The importance of patriotism (aiguozhuyi) for Chinese intellectuals A study w.r.t. Confucian values, historical events and the idea of national humiliation Essay Example

The importance of patriotism (aiguozhuyi) for Chinese intellectuals: A study w.r.t. Confucian values, historical events and the idea of national humiliation Essay It is a widely acknowledged fact that Chinese society and its prevailing culture are closely linked to its unique conception of terms such as ‘nation’ and ‘patriotism’. Contributing to this uniqueness is the fact that Imperial China of the last five centuries had evaded attempts by European Imperial powers to fully colonize it. Barring the trade arrangements with leading superpowers of the imperial age and special cases such as Hong Kong, China had charted an independent course for itself, and to this extent its understanding of nationalism and patriotism are quite unique. The Japanese invasion and occupation of large tracts of North Eastern China during the Second World War had threatened this independence and compelled Chinese intellectuals to construct a new image and identity for the country and its people. It then becomes interesting to see what ideas and which intellectuals influenced the development of the brand of patriotism that is now recognized wi th the Chinese. The rest of this essay is an endeavor towards this end. Renowned sociologist and philosopher Jurgen Habermas’ coining of the term ‘constitutional patriotism’ (xianzheng aiguozhuyi) in reference to China, has had a big influence on Chinese intellectuals in the last few years. Under constitutional patriotism, â€Å"a kind of ethical bond would enable the citizens of complex societies to recognize themselves as members of their polity, a post-traditional community bound and motivated by the pursuit of equal justice under the law rather than by ethnic and cultural association† (Habermas, as quoted in Davies, 2007). While many Chinese intellectuals appreciated Habermas’ analysis and explanation of this brand of patriotism, he was not without his detractors. Among those who were critical of Habermas’ views were Xu Youyu, who reckoned that â€Å"this implicit nationalism is a flawed account of cultural pluralism: one that runs the risk of affirming all forms of difference-including fascist culture and id eas of slavery-at the expense of a properly universal conception of human rights† (Davies, 2007). Cao Weidong, on the other hand was more sympathetic toward Habermas’ conception. Hence opinion is divided among the Chinese intelligentsia on the validity and importance of Habermas’ analyses. We will write a custom essay sample on The importance of patriotism (aiguozhuyi) for Chinese intellectuals: A study w.r.t. Confucian values, historical events and the idea of national humiliation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The importance of patriotism (aiguozhuyi) for Chinese intellectuals: A study w.r.t. Confucian values, historical events and the idea of national humiliation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The importance of patriotism (aiguozhuyi) for Chinese intellectuals: A study w.r.t. Confucian values, historical events and the idea of national humiliation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A distinction has to be made between the two terms ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’, as they are closely allied. The former is used more loosely in public discourse and it encapsulates feeling of solidarity and the emotion of belonging to a community at the individual level. In this way, patriotism is more of a personal expression of allegiance to a country and its people. Nationalism, on the other hand is a more arcane concept, which finds application in scholarly policy analysis. Here, the word is used to refer to the collective aspirations of members of an ethnic group (or its representatives) to achieve/maintain a status of legitimacy for their nation. But in the case of People’s Republic of China an overwhelming majority of the population belongs to the Han ethnic group and its leadership derives almost exclusively from this group (Fairbrother, 2003). In this context, patriotism and nationalism in China become interchangeable and come to represent the same set of aspirations and feelings. In the West, there are often misconceptions about what Chinese nationalism actually entails. But under the leadership of Hu Jintao and the neo-liberal economic policies he oversaw, a clearer picture of Chinese nationalism had emerged: â€Å"Watching from their offices in Beijing, the officials of Hu’s government exemplified the tradition of state nationalism, which has roots deep in the imperial past but today closely identifies the Chinese nation with the Communist state. The Chinese government officially expresses nationalist sentiment as aigu, which in Chinese means â€Å"loving the state,† or aiguozhuyi, which means â€Å"love and support for China,† a China that is always indistinguishable from the Communist state. State nationalism demands that citizens subordinate their individual interests to those of the state. And in its relations with foreign powers, China’s current rulers believe that the state must prudently balance nationalist imperatives against other objectives, particularly the overriding goal of economic modernization†. (Terrill, et. Al, 2005) With this brand of ‘state nationalism’ being the accepted norm, Chinese intellectuals of recent times have fostered the formation of national identity. And the idea of ‘national humiliation’ is an integral part of this process. In other words, influential Chinese thinkers â€Å"have delimited national culture, redefined group membership, recreated social hierarchy and rewritten history† (Gries, 2004). In this interpretive framework, the history of China is seen as a series of humiliating events that should be compensated for in the present. As early as 1840, Chinese scholar Fend Guifen referred to the intrusion of European powers in the affairs of the nation: â€Å"We are shamefully humiliated by the four [Western] nations, not because our climate, soil, or products are inferior, but actually because our people are inferior †¦ Our inferiority is not due to nature, it is inferiority due to ourselves. If it were inborn, it would be a shame, but a shame we could not do anything about. Since the inferiority is due to ourselves, it is still a greater shame, but a shame we can do something about.† (Gries, 2004) Although Guifen’s assessment might come across as being self-deprecating, it is not unusual for the time. Another important official of Imperial China, Kang Youwei, poignantly noted in his June 1898 memorandum to the throne that the subordinate role of women in Chinese society is a constant source of humiliation for him. Liang Qichao, a progressive scholar of the same era had written in his Travel Notes on the New Continent, that he â€Å"could only sigh and weep when I compare our nation with theirs [America]† (Terrill, et. al, 2005). Some intellectuals even lamented that their people’s fate is worser than that of blacks in America, who were liberated at the end of the Civil War. Hence, â€Å"The theme of humiliation, still pervasive in China today, emerged as a consciously constructed emotion during the second half of the nineteenth century, and was given an emotional content through a long and complex process of internalization and habituation. Humiliation implied a sense of collective responsibility. The causes of failure could be attributed to the nation’s lack of effort or ability, not to external factors independent of human will. It promoted voluntarist strategies of national revenge. Self-accusation completed the idea of causal attribution. The nation-race exacerbated the feeling of humiliation by accusing itself of failure† (Brook Frolic, 1997) At times though, the basis for fostering the feeling of humiliation is rather far-fetched. Renowned social thinker and translator of Western philosophical works Yan Fu has a rather paranoid vision of insecurity for the Chinese people. During the late nineteenth century when he lived, he was alerting his readership to the possibility of the Chinese race being destroyed by black, brown and white races. Following Yan Fu’s assessment of threat to the race, subsequent generations of Chinese intellectuals have played upon it and magnified it so that nationalist and patriotic feelings are consolidated in the collective Chinese psyche and totalitarian excesses are tolerated for this cause. For example, a contemporary legal scholar Yuan Hongbing from Beijing University had recently called for â€Å"a new heroism in order to save the fate of the race and for a totalitarian regime which would fuse the weak, ignorant and selfish individuals of the race into a powerful whole†¦only pu rification through blood and fire would provide a solution to China’s problems† (Yang, 2007).

Argumentative Paper

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Employment Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Employment Discrimination - Essay Example The argument put forward by this commission on behalf of the employee was that the medical disorder she suffered from was classified as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) around January of 2013. This, therefore, provided a basis for valid suing and demand for compensation to the affected person. A close examination of how Cody – the employee was sacked it truly appears to have violated the Americans with Disabilities Act since after she suffered seizures the company required her to go for medical clearance that she complied. The doctors cleared her and found she would still perform her duties effectively but only under a few restrictions. This should have convinced the organization to let her continue with her job and observe the restrictions provided for in the doctor's report. The organization, however, gave her an unpaid leave and went ahead to sack her. The argument of EEOC was in accordance to title 7 if the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which was amended in 2009 to include the recovery of compensatory and punitive damages in cases of intentional violation of Title 7, Americans with Disabilities and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act (EEOC, np). In my opinion, after a close analysis of the case, I think the sacking was intentional. This decision is derived from the fact that the organization already had the medical report of the employee before she was relieved of her duties.

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Gender and Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Impact of Cane Toad Introduction Into Australian Habitat

Impact of Cane Toad Introduction Into Australian Habitat Biology Issue Report: The impact of the introduction of Cane toads into the Australian habitat. Cane toads (Rhinella Marina) were introduced to north-eastern Australia in 1935 in an attempt to control the sugar cane pests damaging the crops of farmers. Cane toads are large toads native to Central and South America. They are voracious predators, eating a diet consisting mainly of arthropods. The main habitat of cane toads was originally thought to be humid, tropical conditions, however it is now thought that they are able to tolerate a much broader range of environments and climates. This has enabled them to quickly thrive in north-eastern Australia. The numbers of cane toads in Australia have increased rapidly since their introduction into the environment and many people are concerned about the threat that they may pose to the native wildlife of Australia. The aim of this report is to examine the nature of the threat to the native wildlife and to explore whether their numbers can be reduced. The spread of cane toads The increasing numbers of cane toads in Australia has led to concern in both the scientific community and amongst the general public about the threat that they pose to Australian ecosystems. The spread of cane toads in north-eastern Australia has occurred at an unprecedented rate however it is difficult to accurately determine the true extent of the species’ dispersal due to the inherent margin of error that exists when attempting to conduct a species census (Shine 2010). In 2010 Jane Elith and her colleagues used the case of the cane toads to explore whether there is an accurate method by which the future distribution of invasive species can be determined, taking into account the shifting range of many invasive species (Elith, et al. 2010). They concluded that an ecophysiological model is the most accurate way to predict the future extent of the spread of an invasive species such as cane toads (Elith et al.2010). This model considers both the species’ characteristics a nd the environment into which it is expanding when determining their possible future spread. This highlights one difficulty with the current suggestions regarding the rate at which cane toads are spreading in Australia. It has been estimated by some researchers that cane toads are spreading at a rate of 5-6km a year in northern Australia; however it can be argued that these suggestions do not take into account the changing climates into which the toads are spreading. Whilst some habitats, such as tropical climates are particularly suited to the cane toads, others, for example dry habitats, are more challenging environments for cane toads. Therefore their spread into different habitats may be more uneven than predicted. Implications of the spread of cane toads Environmental Implications The diet of cane toads consists predominately of invertebrate species, particularly ants, termites and beetles. This has led some to question whether the introduction of cane toads into the Australian habitat may have a damaging effect on the populations of such invertebrates. In 2006 M.J Greenlees and his colleagues carried out experiments to explore the effect that the presence of cane toads in small enclosures had upon native invertebrates (Greenlees et al. 2006). In their experiment they introduced large and small cane toads and the equivalent biomass of native frogs to different controlled enclosures and used pitfall traps to measure the number of invertebrates found in the enclosure after the introduction of both cane toads and native frogs. The results of their experiment suggested that the numbers of invertebrates in the enclosures of both the cane toads and the native frogs decreased by a similar amount, and they concluded that the cane toads had a similar effect to native f rogs on the numbers of invertebrates. This result is displayed in Figure 1.3 which shows that the richness and abundance of invertebrates in both the cane toad’s enclosures and the Cyclorana and Litoria native frogs’ enclosures was of a similar level (Greenlees et al. 2006). This experiment provides some evidence that the perceived threat of cane toads to the Australian native species may not be as great as previously feared. The most serious threat posed by cane toads to the native species of Australia can be argued to come from the possibility of lethal toxic ingestion of cane toad poison by predators. Cane toads are poisonous, to varying degrees, throughout their lifecycle and bufonid poisons are particularly dangerous to some of Australia’s native animals. Previous to the introduction of the cane toad, many native Australian species had no evolutionary exposure to bufonid poisons, and therefore no immunity to them. Many of Australia’s native predators prey on anurans and have not yet learned to distinguish between native frogs and cane toads. When mouthed or ingested the toads secrete a toxin from their shoulder glands which can prove lethal to many predators. There have been many anecdotal reports in Australia about the deaths of predators such as freshwater crocodiles, northern quolls, goannas and northern death adders, due to the ingestion of cane toad poison. These anecdotal reports are hard to quantify however and cannot be used to provide reliable evidence for the effects of cane toads on large predators. The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is a marsupial carnivore, native to Australia, and found predominately in western and northern Australia. The northern quoll is a predatory species that is particularly threatened by the invasion of cane toads into their habitat. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 the northern quoll is listed as an endangered species and this is the result of the local population extinctions that have occurred as a result of the lethal toxic ingestion of cane toads by this species. Radio tracking of quolls in various studies has shown that the presence of even a few cane toads in the habitat of quolls can decrease the population of quolls in these areas. Without intervention the spread of cane toads could result in the extinction of one of Australia’s smallest mammalian predators. Social Implications Cane toads are disliked by many people because of the perceived threat that they pose to the native wildlife of Australia. This threat has been featured in numerous news reports such as the article in Figure 1.4 and has led to growing concern amongst the general public about the threat that cane toads may pose to humans. In order for cane toad venom to have an effect on humans it needs to be absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose or eyes. Cane toad venom is a bufotoxin which contains cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycosides are compounds which contain the sugar glycoside which has an effect on the force of the cardiac muscle’s contraction (Cohen et al. 2003). When absorbed into the human body the toxin can also cause gastrointestinal problems. Cane toad poisoning has led to the death of some people and because of this many Australians feel threatened by the spread of cane toads into their community. This dislike of cane toads has made community toad-culling eve nts popular amongst the general public. The Australian government has also introduced leaflets aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of cane toads and how to protect families against them (Department of Environment and Conservation, n.d). Can the spread of cane toads be halted? The Australian government has concluded that any attempts to cull cane toads on a large scale would be unfeasible and that there is no prospect for national eradication of cane toads in Australia (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2011). The Australian government has turned its focus away from preventing the spread of cane toads, and towards the protection of endangered species such as the northern quoll. One program, called the Territory Wildlife Park introduced a captive breeding and research program in 2006 to prevent the species’ extinction (Territory Wildlife Park, n.d). The program has also introduced a project to train their captive quolls to avoid cane toads (O’Donnell et al. 2010). After training the quolls to avoid cane toads through aversion therapy, the ‘toad-smart’ quolls and some ‘toad-naà ¯ve’ quolls were released into the wild wearing radio collars. The survival rates of both types of quoll can be seen in figure 1.6. This table shows that the male and female toad-smart quolls had a much greater mean survival time in the wild, it also suggests that females are less likely to be poisoned by toad ingestion. Male quolls appear to attempt to ingest the toads more fr equently with 7 toad related deaths accumulatively in the males, and the toad-naà ¯ve male quolls had the biggest proportion of toad-related deaths at 5 deaths. Figure 1.7 shows that the toad-smart quolls had a greater daily survival percentage than the toad-naà ¯ve quolls and this provides evidence to support the argument that it is better to invest time and money in projects that aim to help native wildlife live alongside cane toads than to try to eradicate the toads completely. The most recent research on methods that could be used to halt the spread of cane toads has focussed on whether there is a way to prevent the toads reaching specific areas during arid seasons. In 2015 Mike Letnic and his colleagues identified ‘invasion hubs’, areas that cane toads initially colonise and then use as a base from which to expand their population (Letnic et al. 2015). They hypothesised that if the access of cane toads to areas like this was restricted, then they would be unable to establish a successful population in previously unpopulated areas. To test their hypothesis the researchers maintained toad-proof fences around dams where toads had previously been eradicated. They then measured the numbers of dead toads around the fences in both dry and wet seasons and observed the numbers of live toads in the area. The results of their study were encouraging and suggested that toads are attracted to these ‘invasion hubs’ and when their access to thes e is denied their mortality rate rises and population numbers decrease (Letnic et al. 2015). This study is particularly important because it highlights a method that could be used to prevent the invasion of cane toads in areas of particular ecological interest. Review of sources The first source I will review is the paper ‘Effects of an invasive anuran [the cane toad (Bufo marinus)] on the invertebrate fauna of a tropical Australian floodplain’ by M.J. Greenlees et al (2006). This research aims to provide quantitative data exploring the effect that invading cane toads are having upon the native invertebrates of Australia. The authors highlight the fact that the effect of cane toads upon the native ecosystems is poorly understood due to a lack of experimental data. In the light of this they conducted a simple experimental trial that produced data that could be analysed to provide an indication of the ecological effects of this invasive species. The researchers used simple methods such as controlled enclosures and pitfall traps to conduct their experiment. Whilst it can be argued that the controlled enclosures used in this experiment will not accurately reflect the true ecology of natural habitats, the researchers acknowledge this in their paper a nd suggest that their experiment be viewed as the first step towards more detailed research. I found this experiment to be thorough in their control of variables and in their analysis of the results. I believe that because the researchers are from the University of Sydney, a well-respected institution, their experiment can be viewed as trustworthy and their results credible. The second source I will review is the website http://www.canetoadsinoz.com/invasion.html (Cane toads in Oz, 2011). This website was created by Richard Shine and his ‘TEAM BUFO’. Shine is a Professor of Biology at Sydney University and is one of the key scientific figures in the field of cane toad research. The website created by Shine and his team examines all aspects of cane toads and their threat to Australia’s native wildlife. Whilst the website is undoubtedly more informal than a scientific paper, it can still be used as a comprehensive tool with which to gain more information about cane toads. It can be argued that websites such as this are more effective at engaging the public and informing them of environmental issues because, in comparison to scientific papers, the easily accessible website is more likely to be read and used as a source of information by the public. Conclusion The spread of cane toads in Australia is an issue that has concerned many people. The scientific research surrounding this issue is particularly interesting because it gives an insight into how the true reality of a threat from an invasive species may be very different from the original perceived threat. Cane toad poison has undoubtedly had a lethal effect on native predators, causing some to become endangered. However not all species appear to have populations detrimentally effected by the presence of the toads. This shows the extent to which natural selection and adaptation allows organisms to cope with environmental threats. Populations may decrease, but they also increase if natural selection allows a species to recover. The spread of cane toads in Australia is now too great to prevent and so scientists are experimenting with methods that allow Australian ecosystems and native species to be conserved and protected alongside the presence of cane toads. These early studies are beginning to provide positive results that suggest that whilst the spread of cane toads may be lethal to some species, a focus on conservation may limit the danger and help to preserve the unique species living in the Australian ecosystem. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cane Toads in Oz, 2011. Available from: http://www.canetoadsinoz.com/invasion.html. [26 February 2015] Cohen, R.A., Gowda, R.M., Khan, A. ‘Toad venom poisoning: resemblance to digoxin toxicity and therapeutic implications’, Heart, 89:4 (2003): e:14 Department of Environment and Conservation, Protecting children and pets from cane toads, Government of Australia. Available from: http://archive.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/pw/vp/toad/cane_toads_protect.pdf. [26 February 2015] Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2011. Threat abatement plan for the biological effects, including lethal toxic ingestion, caused by cane toads, Government of Australia. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/2dab3eb9-8b44-45e5-b249-651096ce31f4/files/tap-cane-toads.pdf. [26 February 2015] Elith, J., Kearney, M. and Phillips, S., ‘The art of modelling range-shifting species.’, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 1(2010): 330–342. Greenlees, M. J., Brown, G. P., Webb, J. K., Phillips, B. L. and Shine, R. ‘Effects of an invasive anuran [the cane toad (Bufo marinus)] on the invertebrate fauna of a tropical Australian floodplain.’, Animal Conservation, 9 (2006): 431–438 Letnic, M., Webb, J. K., Jessop, T. S., Dempster, T. (2015), ‘Restricting access to invasion hubs enables sustained control of an invasive vertebrate’. Journal of Applied Ecology. doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12390 O’Donnell, S., Webb, J.K., Shine, R. ‘Conditioned taste aversion enhances the survival of an endangered predator imperilled by a toxic invader’, Journal of Applied Ecology, 47 (2010): 558-565 Shine, R. ‘The Ecological Impact of Invasive Cane Toads (Bufo Marinus) in Australia’, The Quarterly Review of Biology,85:3, (2010): 253-291 Territory Wildlife Park. Available from: http://www.territorywildlifepark.com.au/about/quoll.shtml. [26 February 2015] Word Count: 2402

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Lette

Use of Symbols in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚   In many stories, symbols included by the author add deeper meaning.   Nathaniel Hawthorne is one author who mastered the skill of using symbols effectively.   The Scarlet Letter is regarded as a "symbolic masterpiece" due to Hawthorne's exceptional use of the scarlet letter, the setting, and Pearl as symbols.    One of the main symbols of the novel is the basis for the title of the novel itself.   Hester Prynne's scarlet letter is attached to her dress, and appears "in fine red cloth surrounded with an elaborate embroidery with fantastic flourishes of gold thread" (Hawthorne 60).   The letter is said to have "the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity and enclosing her in a sphere by herself" (Hawthorne 61).   The letter seems to be the focal point of Hester's figure, and the townspeople obsess about the blazing red sign of her sin for a long time after Hester's ignominy.    Hester's fantastically embellished red letter takes on many meanings as a symbol.   The gold thread with which the letter is embroidered symbolizes Hester's mockery of the Puritan way of punishment. A female spectator in the market place remarks, "Why, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and make a pride out of what they ... meant for a punishment?" (Hawthorne 61).   The embellishment of the letter physically displays Hester's reaction to her punishment.   Her strong will not only accepts the challenge that the Puritan church has laid before her, but she also laughs in mockery at it. The scarlet letter also shows the triviality of the community's system of punishment.   Whenever Hester walks outside of her cottag... ...efers to her being a blessing to Hester.   Pearl gives Hester a reason to live, and helps to keep Hester's spirits strong.  Ã‚      Hawthorne's use of symbols clearly enhances The Scarlet Letter.   From the setting to the characters themselves, the novel is filled with symbols that work together to provide a deeper, allegorical meaning.   The symbolism contained in Hawthorne's works provokes much thought in the reader, through which the reader can enjoy the story much more.   For this reason, The Scarlet Letter can accurately be described as a "symbolic masterpiece."    Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel.   The Scarlet Letter.   New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1980.    Bradford, William.   "The Errand of the Early Puritans."   Class handout.   March 2002.    Winthrop, John.   "Life in Puritan New England."   Class handout.   March 2002.   

Anthem Analysis Essay

Anthem is a novel which describes a future in which people have lost all wisdom of individualism, to the point where people don’t even use the words â€Å"I† or â€Å"me.† It is a tribute to one’s ego, as in the value of individualism and one’s uniqueness. By the end of the novel, the main character, Prometheus, comes to understand that their battle is one that is impossible to loose. The liberty that they died to save can never pass away. Every human’s inner-self will always desire freedom, which can’t be killed by any leader, dictator, or ruler like the society in which they lived in. The society claimed that all of his actions were sins, due to the fact they wanted everybody in the society to be an equal, and they don’t like it when people strive more than others, like Prometheus did. He decided to choose how to live, instead of letting someone choose for him. That is what Prometheus grew to learn, that freedom is necessary, and can’t be shattered, and that is why it is impossible to loose their battle. The author, Ayn Rand, made that clear in this novel, while portraying diction, syntax, and figures of speech. Rand uses diction in the novel to state that it is good to be an individual instead of being a part of a matching set. â€Å"Our name is Equality†¦ We are twenty†¦ We are six feet†¦ We were born†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , is a symbol of â€Å"unity† that the author shows us in the novel, she uses plural pronouns such as we, our, their, etc., whenever she means one person because the community in the novel treats everyone as an equal and singular pronouns do not exist. Prometheus calls Gaea â€Å"The Golden One† to emphasize that she is different from the others, he actually looks at her differently than he does to other men, which is a sin in the community because you may not love one person in specific, you must love all your brothers equally. Knowing the word â€Å"Ego† is the best way to understand the concept of this novel. Ayn Rand uses the word, â€Å"Ego† to express self individualism, your ego is something that makes u special from anyone else, it defines you as someone that is distinct, and that’s what the author is portraying. The author uses syntax to help the reader understand the tone, and develop the main character’s understanding of his actions. The quote, â€Å"We shall not report our find to the City Council. We shall not report it to any men.† demonstrates that Prometheus felt that if he reported the tunnel to the city, then he would keep letting them walk all over the community, and decides to keep it to himself because he wanted freedom for once. The author writes, â€Å"This God, this one word: ‘I’† as a symbol of his praise to the word, it emphasizes his first real taste of freedom. The use of anaphora is illustrated at the beginning of chapter 12 when the main character, Prometheus, keeps repeating the word â€Å"I† to show that he truly now knows the meaning of the word, to be an individual. Ayn Rand uses figures of speech to demonstrate that individualism is a huge part of life, and everybody should have it no matter what, and helps understand the characters more thoroughly. The author uses allusion when she gives the main characters, Equality and Liberty, the names Prometheus and Gaea. Prometheus stole fire from the gods, and gave it to the humans, and Gaea was the mother of earth and of all gods. Irony is demonstrated in the novel when Prometheus talks about how he felt happy when he was committing â€Å"sins† while he was in a dark and lonely tunnel working on his experiments, but then he feels sad and depressed whenever he is in the white, bright room, with all of his brothers. Individualism is a huge part of someone, it identifies you as someone distinct than anyone else, and it is what makes you special. If you don’t have individualism then you might as well not have a face, you’re not different from anyone else, you are a person that has no true identity, and is identical to everyone else. Individualism allows you to have a name, unlike the story, that also makes you distinct from anyone else. The novel, Anthem, is an incredible story that makes you realize that you are unique in your own special way, and that everyone deserves freedom of who they truly are no matter what.

Orientalism in Heart Of darkness Essay

It is common to divide the world in the West and the East. This division has been used to differentiate two parts of the world that are inherently not alike either in cultural, social, political or economical aspects. However, historically, both regions of the world have been tied in one way or the other. Even though technically speaking Africa is not west of Europe, during the 19th century, African colonies were highly appreciated for their wealth and for slave trade by the European powers, a relation similar to that of the Asian colonies had with Europe, and so in that perspective we can say Africa is part of the Orient. The clash between the imperial powers and Africa eventually led to the submission of the latter and therefore created a particular point of view from where Europeans understood Africa and the relation they had with it. This mode of relating to their colonies and the cultural depictions made by Europeans were later given the term Orientalism by Edward Said. This clash of civilizations and the interplay between colonialist and natives from the colonial viewpoint, or in other words, their Orientalist prism, is one of the themes that Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness develops. Conrad displays the consequences of a society attempting to impose itself on another, illustrating the personal tragedy of an individual who lives through this clash. Orientalism is based on the attempt to incorporate the Orient as a new resource, either cultural or economical, being something different and exotic to the Western standards. Historically, the western men have been determined by their desire to embark on voyages to new worlds; worlds that are to bring prosperity to the society these men belong to so that society can progress and grow. That is how often times, when western men do this; the potential consequences of carrying these enterprises are not questioned. These consequences are far-reaching and inescapable too all fields of knowledge, both practical and theoretical, not because they are born from great colonizing projects, but because the imperialist adopts the same mindset to manage the colonies and to know about the colonies. In Said’s words: â€Å"†¦For Orientalism brings one up directly against that question—that  is, to realizing that political imperialism governs an entire field of study, imagination, and scholarly institutions—in such a way as to make its avoidance an intellectual and historical impossibility† (Said, 1977) The western man accepts the influence of this relation when he relates to the orient in this imperialist manner, considering that even though the 19th century colonies were established for economic and trading purposes, such as the ivory trade, the relation extensively transcends the economical. By such relation, new doors are opened in many aspects, since a clash cultures that are completely different leaves both parties at odds and in a position where neither one knows exactly how to act. Said studies â€Å"†¦ Orientalism as a dynamic exchange between individual authors and the large political concerns shaped by the three great empires—British, French, American—in whose intellectual and imaginative territory the writing was produced.† (1977). Clearly, Said intends to focus his study of Orientalism on how the authors of the literature produced in colonial times were affected by the political and economical ideas of their time. Therefore, there is room to apply Said’s ideas to Conrad’s work mentioned earlier, which deals exactly with the same themes. Conrad as an author is influenced by the Orientalism and thus tries to portray this concept in his literature. Within the frame of Orientalism, stands out the idea that western society will never be able to feel equal to the oriental one, simply because they are different altogether. However, it is accepted that they can influence each other. Thus, the work of Conrad, even though it is not more that his own feeling and portrayal of imperialism, does entail within itself a particular message. The Heart of Darkness shows the character of Marlow as an explorer hired by the Belgian Crown who goes travelling around the African colonies, questions his reality and what happens in that continent. He sees the misery of the colonized people and at the same time the misery of the Europeans colonizers, who get transformed in selfish, violent and wretched beings. In certain way, Marlow happens to witness the worst of human beings. He says: â€Å"†¦You know I hate, detest, and can’t bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appals me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies— which is exactly what I hate  and detest in the world— what I want to forget. It makes me miserable and sick, like biting something rotten would do.† The experience of this expedition makes Marlow reflect on many things and makes him realize his own annoyance for the world he is experiencing. However, this annoyance, and the impossibility of making any change in the world he is into, causes him suffering. Moreover, he sees the colonized who are invaded and who feel alienated in their own land. The world that is shown through Marlow’s eyes goes to show that the human being who witnesses and who is part of this clash of cultures is the victim of a tragedy. This tragedy is at the basis of the concept of Orientalism since it presupposes the superiority of the imperial power as a race or nationality. This is precisely what Marlow sees. He sees the imperialist who controls everything just because he was born in Europe and he sees the subdued native who is not really sure of what it is happening since he does not naturally work under the codes he is ordered to follow. Thus, it is illustrated the impossibility of a true and genuine understanding between both worlds. The Orientalist prism is constructed around this impossibility, which will always be present, either in a very concrete affair such as commerce, or in a more abstract one, such as intellectual debate. Both the Orientalist and the Imperialist see the Orient with western eyes alone, and try to understand and to use the Orient for their own selfish, utilitarian motives, as if it were some new scientific invention from which the Western can get benefitted from. This tragedy, which Marlow lives in the flesh and that begins with the death of Kurtz and the feelings of loneliness of his mistress, is the one that Said seeks to change. â€Å"†¦I should like also to have contributed here is a better understanding of the way cultural domination has operated. If this stimulates a new kind of dealing with the Orient, indeed if it eliminates the â€Å"Orient† and â€Å"Occident† altogether, then we shall have advanced a little in the process of what Raymond Williams has called the â€Å"unlearning† of â€Å"the inherent dominative mode?’† (Said, 1977). Evidently, Said comments this with a touch of irony, since he knows that trying to eliminate something i nherent is impossible by simple logic. The â€Å"dominative mode†, being something inherent to the human being, is  impossible to eradicate from their nature. Both Said and Conrad speak about the tragedy of Orientalism in their own ways. Said argues that Orientalism entails inevitably Imperialism and the necessity of subjugation of a culture. So Orientalism it is based on interpreting the Orient in a simplistic and functional way for the West. On the other hand, this same tragedy of subjugation is what Marlow encounters in Africa. He understands that the parameters of European supremacy remain always unmet by the natives. Works Cited Said, E. (1977). Orientalism. London: Penguin.

Free Essays on Tylenol Scare

In the fall on 1982, seven people died mysteriously around Chicago’s West Side. Officials determined that each person who died had ingested an Extra-Strength Tylenol capsule, a product of the Johnson & Johnson Company, laced with cyanide. The news of the Chicago deaths spread quickly and caused a nationwide panic with the public. These poisonings made it necessary for the Johnson & Johnson Company to launch a public relations program to restore a good image in both their product and their corporation as a whole. Public Relations is defined as â€Å"the management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the public on whom its success or failure depends† (Broom, Center, Cutlip, 1). Keeping a good relationship with the public was exactly what the Johnson & Johnson Company tried to do. Officials of the company made it clear that the tampering of the Tylenol capsules had not taken place at its plants. A spokesman for Johnson & Johnson told the media of the company’s strict quality control and said that the poisonings could not have been performed in the plants. Because the cyanide laced Tylenol had been discovered in shipments from both of the company’s plants and had only been found in the Chicago area, authorities concluded that any tampering must have occurred once the Tylenol had reached Illinois. After the crisis, Johnson & Johnson faced a dilemma. They needed to find the bet way to deal with the tampering incident without destroying the reputation of their company and their most profitable product, Tylenol. The company immediately alerted consumers across the nation, via the media, not to buy or ingest any type of Tylenol product. They told consumers not to resume using the product until the extent of the tampering could be determined. Johnson & Johnson, along with stopping the production and advertising of Tylenol, recalled all Tylenol capsules from the ... Free Essays on Tylenol Scare Free Essays on Tylenol Scare In the fall on 1982, seven people died mysteriously around Chicago’s West Side. Officials determined that each person who died had ingested an Extra-Strength Tylenol capsule, a product of the Johnson & Johnson Company, laced with cyanide. The news of the Chicago deaths spread quickly and caused a nationwide panic with the public. These poisonings made it necessary for the Johnson & Johnson Company to launch a public relations program to restore a good image in both their product and their corporation as a whole. Public Relations is defined as â€Å"the management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the public on whom its success or failure depends† (Broom, Center, Cutlip, 1). Keeping a good relationship with the public was exactly what the Johnson & Johnson Company tried to do. Officials of the company made it clear that the tampering of the Tylenol capsules had not taken place at its plants. A spokesman for Johnson & Johnson told the media of the company’s strict quality control and said that the poisonings could not have been performed in the plants. Because the cyanide laced Tylenol had been discovered in shipments from both of the company’s plants and had only been found in the Chicago area, authorities concluded that any tampering must have occurred once the Tylenol had reached Illinois. After the crisis, Johnson & Johnson faced a dilemma. They needed to find the bet way to deal with the tampering incident without destroying the reputation of their company and their most profitable product, Tylenol. The company immediately alerted consumers across the nation, via the media, not to buy or ingest any type of Tylenol product. They told consumers not to resume using the product until the extent of the tampering could be determined. Johnson & Johnson, along with stopping the production and advertising of Tylenol, recalled all Tylenol capsules from the ...

People of Filipino Heritage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

People of Filipino Heritage - Essay Example The literature review unveils some key findings that can be a hindrance to the provision of culture competent care. In communication, the Filipinos culture requires a nurse to demonstrate a high level of understanding and compassion through the use of the right and respectful title for the elderly. Nonverbal communication and respect for personal space are other aspects that will make communication effective. A brief look at the family organization and roles reveals that roles are given to members according to their age and ability. Those who can work fend for the family while the elderly are caregivers to the infants and the young. In health care, Filipinos use both traditional and contemporary medication. The traditional or herbalist intervention is the initial consultant before resorting to hospitals if conditions persist. Economic stagnation and a constantly growing labor force in the Philippines is the main cause of its emigration policy. The aim of this emigration policy is to export the surplus labor to other parts of the world and alleviate the level of pressure that the home economy is facing in an attempt to provide jobs (Zontini, 2010). In this study, the asymmetry of migration by gender is also a subject of discussion. Many of the literature cited in this work point to the socio-economic aspects of life as the main cause of migration from Philippines. The patterns of emigration of the Filipinos by gender have a number of differences. For most Filipino women, the countries that they migrate to present opportunities for female related jobs like nursing and health related functions. For their male compatriots, the countries they migrate to provide opportunities in fields that are labor intensive and masculine jobs. Examples of the counties that the males migrate to are Gulf region countries with oil and that provide labor intensive jobs. Females, on the

Various organizational police functions (local, state, federal) Essay

Various organizational police functions (local, state, federal) - Essay Example Local police officers: apprehend violators; preserve peace; prevent crime; enforce the law; protect human life and property; and serve the public (Johnson and Cox III, 2004). According to Shane (2010), the functions above differ from one another hierarchically [roles and powers are assigned to these levels hierarchically]. Federal police agencies enforce particular types of federal laws, state officers enforce state laws, and local police officers operate at the county level. In respect to the foregoing, a federal agent has jurisdiction over the entire country, while a local police agent has his jurisdiction limited to his town, city or county. A state police agent has jurisdiction over an entire state. There is no better solution to the way the present law enforcement system operates at each level because the hierarchical arrangement of the security systems allows for systematic distribution of roles and duties, and thereby helping extirpate confusion and superimposition of roles. Likewise, with this current system, law and order can be effectively and efficiently discharged, since there is flow of hierarchy. For instance, federal agencies such as the FBI can easily apprehend a criminal by acting on reports from state