Understanding Abuse

Recent periods of social progress and development have seen many concepts and constructs receive widespread attention to what can be described as negative behaviours and one concept and area in particular to receive this attention is abuse. Any response to find a solution to a problem whilst remaining effective and appropriate can experience various complications as there can be an inability to provide a clear and detailed definition of what it actually constitutes, provision of evidence that remains compelling and substantial and taking on board the cultural, social and political considerations and factors that are relevant to the society pertinent to the discussion will receive complications. This lack of clearness in its debate has led to the development of additional descriptions alongside abuse such as psychological maltreatment (Garbino, Guttman&Seeley, 1986), further confusing the issue and its resolution but in spite of this confusion their has been much learned from what attempts have been made in the exploration and analysis of abuse and this discussion will try to identify different types of abuse,expain why particular groups or individuals may be vulnerable ,its differing contexts,risk factors associated and ensure the impact of cultural and social factors on the range of abuse is analysed thoroughly. Abuse is the weapon of the vulgar† (Samuel Griswold Goodrich) Abuse is a term that relates itself to any deliberate calculated damaging or deteremental behaviour purposefully used to damage or harm an individual or group and can occur when a person misuses ormistreats another group or individual without any interest in their worth,dignity or well-being. It can be seen as a behaviour where the abuser is interested in the exertion of power and control over the individual and be prepared to manipulate or exploit the individual involved into submission or obedience to their will. In recent decades it has been described in various forms but the main categories to contemplate are Physical,Emotional,Sexual and neglectful and a recently highlighted phenomena of Institutional abuse,that has led to greater awareness and debate. Physical abuse was the earliest form of abuse thought to have come under public consideration in the 1960’s and was believed to be linked to child abuse until child sexual cases started to come to prominence with the Cleveland cases in 1987(Corby,B,Child abuse,1993,p86) and has been defined as â€Å"hitting,shaking,throwing,poisoning,burning or scalding,drowning,suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of or deliberately causes the ill-health to a child they are looking after. This situation is commonly described using terms such as fictitious illness by proxy or â€Å"Munchausen Syndrome by proxy†(Dept of Health,1995:5). This definition can be seen to as quite specific but does not provide any suggestions as to when such actions are deemed grave to authorise intervention and prevention of such behaviours and although it has various forms it can be the most visible, having damaging and long lasting effects. Emotional abuse and neglect has been defined according to the Dept of Health as â€Å"the persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development†(Dept of Health,1999:5-6) and relates itself to malicious †parental behaviour that damages a child’s self-esteem,degrades a sense of achievement,diminishes a sense of belonging and stands in the way of healthy,vigorous and happy development. Emotional abuse has been described as an overtly rejecting behaviour of carers on the one hand or as passive neglect on the other†(Iwaniec,D,Child care in Practice,1994). As a separate form of abuse it was only recognised by legislation in the United Kingdom in the 1980’s although it did receive recognition in the United States since 1977. Attempts have been made to define emotional abuse and neglect in a general way and five damaging behaviours have been levelled by Garbino,Guttman and Seeley(1986) as rejecting,isolating,terrorising,ignoring and corrupting with these actions being a concerted attack by an adult on a child’s development of self and social competence only being described as overtly abusive,painful and developmentally and cognitively damaging. Such behaviour can be seen as an act of commission or omission occuring â€Å"when meaningful adults are unable to provide necessary nuturance,stimulation,encouragement and protection to the child at various stages of development which inhibits his optimal functioning†(Whiting,1976). Sexual abuse in relation to children has been described as â€Å"involving,forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activites whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activites may involve physical contact,including penetrative(e. g rape or buggery) and non-penetrative acts. They may also include non-contact activites such as involving children in looking at or in the production of pornographic material,or watching sexual activites or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways†(Dept of Health,1996,6). This description of sexual abuse specifies that sexual abuse may not necessarily involve physical contact although there can be many other areas to be included when involving a definition such as what is the relation of the perpetrator of such acts and the definition put forward by Glasser and Frosh seems to be more comprehensive â€Å"Any child below the age of consent may be deemed to have been sexually abused when a sexually mature person has by design or by neglect of their usual societal or specific responsibilities in relation to the child,engaged or permitted the engagement of that child in any activity of a sexual nature which is intended to lead to the sexual gratification of the sexually mature person†(Glasser and Frosh,1988,5). This definition pertains to whether or not it involves genital or physical contact and whether or not there is a discernable harmful outcome in the short term. Child sexual abuse is a highly difficult problem and is far more commonplace than previously thought and also affects older as well as younger children(MacFarlane&Waterman,1986) although their is a greater degree of seriousness among practitioners about the urgency of intervention to protect children from such abuse. Another form of abuse that has received prominence in recent years is Institutional abuse that mainly involved children living in residential care including being under the care of a local authority with one case that rose to prominence being the Pindown Inquiry in 1991 concerning the use of a system referred to as Pindown in children’s homes in Staffordshire England. The Inquiry outlined how methods of controlling children involved techniques that could be construed as sensory deprivation and solitary confinement, were used over a large period of time under the approval of the management of Staffordshire Social Services being only described as brutal in there approach. In the following years a glut of cases came to the fore and the Department of Health responded by instigating a general inquiry in the state of residential care that came to be known as the Utting report 1991,that provided a view on the conflicting sides in care homes good and bad and making a note of the need for greater vigilance and the development of greater measures to protect the safety of children in such places of care. In situations where abuse occurs different groups and individuals can be more vulnerable to abuse than others and the need for greater research into these cases will only help to develop a better understanding of abuse and its forms.. One grouping where abuse has gained significance and shown how a group can be more vulnerable is amongst elderly individuals in domiciliary and residential settings as â€Å"behind closed doors† can be more difficult to combat as contact between victims and services can be extremely limited. Elder abuse has probably been placed in the background in its significance to such abuse as child abuse but any form of abuse is not to be tolerated as each individual has a significant sense of worth and uniqueness in life though elder abuse is often an ignored and hidden problem in society as â€Å"The voice of older people is rarely heard by those who have responsibility for commissioning,regulating and inspecting services†(Fitzgerald,G,Action for Elder Abuse). In 2000 the Dept issued guidance(No Secrets) on the protection of vulnerable adults from abuse defining a vulnerable person as one â€Å"who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability,age or illness and who is or may be unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation†(No Secrets,paras2. 5-2. 6) and although this definition was not restricted to older people it has received criticism as it appeared to exclude those individuals who do not require community care but with no standard definition of Elder abuse in the United kingdom as the term has been imported from the United States one commonly used definition is â€Å"a single or repeated act of inappropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person†(House of Commons Health Commitee,Elder Abuse,Volume 1,2004,P5). Abuse exists when a lack of care from one person towards another is present in a relationship and the thought of predicting abuse or neglect is appealing because of its ability to be preventative and adults have a sense or obligation of care in may respects of life being held to be trustworthy in the application of that duty but the more responsible the relationship the higher the chance of abuse that can exist and parental care is one context that can be seen as the primary type of relationship where abuse can occur and what does or does not be held to be adequate care can be important when making decisions about the likelihood of abuse occurring. With the Childrens Act 1989 not giving any firm statement of intent on what can be deemed adequate care and broad ideas on what care should involve such as physical and emotional responses,health,protection and cognitive behavioural development, research and evidence can be crucial in reviewing contexts and the suggestion that particular c hildren can be determined for abuse with researchers interested in the dynamics of why particular children are susceptible. Predicting abuse by observing maternal responses to new born babies is an important feature of child protection with children who are seen as not wanted or the â€Å"wrong sex† by their parents at a greater risk(Roberts ,1980) but many parents often carry into life unresolved issues from their own childhood or present circumstances that have a substantial impact on their ability to form deep and lasting relationships with their children,†The undermining effect of a difficult child on parental functioning will be lessened when the parent has an abundance of personal psychological resources ,conversely an easy to rear child can compensate for limited personal resources on the part of the parent on maintaining parental effectiveness†(Belsky&Vondra,1989,188), therefore solid connections to parent or primary care giver is essential to the child’s development and growth. Parents who experience substance abuse,domestic violence or mental health issues can provide risk factors or damaging environments where children can be open to abuse and although not all parents with these experiences can be a risk to their children,their ability to provide adequate care can be limited and damaging. Substance misuse can result in a parents ability to erform basic parenting tasks(Kroll,2004) and be generative of chaotic environments and has come to focus in many families that are under child protection enquiries even during pregnancy and early development. Mental illness can also be seen as another factor relating to abuse ranging from a parents depression to psychotic or delusional violence that can result in fatal cases. The risks can be seen as greater if the parent shows hostility or aggression towards the child,ultimately becoming a target with many children taking on a caring role themselves as parenting can be in conflict and opposition. Another factor co-exis ting and overlapping with the factors previously discussed is domestic violence. Domestic violence is common and is seen usually in the context of the male exerting power over a female and a form of controlling behaviour with violence beginning even during pregnancy increasing in severity leading to a effect on emotional and psychosocial development. With a child being witness to such behaviour anxiety and stress can result in the childs having long term effect even when physical violence is not present. So although factors can emphasise a disposition to abuse the truth is never that clear and no single event or outcome can be determined and the likelihood is that factors such as those discussed are part of a complex context and set of circumstances beginning even long before the child is involved. Social factors can also have considerable effect on abuse and links have been made between male unemployment and the physical abuse of children(Gillham,1998) and the Department of Health has also conducted its own studies finding that 95 percent of children on protection registers are from poor families(Dept of Health,1995) with children from lower economic environments more likely to be abused(Lawson,2000),nevertheless it has been argued that child abuse cuts across all social class with lower classes more susceptible to come under government investigation because of their need for more government resources with this in mind â€Å"Child abuse is strongly related to class, inequality and poverty both in terms of prevelance and severity†¦ olving the problem requires a realignment of social policy which recognises the necessity of tackling the social,economic and cultural conditions associated with the abuse†(Parton,1985,175-176) â€Å"Abuse in the form of violence against women is a normal feature of patriarcial relations. It is a major vehicle that men use in controlling women,as such it is the norm not an aberration. The widespread incidence of child sexual abuse reveals the extent to which men are prepared to wield sexual violence as a major weapon in asserting their authority over women† (Dominelli,1986,p12) Abuse can be seen as a product of a particular culture and child rearing practices are different from time to place being influenced by religion,class,sexuality etc. Culturally approved practices â€Å"such as isolating infants and small children in rooms or beds of their own at night,making them wait for readily available food or allowing them to cry without immediate attending to their needs or desires would be at odds with the child rearing philosophies of most of the cultures discussed†(Korbin,1981,p4) need to be taken into consideration when defining are certain acts abusive but that does not mean that these ideas are not to be challenged. In the vast majority of abuse cases children or women can be seen to the victim and women have been subjected to horrendous acts and ordeals through out many cultures. The challenging of old ideas as an example can be seen in the context of the rape of women in Zimbabwe being traditionally remedied by the arrangement of the perpetrator to the victim in marriage. This act can be seen as seriously and psychologically wicked in its practice but it is an example of where outside support for change can b e directed. Other cultural practices such as circumsion and clitoridectomy should be seen as widely abusive acts (Finkelhor&Korbin,1988) and as all abuse is seen in the context of power over the victim rape is another practice especially in the context of war,with the idea of dehumanising the victims leaving a state of fear,anger and hate having long term effects individually and collectively. Being able to differentiate between culturally normative and abusive behaviour without the fear of being seen as racist or stereotypical in approach can result in the protection of abusive individuals and many cases have seen elements of the failure to protect, such examples have included Tyra Henry(Lambeth,1987),Ailee Labonte(Newham Area child protection committee,2002) and Victoria Climbie(Laming,2003),so culture can be a significant factor in how abuse operates and is defined. â€Å"No one ever became depraved with suddenness† (Juvenal,AD c-60-c130) To conclude, further study and research needs to be paid into abuse, its characteristics and manifestations and greater clarification needs to be sought in many areas and inquiry within the context of abuse, peer relationships and the way they are experienced and handled having implications in how individuals relate to others in life as â€Å"Contemporaries increasingly seek one another as the primary sources of support, security and intimacy†(Mueller&Silverman,1989,p583) so many factors need to be taken into account when in discussion but as stated earlier abuse is seen as the act of power over another individual or group so the last words belong to the great Carl Jung in that â€Å"Where love reigns ,there is no will to power and where power is all pervading,Love is absent. The one is but the shadow of the other† (Carl Gustav Jung ,1917,Gesammelte Werke,Vol. 7,Zurich,Rascheter-Verlag)

Explain Kants Ethical theories Essay

Kant’s ethical theory is an absolute and deontological theory. This means that humans are seeking the ultimate end called the supreme good also known as the ‘summon Bonnum’. Kant says that morality is a categorical imperative, this is a duty which must always be obeyed in all possible situations. A categorical imperative is what is needed to find what is right or wrong. Kant argued that to act morally is to do one’s duty, and one’s duty is to obey the moral law. Kant also believe that there was no room for emotion. Kant believe that categorical imperative helps us to know which actions are obligatory and which are forbidden. There are three principles within the categorical imperatives these include Universal law, Treat humans as ends In themselves and Act as if you live in a kingdom of ends. Universal law is putting minority views first. If it is wrong for one person than it is wrong for everyone. An action must not be carried out unless the person believes that the same situation all people would act in the same way. Treat humans as ends in themselves is respecting a person. This means that you can never use human beings for another purpose or to exploit or enslave them, this is because humans are the highest point of creation and demand unique treatment. Act as if you live in a kingdom of ends, this means treat all with respect. Kant believed that all of these helped to create ‘maxims’. A maxim is an absolute moral statement about a universal truth. For example a maxim: Murder is wrong. Therefore it is a universal rule that murdering anyone is wrong. Kant believes that we can only be true moral agents if we are free to make our own decisions. He argues that our freedom to make rational choices is what separates us from animals. He says that is you can do something, you should be able to do something, and if you cannot do something it is unfair to be asked. E.g. it is unfair to ask someone in a wheelchair to run a marathon.

Attitude, Legislation, and Litigation on Special Education Essay

Attitude, Legislation, and Litigation on Special Education - Essay Example The thrust of the special education movement has been to give students with disabilities access to a general education, remove the stigma of being labeled, and create methods to monitor and measure the success of these programs. The 1975 act was originally known as the Education for the Handicapped Act (EHA) and was designed to give students with disabilities a free education in the least restrictive environment possible (Special education laws, 2005). Subsequent amendments have been aimed at broadening the definition of disabled to include visual impairment and making provisions for including these students in regular classes when possible. Physical and mental challenges have historically been stigmatized and labeling has often been used as a detrimental tool to exclude students from normal activities. The 1975 Act was passed to reduce these social consequences and provide a system that was more fair in its treatment of the disabled. Prior to any legislation regarding special education, disabilities were generally viewed as a negative and the students were often shunted to areas outside the mainstream school system. One of the issues that have framed the special education debate in the last 30 years is the move towards inclusion. ... "outright denial of disability in some cases, illustrated by the contention that disability exists only in attitudes" (Kauffman, McGee, & Brigham, 2004, p.615). This has had the counter-productive effect of making a disability seem as something that does not matter. While this has had the positive effect of making regular classrooms more accessible to students, it has also minimized the challenge that faces these students. In many cases the past 30 years have seen attitudes change from discriminatory to indifference. The long-term outlook for special education in its current form could produce results that are the opposite of what it hopes to accomplish. Pratts (2000) states that " race and social class are being related to levels of academic achievement". This is only logical as we see poverty and family history placing many students at a disadvantage. This impacts the makeup of special education classes because "academic achievement is a strong predictor of referral and eventual placement in special education" (Hosp & Reschly, 2004, p.187). This has the potential to place a disproportionate number of students into special education based on socio-economic class. If the current movement of inclusion creates an environment of indifference, these students may become isolated and neglected. Public awareness of the realities of being disabled needs to be continually addressed. Without creating a proper public attitude towards special education, we may create a system that is less restrictive and mor e fair, but we also may cultivate an atmosphere of injustice. Feelings of awkwardness have often been a part of my own personal reaction to students with disabilities. In the past I was uncomfortable confronting their disabilities due to my confusion about whether or not they

Democracy Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Democracy Today - Essay Example Before I go on into this paper, I want to make it clear that it is not my intent to "bash" President Bush but in order to look at whether democracy is still working, we have to look at the highest office because that is where the laws and programs for the country are started. Since President Bush took office, the state of the nation has changed drastically and it has put the American people in a state of shock. There are many factors that have contributed to the demise of our democratic system. In a sense, covertly, things began to change after 9/11 and the bombing of the World Trade Center. This put the United States "on alert" and plans were made to find the people who had assaulted the country. Although no one ever took real responsibility for that act, most people attributed the attack to Osama Ben Laden. The United States never really found him nor made him responsible for this attack. Depending on who you talk to about this situation, the Bush Administration knew about this or they did not. According to Michael Moores video, "Fahrenheit 9/11" information is presented that says that President Bush knew about the attack. Whether he did or didnt, it set off some challenges in the country that eventually went to the War in Iraq. The President went against the judgment of the United Nations and went to War in the guise of finding Sad am Hussein. We found Sadam, he was executed and six yea rs later we are still fighting the War under the guise that it is protecting our freedom in America. However, according to the video, "Why We Fight," by Eugene Jarecki, we are fighting over oil, not for freedom. These are all matters that the American people are upset about but they are not sure what to do. I bring these events together because life as we know it began to change with these events and others. President Bush was elected twice under circumstances that the American people suspected were not on the "up and

See the uploaded file Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

See the uploaded file - Essay Example It is necessary to ask the person on his or her plans in the society once the prison life is over. Identifying the factors that led the offender to committing a crime is also required (Miller, 28). Before release, most offenders go through rehabilitation programs, which try to shape moral values in convicted people. Interviewing the rehabilitation officers is very important as they have very important information concerning the attitude of the offender. They recognize offenders who are remorseful about their criminal deed and also those who are ready to change. These people have a special manner in which they survey the offenders, and they can tell the individuals who have earned a chance to be released. It is also necessary to interview law enforcer who operates in the offender’s area of residence. These people have a good background concerning the behavior of the offender before he or she was imprisoned. They also provide important information about the factors contributing to criminal behavior in an offender. They give advice on how to eliminate the problem if it is possible. They also educate on how to deal with them in a situation where one has to live with the cause of the criminal activity. The offender’s previous employer will provide information relation to the person’s relationship with other people. His or her team building capacity can also be stated by the employer. This is if he or she holds such qualities. The employer can also tell how the offender interacts with other people and the help he or she is prepared to give the offender after his release. Close family members might also have important information concerning the offender. These are the people who have known the offender for the longest time and will provide meaningful information on the family background of the offender and his or her behavior when growing up. They also hold information concerning the environment in which the offender lived in before the prison life

Recycling in our daily lives, is it out of care, necessity, or is it Essay

Recycling in our daily lives, is it out of care, necessity, or is it just a hassle - Essay Example To that extent, this essay analyses the factors influencing recycling, with particular focus on the theories from Henri Lefebvre and Michael De Certeau. Henri Lefebvre’s most significant publications that touches on the issue is the theory of â€Å"Critique of Everyday Life†, of 1930 (Saddleback, 2010). Lefebvre defined everyday life dialectically as â€Å"...the intersection of illusion and truth, power and helplessness; the intersection of the sector man controls and the sector he does not control...† (Lefebvre, 2004) the sector he does not control arises from psychological rhythms within ourselves, which occur naturally. In essence, what that means is that people can understand and then revolutionise their everyday lives. Lefebvre goes ahead to add that without revolutionising our everyday lives, quality of life would continue to diminish and inhibit real self expression (Lefebvre, 2004). Putting the theory of Critique of Everyday Life into context, one can read a lot about recycling. Lefebvre says that there is a sector of our minds that we do not control. It is the same sector that controls recycling. In essence, recycling is something that we usually do unconsciously. The human nature is such that we always find ourselves recycling from day to day, even without our knowledge (Silverman, 2008). You see recycling does not necessarily imply very sophisticated industrial processes. Recycling can get down to as simple as what we do every time in our homes, work, school, or streets (Saddleback, 2010). Whichever the case, the process of recycling is a daily routine in our lives that usually takes place in an unconscious manner. In the theory, Lefebvre insists that without recycling, the quality of human life would diminish to a great extent (Lefebvre, 2004). This implies that unlike some people’s belief, recycling is not a hassle. If

Is succession planning a neccessity every small to medium family Essay

Is succession planning a neccessity every small to medium family business should face - Essay Example In pursue well be the limitation of the research and a summary with recommendations. Berenbein (1990) asserts that it is necessary for each organization to anitcipate its succession plan, and be able to acknowledge its reality. SMEs have ben particularly interested in this area of research, focusing on the ‘heir’ who shall take on the leadership of the enterprise in the next generation. The current results show that there are no significant, drastic changes behind the past and current leadership of Company XY. The same issues that confront old leadership have remained the same issues for the new leadership. While such a smooth transition has been possible, there were certain issues that surfaced from the qualitative data. Davis (1983) has effective succession is a tricky issue, in lieu of the fact that it requires something more profound than change in structure; instead, it requies change in the norms and values of the organization – on other words, it requires cultural change. One manager of Company XY even commented, â€Å"The initial difficulty of senior management to adjust to the new president’s leadership lies in the culture itself. They have gotten used to the norms of the old president; however, there have been so many changes that speak of new ways of doing things. The new president advocates a new set of norms. That took some time to get used to, especially among us old guards.† Kuratko & Hodgetts (in Kuratko, 1993) has provided a critique of the tactics used to undertake succession planning. Those that were determined encompassed comprehending â€Å"the contextual as ­pects such as time, type of venture, managerial capabilities, and environ ­ment; identifying succession qualities such as technical skills, business knowl ­edge, perseverance, etc., and carrying out the succession plans which includes the grooming and preparation of a suc ­cessor.† (p. 23). Because the

Role Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Role Model - Essay Example Dali’s worldview can be seen in the way he viewed his career, family and religion. It seems most important for Dali was his career. As we read in Dali’s Diary of a Genius all his everyday life was depend on his creativeness and so was his whole life. He sees himself like a genius who is need to be developed almost in any cost (Dali, 2007). That’s typical for an artist to be egocentric and focused on his own personality. But focusing on one side of life, you sacrifice others. Dali often was blamed by his quondam friends for his moral qualities turned into worse. Luis Bunuel – a famous filmmaker who was one of Dali’s closest friends in youth, - in his book My Last Sigh compares a young artist Salvador he once knew to an iconic figure Dali, and says adult Dali cared too much about money (Bunuel, 2013). I think it’s a natural cause on a choice Dali had made, though it’s not close to me. For public person it’s harder to build a family because your family also becomes public, so most of public persons sacrifice their family to their career. Dali combined his private life and even subdued his family life to his career. In his Diary of a Genius Dali speaks about his wife Gala as his greatest muse (Dali, 2007). Though this view on family relationship doesn’t seem suitable to me, it’s a good way for public person to have a family while having their career. Many people that have been raised in unhappy or single-parent family are failed to build a standard family as adults. Dali had hard relationship with his father and other relatives. Firstly, his brother had died as a child and Salvador blamed parents to see the reflection of their dead child in Salvador (Dali, 2007). He argued also with his father after mother’s death because of Salvador’s rebel behavior and on religious ground. That ended with complete break up. Another reason for Dali to not build standard family was, of course, his choice not to be

The Greatest Show On Earth by Richard Dawkins Essay

The Greatest Show On Earth by Richard Dawkins - Essay Example Dawkins makes the case that every form of life on this planet was created by way of non random natural selection, which in other words is understood as evolution (Ings, 2009). People who believe differently base their decisions on things that cannot be considered as evidence. Dawkins writes that natural selection has undergone different phases of rejection that were followed by acceptance. The author refers to intelligent design in terms of the ways in which every kind of life on Earth is created through some kind of natural selection, which is explained through reference to research on the evolution of bacteria carried out by Lenski. Dawkins has taken pains in claiming that intelligent design is a valid explanation for every aspect of nature, which is supported by the theory of evolution. It is in this context that he writes â€Å"evolution is a fact. Beyond reasonable doubt, beyond serious doubt, beyond sane, informed, intelligent doubt† (Dawkins, 2009, p.12). The primary objective of the author is to provide evidence for people that the theory of evolution is as good as any scientific fact. He states on page 85 of the book that â€Å"evolutionary scientists are in the position of detectives who come late to the scene of crime† (Dawkins, 2009, p.85). In making this statement he means that it becomes difficult to prove the evolutionary process to those that deny or doubt history. He refers to evolution repeatedly in his book and wants readers to understand how natural changes have been brought on the planet through microevolution and macroevolution. In explaining that science determines temporal sequence Dawkins has written that nature has clocks that ascertain the time taken for the effects of evolution to emerge. He means that evolutionary scientists have to make use of such wide range of clocks in terms of the processes available for dating

A Critique on the Blank Slate Essay Example for Free

A Critique on the Blank Slate Essay There are three doctrines which have attained sacred status in modern intellectual life. The Blank Slate, a loose translation of the medieval Latin term tabula rasa, scraped tablet, commonly attributed to John Locke which delves into the opposing of political status quos and social arrangements, stating mainly that the mind is like a sheet of white paper void of all characters and ideas, furnished with words through experience; it denounced the differences seen among races, including the institution of slavery as slaves could no longer be thought of as innately inferior, ethnic groups, sexes and individuals for the differences come not from the innate constitution but from the differences in the experiences. It is indeed fitting to think of the mind that way as the mind is like a blank sheet of paper filled only through experience. Yet it is safe to say that not only experience that can fill it but also preconceptions and expectations of the society. Another doctrine is The Noble Savage, commonly attributed to philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, inspired by the European colonists’ discovery of the indigenous in the New World; it stated the belief that savages were solitary, without ties of love or loyalty and without any industry or art. It also captures the belief that humans in their natural state are selfless, peaceable and untroubled and that negative emotions such as greed and jealousy are products of civilization, a concept which debased Thomas Hobbes’ belief that man is naturally cruel and requires a regular system of police to be resolved. Looking at it from a personal angle, I would say that I quite agree with Hobbes only on one aspect: man is naturally cruel; if he isn’t, then how is it that our history has been tainted with the blood of millions of people who have died because of a single man who could not rein his malice, i.e. Hitler. Even in our everyday life, we manage to impress upon other peopl e our evil nature, even if in a simple way. But that does not mean that we need to surrender our lives to leviathan control for I believe that we can change our nature, no matter how far back we may seem. As the last doctrine states, we are not merely machines with gears and springs, we are our minds and thus we have the ability to think and choose our own decisions. The last doctrine, attributed to Rene Descartes, is perhaps the most ingenious of all: The Ghost in the Machine. Our mind exists because we know how to think and the very act of doing so proves it. Our bodies’ existence however may be doubted for we may simply be immaterial spirits who merely daydream that we are incarnate. Add to that a moral bonus: the belief that the mind is a different kind of thing from the body. And what makes it truly intriguing is the fact that philosophers argue as to when the ghost enters the body, during the start of the fertilization when the sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell and creates the zygote or when it has become a fetus ready to be borne into the world. Certainly it is an argument comparable to the question, â€Å"Which came first, the chicken or the egg?† Philosophically answering the question would pertain to another question, â€Å"what is meant by ‘came first’?† as all philosophical questions go. These doctrines have so shaped the world that it has left fingerprints, from Walt Disney to the former president of the United States, George W. Bush. And even for a simple student like me who has recently come across the subject, I can say that I have already thought of such concepts even without reading it before, or at least I have thought about the idea of the Noble Savage and the Blank Slate. Yet as I read the concept of the Ghost in the Machine, I was very much in awe for I have never, in my whole sixteen years of existence, thought of such a thing. And what really appeals to me is the fact that Descartes claims that we are our minds and that our body may merely be an image we have formed as immaterial b eings. Even Buddha thought so, stating that â€Å"We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I have long doubted the ideas of ghosts and reading of such a concept, especially in a subject such as this, makes me wonder how the philosopher conceived such an idea. Thinking of it gives me shivers as it implies that we are beings far greater than we imagined. And as good as it may sound, I think it appeals to man’s egotistic nature; we as humans who have done things, good and evil, try to look for a sound explanation to ease our consciences. I cannot say that the idea does not appeal to me yet I cannot also say that I do agree with it; on the other hand, of the three doctrines, I agree the most with the doctrine of The Noble Savage. I do believe that in our true nature, we are savages but that does not mean that we did not know how to control ourselves; indeed it would seem that the Native Americans, the specific race of people that the Europeans based the doctrine of The Noble Savage on, had a better society than we did: they were less barbaric, no employment problems and substance abuse, even crime was nearly nonexistent. And even if there were hard times, life was definitely stable and predictable. And yet that in itself was the reason why man chose to come out of his â€Å"savage† nature; he wanted adventure, twist and turns in his life; he wanted to feel the thrill of living. There is nothing wrong with that but for every choice there is a price to pay and the price we paid was high even if it remains to be seen whether it was worth it or not. However that is not enough reason to turn over our free will to an autonomous control; doing so would merely undermine the choices we have made for our civilization. Besides, our lives are meant to be lived fully and whatever choices we make, we must stand by it and see it to the end. Our mind, no matter how it started or whatever way it really is, is a tool for us to live our lives as we see fit. We must learn to harness our true potential to make sure that whatever choices we make would produce positive ripples that would be felt in the distant future to help the coming generations. As Plutarch said, â€Å"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.†

The Beautiful Mountain In Indonesia History Essay

The Beautiful Mountain In Indonesia History Essay Mount is a form of land protruding above the surrounding area. A mountain is usually higher and steeper than a hill, but they are having similarity and usage often depends on local custom. Some authorities define a mountain with a peak of more than a certain amount; for example, the Encyclopedia Britannica requires elevation 2000 feet (610 m) to be defined as a mountain. Whether a landform is called a mountain may depend on usage among the local people. Other definitions of mountain include: * Height over base of at least 2,500 * Height over base of 1500-2500m with a slope greater than 2 degrees * Height over base of 1000-1500m with a slope greater than 5 degrees * Local (radius 7 km) elevation greater than 300m, or 300-1000m if local (radius 7 km) elevation is greater than 300m. By this definition, mountains cover 64% of Asia, 25% of Europe, 22% of South America, 17% of Australia, and 3% of Africa. As a whole, 24% of the Earths land mass is mountainous and 10% of people live in mountainous regions. Most of the worlds rivers are fed from mountain sources, and more than half of humanity depends on mountains for water. High mountains, as well as those located close to the Earths poles, reach into the colder layers of the atmosphere. They are consequently subject to glaciations, and erosion through frost action. Such processes produce the peak shape. Some of these mountains have glacial lakes, created by melting glaciers; for example, there are an estimated 3,000 glacial lakes in Bhutan. Mountains can be eroded and weathered, altering their characteristics over time. Tall mountains have different climatic conditions at the top than at the base, and will thus have different life zones at different altitudes. The flora and fauna found in these zones tend to become isolated since the conditions above and below a particular zone will be inhospitable to those organisms. These isolated ecological systems are known as sky islands and/or microclimates. Mountains are colder than lower ground, because the Sun heats Earth from the ground up. The Suns radiation travels through the atmosphere to the ground, where Earth absorbs the heat. Air closest to the Earths surface is, in general, warmest. Air temperature normally drops 1 to 2 degrees Celsius for each 300 meters (1000 feet) of altitude. Mountains are generally less preferable for human habitation than lowlands; the weather is often harsher, and there is little level ground suitable for agriculture. At very high altitudes, there is less oxygen in the air and less protection against solar radiation (UV). Acute mountain sickness (caused by hypoxia a lack of oxygen in the blood) affects over half of lowlanders who spend more than a few hours above 3,500 meters (11,483 ft). Mountains and mountain ranges throughout the world have been left in their natural state, and are today primarily used for recreation, while others are used for logging, mining, grazing, or see little use. Some mountains offer spectacular views from their summits, while others are densely wooded. Summit accessibility is affected by height, steepness, latitude, terrain, weather. Roads, lifts, or tramways affect accessibility. Hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding are recreational activities enjoyed on mountains. Mountains that support heavy recreational use (especially downhill skiing) are often the locations of mountain resorts. Mountains can be characterized in several ways. Some mountains are volcanoes and can be characterized by the type of lava. Other mountains are shaped by glacial processes and can be characterized by their glaciated features. Still others are typified by the faulting and folding of the Earths crust, or by the collision of continental plates via plate tectonics (the Himalayas, for instance). Finally, the type of rock that makes up their composition can characterize mountains. The movement of lithospheric plates, either orogenic movement or epeirogenic movement, usually produces a mountain. The compressional forces, isostatic uplift and intrusion of igneous matter forces surface rock upward, creating a landform higher than the surrounding features. The height of the feature makes it either a hill or, if higher and steeper, a mountain. The absolute heights of features termed mountains and hills vary greatly according to an areas terrain. The major mountains tend to occur in long linear arcs, indicating tectonic plate boundaries and activity. Two types of mountain are formed depending on how the rock reacts to the tectonic forces block mountains or fold mountains. Compressional forces in continental collisions may cause the compressed region to thicken, so the upper surface is forced upward. In order to balance the weight of the earth surface, much of the compressed rock is forced downward, producing deep mountain roots [see the Book of Earth, Press and Siever page.413]. Mountains therefore form downward as well as upward (see isostasy). However, in some continental collisions part of one continent may simply override part of the others, crumpling in the process. Volcanoes, including many apparently small islands that reach a great height above the ocean floor, produced some isolated mountains. Block Mountains are created when large areas are widely broken up by faults creating large vertical displacements. This occurrence is fairly common. The uplifted blocks are Block Mountains or horsts. The intervening dropped blocks are termed graben: these can be small or form extensive rift valley systems. This form of landscape can be seen in East Africa, the Vosges, the Basin and Range province of Western North America and the Rhine valley. These areas often occur when the regional stress is extensional and the crust is thinned. The mid-ocean ridges are often referred to as undersea mountain ranges due to their bathymetric prominence. Rock that does not fault may fold, either symmetrically or asymmetrically. The up folds are anticlines and the down folds are synclines: in asymmetric folding their may also be recumbent and overturned folds. The Jura Mountains are an example of folding. Over time, erosion can bring about an inversion of relief: the soft up thrust rock is worn away so the anticlines are actually lower than the tougher, more compressed rock of the synclines. As in the world have many beautiful mountains. So, according to the previous research there are some beautiful mountains with their special character, which located in Indonesia and usually interesting to visit. For the first mountain, that it will be explained is mount Jayawijaya, The highest mountain in Indonesia. Jayawijaya also a mountain covered with snow. Because of that, Mount Jayawijaya make Indonesia to be proud have that mountain. Puncak Jayawijaya or a shorter called Puncak Jaya has reached the height of approximately 4884 meters above sea level. Stretched lengthwise in the middle of the province of West Papua and Papua (Indonesia) to Papua New Guinea Newguinea on with coordinate S 04 °04.733 and E 137 °09.572. Puncak Jaya also called Carstensz Pyramide comes from name a Dutch adventurer named Carstenz January, he was the first seeing snow in the mountain area. Jan Carstensz makes observations through an ocean liner in 1623. Because cannot be determined by direct observation, the report was considered ridiculous. Because for Europeans, found the snowy mountains in the tropics is something that almost impossible. The truth of the Carstensz report revealed after almost three hundred years later, when in 1899 dutch expedition made a Papua Island map and found the snow covered a mountain like Carstensz report said. To honor Carstensz, so the peak of that mountain named as the name implies. Recorded the first climbers ever to conquer the Puncak Jaya is the expedition team led by Heinrich Harrer in 1962. Heinrich Harrer is an excellent climber and seasoned authors. His famous book, Seven Years in Tibet, is the true story of wanderings and friendship in the Himalayas, Tibet. Before Harrer, actually have a lot of other climbers who try to climb, but no one has ever succeeded. After Heinrich Harrer, following the expedition of Indonesia made it to the top. The expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel Hamid Azwar Topography of the Directorate of the Army is successfully achieving Puncak Jaya in 1964. Jayawijaya Mountain is known as one of the seven highest peaks in the world (seven summit). Therefore, mount Jayawijaya is the ideals of true climbers, let alone climbing into the Puncak Jaya is the subjugation of the snow-covered mountain. Presented obstacles in the climb, such as a steep natural condition, very cold temperatures, strong winds and rain, and the lack of oxygen at altitude areas is a challenge to be conquered by the climbers. Puncak Jaya is one of the snowy mountain peaks in crossing the equator, except in the mountains in Africa and Latin America. When viewed from the air, Puncak Jaya looks like a black carpet covered by a white hood. If the sun was bright, the snow will reflect blinding sunlight. Content of ice in the mountains is expected to reach 5 percent of world reserves of ice outside the continent of Antarctica. However, due to global warming, that amount from year to year increasingly shrinking. If viewed from the type of glacier into the types of Alpine Glaciation, the flow of glaciers that flow from a high to a lower area. Therefore, in this area have made possible the flow of the glacier. Not only enjoy the natural charm of snow in the tropics, in the mountains tourists can also witness direct geological evidence about the history of the formation of Jayawijaya Mountains. Geological studies found empirical evidence that this mountain was originally a deep sea floor. A geologist named Francis Benedict in Margotomo http://www.e-samarinda.com Widodo said that the formation of the island of Papua with a peak in the IDR occurred about 60 million years ago. The island is formed from sedimentary rocks, which rose due to plate collision Indo-Pacific and Indo-Australian on the seabed, resulting in raised seabed became a large island. The evidence can be seen from the fossil marine animals left in the rocks Jayawijaya Mountains. Therefore, besides being a paradise for hikers, this region is also a paradise for geological research. If exploring the mountains of Mining, of course the main thing is to prepare the physical readiness, supplies, and logistics. Exercise regularly in an area with a fairly cold temperature is one of the most effective conditioning to avoid the threat of hypothermia (hypothermia), which is due to heat loss in the temperate regions, very cold. In addition, the licensing aspect should also be prepared long before the ascent fingers. Because, apart from the heavy terrain, Papua region often hit by riots, tribal warfare, natural disasters and other disorders. The difficulty of licensing to climb the roof of Indonesia This often led to expressions of satire: more difficult than taking care of his permission to climb the mountain. Given the weight of climbing terrain, complex licensing process, as well as security guarantees during the ascent, the climbers should use the services of an experienced travel agent. Various travel agents who have international reputations have provided two route options, the classic route through the Village Ilaga, or line kedia more comfortable with a helicopter ride to the Basecamp Hill Lake (Lake Valley). Travel agent will usually handle the issue of licensing, transportation from Jakarta to Papua, renting a helicopter to the base camp, climbing guide, insurance, and training and conditioning team before the climb. Of course, the cost per person for a climbing team using travel agent services requires considerable cost, which is about 10,000 USD per person (or about one hundred million rupiah). The next, it will be mount Tangkuban Perahu. As known mount Tangkuban Perahu has a unique legend. Tangkuban perahu or Tangkuban parahu according to the Sundanese dialect is a volcano, type stratovulcano. Tangkuban perahu is 25 km from Lembang, Bandung with the coordinate 6 °46à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²S 107 °36à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²E »Ã‚ ¿ /  »Ã‚ ¿6.77 °S 107.60 °E »Ã‚ ¿ / -6.77; 107.60. Its location is in between Sagalaherang village, Sagalaherang district, Subang regency and Cikole village, Lembang district, Bandung regency. Tangkuban perahu has height about 2084 meter (837 feet), with the last eruption in 1983. Mount Tangkuban Perahu is the easiest hike route. This stratovolcano offers many places to see and explore. Whether we look into the huge crater or hike down into it, stroll through the forest on its slopes, or simply enjoy the splendid panoramic scenery. Mt. Tangkuban Perahu is an interesting destination that everyone in the Bandung area is fond of visiting. Based on experience, is better to visit Mt. Tangkuban Perahu in the morning. Its still quite, cold weather, even still in the base ground before you going up to the mountain. Many people said that if going into hike down, could find a huge crater, which many sulfur inside. The huge crater is also the main tourism spot. Its look likes a little lake with hot surface that feel like in the spa. Its rather hot in that huge crater. Visitor can relax awhile boil egg. But, visitor must aware with the hot gas from explosion holes. Each mountain has urban legend for their name, or how it does created so does mount Tangkuban perahu. Mt. Tangkuban perahu named and created referring to the local legend. Is told that king Sungging Perbangkara go hunting. In the middle of forest, king threw urine, which deposited in caring leaves. A female pig named Wayungyang the middle of an ascetic to become a man had to drink urine. Wayungyang pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby. The king brings that baby to the castle and king gave her name Dayang Sumbi or Rarasati. A lot of kings want to marry her, but no one Dayang sumbi accept to be her husband. Thats making the kings warring among themselves. Dayang Sumbi ask permitted from her father to leaving and go to the hill accompany with a male dog named Tumang. When she was busy weaving, piston, which used to weave the cloth, fell to the bottom. Dayang Sumbi felling lazy, uttered the word without the second thought before, she promised to get anyone who found that piston-sex male, would be her husband. Tumang found that piston and give to Dayang Sumbi. Then, Tumang become her husband. Dayang Sumbi was shocking when knew Tumang is the incarnation of gods. Another gods was cursed Tumang because disobedience. In short time, Dayang Sumbi pregnant and eventually gave birth to a handsome baby named Sangkuriang. Sangkuriang never know that Tumang is the incarnation of gods and also his father. Sangkuriang is very fond of hunting. He was hunting accompanied with Tumang. When Sangkuriang hunting in the forest instructed to pursue the Tumang Wayungyang sow. Tumang not want to follow his orders, then Sangkuriang killed Tumang. Sangkuriang give heart of the Tumang to Dayang Sumbi, then cooked and eaten. Dayang Sumbi never know that she already ate her husbands heart until she wonder where the dog going. At last, Sangkuriang confess that he killed Tumang and that heart was Tumangs heart. Dayang Sumbi anger was rising to the fore head beaten with hit Sangkuriangs head with the rice spoon made from coconut shell, so his head have a scar. Dayang Sumbi cast away Sangkuriang for killed her husband. In her sadness she granted the power of eternal youth by the gods. Sangkuriang go wandering around the world. After a long walk to the east finally arrived in the west again and unknowingly has arrived back in place Dayang Sumbi, where his mother was. Sangkuriang not know that the beautiful princess who was found Dayang Sumbi his mother. Sangkuriang fell in love with Dayang Sumbi and planned to marry her, only for Dayang Sumbi to recognize his scar just as he was about to go hunting. In order to prevent the marriage from taking place, Dayang Sumbi asked Sangkuriang to build a dam on the river Citarum and build a large boat to cross the river, both before the sunrise. Sangkuriang meditated and summoned mythical ogre-like creatures -buta hejo or green giant(s)- to do his bidding. Dayang Sumbi saw that the tasks were almost completed and called on her workers to spread red silk cloths east of the city, to give the impression of impending sunrise. Sangkuriang was fooled, and upon believing that he had failed, kicked the dam and the unfinished boat, res ulting in severe flooding and the creation of Tangkuban perahu from the hull of the boat. Sangkuriang pursued Dayang Sumbi a sudden disappeared in Gunung Putri and turned into a Jaksi flower. Sangkuriang after arriving at a place called the Edge Berung finally disappeared into the spirit world (ngahiyang). The next mountain it will be mount Krakatau, as known Krakatau have an amazing eruption. Krakatau is a volcano that still active and located in Sunda strait of Indonesia, between Java Island and Sumatra. Its type is volcanic caldera. Krakatau rises 813 meters (2,667 feet) above sea level. This name has been pinned on the summit of the volcano there is, because the eruption on August 26th-27th 1883, then vanished. The explosion very powerful and the resulting tsunami killed around 36,000 people. Until December 26th 2004, this tsunami is the most powerful in Indian Ocean region. The explosion heard even in Alice Springs, Australia and Rodriguez Island 4.653 kilometers near Africa. The yield is estimated at 30,000 times the atomic bomb that detonated on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. Krakatau eruption caused global climate change. World had dark during two and a half day due to volcanic ash that surround the atmosphere. The sun was dreary enough until next year. Ash scatter looks in Norwegian sky to New York. Krakatau Explosion actually still loses compare with Toba Mount and Tambora Mount explosion. Whereas in New Zealand Tanpo Mount and Katmal Mount in Alaska. However that mountain explode long time when human population still very little. Meanwhile Krakatau eruption, human population already dense enough, science and technology are evolved. Telegraph was found and submarine cable has been installed. Thus we can say that moment of information technology is growing and growing rapidly. Noted that the eruption of Krakatau was the first major disaster in the world after the discovery of submarine telegraph. Progress is, unfortunately, has not been matched by progress in the field of geology. The geologist was not even able to give an explanation of these eruptions. Look around mount Krakatau region in Sunda strait, experts estimated that in ancient time there is a huge mount in Sunda strait which finally extreme explode and gave rest a caldera (huge crater) called Ancient Mount Krakatau which is the main of eruption mount Krakatau in 1883. This mount is composed of andesitic rocks. Note on the Ancient Krakatoa eruption taken from an ancient Javanese text, entitled Library Parwa King estimated dating from 416 AD. It contained among other states: There was thunder booming voice came from Mount Batuwara. There is also a frightening shock earth, darkness, thunder and lightning. Then came the storm of wind and rain and all the terrible storms darkened the entire world. A great flood came from Batuwara Mountain and flows east to Mount Kamula. When water drowning, the island of Java, separated into two, creating the island of Sumatra Geologists Berend George Escher and the other some argue that natural event as told in that text which called Mount Batuwara. Based on that Library King Parwa book, Krakatau height reach 2,000 meters above sea level, and circumstance the sea reach 11 kilometers. Due to the great explosion, three-quarters of the body destroyed leave the rest caldera (a large crater) in Sunda strait. The sides or edge crater, known as Rakata Island, Panjang Island and Sertung Island. This explosion was point out the responsibility for the occurrence of the dark ages on earth. Bubonic disease occurred due to cold temperature. This disease is significantly decrease human population on the earth. The eruption was also considered contributing to the end of the heyday of ancient Persia, transmutation Roma kingdom to Byzantium, the end of the civilization of South Arabia, the extinction of a large Mayan City, Tikal and collapse of the Nazca civilization in South America which enigmatic. The Ancient Krakatau eruption estimated during 10 days with an estimated mass of vomit speeds reach 1 million tons per second. The explosion has formed a shield 20-150 meters thick atmosphere, lower temperature of 10-20 degrees for 5-10 years. Rakata Island, which is one of rest the Ancient Krakatau Mount, and grow in accordance with encouragement from the volcanic bowels of the earth known as Mount Krakatau, made in basaltic rock. Then, two volcanoes in the middle crater, named Danan Mount and Perbuwatan later merged with Rakata Mount that shown first. This blend mount was called Krakatau Mount. Mount Krakatau had erupted in 1680 produced andesitic lava acid. Moreover in 1880, Mount Perbuwatan active produced lava without explosion. After that time, there is no more volcanic activity in Krakatau until May 20th 1883. In that day, after 200 years of sleep, a little explosion happens in Krakatau. Thats the first sign of eruption will occur in the Sunda Strait. This small explosion followed by small explosions that occurred on 26-27 summits in August 1883. Monday August 27th 1883, exactly 10.20 oclock, that mount was explode. Simon Winchester, a geologist who graduated from Oxford University in England and also the author of National Geographic said that Krakatau Explosion was the biggest, loudest voices and volcanic events of the most devastating in modern human history. Voices of the explosion heard until 4.600 km from the center of the explosion and even 1/8 earth citizen could hear at that time. According to the researchers in University of North Dakota, Krakatau explosion together with Tambora eruption (1815) noted the biggest score of Volcanic Explosives Index (VEI) in modern history. The Guiness Book of Record noted that Krakatau explosion became the most powerful explosion that recorded in history. Krakatau explosion had thrown stones pumice and volcanic ash with a volume of 18 cubic miles. A burst of the volcanic dusts reaches 80 km. Hard objects which flew into the air that fell on the plains of Java and Sumatra, even to Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. Eruption destroyed Danan Mountain, Mount Perbuwatan and partially Mount Rakata, where a half cone is missing, creates a basin-wide depth of 7 km and 250 meters. Ocean waves rise as high as 40 meters to destroy the villages and anything around coastal area. The tsunami was caused not only because of the eruption but also underwater avalanches. Noted that the number of the dead reached 36.417 people from 295 villages around coastal from Merak (Serang) until Cimalaya in Karawang, west coast of Banten to display on the Island of Cape Panaitan (Ujung Kulon) also Southern part of Sumatra. In Ujung Kulon, the flood went until 15 km to the west. The next day until a few days later, residents Jakarta and Lampung hinterland no longer see the sun. Tsunami waves generated even creeping up to the Hawaiian coast, west coast of Central America and the Arabian Peninsula that 7 thousand miles away. Begin in 1927 or at least 40 years after Mount Krakatau eruption, shown volcanic which as known Krakatau son from ancient caldera area that still active and grow up. Speed of the growth rate about 20 inches per month. Every year it becomes higher 20 feet high and 40 feet wide. Other records mention the high increase about 4 cm per year and if in calculate, so in 25 years later high increase Rakata son reached 7.500 inches or 500 feet higher than 25 years before. The growth rate itself due to material that comes out from of the new belly of the mountain. It this time Son of Krakatau rises about 230 meters above sea level, meanwhile the previous Mount Krakatau rises about 813 meters above sea level. According to Simon Winchester, despite what happened in the first Krakatau live very frightening realities of geology, seismic and tectonic in Java and Sumatra, which will ensure that the strange what happens once in a while will happen again. No one knows exactly when the Son of Krakatau to erupt. Some geologists predict eruptions in will occur between 2015-2083. But the influence of the earthquake in the Indian Ocean base at December 26, 2004 also cannot be ignored. According to Professor Ueda Nakayama one expert Japanese volcano, son of Krakatau is still relatively safe although there are active and frequent small eruptions, there are only certain times of the tourists are prohibited from approaching the area because of the dangers of spit lava of this volcano. Other experts said there is no plausible theory of the Son of Krakatau erupted that will come back. If there is at least 3 century or after 2325 AD. But clearly, the number of victims caused more awesome than the previous eruption. After explanation about mount Krakatau, go to the next mountain it will be mount Rinjani, a favorite for mountain clmbers because of the beauty of the scenery Indonesia. Mount Rinjani is a mountain located in Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara. Mountain, which is the second highest volcano in Indonesia with a height of 3726 meters above sea level, it similar in height to Mount Fuji in Japan and located at latitude 8  ° 25 S and 116  ° 28 E. Administratively, this mount is in the area the three of district, which is East Lombok, Central Lombok, and West Lombok. With the height Mount Rinjani, dominating most of the scenery of northern Lombok Island. In the western Rinjani cone there is caldera with area about 3.500m x 4.800 m, extending west towards. Inside this caldera, there is Segera Anak ( Segera = sea, lake) area of 11.000.000 sq m with the depth 230 m. The water that flow from this lake is forming a very beautiful waterfall, flow through away canyon. In Segera Anak there are a lot of goldfish and mujair, so it usually used to fishing. In the eastern of caldera there is New Mount (Mount Barujari) which have a crater with size 170 m x 200 m and rises 2296- 2376 m above sea level. This little mountain eruption since May 2nd 2009 and along May, after also previously erupted in 2004. In 2004, this eruption did not take casualties; the eruption in 2009 has been take indirect 31 casualties. To arrive in Mount Rinjani, climbers can use the direct bus Jakarta to Mataram with across the sea using feri two times. Rinjani have scenery, which is the most beautiful scenery in Indonesia. Every year (june-august) there are a lot of visitor like local residents, college student, nature lovers. Temperature average around 20 0C; the lowest 12 0C. Strong winds are common in August. Besides at the peak, the place that usual in visit is Segera Anak. To reach this location visitor can climb from Senaru village or Sembalun Lawang. Most of climbers love start entry from Sembalun, because it could save 700m altitudes. Sembalun route is quite far but flat, and the weather more heat because trough away desert savanna. Shading cream is highly recommended. From Senaru climb without stop, but the weather is soft because through the forest. From this both locations need time to walk away about 9 hours to the lip of the ridge at height 2700m above sea level. In this place, scenery to the lake, as well as scenery to the out side. From Plawangan Senaru down into the lake through the steep wall to a height of 2000m above sea level that can be gone in 2 hours. In the lake visitor could take a camp and fishing (Carper, Mujair) that a lot. Lombok residents have a tradition visit to Segera Anakan for bathing in hot water pool and fishing. To get to the peak, must take a walk climb the western wall at height 700m and ridge height 1000m taken in 2 steps, 3 hours and 4 hours. The first stage toward Plawangan Sembalun, visit the last camp to wait for the morning. Summit usual attack at 3 oclock morning to find beautiful moment the sun rises at the top of Rinjani. Travel to the peak not too easy, for climbing on the crater lip with a safety margin barely. The tracks are sand, stone, and land. The last height 200m to go with some difficulty, because of one step forward followed with a half step down (fallen rocks gravel). For highlander, this place the most challenging and desirable because of the weight field paid off with the beautiful natural scenery. To climb Rinjani no need tools required, just stamina, patience and passion. After the most beautiful mountain in Indonesia, which is mount Rinjani, the next explanation about mount Galunggung. Mount Galunggung is a stratovolcano with the height 2.167 m above sea level, the location about 17 km from the central of Tasikmalaya. The mountain, which is located in coordinate 7.25 °LS-7 °150LS; 108.058 °BT-108 °330BT, has recorded that Galunggung had erupted in 1882 (VEI = 5). Early signs known eruption in July 1822, in which water becomes turbid Cikunir and muddy. Results of the crater showed that the hot water is murky and sometimes appeared a column of smoke from the crater. Then on October 8 s.d. October 12, the eruption of reddish sand produces rain very hot, fine ash, hot clouds and lava. Lava flow moving toward the southeast following the river flows. This 4011 eruption killed 114 people and destroyed villages, with damage to the land to the east and south as far as 40 km from the top of the mountain. The next eruption occurred in 1894. In between the dates 7-9 October, eruption clouds that produce heat. Then on October 30th and 27th, the lava flows occurred on the same river flows by lava eruption produced in 1822. This time the eruption destroyed 50 villages, most houses collapsed because of falling ash. In 1918, in early July, the next eruptions occur and begin with earthquake. July 6th eruption produces ash 2-5mm thick is limited in the crater and the southern slope. And on July 9, noted the appearance of the lava dome inside the lake crater with a size of 85m-high 560x440m, which was then called mountain so. The last major eruption on Galunggung was in 1982, which had a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4 and killed 68 people. This eruption also brought the dangers of volcanic ash to aviation to worldwide attention, after two Boeing 747 passenger jets flying downwind of the eruption suffered temporary engine failures and damage to exterior surfaces, both planes being forced to make emergency landings at Jakarta. One, a British Airways aircraft carrying 240 passengers, accidentally entered the ash cloud during night in June 1982 150 km downwind of the volcano. All four engines failed and the aircraft descended for 16 minutes, losing 7500 meters of its 11500 meters altitude, until the crew managed to restart the engines. The following month a Singapore Airlines aero plan with 230 passengers aboard also inadvertently entered the cloud at night, and three of its four engines stopped. The crew succeeded in restarting one of the engines after descending 2400 meters. Both aircraft suffered serious damage to their engines and exterior surfaces. A hummocky deposit known as the Ten Thousand Hills of Tasikmalaya attracted the attention of early 20th century geologists. Houses were built on the hummocks since they provided good defence against hostile people, and being above the paddy fields were free of mosquitoes and rats. Originally, it was thought that

Andrew Marvells To His Coy Mis :: essays research papers

The Non-Discriminatory Nature of Time in Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress'; Time passes. Its journey is oblivious to power, weakness, beauty, or mercy. The nature of time itself lies in its unrelenting progression through life, until we are removed from it’s favor and then wither and die. The purpose of most carpe diem poetry is to draw a character’s attention (usually the female) to the pressing nature of time’s progress, as well as illustrating the bountiful rewards of seizing the moment and giving into the momentary passions of life. Andrew Marvell’s poem “To His Coy Mistress'; is a classic example of carpe diem poetry, exemplifying the foreboding nature of time. It’s distinction from similar works, however, lies in its inherent ability to express the ominous nature of time’s advancement in terms of both the male and female’s perspectives. Rather than lament about missed opportunities, “To His Coy Mistress'; actually serves to force one to consider how we compartmentalize time into stages of life, and thus commit ourselves to its mercy without allowing ourselves to relish its immediate rewards. Marvell’s sense of time affects both his characters in unique ways, and therefore unites their plight as a human cause rather than a gender based issue. Andrew Marvell expresses this point by structuring his poem into three components that propose the issues of time’s existence, its limited availability, and finally a solution of sorts. The first section of “To His Coy Mistress'; serves the task of identifying that time is a limited commodity, and thus can not be wasted. Immediately the speaker states openly that “Had we but world enough, and time, This coyness, lady, were no crime'; (1-2). The implication here, if taken at face value, suggests that the mistress’ coyness is a crime only because of the lack of time available. The speaker continues with “We would sit down, and think which way To walk, and pass our long love’s day'; (3-4). The tone of such a verse is overtly suspicious, automatically suggestive of the insidious nature of a man hungry to feed his lust. However, another possibility lies in the direct message Marvell puts forth in his verse. The spoken comments themselves suggest that “We would sit down, and think…'; and “pass our long love’s day'; (3,4). The impression given is one of joint merriment in love. The speaker associates the passion of his coy mistress with his own, creating a sense of understanding and common ground.

Childhood Mortality in Nineteenth-Century England :: European Europe History

Childhood Mortality in Nineteenth-Century England The issue of childhood mortality is written into the works of Gaskell and Dickens with alarming regularity. In Mary Barton, Alice tells Mary and Margaret that before Will was orphaned, his family had buried his six siblings. There is also the death of the Wilson twins, as well as Tom Barton's early death --an event which inspires his father John to fight for labor rights because he's certain his son would have survived if he'd had better food. In Oliver Twist, Dick's early death is typical of workhouse children who never recover from years of chronic malnutrition. And in Dombey and Son, Paul demonstrates that wealth does not guarantee longevity, as we watch him steadily weakened by some mysterious illness. Evidence is everywhere that Gaskell, Dickens, and many of their contemporaries, used fiction to chronicle a sad fact of l9th century life: Many children didn't live to become adults. At the Newell Historical Burial ground in Attleboro, the stone marking the graves of the Stanley family indicates that three children were either stillborn or died before their first birthdays. If there were any other children who survived childhood, they were probably daughters who were buried in their husbands' family plots. A typical grave from the mid-19th century is a husband's stone flanked by two or even three wives each but the last having died in her 20s or 30s. Certainly many of these women died in childbirth, because their death dates match the birth dates on the children's stones. Several children might be named after the father. In one family plot with eight children, three were named John because only the third one survived the first year. ApE time when the death of a toddler was as normal as this practice was quite common in both America and England. While all of Dombey's money couldn't save his son from dying, little Paul's diet, lifestyle, and medical attention gave him every advantage available. The relationship between poverty and childhood mortality is unmistakable. In Boston's Irish Catholic slums, Lemuel Shattuck found that between 1841 and 1845, 61% of the population died before the age of five. (Woodham-Smith, p. 252) Poor English children didn't fare any particularly in the manufacturing towns of London, Sheffield, Leocester, Manchester, and Liverpool. Statistics from the Sheffield General Infirmary' between 1837 and 1842 reveal that of 11,944 deaths, half were children under age five:

Five Factor Model of Costa and McCrae Essay -- Psychology

In psychology, the Big Five personality traits are five broad dimensions of an individual’s personality. The personality traits include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The two psychologists who discovered this theory are Costa and McCrae. In this paper I will discuss the history of the five-factor model, each of the five different personality traits, and how this is significant in my own life and my behavior. In 1992, two psychologists by the name of Costa and McCrae made a brilliant discovery of various dimensions of personality traits and put them in five separate personality traits. The five dimensions are usually described in the subsequent order of decreasing vigor based on previous personality scales: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness. â€Å"Costa and McCrae’s discovery has also influenced other ways of measuring personality including the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R), which is based on the five-factor model of personality† (Hart, Stasson, Mahoney, Story, 2007). The method of discovering which of the five personality traits you display most is in the form of a test. Twelve items, making a total of sixty items, measure each of the five personality traits. The items are statements measured by five-point scales that are formed by two poles from strongly disagree to strongly agree. â€Å"The scores of the twelve items, which measure each trait, are summarized and each person obtains a raw score of each of the personality traits† (Hart et al., 2007). The personality trait that your score is highest indicates the trait you lean towards most. It is also important to note that each of the five dimensions is bipolar, describi... ...b and career and what I want to accomplish in my life. I need to have a job where I am able to travel and not be stuck at a mundane desk job, somewhere where I am constantly learning and expressing myself with others. Personality develops around the age of seven and is definitely one of the most important parts of a person. Personality is your own set of qualities that makes you unique from other people. It includes all of the thought and emotions that cause us to do and say things in particular ways. Personality is an incredible captivating and enthralling concept in understanding how a certain person acts the way they do. The Five-Factor Model is an amazing discovery of five main dimensions of a human’s persona and even though not everyone fits exactly into only one personality it is still an undeniable way of helping us to better understand ourselves. Five Factor Model of Costa and McCrae Essay -- Psychology In psychology, the Big Five personality traits are five broad dimensions of an individual’s personality. The personality traits include openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The two psychologists who discovered this theory are Costa and McCrae. In this paper I will discuss the history of the five-factor model, each of the five different personality traits, and how this is significant in my own life and my behavior. In 1992, two psychologists by the name of Costa and McCrae made a brilliant discovery of various dimensions of personality traits and put them in five separate personality traits. The five dimensions are usually described in the subsequent order of decreasing vigor based on previous personality scales: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness. â€Å"Costa and McCrae’s discovery has also influenced other ways of measuring personality including the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R), which is based on the five-factor model of personality† (Hart, Stasson, Mahoney, Story, 2007). The method of discovering which of the five personality traits you display most is in the form of a test. Twelve items, making a total of sixty items, measure each of the five personality traits. The items are statements measured by five-point scales that are formed by two poles from strongly disagree to strongly agree. â€Å"The scores of the twelve items, which measure each trait, are summarized and each person obtains a raw score of each of the personality traits† (Hart et al., 2007). The personality trait that your score is highest indicates the trait you lean towards most. It is also important to note that each of the five dimensions is bipolar, describi... ...b and career and what I want to accomplish in my life. I need to have a job where I am able to travel and not be stuck at a mundane desk job, somewhere where I am constantly learning and expressing myself with others. Personality develops around the age of seven and is definitely one of the most important parts of a person. Personality is your own set of qualities that makes you unique from other people. It includes all of the thought and emotions that cause us to do and say things in particular ways. Personality is an incredible captivating and enthralling concept in understanding how a certain person acts the way they do. The Five-Factor Model is an amazing discovery of five main dimensions of a human’s persona and even though not everyone fits exactly into only one personality it is still an undeniable way of helping us to better understand ourselves.

On the Competition Between an Online Bookstore and a Physical Bookstore Essay

Most of you have no doubt been made aware of Amazon’s latest thuggish, brutal – and brilliant – idea to squeeze out its competition. Utilizing their Price Check smart phone app, a customer would get a 5% discount on a product that they initially scanned in a retail store before subsequently purchasing it on Amazon. Nefarious, right? But also quite savvy. Amazon is no stranger to taking advantage of its massive size and its low overheads to crush its competition. Its online nature has allowed it to skip around state sales taxes, and the employment opportunities it brings serves as a deterrent to local legislators who wish to take Amazon down. â€Å"Hey, if you don’t want us in your state, there are 49 others that do.† Like Wal-Mart before it, Amazon is, depending on your point of view, either â€Å"making the consumer market more efficient† or â€Å"sending us on a race to the bottom.† Amazon has already seen off one of its chief competitors – the formerly-of-this-world Borders – and has since diversified into selling †¦ everything. And so Amazon’s little price-right stunt hit nearly everyone across the board. Thankfully for them, it was a one-day-only event but the fact that Amazon can now, at any time, declare any day as Promotion Day is vaguely monopolistic and scary for Amazon’s real-world competitors. Amazon’s brick and mortar competitors still have that one crucial advantage that the company lacks – people. It sounds hokey, but human interaction – having a salesperson tell you just exactly why you need the iGizmo4 instead of the Sprocketizer – makes a difference. But given how easy it is to shop online, coupled with Amazon’s discount, average consumer Joe might just take his business online. And AC Joe just wasted the sales rep’s time, inadvertently making up for Amazon’s lack of human interaction with the real world store’s service. If Amazon’s online comparative advantage takes off, their only customers would be the chronically impatient who need the it-thing now. Amazon’s Price Check bets on the fact that anything anyone else sells, Amazon has for cheaper; you just have to wait the 4-7 business days for shipping. Amazon’s victory may very well be (nearly) complete. But I believe that Amazon’s oldest adversary will yet linger, no matter how diminished: the independent bookstore. It is a sad time for the local, independent, college-student staffed bookstore. So many of its comrades have gone under as the public migrated to Amazon-like entities. Independent bookstores were more expensive given their limited stock and logistical capacity but they (often) boasted an intelligent and engaged staff who gave personalized recommendations and presentations on the differences between Dostoevsky translations. Yes, many more independent bookstores will (probably) die in the coming years. Obituaries have been written – blaming either Amazon or the rise of e-publishing – and there are those who already speak of the ‘good old days’ when one could thumb through copies of esoterica. But I believe we’ve already hit the bottom. There are no more independent bookstores to cull because the market fat has been eliminated. The places that still have independent bookstores want independent bookstores despite the pricing advantages of the Big Box or the internet. Independent bookstores foster a sense of literary community among costumers, serving as a focal point for discussion and – as pretentious as this sounds – intellectualism. The people who will keep these bookstores alive are the same people who would continue to donate to NPR or become members of museums. It is, of course, a sad fact that bookstores like these cannot survive in the free-market wild with an Amazonian predator on the loose, but the independent bookstore has found its ecological niche: as a curated cultural object. This may be a depressing conclusion for some of you who remember the good old days (was it only a decade ago?) where the independent bookstore thrived in this America. But if you want to keep the independent bookstore alive, we will all have to do our part to treasure the luscious feel of running a finger through bound pages, to waltz through shelves of books we will never read, and to pass on that heady sensation to our children and friends. Call us – the last survivors of the great bookstore apocalypse – kooky and crazy, but we will keep these institutions alive just as we kill and devour a native bird species in November and just as we blow up quantities of explosives in the night sky in the 7th month of the solar calendar. These are cultural things that we do to preserve who we are.

Blueberry Blueberries

Blueberry Blueberries are perennial flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium, and are native to North America. The genus is very diverse, containing 150 to 450 species, mostly found in the tropics at high elevation, but also in temperate and boreal regions. Most are shrubs, but again, a diverse range of growth forms from epiphytes to trees exists. The leaves can be either deciduous or evergreen, ovate to lanceolate. The flowers are bell-shaped; white, pale pink or red, sometimes tinged greenish.The fruit is a berry 5-16 millimeters in diameter with a flared crown at the end; they are pale green at first, then reddish purple, and finally dark blue when ripe. Three commercially important blueberry species are recognized, along with two interspecific hybrids: Northern Highbush blueberry, Rabbiteye blueberry, Lowbush blueberry, Southern highbush, and half- high highbush. The blueberry plant’s reproduction was designed specifically for pollination. The flowers of blueberries need to be pollinated by insects. There are special characteristics in a blueberry flower that make pollination easier.The flowers are fused, having only one end opened. The nectarines, which cause the blueberry to become pollinated, are at the base of the ovary and have a sweet-smelling aroma, attracting the insect far into the flower. Its stamens are shorter than normal, and the pollen is unable to fall on the stigma. The plant is designed to not self-pollinate. Blueberries have many different uses. They are sold fresh or processed, puree, juice, or dried. They may be turned into a variety of consumer goods such as jellies, jams, pies, muffins, and cereal.Especially in wild species, blueberries contain phytochemicals, which possibly have a role in reducing risks of some diseases, including inflammation and certain cancers. A 2007 symposium on berry health benefits, reports showed consumption of blueberries may alleviate the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer’s disease and ot her conditions of aging. Feeding blueberries to animals reduced brain damage in experimental stroke. Research has also shown the blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections.After many laboratory- based animal and cell studies show that anthocyanins, found in blueberries cause blood vessels to relax and increase production of nitric oxide, which helps in maintaining normal blood pressure. Other animal studies found blueberry consumption lowered cholesterol and total blood lipid levels, possibly affecting symptoms of heart disease. Another study also found supplementation of diets with wild blueberry juice enhanced memory and learning in older adults, while reducing blood sugar and symptoms of depression. Also the blueberry plant is excellent for people who are diabetic or have heart problems.They can eat the berries and make teas from the plant. Blueberries were also used to dye fabrics, textiles, and baskets. Early colonists made gray paint out of the blueberries by boilin g them in milk. A blueberry extract diet improves balance, coordination, and short-term memory. Studies have also showed that because blueberries are high in bioflavonoids, which are used by the rods in the eye for night vision, that blueberries can improve night vision. Since blueberries are so high in antioxidants signs of aging such as wrinkles and sagging skin are prevented.

Comparative Analysis †Elie Wiesel and Hilary Rodham Clinton Essay

The two speeches orated by Elie Wiesel and Hilary Rodham Clinton were delivered in 1995 to influence change. Wiesel’s, ‘Listen to the silent screams’ was delivered at Auschwitz. World leaders and survivors listened as he influenced the audience to act upon racial hatred and religious extremism. Clinton delivered her speech at the United Nations 4th conference on Women’s Rights Plenary Session in Beijing. This is ironic given China’s poor record for human rights violations, particularly against females. Delegates and women from all over the world came to hear her rebuttal, ‘Women’s rights are human rights’. Both Wiesel’s and Clinton’s speeches are relevant today as both their aspirations of human rights for all have not yet been fully realised. Both speakers broadcast their message by addressing the audience through exhibiting their authority and rhetorical devices. Both speakers establish authority and credibility for themselves as speakers and for their cause in different ways. Wiesel is authoritative as he has lived through the Holocaust, whereas Clinton is authoritative as she is an active feminist. Wiesel addresses his audience by using personal pronouns to create equality, â€Å"I speak to you as a man, who 50 years and nine days ago had no name, no hope, no future and was known only by his number, A7713†. This statistical information shows the formality of the occasion and establishes that being in Auschwitz has influenced his view on humanity. He â€Å"has seen what humanity has done to itself by trying to exterminate an entire people and inflict suffering and humiliation and death on so many others. Wiesel does not specifically identify one group of people for doing this; he influences the audience to understand whole of humanity was responsible for Auschwitz. Contrastingly, Clinton establishes her authority by being female, by being indefatigable, and by speaking to and for women from all over the world. She states, â€Å"Over the past 25 years I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children and families. † This shows she is serious about women’s right, it is something she strongly believes in, and her commitment to the cause is absolute. Clinton has worked on women’s rights for â€Å"the past 25 years†. Not only is she committed, in addition she brings experience. By listing countries in which she has talked to mothers about their issues, â€Å"I have met new mothers in Indonesia†¦ Denmark†¦ South Africa†¦ India†¦ Bangladesh†¦ Belarus†¦ Ukraine†¦ Chernobyl†¦ †, she highlights her credibility to appear influential and qualified to act as a voice on their behalf. She has met mothers who are voiceless, now she has the responsibility to speak out, to be the one voice that is heard. Both speakers establish their authority by validating their cause and using rhetorical devices . Wiesel uses emotive language and imagery, whereas Clinton appeals to fact. Imagery is used in Wiesel’s speech to capture the surreality of the Holocaust. Clinton uses fact to update the audience with reality of the world, and influences the audience with statistical information. Wiesel uses representative figures of mothers and old men and women, â€Å"Listen to the silent screams of terrified mothers, the prayers of anguished old men and women. † The use of the emotively loaded adjectives ‘terrified’ and ‘anguished’ shows the reader their vulnerability. Prayers’, shows helplessness and desperation as there was nothing they could do but hope. Their prayers went unanswered, as did the silent screams. Wiesel uses anaphora and imperative to influence the reader the dead have never been laid to rest, â€Å"Listen to the tears of children, Jewish children, a beautiful little girl among them, with golden hair, whose vulnerable tenderness has never left me. † Wiesel influences the audience to pity the children, the most innocent of mankind. He achieves this by describing a representative figure who stands for all Jewish children. Through the description of, ‘vulnerable tenderness’ he emphasises the frailty and innocence of children, while showing that this was brutally crushed. There was no mercy. The weak were tormented, the most innocent were sentenced to a death both unimaginable and undignified, â€Å"Look and listen as they quietly walk towards dark flames so gigantic that the planet itself seemed in danger. † The metaphor shows the quantity and mass of the deaths, that people were being murdered on such a large scale that it seemed as if the whole world would be consumed. In contrast to Wiesel, Clinton used statistics throughout her speech to underline the importance of women’s rights. Statistics were used to give the reader an idea of scale, â€Å"Women comprise more than half the world’s population, 70% of the world’s poor, and two-thirds of those who are not taught to read and write. † Incorporating researched data gives realism and urgency. When statistics are used the audience is able to comprehend what is happening and who is involved. By using examples Clinton is telling the audience it should not be a problem as it involves at least half of the world’s population. Clinton gives examples from all over the world of what is happening, one of them being, â€Å"It is a violation of human rights when babies are denied food, or drowned, or suffocated, or their spines broken, simply because they are born girls†. Notice in this it is not only stated as a violation of women’s rights, but a violation of human rights. We are human, and we have rights. The violence needs to stop; in the name of humanity as a whole. Both Wiesel and Clinton are telling the world through the power of rhetoric, that change is needed. These speeches are relevant and persistent today. The issue of effectively opposing religious fanaticism, racial hate, and building gender equality have enduring relevance in all countries. With, â€Å"†¦ let us stop the bloodshed in Bosnia, Rwanda and Chechnia; the vicious and ruthless terror attacks against Jews in the Holy Land†, Wiesel is saying humanity has turned on itself before, and suffered before, yet we have not learned. He commands we must â€Å"reject and oppose more effectively religious fanaticism and racial hate†. Allow the Holocaust to be the past, Wiesel urges we must focus on a safer future for our children so that the millions who died in the Holocaust did not do so in vain. Clinton speaks to the world, urging the importance of gender equality, â€Å"Even now, in the late 20th century, the rape of women continues to be used as an instrument of armed conflict†. In this she gives an example of why gender equality needs to occur by giving an example of what is happening today. Both speakers influence the audience through exhibiting their authority and use of power, they show that these issues are pressing and cannot be ignored.

The Beguines: The Brave, Religious Women of the Middle Ages

Women were expected to be two things in the Middles Ages, they either live under the charge of a husband in the household or dedicated herself to the Church in a convent as a nun. However, something unfamiliar happened in the late 12th century in parts of Europe, especially the Lowlands, Germany and Italy.Women who were called â€Å"beguines† gained prominence as they questioned those stereotyped concepts of being women and lived outside of those boundaries. During the Middle Ages, women who entered Beguinages (Beguine houses or convents) were not bound by permanent vows, in contrast to women who entered convents.It would seem that these women responded spontaneously to the work of the Holy Spirit to live a simple communal life of prayer, to care for the poor, the sick, lepers and orphaned, to teach, make lace, garden and anything else which enables them to be economically free in their respective communities. They also read and taught the Scriptures in the vernacular. The beg uines had a very special devotion to the Eucharist and to the Passion of Christ. The beguines were ordinary women who were in a certain world, but not really part of it.They are pious women whose devotional ardor often surpassed that of cloistered nuns. Like them, they dedicated their lives to God in a disciplined lifestyle, but unlike them they did not professed religious vows. In sum, it was the lifestyle of the early beguines, a lifestyle founded on intense spirituality, which differentiated them on the one hand from other laywomen and on the other from nuns. Women could enter beguinages having already been married and they could leave the beguinages to marry. Some women even entered the beguinages with children.Various debates exist with regards to their origins, but around 1150, groups of women, eventually called beguines, began living together for the purposes of economic self-sufficiency and a religious vocation. The attitudes of the clerics towards blossoming beguine movemen t were ambivalent at first. They deemed that these were groups of religious women who were dedicated to chastity and charity, which could not be condemned in any way. The fact that they existed and existed without men, except for priests and confessors to lead them, was suspect to the ecclesiastical hierarchy.For this and many other reasons, many beguines came to be known as heretics and were brutally persecuted. Though they were never an approved religious order, at one point they were granted special privileges and exemptions customary for approved orders. The Church, however, did not approve of their lack permanent vows. Women were not supposed to have that much freedom. What is particularly interesting about the Beguines was that, unlike most of those considered heretics, most of them considered themselves orthodox, but still beguines.Some strongly identified themselves as such and while in court testified to that effect, demonstrating self-identification with the group. Yet, th e group was diverse and is hard to define. This diversity was due in part to the geographical distribution as well as to the individual autonomy of each community. However, the beguines’ great devotion to the Eucharist emphasized the real presence of the incarnated Lord. At the height of the beguine movement the Feast of Corpus Christi was decreed by Pope Urban IV in 1264, and there is no doubt that the Eucharistic piety of the beguines attributed to the keeping of this feast.Indeed, the beguines wanted to imitate their Lord and to live as the Spirit inspired them. The first beguines were not subject to a rule of life, neither did the beguine have to make a life-time commitment. She was free to leave or to marry. Such a way of life was very attractive to the devout woman, and it is not surprising that their numbers grew swiftly. It was a welcome alternative to the cloister or marriage, although for women to live without the protection of the convent or a husband was quite rev olutionary in the early medieval period.Undoubtedly, the beguines had become an important fragment not only in the history of women’s movement, but also the development of the Catholic faith. Origins of the Beguines Two important movements in the 12th century had their impact on those who became known as beguines. The Cistercian monk, Bernard of Clairvaux (1090- 1153), especially from his writings on The Song of Songs emphasized the importance of a personal relationship between the soul and the Lord. He allegorized this relationship as being similar to that of the bride and the heavenly Bridegroom.This union between the beloved and the lover was a foundation upon which the feminist mystics, including beguines, developed an intimate spirituality with their Lord. Of course the receiving of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament was the outward act of this union. Closely associated with this nuptial image of Bernard was the â€Å"reasonable mystic† and â€Å"learned lover† of his friend, William of St. Thierry (1085-1148), who happened to live in Liege, the birthplace of the beguine movement.He appealed to the soul to know God in perfect love, which also appealed to these mystics (McNichols, 2002). Another factor contributing to the birth of the beguine movement was the vita apostolica, which St. Francis of Assisi had preached by returning to the ideals that our Lord had preached to His disciples: poverty, simplicity and a burning desire to preach the Gospel. The acceptance of this Franciscan preaching and mendicant order in 1215, even though no new orders were supposed to be have founded, gave inspiration to like-minded souls (McNichols, 2002).In the early twelfth century a new order, Premonstratensains, was founded in Liege by Norbert of Xanten who allowed religious women to be â€Å"attached† and to do charity work in the world. However his successor reversed this role and all nuns were expelled from the order by the end of the century. In a way, these sisters were the forerunners of the beguines (McNichols, 2002). In addition, when the church structures were becoming increasingly inaccessible to women in the 13th century; where convents were overcrowded and entrance dowries were expensive; women's orders were scarce and subject to male oversight.At this time in Liege and Antwerp, on the peripheries of urban centers, self-supporting communities of women began to appear. They lived by the work of their hands, often caring for the poor, the sick and the dying, and carried on regular devotional practices. They sought â€Å"an unstructured, nonhierarchical spiritual life that was both active (in the sense of ministering to the needs of others) and contemplative (in the sense that meditation and visionary experience were highly valued and developed)† (Petroff 1994, p. 51-52). This was the seed of what would become the beguinages.More elaborately, Walter Simons explained in the preface to Cities of Ladies Beguine Co mmunities in the Medieval Low Countries, 1200-1565 (2001) that the most widely held scholarly opinions about the origins of the beguines both have their source in medieval materials. James of Vitry's second Sermon to Virgins, written sometime between 1229 and 1240, provides Joseph Greven with his argument that the beguines were â€Å"nuns manquees, women who became beguines because they could not be nuns† (p. x). Similarly a statement on the origins of the beguines made by a clerical committee who visited the beguinage of St.Elizabeth of Ghent in 1328 became the basis for Karl Bucher's argument that the beguine movement was the result of a â€Å"surplus of women† in the urban areas of the Southern Low Countries and other parts of northern Europe. As Simons summarized that the two materials of James of Vitry and the bishop's men at Ghent agreed on several points: they argued that large numbers of young women of the best families, in their desire to live chastely, attemp ted to join a nunnery, but that many of them could not find a convent that would accept them: there were simply too many candidates.The Ghent report added that women could not afford the entrance gift, the dos, required in most monasteries – an obstacle to their entry that James tactfully omitted. It further differed from James in its assessment of the primary motive that drove women to the convent: it was the inability to conclude a suitable marriage that prompted these women to the monastic life; when the latter proved impossible, they joined the beguinage (p. xi).Seen from the perspective of the committee at Ghent, particularly as reread by Bucher and others, the beguines were driven primarily by economic and social forces and beguinages were â€Å"thus just female versions of guild organizations† (p. xi). Grundmann, as Simon noted, was the first to write about a â€Å"religious movement by women† (â€Å"religisen Frauenbewegung†) and to understand the specifically religious motivations behind the beguine life style, particularly their emphasis on poverty and labor in the pursuit of the apostolic life.Grundmann goes on, however, to describe in detail the complex negotiations between the papal curia, the mendicant orders, and the women's religious communities whereby the mendicants were eventually persuaded-sometimes pressured-into taking over the â€Å"care of souls† and often institutional responsibility for women's houses (Grundmann's most detailed examples of this process involve communities that became Dominican convents).Implicit within the narrative of Religious Movements in the Middle Ages, then, lies the argument that orderly communities of beguines desired and ultimately succeeded in becoming more traditional convents, most often within the mendicant orders. Beguines were forced to give up ideals of individual poverty and self-support and to possess sufficient corporately owned property to maintain a community of enclosed nuns.Hence ecclesial concerns for women's chastity and religious propriety required that women's religious ideals be transformed. As Grundmann argues, the result is the spiritualization of poverty within the writings of the thirteenth-century beguines and their heirs among both male and female Dominican authors. Without directly contesting Grundmann's arguments, which for the most part pertain to Germany, Simons presents a significantly new picture of the development of beguine communities in the Southern Low Countries.Simons divides the history of the movement into two periods: the first, from 1190-1230, saw the emergence of laywomen living alone or together in â€Å"loose communities without institutional attachments† (p. 36). The primary sources pertaining to this period are eleven hagiographies devoted to individual holy women involved with the movement from 1190-1250. Often written shortly after their death and in each case by male clerics or monks interested in promoting cults around the holy women, none of these women were ever canonized nor did they all maintain the beguine lifestyle.In fact, as Simons points out, hagiographers from the period and region seemed particularly interested in women who moved from the beguinal milieu into more traditional forms of monastic life (p. 92). Groups of women outside convents, like the beguines, had to steer a narrow course in order to avoid â€Å"the shoals of anticlericalism and heresy that always threatened the spiritual creativity of women† (McNamara 1990, p. 237). The success and spread of the beguine movement would suggest it did answer a need felt among women for an independent expression of their own religious creativity.It is also important to note that beguines fall under the more general designation of mulieres religiosae (religious women), an umbrella term which included nuns, recluses, and virgins living at home or in small groups. The appearance of the mulieres religiosae, who f lourished in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, was a major religious development, possibly connected with factors like the Crusades, priestly celibacy and harsh physical labor, which resulted in women outnumbering men in Western Europe.Religious motives, however, were perhaps even more important than socio-economic ones (DeGanck 1991, p. 2-3). Development of the Beguine Movement Scholars trace the development of the beguine movement through several stages, beginning with individual women (beguinae singulariter in saeculo manentes) living in towns but observing the evangelical principles as well as they could. These individuals eventually came together in the beguinages (congregationes beguinarum disciplinatarum) that are the main focus of this chapter.Later, some of the communities took the form of cloistered communities (beguinae clausae); finally, some communities were reconstituted as autonomous parishes (Little 1978, p. 130). Around 1230, these loose communities of widows, v irgins, and chaste wives began to acquire property, to draw up regulations governing the life of the group, and to present â€Å"themselves to the outside world as religious institutions, either in the form of small ‘convents,' or as larger architectural complexes segregated in some manner from the surrounding urban community, the so-called court beguinages† (Simons 2001, p.36). Simons therefore convincingly demonstrates that up to and through the Catholic Reformation the beguine movement in the Southern Low Countries remains a lay urban movement characterized by the preponderance of women from a range of social classes who participated within it (p. 91-117). In addition, Simons provides invaluable information about the beguines' work in the textile industry (p. 85-87), with the sick and dying (76-80), and-perhaps most importantly for the study of spirituality-in teaching (p.80-85). Grundmann's early argument for the centrality of the beguines' lay status to the develop ment of vernacular religious literature here finds crucial support. Not only did the beguines themselves read and write in the vernacular, but they were also engaged in the education of girls and women who then in turn constituted an audience for vernacular religious writing. The development of the beguinages demonstrated an outgrowth of the lay religious awakening of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.It also reflected the social background of the era. Although much more positive than simply a stand against clerical mediocrity and Western feudalism, the growth of the beguinages did, nevertheless, provide alternatives to both. The beguinages represented a new way of giving religious significance to women's ordinary lives (Bynum 1987, p. 17). It was characteristic of the beguinage to combine the vita contemplativa and appropriate devotional exercises with the practical solution of daily problems.The beguines customarily engaged in weaving, spinning, carding, charitable activity, se wing, and the education of children. So religious impetus and economic factors were intertwined in a beguine's life (McDonnell 1954, p. 146). Theologically, medieval women were faced with contradictory doctrines which placed them either on a pedestal or in a bottomless pit: the virgin or the temptress. In the Christian view of sacred history, the greatest source of blessing for humanity after Christ was his mother, Mary; the greatest source of grief was also a woman Eve, the mother of us all.Clearly, Christian tradition saw women as both the greatest and the weakest (Power 1962, p. 401-403). Thus, the beguines were bound to change these by shaping their own religious experience in lay communities, where female charisms served as alternative to the male emphasis on the power of office, the beguines paralleled other women who were emerging from the feudal system and becoming economically independent through small crafts, shops, and businesses in new towns (Bynum 1987, p. 22).Also, it has been suggested that the strength of the beguines lay in their unique combination of traditional spirituality with their freedom from the restrictions of the cloister, a combination which allowed them to experiment and break new ground. Beguines adopted a chaste way of life and dressed simply, but they were not separated from the world, nor were they bound to any ecclesiastical authority. To wit, The beguine movement differed substantially from all earlier important movements within the western church.