napoleon was in power. Although women had few rights before Napoleon, they had even fewer while he was in power. They occupied marital, mommies, and maternal spaces in society and could not act freely or independently (Doc 3). Napoleon also used propaganda throughout France to establish his dictatorship. He made the people think he was supporting the church and that only he could properly rule France. The French believed it was Gods will for Napoleon to rule even though Napoleon issued the Civil Constitution of 1804 which limited papal power and allowed him to pick bishops (Doc 7). He also used propaganda to make people believe other opinions were wrong and that those who opposed him should ii (Doc 10). Napoleon said that those who disagree should be prosecuted for their opinion (Doc 11). His greatest tool of all to ensure the throne was the creation of plebiscites. These were votes castes by French people which would give them the option for a new ruler or to continue to have Napoleon. Many people feared to vote against Napoleon due to the consequences of dissent. Whether through covert acts such as that or overt acts such as his inquisitions, Napoleon made it clear that those who stood opposed to his would meet an unfortunate demise, thereby proving to be ore of a dictator than son of the Revolution. Napoleon also made sure to suppress any form of internal dissent among his people. He began by simply suppressing the most actively opposed minorities and moved from there (Doc 1). He also suppressed women by destroying all liberal revolutionary groups formed (Doc 3). Many people were too scared to even think about a republic or any opinion different than Napoleons for that matter (Doc 4). He instilled fear among the people in order to ensure peace. He used propaganda once again to make some people believe that anyone against his ideas should be sent to eternal damnation (Doc 7). Napoleon even rid any and all signs of uprisings. He made sure that the seed for rebellion wasnt planted anywhere. Spain became a major example of this process (Doc 12). He also issued the use of a secret police to do his bidding without involvement of the law. He took out his major competition, the Jacobin, quickly and quietly to maintain uninterrupted power. Finally, he really showed the meaning of the phrase power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'(Doc 13). His power led too corrupt France and a new beginning. As demonstrated through his constant and continuous effort to suppress enemies to his reign, Napoleon clearly showed himself not to be a son of the Revolution but rather a Dictator hell-bent on preserving his reign. Although his appearance led many to believe he was all for the revolution, Napoleon was a dictator. He took power for himself, rejected it for others, used propaganda, and dominated Europe. He became too engulfed in portraying himself as a brilliant, tough leader rather than focusing on Frances well-being and needs. Absolutely no truth or facts. A thorough examination of Napoleons reign most clearly show a man committed to Revolution not because he believed in its ideals but rather because he saw it as a means to acquire personal power. He reinforced his power through brute force, both internationally through foreign conquests, as well as domestically through suppression of peoples rights and liberties and suppression of dissent to his rule. Napoleon may have once been or at least appeared to be a son of the revolution but he was undoubtedly during his reign a dictator at heart.

Assignment Lab Worksheet Heart Jessica Velez

Heart, Pulmonary and Coronary Circulations Student Name: Jessica Bevel Directions: Go to Real Anatomy and select Cardiovascular. Use the dissection man to f mind the appropriate images to use as references. You can use your mouse to roll over the images and click on the highlighted structures. You can use the Related Images section to find additional images. If you need help navigating Real Anatomy, click on Take a Tour or click the question mark for the Help menu. 1 . Identify the highlighted membrane layer. Pericardium 2.Identify the highlighted membrane layer. Parietal pericardium 3. Identify the highlighted membrane layer. Visceral pericardium 4. Identify the cavity in which the highlighted organ is located. Thoracic cavity 5. Identify the depicted tissue below. Myocardium 6. Identify the layer that is composed of the depicted tissue. Striated cardiac muscle 7. Identify the layer that lines the depicted structure. Undecorated 8. Identify the highlighted chamber. Right Auricle 9. Identify the three vessels that carry blood to the highlighted chamber. Superior even cave, inferior even cave, coronary sinus 0.Identify the highlighted valve. Tricuspids Valve 11. Identify the highlighted chamber. Right Ventricle 12. Identify the highlighted vessel below. Pulmonary trunk 13. Identify the highlighted valve. Pulmonary valve 14. Identify the highlighted organ. Left lung 15. Identify the highlighted vessels. Pulmonary vein 16. Identify the highlighted chamber. Left auricle 17. Identify the highlighted valve. Material valve 18. Identify the highlighted chamber. Left ventricle 19. Identify the highlighted vessel. Aorta 20. Identify the highlighted valve.

How Parthian Kingship Evolved and Developed Essay

How Parthian Kingship Evolved and Developed - Essay Example The essay "How Parthian Kingship Evolved and Developed" talks about the royal image of the Parthian kings the study of which has been aided through the study of the coins of the earlier Arsacids in the mid-second century BCE. When it comes to royal identity display, Mithradates used various ways to legitimize their rule through certain identity projection. Dynastic legitimization enabled him to get attached to the former rulers in the Arsacid line. With this regard, Mithridates managed to show that he was rational next in line. Through idolizing his father and not Arsaces I, he was guaranteed of a godly ancestor. Through his usage of the Arsacid name, he managed to position himself in the line of the Parthian empire development. As a result, it gave Mithradates a firm identity as a Parthian, whereas allowing other communication means and culture open. It is viewed that the obverse faced similar way as obverses of the Seleucid faced. The diadem in various cultures had a meaning was adopted by Mithradates connected him with distanced him from the population of the Greek. The symbol of the beard was a vow for victory among the Parthian culture. Parthian coinage transformed from the traditional shape to something meaningful for Seleucid coinage and use of other cultural symbols to appeal to a greater audience. For this to work, certain conditions had to be fulfilled. The cultural elements had to be known by the targeted people and that the occupants of the empire were required to associate with their ruler.