An Identity In Crisis in Things Fall Apart Essay - 1773 Words

An Identity in Crisis Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a story about personal beliefs,customs, and also a story about an identity confliction. There is struggle between family, culture, and religion of the Ibo tribes. It shows how things fall apart when these beliefs and customs are challenged and how a personal identity changes for a man. The novel concerns the life of Okonkwo, a leader and local wrestling champion throughout the villages of the Ibo ethnic group of Umuofia in Nigeria, Africa, his three wives, and his children. Throughout the novel, Okonkwo is internally challenged and slowly becomes someone that is no longer recognizable by his friends or his family. When Okonkwo faces change, his identity starts to fade.†¦show more content†¦The more wives and children that the man had defined him; it showed that he had power, respect, and wealth. There was also a group of elders and they were men in the tribe who had achieved high- ranking titles. They are the members that kept the o rder in the village. Their culture respected the seniors because they were filled with knowledge and wisdom. They had their own political structure; it was their way of life. Okonkwo believed in his tribe. He wanted nothing more than to be revered by his fellow tribe members. Okonkwo wanted to one day lead his tribe. He truly believed that there was no sacrifice too great for his kinsman. Okonkwo was dedicated to the life of the tribe. Early in the story, starts Okonkwos personal conflict between himself and his father, Unoka. Okonkwo was ruled by one passion - to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness (Achebe 13). Unoka was considered to be a failure. Okonkwo did not receive anything from his father. He inherited no farm, no money, and no title. Okonkwo was determined to have it allÂ… money, wives, food, and a farm. If there was daylight, Okonkwo was working his farm; if there was warrior to wrestle he wa s wrestling, and if there was an internal-tribe war he was fighting in it. It was in spite that Okonkwo became whom he did. The tribes hold great respect for men who had a title. A man within the tribe, who didnt haveShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of John Stuart Mill s Flags, Anthems, Art, And Traditions1693 Words   |  7 Pagesone’s self image and identity. These are all formed from experience and relationships between other citizens from your nation. Many people are naturally inclined to have a strong sense of nationalism towards the country in which they were born. Others may change their customs and beliefs when moving to another nation or develop preference to another nation’s customs. It is in the hands of the individual to make this ultimate decision. John Stuart Mill believes that identity is an important part inRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart950 Words   |  4 Pagesone is not as strong as one appears. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, O konkwo is a man determined to succeed, whose violent actions result from his need to find a sense of identity within his community. Through many different acts of violence, we see Okonkwo’s internal struggle with himself, the legacy of his father, and the changing society as a whole. Ultimately, Achebe uses violence throughout the novel to illustrate Okonkwo’s identity through the lens of his relationship with society, andRead MoreOkonkwo as Classic Greek Hero in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart1730 Words   |  7 PagesClassic Greek Hero in Things Fall Apart      Ã‚  Ã‚   A sense of foreboding envelops us from the first. We sense all will not end well for Umuofia. The chill of fear grips us as the world of Okonkwo and his clan truly falls apart. Okonkwo will need all of his power to fight the forces against his world, but tragically he is crippled by the most destructive malady of all, fear of himself. Achebe employs the form of classical Greek tragedy to tell his African tale of the rise and fall of Okonkwo.   Read MoreFreudian Theory Of Gangster Movies1141 Words   |  5 Pagesgot an identity crisis worry about. The ego is Carmela because she is a loving mother and supportive wife. However, she knows that Tony is in the mafia and feels guilty about risking her family, she accepts for what it is. Willis states, â€Å"She keeps hoping Tony will change but knows he probably will not† (30). Carmela wants Tony to change, but she knows he won’t. That is what Tony does for living and she accepts him for who he is. She just wants her family to be happy together and not be apart withRead MoreCultural Collisions in Heart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart902 Words   |  4 PagesHeart of Darkness and Things Fall Apart both take place in the imperialist era. Authors Joseph Conrad and Chinua Achebe, respectively, created main characters that came from different continents, but experienced similar cultural clashes. Although Marlow and Okonkwo have different lifestyles, they are both led to question their identities and make life-defining decisions. The most prominent difference between Marlow and Okonkwo is their cultural backgrounds. Marlow has no family, only his shipmatesRead MoreBiblical Worldview Essay1125 Words   |  5 Pagescould visit them (Romans 1:8-17) but is writing this letter to clear up the dissension between an identity crisis between the Jewish and Gentile members of the church as to whether they were to live by the law or by grace. Through this letter he writes many of the foundations of what it looks like to be a follow of Jesus and what that means for our battle with our nature and understanding our identity. Paul addresses the natural world, recognizing the hard truth about where it is in relation toRead MoreEffects Of Colonization Of Conrad s, Achebe s And Orwell s Post Colonial Works1163 Words   |  5 PagesAfrica, were infiltrated by European colonizers. In Things Fall Apart, Heart of Darkness, and â€Å"Shooting an Elephant†, we see the direct impact of the colonizers on the beliefs of the natives. Post-colonial literature centres mainly around how beliefs are questioned and eventually altered; a transformation that can manifest in numerous ways as it is not fixed. In each of the stories, a different form of colonization is elucidated. In Things Fall Apart, the curiosity of the natives with regards to theRead MoreEffects Of Colonialism1377 Words   |  6 Pagesthe indigenous people. This is not just a small problem either, as colonialism has stripped native cultures from the reaches of Alaska all the way to the jungles of Africa. Make no mistake, colonialism permanently al ters and forever destroys the identity of a culture through the butchering of customs, introduction of new ways, and racist attitudes of the colonizing country. First of all, to truly understand the effects of colonialism, you must understand what it is in a basic sense. Colonialism isRead MoreThe Edible Woman By Margaret Atwood1732 Words   |  7 Pagesissue of identity crisis Atwood’s novel is one that is very rich in its description and language use. Through it, different themes have come up to give it meaning. The main theme in this novel is the issue of finding oneself and identity crisis. Although the main agenda of the novel seems to be to repudiate the patriarchal oppression in society, Atwood also wants women to discover their potential and make a full assertion of their self-identity. She goes deeper into the hearts of the things that relateRead More A Truly Global World Essay1078 Words   |  5 Pagesan American would, with the click of a button. There are those, of course, who tend to argue against a globalized structure. Their focus, among other things, is the fact that with the spread of every pattern of thinking, no longer is any form uniqueness or originality maintained within our culture. No longer will people be able to stand apart from the crowd with such a fusion of thoughts and concepts. In addition, with continued free market globalization, more and more countries will continue

The Pros and Cons of Social Networking - 1378 Words

Introduction In this era the social networking plays vital role in everyone’s life. Everything has its pros and cons. The most common social networking site is facebook. Everyone has their own profile for free as a result billon users on facebook. Threats arising from social networking: System overload – Due to non-corporate usage the performance of network degraded. The drainage of resources may become powerful. As social networking sites widen into shared and streamed media. Malicious code – Web 2.0 applications and social networks often sit directly on the desktop, bypassing some of the corporate gateway controls – for example, most social networks support file transfer, quick messaging and email without importantly going through the corporate email gateway. Social engineering – discovering useful data that can be used for identity theft. Information leakage – probably the most visible threat to corporate and the one that tends to make newspaper headlines. Information will leak naturally from organisations, but social networking can make it very easy, and once the information enters the social network, it is almost hopeless to retrieve it. Legal liabilities -- dealing with harassment, regulatory oversight, ensuring that privacy obligations are being observed. External attack perhaps a more subtle form of attack, using social networking as a way to extract information that can be used to commit fraud. Harassment – by tacitly permitting socialShow MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of Social Networking1713 Words   |  7 PagesSocial networks benefit many people around the world. The information sent is fast. Only one click and there it is in front of us. If the people know how to use it, it’s in the right places, right times, and â€Å"right† click. A benefit of social networks is to keep us connected with family on the other side of the world. It also helps us to know what is going on in the world where we are staying. For example, I live in America and the other half of my family lives in Vietnam, and social networkingRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Social Networking Essay1792 Words   |  8 PagesSocial Networking sites are the quickly becoming the most popular kind of web sites on the web. The most popular of these websites , Myspace, Facebook and now Twitter, are on their way to the top of the charts for most visited sites on the Internet. Details from by Alexa.com, a company which publishes reports on web traffic, collected around May 2008 by Carter, author for  ¬Ã‚ ¬Phi Delta Kappan, reveals that Myspace.com is the sixth most popular website. (cited in Carter) While the throne of the mostRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Three Types of Online Communities- Chat Rooms, Social Network Sites, and Online Classrooms1455 Words   |  6 Pagesare: email distribution lists, message boards and newsgroups, instant message (IM) services, chat rooms, blogging sites, social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, and online classrooms/school groups. I intend to discuss three of these types of online communities – chat rooms, social network sites, and online classrooms/school groups – and look into the pros and cons of using each of these. First, I will talk about internet chat rooms. A chat room is a site where users can talk liveRead MoreSocial Networking: An Important Aspect fo the Average American1571 Words   |  6 PagesSocial networking has proven to become an important aspect of the average American’s daily life. Statistics show that 73% of all online users utilize some form of social networking. 90% of Internet users aging from 18-29 years old have a social network. (pewinternet.org) There are two prominent stances on the social networking epidemic that has arisen over the years. Many hold the opinion that social networking is an invention to be taken advantage of. Yet, many also believe that social networkingRead MoreSocial Networking Is Beneficial For Students And Grown Ups1002 Words   |  5 Pageswith social networks The issue that will be discussed has to do with social networking. Social network is highly important because it is used on a daily basis in our surroundings. Technology has progressed throughout the years, and has created many opportunities for students, businesses, and adults to succeed. Almost everyone in the world has access to the Internet or soon will have access to the Internet. This topic is important because many have the image/ belief that social networking is badRead MoreDoes Social Networking Have A Positive And Or Negative Affect On Individuals?942 Words   |  4 PagesDoes Social networking have a positive and or negative affect on individuals? According to Susan Greenfield, a neuroscientist at the Oxford University, social networking has many negative affects. She claims that â€Å" social networking is infantilizing the human mind, into a state of mind as of children. In my opinion, I agree with greenfield’s statement because many individuals are relying on their social media accounts for everyday use. However, social networking has greatly influenced the way individualsRead MorePro And Cons Of Social Media1168 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Networking, More Like Social NOTworking Picture this, you just got the greatest haircut of your life. Feeling good, you take a selfie and post it on Instagram with the caption, â€Å"Feelin’ good.† A few hours later, you get a notification that someone commented on your picture. That comment reads, â€Å"You’re feeling good about THAT haircut? LOL!† You were just a victim of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is one of the many negative effects of social networking and social media on teens, and could createRead MoreSocial Networking Is Beneficial For Students And Grown Ups1182 Words   |  5 Pagesto do with social networking. Social network is highly important because it is used on a daily basis in our surroundings. Technology has progressed throughout the years, and has created many opportunities for students, businesses, and adults to succeed. Almost everyone in the world has access to the Internet or soon will have access to the Internet. This topic is important because many have the image/ belief that social networking is bad, and have debated on what is considered a social network.Read MoreEssay On Pros And Cons Of Social Media1090 Words   |  5 PagesThe Benefits of Social Media in Todays Society Just like everything else in life, social media has pros and cons. However, the pros outweigh the cons. Social networking assists businesses in various different ways. While also helping people communicate more with others and to become more connected with them too. A fast and effortless way to spread and receive crucial information is through social media. In the beginning, it was just kids spending their time on websites like Facebook, MyspaceRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effect On Society899 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Simon Kemp, there are roughly 2.08 billion active social media accounts worldwide, which is â€Å"a 12% increase since last year† (Kemp). Social media has become an enormous part of everyday lives. It has been made so that everyone around the world can easily connect to one another- and almost instantly! Social media is a growing industry and has many positive and negative affects on those who use it. Social media is extremely beneficial to businesses. Businesses throw millions of dollars

The Diana Phenomenon Essay - 807 Words

The Diana Phenomenon The sudden death of Diana Princess of Wales at the end of August 1997 sparked off a massive display of emotion in the world, especially in Britain. The event provided the opportunity for the expression of what appeared to be a short-term and superficial, but undoubtedly sincere, manner by a large number of people. â€Å"An emotion felt throughout the countryside was that many people saw themselves in some way connected to this public figure and able to grieve for her as if she were an acquaintance.† (Lambert 54) However, there remained clear borderlines between what the public, who thought they knew her, and the immediate family who did. The Princess’s funeral brought together a gathering of the powerful (English†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å" ‘We don’t know† mourners said. â€Å"Our grief has surprised us, too. We didn’t know how much we loved her.’ â€Å" (Lambert 50) Long ago, in 1981 to be exact, Diana Spencer retired her role as kindergarten teacher to become the future queen of England. It was like a Cinderella story right out of the book. But this Cinderella’s skirts were plaid, and her hair was chopped short. She had a nervous giggle, and was the tiniest bit plump. She was normal, she was regular, and everyone loved her for it. By the time she was 27 years old, she had been married for eight years and had two beautiful sons. The fairy tale appeared to still be there, but what the press, who hounded her day and night, failed to catch was that her life was in a downward spiral even after the short weeks she was married. She had been bulimic for years, she had tried to kill herself, and she and Charles were living separate lives. â€Å"In her telling, the marriage broke up because she’d had the impudence to demand a real relationship†¦in fairness to Charles, he must have felt the fairy tale got all mixed up: He kissed the pr incess and became a frog.† (Gaines 98) â€Å"Dianas enduring allure surprised everyone, including the princess herself. The public’s obsession with the smallest details of her smart clothes, her hair and her sons made royal family life far more compelling and exploitable than any TV saga.† (London) She loved to pick up babies, whether or not they had AIDS. When sheShow MoreRelatedPrincess Diana1253 Words   |  6 PagesOne year ago, the death of a princess brought an entire world to tears. The wounds are slowly healing and the grief is less painful. What remains are the lessons that can be learned from a phenomenon that few can entirely forget. At the time it was a mystery. A divorced member of the royal family of a medium-sized European nation dies in a banal car accident in Paris, and for a week the sun, moon and stars are knocked off their appointed tracks. Within days, Europe suffers a shortage of cut flowersRead MoreEssay Princess Diana1202 Words   |  5 Pages One year ago, the death of a princess brought an entire world to tears. The wounds are slowly healing and the grief is less painful. What remains are the lessons that can be learned from a phenomenon that few can entirely forget. At the time it was a mystery. A divorced member of the royal family of a medium-sized European nation dies in a banal car accident in Paris, and for a week the sun, moon and stars are knocked off their appointed tracks. Within days, Europe suffers a shortage of cut flowersRead MoreEssay about A Feminist Reading of Galatea 2.2866 Words   |  4 Pagescommon thread linking all novels written by males; their female characters are always depicted as the stereotypical female: weak, indecisive and emotionally unstable. The feminist approach to analyzing literature provides an explanation for this phenomenon. In this patriarchal society, women are viewed as the weaker sex, inferior. This can be the result of socialization or some negative interactions with women in the past. Richard Powers employs t his standard for female characters in his novel, GalateaRead MoreCapitalism in America Essay1019 Words   |  5 Pagespeople no matter who the person is and the perspective view of class is mostly controlled by the media. In the book Rereading America, there are two essays, Class in America: Gregory Mantsios, Framing Class vicarious living and Conscious Consumption: Diana Kendall, and, the film Capitalism: A Love story: Michael Moore. Capitalism is an economic system that promotes free trade and private enterprise and that depends upon the hierarchical class structure, shapes, how others see us in various ways, includingRead MorePrincess Diana Impact On Society1963 Words   |  8 PagesPrincess Diana was an outstanding leader of her time. Throughout her life she accomplished so much and impacted so many lives. People all over the world were obsessed with Lady Di, just one of her many nicknames. She was an activist, a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, and most importantly a strong female leader. At the young age of 19, Diana was married into the Royal family and began her life as a Princess. Through a tumultuous marriage to Prince Charles, Diana always put her best foot forwardRead MoreEssay on Female Serial Killers738 Words   |  3 Pagesviolent crimes that happens most are them are belongs to men, women have not been the wilting flowers promoted so heartily by Victorian adorers and (right or wrong) often evident in todays society. Before we get into detail about the fascinating phenomenon of the Black Widow, it is worth a brief overview of womens escalating role in the world of violent crime, particularly in the United States. Since 1970, there has been an increasing and alarming rise 138 percent of violent crimes committed by womenRead More Michael Jackson: The King of Reinvention Essay1403 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the groups? popularity started to falter, Michael?s did not. It seemed almost immediate, that when The Jacksons career ended, Michael?s solo career began. In 1977, Michael began his film debut in The Wiz, staring as ?Scarecrow? along side Diana Ross as Dorothy. It must be nice to begin whatever you choose on top. It certainly worked for Michael in the beginning, and in film, as well as in his solo career.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first big signs of success of Michael?s solo career came almost immediatelyRead MoreThe Myth Of The Witch1691 Words   |  7 PagesThe image of the witch did not exist until the late fifteenth century. While the witch did exist in the popular imagination, the term â€Å"witch† was not yet synonymous with â€Å"female.† Although the witch craze was an early modern phenomenon, the stereotype of the female witch is rooted in several elements of late medieval witchcraft which antedate the witch hunts, and the time period that scholars recognize as most critical for the formation of the witch lies between the years 1430 and 1660. Before thisRead MoreSocial And Early Developmental Factors854 Words   |  4 Pagestherapist. On the other hand Jackie may experience the therapist as his mother, being overly supportive, coddling him, and continually reinforcing his behaviors. The final transference that may occur is if Jackie perceives the therapist to be similar to Diana, who understood at first, but ultimately left him. This transference relationship is very likely to arise during the alliance building relationship as he may believe that the therapist will eventually get bored or tired of him. Though each of theseRead MoreCritical Thinking1715 Words   |  7 Pagestechniques skills is adequate to the task, since students need to be guided to develop their abilities to reason, enquire and form concepts. Therefore creative thinking is the formation of possible solutions to a problem or possible explanation of a phenomenon. It entails bringing into being of something which did not exist before, either as a product, a process or a thought, or working on old with a view of producing a harmonized new. While critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process

Informative Speech Outline free essay sample

Specific purpose: to inform my audience about the geography, history, economy, culture and cuisine of Puglia (Apulia), Italy Central Idea: Apuglia (a lesser known region in Italy) has some of the brightest seas and beautiful landscapes, rich history, diverse culture, mouthwatering food and kindest people of Italy. Introduction I. How many of you have heard of the Tuscany or Sicily regions of Italy? Or the bigger cities of Italy: Rome, Milan, Naples or Venice? A. Most people in the United States are very familiar with these regions and cities of Italy. II. But how many of you have ever heard of the Puglia or Apulia (as it’s pronounced in English) region of Italy and some of its cities: Brindisi, Taranto, Bari, Grottalia and Villa Castelli? A. Most people in the United States have never heard of this region or its cities and that’s one of the best things about Puglia. Palm Islands 1. Said to be visible from the moon, the largest manmade islands in the world 2. Number of hotels as well as private residences on island- Atlantis 3. Tom cruise and David Beckham have villas D. The world Islands 1. The shape of the world on 300 offshore islands E. Burj Khalifa 1. Tallest man made structure in the world. 2. Over 828 meters (2,716. 5 feet) and more than 160 stories 3. Able to build more stories on top if needed to stay tallest in the world Transition: Now that I’ve shown you some major attractions in Dubai, I would like to now tell you about some of the enormous malls. III. Malls A. Diera City Centre 1. One of oldest malls 2. Over 300 shops B. Mall of Emirates 1. Ski Dubai 2. Aquarium C. Dubai Mall 1. Biggest mall in the world 2. Over 1200 shops D. Dragon Mart 1. Shaped as a dragon 2. Major flea market Transition: I’ve told you about some attractions and the malls, Finally, I’m going to tell you about the hotels in Dubai and also some major possible future hotel projects. IV. Hotels In the article â€Å"Dubai continues growth as a tourism hotspot† out of the Travel and Tourism News, October 2010 addition states Dubai â€Å"has achieved significant growth in terms of hotel occupancy and tourism arrivals in the first half of 2010, with the number of hotel guests reaching 4,181,326 a nine per cent increase from 3,852,742 guests in the first half of 2009. A. Burj Al Arab 1. Luxury hotel was opened in 1999. 2. The 4th tallest hotel in the world, it stands 321 meters high and is located on a separate artificial island. Built like a sail 3. At night, the hotel’s exterior is lit by a choreographed show of colors that change every half hour. 4. Huge aquariums, dancing fountains 5. Tiger woods hit golf ball off helicopter p ad B. Atlantis 1. This luxury resort is situated on 113 acres, and is considered an architectural wonder 2. Prime location, on the crescent of The Palm Jumeirah, known as the 8th Wonder of the World. . This resort features â€Å"Aquaventure† – a 42-acre water park; â€Å"The Lost Chambers† –fascinating underwater world with over 65,000 fish; 11-acre â€Å"Dolphin Bay†, windsurfing and kayaking from its private beach. Shops in an up-scale boutique found in the â€Å"The Avenues† C. Future Hotels 1. Da Vinci rotating tower, one of the most innovative and unique buildings to be built in Dubai and the world. The 250-meter tower will allow each floor to rotate freely allowing the building to shift its shape. Allowing guests to view different angles of Dubai City. 2. Hydropolis, an underwater resort, aiming to be the world’s 1st luxury underwater hotel, jelly fished shaped dome. According to 2007 Arab- American Business article, â€Å"Makin it easy: Dubai’s focus on promoting tourism is paying off† Dubai has invested more than $365 billion in tourism. V. Conclusion A. Summary-All that I’ve told you today makes the city of Dubai seem extraordinary. I’ve told you about the most popular attractions, the enormous malls and the unbelievable hotels. B. Clincher- Now who’s trying to go to Dubai with me?

Bullying a Social Issue That the School System Ignores Essay Example

Bullying: a Social Issue That the School System Ignores Essay Running Head: BULLYING Bullying: A Social Issue That the School System Ignores â€Å"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no ones definition of your life, but define yourself†. – Harvey S. Firestone The Issue Strong, influential and cruel are just some of the words that come to mind when you hear the word bully. In American culture, bullying among children and teenagers has often been dismissed as a normal part of growing up. Little attention has been paid to the devastating effects of bullying, or to the connection between bullying and other forms of violence. Bullying in the American educational system is a significant social issue that it is steadily increasing. Many experts fear bullying has become so widespread and common; the general public is blinded to its destructive and sometimes deadly nature. According to the ‘Facts about Bullying’, â€Å"†¦one in seven students is either a bully or victim. About 56% of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school, 15% of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school, 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school. One out of 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school† (Borba, 1999). Bullying can be linked to several violent acts that have occurred in many schools across the country. Bullying is also being blamed for violent acts in institutions of higher learning i. e. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors, but all involve a person or a group repeatedly trying to harm someone who is perceived to be weaker or more vulnerable. It can involve direct attacks (physical harm, intimidation, theft etc. or more subtle, indirect attacks (such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone) (SafeYouth, n. d. ). The newest form of harassment being used on today’s youth comes in the form of text messaging, emails and blogs; cyber-bullying has expanded bullying to a 24/7 problem that is rapidly getting out of hand. According to the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, †Å"†¦children who are bullied experience real suffering that can interfere with their social and emotional development, as well as heir school performance. Some victims of bullying have even attempted suicide rather than continue to endure such harassment and punishment† (AACAP, 2008). Many solutions have been offered to curb the violent acts that bullying can bring but the most simply solution comes in the form of speaking up and speaking out. Most bullying is dismissed because many children do not express their torment until it is too late or for many they never express it. Nature of the Problem We will write a custom essay sample on Bullying: a Social Issue That the School System Ignores specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Bullying: a Social Issue That the School System Ignores specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Bullying: a Social Issue That the School System Ignores specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Bullying is the most common form of violence in our society; between 15% and 30% of students are bullies or victims. Between 1994 and 1999, there were 253 violent deaths in school, 51 casualties were the result of multiple death events (Canter Cohn, 2003). Bullying is often a factor in school related deaths. Direct, physical bullying increases in elementary school, peaks in middle school and declines in high school. Verbal abuse, on the other hand, remains constant (Canter Cohn, 2003). Over two-thirds of students believe that schools respond poorly to bullying, with a high percentage of students believing that adult help is infrequent and ineffective; 25% of teachers see nothing wrong with bullying or putdowns and consequently intervene in only 4% of bullying incidents (Canter Cohn, 2003). Most victims are targeted due to physical or perceived differences than the social norm acknowledges, i. e. sexual orientation, ethnicity, social or economic status, mental or physical disabilities or even degrees of perceived attractiveness (tall, short, fat, skinny etc). Many school shooting and child suicide cases have been directly related to some form of bullying. The most notable case of the school shooting link to bullying is the Columbine High School case that left 12 students and one teacher dead and 23 others injured. Even more devastating than that is that many youth who are the victims of bullying have taken there own lives, children as young as seven have committed suicide because of constant bullying. Politically anti-bullying policies have been adapted by different local legislation but no national laws have been passed that would hold people suspected of bullying to any jail time. Currently bullying is only held as a form of harassment in many state courts, this is only enforced through documented harassment not hearsay. To fully address the problems that result from the emotional and sometimes physical obstacles faced by victims the schools must encourage children to report incidents of bullying and ensure students believe they will be helped. Censorship as it relates to what can and can not be entered on websites should be strictly enforced. Accountability on behalf of school officials that notice victims and perpetrators should also be strictly enforced. Educational institutions are perfect conduits for change because they have a captive audience to teach the basic human values of respect for self and others. Claims A very persuasive claim can be made to the media that involves the children themselves who have been bullied or were once a bully to share their stories. Showing family pictures of the children that have committed suicide to escape the torment that bullying brings coupled with interviews from parents, school officials and friends of the deceased would insight reactions from the general public. Allowing people who are now adults to tell their stories of being either a bully or victim in childhood and the result that those events had on the decisions they made later in life is also a compelling argument. Loseke uses typifications to further frame claims, â€Å"†¦the only feeling we can have about events we do not personally experience and people we do not know are typifications. Without these pictures in our head we could not be able to understand anything other than our extremely limited personal experience†¦without these images we could not know how to react to the countless others in the world of strangers we encounter daily† (p. 8). These visual representations will place a face on the problem and force the public to acknowledge the problem. Comparing and contrasting the problem of bullying with the statistics as well as the aftermath (school shootings, suicide etc) that can result if this problem is not changed would cause attitudes about bullying to ch ange in those who watch or listen to the stories. Loseke identifies a social problem as an evaluation of wrongdoing that is widespread and changeable. He also states that the wrongdoing should and can be changed (Loseke, 2003). School districts have the power to change wrongdoing that bullying brings into the educational environment and to encourage changing the attitudes associated with it. School shooting must be changed! Childhood suicide must be changed! Violence against children must be changed! It can and is worth changing. In Royersford, PA the students of Spring-Ford Intermediate School host a pep rally called Bully-Free is the Way to Be. Students gather on Sept. 5 at the beginning of each school year to demonstrate students, parent and school officials commitment to bullying prevention (Spring-Ford Area School District, 2008). Audience, Strategies and Piggybacking – Solutions School administrators are charged with ensuring the educational environment is safe. Students have the right to attend school without being in fear of bullies. Recently, school districts have adjusted their focus on implementing bullying prevention measure within the public schools (Herman and Seem, 2004). Despite the emphasis the occurrences of bullying in the schools has not decreased. According to the first national survey on school bullying, 74 percent of eight to eleven year old students indicated that bullying occurred in their schools (Nansel et al. 001). The targeted audience consists of the general public as well as politicians, policymakers and those within the educational system. Engaging the entire system that children rely on is the goal of the targets. Making the problem of bullying a national issue will increase response to it and change attitudes toward it. Appealing to the audience’s empathy and compassi on toward victims and their families is a key strategy in motivating the audience to react. Every person can put themselves in these children’s shoes; each person can empathize with either the victim or the perpetrator. Eliminating fear and dread in schools while establishing a foundation for achievement for children is a goal of every American citizen. This is a human rights issue that each person can relate to. Advocates against bullying have developed prevention programs to reduce bullying in schools. Raising awareness about bullying, increasing teacher and parent involvement and supervision, forming clear rules and strong social norms against bullying, and providing support and protection for all students does lower the incidents of bullying in schools (SafeYouth, n. d. ). Piggybacking on issues that deal with equality, fairness and safety avenues that are related to children increases the likelihood that the issue will not get ignore by the educational system. Framing the Issue The issue of bullying must be framed as an American societal issue. The fabric of society is based on the children we produce. The social and emotional development of each child is the responsibility of the entire society. When children are harassed, teased, degraded and humiliated over time certain physiological effects from childhood resurface in adulthood. Children who are bullied are more likely to develop social problems such as unfulfilled relationships or lack of forming successful relationships and also emotional problems such as depression, attachment issues or poor self image issues. Many people can relate to the problems that are lasting that come with being a victim. Children who bully others have a tendency to engage in more criminal activity as well as be in domestic abuse related activities. Both victims and perpetrators are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol as well (American Medical Association, 2002). Producing socially and emotionally disabled adults is something society can not handle. Students who are exposed to bullying academically do not do as well as those who were not exposed. With the economy being the way that it is we as a nation can not afford to have children who are academically and developmentally dysfunctional. Spokespeople Appealing to the audience’s empathy and compassion toward victims and their families is a key strategy in motivating the audience to react. There are many stories about bullies this one comes from the mother of a victim: Brandon Smartwood 2/21/82 – 12/16/00 I have tried to write this message for three days and have not been able to complete it maybe today. I have a lot to say and this is a very painful and emotional subject for me. While my heart goes out to the victims of these school shootingsmy life has been devastated by a different type of crime that is happening in our schools. Although rarely labeled as such, Bullying is a crime. These victims are isolated and usually suffer in silence. The media doesnt broadcast the injuries or deaths of these silenced victims. Our Great Nation doesnt share in their pain or extend sympathies to the survivors. Communities arent outraged by these senseless, (and equally) devastating crimes being committed in our schools. The only outrage in our nation, in our communities, is when the psychiatric injuries caused by Bullying are externalized, and we have another school shooting. Brandon developed PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and Depression, after being harassed, tormented, isolated and brutally beaten in our public school system. When we took out a protective order against one of the Bullies, he, the bully, decided to send a friend into the principals office to claim that Brandon had made a bomb threat. It was absurd, along with the way that the school handled the allegation. The damage done to Brandon over this incident alone was beyond measure victimize the victim. On 12/16/00 Brandon put a loaded gun to his head, pulled the trigger and ended his pain. As tragic as this death is, the greater tragedy is if society doesnt stop to look at the reasons, and pause for a moment to see all the victims. - Cathy Smartwood If school officials, parents of the ‘bully’ and even Ms. Smartwood knew and understood the severity of the issue, Brandon might still be alive today. Brandon’s mother is not the only spokesperson needed adults who were bullies or were victims also need to speak out about their childhood and adulthood difficulties. Teenagers who were bullies or were victims also need to speak out. Children and teenagers that attempted or know of someone who committed suicide based off bullying should also speak out. Speaking at schools, raising awareness at PTA and school faculty meeting, facilitating community and school workshops are all places that the spokesperson(s) would be involved in. Political events, marching on Washington are all places were the spokesperson(s) should push for change. Counterclaims Even though is seems absurd to think, many people even after all of this do not see a problem with being bullied or being a bully. The spokesperson(s) would have to be prepared to deliver the devastation that comes with being a victim or a family survivor. Many Americans see bullying as a rite of passage ‘something we all have to go through’, not as a serious psychological problem that should be punishable by law. Attitudes towards bully’s and their victims shows that the general public embraces the difficulties that bullying brings but dismisses any solutions that may be offered due in part to the characteristics that can come out of being a victim that overcomes the situation such as confidence, determination and tenacity. Many Hollywood movies project the victim overcoming at the end and standing up to their bullies (The Karate Kid, The Bully, Mean Girls etc. ). The general public admonishes children of bullies to do the same. The media portrays bullies as the general public views it ‘a part of life’. The general public along with policymakers and educational officials feel that creating anti-bullying policies will curb violence. Many counterclaim that victimization of bullies is covered under the Human Rights Act of 1998. Bullying is mention but enforcement is still left in the hands of school administration. There is no national law that covers bullying in school. There are a lot of opponents to the anti- bullying policies that are enforced in many schools today. These policies are not explained in depth to students, parents or some teachers. Many teachers are aware but do not enforce the policies unless victims speak out. Typifications The idea of an innocent child who is harassed into a psychologically damaging way of thinking completely undermines the idea of normal child development. To know that this abuse goes unchecked everyday in every school around the nation is the greatest injustice to the social and emotional wellbeing of children in this country. The media should frame the child in the most innocent light imaginable. The audience should know that this is not a normal part of life and that society will suffer if this continues to go unchecked. Conclusion Children need protection from things that would harm them. Bullying harms children and causes great stress on the educational system as well as the family unit. Children are our countries most precious commodity their welfare must be maintained. The school system must endeavor to use spokesmen that are working for change. Awareness and action with regard to encouraging the attitudes of law and policy makers to change is something the media can do. It is clear that this issue is wrong, changeable and should be changed; the idea that children as young as seven are being exposed to bullying is heartbreaking. The culture of America dictates that children are innocent, vulnerable and must be protected; when children are exposed to bullying that is ignored by school official, dismissed by parents and never mentioned on television-this is society’s way of ignoring those cultural ideals. Ignorance can only be changed if enlightenment begins. The media can be used to enlighten and change attitude as well as motivate people into action. Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away it just means you don’t care to acknowledge it. References American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry (2008) Bullying. Retrieved from http://www. acap. org/cs/root/facts_for_families/bullying American Medical Association (2002) Bullying Behaviors Among Children and Adolescents. Retrieved from http://www. ama-assn. org/ama/pub/category/14312. html Borba, M. (1999) Facts About Bullying. Adapted from Parents Do Make A Difference: How to Raise Kids with Solid Character, Strong Minds, and Caring Hearts. Jossey-Bass Publishers. Retrieved from http://www. parentingbookmark. com/pages/MB04. htm Canter, A. Cohn, A. (2003) Bullying: Facts for Schools and Parents. National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Retrieved from http://www. nasponline. org/resources/factsheets/bullying_fs. aspx Loseke, D. (2003)

Five Facts About Oktoberfest

Five Facts About Oktoberfest As September inevitably segues from summer to autumn, Germany’s daylight hours shorten appreciably. This change of seasons is worldwide, but, in Munich (Mà ¼nchen), in southern Germany, the locals and the tourists brace for a festive event of an altogether different sort. Munich, a modern city in all senses of the word, is the capital of Bavaria (Bayern). It lies on the edge of the Alps; it’s Bavaria’s largest city and Germany’s third largest. The Isar River, which originates near Innsbruck, Austria, flows through Munich on its way to join the Danube (Donau) near Regensberg. At this time of year, some say the flow of the Isar is more than matched by the flow of ​beer. For two weeks this year, from 19 September through 04 October, Munich’s huge assortment of international companies, world-renowned brands, high-technology resources, and exquisitely graceful fairy-tale-like architecture compose the backdrop for the annual German clichà ©, the 182nd Oktoberfest. For those living in Munich, it will be two thrilling weeks of lederhosen, beer, and tipsy tourists. If raucous revelry on a city-wide scale is not to your liking, you’d be well advised to leave downtown Munich until the festivities end. If you live near the Festwiese, the epicenter of the partying, you better close your windows tightly and get used to the smell of spilled beer mixed with puke. There are not only nice things to tell about the Wiesn, but also endearing ones. Here are five important, lesser-known facts about Oktoberfest which might surprise you. 1. The First Day of Oktoberfest Oktoberfest embraces numerous traditions, most of them commemorated at the very beginning of this annual celebration. The first day of the so-called â€Å"Wiesn† is the most traditional one and it follows a strict timetable. In the morning, the â€Å"Festzug† (parade) takes place. The â€Å"Wiesnwirte,† the landlords of the fest-tents, are the main participants. They are soon joined by waitresses, brewers, and old-fashioned Bavarian shooting associations. The two parades head toward the â€Å"Theresienwiese† where the actual Oktoberfest takes place. Horses pull big wagons with wooden kegs of beer, gunners fire salutes, and the Mà ¼nchner Kindl, the personified coat of arms of the city of Munich showing a child in a hood, leads the parade. At the same time, thousands of people, sitting in the 14 huge tents, await Oktoberfest’s official opening. The atmosphere will be convivial, but dry: They won’t get a sip of the good Bavarian brew before . . . 2. Ozapft Is! . . . the mayor of Munich starts Oktoberfest at high noon by tapping the first keg. This tradition began in 1950, when mayor Thomas Wimmer initiated the ceremonial tapping of the keg. It took Wimmer 19 hits to fix the big tap properly into the huge wooden keg- traditionally called a â€Å"Hirsch† (deer). All wooden kegs come with the names of different animals. The deer has a capacity of 200 liters which is the weight of a deer. The mayor will tap the keg at exactly high noon on the first Saturday of Oktoberfest and call the famous and eagerly anticipated phrase: â€Å"O’zapft is! Auf eine friedliche Wiesn!† (It is tapped!- for a peaceful Wiesn). It’s the signal for the waitresses to serve the first mugs. This tapping ceremony is broadcast live on television and the number of strokes the mayor will need to tap the keg are wildly speculated on before the event. By the way, the best performance was delivered by Christian Ude, mayor between 1993-2014, with on ly two hits (opening the 2013 Oktoberfest). Traditional Bavarian gunners will immediately fire two shots out of a â€Å"Bà ¶llerkanone† just below the memorial of the Bavaria, an 18ÃŽ ©-meter tall statue which is the female personification of the Bavarian homeland and, by extension, its strength and glory. The first Maß, i.e., the first beer of the Oktoberfest, is traditionally reserved for the Bavarian prime-minister. â€Å"Wiesn† is local Bavarian dialect for both Oktoberfest itself and for â€Å"Theresienwiese,† i.e., the meadow where it all began decades ago.   3. The Ma The typical Oktoberfest mug contains one liter of â€Å"Festbier,† which is a special brew made for the Oktoberfest by a few select breweries. The mugs can be filled very quickly (an experienced waiter can fill one in 1.5 seconds) and, from time to time, a mug could end up with less than a liter of beer. Such a tragedy is deemed a â€Å"Schankbetrug† (pouring-fraud). There is even an association, the â€Å"Verein gegen betrà ¼gerisches Einschenken e.V.† (association against fraudulent pouring), which makes spot checks to guarantee that everybody will get the right amount of beer. To make fraud even more difficult, the â€Å"Maßkrà ¼ge† are made of glass. If you want to drink your beer out of a traditional â€Å"Stein† (stone mug), you can visit the â€Å"Oide Wiesn† (old Wiesn), a special Oktoberfest area where you can experience Oktoberfest as it was practiced in days of yore, with old-fashioned â€Å"Blasmusik† (brass-band music ) and original attractions from 1900 through the 1980s. Taking your Maß home isn’t a good idea because it is seen as theft and might lead to getting acquainted with the Bavarian police. But, of course, you can buy one as a souvenir. Sadly, the delightful beer, with its slightly higher alcohol content, combined with a heavy mug in one’s hand, frequently leads to harsh â€Å"Bierzeltschlgereien† (beer-tent brawling), fights that can end very seriously. To avoid that and other criminal acts,  the police patrol the Festwiese. 4. The Police Every officer on duty volunteers his/her time for Oktoberfest. For most of them, it’s both an honor and a significant challenge. The high amounts of alcohol consumed on the Wiesn lead to numerous fights and beatings. Besides that, the dark sides of Oktoberfest include theft and rape. Three hundred police officers are therefore on duty in the local police-station which is located in an underground building beneath the Theresienwiese. Additionally, over 300 more officers make sure that this mass event remains safe. If you plan to visit this episode of Bavarian madness, you should be aware of the dangers caused by thousands of drunk people all over the place. Especially as a tourist or non-Bavarian, you should also be aware of the beer. 5. The Beer It is not harmless, but it is, or can be, delightfully mischievous. Oktoberfestbier is not an ordinary beer, especially for those who come from the USA or Australia. German beer itself is rather strong in taste and alcohol, but Oktoberfestbier is even stronger. It must contain between 5.8% to 6.4% alcohol and be brewed in one of the six Munich-based breweries. Besides that, the beer is very â€Å"sà ¼ffig† (tasty), which means that you will empty your mug much quicker than you might have intended- one does not sip â€Å"Festbier† daintily. That’s why so many tourists, unfamiliar with German beer, can be found on the â€Å"Besoffenenhà ¼gel† (hill of the drunks) after three or four Maß- a little hill where all the wasted people sleep off their Wiesn experience. If you don’t want to end up there, just enjoy the fest as the locals do: have a â€Å"Brezn† (a typical Munich pretzel), drink slowly, and enjoy the annual Bavarian madhouse.

Tesco Plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Tesco Plc - Essay Example Through the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), companies have been forced top look beyond the economic returns of the business but also consider their impact on the environment and community around them. The importance of value creation through positive stakeholder relationships has an impact of significantly increasing the profitability of a firm (Edwards 1998). The increase in environmental legislation and the emerging trends of ethical consumers, the incorporation of social responsibility in the business strategy is more of a necessity in the competitive market. This report seeks to analyze the annual report of Tesco Plc for the year 2011 to investigate the way it accounts for its social, ethical and environmental impact. The report further compares the performance of the company with other companies in terms of environmental policies. Another aspect that is considered in this report is the nature of reporting that the company uses and recommendations for future str ategies to improve on the presentation of the company’s stakeholder’s strategy. 2. Business Review of Tesco Plc in 2011 Tesco is the most dominant retailer in the United Kingdom with a market share of about thirty percent. The company has a presence in several countries. It reported revenues in excess sixty billion in the financial year 2010/2011. The core purpose of Tesco Plc is to accord quality service to customers. The company’s goals are aligned to this vision that is clearly aimed at giving the company a competitive advantage in its market. The company has underpinned its commitment to the community and the environment by having a goal to put its responsibilities to the communities that they serve. To achieve this goal, the company has broken down its policy on environment and social issues into five key performance indicators that it uses to analyze the impact of its strategies. The key performance indicators on the social and environment issues for Tesco Plc for the period ending 2011 are analyzed below. 2.1 Responsibility in Buying and Selling of Products The customers require safe and affordable products. The company also lays emphasis on ensuring that the products that it sells are sourced in a way that is robust and meeting the required standards. Tesco has laid out strategies to help improve its relations with the suppliers through a program called â€Å"Trading Fairly†. However, the impact of this program cannot be quantified because the metrics of measuring the results are not available. In fact, it can be argued that these programs are publicity stunts since the same buying processes were used prior to the introduction of this program are still in place. A case in point is the widely documented practice by Tesco Plc to buy potatoes from the grey market instead of the official supply chain through Tyrells Crisps. The other issue of fair trade has been recently brought to the fore due to the price undercutting by super markets on bananas. The price wars between Tesco and Asda almost brought down the banana industry. The supermarkets opted to lower their margins and in turn reduced the amount they pay to their suppliers. According to Michaels (2004), the demand for cheaper products by supermarkets has become a ruthless way by the supermarkets to exploit the supplier. The net effect of lower supplier prices is that the workers in the farms are paid much less and this impacts negatively on the society. Sainsbury was the first supermarket to announce that it will sell one hundred percent fair trade bananas. Other supermarkets have followed suit but it is worth noting that Tesco was reluctant to commit to this cause. The increased money paid to the suppliers will have a positive impact on the community where the products are sourced from. The style of disclosure of the responsible sourcing and buying of products the Tesco