Saturday, December 28, 2019

Pros And Cons Of The Criminal Justice System - 764 Words

In chapter 4, the textbook discusses the Criminal justice system and how the system works. The criminal justice system is a system setup to punish those accused of criminal offenses. Crimes such as murder, rape, robbery or crimes that are considered felonies. Many people are found guilty of their crimes and others are found innocent. People find this a good system to properly punish those who have committed offenses. I disagree that the system is a good system that helps people. The reason for me disagreeing is that the system is not perfect. There have been cases where the jury has come to a verdict that was wrong. Cases where the jury wrongly incarcerated somebody or cases where the jury acquitted somebody when they were guilty. A system†¦show more content†¦There was footage from Castile’s girlfriend livestreaming the aftermath of the shooting and the dashcam footage provided showed the officer shooting Castile 7 times with no hesitation. During the trial all the f ootage was provided to the jury so they could decide on a verdict. When the verdict was the decided, Officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted of his charges of second degree murder. Despite having all of the evidence not in his favor. My opinion on Officer Yanez being acquitted of his charges is that he should have been incarcerated for the murder. If a system like this allows somebody to murder another person and walk freely from the case, what other mistakes are they bound to do? The footage showed Castile informing the officer that he wasn’t reaching for anything and still shot him 7 times. The jury came to the verdict that he was innocent. If the system is setup to punish criminals for crimes such as murder, then why was officer Yanez acquitted? This is just one of many police brutality cases, most cases the police officer tends to walk free acquitted of all charges. Even if they are police officers, they shouldn’t be treated any differently than another person in the criminal justice system. I feel very strongly about this subject because a system that is held at such high power is letting many people down. There are a lot changes that the system could make to further improve the way the system works.Show MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of The Criminal Justice System706 Words   |  3 PagesThe criminal justice system is a used to protect our society from those who try to harm it. Departments such as courts, and police officers study the behavior of criminals; they want our communities to be safe. When a crime is committed these departments work together to protect the rights of our society and our own. As stated in the textbook, a crime is the â€Å"Conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction for which there is no legally acceptableRead MoreThe Death Penalty Of The United States948 Words   |  4 Pagesperfect justice for those individuals. An argument made by the website ListVerse explained, that people teach their children not to steal, or commit crimes because they will be sent to prison and punished (ListVerse). Completing their argument, the same website also explained that if the same child, who was taught not to commit crime, commits murder, and is sentenced to the death penalty they are taught nothing (ListVerse). It is important that the criminal justice system not only serves justice, butRead MoreThe Prison System And The Jail System1352 Words   |  6 Pagesbe discussing is about the jail system. First, I will define the jail system, and what this system can do for the citizens. Second address the cons and pros about the jail system by illustrating the topic into main bullet points. Third, voice my thoughts about the jail system with adding pros and cons to a political action I should address, and concluding which action I am going to take to further y concern about the jail system. When hearing about the jail system, this is a political issue indeedRead MorePros And Cons Of The Exc lusionary Rule1017 Words   |  5 Pageshave many systems, like all others, it is separated the use of some irrelevant or untrustworthy evidence. The system that I am referring to and the one that we will be discussing in this paper is the exclusionary rule. It is the introduction of a good evidence, that it is obtained by a bad law enforcement, is most common in the United State than other countries legal system. To put it in other words, the exclusionary rule is controversial. Therefore, many experts say that it sets criminals free onRead MorePros And Cons Of Mandatory Minimum Sentences1008 Words   |  5 Pagesleast a minimum number of years in prison. The article I picked to review is an article on mandatory minimum sentences. The article reviews the pros and cons of mandatory sentencing. I will go over the pros and cons described in the article and give my opinion on how I feel about them. Staring with the pros of mandatory minimum sentences, the first pro is that mandatory minimum sentences discourage people from committing crimes. In the United States reportedly experienced a drop in crime whenRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Not Legal Essay1157 Words   |  5 PagesU.S 1,436 people were executed from 1977 through May of 2016. Most death penalty cases involve the execution of murderers although capital punishment can also be applied for treason, espionage, and other crimes (ProConorg). There are cons and pros to putting criminals on death row. Also, only certain crimes get the death penalty, and it’s not in every state. The death penalty is the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime. The death penalty it not legalRead MoreThe Role of Sentencing in the Justice System630 Words   |  3 Pagesextensive role in the criminal justice system. â€Å" The sentencing of convicted offenders in the United States had been based principally on a rehabilitative model† (Miller, 1981).It is the discipline predetermined for an offender. When thinking of the many sentencing components used, to predispose the price an offender has to pay for the crime committed. There are many pros and cons for the many different types of sentencing we use in the criminal justice system. Their are some extremelyRead MoreSaudi Arabian Justice System is Based on Islamic Law from the Quran602 Words   |  3 PagesSaudi Arabia justice system is based on Sharia and Islamic law from the Quran and the Sunnah, which are the Muslim traditions formed from Islamic prophet Muhammad. Sharia has been adopted by Saudi Arabia in an unmodified method. The Saudi court system was created by King Abdul Aziz who founded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia back in 1932, the kingdom was introduced to the country between 1927 and 1960. The Saudi Arabia first criminal method was issued in 2001, decisions are made without juries and usuallyRead MoreShould Capital Punishment Still be Used in the American System1260 Words   |  6 PagesDeath Penalty ProCon.org). The death penalty is done â€Å"primarily by means of lethal injection† (ProCon.org Death Penalty ProCon.org). Many people are arguing whether or not capital punishment is effective and should still be used in the American system. Proponents of the death penalty argue that the death penalty deters crime. In contrast, opponents of the death penalty argue that the death penalty is cruel and goes against the â€Å"cruel and punishment† clause in the 8th Amendment of the ConstitutionRead MoreBureau Of Justice Statistics : The United States Primary Source For Criminal Justice1439 Words   |  6 PagesBureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). U.S. Department of Justice. 25 Nov. 2014. Web. Web. 25 Nov. 2014. Bureau of Justice Statistics is the United States primary source for criminal justice statistics. The website has published information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. According to Bureau of Justice Statistics, â€Å"The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is a component of the Office of Justice Programs

Friday, December 20, 2019

Does God Really Exist - 2011 Words

Page 1 Does God really exist? The existence of God has been a controversial question for as long as time has existed. As many arguments can be made for and against the existence of God. In this essay, I wish to explore arguments both for and against and eventually come a conclusion that God does indeed exist. The very essence of Man, all his values and his beliefs, are wrapped up in this question, Does God exist? Most of us were brought up to believe that God does exist, and as such it is deeply engrained in our psyche. The religious books, for example, the Quran, the Bible and the Torah all claim great religious journeys and miracles that were experienced by biblical characters like the prophets and even ordinary people of the†¦show more content†¦This point to the need to have faith, the ability to believe in that which is not tangible, that you cannot see, feel, touch or hear. A more cynical argument but still one that deserves a mention is the argument from French mathematician, Blaise Pascal. (2). He said that religion teaches us that if we believe in God and he does in fact exist, we will earn the reward of Heaven for ever. If, on the other hand, we do believe in God and he does not exist we will only have given up some forbidden fun prohibited by religion. If we don’t believe in God and he does exist we will have had the anti religious forbidden fun but we might go to Hell. If we do believe in God and he does exist then we have no problem. So, does it not make more sense to believe in God, forgo a little fun and be safe – just in case? This leads us to look at Atheism, which the website Conservapedia lists as being defined as (7) the denial of the Existence of God. Paul-Henri Thiry was one of the first exponents of atheism as early as the mid 1700s. Atheists believed that as there is no proof that God exists as as religion has not managed to produce proof that he does exist – you cannot believe that he does. Somehow, all the wonder of creation and of the intricacies of the universe appears to go unnoticed by them. Lately this theory has been watered down. Led by Charles Bradlough inShow MoreRelatedDoes God Really Exists? Essay1306 Words   |  6 PagesDoes God Really Exists The idea of God has been one of the most debatable issues since the dawn of humanity and with it guided as well as deluded most lives in the pursuit for the truth. The impacts springing from the notion of God has from time memorial changed history, inspired more poetry and music including philosophy more than anything else, imagined or real. Peter Kreft once concluded that â€Å"The idea of God is either a fact, like sand, or a fantasy like Santa† (Lawhead, p. 334). Over the causeRead MoreDoes God Or Evil Really Exist?1174 Words   |  5 PagesDoes God/ evil really exist? All of the living things have to be set by all of evils thing in the world: sickness, agony, happiness, suffering the live and death. God creates incredible things and leaves all of them for human to freely use as they want. However, the more they have the more temptation they get. That’s why there are a lot of questionable about a creator, God based on all of these kinds of events happened. Is this belief in a benevolent God not at least paradoxical in the face of suchRead MoreEssay on The Existence of God1579 Words   |  7 Pagesquestions regarding God, the argument from evil is a very peculiar argument. Most of the arguments we deal with will try to prove the existence of god. This argument on the other hand attempts to do the opposite and I really stress on the word attempt. Another reason why I say it is peculiar is because it is not just one argument, but rather a series of three arguments. In my opinion, this argument is quite weak and does not prove what it was inte nded to prove but rather it does the opposite. I wouldRead MoreDialogue of Good, Evil, and the Existence of God by John Perry1570 Words   |  7 PagesDialogue of Good, Evil, and the Existence of God by John Perry In John Perrys book Dialogue on Good, Evil and the Existence of God, he used three characters in the dialogue in order to clarify the positions of the three characters (Weirob, Miller, and Cohen), the arguments they provide in support their positions and the end state of their discussion. This allows us to examine our understanding of the good, evil and the existence of God. Perry shows a clear position of WeirobRead More The Ontological Argument Essay1446 Words   |  6 PagesProslogium, attempts to prove the existence of God simply by the fact that we have a particular concept of God - that God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. Saint Anselm presents a convincing argument that many people view as the work of a genius. It is also quite often considered a failure because, in William L. Rowes words, In granting that Anselms God is a possible thing we are in fact granting that Anselms God actually exists. In other words, it assumes the point it isRead MoreNietzsche: Morality Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagescontribution. But where does it come from. Is it something you are naturally born with, taught over time or given to you by a higher power? This argument leads to the existence of moral values by many philosophers including William Lane Craig. One of his excerpts argues that if there is an existence of moral values, which so me people agree, then there is the existence of God. He explains, God provides the best explanation for objective moral values in the world. If God does not exist, then objective moralRead MoreSt. Anselm Essay1022 Words   |  5 Pagesis saying. This is the idea that Gaunilo had in mind when he wrote his criticism to St. Anselm’s Ontological Argument which states that if something greater than anything else that could be thought of is conceived in the understanding then it must exist. Gaunilo says it is foolish to believe in the existence of something just because it is understood. He says there must be some kind of other explanation. In this paper, I will try to explain both Anselm’s theory and Gaunilo’s argument by first breakingRead MoreDescartes Meditation Iii1297 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophy Descartes tries to prove the existence of God in the third meditation. He does this by coming up with several premises that eventually add up to a solid argum ent. First, I will explain why Descartes ask the question, does god exist? And why does Descartes think he needs such and argument at this point in the text. Secondly, I will explain, in detail, the arguments that Descartes makes and how he comes to the conclusion that God does exist. Next, I will debate some of Descartes premisesRead MoreEssay on Mediations of First Philosophy by Descartes1296 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophy† Descartes tries to prove the existence of God in the third meditation. He does this by coming up with several premises that eventually add up to a solid argument. First, I will explain why Descartes ask the question, does god exist? And why does Descartes think he needs such and argument at this point in the text. Secondly, I will explain, in detail, the arguments that Descartes makes and how he comes to the conclusion that God does exist. Next, I will debate some of Descartes premises thatRead MoreMeditations On First Philosophy By Rene Descartes E ssay839 Words   |  4 Pagesour body starts to decay and disappears, but does not display mind does not. How do we know the afterlife exists through? Descartes claims two reasoning needs to come true. The first is the existence of god. We need to know that absolutely everything is created by god and everything cannot crease to exists unless they are reduced to nothing by god. The other reasoning involves our bodies. We have to perceive our bodies a substance, so they can never really depart. In this book he also explains how

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Swing Jazz free essay sample

Swing Jazz Essay Introduction Swing Jazz. Does swing equal jazz? Is swing the same as big band music? Is swing exclusively dance music? Is there any such thing as pure swing? Benny Goodman, a famous American Jazz musician, clarinetist, and known as the King of Swing once said that swing music remains something you take 5,000 words to explain then leaves you wondering what It Is. (Opener and Morris 1-10) There are so many genres and submerges of music and more specifically Jazz that one could never fully explain how each came to be.However, many involved with the new and old eras of wing Jazz are intrigued by the bewilderment it causes musicians and dancers alike. In order to better understand Swing Jazz Music as a whole, I set out to research its deflation, history, greats, relationship to swing dancing and the swing revival. Definition of Swing When asked What is swing? Louis Armstrong once said, If you dont know, dont mess with it. (Opener and Morris 7) In short, swing music is a form of Jazz that developed in the sasss and matured through various different artists through until the late asss and early Cos, In which swing became the most popular musical style In America. The earliest use of the term swing was to describe the effect when all parts of a composition blended perfectly together. (Starr and Waterman 115) Defining swing music has proven to be confusing and challenging to both musician and fan. The word swing is derived from African American English.It was first used as a verb to describe the rocking and rhythmic momentum of the music. (Starr and Waterman 120) However, the term wasnt used as a noun until around 1935 (the start of the swing era) which Is when It became an excepted proper noun to describe the musical genre. There are three different uses to the word swing; the Swing Effect (as It relates to other genres and submerges of music), Swing Style (as it relates to the style of musical and the Swing Era (embraced by a mass audience as a musical genre 1935-1945).The Swing Effect Is better described as the description of how the type of music was played. For Instance, some ways bandleaders would get the music to swing would be to get front line musicians to play off each other which produced rhythmic harmony between them. This also happened through allowing the front line as a whole to lend their parts synchronously with underlying rhythm/harmonic forces of rhythm section and allowing for spontaneity among soloist and improvisation. It was ultimately the alterations made to classic Jazz that brought swing In to the view.The Swing Effect became Swing Style when big bands (Jazz orchestras as they were first describe quite bluntly, during the later sasss. The Swing Style was used to describe quite bluntly, the type of music, but not yet the genre. The Swing Era was the peak of the life of swing, lasting from approximately 1935 to 1945 as this genre of music was embraced by a mass audience in America. Through research, swing has been found to mean something different to everyone. Artier Shaw, bandleader, was found to say that swing music is not a verb it is an adjective it isnt a type of music, its a way of playing music. (Opener and Morris 7-8). Conversely, many argue that defining swing should begin with the movement that entertained America in the two greatest trials: Depression and WI. As more than just a musical concept, swing music even helped to pull the American music industry of the Great Depression. History of Swing Contrary to popular belief, swing music is not exclusive to Jazz and in its earliest form existed within folk styles and even African American spirituals. (Starr and Waterman 118) However the main roots of swing came from the birth of Jazz which was essentially African and European musical elements being put together.The birthplace of Jazz was New Orleans one of the few cities in America at that time that accepted African music. Jazz had two phases New Orleans and Chicago. Around 1922 there was a migration of musicians and generally blacks to the north in order to look for Jobs. This introduced Jazz to northern America and essentially brought Louis Armstrong to Chicago. The swing styles from New Orleans to Chicago changed in that the number of instruments increased, repertoire broadened to more popular song and dance pieces, and the tempo generally moved at a faster speed. What Jazz Has To Do With It) The politics of swing is believed to have brought America together through the hard times. Although the American society remained segregated along racial lines even as the country spent billions of dollars and thousands of lives fighting WI, swing music and big bands brought a youthful energy back to American music. The casual and cultural influence of swing music gave optimism to a nation rising from economic depression and WI. (Starr and Waterman 125) The Greats Both Black and White Relationships between black and white musicians and fans began to change throughout the swing era.Although black musicians still had difficulty getting equal airtime, times were progressing and even fans were racially mixed in the audiences at venues. Black dance bands still faced economic and social disadvantages, but overall the swing era represented a step forward in cultural communication across call boundaries. (Starr and Waterman 125) Benny Goodman was a dance band m usician during the depression years. He was a skilled Jazz improviser and a strict bandleader that insisted on perfect precision when it came to his musicians parts.He was said to have brought a kind of neatness, smoothness, and control without losing the swing feeling of the music. (Starr and Waterman 128) William Count Basis was a big band leader and Jazz pianist most related to the blues side of Jazz. Born in New Jersey and gaining his early experience as a bandleader in Kansas City (K. C. , Count Basis perfected his improvisational skills through competitive all-night Jam sessions called cutting session in K. C. These sessions gave a chance for musicians to test their musical skills and endurance against one another. Starr and Waterman 135) An important influence that Count Basis brought to K. C. As a piano player was the boogie-woozier blues rhythmic piano playing. It was a popular fad during the big-band era and an easy form of entertainment, especially in the southwest America where the walking bass of the left hand and the improvisational right hand had a powerful style to be heard over dowdy crowds. Another African American Jazz composer and musician was Duke Elongating, a pianist who formed his first dance band while attending high school.Elongating was known as an experimenter with musical forms, combining them in unusual ways and creating complex tones. (Starr and Waterman 135) He called his music American Music rather than Jazz. He also was very in touch with his band which in turn created amazing stability within the band that supported his experiments. He took pride in getting to know his individual players strengths and knees and often wrote parts or pieces for particular musicians such as Concerto for Cootie (Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me) for Cootie Williams (rhythm and blues trumpeter). Duke Elongating) As a Jazz musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era, trombonist Glenn Miller was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1942 and led one of the best known big bands. Famous recordings such as In The Mood, Tuxedo Junction, Moonlight Serenade, and Pennsylvania 6-500 were among chart-topping hits that changed the music industry forever. Perhaps best known for his numerous compositions, the distinct sound he developed into swing music used high-pitched instruments to carry the melody with an other instrument play thing the same thing an octave lower.Glenn Miller is said to be the most enduring figure of the swing era, with reissues of his recordings achieving gold record status 40 years after his death. (Glenn Miller Biography) Swing Music vs.. Swing Dancing Which came first, swing dance or swing music? The first public references to the Lindy Hop were in 1928 which was Just before the music started to change. Whether ay never be known for sure. As the swing of swing became more stable, dancers found themselves taking ideas from musicians and musicians from dancers.Frankie Manning, Savoy landholder, said that he would often catch ideas from the band while dancing and the drummer or soloists would catch his steps. (Vises, Hart, and Wholesalers) Collaborations like these would often reinforce the beat or add drum shots. In the same way, while dancers got into position for aerials or lifts, tempos would generally increase to allow an easier flight as there would be no beat behind it. The adrenaline and adaptation f both performers (musician and dancer) supported each other in an exhilarating experience that is called swing dancing.The different views on The Lindy Hop are whether it was a good thing and improved race relations or if it was a sellout to European-American culture. Some believe that the commercialism of Harlem catered to white tourism only. Swing music declined during and after World War II, at which time the odd rhythms of the Be-Bop presented themselves (this was not as easily danced to). As submerges of Jazz continued to develop, swing dance became widely known as Jitterbugging and as even present during the next phase of American music: Rock and Roll.Swing Revival Between the late sasss and early sasss came a renewed interested in swing, blues and dance music from the swing era of t he sasss and sasss. This new swing revival brings a contemporary rock or aka sound to the Jazz base of the music which is called retro swing (or neo-swing). Specific bands who experimented with the swing sound and began the retro-swing movement would be Royal Crown Revue and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Most revival bands based their sound on a modern rock and roll rhythm section and very small rags section (such as a trumpet, saxophone and trombone).The swing revival is based on the newest original style of swing music from the late sasss and early sasss that was known as the Jump blues. However the revival bands focus more on an arranged sweet style than the sasss improvisational hot style. Media has been heavily involved in the come back of swing in everything from films (Swing Kids, The Mask), movie soundtracks (Swingers) and even mainstream television commercials. Conclusion Music and dance that have been called Americas most important contributions to he world are being revived through our generation. We are owning our heritage And in the process we are also discovering that the real roots of swing are as fresh inspire artistic creation. (Opener and Morris 5) Swing music never went away; its something that you can hear and feel and even do. Johnny Copula, a famous trumpeter was once asked to define swing music. He said that each pulse of truly swinging music contains in it an open, Joyous space of possibility Just about any kind of music can swing a good marching band can swing. Bach played right can swing. (Opener and Morris 7)

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Strenght of Women in Indian Novels free essay sample

India has been a country where males have dominated society and oppressed the fairer sex. Only recently have things changed and currently India has its first woman president. This domination has caused women to actually believe that they are indeed inferior to men. It is therefore not surprising to find women content with the subservient life they were forced to lead, like in Mulk Raj Anand’s ‘The Coolie’ where in Munoo’s village, his aunt â€Å"†¦had done the housework herself, untiringly uncomplainingly and quietly. But in stark contrast, to find women voicing their opinions, or acting against the norms of society does shock the average Indian because examples are few and far between. Interestingly therefore, I was surprised to find that out of nine Indian novels that I read I found women with strong characters in six. The strength of these women can be categorized into three distinct groups with two books under each subdivision. The first category would consist of women with strong will powers, the second would describe women who fought against society and the final category would comprise of women who committed homicide.The first example of undaunted will power is in Sharat Chandra’s ‘Queen’s Gambit’ aka ‘Chandranath’ where the daughter of a widow who eloped with a man is married to a rich village Brahmin, only for the villagers to oppose the union with the husband following suit. He refuses to eat from her â€Å"†¦filthy hands†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Despite being pregnant, the wife quietly walks away from her husband’s life and begins life afresh in the company of an old chess player. She gives birth to a baby boy whose father isn’t present for the first few years of his life. But the father returns and the wife not only forgives him for having deserted them but taunts him for his previous remark of eating her cooking â€Å"†¦will you eat rice from my hands? † She then goes back to the village to resume the life they once had. Similarly in the 2008 Booker Prize winning ‘White Tiger’ by Arvind Adiga we see Pinky Madam disgusted with life in India, and wanting to return to the life she once had in America.She perpetually complains to her husband telling him â€Å"†¦Why can’t we go back Ashoky? Look at this fucking traffic jam†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"†¦You promised me, Ashoky, we’ll be in Dehli just three months and get some paperwork done and go back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But her husband has come to stay in India for good, and when one night in a drunken stupor she runs over a child on the road, a change begins in he r. She feels guilty and even more so, when the husband and the brother in law decide to charge the driver with the crime.Nonetheless, some miracle saves the driver but Pinky madam isn’t satisfied and feels guilty for her crime, she wants to compensate the family despite the opposition from everyone else in the household. When denied this opportunity she takes matters into her own hands. She commands the driver in the middle of the night â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ËœYou’re going to drive me’†¦ she got out at the airport – then slammed the door and left†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Thus she chooses to renounce her rich and luxurious life and divorce her husband because she feels she has wronged society.But in our next category, it is society that is doing wrong to a history professor. In Gita Hariharan’s ‘In Times of Siege’, a writer of history books, Shiv, touches a sensitive issue when seemingly demeaning the image of Basava a Hindu poet who was regarded w idely as a divine figure. Fundamentalists storm protests against the helpless man and even ransack his office. His sole helper in his time of siege is the daughter of a family friend, Meena, who has broken a foot and is living with him, while his wife, Rekha, is away.Meena is dynamic despite her handicap and with the help of her friends’ looks to combat the fundamentalists by distributing pamphlets and organizing rallies, which she hopes will help to exonerate Shiv. Her courage is a mismatch when compared to Shiv’s who seems lost without her and depends on her like the crutches she uses to walk about. â€Å"†¦ Her face glows in the smoky room, almost like an avenging angel’s. Shiv finds himself drawn in†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . They even share a romantic moment: â€Å"†¦Meena, the very heart of things. Meena, a sweet and disturbing mixture of irony and inexperience. Meena, whom he has just about touched; who transformed him, for all of fifteen minutes one evening, to a simple organism†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Finally as the days pass the event is forgotten and the dark cloud of attention lifts from Shiv without any serious consequence. Though in the last case no serious consequence ensues from the action, in Matampu Kunjukuttan’s ‘Outcaste’ the whole race of Namboodiri Brahmins are made to pay for their way of life, which permits illicit liaisons in the case of men, while women found guilty of this crime are ex-communicated.The birth of a girl in the â€Å"†¦Thazhath House†¦Ã¢â‚¬  begins what Chematiri Otikkan, a reputed astrologer and priest, calls the â€Å"†¦Kali Yuga†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or the destruction of their kind. Even though he foresees the havoc this girl will bring about on their sect, Chematiri agrees to educate the child. A beautiful Naboodiri Brahmin by birth she learns everything her master has to teach til l she comes of age. She is then married to man whose elder brother is unmarried.At first to her horror on her wedding night it is the elder brother who enters her chamber before the younger brother, who stands guard at the door, which is bolted from the outside. As soon as the elder brother touches her â€Å"†¦inner eye opened. The purpose of her birth was revealed to her in that moment. Her weariness vanished†¦The primal figure of the Mother Goddess in a graveyard, wearing a garland of skulls, gleefully sucking the blood trickling from the decapitated demon’s head, appeared in her mind’s vision†¦ In that instance the bridal chamber was transformed into a chamber of birth†¦ Paptikutty!The Goddess of Revenge! The personification of power, an incarnation born on hearing the clarion call of Time itself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She then has affairs with a numerous important people and records all these experiences with proof and when she is produced in court she reveals all the details and gets many respected Brahmins whom she has seduced, ex-communicated. She is another Femme Fatale that one comes across so often in literature. Finally the last category is dedicated to the murderers, first in Shashi Deshpande’s à ¢â‚¬ËœIf I Die Today’ in a medical campus a cancer patient, Guru comes and shakes up the lives of a few families.At first he is looked upon as a friend who is about to die, but as the days pass a general hatred for the man seems to spread like a disease among the doctors. One night he is murdered, and while probing into his death, another innocent man, Tony, is murdered too. The author clearly describes the troubles in the relationship of each of the families and nobody knows who the killer can be, only that it is someone among them. The climax of the story reveals that the murderer is Vidya, the Dean’s sister who seems to have no motive to kill Guru.The only possible explanation given by the storyteller is that â€Å"†¦Remember the relationship between her and her brother. The Dean was four years older. He must have been a tremendous influence on her, right from their childhood days†¦She must have admired him and looked up to him. Let’s just say that and not get too Freudian.. . Oh yes, its obvious now she couldn’t bear anyone to mean more to him than she did†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"†¦there was Tony†¦ going about telling everyone he knew who it was†¦ and Tony was not ready to let her know so soon, either†¦ that was when Vidya decided to get rid of Tony before he got any closer†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Even more gruesome than these two win murders are the murders brought about by Queen Supalayat in Amitav Ghosh’s ‘The Glass Palace’. â€Å"†¦ Of all the princesses in the palace, Supalayat was by far the fiercest and most willful†¦ she†¦ fell headlong in love with her husband, the King†¦ and†¦ in order to protect him from her family she stripped her mother of her powers and banished her to a corner of the palace†¦She then ordered the killing of every member of the Royal Family who might have ever been considered a threat to her husband.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Death Penalty And Justice Essays - Capital Punishment, Penology

Death Penalty And Justice Looking out for the state of the public's satisfaction in the scheme of capital sentencing does not Constitute serving justice. Today's system of capital punishment is fought with inequalities and Injustices. The commonly offered arguments for the death penalty are filled with holes. It was a Deterrent. It removed killers. It was the ultimate punishment. It is biblical. It satisfied the public's need For retribution. It relieved the anguish of the victim's family. (Grisham 120) Realistically, imposing the Death penalty is expensive and time consuming. Retroactively, it has yet to be proven as a deterrent. Morally, it is a continuation of the cycle of violence and ?...degrades all who are involved in its Enforcement, as well as its victim. (Stewart 1) Perhaps the most frequent argument for capital punishment is that of deterrence. The prevailing Thought is that imposition of the death penalty will act to dissuade other criminals from committing Violent acts. Numerous studies have been created attempting to prove this belief; however, to the Evidence taken together makes it hard to be confident that capital punishment deters more than long Prison terms do. (Cavanagh 4) Going ever farther, Bryan Stevenson, the executive director of the Montgomery based Equal Justice Initiative, has stated that people are increasingly realizing that the More we resort to killing as a legitimate response to our frustration and anger with violence, the more Violent our society becomes. We could execute all three thousand people on death row, and most People would not feel any safer tomorrow. (Frame 51) In addition, with the growing humanitarianism Of modern society, the number of inmates actually put to death is substantially lower than 50 years Ago. This decline creates a situation in which the death penalty ceases to be a deterrent when the Populace begins to think that one can get away with a crime and go unpunished. Also, the less that the Death sentence is used; the more it becomes unusual, thus coming in conflict with the eighth Amendment. This is essentially a paradox, in which the less the death penalty is used, the less society Can legally use it. The end result is a punishment that ceases to deter any crime at all. The key part of the death penalty is that it involves death-something, which is rather permanent for Humans, due to the concept of mortality. This creates a major problem when there continue to be Many instances of innocent people being sentenced to death. (Tabak 38) In our legal system, there Exist numerous ways in which justice might be poorly served for a recipient of the death sentence. Foremost is in the handling of his own defense counsel. In the event that a defendant is without Counsel, a lawyer will be provided. Attorney's appointed to represent indigent capital defendants Frequently lack the qualities necessary to provide a competent defense and sometimes have exhibited Such poor character that they have subsequently been disbarred. (Tabak 37). With payment caps or Court determined sums of, for example, $5 an hour; there is not much incentive for a lawyer to spend A great deal of time was representing a capital defendant. When you compare this to the prosecution, Aided by the police, other law enforcement agencies, crime labs, state mental hospitals, various Other scientific resources, prosecutors experienced in successfully handling capital cases, Compulsory process, and grand juries (Tabak 37), the defense that the court appointed counsel can Offer is puny. If, in fact, a defendant has a valid case to offer, what chance has he to offer it and have It properly recognized. Furthermore, why should he be punished for a misjustice that was created by? The court itself when it appointed the incapable lawyer. Even if a defendant has proper legal counsel, There is still the matter of impartiality of judges. The Supreme Court has steadily reduced the Availability of habeas corpus review of capital convictions, placing its confidence in the notion that State judges, who take the same oath of office as federal judges to uphold the Constitution, can be Trusted to enforce it. (Bright 768) This makes for the biased trying of a defendant's appeals, given The overwhelming pressure on elected state judges to heed, and perhaps even lead to, the popular cries For the death of criminal defendants. (Bright 769) Thirty two of the states that impose the death Penalty also employ the popular election of judges, and several of these even have judges run with Party affiliations. This creates a deeply political justice system-the words alone are a paradox. Can

Sunday, November 24, 2019

gender sexuality essays

gender sexuality essays A.) In the article, Human Sexuality: How do Men and Women differ? by Letitia Peplau discusses gender difference in four different aspects; sexual desire, sexuality and relationships, sexuality and aggression, and sexual plasticity. These differences affect mental states, and they define not only heterosexuals, but homosexuals, as well. The first difference mentioned between males and females is sexual desire. Peplau (2003) describes sexual desires as the subjective experience of being interested in sexual objects or activities or wishing to engage in sexual activities (p. 37). Men seem to exhibit a much higher sexual desire in their life-span, than women do. Men are also more stimulated sexually by visuals than women are. Many tensions about the frequency of sex arise between married couples. The husband is typically the one who demands sex more than the woman. Also, another indicator for men having a larger sexual desire is the fact men masturbate more frequently, and begin at an earlier age. The second difference mentioned between the sexes is sexuality and relationships. Women prefer to be sexual only in committed relationships, where as men seem to have a liking for casual, and premarital sex. To emphasize it more, women are more likely to fantasize about love and affection, where as men are more likely to fantasize about acts and sex organs. Commitment is the key for most women when it comes to sexuality and relationships, but for men it is more about sex. The third gender difference discussed concerns sexuality and aggression. Men tend to view themselves as characters of aggression and dominance when it comes to their sexual role. Women, however, do not exhibit the same traits. And because men possess these traits they are more likely to initiate an attempt for sex. The last gender difference covered is entitled sexual plasticity. Women are much more easily manipulated by soc ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Human Resource Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Human Resource Management - Assignment Example It is a function that pervades all the steps in the organizational ladder, forms a vital part of every other management functions and covers all the employees. The individual, team, psychological, emotional and social perspectives of human behavior are taken into account under HRM. This functional area tries to achieve a fit between the organizations and their employees. It has to balance of the goals of individual employees, teams, organization and its obligations to the society at large. Building up the employees into competent resources by improving their capabilities, upgrading their skills and enhancing their efficiency; while providing them with proper training and development opportunities is also the aim of HRM. It is an ongoing operation of understanding human relations and behavior, and applying them to the daily functioning of the organization. The fact that people are to be managed makes HRM more challenging and dynamic, as human behavior is unique and unpredictable at ti mes. The purposes served by HRM can be stated under two heads – the managerial functions and operational functions. Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing and Controlling are the managerial functions, while procurement, development, compensation, integration and maintenance are the operational functions. Though the roles played by HRM in different organizations vary, the main actions performed under the function are: Human resource planning Job analysis and design Recruitment and selection Training and career development Compensation and benefits Motivation Maintenance Occupational health and safety 2. Strategic Human Resource Planning Human resource planning(HRP) is also known as manpower planning or employment planning. It is the primary task of HRM, as it involves assessments regarding the number and nature of employees that would be required to deal with the future level of operations of the organization. It involves forecasting the future human needs of the organizati on, in line with its future goals and projections. Decenzo and Robbins define human resource planning as the process by which an organization ensures that it has right number and kind of people, at the right place, at the right time, capable of effectively and efficiently completing those tasks that will help the organization achieve its overall objectives (Ashwathappa, 2007). Such a preparation enables the organization to change and adjust to the demands of the market. Thus, it is a mode of change management. It also helps in meeting the legal regulations set by the Government. 2.1. HRP & Organisational Strategy Organisational strategy gives a picture of what the organization aims to portray itself along the timeline. HRP is directly linked to the type of organization and its strategic choices. This is so because HRP has to essentially follow the overall organizational plan and direction. The personnel requirements for product-based organizations are different from those involved i n service. The planning for HR depends on whether the firm strategizes to acquire new organizations or simply add to its internal capacity. New personnel are to be recruited if additional capacity is planned. In case of acquisition, capacity addition comes along with personnel. So, the planning is different. Alternatively, if the organization intends to cut or decrease production, HRP has to include redundancy and redeployment plans. At the same time, if the market poses limitations or shortage of manpower, the organization has to withhold its expansion plans. The status accorded to HR in the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Intensive Writing - Relationship between two Articles Essay

Intensive Writing - Relationship between two Articles - Essay Example The relationship between these articles can be based on the used themes, opinions addressed and the type of society that was used in the context of the article. "Black like them" is written by Malcolm Gladwell and most of its characters are from New York and its neighborhoods. Joane Nagel, on the other hand, writes â€Å"Constructing Ethnicity Creating and Recreating Ethnic Identity and culture† and tries to explain how different ethnicities affect the choices made by individuals. The articles share several themes since they have the same historical backgrounds. They had been based on the American society during the war era. During his period, people from different parts of the world searched for ‘greener pastures hence increasing the rate of immigrants in the United States. This action brought up the issue of racism since people moved to America from different countries. From the article, "Black like them" the Malcolm uses different characters to show how racism is evident in the society. Moreover, neighborhoods have been divided along racist lines. These blocks include the whites, Blacks, Hispanics and those who were of mixed races. For example, the writer explains how a West Indian boss claims that Garden city; a middle-class neighborhood is not a place for black people. Racial discrimination is also evident in workplaces, where the Noel works in a firm with a white workmate who is paid more than him irrespective of the same qualifications and work di d. Socialists and researchers from known universities have come up numerous situations to have a better understanding of these societies. The boss was an Indian national who could not differentiate between the Black Americans and those from the Caribbean. Joane in her book "Constructing Ethnicity" relates ethnic identity and its role in racism. This is because racism has its roots in different ethnic groups.  

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Doing Business in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Doing Business in China - Essay Example It is a challenge that every businessman should take if they want to succeed. This paper provides information on how to do business in China. Relying on current literature for ideas and examples, it gives recommendations on how to deal with the Chinese and establish business in China. According to Hamilton and Jhang (2012; p.4), â€Å"China is one of the most dynamic markets in the world in which change is the only constant.† By saying this, Hamilton and Jhan point out two things about China. The first one is dynamism, and the second is change. These two things suggest the main challenge in doing business in China. Dynamism is evident in the country’s culture, political makeup and religious beliefs while change is constant and rapid in its economy. Therefore, knowing aspects of dynamism and change will give businessmen an edge in their Chinese ventures. Culture Dynamism can be found in every aspect of the culture. Importantly, every foreign capitalist should be aware of the Chinese culture in order to act according to it. Otherwise one will lose all the chance to even start business in China. Culture is a very important aspect in doing business. There are practices that should be observed and non-observance would mean ignorance and lead to failure. The most important value that the Chinese has when doing business is guanxi. This term means goodwill. ... West (2007) claims that in doing business with the Chinese, especially with the northerners, one must exercise, â€Å"eat first, talk later.† This is the same throughout China but the southerners have become more Westernized in doing business, especially Shanghai people. Nevertheless, the culture of guanxi is respected throughout the Mainland. Establishing guanxi is like developing brotherhood in the West. Along with it is showing genuine sincerity with Chinese partners. According to Hamilton and Jhang (2012), genuine sincerity goes a long way in China but not all businessmen realize its importance. Non-Chinese people think of Chinese as corrupt, possibly because of the practice of guanxi but they should understand that guanxi is not similar to bribery. Many Chinese do not accept bribes for jobs they ought to do. For instance, one taxpayer gave a significant amount of money to a banker in gratitude for the fast transactions they had with the bank. When the banker saw it, he di d not feel the need for the gift and credited the amount to the company’s account. This act illustrates that bribery is not the way to do business in China. Similarly, foreign visitors are not obliged to give tips to the Chinese. Tips in hotels and restaurants are welcome but they are not expected. The Chinese people appreciate tips even in small amounts but they will do their job even without tips. Greeting them, exchanging stories and smiles are more valued, as it goes with business. One thing that is valued much in China is presence. According to Hamilton and Jhang (2012), visiting often will create goodwill among the Chinese. They cite that Hank Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, spent 70 visits in China, thus making him well-regarded in the country. Another man named Jim Rogers, an

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Role of lawyers in indias freedom struggle

The Role of lawyers in indias freedom struggle THE ROLE OF LAWYERS IN INDIAS FREEDOM STRUGGLE 1885 was a remarkable year in the history of India, a year which would determine the future of India, a new chapter in the freedom struggle started as a mass movement in 1857 by the ‘sepoy mutiny. With the joint efforts of A.O. Hume and W.C. Bonnerjee, the Indian National Congress was established. This brought the Indian intelligentsia into the main stream of the movement for freedom. This gave people a platform to discuss and share their grievances and in turn device a plan of action. This was the first time that Indians realized that violence was not the only means of fighting a battle and in the years to come ahimsa and satyagraha would become the two pillars on which the freedom struggle rests. How different would the history of India be, had the intelligentsia not taken over the freedom struggle. It was a war of independence from the shackles of enslavement of two centuries. It was a war of rights and liberties. It was a war for establishing ones independent identity. It was a war against injustice and inequality; against racialism and cruelty. The war against the British was not a war of arms but a war or strategy and mental strength. Most of all it was a war of ‘words. Who better to fight such a war but the magicians of words, those who have words for tool, just words to earn their livelihood lawyers. The Indian freedom struggle was won by the army of lawyers who used words for ammunition. Mahatma Gandhi was a lawyer so was Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Pt. Nehru was a lawyer and so were Sardar Wallab Bhai Patel and Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The list is never ending. So what was it that drew all these lawyers into the freedom struggle leaving behind a life of comforts and riches? The British valor could not have been matched by the Indians if they were to rebel and violently agitate. For every British man killed 10 Indians had to lay down their lives. India even in another century could not have gathered enough to make an army stronger than the British. The rich were too busy match fixing the future of India with the British and the poor were too poor to put together two square meals forget about a rebellion against the mighty British Empire. This was the time when the educated middle class came to the fore. It was these, educated men and women who decided to fight the empire for they needed to get jobs, they worried for the future of their children and the future of India, they needed to be independent, they were in contact with the west and they were the so called â€Å"enlightened† ones. These constituted lawyers, teachers, doctors, civil servants etc. Their only strength was their education and they decided to play a game of wits and not of weaponry to get Indians their long due freedom. They realized that what India needed was direction, an understanding of rights, unity, a new form of warfare, which was non violent, leaders and focus. Of this intelligentsia lawyers were the ones who led the struggle from the front, the reasons for this were many. First of all they were not government employees unlike the teachers, doctors and civil servants, so there was no obligation to follow directions from the government. Secondly, if lawyers could boycott courts, it would be a directly defying the British government and law and in turn it would directly imply that the rest of the population were not obliged to follow these laws. Thirdly, most of the lawyers had studied in England and they were aware of the English legal system and of the position people had in an independent nation. Also, they knew how to talk their way through to the English. They knew their weaknesses and strengths, and could successfully device a way to play the weaknesses of the British to their advantage. They were aware of the common law system keeping rights and duties on a pedestal and thus they used the cruelty and in humanity of the British in India to gain sympathy and in turn get the British in England to detest their own people and their conduct in India. Besides fighting cases in the law courts for the extremists who would regularly invite prosecution against themselves, most lawyers formed a group of moderate freedom fighters. They knew that India was not ready for immediate freedom and if India was to attain independence instantaneously, if would crumble without a strong center and there was no system and definitely no individual who could hold the country together. Since the lawyers had supreme understanding of the complicated and intricate laws that were being sent to India for the formation of government and for the administration of justice, they were best suited to discuss their implication and to repeal them as well as draw the English lawmakers to a point of making the law as pro Indians as possible. All these lawyers were of the view that an unjust law must be defied and repealed. Most of all, they advocated for social justice, equality and human rights. Soon, law courts became the preferred battlefield for Indians. Even an extremist revolutionary like Bhagat Singh took the help of a trial to send his message across. Infact, he deliberately invited a trial against him by throwing smoke bombs in the legislative assembly and surrendering himself to the police. The purpose that such court trials served was that they gave the freedom fighters an opportunity to come in contact with the media. The media would report the pleadings and comments in the local as well as the newspapers in England, this served a dual purpose the Indians got their leaders messages and the masses got provoked also, a sense of shame, regret and disapproval was spread amongst the British nationals in England. Though it is not preferred to earmark a single leader of the independence struggle but, if this was to be done, the name of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi would top the list. A lawyer by profession studied in England and worked in South Africa. He was the first leader to fight the inhuman practice of apartheid in South Africa. On his return to India, he devised a practical approach. He first decided to tour through India and then come into the movement. This shows the typical trait of a lawyer, first put together the facts and investigation and then take up the case. Or differently put, when I dont know the laws of the land how do I fight a case? Then he took the movement head on. He advocated the disobedience of unjust laws, peaceful demonstrations, boycott of foreign goods and the peaceful picketing of shops selling foreign goods. His ideas eventually found shape in a non-cooperation launched later. His aim was to make the British administration come to a standstill, a point from which they would have to negotiate. He believed that a peaceful struggle was far more productive then a violent one. A peaceful struggle cannot be suppressed easily and is always sustainable in the long run. Mahatma Gandhi was able to take the freedom struggle to the masses and was a major advocate of social justice and unity amongst all sections of the Indian people. Finally talking of the biggest contribution of the British to India we cannot ignore the role played by the lawyer turned freedom fighters. Besides winning independence, these men extracted a lot from the British. Most important being: their administrative policy, their form of governance and their laws. Most of the English laws have formed the basis of our statute books and the parliamentary form of government was also due to the British influence. The Indian Penal Code, one of the most intricate and elaborate penal law books in the world can be considered a gift from the British. Talking of the form of government, the efforts of Nehru committee and Sapru committee on how to accommodate both the Hindu and Muslim representatives in the government posts was an effort worth applauding. Finally, on 15th August 1947, India won independence and at the same time India was divided and Pakistan was born. But, it was not over for the lawyers yet, on either sides. They still had to carry the two divided nations through the poisoning after effects of the partition. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India and across the border M.A Jinnah held the reins of Pakistan in his hands. Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the President of India and Dr. B. R Ambedkar headed the team of constitution makers. The most remarkable contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at this time in history was undoubtedly his efforts of unifying India as India was divided amongst provinces and princely states. Also, he tried to break the communal barriers that the Indians had created amongst themselves. Besides the political responsibilities carried out by the lawyers, they had to carry out certain legal responsibilities as well. The first and foremost being, framing the constitution of India, followed by ascertaining the structure of the future legal system of the country. Also, partition brought with it many disputes over land, industry and property. These men were to take responsibility and carry out the necessary actions to make it peaceful. To conclude I would like to say that lawyers held an incomparable position in the freedom struggle and they were indispensable. They made a remarkable contribution to the pre independence Indian society the effects of which carried on even after independence. But, it seems to me that the new age lawyers are not as aware or socially responsible as those sixty years ago. We hardly see lawyers now a days who stand up for social causes, who are ready to dedicate their lives to the cause of social justice. The new age lawyers should take a leaf out of the history books and take inspiration from their predecessors and not restrict their ability to contribute. India needs leaders and men with foresight, lawyers who have in the past contributed so richly should continue with the same. As Jawaharlal Nehru said on 15th August, 1947 â€Å"Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.† It is the responsibility of the people of India today to keep the dream of Nehru from fading out.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

B-2 bomber :: essays research papers

WHAT IS THE B-2 BOMBER?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stealth Aircraft, military aircraft, fighters, and bombers designed to elude detection and tracking systems, such as radar and infrared monitoring. Stealth technology is used to mask unmanned objects such as cruise missiles. The United States is a world leader in developing and deploying stealth technology, although much about its program remains classified.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stealth technology includes a variety of design features that affect an aircraft signal, also called its signature, on tracking systems. These features include an aircraft shape and the materials used to build it. For example, it is harder for a radar to detect an aircraft that has smooth and rounded curves. Special composite materials or coatings on the surface of an aircraft can absorb or deflect radar signals. Engines placed within the body of the aircraft and exhaust vents may be arranged to mask the heat coming from engines and help hide an aircraft from heat seeking sensors. Reducing the noise and vibrations produced by stealth aircraft may also minimize its acoustic signature. In addition, stealth aircraft are equipped with special electronics for suppressing or confusing enemy monitoring systems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since the use of radar during World War II (1939-1945), air forces worldwide have tried to develop methods of confusing radar or making it ineffective. Early attempts at this included the targeted aircraft attempting to electronically jam radar or to release metallic strips to produce false readings. However, in the 1950’s and 60’s, new electronic tracking methods and the new waves devised to confuse them kept pace with one another, prompting military engineers to look for ways to completely mask aircraft.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  American aeronautical engineer Clarence L.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Critical reflection practice Essay

Introduction The area of critical reflection is generally understood to be a difficult and contested terrain, that appears to be attractive on paper but is complex to put into action. Educators say this is an important capability for students to develop as it contributes to greater depth of understanding and learning (Boud, Cohen, & Walker, 1993; Lay & McGuire, 2010; Moon, 2006; Wolf, 2010). The wide range of approaches to critical reflection suggests the focus of learning is placed on technique rather than the broader purpose and outcomes of critical reflection. Critical reflection should not be a prescriptive activity (Moon, 2006) but guidelines should enable the student to develop their own style. This paper begins a conversation on the challenging topic  of critical reflection in cooperative education. Defining Critical Reflection There appears to be lack of a clear understanding of critical reflection, as it is a contested term reflecting the ideology of the user. Depending on one’s perspective critical reflection can be understood to mean very different things (Boyd & Fales, 1983; Brookfield, 2009; Gardner, 2009; Harvey, Coulson, Mackaway, & WinchesterSeeto, 2010; Hatton & Smith, 1995; Smith, 2011; van Woerkom, 2010) and varies within individuals and contexts. Critical reflection is widely recognised as a key component in the learning processes of individuals and is advocated in many areas of professional practice (Brookfield, 2009; Jarvis, 2010; Leijen, Valtna, Leijen, & Pedaste, 2011), especially within programmes where there is rich learning possible through specific experiences (Harvey et al., 2010). The terms reflection, critical reflection, reflective practice, reflective thinking and reflexivity have similar meanings and application in educational literature, as well as, used interchangeably (Black & Plowright, 2010; Rogers, 2001). Authors consider that not all reflection is critical reflection and critical reflection maybe at higher, more complicated level that challenges the learner and the educator (Harvey et al., 2010; Hatton & Smith, 1994). Further unpacking is required to clearly identify the true nature of ‘critical’ reflection. Fook (2006) suggests work needs to be done from a â€Å"common basis of understanding† so the practice of critical reflection maybe refined and improved. Mezirow (1990) considers critical reflection as a precursor to transformative learning, which may lead to changes in personal understandings and potentially behaviour. Students can use critical reflection practices for engaging in metacognition (Eames & Coll, 2010). It is associated with a number of learning outcomes including improved thinking, learning and assessment of self and social systems (Smith, 2011). Dewey (1938) states that while we cannot learn or be taught to think, we do have to learn how to think well and especially to acquire the practice of reflection. To use knowledge critically we do not accept the situation at ‘face value’. This  requires the ability to look beneath the surface to see what may influence the situation, resulting in critical depth to understanding. In addition, the ability to examine the bigger picture and view the situation more holistically develops critical breadth. These enable us to develop a fuller understanding of experiences so we are better equipped to manage similar future situations (S. Thompson & Thompson, 2008). This ability to think critically is developed over time (Crowe & O’Malley, 2006) through guidance and support. Critical reflection is advocated in many areas of professional development and practice, including the all areas of health care education, teaching, management, and research, as it encourages practitioners to gain insight into their own professionalism through their experiences. These programmes generally require some form of fieldwork to be closely integrated with academic study. Consequently there is wide variation in the techniques and approaches used in the practice of critical reflection. Approaches may range from informal discussions to highly structured formats. Guidelines in the literature on how to determine, facilitate and assess critical reflection in practice appear to be limited (Leijen et al., 2011; Smith, 2011). Models of critical reflection This vast area in the literature, which explores models of critical reflection, lacks clarity. There seems to be similarities within and across the various applications from many fields or disciplines of education that may have little or no areas of overlap (Fook & Gardner 2007). Many models of reflection based on a philosophical approach, may be considered to assist students develop an understanding of critical reflection. These have been briefly outlined in table 1.0 to help visualize the relationship between the models and frameworks. The framework chosen to guide students’ reflections may be determined by the expectations of the learning outcomes. Some models of reflection may not encourage critical reflection. Models may guide the process of reflection but should not impose a prescription of what reflection is. It is not essential to follow a model and some practitioners choose not to. There is some criticism of models that reduce reflection to levels but this approach maybe useful for teaching what the focus of  reflection entails. The student may choose whether or not to adopt a model to frame their reflection as a temporary measure until confidence in the reflective activity is gained and understood. Table 1.0: Three models of critical reflection identifying two frameworks that provides guidance for reflecting within each model. Model of critical reflection Framework General comments Dewey’s model of reflective Knowledge can be constructed learning through active reflection on past and present experiences. Pragmatic approach. Gibb’s model A cyclic generic framework. A general and nonspecific approach to reflection. Novices may find it too vague requiring further guidance. Stephenson’s framework A detailed set of cue questions. Focuses on consequences of actions and examines practice knowledge. Habermas’s model of critical Based on 3 areas of knowledge: reflection technical, practical and emancipatory. Critical theory approach. Taylor’s framework Describes activities associated with 3 types of reflection: technical, practical and emancipatory. Highly structured. Kim’s framework Called critical reflective enquiry. Three phases of reflection: descriptive, reflective, critical/emancipatory. Processes and products applied to each phase. Kolb’s model of reflexive Attempts to integrate thinking and learning practice. Experiential learning approach. Borton’s framework Simplified model using 3 questions: What? So what? Now what? Very easy to remember. Rolfe’s framework Expanded Borton’s framework. Added questions to each step. Turned the last step back to form reflexive cycle. Generic, easily adapted to suit most situations. * Adapted from Rolfe et al (2011). Critical reflection in cooperative education According to Martin and Fleming (2010) cooperative education is more than work experience but a recognised pedagogical approach to learning. Critical reflection is an essential component of the pedagogy of cooperative education and other forms of work integrated learning. The process of critical reflection needs to be facilitated with structured strategies within the course that encourage engagement in reflection. It is important to create a culture where reflection is valued as a learning tool and it is safe to be honest. Practice and feedback on reflection throughout the program are important to enable the student to progress through their learning experience. Van Gyn (1996) suggests that reflective practice to enhance student-learning outcomes requires an organised partnership between the student, academic and industry supervisors. There is a widespread  assumption that reflection has positive outcomes for student learning. Cooperative education is student driven learning, which increases the need for the student to be self-motivated, proactive, organised and reflective. Critical reflection encourages students to be willing and able to question, explore and critique ways of behaving and thinking as they engage in workplace experiences (Higgins, 2011) and into the future. Consequently the student is better able to understand and gain insights into his/her skills, competencies and knowledge. The use of critical reflection in cooperative education increases the chances of the learning being relevant and meaningful to the student. Therefore the student’s engagement in reflection can assist them in making sense of themselves, their learning experience and preparation for the future. The importance of the social context (Fook, White & Gardner, 2006) of reflection should be considered, as personal reflection is part of the broader context of the organization culture and structure (Thompson & Pascal, 2012). The industry context is complex and may challenge other dimensions of reflection, such as emotional demands of the learning experience, power relationships and time constraints. The strategies that facilitate reflection should cater for the individual needs of the student, suit the learning environment and guide the development of students reflective skills (Martin & Fleming, 2010). Strategies may include learning contracts, reflective journals, progress reports, reports and oral presentations providing the student with many opportunities to practice critical reflection. Conclusion Critical reflection is used in education to encourage the integration of theory and practice while enhancing student learning and self-confidence. However, an extensive literature search on the role of reflection for learning through experience by Harvey et al (2010) concluded that the relationship between reflection and positive student learning outcomes was inconclusive. This suggests there is scope to explore the role of critical reflection in learning and the development of a theoretical basis in cooperative education. There is increasing interest in the concept of critical reflection (Boud & Walker, 1998) in work-integrated education and research (Brookfield, 2009). References Black, P. E., & Plowright, D. (2010). A multi-dimensional model of reflective learning for professional development. Reflective Practice, 11(2), 245-258. doi:10.1080/14623941003665810 Boud, D., Cohen, R., & Walker, D. (1993). Using experience for learning. Buckingham [England] ; Bristol, Pa.: Society for Research into Higher Education and Open University Press. Boud, D., & Walker, D. (1998). Promoting reflection in professional courses: The challenge of context. Studies in Higher Education, 23(2), 191. Boyd, E. M., & Fales, A. W. (1983). Reflective learning. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 23(2), 99-117. Brookfield, S. (2009). The concept of critical reflection: promises and contradictions. European Journal of Social Work, 12(3), 293-304. Crowe, M., & O’Malley, J. (2006). Teaching critical reflection skills for advanced mental health nursing practice: a deconstructive-reconstructive approach [Article]. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 56(1), 79-87. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03982.x Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education. New York: Touchstone. Eames, C., & Coll, R. K. (2010). Cooperative education: Integrating classroom and workplace learning. In S. Billett (Ed.), Learning through practice (pp. 180-196) Fook, J. (2006). Beyond reflective practice: reworking the â€Å"critical† in critical reflection. presented at the meeting of the Professional Lifelong Learning: Beyond Reflective Practice, Leeds. Fook, J., & Gardner, F. (2007). Practising critical reflection : a resource handbook. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Fook, J., White, S., & Gardner, F. (2006). Critical reflection: a review of contemporary literature and understandings. Critical reflection in health and social care, 3-20. Gardner, F. (2009). Affirming values: using critical reflection to explore meaning and professional practice [Article]. Reflective Practice, 10(2), 179-190. doi:10.1080/14623940902786198 Harvey, M., Coulson, D., Mackaway, J., & Winchester-Seeto, T. (2010). Aligning reflection in the cooperative education curriculum| Macquarie University ResearchOnline. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 11(3), 137-152. Hatton, N., & Smith, D. (1994, July 3-6, 1994)). Facilitating Reflection: Issues and Research. presented at the meeting of the Conference of the Australian Teacher Education Association (24th), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Hatton, N., & Smith, D. (1995). Reflection in teacher education: Towards definition and implementation. Teaching and Teacher Education, 11(1), 33-49. Higgins, D. (2011). Why reflect? Recognising the link between learning and reflection. Reflective Practice, 12(5), 583-584. doi:10.1080/14623943.2011.606693 Jarvis, P. (2010). Adult education and lifelong learning : theory and practice (4th ed.). New York: Routledge. Larrivee, B. (2000). Transforming Teaching Practice: Becoming the critically reflective teacher. Reflective Practice, 1(3), 293-307. doi:10.1080/713693162 Lay, K., & McGuire, L. (2010). Building a Lens for Critical Reflection and Reflexivity in Social Work Education [Article]. Social Work Education, 29(5), 539-550. doi:10.1080/02615470903159125 Leijen, A., Valtna, K., Leijen, D. A. J., & Pedaste, M. (2011). How to determine the quality of students’s reflections? Studies in Higher Education, 1-15. doi:10.1080/03075079.2010.504814 Martin, A., & Fleming, J. (2010). Cooperative education in outdoor education. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 14(1), 41-48. Mezirow, J. (1990). How critical reflection triggers transformative learning. Fostering critical reflection in adulthood, 1-20. Moon, J. A. (2006). Learning journals : a handbook for reflective practice and professional development (2nd ed.). London ; New York: Routledge. Rogers, R. R. (2001). Reflection in higher education: A concept analysis. Innovative Higher Education, 26(1), 37-57. Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., & Jasper, M. (2011). Critical reflection in practice (2nd ed.). Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; New York, N.Y.: Palgrave. Smith, E. (2011). Teaching critical reflection. Teaching in Higher Education, 16(2), 211-223. Thompson, N., & Pascal, J. (2012). Developing critically reflective practice. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives(iFirst Article), 1-15. doi:10.1080/14623943.2012.657795 Thompson, S., & Thompson, N. (2008). The critically reflective practitioner. Basingstoke [England] ; New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Van Gyn, G. H. (1996). Reflective Practice: The Needs of Professions and the Promise of Cooperative Education. Journal of Cooperative Education, 31(2-3), 103-131. van Woerkom, M. (2010). Critical Reflection as a Rationalistic Ideal. Adult Education Quarterly, 60(4), 339356. Wolf, K. (2010). Bridging the distance: the use of blogs as reflective learning tools for placement students. Higher Education Research & Development, 29(5), 589-602. Copyright  © 2012 Patricia Lucas The Author assign to the Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN Inc.) an educational non-profit institution, a nonexclusive licence to use this document for personal use and in courses of instruction, provided that the article is used in full and this copyright statement is reproduced. The author(s) also grant a nonexclusive licence to the Australian Collaborative Education Network to publish this document on the ACEN website and in other formats for the Proceedings ACEN National Conference Melbourne / Geelong 2012. Any other use is prohibited without the express permission of the author(s).

Friday, November 8, 2019

Verbs with Thou and Thee

Verbs with Thou and Thee Verbs with Thou and Thee Verbs with Thou and Thee By Maeve Maddox The pronouns thou and thee were replaced by you in standard English a very long time ago, but the old forms still hold interest for modern speakers. A DWT reader wrote to me recently about a pastor who encourages his parishioners to use the â€Å"thou† forms in prayer. Many Bible readers still prefer the King James translation with its thous and thees to more modern ones. Apart from a religious context, the old forms crop up in advertising and entertainment, often with the wrong verb forms, possibly for intended comic effect. For example, an insurance ad on television features an agent dressed in paper armor made from insurance policies. He exchanges a few words with another agent. Here are some of their attempts at what the ad writer characterizes as â€Å"broken Old English.† It’s not Old English, but it is very broken. I doth declare that thou have brought overmany discounts to thine customers! Thou cometh and we thy saveth! We doth offer so many discounts, we have some to spare. The second person singular forms fell out of standard use as Middle English passed into Early Modern English. Without going into too much detail, or trying to account for every variation, I’ll illustrate some of the uses of the forms thou, thee, thy, and thine. Thou art my friend. (subject) I love thee. (object) Is this thy dog? (possessive adjective) No, I thought it was thine. (possessive pronoun) Thine was also used as a possessive adjective in front of a noun beginning with a vowel: Is he thine enemy? Verbs used with the subject form thou usually ended in -st. For example, What dost thou still in bed, thou lazy lout Can I go out with my friends, Mother? No, thou canst not. The -th ending doesn’t go with thou or, as in the insurance ad, with we or any other pronoun. The -th ending signals third person: What doth he still in bed? He doth what he liketh best; he sleepeth. The use of thou still exist in some English dialects, although in altered forms, such as tha. The use of a second person singular in the â€Å"plain speech† of the Society of Friends (Quakers) continued into modern times. Among some Quakers, the archaic verb endings dropped away and the subject form thou was superseded by the object form thee, much as the object form you replaced the subject form ye in standard English. If you ever decide you want to use archaic pronouns and verb endings in an ad or a historical novel, you might want to review the forms. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Comma Before ButShow, Don't Tell

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Kennedy Assasination essays

Kennedy Assasination essays There is much evidence supporting the innocence of Lee Harvey Oswald involving the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. When one of the most beloved Presidents in United States history was assassinated, Americans were quick to point fingers. Within forty-five minutes of Kennedys assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and within hours, he was charged with the murder of President Kennedy. According to the Warren Commission, the group that investigated Kennedys assassination, Oswald was the lone assassin. The commission stated that he shot a cheap rifle from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, the place of his employment. Three shots were fired, hitting three different people; John Conally, the governor of Texas; President Kennedy, and police officer James Tague. If Oswald had indeed shot this cheap rifle, there should have been a powder burn on his cheek. After Oswald was arrested, his cheek was examined, and no such burn was found. That alone should have supported his innocence. During the day of the assassination, there were two suspicious people at Dealeys Plaza, the area near the murder scene. Both men were standing on a curb, close to Kennedy when he was shot. One man was holding an umbrella, which was strange because it was a warm sunny day and no other bystander was holding one. The second man looked as if he was holding a radio. Both the Dallas Police and the Warren Commission failed to acknowledge these two men throughout the investigation. According to Ralph Schuster, the Zapruder film, clearly shows an open umbrella as the motorcade passed the Stemmons Freeway sign on Elm Street. In photographs taken minutes before and after the assassination, the Umbrella Man pumped his umbrella nearly two feet in the air and then lowered it again. While the Umbrella Man was pumping his umbrella, the man next to him began to raise his arms...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Philosophical, Medical and the Legal Aspects of Abortion Research Paper

Philosophical, Medical and the Legal Aspects of Abortion - Research Paper Example The definition of abortion as provided by US National Library Medicine is that â€Å"An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It uses medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus† (Anderson, 2003). Another definition of abortion is â€Å"Abortion is referred to as the process of terminating pregnancy at a stage before the fetus has attained the stage of viability† (Kapilasharmi, 2007). It is important to consider the philosophical interpretations of abortion along with the medical definitions. In a philosophical angle, it is the denial of the right to be born. The social acceptability of abortion has been argued upon with reference to its sociological and moral implications. These arguments are based on the moral philosophy questioning man’s right over another individual’s life. The general claim against abortion is that it is not very different from brutal murder. Interestingly, while in a murder, the victim receives the sentiments of the people whereas in abortion, the entire social mechanisms conspire for the process resultantly the murdered and the sentiments associated with it portrayed as a mere medical process. As per medical definitions, the fetus is a just a chunk of tissues, but for the ethically thinking society, the fetus is an important part of tomorrows world. The religious argument also supports this view as it believes that it’s only God who has right take a life (Anderson, 2003). The medical consequences and principles of abortion are also worth careful review.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Philosopy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosopy - Term Paper Example Therefore it can be a good thing to lie because by telling â€Å"white† lies we may have the intention of saving others from hurt feelings or we may prevent a crime. In such a case the underlying motivation of the lie is not selfishness, as the intention was to save another’s feelings. If no such underlying selfless motives are present, the outcome of the action can still be positive, as in the example given in this question. This would be an example of act utilitarianism whereby the result of the act is good and therefore the act must be deemed to be good, irrespective of the underlying motivation. Mill explains in â€Å"Utilitarianism† that â€Å"the Greatest Happiness Principle† holds that â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, or wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness†. Following that principle, Mill believes that there is no difference in the moral value of an act to help others, or whether the fact that they have been helped is a side effect of an egoistic, self-motivated action. The outcome is the increase of general happiness: a person’s life has been saved, and the person who saved the life has arrived at a financial gain. The act therefore must be deemed moral as it has increased general happiness. An instinctive reaction to this argument for me is that there is a moral obligation and duty to save a person’s life irrespective of any personal gain (Kant’s categorical imperative) and that therefore to save someone’s life purely for financial gain lessens the morality of the action. Still there is a certain compelling elegance in Mill’s argument that, if solely considering the outcome of an action and not the motive that triggered the action, then one is perfectly justified in saying that a person who is lacking ethically sound motivation for his actions is nevertheless still capable of acting in a moral and ethical way. 3.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Women in the workforce in the 1970's in comparison to today Research Paper

Women in the workforce in the 1970's in comparison to today - Research Paper Example These definitions and stereotypes have led to expected gender roles in society, most which have developed because of superficial relationships to gender. However, this issue is one which doesn’t realistically construct the identity of individuals. When looking at â€Å"Who’s in Charge Here’ with the Mary Tyler Moore show, it can be seen that gender identity is one which is based on the gender stereotypes and definitions created in society. The result is a construction of both gender and boundaries based on stereotypes, as opposed to realistic expectations. The issue of gender roles in society is one which was first seen with the 1970s show and continues to be a part of society today. Gender Roles from Moore The episode which shows the gender differences in the Mary Tyler Moore show is â€Å"Who’s in Charge Here.† The differences in gender are noted specifically with the news room that Mary is working in. The gender expectations are first divided by those who hold the power within the news room, including the new News Producer, Lou and the News Director, Murray. Within this episode, the gender roles are divided first by the divisions in which the males have more power and Mary remains in the same situation. However, it is quickly found that Mary is only holding to this role because of gender. The power positions which both men have cause Mary to not only complete her work, but also to do the work of Murray and Lou because they don’t understand the situation. By the end of the episode, it is recognized that the positions need to be reconsidered based on qualifications, as opposed to the gender expectations from the news room (Sandrich, 1972). Stereotypes of Gender The episode demonstrated by the Mary Tyler Moore Show is one which constructs identity based on gender and gives the divisions and roles based on this stereotype. This particular concept is one which hasn’t changed today and continues to be a component i n which men and women are divided. The gender differences come first from the idea of competition in which each individual divides according to the individuals who are considered the most powerful in society and create a competitive attitude toward what is occurring. These gender differences are further divided by the power which one holds in relation to the stereotypes and the competitive spirit which is supposed to be a part of the gender. This construction of stereotypes is one which is defined specifically by the patriarchal shaping of society. It has been found that the matriarchal society has the same concept of competition among women because of the environment which is created for survival. The stereotype of gender is one which becomes constructed specifically because of the social order which is in a given culture (Gneezy, Leonard, List, 1637). The stereotypes which have been created within culture are furthered by the expected places in which women and men should have. The concept of work, within the traditional role for women, is one which most were not considered as capable of doing. The main role of women in the patriarchal society was based on the stereotype of staying in the home and caring for the family while men worked in a given office. This created a position with both in society, specifically with the stereotypes and expected gender role that was in society. Family obligations is found to become secondary for men while women often have to adapt to the concept of work structures that require shifts in how one works. This particular stereotype is one which is acted among the majority of individuals in society and is referred to as gender – typing, which one debates about specific roles because of gender (Gustafson, 513). The episode with Moore shows this, specifically as Mary has difficulty deciding

Monday, October 28, 2019

Dramatic Irony to Build the Character of Macbeth Essay Example for Free

Dramatic Irony to Build the Character of Macbeth Essay Macbeth, there’s a passage in which the King is speaking with Banquo and Macbeth. They are in the King’s palace, commenting about Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor. One of the literary resources that Shakespeare constantly uses is irony. In this case, he uses dramatic irony, in which the audience is aware of a situation that the other characters are not familiar with. In this specific circumstance, he uses the irony to build up the character of Macbeth, to let the audience judge him themselves. There are various examples in which the dramatic irony is explicit. The King has high expectations of the deeds that Macbeth is going to fulfill. He trusts Macbeth and he has just been assigned to be Thane of Cawdor. â€Å"He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust†. The King is referring to the former Thane of Cawdor who betrayed him, he’s committing the same mistake twice, but he seems to be too naive, not considering the fact that maybe Macbeth can betray him too. Macbeth is not planning on doing so yet, but he is being tempted to. The audience knows that Macbeth has spoken to the three witches, that he has the idea of becoming king in his mind, the king doesn’t know this. Macbeth has been presented to us as a good person, not evil. He doesn’t seem to have any plans against the king, or against anybody, he seems to be honest and pacific. We think like this and so do the rest of the characters. The problem is that an obstacle has been placed in his way, he has been tempted, he is being manipulated into becoming greedy and ambitious. Temptation is attacking his mind, one can clearly identify this in his aside, â€Å"let not light see my black and deep desires† . He is admitting to himself that he is feeling inducement to commit a crime in order to get to the crown. The situational irony here is present because of the fact that the king is saying wonderful comments about Macbeth and he is answering him with all respect and honor, but the audience hears his aside, proving him to be kind of a hypocrite. The image the spectators have of Macbeth is beginning to change. Macbeth praises the King in each and every one of his sentences. He continues telling him how hard he is going to work for him, how much he honors him and what a pleasure it is to work directly for him. The viewers start to question the veracity of Macbeth’s statements. He seems to be trying to convince the King to trust him, when Macbeth doesn’t even trust himself because he is very confused. â€Å"The service and the loyalty I owe, / In doing it, pays itself. † Macbeth seems to be honest when he speaks these words, but when we listen to his soliloquy we doubt this. This is what builds the situational irony again. The dramatic irony is a tool for the audience to learn more about the character of Macbeth. The listeners used to think that Macbeth was impulsive, naive, and good hearted, after this scene, people start to question that. This aims to the theme of the play, â€Å"Fair is foul, and foul is fair† . There’s confusion between what’s right and what’s wrong. To this point, the spectators don’t know what to think about Macbeth, it is all summarized in what the king said, â€Å"There’s no art / To find the mind’s construction in the face. † No matter what your image of somebody is, there’s a fifty/fifty chance that this is false.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Black Death Essay -- Plague Disease History Europe Essays

The Black Death   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Black Death had profound effects on Medieval Europe. Although most people did not realize it at the time, the Black Death had not only marked the end of one age but it also denoted the beginning of a new one, namely the Renaissance. Between 1339 and 1351a.d, a pandemic of plague called the Black Death, traveled from China to Europe affecting the importance of cities, creating economic and demographic crises, as well as political dislocation and realignment, and bringing about powerful new currents in culture and religion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning, the Italian town of Genoa was one of the busiest ports in Europe. Ships sailed from there to trade all over the Mediterranean Sea. In October of 1347, 12 merchant ships sailed from Caffa to Italy. A strange disease had infected the crew of these ships. Dying bodies lay aboard the ships. City officials, afraid that the disease might spread, issued an order that no person or piece of merchandise was to leave the ships. They even forbade medical treatment for the sick sailors and passengers. The disease still spread. The officials had not considered that the rats from the ships were able to leave the ships by crawling along the ropes that were tied to the ships. From Italy, the disease spread all over Europe, traveling along the major trade routes. The rats were responsible for carrying the disease, which was transmitted by fleas from infected rats. The fleas drank the rats' blood that carried the bacteria. The bacteria multiplied in the flea's gut. While the fleas gut was clogged with bacteria, the flea bit the human and regurgitated blood into the wound.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Black Death came in 3 forms: the bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic. Each different from of the plague killed people in a vicious way. All forms were caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The bubonic plague was the most commonly seen form of the Black Death. Which had a mortality rate of 30-70%. The symptoms were enlarged and inflamed lymph nodes (around armpits, neck and groin). The term "bubonic" refers to the characteristic bubo or enlarged lymphatic gland. Victims were subject to headaches, nausea, aching joints, fever of 101-105 degrees, vomiting, and a general feeling of illness. Symptoms took from 1-7 days to appear.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The pneumonic plague was the second most commonly seen form of the Black Deat... ...mand fairer treatment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lastly, the change in spirituality was one of the major effects of the plague. The Black Death left survivors mourning, depressed, and fearful of its return.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the groups that suffered the most was the Christian Church. It lasts prestige, spiritual authority, and leadership over the people. The church promised cures, treatment, and an explanation for the plague. They said it was God's will, but the reason for this awful punishment was unknown. People wanted answers, but the priests and bishops didn't have anything to say. The people abandoned their Christian duties and fled. People prayed to God and begged for forgiveness. After the plague ended, angry and frustrated villagers started to revolt against the church, this caused the churches to be abandoned.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Black Death changed European history in many ways. Its fatal symptoms took many human lives, and its influenced carried over into many areas of society. People suffered religiously because the disease brought out the darker side of life and made them question God. Europe would not be the same today without these changes brought on through the devastation of the Black Death.