Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Roe-Deer by Ted Hughes, An Advancement of Learning by Seamus Heaney And The Arrival of The Bees Box by Sylvia Plath Essays

Roe-Deer by Ted Hughes, An Advancement of Learning by Seamus Heaney And The Arrival of The Bees Box by Sylvia Plath Essays Roe-Deer by Ted Hughes, An Advancement of Learning by Seamus Heaney And The Arrival of The Bees Box by Sylvia Plath Paper Roe-Deer by Ted Hughes, An Advancement of Learning by Seamus Heaney And The Arrival of The Bees Box by Sylvia Plath Paper Essay Topic: Poetry Seamus Heaney Poems The Poems of Ted Hughes In the poem Roe-Deer the poet describes the deer as a very secretive and supernatural animal, which, in my opinion has caused the poet to write about his experience. They planted their two or three years of secret deer hood Clear on my snow screen vision of the abnormal. The poet knows that he is not supposed to see the deer, as if they are usually hidden by a snow screen because they do not usually let themselves to be seen at all. He admires the deer and become a part of their secretive society. He says they have a secret deer hood and he suggests, I could think the deer were waiting for me. When the deer run off the poet is disappointed because he feels that they had come for him, when they hadnt. He wishes, The deer had come for me. When the deer disappear Into the boil of big flakes. On the last line of the poem he says that everything returned Back to the ordinary. When the poet sees the animals he feels that the deer are special Clear on my snow-screen vision of the abnormal and is pleased that have come into his own private dimension. They had happened into my dimension The poet thinks about the deers secret lives. He envies them and wishes he could join their company. The poet senses that the deer inhabit a supernatural element, and that the snow makes everything seem abnormal. The snow enhances the poets Vision of the abnormal and when the poet returns back to the ordinary he is disappointed. He also writes about the deer living secret lives that humans dont know about, They planted their two or three years of secret deer hood. The poet regrets that he cannot communicate with the deer however much he wants to become apart of their deer hood. The deer had come for me. This is not true but the poet believes that it is. In the poem, An Advancement of Learning, the poet, Seamus Heaney, has a phobia of rats. The poem is about a person taking a walk and chooses to go under the bridge rather than over it. He notices an animal slime out of the water, it is a rat. The poet stares out the rat although he dislikes it he continues to stare. He describes the rat with its Back bunched and glistening, Ears plastered down on his knobbed skull, This makes the reader feel sick at the poets description of the animal. The poet describes the sighting as a battle, I established a dreaded Bridgehead He trained on me These lines are commonly associated with a war or battle so that is how we view his sighting. At the end of the poem the poet walks over the bridge, meaning he has lost this battle. After the experience with the rat the poet takes a different route rather than the route he usually takes. I took the embankment path (As always deferring The bridge). This is where the poet sees the rat, on the embankment path, so he walks over the bridge instead Then I walked over the bridge. He does this because he is so terrified by the rats that he couldnt stand to see another because it makes him sick feel sick, My throat sickened. So the only way to avoid them is to go over the bridge. The rat made the poet think about his past experiences with rats that lived in his house and yard. When his grey brothers scraped and fed Behind the hen-coop in our yard, On ceiling boards above my bed. The sighting is bringing back his almost forgotten childhood fear of the animal. Forgetting how I used to panic In the poem The Arrival of the Bee Box by Sylvia Plath we learn that the poet wants to be a bee keeper. She requests a box of bees, but when they arrive she is afraid of what they might do. This fear keeps her fascinated by the buzzing box and thinks of what she could do with the boxed bees. The box of bees cause of much anxiety because of the noise coming from the box, It is the noise that appals me most of all, The unintelligible syllables, Because of this noise the poet cant keep away from it, and is very curious about what is inside. And I cant keep away from it. There are no windows so I cant see what is in there. There is only a little grid, no exit. I put my eye to the grid. The poet thinks that she will starve them because she is too afraid to let them free, They can be sent back. They can die, I need feed them nothing, I am the owner. She the decides to set the bees free because she thinks that if they are hungry they will go for food; I wonder how hungry they are. I wonder if they would forget me They might ignore me immediately The poet relates the packing of the bees to the African slave trade, where black Africans were herded into a ship and packed together, squashed, so they could not move. With the swarmy feeling of African hands, Minute and shrunk for export, Black on black, angrily clambering. She also relates the buzzing to an ancient Roman mob that speaks Latin, which needs to be appeased by a Caesar. Its like a Roman mob, Small, taken one by one, but my god, together! I lay my ear to furious Latin. I am not a Caesar. When there is a riot the Caesar at the time would calm the mobs down. She says this because she can hear a language spoken by the bees, the buzzing, but she cant calm them down because she does not speak that language. The poems Roe-Deer and An Advancement of Learning are total contrasts to each other, in Roe-Deer the poet admires the animal, and describes it as a supernatural creature. In An Advancement of Learning the poet has a lot of hate towards the rat and regards it as his enemy, but, in The Arrival of The Bee Box the poet has mixed feelings about the bees, she is afraid of the bees and decides to kill them, but she changes her mind and decides to set them free.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Pros and Cons of Utlizing a Traditional Grading Scale

Pros and Cons of Utlizing a Traditional Grading Scale The traditional grading scale is archaic with roots extending back to early education. This scale is commonplace in schools as most incorporate the traditional A-F grading scale as the core of student assessment. This scale may also have additional components such as incomplete or pass/fail courses. The following example of a traditional grading scale is what most schools in the United States rely on to evaluate student performance. A 90-100%B 80-89%C 70-79%D 60-69%F 0-59%I IncompleteU UnsatisfactoryN Needs ImprovementS Satisfactory In addition, many schools attach a system of pluses and minuses to extend the traditional grading system to quantify and establish a more tiered traditional grading scale. For example, a 90-93 is an A-, 94-96 is an A, and 97-100 is an A The traditional grading scale has been embraced by many schools across the country. This practice does have many opponents who feel that it is outdated and that there are more beneficial alternatives available. The remainder of this article will highlight some of the pros and cons of utilizing the traditional grading scale. Pros of a Traditional Grading Scale The traditional grading scale is universally recognized. Virtually everyone knows that earning an A is good while earning an F is associated with failure.The traditional grading scale is easy to interpret and understand. The simplistic nature of the system makes it user-friendly for teachers, students, and parents.The traditional grading scale allows for direct comparison from one student to another within a specific class. A student with an 88 in a 7th-grade geography class is performing better than another student with a 62 in the same class. Cons of a Traditional Grading Scale The traditional grading scale is easy to manipulate because it is often subjective in nature. For example, one math teacher may require students to show work, while another may only require answers. Therefore, a student making an A in one teachers class may be making a C in another teachers class even though the quality of the work they are doing is identical. This can make it difficult for schools and decision-makers who are trying to compare students using a traditional grading scale.The traditional grading scale is limited because it does not show what a student is learning or what they should be learning. It provides no explanation for why or how a student ended up with a particular grade. The traditional grading scale leads to hours of subjective grading and fosters a testing culture. While it may be simple for teachers to understand, it takes a lot of time to create and grade the assessments that drive the traditional grading system. Furthermore, it promotes a testing culture b ecause they are simpler to score than other assessment practices typically are.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Globalization and media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Globalization and media - Essay Example In an important 2006 article, Schiller asserted that we should reassess any notions we have that the era of cultural domination is over. He looks back over the last quarter century, and draws parallels between the situation faced then, and that with which we are now confronted. On the whole, he concludes that very little has actually changed. Revisiting this comparison is a worthwhile exercise in attempting to distil the essential nature of the debate between those who hold cultural imperialism to be a relevant concept, and those who would have it dismissed as archaic. Schiller noted that in the 1980s, there was a clear division between the western and industrialized ‘First World’, a ‘Second World’ made up largely of the countries aligned to the socialist blocs led by the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, and a ‘Third World’ made up of those countries which had gained independence in recent decades (295). Across all of thes e categories, the United States was, politically and culturally, the most powerful state, with the Third World deliberately being targeted with American cultural exports, and a vision of an American lifestyle to aspire to. As Schiller himself concedes, there have been some important alterations to the global cultural landscape in the intervening decades. For one, the Second World has practically disappeared. Those countries which might still be grouped in this category, such as China and Vietnam, are increasingly open to American and other Western cultural imports, while some, such as the countries of the former Soviet Union in Eastern Europe, became an area in which American-style cultural norms flourished after the collapse of government from Moscow. Furthermore, we are now consciously witnessing the political and economic decline of the United States, in relative terms, when compared to the fast-growing economies of China and India. The Chinese economy, for example, has just over taken the Japanese in order of size. This raises pressing questions about whether American cultural dominance can be sustained in a world where its political dominance in diminished. Schiller argues that ‘Cultural submersion’ to American norms remains powerful, and this term has in fact been broadened beyond just watching American television programs and movies, to shopping in American-style malls and going to theme parks. There is, of course, a change in the cultural sphere which has been even more important than all of this, and that is the broadening of the definition of media, to cover what we now collectively refer to as the ‘social media’ – including the blogosphere and the social networking websites which have proliferated in the past decade. This issue will be discussed in more detail below, but Schiller argues that despite the rise of new media, television retains its former importance. He claims that the emergence of satellite and cable net works has prevented this happening (297). At this point his argument becomes less powerful. In the early 1990s, as the Soviet bloc collapsed and American culture seemed triumphant all over the world, Schiller’s contention stands firm, but in the present decade, with revolutions and uprisings, as well as broader internal debate and opposition being fuelled by websites and forums that are independent of any political authority, the

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Airline Industry Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Airline Industry - Dissertation Example Cost of ASK (Available Seat Kilometres) An available seat kilometre in airlines is calculated by multiplying the total number of seats offered by an airline and the total distance flown by an airline (British Airways-a, 2010). The Available seat kilometres for British Airways was found to be 141178 in 2010 which represents a decline from its previous year figures of 148504 in 2009 (British Airways, 2010, p.128). The statistics for its competitors Emirates airlines states the corresponding figures at 161756 which represent a rise from its figures last year that was quoted at 134180 (Emirates Airlines, 2010, p.4). The low value of ASK for British Airways can be largely held accountable to the financial downturn which put a pressure on the profit and revenue margins of the firm. Emirates airlines owning to better fleet management and route optimisation generated a much better performance than its competitor British Airways. Revenue per RPK (Revenue Passenger Kilometres) Revenue passenge r kilometres (RPK) is calculated by multiplying the total number of revenue based passengers and the total air miles flown by the airline (British Airways-a, 2010). A good value of this statistic represents a healthy operational and financial aspect of the organization. The value of RPK for British Airways in 2010 was calculated at 110851 which represent a decline from its figures in the last year which was stated at 114346 in 2009 (British Airways, 2010, p.128). The slump in figures can be attributed to decline in the revenues per passenger as well as reduction in the total air miles flown due to route optimisation owning to pressures from the economic recession. The figures for Emirates airlines however show a distinct and definite opposite trend which is pegged at 126273 representing an improvement from its previous year’s figures of 101762 (Emirates Airlines, 2010, p.123). BELF (Break Even Load Factor) Break Even Load Factor or BELF is a value term expressed in percentage that represents a scenario in which revenues and operating costs become equal. This factor has different values for different flights and includes aspects like seasonal fluctuations and is largely based on the dynamics of demand and supply in the market (Radnoti, 2002, p.99). The Break Even Load Factor for British Airways was found to be 78.5 percent which represents a rise by about 1.5 percent from its figures in the last year. This was mainly reported due to a reduction in revenue from passengers by about 10.9 percent from the previous year (British Airways, 2010, p.16). The Break Even Load Factor for its competitor Emirates Airlines was found to be 64.4 percent which again represents a rise by about 0.3 percent from its corresponding figure quoted last year (Emirates Airlines, 2010, p.123). The major reason for this trend is accountable to the large scale dip in demand for air travel by business as well as individual passengers which was due to the reduction of disposable income and decline in profit margins of the other business travellers. The advent of low cost airlines has also led to a reduction in the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

English Speech Journeys Essay Example for Free

English Speech Journeys Essay Journeys can be long, journeys can be short, journeys can be difficult. Life is a journeys, something we all experience. Goodmorning/afternoon fellow students, Mrs. Grant, my understanding of the concept of journey has been expanded through my study of Samuel Coleridge’s poetry of â€Å"Frost at Midnight† and â€Å"This Lime-tree Bower My Prison† to just name a few. Samuel Coleridge was recognised for his romantic and a natural conversational type of poetry. 1. Journeys can be long, journeys can be short, journeys can be difficult. Life is a journeys, something we all experience. Goodmorning/afternoon fellow students, Mrs.  Grant, my understanding of the concept of journey has been expanded through my study of Samuel Coleridge’s poetry of â€Å"Frost at Midnight† and â€Å"This Lime-tree Bower My Prison† to just name a few. Samuel Coleridge was recognised for his romantic and a natural conversational type of poetry. 1. Coleridge’s poetry draws the audience into his imaginary world in a poem such â€Å"Frost at Midnight†, which is using the journey to reach enlightenment and through it we the audience are able to realise some of the values we hold as human being like our family, loved ones, freedom and security. For an example and a quote â€Å"My babe so beautiful! It thrills my heart with tender gladness†. This quote evokes Coleridge’s preciousness, protective love for his son and for his childs future. Coleridge’s poetry draws the audience into his imaginary world in a poem such â€Å"Frost at Midnight†, which is using the journey to reach enlightenment and through it we the audience are able to realise some of the values we hold as human being like our family, loved ones, freedom and security. For an example and a quote â€Å"My babe so beautiful! It thrills my heart with tender gladness†. This quote evokes Coleridge’s preciousness, protective love for his son and for his childs future. 2. 2. The dark gothic atmosphere of the opening creates a sense of mystery. As Coleridge is isolated in a cottage away from everyone else, which Coleridge to recall both on his school life and his happier life as a country man, and to channelled that unhappiness into a resolution that his infant son will not share in Coleridge’s unfortunate imprisonment in the city, but will grow up in the natural surroundings of the countryside. The dark gothic atmosphere of the opening creates a sense of mystery. As Coleridge is isolated in a cottage away from everyone else, which Coleridge to recall both on his school life and his happier life as a country man, and to channelled that unhappiness into a resolution that his infant son will not share in Coleridge’s unfortunate imprisonment in the city, but will grow up in the natural surroundings of the countryside your imagination that changes our approach towards reality and forces us to look more deeply into what we perceive to be true isplay the capacity of language to change us and force us to look more deeply into what we perceive to be true Coleridge expresses his childhood memories through the quietness of the cottage. Which begins Coleridge’s imaginative journey that son It is a beautiful text that portrays the imaginative journey undertaken by an unusual girl; through her reflection of her childhood memories, she is able to go beyond time and reach a state of contentment. The core concept of the story revolves around ‘moving on’ and not dwelling in the past. There is a very sombre tone that resonates in the text. It eventually changes to one of gratification as the character ‘spoke quietly to the gravestone of his son. ’ This contrast of tone highlights the power of the imaginative journey to change us and instils this very notion into our minds.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Taking the Rap :: essays research papers

The role of rap as a music form and the perception of rappers as a whole has changed over the past ten years. It was a slow process for rap as a whole to be accepted as music and eventually be recognized by critics and award ceremonies. The advent of â€Å"gangster† rap brought about a new group of rappers with criminal histories and raunchy over the top lyrics. Many rappers today, like Eminem, have highly publicized criminal histories that overshadow the meaningful messages and damage the careers of otherwise model citizen rappers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eminem became the next hit in rap in 1999 with extremely violent and shocking lyrics that included descriptions of raping and killing his ex-wife and vicious slurs against homosexuals. I was a fan of the music simply for the shock factor like many teens of the time but I grew tired of it and moved on to more meaningful work. He followed this formula for two more albums which sold over a million copies just like his debut. He then backed up this image with drug, weapons, and assault charges in the following years. Then Eminem discovered the next â€Å"big hit† in rap when he signed 50 Cent, another convicted criminal who survived 9 bullet wounds. These are just a few cases of the media hyped crimes of a few rappers. All of these deliquent activities were used to stereotype rappers as a whole, while many other rapper’s positive activities and attempts for career advancement went unnoticed or were hindered.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the same time Eminem released his controversial albums rap acts like Outkast, Goodie Mob, Mos Def, and The Roots produced albums with positive life morals, uplifting messages, and politically charged lyrics. I was displeased to see some of the albums sell well but gain none of the notoriety of the artists constantly in the news. Only rap fans and a few music critics were aware of these positive notes, while the rest of society only got the news story of the most recent rapper’s unlawful blunder. The effects were not fully realized until a large promotional deal between rapper Ludacris and Pepsi came to light.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ludacris signed a multi-commercial ad campaign with Pepsi in 2002 when the company began to look for a â€Å"hipper† image. Ludacris uses profane language and mature situations in his lyrics but it is humorous and so over the top it is obvious it is a persona that he knew would sell.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Cavleta Dining Services, Inc: A Recipe for Growth? Essay

What role (if any) have Calveta’s values played in the organization’s success? Calveta’s values played a significant role in the business’ success. He motivates and empowers the members of the staff. Antonio ensured that staff members viewed themselves as valued members of the organization and understands that their job is to take care of their clients, respectfully. The same approach was used with the clients ensuring them that the goal of the organization was to fully take care of their needs 2.Does Calveta’s operating approach offer a sustainable competitive advantage? Calveta’s current operating approach offers a sustainable competitive advantage. Calveta empowered employees to achieve their fullest potential. It was stated that in concept that the employees are the most important capital in the company and in order to uphold that concept the company invested in their employees and offered growth potential. Promote from within culture was evident at Calveta. 3.Why haven’t other food service providers copied Calveta’s approach? Antonio Calveta’s approach is the base for his organization. He worked hard to maintain the mission of the company. As a result of this, it would be difficult to duplicate his approach. The goal of the majority of companies is to make a high profit and that’s all that they would work towards. However, Calveta’s promise to deliver fresh products and provide great service creates a good profit margin without it being their focus. Calveta’s approach is costly to them but it works and produces a profit. Most other companies would not utilize such methods for fear of losing their profits. 4.Given Calveta’s communication and internal organizational challenges, how important will training and development be to maintaining growth and culture? Training and professional development are key to the maintenance of any company’s growth and culture. Leaders of any strong company should realize that improving skill set, increasing knowledge, and employees’ job satisfaction are important to the positive growth of the company. Providing training and development provides opportunities for workers to gain managerial skills and gain managerial skills and gain upward mobility in the company. 5.Calveta’s fifth goal is profitable growth. Goals one through four are more ethical in nature. Is goal five inconsistent with the first four? I believe that the fifth goal is consistent with the first set of goals. Goals one through four focuses on the clients and the employees, which are aligned to the company’s vision and mission. Once goals one through four are achieved, then goal five will automatically be attained because with increased clients, comes increased profits. 6.How, if at all, should Calveta’s organizational structure be changed to resolve communication issues, preserve the company’s culture, and support future growth? An internal survey usually is a useful tool to gauge employees’ dissatisfaction. From the collection of data, an action plan needs to be put in place to address the levels of dissatisfaction. In order to safeguard the company’s culture and support future growth, Calveta must achieve an acceptable level of communication among its units and departments’ heads. Restructuring will be an advantageous way of maintaining the Antonio’s way of culture. Effective cross-boundary work and collaboration required for dealing with complexity and change is required. Increasing engagement within the top leadership team and employees will help the company grow. 7.Should Frank Calveta move forward with an expansion into the hospital sector? With the proposed acquisition? Due to the current financial situation with the company the expansion into the hospital sector should be put on hold at this time. The expansion into the hospital industry should be proposal for a goal for future growth possibility. The proposed acqusitions advantages are ripe for expanding however, Calveta needs to clear up its financial and business issues before expanding with GSD.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

How Information Technology has Impacted My Daily Life Essay

In the twenty-first century, information technology (IT) is at the core of most business activities (Laube xiii). IT is also at the core of many personal activities. Like many U.S. Americans, my personal and professional activities relay heavily on the use of technology. From the alarm clock in the morning to the computer at work, technology plays a vital part of my everyday life. Technology enhances the ease and simplicity of activities and adds convenience to life. Although, when these technologies fail to operate correctly, they disrupt daily activities and hinder productivity. It is six in the morning and my cell phone rings. It is my alarm clock. Due to technological advances, I no longer have a need for a traditional alarm clock. I do not have to worry about waking up late because of a power outage at night. Although, if I forget to charge my cell phone battery or the volume is off, then this great convenience disrupts my daily routine. The cell phone has also eliminated my need for a land-line house phone. The cell phone is an immense expediency and allows me mobile contact with anyone, no matter where I am. In addition, the camera in my cell phone is extremely handy. This feature allows me capture a cute moment in time of my daughter at times when I would not normally have my regular camera with me. I can print, download, or send these pictures to friends and family. My cell phone also acts as a notepad and calculator. For example, if I am driving and think of something I need to write down, I can simply record myself a message and write it down later. This is not only a convenience, but also serves as a safety method. In addition, if I am in the store and need to calculate a sale price or total, I only need to go as far as my purse for assistance. The cell phone reduces my need for many other modern day conveniences and also reduces the number of items I have to carry in my purse. If my cell phone was lost or not operating correctly, it would terribly impede my daily activities because I depend on it for so many different matters. Besides the computer, the cell phone is one of the most utilized and revered technological devices in my life. The computer aids me both in my personal and professional life, as it is used for a vast variety of activities. I utilize the computer for work, fun,  relaxation, and money. I would be lost without a working computer and internet connection. At work, everything I do depends on using the computer. I use the computer to look up client information, log client contacts, run proposals and ledgers, keep up to date on industry and company happenings, and to stay in contact via email with clients and co-workers. At home, I use the computer for a number of different tasks. Tracking and logging my finances depends on computer usage, as I do my banking and pay bills online. This eliminates the need for paper statements and bills. Word processing programs and the internet enable me to complete homework assignments without even leaving the comfort of my own home. Email allows me to stay in contact with my group members for school as well. Computer technology also permits me to supplement my regular income by selling items online. Websites, such as ebay.com and half.com, make it quick and easy to earn money by selling stuff I no longer need or use. The computer is not all work and no play though. I use email to stay in contact with friends and family. The internet is used to play online games, watch television shows, or download music, all of which are a source of relaxation for me. Without a properly operating computer and internet connection, my life would be extremely difficult. Many peoples personal and professional lives revolve around technology, including mine. From cell phones to computers, the world depends on technology to survive. Technology serves as a means of communicating, gathering and obtaining information, and convenience. When these technologies fail though, daily life can be extremely difficult, or even disastrous, due to the immense dependence on technological devices. Work Cited: Laube, David R. and Raymond F. Zammuto, eds. Business Driven InformationTechnology: Answers to 100 Critical Questions for Every Manger. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 2003.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Interest Groups essays

Interest Groups essays An interest group is an organized group of individuals who share common objectives and who actively attempt to influence policymakers in all three branches of the government and at all levels. Encompassing primarily corporations, other business associations, citizen groups, unions, and professional associations, interest groups participate in every aspect of policy-making in the U.S. People join interest groups to further their political aims by taking action for their beliefs or principles. If I was to join an interest group I would join Greenpeace. Greenpeace is a non-profit organization that focuses on the most crucial worldwide threats to our planets biodiversity and environment. They are the leading independent campaigning organization that uses non-violent direct action and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are vital to a green and peaceful future. It is a global organization, with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Greenpeace campaigns to stop climate change, protect ancient forests, save the oceans, protect whales, eliminate the threat of genetic engineering, end the nuclear age, and eliminate toxic chemicals. Greenpeace was founded in 1971 when a small group of activists sailed to Alaska to bear witness to underground nuclear test that the U.S. Government was conducting. Greenpeace works to expose environmental criminals, and to challenge government and corporations when they fail to live up to their mandate to safeguard our environment and our future. They promote open, informed debate about societys environmental choices. They use research, lobbying, and quiet diplomacy to pursue their goals. Greenpeace is funded by its 2.5 million members worldwide (250,000 from the U.S.). In April 2002, several miles off the coast of Florida, two Greenpeace activists boarded the Jade - a ship carrying wood illegally expo...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Introduction to the Custom of Sati

Introduction to the Custom of Sati Sati or suttee is the ancient Indian and Nepalese practice of burning a widow on her husbands funeral pyre or burying her alive in his grave. This practice is associated with Hindu traditions.  The name is taken from the goddess Sati, wife of Shiva, who burned herself to protest her fathers ill-treatment of her husband.  The term sati can also apply to the widow who commits the act. The word sati comes from the feminine present participle of the Sanskrit word  asti, meaning she is true/pure.  While it has been most common in India and Nepal, examples have occurred in other traditions from as far afield as Russia, Vietnam, and Fiji. Pronunciation: suh-TEE or SUHT-ee Alternate Spellings: suttee Seen as a Proper Finale to a Marriage According to custom, Hindu sati was supposed to be voluntary, and often it was seen as the proper finale to a marriage. It was considered to be the signature act of a dutiful wife, who would want to follow her husband into the afterlife. However, many accounts exist of women who were forced to go through with the rite. They may have been drugged, thrown into the fire, or tied up before being placed on the pyre or into the grave. In addition, the strong societal pressure was exerted on women to accept sati, particularly if they had no surviving children to support them. A widow had no social standing in traditional society and was considered a drag on resources. It was almost unheard-of for a woman to remarry after her husbands death, so even very young widows were expected to kill themselves. History of Sati Sati first appears in the historical record during the reign of the Gupta Empire, c. 320 to 550 CE.  Thus, it may be a relatively recent innovation in the extremely long history of Hinduism. During the Gupta period, incidents of sati began to be recorded with inscribed memorial stones, first in Nepal in 464 CE, and then in Madhya Pradesh from 510 CE. The practice spread to Rajasthan, where it has happened most frequently over the centuries. Initially, sati seems to have been limited to royal and noble families from the Kshatriya caste (warriors and princes). Gradually, however, it percolated down into the lower castes. Some areas such as Kashmir became particularly known for the prevalence of sati among people of all classes and stations in life. It seems to have really taken off between the 1200s and 1600s CE. As the Indian Ocean trade routes brought Hinduism to Southeast Asia, the practice of sati also moved into new lands during the 1200s to 1400s. An Italian missionary and traveler recorded that widows in the Champa kingdom of what is now Vietnam practiced sati in the early 1300s. Other medieval travelers found the custom in Cambodia, Burma, the Philippines, and parts of what is now Indonesia, particularly on the islands of Bali, Java, and Sumatra. In Sri Lanka, interestingly, sati was practiced only by queens; ordinary women were not expected to join their husbands in death. The Banning of Sati Under the rule of the Muslim Mughal emperors, sati was banned more than once. Akbar the Great first outlawed the practice around the year 1500; Aurangzeb tried to end it again in 1663, after a trip to Kashmir where he witnessed it. During the European  colonial period, Britain, France, and the Portuguese all tried to stamp out the practice of sati. Portugal outlawed it in Goa as early as 1515. The British East India Company imposed a ban on sati in the city of Calcutta only in 1798. To prevent unrest, at that time the BEIC did not allow Christian missionaries to work within its territories in India.  However, the issue of sati became a rallying point for British Christians, who pushed legislation through the House of Commons in 1813 to allow missionary work in India specifically to end practices like sati.   By 1850, British colonial attitudes against sati had hardened. Officials like Sir Charles Napier threatened to hang for murder any Hindu priest who advocated or presided over a widow-burning. British officials put intense pressure on the rulers of the princely states to outlaw sati, as well. In 1861, Queen Victoria issued a proclamation banning sati throughout her domain in India. Nepal officially banned it in 1920. Prevention of Sati Act Today, Indias  Prevention of Sati Act  (1987) makes it illegal to coerce or encourage anyone to commit sati. Forcing someone to commit sati can be punished by death. Nonetheless, a small number of widows still choose to join their husbands in death; at least four instances have been recorded between the year 2000 and 2015. Examples In 1987, a Rajput man was arrested after the sati death of his daughter-in-law, Roop Kunwar, who was just 18 years old.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Japanese Attacks on Pearl Harbor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Japanese Attacks on Pearl Harbor - Essay Example Pearl Harbor resulted in American participation in World War II. On the next day of attack, US declared war against Japan with equal support of American congress. US did not respond as per the requirements because US had already promised Britain support against Germany. Aim of this paper is to study the reasons that compelled Japan to launch a surprise attack on US naval forces in pacific with a view to study American response to Pearl Harbor attack. Japan moved its aircraft carriers for about 4000 miles deep into the ocean to help the air force to take off for launching attack on Pearl Harbor. The dawn of 7 December 1941 witnessed the destruction of American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. It was a great the in the history of military combats. Japanese air force launched attack in two waves. Japan used six aircraft carries for launching its air force against the US fleet (Clausen & Lee 2001). Japanese air force played havoc in the first wave and caused sudden destruction of American battleships. Total destruction could not be caused as main air craft carriers of American naval forces were sailing hundred miles away from the Pearl Harbor. Commander Mitsuo led the attack on Pearl Harbor. Attack caused 3500 hundred death and wound injuries to American troops. Eight main battleships including USS Arizona were destroyed in the attack (Borch & Martinez 2005). US Arizona got blasted because of fire in ammunition magazine of the ship and then sunk in a short time. There were numerous objectives behind Japanese attack on pacific fleet. ... US Arizona got blasted because of fire in ammunition magazine of the ship and then sunk in a short time. There were numerous objectives behind Japanese attack on pacific fleet. Main reasons of attack were as under. US president Roosevelt had imposed economic and military sanctions on Japan in retaliation to Chinese invasion by Japan American continuously warned Japan to end the war in China through peaceful negotiations (Prange, et al 1988). All exports of oil, robber and iron were banned on Japan. This started severely damaging economy of Japan. Japan could no longer bear the crippling effects of American sanctions on it s economy and military. Sanctions put real strain on oil supply to Japan as Japan lost more than 90% of oil supplies due to crippling sanctions (Clausen & Lee 2001). These American sanctions filled hatred for Americans in the hearts of Japanese and they started preparing for teaching America a bitter lesson in Pearl Harbor. Breakout of Second World War cleared the w estern intentions towards Japan. Japanese government had noticed western hostilities towards its territory (Wohlstetter 1962). This made Japan more vigilant for its security in the region. Japan never wanted its forces to withdraw from China. US were pressing hard to start negotiations with Chinese authorities to end the conflict. Japan was not ready to take serious notice of American protest against the invasion of China. Japan was keen in expanding its borders for economic needs (Morison 2001). US never wanted expansion of Japan because of its own vested interests in the region. Japan also adopted the diplomatic way to convince US but US did not agree on Japan’s terms. Japan wanted its territorial expansion in Asia, free of American