Winning Elections Essay Example for Free

Winning Elections Essay b) Traditionally, winning elections has been an aim of political parties subordinate to representing political views. However, more recently parties have been adjusting their ideology, possibly to make them more desirable to the majority of the electorate and thus gain political office. As suggested by McKie, recent elections have been less between competing philosophies, much more about which set of managers was likely to get better results. Both Labour, and the Conservatives have moved considerably towards the centre of the political spectrum in the past couple of decades, and if there are fundamental differences between the two parties, then at least one of them is failing to reflect properly the concerns of the middle ground voter. This convergence of party ideology is most probably a move by both parties to make them more attractive to middle England. It is perhaps now only extremist parties that are intent on representing political principles, and this may be a reason for the recent rise in popularity of parties such as the BNP. In the last election, 57% of manifesto pledges for the main parties were non-partisan and couldnt be countered be other parties, this is a mark of the lack of choice the electorate is presented with and illustrates how parties are no longer representing strong political views with each party catering for a different section of society. In 1992 all three major parties were pro-Maastricht, which proves that parties are just pursuing policies that will appeal to the majority of the electorate. Labour used to represent the views of the working class, and their ideology was distinctly socialist, but under Tony Blair, and previously Neil Kinnock, Labour has tried to distance itself from its core supporters and trade unions, as that relationship was a vote loser. This reinvention of Labour ideology has been very prominent in recent issues such as Labours intransigence in not raising the salary for firemen and not having a good relationship with the Fire Brigades Union. The reform of the party came after 17 years of Conservative rule, and it was accomplished by the abandonment of many of its distinctive policies that it had fought and lost of in previous elections. When Tony Blair dropped clause four, it was in order to change the party, and when party reform was fully complete, Labour returned to power. However, some of Labours policy changes may have been due to the shrinking working class, which used to make up the majority of their support. This change in social structure may also be attributable to the Conservatives move towards the centre, as social boundaries have shrunk, the middle class which they traditionally represented is not as easily defined anymore. In the period 1945-1979, policy differences between the two major parties were generally peripheral, and thus both major parties governed for roughly 17 years each. In the two elections where there were substantial and essential differences in social and economic policy (1945 1983), one of the two parties plunged to catastrophic defeat. This was due to both parties projecting the party ideology through policy, thus effectively representing political principles even if it was not going to get them elected. However, there are still some policies that distinguish the major parties from each other. The parties set ideological goals in order to establish the best way to run the country; therefore parties are offering representation of the major strands of opinion. Labours electoral success is partly dependent upon offering a clear and distinctive vision of the nations future, their recent move away from the left has perhaps been in the interest of the electorate, and it would lose Labour political credibility if the electorate suspected that their new stance was the result of opportunistic caution. If one was to argue that political parties simply wished to get elected and this is why they have similar policy, then perhaps it should be questioned why there used to be a very distinct difference between the major parties. This can only be because of changing social structures mentioned previously. Ultimately, there is no way of knowing whether parties simply wish to get elected rather than represent political principles. However, it is likely that getting elected is at the top of their agenda, and perhaps they wish to represent distinct principles when they are in power, however the current Labour government has been acting much like a Conservative government would on issues such as Iraq, and university tuition fees. This perhaps highlights the changing society that we live in which has different political needs than it has in the past century, and political parties have adapted to provide the best options for the electorates needs.

The Concept of Satan in World Religions :: essays research papers fc

The concept of Satan in world religions is an interesting one that has not sufficiently been studied by scholars. We all know that Satan is a familiar character from Christianity; does the red-pajama'd, soul-stealing badass, however, appear in other religions as well, drinking the blood of newborn babes and raping evildoers with his white-hot thorned penis? As it turns out, he does (although not in his characteristic red pajamas). In Hinduism, for example, there is an evil trickster known as Majapudu, who is reputed to have twelve horns, eyes of fire, and noxious flatulence that can kill an entire village in minutes, like mustard gas. Worshipers in the south of India and in Burma, fearful of Majapudu's power, reportedly have developed an elaborate set of rites intended to pacify this worst of demons. Some of the rites include the ritual sacrifice of all infants born in the month of D'vindi (roughly mid-November to mid-December of our calendar). The religion of the aborigines of the Ukraine has a similar character, Thauraza. No traditions give any direct description of Thauraza, though, He is said to travel around the countryside in a giant ball of fire, only stepping out to devour the occasional soul and send it to thousands of years of torment in his miles-long sulphurous bowels. Not all Satan characters in world religions, though, are terrifying. Others are more like tricksters, or, even worse, like that frat brother everyone had who was always able to score at any party, no matter what. The Indonesians, for example, tell of a mysterious stranger known as Jobimba, or "mystery man," who would occasionally come into a town, seduce all of the women under thirty, and then leave them pregnant and unfulfilled by their less seductive husbands. The resulting social dysfunction that would ensue was said to be worse than that caused by a thousand episodes of "Dr. Phil." In sum, many world religions talk about Satan (or someone who looks a lot like him). Maybe that's the most important thing about Satan-- he goes by many names and wears many faces (the Devil, the Lord of the Flies, Prince of Darkness, even Jobimba).

How and Why Is the Grotesque Used in Tennessee Williams’ a Streetcar Named Desire Essay

Throughout this semester, we were introduced to varying degrees of literary styles and themes. From the epiphanies discovered through American Realism, to the skepticism explored through Literary Modernism, to the conflicts of social conformity and individualism approached by a Post-Modernistic America and its writers. We have had the great opportunity of being exposed to individuals who questioned and pushed the boundaries of creativity and expression. Tennessee Williams was an author and playwright who balanced the enigmatic, macabre, and often cruel disintegration of his characters with a poetic grace. He became the keystone of a style that is known as Southern Gothic. A Streetcar Named Desire became the quintessential manifestation of the grotesque through the unraveling of the â€Å"Old South†. More specifically, his themes on the conflict between the â€Å"sensitive, non-conformist† individual against conventional society, the disintegration of the southern woman, and the divergence between southern gentiles and northern brutality to which all of Williams’ characters contributed to in some degree. The grotesque style of literature supplies the reader with a historical as well as social perspective. This provides a metaphorical reference to the â€Å"dying† South and the struggle to exist against the progressive ideals of the North, all the while, fraught with trying to keep the Southern identity and dignity intact. It is stated that â€Å"A common description (of the grotesque) has to do with causation: Southern grotesque is often said to be the literary aftermath of historical misfortune. (Presley 37). If we take into account the surrounding setting of the play, â€Å"†¦a two-story corner building on a street in New Orleans which is named Elysian Fields and runs between the L & N tracks and the river (Elysian Fields is a New Orleans street at the northern tip of the French Quarter, between the Louisville & Nashville railroad tracks and the Mississippi River. In Greek mythology the Elysian Fields are the abode of the blessed in the afterlife. ) The section is poor but, unlike corresponding sections in other American cities, it has a raffish charm† (Klinkowitz & Wallace 2187), the reader is thrust into the ensuing chaos before any of the characters are even introduced. Williams was very particular about each detail with regards to the style in which he was writing. The drama is not only a result of the surroundings, but is a symbiotic portrayal of the daily lives that exist within the grotesque. â€Å"The disorders are threefold: narcissism, familial conflict, and dream- like confusion†: (Presley 37). The Southern Gothic, grotesque style of writing can best be characterized by the profound ability of an author to evoke feelings of disgust while contrarily evoking feelings of compassion among his/her audience as well as between the characters within the work. These emotions are presented and contained within, what seems to be, a lost individual. This character may also display traits of incontinence due to physical or mental incapability. â€Å"Literature of the grotesque, according to the authoress, is distinguished by a moral or theological vision not usually associated with realistic works. Freaks appear in her fiction, she said, to reflect quite simply what man is like without God† (Presley 38). In keeping with the grotesque, Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire stretched the boundaries of this theme through the representation of the disintegration of the southern woman. By exploring the torrid longing of his character, Blanche Dubois, and her desires and fears. â€Å"Grotesque writers are â€Å"faced with the reality that they live in an age whose distortions function as indicators of how far man has drifted from his true image as a creature of God. In this vein, Williams explores the corruption of mankind, along with its difficulties in reconciling its primal nature with the rules of society: Blanche’s charm and beauty is overridden by her alcoholism, nymphomania, and general debauchery† (Presley, 1). Blanche DuBois provided the extreme case of what it is like to lose yourself. Blanche was â€Å"Deceptive, dishonest, fraudulent, permanently flawed, unable to face reality, Blanche is for all that thoroughly capable of commanding audience compassion, for her struggle and the crushing defeat she endures have the magnitude of tragedy. The inevitability of her doom, her refusal to back down in the face of it, and the essential humanity of the forces that drive her to it are the very heart of tragedy, No matter what evil she may have done, nor what villainies practiced, she is a human being trapped by the fates, making a human fight to escape and to survive with some shred of human dignity, in full recognition of her own fatal human weaknesses and increasing absence of hope† (Crandell 93). The obscure relevance to her deceptions are only a portion of why Blanche represents the grotesque. Her necessity to cling to the â€Å"old† southern ways (with a â€Å"death grip†) allows her to cling to her own sanity. She exudes narcissism to the fullest extent, but is unable to see the damage that it is causing to herself and the people around her. In the very first scene, Blanche describes the loss of Belle Reve. She goes on to embellish the loss as a personal encounter with death, to which she is the only witness to and the only effected party: â€Å"I, I, I, took the blows in my face and my body! All of those deaths! The long parade to the graveyard! Father, mother! Margaret, that dreadful way! So big with it, it couldn’t be put in a coffin! But I had to be burned like rubbish!†¦. And, oh, what gorgeous boxes they packed them away in! Unless you were there at the bed when they cried out, â€Å"Hold me! † you’d never suspect there was the struggle for breath and bleeding. You didn’t dream, but I saw! Saw! Saw!†¦. † (Williams 2193). This description was a faint cry for compassion or an attempt to restore the relationship with Stella, but through a premeditated state of self preservation. The grotesque narcissism with which she approaches the loss of the estate and their relatives only happened to her. It is this over dramatic perception that reinforces the author’s emphasis on the Southern Gothic or grotesque style apparent throughout his play. The culmination of the loss of Belle Reve, her husband’s suicide, and, later, her dismissal from her job, could have contributed to her current state. But it in the end, she chose not to face her demons, she opted to hide behind the ruse of entitlement associated with old Southern Society that proved to be her ultimate demise. â€Å"If there is any character in modern dramatic literature whose identity is bound up in such fantasies and sees erself as unique, special and entitled, it is Blanche DuBois, whose very name conjures up images of French, chivalric romances. Furthermore, it is clear that she identifies with the role of the â€Å"Southern Belle† and, in fact, retreats to memories of herself as â€Å"Southern Belle† when confronted with death and trauma. Ironically, from Blanche’s point of view, although the â€Å"Southern Belle† is fundamentally superior, she is also, simultaneously, a vulnerable, even fragile figure, in need of constant attention and care, dependant on others. (Ribkoff & Tyndall 327). The reason why the grotesque is so important to the decline of the Southern woman, and this particular character, is because there is this realization that there are no happy endings. Blanche is happy to wallow in her own self destructions and with this she is libel to take down everyone within her distinct vicinity. Blanche’s character is deprived of the one thing that she longs for which is love and by reaching for the facade of the Southern Belle, she does more damage because she is the complete antithe sis of the Southern Belle. There is also a lot of symbolism associated with Blanche’s decline. Throughout her short time at her sister’s apartment, it is evident that she was taking a lot of baths through the progression of the story. As more information gets divulged about what really happened in her past, it is almost as if she is trying to maintain that she is a Southern Belle. She is trying to convince herself that she is still clean or that she can wash away her past through her frequent bathing. There is also the issue of light. Blanche does her best to conceal herself from the light of reality by placing paper lanterns over lamps to soften the light â€Å"So, too, in A Streetcar Named Desire, Blanche is described (in the same stage direction! ) as both attracted to and repulsed by light. On the one hand, she is described as moth-like in appearance. Comparable to the moth, she is strangely attracted to that which has the power to destroy her. On the other hand, â€Å"her delicate beauty must avoid a strong light†. To avoid it, she dresses naked light bulbs in paper lanterns, and when she goes out, with Mitch for example, it is always at night. † (Crandall 95). This pertains to her willingness to escape reality and is yet another way that Williams exhibits the grotesque through his writing. In further examination of Blanche, her dependency on men is another portrayal of the grotesque. She is constantly looking for and acquiring the affections of men and seems to feed upon the generous nature of Mitch, Stanley’s friend. Here we see the grotesque outlined in the form of female dependence on the male figures in their lives. At one point, Blanche rejects the union of her sister with that of the abusive Stanley Kowalski. She fantasizes about an alternative life with the financial support from Shep Huntleigh, but this still emphasizes a need for the support to exist from a male figure. Even though this wouldn’t be a stable situation for Stella, this would free her from her dependency on Stanley. This reiterates the progression from the old to the new south, but isn’t a source of stability for Stella. She still needs to rely on Stanley and in doing so we see the indignity of the human spirit due to sacrifice. It is also a theme of Williams’ that the removal of the simply â€Å"country† life, and into the throngs of a bustling city, create the setting for the grotesque situations that these characters find themselves in. Williams thought that in moving away from the country life, we are separating ourselves further from the life that God had intended us to live. There is a quiet simplicity that is associated with working the land in the country and in moving to the trappings of a large city, there is room for trouble. This is also apparent through the loss of Belle Reve. When Blanche falls into misfortune and loses the house, she is forced into a life of less prestige and honor. She loses her job as a teacher due to moral discrepancies, she is called on at the hotel that she is staying at by many men, and she is forced to move in with her sister in New Orleans. This transition represents a removal of all that is decent and good with humanity and confines us to the â€Å"cramped† quarters of a city where we lose ourselves. Stanley Kowalski’s character impresses upon the reader an animalistic quality that can only be implied to represent the conflict of the divergence between southern gentiles and northern brutality. â€Å"As much as Blanche is the representative of dreams, Stanley is the emissary of quotidian reality. His Napoleonic Code and the State of Louisiana are the realistic counterparts to Blanche’s more ephemeral Belle Reve. Whereas Blanche values civilization and its refinements-art, poetry, and music-Stanley indulges in more primitive pleasures-eating (bringing home meat from the kill); drinking, to the point of intoxication; and sleeping with women. He knows what his pleasures are and indulges them, often to excess. He enjoys life to the fullest-â€Å"be comfortable is his motto†. In his drunken paroxysms, he easily forgets himself, and becomes one with his buddies. He is, for the most part, spontaneous and unselfconscious† (Crandall 97). In the climax of the play, we bear witness to Stanley’s submission to the atavistic urges and northern brutality by the rape of Blanche. As the story progresses, Mitch (Stanley’s friend) exhibits how the loss of the Southern Gentile adds to the grotesque setting with which all of the characters exist in. At the end of the play, we are made aware that Blanche is being committed to an insane asylum. As the Doctor starts to take Blanche away, Mitch had an opportunity to intervene, but he didn’t. He felt a great deal of sympathy for Blanche, but chose to not act on those feelings and instead Blanche is committed. The reason that this is such an important example of the loss of the Southern gentile was because he had the opportunity to act and didn’t step up to defend Blanche. Southern gentiles are all about honor and dignity. With the loss of these important qualities within him, he has just let Blanche succumb to the darkness that has shrouded her since she arrived at Stella’s apartment. Even though Blanche didn’t see the hero within Mitch, they had a bond between them. They were both looking for love and for someone to take care of them. With him not coming to her rescue, the true Mitch is presented-a person who is devoid of the heroism that Blanche so desperately needed. On the conflict between the â€Å"sensitive, non-conformist† individual against conventional society, we have to re-examine Blanche Dubois. From the beginning of the play, we are well aware of Blanche’s â€Å"sensitive, non-conformist† characteristics. She is someone who was unwilling to uphold he civilities that should exist within each person. In her having tarnishing relations with a pupil of hers, she sacrifices the only thing that she had left- her dignity. â€Å"However defensive Blanche becomes, from the moment she enters the stage until the moment she leaves it, she is in search of direction and empathy or â€Å"kindness† of others in order to work through the traumas of the past and present. Ultimately, this search for understanding is he main reason she comes to New Orleans and not simply for a place to stay† (Ribkoff & Tyndall 327). The climax of the grotesque within this play seems to come as a result of Blanche’s sensitive, non-conformist attitude towards life. Her inability to accept responsibility for her current situation is the catalyst to the way that Stanley shows no tolerance for her. Stanley’s brutalities, along with his intolerance for Blanche’s current state of mind, clash to create the ultimately grotesque act of rape later in the play. â€Å"Many critics believe Stanley’s rape of Blanche precipitates her descent into madness. According to Mary Ann Corrigan, this descent is part of the overall trajectory of the play: â€Å"in each of the [play’s] 11 scenes Blanche moves inexorably closer to the disintegration of her mind and the total rejection of reality† (Humanit 334). After the disintegration of the world that Williams created in A Streetcar Named Desire, we are left with the overwhelming themes of the struggle for human affection, dignity, and resolve. Through this in-depth dissection of the characters, plot, and settings, emerge the themes that exemplify the Southern Gothic/grotesque style of writing.

How Sociologists Define Social Control

Sociologists define social control as the way that the norms, rules, laws, and structures of society regulate human behavior. It is a necessary part of social order, for societies could not exist without controlling their populations. Achieving Social Control Social control is achieved through social, economic, and institutional structures. Societies cannot function without an agreed-upon and enforced social order that makes daily life and a complex division of labor possible. Without it, chaos and confusion would reign. The lifelong process of socialization that each person experiences is the primary way social order develops. Through this process, people are taught from birth the behavioral and interactional expectations common to their family, peer groups, community, and greater society. Socialization teaches us how to think and behave in accepted ways, and in doing so, effectively controls our participation in society. The physical organization of society is also a part of social control. For example, paved streets and traffic signals regulate, at least in theory, the behavior of people when they drive vehicles. Motorists know that they should not drive through stop signs or red lights, though some do anyway. And, for the most part, sidewalks and crosswalks manage foot traffic. Pedestrians know that they should not run out into the middle of the street, though jaywalking is fairly common. Lastly, the structure of places, such as aisles in grocery stores, determines how we move through such businesses. When we dont conform to social expectations, we face correction of some sort. This correction can take many forms, including confused and disapproving looks or difficult conversations with family, peers, and authority figures. Refusal to meet social expectations may also result in severe outcomes such as social ostracization. Two Types of Social Control Social control tends to take two forms: informal or formal. Informal social control involves conformity to the norms and values of society as well as adoption of a belief system learned through the process of socialization. This form of social control is enforced by family members and primary caregivers, teachers, coaches peers, and colleagues. EyesWideOpen/Getty Images Rewards and punishment enforce informal social control. Reward often takes the form of praise or compliments, good grades, job promotions, and social popularity. Punishment tends to involve relationships ending, teasing or ridicule, poor grades, being fired from work, or withdrawal of communication. City, state, and federal agencies such as the police or the military enforce formal social control. In many cases, a simple police presence is enough to achieve this form of control. In others, police might intervene in a situation that involves unlawful or dangerous behavior to stop the misconduct and maintain social control.   Alex Livesey/Getty Images Other government agencies, including those that regulate building codes or the goods businesses sell, enforce formal social control also. Ultimately, it is up to formal bodies like the judiciary and penal systems to issue penalties when someone violates the laws that define formal social control. Updated  by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Essay about Tattoo Acceptance in the Workplace - 840 Words

Tattoo Acceptance in the Workplace Specific Purpose Statement: To persuade my audience that Tattoos should be widely accepted in the workplace. Thesis Statement: The number of people with tattoos is continually growing, but employers are still reluctant to hire those with visible tattoos. Introduction: Is there anyone here that does not like tattoos or likes them, but would never think of getting one? Today, tattoos are a growing in popularity when before tattoos were only seen on people in a circus as an act or on military veterans who wanted to display their troop proudly. Even though there is this growing popularity of tattoos, entry-level jobs require strict dress code policies disapproving the sight of tattoos while at work.†¦show more content†¦Only 32% of students surveyed in Arkansas, California, and Ohio believe that having visible tattoos would hinder a person’s chance of getting a job. (Bevill, Bracy, Dale, Glasgow, amp; Roach, 2009) It is just what they believe, not what is true. Transition: Today’s culture is changing in allowing people to have tattoos and still gain a decent job or career. CATO Corporation states in their employee handbook under what associates are to wear that, â€Å"No tattoos that may be considered offensive to our customers or other associates should be visible.† (CATO: The Cato Corporation, 2005) This is beginning to happen in many other companies, so that they may still be able to hire that qualified worker, without needing to dismiss that person because they have a visible tattoo. In 2010, a research poll found that 72% of those polled with tattoos had them in a place easily hidden. (Gasper, 2010) Also, there is a new was to have that tattoo, easily visible, but still not be able to see it. UV tattoos. UV Tattoos, or black light tattoos have been recently introduced into today’s tattoo market. It is applied the same as any other tattoo, it just has to be done under a blacklight in order for the tattoo artist to see his artwork in progress. The FDA has not yet given a 100 % ok of this UV ink to be safe because the phosphorus p resent in the ink can cause irritation to the skin, but some tattoo parlors are making organic versions and make UV tattoosShow MoreRelatedTattoo Taboo : Tattoos And Tattoos1411 Words   |  6 PagesFour: Argument 22 April 2017 Tattoo Taboo Tattoos have been around for centuries, and were once used to identify various tribes, indicate social status, or sometimes they were a rite of passage to adulthood. As time passed to a more modern world, people donning tattoos were assumed to be either convicts, gang members, rock musicians, or rebellions of society and most were deemed of unsavory character. Now, with over 45 million American adults having at least one tattoo, the taboos have all but disappearedRead MoreAcceptance of Tattoos and Body Piercing in a Modern Age1568 Words   |  7 PagesAcceptance of Tattoos and Body Piercing in a Modern Age Andrew Sullivan Axia College of University of Phoenix According to the most recent Harris Poll, which took place in 2003, about 15% of all Americans have at least one tattoo. That translates into about 40 million people. Tattoos are becoming much more popular based on comparing those statistics to the results of a 1936 Life magazine estimates of 10 million Americans had at least one tattoo. As for body piercing, no statistics are keptRead MoreTattoos and Body Piercing in the Workforce1414 Words   |  6 PagesTattoos and Body Piercing in the Workforce What canvas holds some of the most creative artwork today? If you guessed the human skin, you would be right. 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Tattoos have also gone back thousands of years and in some cultures were celebrated, or shown for culturalRead MoreTattoos And Its Impact On Society1384 Words   |  6 PagesHaving a moral acceptance toward others is an important aspect in sustaining a happy and fulfilled life, but maybe some things that are quite visible can be hard to look past. Tattoos are one of the most controversial topics when it comes to professionalism mixing with open mindedness. People all across the world have tattoos and are now seen in everyday society. Tattoos have also gone back thousands of years and in some cultures were celebrated, or sho wn for cultural reasons. Furthermore, the URead MoreBody Piercings And Its Impact On Society1665 Words   |  7 PagesCaesar. 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It is typical for adolescents to partake in receiving visible markings as a way to revolt against their parents or authority overall. JuvenilesRead MoreShould Body Modifications Be Allowed?1226 Words   |  5 Pageshave become increasingly common, the issue of discrimination toward people who possess them in the workplace has become greater and desperately needs to be addressed. I believe people who possess modifications should not be looked at as weird or not normal. These individuals are living, breathing humans like the rest of us who have a different way of expressing themselves. Whether they have a tattoo on their wrist or not should not determine if they are fit for the job. If they can follow instructionsRead MoreTattoos in the work place700 Words   |  3 Pages Tattoos in the work place Today in America there is less problems having tattoos in the work place. As tattoos proliferate, some employers’ are becoming more accepting of body ink peeking through work place attire but the level of acceptance varies depending the industry and the corporate cultural. The work force is more interested in your educational skills and skills for the job. Tattoo policies can vary from one office to the next the argument being that tattoos and certain hairRead MoreEssay On Tattoos And Tattoos1746 Words   |  7 PagesDiscrimination and Tattoos In the past, people used to see people with tattoos as lacking in character and work ethic. In light of the growing popularity of tattoos in the modern age, people’s opinions have stayed away from that. While the United Kingdom may not be as well known for heavily tattooed people as other countries in the world, the popularity in the United Kingdom is growing. Tattoos do not affect a person’s character or work ethic; therefore, should not be discriminated against in the

Political And Demographic Trends Of The Rwandan Civil War

A number of incomplete explanations that attempt to account for the involvement have been posited, normally detailing purely political and demographic trends, and solely considering sociocultural features of Rwandan society. A common thread among political commenters is the role of the Rwandan elite in the fomentation of violence, emphasizing their struggles to stay in power. Whether this includes analyses detailing the effects of the economic crisis in the late 1980s, the Rwandan Civil War, or the internationally mediated peace negotiations, it normally implicates the political elite, those people being the Akazu, a small group of people around Habyarimana (Uvin). Scholars here attempt to look at the political consequences of events such as the RPF invasion and economic events such as the adjustments based on the fall in coffee prices, and connect them with the Akazu. These analyses are distinctly flawed in that they are not able to examine underlying social processes. They simply l ook at an exclusive group of people, who do happen to be extremely important, without fully understanding the entire picture. This occurs because it is simpler to pinpoint individuals rather than persistent social processes. With crimes that elicit such an emotional response, it is natural to spontaneously find a person or group to blame. Other explanations cite resource scarcity coupled with the country’s high population density and growth rate. Some parties dogmatically claim, throughShow MoreRelatedThe Conflict : Why It Emerged2332 Words   |  10 Pages Analysis of the conflict: Why it emerged The civil war in Burundi has been attributed to the assassination of Melchior Ndadaye, who was the first Hutu president to be elected. Before the October 1993 general election, the Burundian government was Tutsi dominated (laccino, 2015). The ascension of Melchior Ndadaye created much tension among the Tutsi militia who were in denial of the outcome of the election. His assassination by Tutsi extremists led in to indiscriminate killings of each warring factionRead MoreWorld Peace8312 Words   |  34 Pagessome believe that  human nature  inherently prevents it.[1][2]  This belief stems from the idea that humans are naturally  violent, or thatrational agents  will choose to commit violent acts in certain circumstances.[1][2] Others, however, believe that war is not an innate part of human nature,[3]  and that this myth in fact prevents people from reaching for world peace.[4] ------------------------------------------------- World peace theories Many theories as to how world peace could be achieved haveRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesDavid M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies

Everyday Use contrasting family members essay Example For Students

Everyday Use contrasting family members essay Through contrasting family members and views in Everyday Use, Alice Walker illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to the traditions of our own people and culture. Using careful descriptions and attitudes, Walker demonstrates which factors contribute to the values of one s heritage and culture; she illustrates that these are represented not by the possession of objects or mere appearances, but by one s lifestyle and attitude. In Everyday Use Walker personifies the different sides of culture and heritage in the characters of Dee and the mother (the narrator). Dee can be seen to represent a materialistic, complex, and modern way of life where culture and heritage are to be valued only for their trendy-ness and aesthetic appeal. Mother on the other hand, represents a simple content way of life where culture and heritage are valued for both its usefulness as well as its personal significance. The story clearly endorses Mama s simple, unsophisticated view of heritage, and shows disdain for Dee s materialistic connection to her heritage. We will write a custom essay on Everyday Use contrasting family members specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This is demonstrated from the outset of the short story, we learn very quickly that the mother (narrator) has inherited many customs and traditions from her ancestors. She describes herself as a large big-boned woman with rough man-working hands (485). She also describes here various abilities including, I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing. I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog. One winter I knocked a bull calf straight in the brain between the eyes with a sledgehammer and had the meat hung up to chill by nightfall. (485) While these feats are not extraordinary, Walker exemplifies what Mother has learned from her ancestors, and that being resilient and tough is a part of her heritage. Mother is very proud of her abilities and accomplishments. Mrs. Johnson, the mother, describes Dee as light skinned with nice hair and a full figure (486). She recounts Dee s childhood and her appreciation of nice things. She was not the least upset when the family home burned to the ground while she was just a girl, Why don t you do a dance around the ashes? I d wanted to ask her. She had hated the house that much. (486) Dee s character in the story is a direct relation to any number of people in society that do not know or are confused about their heritage. She is struggling to create an identity for herself, and is confused as to what it encompasses. She grasps at African tradition and culture, yet fails to acknowledge her own African American culture. This happened all over America, particularly in the North, in the 1960 s, following the civil rights movement. Dee is misconstruing her heritage as material goods, as opposed to her ancestor s habits and way of life. This may be due in part to her leaving her hometown and becoming an educated, sophisticated young woman. Dee s direct heritage is that of African Americans. When Dee informs her mother and Maggie she has changed her name she states, I couldn t stand it anymore, being named after the people that oppress me. (488) Dee s mother is quick to point out that Dee is in fact named after her aunt, who was named after her grandmother. While Dee may not be an African name it is based on ancestors, tradition, and the heritage of the Johnson family. Dee discards this name in favor of an African name, Wangero, that, although is African, is not directly related to her heritage. It has not been passed down through generations, nor does it symbolize anything directly related to her family. The contradiction of culture and heritage becomes more evident as the quilts are introduced into the story. While the Johnson s sit down to lunch, Dee begins to admire the butter churn and the dasher. .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 , .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .postImageUrl , .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 , .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:hover , .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:visited , .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:active { border:0!important; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 { 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; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:active , .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .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; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8 .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u292a0b368d3d19fe7f72e2fd5aadf0d8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Customer Service Representative Morale EssayAlthough she has a brief recollection of Uncle Buddy whittling the churn, she is much more interested in the churn top as a centerpiece for her alcove table. Following lunch Dee re-discovers the quilts. The quilts were composed of an eclectic array of material including, scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrell s Paisley shirts. And one teeny faded blue piece that was from Great Grandpa Ezra s uniform he wore in the Civil War. (489) Dee decides she wants the quilts to hang on the wall and deems the priceless. However, Mrs. Johnson clearly remembers offering Dee a quilt to take away for university and Dee proclaiming they were old fashioned and out of style. The argument over the quilts symbolizes the black woman s dilemma in confronting the future. After Mrs. Johnson confirms she is giving the quilts to Maggie, Dee states, You just don t understand Your heritage. (491) Dee believes heritage to be as tangible as a quilt on the wall or a quaint butter churn in the alcove. She is aware the items are hand made by her ancestors, nevertheless remains unaware of the knowledge and history behind them. Mrs. Johnson knows the traditions and history behind the quilts; they put their ancestor s memories to everyday use. While Dee may be working towards a period of enlightenment, she certainly did not demonstrate the insight that may come as she matures. Through Everyday Use Walker shows that culture is neither name changes nor speaking a foreign tongue. One s culture and heritage are taught, from one generation to the next, not suddenly picked up or acquired. A person who possesses real heritage and culture make use of it every day of their life.