Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, The Black...

Martin Luther King , Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, The Black Panthers All These Names Sound Familiar Because They Were Very Powerful People And Will Never Be Forgotten. In The History Of The United States There Have Been Many Social Changes That Have Happened. The Civil Rights Movement Of The 1960 s Was A Standout Amongst The Most Critical And Imperative For The Balance Surprisingly. After The Nullification of Servitude In 1863, There Had Been A Ceaseless Clash Between The Races Of Individuals Who Live In The United States. Rights Were Abused On A Steady Premise, Absolutely In Light Of The Shade Of That Individual s Skin. There Were Huge Numbers Of The Progressions That The Battled For Brought On A Savage Restraint From Numerous White Southerners And That Prompted The Vicious Passings Of A Portion Of The Well Known Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. It Prompted Two Really Particular Gatherings Of Dark Activists. One Gathering Was Somewhat Savage, And One Had Faith In Quiet Peaceful Resistance. One Side Of This Coin Was More Militant Groups Who Demanded Change Or They Threatened Violent Activity. The Black Panthers Were A Great Example Of This Type Of Organization. Although They Did Preach Violence, This Group Of People Also Provided Some Of The Much Needed Things Like Child Care Infrastructure To Many Black Citizens All Over The Country. The Muslims Also Posed A violent threat, as leaders like Malcolm X, stated consistently that blacks deserve change and equality and ifShow MoreRelatedDr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement Essay1269 Words   |  6 PagesAs Martin Luther King, Jr. said, the â€Å"measure† of a man comes not when things are going well, but when things are times are challenging. In the time of the Civil Rights movement, lots of African American people were measured by how they managed difficult situations. The Civil rights movement had many influential leaders and events. The overall importance of the movement was the profound impact it had on American life. The Civil Rights Movement had many important leaders, like Martin Luther KingRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement : A Black Man Who Looked White Named Homer Plessy1994 Words   |  8 Pages The Civil Rights Movement African Americans were never treated the same as other Americans. One day a black man who looked white named Homer Plessy got sick of sitting in a Jim Crow car so he decided to purchase a first class ticket in the white’s only section on the train. Plessy told the conductor that he was 1/8 black and he refused to move from the car. Removed from the train Plessy was in jail overnight and was released on a 500 dollar bond. Homer Plessy protested that his 13th and his 14thRead MoreCivil Rights Activists: Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and Huey Newton1223 Words   |  5 Pages American icon and former civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. once said, I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. This quote speaks volumes about the message that he is trying to convey towards society regarding racism. He is basically saying not to judge others just because of their skin color, but love them for who they are. We should not beRead MoreBlack Power Movement774 Words   |  4 PagesThe words of ‘I am Black and I am proud’ was an anthem that filled the 1960s. A time period which saw the militancy of Malcolm X, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and a student movement that would push forward an agenda of black culture empowerment that would change America. This movement arose from civil activism of the 1950s with leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X during the Civil Rights movement and then Stokely Carmichael. The Black Power Movement arose from males whoRead MoreThe Civil Right Movement : History1705 Words   |  7 Pageseliminated segregation and gain equal rights for all African American citizens. Many leaders such as Martin Luther King, Rosa parks, Malcom X, and Andrew Goodman put themselves at risk. Their effort and commitment ended the discrimination against black African America ns, and finally gain freedom and equality. To begin with, the Jim Crow was a system of segregation and discrimination against black African Americans, which restricted equal right as white Americans. â€Å"Jim Crow the segregation of publicRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr And The Civil Rights Movement1134 Words   |  5 Pages Panther Power When we think of the Civil Rights Movement, we often think of the most prominent leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X who’ve surely paved the way for the beginning of the movement. However many times we overlook the ones who aren’t talked about in the classrooms during Black History Month, or when we’re discussing the Civil Rights Movement. In response, I dedicate my paper on an African-American Organization to those who promoted the freedom and rights of BlackRead MoreTo What Extent Has the Importance of Martin Luther King Been Exaggerated2232 Words   |  9 Pagesfar has the importance of Martin Luther King been exaggerated? The significance of Martin Luther King’s role during the Civil Rights Movement in the USA has become a matter for debate. In this essay I will examine the importance of his role along with many other factors. Shortly after King graduated with a Doctorates in Theology at the University of Boston, he was instantly involved in the attempts to improve black peoples rights in predominantly the South of America. King was the harbinger of CivilRead MoreA Brief Note On The Civil Rights Movement1745 Words   |  7 PagesOne movement, in particular, is the Civil Rights Movement, this movement, in summary, is about reach equality for the black community and stop separation from having certain opportunities as whites did. I want to walk through the ins and outs of the slow and splinter of the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-to-late 1960s. From the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement the black communities goal was very clear to most but for some, the goal of the movement was something completely different whichRead MorePresentation Speech : Prelude Of The Civil Rights Movement 1950s1211 Words   |  5 Pageswhich kept white supremacy prominent. For example, blacks had separate drafts which lim ited into what branch they could serve. The Air Corps and Navy were mostly white, and blacks often served as cooks or assistants to officers. Many people from the north that went to the south to army bases were shocked and disturbed by the segregation they saw which resulted in a greater awareness to the cause and many people getting involved. Many poor blacks could greatly improve their station in life throughRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement Of The 1950s And 1960s1183 Words   |  5 Pagesin that period. The Civil Rights movement refers to the movement which aimed to remove racial discrimination and segregation and improve the social, political, legal, and economic rights of black people in America . Although slavery had been abolished with the end of the Civil War , the â€Å"Jim Crow† laws kept black people and white people segregated from each other and the voting rights of African-Americans were limited , however, by the 1950s, African-Americans had begun to mobilise to gain equal rights

Pollution and Beautiful Sea Corals Free Essays

Pollution Pollution is an issue of concern in the modern world that we live in today. There are many types of pollution, namely air, water and noise. Pollution in our environment will undoubtedly affect our quality of life. We will write a custom essay sample on Pollution and Beautiful Sea Corals or any similar topic only for you Order Now Our naturally beautiful world becoming ugly because it is suffering from the effects of environmental pollution. Pollution can also cause various health problems and other negative effects. Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from vehicles, factories and open burning. Nowadays, there are more and more vehicles on the road as society gets more affluent. More and more people strive to have a better quality of life by having the convenience of driving to their destinations instead of taking public transportation. Automobiles provides transport to millions people around the world to enable them to travel to their workplace, school and other places, therefore, the air around us is getting more polluted by the carbon dioxide that is emitted. Carbon monoxide is another type of gas which harmful to the environment as it can cause the reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream. Another example of contributor to the air pollution is the manufacturing factories. The manufacturing of products in factories to meet the growing demand of society is also causing air pollution. Factories release toxic gases to the environment. Some factories also use coal to generate heat and energy. As a result from the burning of coal, carbon dioxide is released into the environment. Besides factories, many people are still practising open burning as a way of disposing their household wastes. Although burning our household wastes is a convenient way of getting rid of our rubbish, it is harmful to the environment as it contributes to the worsening of the air quality. As a result, air pollution causes people to suffer from health problems such as chest pain and asthma. In extreme cases, people can contract lung cancer. Water pollution is also a problem that we are currently facing. The marine life is the first to suffer from water pollution as they depend on the nutrients in the water to survive. As a result, we are robbed of beautiful sea corals and unique species of fishes. Besides ruining our marine heritage, the disappearance of marine life will affect the livelihood of fishermen, not to mention our source of food. Water pollution is caused by harmful waster from industries, farms and sewerage systems which are dumped into our sources of water such as rivers and lakes. This irresponsible act contaminates our drinking water and can cause serious health problems and can even culminate in death. Noise pollution is another form of pollution. Noise from heavy machinery and vehicles can cause hearing problems and in extreme cases, deafness. As there is growing number of vehicles on the road, we are exposed to noise pollution every day. The government in advanced countries encourage their citizens to take the public buses and trains by providing an affordable and efficient transportation system. This effort discourages people from driving their private vehicles and consequently reduces the number of vehicles on the road. We must work together to reduce pollution so that the future generations can live in a healthy, unpolluted environment. As the saying goes, precaution is better than cure. Lets hands on hands together by recycle and conserve the world for the better future. How to cite Pollution and Beautiful Sea Corals, Papers

Definition of Project Methodology Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Definition of Project Methodology. Answer: Definition of Project Methodology Definition 1: According to the author, Project methodology is a systematic approach to plan, design and execute a project. It is a set of different practices and methods that help to develop and deliver the project (Kerzner Kerzner, 2017). Role of project management is to properly estimate the time of the completion of the project. It also specifies the resource requirement and the skills required to finish the project in time. Definition 2: As per the author, project methodology is a series of steps, methods, techniques and practices that is implemented so as to plan out the best possible way to obtain the successful execution and termination of the project (Fleming Koppelman, 2016). Role of project management is to provide deeper insights to each step of the project life cycle such that proper monitoring of task is implemented and no cost or time overrun is encountered. Definition 3: Project methodology as defined by the authors, is a combination of latest techniques, procedures and methods such to complete the project that retains quality and its completion does not encounter overheads in terms of cost and time (Svejvig Andersen, 2015). Role of project management is to assign the proper required resources such that the project gets completed on time and it provides the base on which the entire architecture of the project is established. Definition 4: According to the author, project methodology is a set of procedures and rules that must be used so as to effectively complete the project. It defines a set of pathway, techniques and guidelines in which the project should be maintained and managed. Role of project methodology is to specify the procedure in which the project design and execution should progress such that it incorporates maximum benefits (pundak, 2014). Definition 5: According to the author, Project methodology is a combination of rules against which the feasibility of the project is verified and risk identification is implemented (Marcelino-Sdaba et al., 2014). Role of project methodology is to identify and analyse the risk involved in the project. In addition of risk identification at an early stage, the project methodology also helps in searching for alternatives against the risks. Comparison of Prince2 and PMBOK There are numerous project management methodologies available namely, PRINCE2, Agile Scrum, Waterfall, Agile XP, Rapid Application Development (RAD), New Product Introduction (NPI) and many more based on the complexity of the project. The PMBOK acronym stands for Project Management Body of Knowledge also contains methods for the project management (Karaman Kurt, 2015). The key differences between the PRINCE2 and the methodologies mentioned in the PMBOK are described below: The PRINCE2 project management methodology is a process oriented methodology whereas, the PMBOK is the knowledge oriented project methodology that provides knowledge about the best practices of project management. The PRINCE2 project methodology provides certification within one week of training while the PMBOK requires a month time or more for the confirmation of the certification. The PRINCE2 project methodology defines the tasks that should be done as well as also provides information as to when and the procedure in which the process should be carried out, whereas, the PMBOK only describes the process and the techniques that should be implemented such that the appropriate management of the product is carried out (Haddadi, Johansen Andersen, 2016). In the PRINCE2 methodology, the project is driven by business case where as in the PMBOK, the project is driven by plan. The PRINCE2 methodology can be easily applied as it does not require any experience of project management as it is process oriented where as the PMBOK proves an easier approach to learn managerial skill as it is knowledge oriented. The PRINCE2 methodology provides more power to the team members and the decision making power is provided to the team members where as in PMBOK the project manager acts as the central head and the decision making power lies in the managers hand. The PRINCE2 focuses on product oriented planning and the clarity in the assigned role while the PMBOK stresses primarily on estimation and critical path technique. Similarities between PMBOK and PRINCE2 methodology The following point highlights the similarities between PMBOK and the PRINCE2 method of project management. Both the project management methodology is concerned with time, scope, quality and risk involved in the completion and execution of a project. It also includes the benefits incorporated by the execution of the product. Both the project management methodologies progresses by assessing the risk and applying the risk management techniques. PRINCE2 in relation to project life cycle The project life cycle of the PRINCE2 methodology is shown in the figure below: Source: Schipper Silvius, 2017 Project direction: The direction of the project continues from the initiation of the project till the completion and the closure of the project. The Project Board with the help of project reports manages and monitors the progress of the project. Starting of the Project: This stage in the project life cycle is designed to ensure that all the requirements for the initiation of the project are properly kept in place. This stage is also appoints the project management team. Project Initiation: This stage is establishes a stable management basis on which the project team would progress. Moreover, this stage is also meant to check whether proper justification is there to proceed with the project. Managing Stage Boundaries: This stage is meant to take decision and inform the Project board whether the project should be continued or not. Source: Joslin Mller, 2016 Controlling stage: This stage basically deals with the work progress controlling activities and co prises of the authorisation of the work done. Project manager also has to review the situation and take necessary corrective actions. Product Delivery Management: This stage is concerned with ensuring that the product meets the quality criteria and assessment of the progress of the work. Project closure: This purpose of the process is to execute a controlled close to the project. This stage also makes recommendations on future actions and also deals with the preparation of end project report. The PRINCE2 methodology is more advantageous the approach follows a step by step methodology and is easier to ensure the quality of the product and the timely delivery. However, this method adds additional overheads and may not prove viable for all size projects. Thus, with the above discussion it is clear that both the processes follow the similar steps in development of the project. References Fleming, Q. W., Koppelman, J. M. (2016, December). Earned value project management. Project Management Institute. Haddadi, A., Johansen, A., Andersen, B. (2016). A Conceptual Framework to Enhance Value Creation in Construction Projects.Procedia Computer Science,100, 565-573. Joslin, R., Mller, R. (2016). The impact of project methodologies on project success in different project environments.International Journal of Managing Projects in Business,9(2), 364-388. Karaman, E., Kurt, M. (2015). Comparison of project management methodologies: prince 2 versus PMBOK for it projects.Int. Journal of Applied Sciences and Engineering Research,4(5), 657-664. Kerzner, H., Kerzner, H. R. (2017).Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Marcelino-Sdaba, S., Prez-Ezcurdia, A., Lazcano, A. M. E., Villanueva, P. (2014). Project risk management methodology for small firms.International journal of project management,32(2), 327-340. Schipper, R., Silvius, G. (2017). The Sustainable Project Management Canvas.The Journal of Modern Project Management,4(3). pundak, M. (2014). Mixed agile/traditional project management methodologyreality or illusion?.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,119, 939-948. Svejvig, P., Andersen, P. (2015). Rethinking project management: A structured literature review with a critical look at the brave new world.International Journal of Project Management,33(2), 278-290.

online education Essays - Educational Psychology, Distance Education

Today, in our modern world, the word ?innovation? is in use almost every day. It is always something new going on in every sphere of our life. The most important innovation in education of last century was online education. There are a lot of disputing abut advantages, and disadvantages of extend education, however there are three major strengths characterizing education on the web; flexibility, cost effectiveness, and privacy. The first strength and the major one, is flexibility, and easy access to learning. Whether you are in Asia, Europe, Africa, or anywhere else e-education will always be with you (the only thing you need is the internet). Mark Kassop, the author of the article ?Ten ways Online education Matches or Surpasses, Face ? to - Face learning?, notes: The height of this flexibility may be the well-publicized eArmyU.com program?. All students are on active duty, and they belong to military units throughout the world?. In a recent class of 25 students, the participants were located in Europe, Asia, The South pacific, Alaska, Hawaii, and all Kovaleva 2 four time zones in the continental united States.(360) Also student with families or jobs do not have enough time to attend school. In this case way web education might be the only one solution. ?The advantages of online learning,? emphasizes Kassop, ?include ample opportunities for students to pursue coursework at any time that fits into their busy lives? (360). The second advantage of web learning is cost effectiveness. In the most of the countries high education is not free. The average tuition fee is depends on country, but usually very high. Not a lot of people can afford a bachelor, or master degree. In many cases young people prefer to work after high school, than to apply for college. Alfred Bork in his article at ?The Well Crafted Argument? points out: In developing countries, learning often happens only on a very limited scale because these societies cannot afford learning with the methods currently employed. Even in developed countries, the cost of learning is becoming a problem. Current systems for learning cannot adequately grow to meet society?s needs. (341) Kovaleva 3 Online education is more affordable, than a traditional ?face to face? one. Students can save money, and still get high quality education without leaving their houses. The third advantage of leaning online is ?anonymity?. A lot of students at the traditional college system are ?hiding? their points of view: somebody is shy, somebody just do not want to share theirs opinion. The online education gives students around the world to share their experience, discuss problems, and simply chart without any F2F connection. It helps a lot of people to ?open? themselves, and to be social. Mark Kassop believes that: Many online students have indicated that this is the first time they have ever ?spoken up? in class and that they enjoy the opportunity? Many instructors have also observed that the relative ?anonymity? of online discussions helps create a level playing field for women, homosexuals, student with physical handicaps, and members of other potentially marginalized groups?.(358) Therefore we have three major advantage of web education, that helps student all around the world to have not only affordable, flexible education, but also an education that helps them to open their minds, and to be self-conscious.

Heckler

1. The three rounds fired from his 9mm Heckler and Koch MP-5SD exploded into the armed figures center mass with a sickening thud. His body slumped to the floor leaving a trail of blood smeared down the wall. This excerpt reflects the mood throughout Tom Clancys Rainbow Six. Rainbow Six is a newly formed top-secret anti-terrorist unit under the control of ex-navy seal, John Clark. Alister Stanley is the Executive Commander of Rainbow, while Domingo Chavez (Ding) is in charge of the assault and mission planning elements. During the first six months of operation, Rainbow Six is called upon three times. The first incident, which requires their attention, occurs at a Swiss bank where terrorists have gained control of the bank and taken hostages. Disguised as a Swiss SWAT team, Rainbow effectively neutralizes the situation with only one hostage casualty. Not only is this their first combat trial, but also it offers them a chance to organize and correct problems in their planning. The second call to action for Rainbow takes place in Germany where an international trader is taken hostage in his mansion. More Rainbow elements, such as snipers, are introduced during this scenario. No hostages were killed; however, all the terrorists were neutralized. The final mission Rainbow is called upon to mediate is at a large amusement park in Spain. Thirty children had been taken hostage and were going to be killed unless the French government releases their leader, who earlier in the book, was found to be in a French maximum-security prison. The Rainbow team uses an electronic jamming devi!ce to scramble the terrorists cell phones, and then picks them off one by one. After the fighting, the only death involved a child in a wheelchair who was shot earlier as a threat to rep...

Learn About Italian Easter Traditions and Customs

Learn About Italian Easter Traditions and Customs A huge explosion will be detonated Easter Sunday in front of the magnificent green– and white–marbled neogothic church in Florences centro storico. Instead of running in fear from a terrorists bomb, though, thousands of spectators will cheer the noise and smoke, for they will be witnesses to the annual Scoppio del Carro- explosion of the cart. For over 300 years the Easter celebration in Florence has included this ritual, during which an elaborate wagon, a structure built in 1679 and standing two to three stories high, is dragged through Florence behind a fleet of white oxen decorated in garlands. The pageantry ends in front of the Basilica di S. Maria del Fiore, where Mass is held. During the midday service, a holy fire is stoked by ancient stone chips from the Holy Sepulcher, and the Archbishop lights a dove–shaped rocket which travels down a wire and collides with the cart in the square, setting off spectacular fireworks and explosions to the cheers of all. A big bang ensures a good harvest, and a parade in medieval costume follows. Tradition and ritual play a strong role in Italian culture, especially during celebrations such as Easter, the Christian holiday based on the pagan festival called Eostur-Monath. No matter what date Easter falls on, there are many ceremonies and culinary customs that are religiously upheld. Some traditions are regional, for instance the art of palm weaving, in which decorative crosses and other designs are created from the palms received on Palm Sunday. Easter Ceremonies in Italy At Vatican City there are a series of solemn events that culminate in Easter Sunday Mass. During the spring holy days that center around the vernal equinox there are also many other rites practiced throughout the country that have their roots in historic pagan rituals. In addition, the Monday following Easter is an official Italian holiday called la Pasquetta, so if traveling be prepared for another day of repose. Tredozio On Easter Monday the Palio dellUovo is a competition where eggs are the stars of the games. Merano The Corse Rusticane are conducted, fascinating races with a special breed of horses famous for their blonde manes ridden by youths wearing the local costumes of their towns. Before the race, the participants parade through the streets of the town followed by a band and folk dance groups. Barano dIschia On Easter Monday the Ndrezzata takes place- a dance which revives the fights against the Saracens. Carovigno On the Saturday before Easter is a procession dedicated to the Madonna del Belvedere during which the Nzeghe contest takes place: banners must be hurled as far as possible. Enna Religious rites dating back to the Spanish domination (fifteenth through seventeenth century) take place in this Sicilian town. On Good Friday, the different religious confraternities gather around the main church and over 2,000 friars wearing ancient costumes silently parade through the streets of the city. On Easter Sunday, the Paci ceremony takes place: the statue of the Virgin and that of Jesus Christ are first taken to the main square and then into the church where they stay for a week. Easter Dining In Italy, the expression Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi is frequently heard (Christmas with your family, Easter with your own choice of friends). Oftentimes, this implies sitting down to a dinner that starts with minestra di Pasqua, the traditional beginning of the Neapolitan Easter meal. Other classic Easter recipes include carciofi fritti (fried artichokes), a main course of either capretto o agnellino al forno (roasted goat or baby lamb) or capretto cacio e uova (kid stewed with cheese, peas, and eggs), and carciofi e patate soffritti, a delicious vegetable side dish of sautà ©ed artichokes with baby potatoes. A holiday meal in Italy would not be complete without a traditional dessert, and during Easter there are several. Italian children finish their dinner with a rich bread shaped like a crown and studded with colored Easter egg candies. La pastiera Napoletana, the classic Neapolitan grain pie, is a centuries–old dish with innumerable versions, each made according to a closely guarded family recipe. Another treat is the  Colomba cake, a sweet, eggy, yeasted bread (like panettone plus candied orange peel, minus the raisins, and topped with sugared and sliced almonds) shaped in one of the most recognizable symbols of Easter, the dove. The Colomba cake takes on this form precisely because  la colomba  in Italian means dove, the symbol of peace and an appropriate finish to Easter dinner. Uova di Pasqua Although Italians do not decorate hard–boiled eggs nor have chocolate bunnies or pastel marshmallow chicks, the biggest Easter displays in bars, pastry shops, supermarkets, and especially at chocolatiers are brightly wrapped  uova di Pasqua- chocolate Easter eggs- in sizes that range from 10 grams (1/3 ounce) to 8 kilos (nearly 18 pounds). Most of them are made of milk chocolate in a mid–range, 10–ounce size by industrial chocolate makers. Some producers distinguish between their chocolate eggs for children (sales numbers are a closely guarded secret, but the market for these standard quality eggs is said to be shrinking with Italys birthrate) and expensive adult versions. All except the tiniest eggs contain a surprise. Grown–ups often find their eggs contain little silver picture frames or gold–dipped costume jewelry. The very best eggs are handmade by artisans of chocolate, who offer the service of inserting a surprise supplied by the purchaser. Car keys, engagement rings, and watches are some of the high–end gifts that have been tucked into Italian chocolate eggs in Italy. Italian Easter Vocabulary List Click to hear the highlighted word spoken by a native speaker. lagnello- lambBuona Pasqua- Happy Easteril coniglietto- bunny rabbitla crocifissione- Crucifixionla pace- peacela Pasquetta- Easter Mondayla primavera- springla resurrezione- Resurrectionla settimana santa- Holy WeeklUltima Cena- Last Supperle uova- eggsVenerdà ¬ Santo- Holy Friday

Sampling Design Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sampling Design - Coursework Example Apart from the above, two other clusters were designed pertaining to the same periods for comparison. The population there consisted of registered nurses that graduated during or after the 2002 period and did not resort to practice before earning licenses rendered in United States. Here, the population for the 2004-05 periods was further focused to only the 15 states used for making the prior 2007-08 accessibility population sample (Brewer, Kovner and Yingrengreung 35). The analysis of the above stages reflect on the forming of certain clustered sets of population depending on changes in attributes and thus involves the incorporation of clustered sampling techniques (Kothari 65). Appropriateness of the Design The design earns appropriateness in that the study was based on understanding perceptual differences in the registered nursing population pertaining to the parameters of job satisfaction and desire to continue with the same profession owing to the emergence of recessionary job c limate. Registered Nursing samples pertaining to the two different periods were effectively chosen to draw meaningful comparison of turnover rates owing to development in the economic scenario of the region. Discussion of the Sample Design Used The sampling design identified to have been used pertaining to the case essentially indicates the use of clustered sampling method in that different clusters are generated from the larger population group of registered nurses. The first cluster involves selection of samples of registered nurses pertaining to the period ranging from 1st August to 31st July pertaining to 2004-5 so that they are the largest contributors of the turnover population surveyed during 2006. The second cluster focuses on the selection of registered nursing groups pertaining to the 2007-08 period. Herein the population set is selected from only 15 states that effectively contributed to the identification of newly registered nurses. The third and fourth cluster pertainin g to the periods ranging from 2004-2005 and 2007-2008 involved only such groups of registered nurses that have graduated during and after 2002 and did not commence practice outside United States before gaining the license. These two clusters were constructed for comparison purpose (Brewer, Kovner and Yingrengreung 35). Evaluation of Requirement for a Different Sampling Design The use of the clustered sampling technique pertaining to the case rendered earns significance for it helps in the creation of certain focused groups out of the larger population, thereby aiding in the effective accomplishment of the research objective. The clusters selected are found to be of a non-overlapping nature. Target Population The Target Population The target population essentially consisted of registered nurses belonging to two groups 2004-05 and 2007-08 that have earned registrations under the state licensing schemes during and after the 2002 period and also were such that did not start nursing prac tice before earning the required license. This involved the target population for it helped in the getting hold of registered nurses along two different periods that contributed to the understanding of changing perception levels of such nurses based on changes in the economic and employment environment of United States. The Accessible Population The accessible population pertaining to the selection of

The Amazonia Tribal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Amazonia Tribal - Essay Example They are totally unaware of the modern developments and the fast track life. The Yanomami tribe is the largest tribe among the known Amazonian tribes. Other tribes encompass Caboclos, Witoto, Manioc, Kayapo and many more.  They have varied culture and traditions. Caboclos are known to be skilled hunters as well as cooks. They are known to be highly intelligent as well as wise to reach to the solution to any problem.  Another tribe, Witoto, is known to eat the meat of people they kill in the battle and use the bones as souvenirs and to construct possessions. Witoto lives towards northwest basin of Amazon.  They are known to use various medicinal plants and build communal houses (Tribes).  The tribe members are very skilled and are capable of re-enacting animal sound. They use bows and arrows for hunting as well as for protection and war (Amazonian Tribe). Yanomami tribe does not possess immunity against most of the common diseases. The tribal community lives in Amazon basin at Venezuela and Brazil. The tribe is assumed to be the most primeval and also culturally intact community. They resemble the stone age tribes that dates around 8,000 years, this community is not known to discover wheel or metal. The tribe possess numbering system as well as perform a peculiar cremation of the dead. They cremate their dead, crush and drink their bones thinking that their dear ones are with them eternally. The tribe is known to be the most successful amongst the Amazon tribes. They form a culturo-linguistic group with the population of around 26,000 (Hands Around the World). They reside in a multifamily house and marriages take place inside the community between cross cousin as it is believed to have a strong family bonding. They build house in the form of concentric circle (Hands Around the World). Each tribal community follow their own culture and religion, their beliefs, social gatherings and religious rituals differ. The tribal women of Amazon Basin are not ashamed of themselves and do not wear clothes and cool themselves by bathing and swimming to escape the intense heat of Amazon rainforest. They maintain their personal hygiene (Women). In Kalapalo tribe, after childbirth the mother is secluded inside a wall keeping mother and child from the other family members and the outside world. Some Northwest Amazonian tribes are known to endow tough life for women. Men were given privilege of working from time to time while women are expected to work all the time, as a mother, as a house keeper and also to perform agricultural duties. According to Wiffen, men had leisure to relax when the job is over while on the other hand women do not enjoy the liberty. Women carry their child at their back and work. In many sense according to Wiffen, women come into view to be disobedient and defiant, they were respected and also hold influence (Amazonian Tribe). In Canela tribe, young girl is propelled into distinct relationships till she gets her first child an d then she is allowed to move with her enduring husband. The girls are trained to be very obedient to men, not only to the family or husband but to all the male community, moreover males have many wives and it is his wish whom he chooses to live with for that moment. Women are solely responsible for their children's upbringing, while father play little role in rearing of child. The children possess little childhood years and then they are set into the relationship to keep the cycle going (Amazonian Tribe).

The Story of Daniel Pearl Essay Example for Free

The Story of Daniel Pearl Essay The Story of Daniel Pearl as a journalist in Dubai was very tragic. Daniel Pearl was very brave of facing those people for a interview seeking and asking information into unknown territory that leads him to a very tragic death. In the movie narrated by Mariane his wife, it has been said that his body was cut into seven pcs. though that the video of Daniel Pearl being killed by the people who kidnapped him was not shown in the movie I can imagine how hard his experience being tortured and killed of the reason of probing information to a person who is on his own territory, the Muslims knows that he is part of the CIA or some spy of USA, besides of being a Jew I suppose that’s one of the unlucky part of his short journey in Dubai. With my own opinion, I think that Daniel Pearl should not pursue that interview, because in the first place he knows that the person he wanted to interview was a dangerous person and doesn’t want a person like him or a journalist like him that leads him to be kidnapped by supporters of Omar Sheikh, though I know that Daniel Pearl only wants to seek information about Omar Sheikh but he should think first about his safety of performing that interview. I believe that a journalist should not put his/her self or life into danger when he/she already knows that it is not safe to interview a specific group or person because it may lead to a misunderstanding and may cause a problem between the journalist and the interviewee. For me it is important to a journalist to make sure that the interviewee is harmful and knows what a journalist are capable of and especially their task that they just want to know and to write information to a specific matter, also for me a journalist should seek first or observe some of the information about the person or group he/she needs to communicate with regarding the issues about the interviewee. The goal of a journalist is to â€Å"tell the truth and nothing but the truth† but in the situation of Daniel Pearl he told that he is a Jew that is not pleasant to the Muslims that’s why he got kidnapped and murdered by them, but on the other side of being a journalist they should always state information that are real and complete but also they need to remember that they have to keep secret the sources of confidential information not only for the safety of the source but also their safety. In order for a journalist to be a reliable source of information a journalist should do his/her best to obtain information from all possible sources, to make sure it is complete, truthful and unbiased just like what Daniel Pearl did, he interviewed different people to gather information about the certain person before he undergo an interview to avoid future conflicts. I think Daniel Pearl should introduce himself in a different way that is appropriate to the interviewee and also he should approach the interviewee well in that way I think the murdering of him will be prevented. It doesnt matter that he was a Jew. The race that he was born doesnt dictate who you are, it’s the content of your character and who you are inside. He was a journalist because he wanted to put an end to this kind of foolishness, killing someone based on race can never be justified, Muslims should not be so cruel to the people that if they don’t like that person they will already kill the person. Its not because he was a Jew that many place some of the blame for his death on him. Its because he was a prominent Jew in the territory of the enemy looking for glory at the knowing risk of his own life. He should have been thinking of his wife and child, it is understood that he will be killed like that because of his being prominent that he is a Jew. Daniel was working for CIA and eventhough the athourities have warn him several times, he ignored. He was looking for glory. I think he is responsible for his death because he did not think of his safety of going there and not thinking of what might happen if the Muslims will kill him and that’s the most unfortunate thing that happened to him because he become careless about his identity he is very vogue about it, just like what Mariane told in the movie he doesn’t hide that he is Jew though he doesn’t also speak about it, but if someone ask him he will not hesitate to tell the truth about identity or religion. This movie does tell us something. It’s telling us about the dangers that a jounalists face in their line of duties. Not alot of people realize how dangerous it really is sometimes to go report some news stories. The Pakistanis didn’t kill Daniel Pearl for fun, they did it to pay Americans back for the suffering of their people, but did the Pakistani’s take off the suffering of their people by killing lots of people who’s trying to end their conflicts and issues? for me the answer is NO their just making it more complicated and worsen the problem, the Muslims should stop this horrifying killing of people just for their own beliefs, and to avoid this kind of situation a journalist should always know what is their limitations of probing information to avoid incidence like what happened to Daniel Pearl and to the other journalist they should always think first about their safety. Also a journalist should not take part in activities or organizations which could limit the independence of his/her thinking and endanger his/her professional integrity.

The Heart Of Darkness :: Essays Papers

The Heart Of Darkness The novel, Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad, is literally about Marlow’s journey into the Belgian Congo, but symbolically about the discovery of his heart and soul during his journey, only to find that it is consumed by darkness. He realizes that the man he admired and respected most, is really demonic and that he may be just like him. He is able to come to this realization however, before it takes the best of him. The main character of the story, Marlow, is a thirty-two year old English seaman who has been traveling all his life. All he really wants is to find some shred of goodness in the European domination of Africa. He finds his thoughts completely consumed by one man named Kurtz. Kurtz is a man in charge of the most successful ivory business in the Congo. He is the focus in the novel, in that he is the one whom the other characters react to. Marlow’s thoughts are so consumed by Kurtz, that he is built up to be much more of a man than he truly is. In turn, Marlow is setting himself up for a let down. He says at one point, â€Å"I seemed to see Kurtz for the first time...the lone white man turning his back suddenly on the headquarters, on relief, on thoughts of home...towards his empty and desolate station†(P.32). When Marlow reaches Kurtz’s station, he begins to become disillusioned. He begins to hear about, and even see, the acts that Kurtz is committing, and becomes afraid of him. He sees in Kurtz, what he could become, and wants nothing to do with it. He does not want people to know he has any type of relationship with him, and says in response to the Russian, â€Å"I suppose that it had not occurred to him that Mr. Kurtz was no idol of mine.† (P.59). It is at this point that he begins to discover the darkness in his heart. Towards the end of the story, right before Kurtz dies, Marlow looks at Kurtz, and says â€Å"I saw on that ivory face the expression of somber pride, of ruthless power, of craven terror-of an intense and hopeless despair.† (P.118), and then Kurtz screams, â€Å"The horror, the horror.† (P.118) and he dies. He is referring to what he sees inside himself. This is just what Marlow was afraid he was becoming, he looked deep inside himself, and saw Kurtz.

Attachment †Psychology Essay

Developmental Psychology Early Social Development: Attachment Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ An emotional bond between two people. It is a two-way  process that endures over time. It leads to certain  behaviours such as clinging and proximity-seeking and  serves the function of protecting the infant. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Primary attachment figure ï  ® The person who has formed the closest bond with a child,demonstrated by the intensity of the relationship. Usually  the biological mother, but other people can fulfil the role. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Learning theory ï  ® A group of explanations which explain behaviour in terms  of learning rather than any innate or higher order  tendencies. Mainly used by behaviourists who rather focus  their explanations purely on what behaviour they observe. Learning Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Classical Conditioning (Pavlov) Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – food ↓ Unconditioned Response (UR) – pleasure ↓ Neutral Stimulus (NS) – the feeder ↓ Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – food from a feeder ↓ Conditioned Response (CR) – pleasure/attachment Learning Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Operant Conditioning ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Reinforcement ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ When doing something results in a pleasant  consequence, the behaviour is more likely to be produced. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Punishment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ When doing something results in an unpleasant  consequence, the behaviour is unlikely to be produced. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Dollard and Miller (1950) explain attachment using operant conditioning: ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ When an infant is fed it reduces discomfort and increases pleasure, this serves as a reward and is the primary reinforcer. The person supplying the food is associated  with avoiding discomfort and is the source of reward which  becomes the secondary reinforcer. Attachment occurs  because the child seeks the person who supplies the  reward. Evaluating the Learning Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Strengths It can provide adequate explanations of how attachments form. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Behaviourists argue that since we are made up of the same building blocks of stimulus/response environments experiments done on animals are safe to generalize to human behaviour. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Weakness ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ It may be attention and responsiveness from the caregiver that is the primary reinforcer, not food. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Learning theory is largely based on studies with non-human animals. Human behaviour may be similar in many ways but learning theory does not consider higher order thinking and emotions that can influence behaviour. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Harlow (1959) demonstrated that it is not food but the level of contact and comfort the infant receives that increases attachment levels. The use of young rhesus monkeys were used to demonstrate this. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ 60 babies were studied in Glasgow and found that attachment was higher to the person who was most responsive and who interacted with them more (Schaffer and Emerson,1964). ï  ® ï  ® Cant explain the importance of sensitivity in attachment. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (1969) ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ ELEMENTS OF BOWLBY’S ATTACHMENT THEORY: ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Attachment is adaptive and innate ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Bowlby’s theory is an evolutionary theory because it sees attachment as a behaviour that adds to its survival and  ultimately its reproductive value. Having attachment  capabilities is an innate drive, similar to imprinting, that has long term benefits ensuring it stays close to its caregiver. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Background on the Theory of Evolution ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Adaptive behaviours are behaviours that increase the  likelihood of survival and reproduction. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Natural selection is the continuation of these adaptive traits within the animal to increase chances of survival. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Sexual selection is the ability to reproduce, not just survive. Adaptive genes that lead to possessing traits to assist in  reproduction increases sexual selection. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Sensitive Period ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ A biologically determined period of time during the second quarter of the first year is the most crucial period in which attachments can be made. Once missed then it is more difficult for a child to make attachments and demonstrate social difficulties. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Caregiving is adaptive ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Not only attachment but also caregiving is adaptively innate. Social releasers from the infant give signals to the caregiver (smiling, crying, etc) to take care of it. Attachment is the innate system in babies and caregiving is the innate system in adults. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Secure base ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Having a secure attachment provides a child with a secure base in which to explore the world from. It fosters independence, not dependence. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Monotropy and hierarchy ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Infants form a number of different attachments but has one particular bias towards a very special one called the primary attachment, this is called monotropy. Even with secondary attachments, this hierarchy of attachments recognizes the importance of a primary attachment figure (PAF). The PAF is one that responds most sensitively to the childs social releasers. Secondary attachments are important, without them, children tend to lack social skills. Bowlby’s Attachment Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Internal working model ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ A mental model of the world that enables individuals to predict and control their environment. The internal  working model based on attachment has several  consequences: ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ In the short-term it gives the child insight into the caregivers behaviour and enables the child to influence  the caregivers behaviour so that a true partnership can be formed. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ In the long-term it acts as a template for all future relationships because it generates expectations about  how people behave. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The continuity hypothesis ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be  emotionally secure, trusting and socially confident adults. Evaluating Attachment Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Strengths ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® Lorenz (1952) supports that imprinting is innate as the goslings imprinted on the first thing they saw moving, which was Lorenz. Research shows that once the sensitive period has passed and no attachments are formed, children display social difficulties with peers. If attachment and caregiving are an important biological function as Bowlby suggests then they would be found universally. Tronick et al (1992) studied an African tribe in Zaire and found despite tribal responsibility for raising kids a PAF is present. This is also evidence of monotropy. Schaffer and Emerson found that the more quickly a caregiver responded to a childs needs and the more interaction they had led to a stronger level of attachment. This interaction is important as it is not enough to have something to cuddle but to actually be cuddled back builds a stronger attachment. The Minnesota longitudinal study (2005) found that continuity between early attachment and later emotional/social behaviour. Infants classified as secure were later rated highest for social competence, less isolated, more empathetic and more popular. Evaluating Attachment Theory ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Weaknesses ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Multiple attachments, according to psychologists, are as equally important. There are no primary or secondary  attachments, all attachments are integrated into one single  working model. However, a review the research points to the  hierarchical model as being predominant (Prior and Glaser, ï  ® 2006). An alternative explanation to the continuity hypothesis exists, known as the temperament hypothesis. This is the belief that children form secure attachments simply because they have a more ‘easy’ temperament from birth, whereas more innately difficult children a more likely to form insecure attachments. The infants temperamental characteristics shapes a mothers level of responsiveness. Thomas and Chess (1977) identified infant personality types as easy, difficult and slow-to-warm-up. Belsky and Rovine (1987) found a link between physiological behaviours and later attachments types. The more calm and less anxious (aspects of temperament) an infant was the more likely they were to develop secure attachments. Types of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The Strange Situation (Ainsworth and Wittig, 1969) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU Aim: to see how infants behave under situations of stress  with the introduction of a stranger and the separation of  the parent. This tests stranger anxiety and separation  anxiety and also the infants willingness to explore with its secure base. Procedure: a 9Ãâ€"9 research room marked off into 16 squares  was used. The procedure consists of 8 episodes†¦ MEMORISE THEM!!! Data is collected by a group of observers that recorded  what the infant was doing every 15 seconds. Observer  noted the type of behaviour and level of intensity on a  scale of 1-7. Types of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The Strange Situation Findings: ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Ainsworth  combined data from several studies to  make 106 middle-class infants observed. Similarities and differences were found in the way  the infants behaved. In terms of similarities, it was  noted that episode 2 onwards exploratory  behaviour decreased while crying increased. Proximity-seeking and contact-maintaining  increased during separation and when stranger  appeared. Finally, contact-resisting and proximityavoiding behaviours rarely occurred towards the caregiver prior to separation. Types of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The Strange Situation Findings: ï  ® Ainsworth found differences in three main types of children. ï  ® ï  ® Insecure-avoidant: this is a style of attachment characterising those children that tend to avoid social interaction and intimacy with others. ï  ® ï  ® Secure attachment: this is a strong and contented attachment of an infant to his or her caregiver which develops as a result of sensitive responding by the caregiver to the infants needs. Insecure-resistant: this is a style of ambivalent attachment characterising  children who both seek and reject intimacy and social interaction. Main and Solomon (1986) re-analysed the strange situation video tapes and created a fourth attachment type: ï  ® Insecure-disorganised: these infants lack a coherent and consistent strategy for dealing with the stress of separation. Secure % of infants (Ainsworth, 1978) % of infants (Van Ijzendoorn et , 1999) Insecure avoidant Insecure resistant Insecure disorganised 66% 22% 12% XXX 62% 15% 9% 15% Evaluating Types of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Strengths ï  ® Ainsworth’s Strange Situation technique has given psychologists a means to understand and study attachment which can lead to new future findings. ï  ® Intervention strategies have been developed to strengthen caregiving behaviour and attachments types. The Circle of Security Project (Cooper et al, 2005) which teaches caregivers to recognise signs of distress showed a decrease in disordered caregiving and an increase in secure attachment types. It has proven to be experimentally valid as its construct validity has been demonstrated by other studies supporting the four types of attachments and its predictive validity has been demonstrated in correlations between early attachment types and later behaviours. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Its findings are also consistent which makes them reliable. Using interobserver reliablity methods, Ainsworth found almost perfect agreement at . 94 between the raters (1.0 is perfect). ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Weakness ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Or does it lack validity, because it is intended to measure the attachment type of an infant, BUT does it really simply measure the quality of a particular relationship? Main and Weston (1981) claim it is measuring one relationship instead of something innate within an individual. ï  ® Evaluating Types of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Effects of attachment types ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Bowlby’s continuity hypothesis would predict that a child’s behaviour later in life would be effected by specific attachment types they develop. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Prior and Glaser (2006) found that in later childhood, if as infants they developed a secure attachment type, they would  be less emotionally dependent and possess more  interpersonal harmony. Infants with the other three types  would be more aggressive, negative withdrawn in later  childhood. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ It would also effect you in your adult romantic lives as well. Hazen and Shaver (1987) conducted the ‘Love Quiz’ which  asked questions about early experiences and current love  experiences and found that there were characteristic  patterns of later romantic behaviour associated with each  early attachment type. Evaluating Types of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Factors that influence attachment type ï  ® Sensitivity ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Ainsworth developed the Maternal Sensitivity Scale to rate mothers’ behaviour such as sensitivity and insensitivity to infants signals. The scale found: Securely  attached infant Observed  Mothers bx ï  ® ï  ® Insecurely attached infant Avoidant infant Resistant infant  more sensitive,  cooperating Unresponsive to  crying less  affectionate More rejecting and  less attention  giving Preoccupied with  routine activities when  holding infant Maternal reflective functioning ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Some studies have shown low correlations between measures of sensitivity and strength of attachment. Slade et al (2005) found the ability to understand what someone else is thinking or feeling may be more important. Temperament ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ May play a role as previous research indicates, but it is unclear. Cultural Variations in Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ KNOW the definitions of culture, cultural variations and the difference between individualistic and collectivistic cultures (pg.45) ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Cross-cultural Similarities ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Ainsworth’s Uganda study (1967) ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Tronick et al (1992) study on the African tribe in Zaire ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Fox (1977) infants in Isreali kibbutz raised by  nurses when tested in the Strange Situation  appeared equally attached to both caregivers,  except in the reunion behaviour where they  showed greater attachment to their mothers. Cultural Variations in Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Cross-cultural Differences ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Grossman and Grossman (1991) found that German infants appear more insecurely attached rather than secure. This may be due to the different childrearing practices as German culture involves keeping some interpersonal distance from the parent and infant. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Takahashi (1990) used the Strange Situation on a group of 60 middle-class infants in Japan and found similar rates of secure attachment. However, the infants showed no evidence of insecure-avoidant and high rates of insecureresistance (32%). Different childrearing practices can explain the difference for in Japan the infants are rarely ever separated from their parents which is why they would be more distressed than their American counterparts. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Conclusions ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ These studies suggest that the strongest attachments are still formed with their mothers and that there are differences in attachment that can be related to differences in cultural attitudes. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Meta-analysis study by Van IJzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) examined over 2000 Strange Situation classification studies in 8 countries. They found the variation between countries and culture were small with secure attachment being the most common in all countries followed by insecure-avoidant except in Japan and Israel. Variations within cultures however were greater. In conclusion the findings appear to be similar to that found in the US and this supports the view that attachment is an innate and biological process. Also data collected on different subcultures should not be generalised to be representative of a particular culture. Criticisms of Research on Cultural Variations ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Culture bias ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® Rothbaum et al (2000) argued that attachment theory and  research is not relevant to other countries because it is rooted in American culture. For example, the sensitivity hypothesis reflects western ideas of autonomy whereas in Japan sensitivity is about promoting dependence. The continuity hypothesis states that  secure infant attachments create more competent adults, however, this ‘competence’ is defined in terms of individuation. The secure base hypothesis in the west explains secure attached infants as independent and confident exploring whereas in Japan they  promote dependence and the concept of amae and so this can  explain why insecure-resistant behaviours are more typical. Rothbaum concludes that psychologists should produce a set of indigenous theories that are explanations of attachment that are rooted in individual cultures with a small group of universal principles (infant need for protection) but mostly with childcare practices relating to cultural values. Rothbaum was challenged by Posada and Jacobs (2001) which shows that attachment theory does apply to most cultures. Criticisms of Research on Cultural Variations ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Criticisms of cross-cultural research ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Tests  of procedures used may not be equally valid  in the country and may make the culture appear  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœinferior’ or ‘abnormal’. This is an example of  imposed etic. This is when a research method is  used in one culture even thought it was designed to  be used in another (intelligence tests or observations). ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The group that was tested may not be  representative of the culture and yet researchers  might make generalisations about the whole culture  or even the whole country. Disruption of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Effects of Separation ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® Spitz and Wolf (1946) observed 100 children in an institution became severely depressed after a few months. Skeels and Dye (1939) found similar children scored lower on intelligence tests. Bifulo et al (1992) found that negative effects of deprivation may occur later in life. When 249 women who had lost their mothers before they were 17 were studied, it was found that they were twice as likely to develop depressive/anxiety disorders later in life. Robertsons (1967-73) made films observing the effects of separation in children: ï  ® ï  ® When given a high level of emotional care and similar structures to that of their home life, the children exhibited some signs of distress, however, slept well and did not reject their PAF when they were reunited. Some were even reluctant to part with the foster mother which is a sign of a good emotional bond. John, however, was in a nursery and not given such attention. He became withdrawn and gave up on proximity seeking bx. When he was reunited with his mother he rejected her for months and demonstrated outbursts of anger towards her. Disruption of Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Physical and Emotional Disruption ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ As the research evidence shows differences in the way physical and emotional attention is given can produce  negative effects in children. However, there are studies  that show these ill effects can be reversed. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Sigvardsson (1979) studied over 600 adopted children in Sweden and at the age of eleven, 26% of them were  classified as ‘problem children’. However in a follow up study, ten years later they were no worse off than the  average population. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ So when alternative emotional care is provided, ill effects of separation can be reversed. However, for some  children disruption of attachment leads to permanent  difficulties. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ To criticise the validity of the research consider that they are based on case studies. Weakness of case studies are  that they are based on generalisations and they depend on  objectivity of the observers and are prone to observer bias. Failure to Form Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Isolated children ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Privation is the lack of having any attachments due to the failure to develop such attachments early in life. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Genie ï  ® ï  ® The Czech twins ï  ® ï  ® Locked in a room by her father until she was 13. When discovered she could not stand erect or speak. She was disinterested in people and never recovered socially. Locked away by their step-mother until the age of 7. Were looked after by their sisters and by 14 had normal social and intellectual capabilities. By 20 they had above average intelligence and excellent social skills. Evaluation ï  ® Was unclear whether or not Genie was retarded at birth or if she ever formed an attachment with her mother. The Czech twins may have formed attachments to each other to compensate for complete lack of care. It is difficult to reach firm conclusions based on only these cases. Failure to Form Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Institutional Care ï  ® ï  ® Multiple studies show that the effects of institutionalisation within children is acute distress. Longitudinal studies have been conducted to see what long term effects are caused by institutionalisation. ï  ® ï  ® Hodges and Tizard (1989) followed a group of 65 British children from early life to adolescence. Children have been place in an institution from before they were 4 months old. Children have not yet formed attachments at this age. An early study found that 70% of the children were not able to care deeply for anyone. The children were assessed regularly up to the age of 16. Some children remained while most were adopted or restored with their original families. The restored children were less likely to develop an attachment with their mothers but the adopted ones were as closely attached to their adopted parents as the control group. However, both groups had problems with peers and showed signs of disinhibited attachment. These findings suggest that early privation had negative effects on the ability to form relationships even when given good subsequent emotional care. If failure to develop attachments after the sensitive period occur it can have an irreversible effect on emotional development. Failure to Form Attachment ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Effects of Privation and Institutionalisation ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Attachment disorder ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ This has been recognised as a psychiatric condition and has been included in the DSMIV. There are two kinds of attachment disorder, inhibited and disinhibited. Children with an attachment disorder have no PAF, cant interact or relate to others before the age of 5 and have experienced severe neglect or frequent changes in caregivers. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Poor parenting skills ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Harlow’s monkeys that were raised with surrogate mothers went on to become poor parents. Also, Quinton et al (1984) found similar findings when he compared 50 women who had been raised in institutions. When the women were in their 20’s the ex-institutionalised mothers were experiencing extreme difficulties acting as parents. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Deprivation dwarfism ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Physical evidence by Gardner (1972) that institutionalised children are physically underdeveloped, potentially caused by stress hormones. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Evaluation ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ In the study of Romanian children, one-third recovered well despite not establishing a PAF prior to the sensitive period. Therefore, privation alone cannot explain negative outcomes. This suggests that damage occurs when there are multiple risk factors (Turner and Lloyd, 1995). ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Not sure if the children failed to form attachments early in life. Maybe they did and the problems they experienced later were more related to rejection. Impact of Day Care ï  ® ï  ® Day Care – the form of temporary care not given by the family or someone well known to the child and usually outside of the home. Social development – the aspect of a child’s growth concerned with the development of sociability, where the child learns to relate to others and with the process of socialisation, the child learns social skills appropriate to the society. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Negative effects on social development ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Meta-analysis from findings of 88 studies supports Bowlby’s research that prolonged separation from the PAF leads to maladjustment. Violata and Russell (1994) concluded that regular day care for more than 20 hrs a week had an unmistakable negative effect on socio-emotional development, behaviour and attachment of young children. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ NICHD in USA conducted a longitudinal study of over 1000 children. Parents were interviewed regarding the effects of regular day care. The study showed  that the more time a child spent in day care, regardless of quality, the adults rated them as more disobedient and aggressive (NICHD, 2003). The children in day care were 3 times more likely to demonstrate behavioural problems than children that were cared by their mothers. Melhuish (2004) found evidence that children with high levels of day care in the first two years of development had elevated risks of developing anti-social behaviours. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The Minnesota longitudinal study demonstrated the more securely attached infants are the more popular with peers they become. So therefore, the more insecure an infant, more peer related problems could be expected. Belsky and Rovine (1988) assessed attachment in children in day care and found that were more likely to be insecurely attached compared to children at home. Impact of Day Care ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Positive effects on social development ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® Good day care provides plenty of social stimulation, whereas, children living at home may lack social interactions. Brown and Harris (1978) found depressed mothers contributed  their low moods to being isolated at home with children. Depressed mothers are likely to form insecure attachments with their children which would have a negative effect on their children. Therefore, the independence gained with having a child in day care is a way to prevent this. Clarke-Stewart et al (1994) studied 150 children and found they were consistently more compliant and independent. The EPPE followed 3000 children in pre-schools and found increased sociability (Sylvia et al, 2003). Day care exposes children to their peers thus enabling them to develop social strategies (negotiate and make friends). Field (1991) found a positive correlation between the amount of time in day care and the number of friends children have once they enter school. Also, those that started day care before 6 months were more sociable than those that started later. Evaluating Research on Day Care ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Weaknesses of research on day care ï  ® When evaluating the research, one must consider the circumstances under which one can find positive or negative outcomes. ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® ï  ® Prodromidis (1995) found no correlation between Swedish children in day care and aggression. Freidman from NICHD explains the aggression study actually shows that day care children may be more aggressive than non-day care, but still 83% of children in day care between 10 -30 hours a week show no signs of aggression. Second important finding from the NICHD research is that the mothers sensitivity to the child, higher maternal education and income all play a more important role in decreased behavioural problems than the amount of time in day care. Finally, the findings are not causal. The data cannot show that day care caused aggression only that there is a link between the two. Therefore, the data suggests that childrens development is more strongly affected by factors at home than those in day care (Belsky et al, 2007). Evaluating Research on Day Care ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Weaknesses of Research on Day Care ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Cannot apply a cause relating to peer relations as  well, only a link. For example, shy and unsociable children have mothers that are shy and  unsociable, therefore, its possible that more  outgoing parents/children that go to day care. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ A lot of research supports the idea that day care  alone has no direct effect on development and  that there are other factors involved. Gregg et al  (2005) analysed findings from the Children of the  90’s study and concluded that for the majority of  children, maternal employment in their first 3  years of life had no adverse effects on behaviour. Evaluating Research on Day Care ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Mediating Factors ï  ® Quality of Care ï  ® ï  ® Individual Differences ï  ® ï  ® As the quality of care decreases it is expected that the attachment type will become poorer. NICHD study (1997) found that low-quality care was associated with poor social development. As parents have different interests in their child, day care staff are less invested and therefore provide a different kind of attention. This is reflected in Howes and Hamilton (1992) findings  that secure attachments  occurred in only 50% of day care staff but 70% in mothers. The NICHD study found the more secure a child’s attachment level is the better they cope with time spent in day care. However, another study showed that insecure children coped better than secure children (showed more aggressive bx) in day care. Child’s age and number of hours ï  ® ï  ® Gregg et al (2005) found that negative effects were more likely to be found in children starting day care before 18 months of age. However, the magnitude of these effects was small. Clarke-Stewart et al (1994) found no difference in attachment between spending a lot of time in day care (more than 30 hours) with those that spend a little time (less than 10 hours). Implications of Research into Attachment and Day care ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Attachment Research ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Attachment research has shown that when separation occurs, negative effects of this separation can be avoided if substitute emotional care can be provided and links to the PAF are made available. This research has changed the way hospitals handle visiting arrangements and the way institutional care is provided. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ A second implication is the way the adoptions process is managed allowing babies to be adopted earlier strengthening child/parent attachments (Singer, 1985). ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Another implication is the improvement of parenting skills, ie, Circle of Security, which improves infant/mother relationships. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Finally, attachment research has been used to improve day care quality focusing on the importance of secondary attachment figures. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Day Care Research ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ As research shows, high quality care leads to positive outcomes. What is highquality care? ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Low child-staff ratios – 3:1 is ideal for sensitive care to be given ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Minimal staff turnover – allows for consistent care and decreases anxiety ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Sensitive emotional care – only 23% of carers demonstrated highly sensitive care, 50% was moderate care and 20% were emotionally detached. ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ Qualified staff – qualified managers lead to better social development ï  ®Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ To ensure high-quality care, legal standards are implemented relating to staff ratio to age of the child, minimum qualifications of staff, Ofsted inspections and finally the sure Start programme.

Maalouf – Leo Africanus

Amin Maalouf’s novel Leo Africanus, a fictionalized memoir by an actual sixteenth-century Muslim adventurer, is an often-interesting account of life during the turbulent end of the Middle Ages, told from the point of view of a man who survived his life’s ample turmoil and bridged conflicting cultures without wholly belonging to any. The narrator of this work, a traveler and author known in his lifetime as Jean-Leon de Medici or Leo Africanus, was born in 1488 as Hasan al-Wazzan, son of a prominent Muslim family in Granada, Spain.   At the time, southern Spain’s Andalusia region (of which Granada was its chief city) was Muslim-dominated, with Catholics, Muslims, and Jews alike coexisting in a cosmopolitan, relatively tolerant atmosphere.   Maalouf depicts Granada as an intriguing, exotic, tolerant place for its time, despite its corrupt rulers and ultimate weakness before the invading armies of Aragon and Castile. Shortly after his birth, Spanish forces conquered Granada and soon started persecuting all non-Christians, forcing them to convert to Catholicism or flee, depriving them of their wealth in either case.   Though European history depicts Spain’s liberation from Muslim rule as a glorious event, it was a tragic blow for the Muslims who had lived there for centuries and built a prosperous, learned society.   As his uncle Khali, a wealthy diplomat, laments, â€Å"See how the people . . . have been forced into slavery after their surrender!   See how the Inquisition has raised pyres for the Jews . . . [and] for the Muslims as well!   How can we stop this, except by resistance, mobilization, and jihad?†Ã‚   (Maalouf, 1988, p. 25)   Though the word â€Å"jihad† today carries ominous meanings for Westerners, in this context it meant self-defense in the face of an intolerant enemy. The Spanish appear in a distinctly negative light, as bloodthirsty, vindictive conquerors who used the Inquisition to crush their enemies, real or perceived.   Maalouf offers in interesting inversion of Western opinion here, and he shows post-1492 Granada as a dark, dangerous place whose intellectual life is crushed.   Also, while modern readers think of Jews and Muslims as mortal enemies, Maalouf demonstrates that they enjoyed peaceful relations in medieval Andalusia, and Leo laments the Spanish edict mandating â€Å"the ‘formal termination of all relations between Christians and Jews, which can only be accomplished by the expulsion of all the Jews from our kingdom’† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 59). His uncle Khali assumes a dominant role in Leo’s life, helping educate him and, more importantly, taking him along on his 1504 diplomatic mission to Timbuktu, then an important Muslim cultural and commercial center in sub-Saharan West Africa.   Even as a teenager, he demonstrates keen insights to the world around him, particularly to the appearances, peoples, and attributes of the cities he visits en route.   For example, he describes Ain al-Asnam, an ancient city destroyed during Islam’s spread, as â€Å"sole witness of the age of ignorance† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 155), implying that despite its former glories, it symbolizes the dark era before Islam spread its enlightened message. In addition, he reveals a gift for vivid descriptive prose when he says of Sijilmassa, a once-thriving city on the road to Timbuktu: â€Å"Of its walls, once so high, only a few sections remain, half-ruined, and covered with grass and moss.   Of its population, there remain only various hostile clans . . . [who] seem merciless toward each other [and] deserve their fate† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 157).   Though he is not intolerant of peoples different from himself, he also does not shy from passing judgments on unfortunate places, though his own life is full of misfortunes; he accepts fate’s fickle nature, which perhaps sustains him through his difficulties. His uncle dies en route back to Fez and Leo returns home to work in a hospice and marry his cousin Fatima, who is far less pleasing than Hiba, the slave girl who becomes his longtime mistress (similar to Warda, the servant whom his father chose over his wife, Leo’s mother).   He also tries to save his sister Mariam from the leper colony, where an influential suitor, a highway robber named the Zarwali, had had her banished for refusing to marry him. One sees by this point that women have a difficult position in Muslim society; denied many rights, they live tightly circumscribed lives and are subject to male commands and whims at all times.   Maalouf does not impose modern sensibilities here; he remains within the character of the times and accepts this lack of freedom as Muslims of the time did, and Leo laments his sister’s fate less because she lacks freedom than because her punishment was unduly cruel. As he enters adulthood, his life continues a pattern of good fortune followed by personal or financial disasters from which he always recovers and rebuilds.   Leo becomes a successful merchant in Fez and fathers a daughter with Fatima, but when his longtime friend Harun (who has married his unfortunate sister Mariam to liberate her from the leper colony) causes the Zarwali’s death, Leo is expelled from Fez for his complicity and loses his fortune on the road to a band of thieves.   He finds some relief in Hiba’s native village, where her former peers buy her back from Leo, restoring some of his wealth but costing him the love of his life. He accepts these reversals surprisingly well by modern standards, but Maalouf implies that the late medieval/early modern world was a cruel and fickle place, with few certainties in life other than misfortune.   A common theme throughout the book is that such events are simply God’s will; when he loses both his fortune and Hiba, Leo laments, â€Å"Such is the judgment of the Most High!† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 214).   His faith does not waver throughout the story, even when Christians abduct, enslave, and force him to become a Catholic. Leo’s destiny seems to be the roads he travels throughout his adult life; his form of geography and travelogue seem to be his calling in life, and he demonstrates a keen grasp of how to describe people and places.   His travels take him throughout northern, western, and central Africa, and he states without obvious boasting, â€Å"When our geographers of old spoke of the land of the Blacks, they only mentioned Ghana and the oases of the Libyan desert. . . . I myself, who am only the last of the travellers, know the names of sixty black kingdoms . . . from the Niger to the Nile† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 216).   Such knowledge would later serve him well. He becomes involved with the era’s political intrigues when he meets and marries Nur, the widow of the Ottoman ruler’s nephew.   While Leo supports the Turks in the vain hope that they will liberate Andalusia from the Spanish and make it safe for Muslims again, Nur opposes it and fears that Turkish agents will murder her infant son to prevent him from assuming the throne.   Reflecting on the discord within his own faith, Leo asks, â€Å"Is it not in the blade of a knife brandished by the Friend of God above a pyre that the revealed religions meet?†Ã‚   (Maalouf, 1988, p. 245)   He longs for the tolerance and unity of his youth in Granada, hence his somewhat naà ¯ve support for the Ottoman Empire, of which he says, â€Å"the turbans of the Turks and the skull caps of the Christians and Jews mingle without hatred or resentment† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 258). His destiny as a geographer and scholar is realized when Sicilian pirates kidnap him in Tunisia and present him to Pope Leo X as a slave.   As with the rest of his life, this misfortune leads to another lucky phase, as the pontiff, impressed with Leo’s intellect, employs him as a protà ©gà ©.   Forcing him to become a Christian and renaming him John-Leo de Medici (for the pope and the family that takes an interest in him), the pope employs him as a teacher of Arabic while tutoring him in European languages, so that he can produce a volume of his travels, Description of Africa.   He earns his freedom but becomes embroiled in papal intrigues, so he must flee yet again – this time for Tunisia, where he can again be a Muslim.   In closing, he advises the reader to be himself in the face of adversity, saying, â€Å"Muslim, Jew or Christian, they must take you as you are, or lose you† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 360).   Though he has kept his Muslim faith inwardly i ntact, Leo’s ability to adapt has ironically saved and sustained him. The book illustrates the uncertainty of life in the pre-modern era, since peaks and valleys of instability mark Leo’s life from the beginning.   His family loses its fortune and is driven from Granada by conquering Spanish Christians, who then launch a wave of intolerance against Jews and Muslims, forcing them to either become Catholic or leave.   In addition, he loses his fortune to thieves, his wife Fatima dies young, he remarries Nur (who leaves him after his abduction), and he is enslaved by Christian pirates in the Mediterranean. He handles it philosophically, accepting the fact that his life is destined to be itinerant, turbulent, and beyond his ability to control.   As he tells Nur, â€Å"Between the Andalus which I left and the Paradise which is promised to me life is only a crossing.   I go nowhere, I desire nothing I cling to nothing, I have faith in my passion for living . . . as well as in Providence† (Maalouf, 1988, p. 261). Overall, Leo Africanus is a solid effort to take the modern reader into the mind of an educated, influential Muslim living at an unstable time in European history.   Maalouf does not inject modern sensibilities into his narrative but depicts the Muslim culture of the times fairly, without a pro-Western bias.   In addition, he strives for authenticity by using a sort of formal, occasionally wordy prose that one assumes is based on the actual writing and conversational style of Leo Africanus’ times.   In the process of producing this interesting historical figure’s tale, Maalouf also makes clear one of the chief realities of this era in history – that life is uncertain and fickle, and that the intelligent, resourceful, and adaptable are best suited to endure these shifts of fortune. REFERENCES Maalouf, A. (1988).   Leo Africanus.   Chicago: New Amsterdam Books. Maalouf – Leo Africanus Amin Maalouf’s novel Leo Africanus is a novel based on an actual sixteenth-century Spanish-born Muslim geographer and writer born under the name Hasan al-Wazzan.   The author gives the reader clear insights into the conflicts between the Muslim world (whose influence in Europe was then waning) and that of Christianity (which reasserted control over his native Spain and to which he became a somewhat unwilling servant). The theme of the title character’s life is conflict and misfortune, which seem to plague him from early childhood.   Born in 1488 to a rich Muslim family in Granada, Spain, he witnesses as a small child the Catholic victory over the ruling but weakened Muslim elites, followed by a wave of vengeance and intolerance against not only Muslims but also the Jews, who have also lived peacefully in Spain with Christians for centuries.   Hasan (the name he uses throughout his life, except when in service to the Pope) demonstrates some of this by mentioning how members of the different religions interact and how some cultural exchange occurs. For example, when discussing dates, he frequently refers to Christian and Muslim holidays in tandem, showing their mutual acceptance: â€Å"It all happened on the ninth day of the holy month of Ramadan, or, rather . . . on St. John’s Day, the twenty-fourth of June, since Mihrajan was celebrated not in accordance with the Muslim year but following the Christian calendar† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 63). Here, Maalouf makes clear that Islam was then the much more tolerant religion, accepting aspects of Judaism and Christianity that the Catholic Church refused to allow.   Because Christianity and Islam were fighting for territory, intolerance was an instrument of control and oppression, and the victorious Spaniards had to qualms about driving out or murdering Jews and Muslims who refused to accept forced conversions to Christianity. His family, deprived of its wealth, flees for the North African city of Fez, where they live as refugees under the care of his kindly uncle, who provides for his education.   As he comes of age, he shows a remarkable ability to observe and understand the peoples and places he encounters – a gift he sharpens when, as a teenager, he accompanies his rich, well-connected uncle on a diplomatic excursion to Timbuktu. For example, he writes of Sijilmassa, a once-thriving city on the road to Timbuktu: â€Å"Of its walls, once so high, only a few sections remain, half-ruined, and covered with grass and moss.   Of its population, there remain only various hostile clans . . . [who] seem merciless toward each other [and] deserve their fate† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 157).   Though he is not intolerant of peoples different from himself, he also does not shy from passing judgments on unfortunate or blighted places, though his own life is full of misfortunes; he accepts fate’s fickle nature, which perhaps sustains him through his difficulties. Hasan’s adult life is generally unstable and rife with misfortune, which seems to be the norm in a world where little other than hard luck is guaranteed.   After his uncle dies, he returns to Fez to work in a hospice for the sick and insane, marries a rather plain cousin (despite his long relationship with Hiba, a slave mistress), later becomes a prosperous merchant, and seems to live a somewhat conventional life.   However, he is not destined to enjoy a stable, uneventful life. When he starts his business career, his mother makes a prediction that seems to foreshadow the direction of his life: â€Å"Many men discover the whole world while seeking only to make their fortune.   But as for you, my son, you will stumble on your treasure as you seek to discover the world† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 187).   Indeed, fate – so strong a presence in the novel that it almost seems like a character – intervenes and his life is again turbulent.   When he becomes embroiled in his childhood friend (and brother-in-law) Harun’s plot to avenge his sister Mariam’s confinement to a leper colony, the authorities expel Hasan from Fez and thieves on the road rob him of his fortune.   In addition, he is forced to sacrifice his mistress, Hiba, in order to regain some of his riches. However, his destiny is to discover the world, which indeed is why modern readers even know of his existence.   Always astute and insightful, Hasan compiles his observations during his many travels, forming the basis for his lasting renown as an early geographer and expert on sub-Saharan Africa.   He travels throughout the continent’s northern and central regions and, when speaking of other writers’ ignorance of Africa, states, â€Å"I myself, who am only the last of the travellers, know the names of sixty black kingdoms . . . from the Niger to the Nile.   Some have never appeared in any book, but I would not be telling the truth if I would claim to have discovered them myself, since I only followed the ordinary route of the caravans† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 216). He moves to Cairo (then under Ottoman Turkish rule) to restart his often-disrupted life, commenting that â€Å"I was suddenly certain that after the tempest which had destroyed my fortune a new life was awaiting me in this land of Egypt, a life of passion, danger and honour† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 218).   Here, he again finds himself on the wrong side of destiny when he marries into the Turkish sultan’s family and supports them in their political maneuverings, in the vain hope that they will retake Granada in the name of Islam. He dreams his entire life of his birthplace and the words of a visiting delegation from the sultan foster the naà ¯ve faith that he can return: â€Å"A great Muslim empire is in the process of coming to life in the East, and we in the West should stretch out our hand to it.   Until now, we have been subjected to the law of the unbelievers† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 257).   However, this scheme also goes awry and he is enslaved by Italian pirates, who give him to Pope Leo X. This phase of Hasan’s life is a strange twist of fate, in which apparent tragedy turns into great luck.   The pontiff, seeing that the learned, sophisticated Hasan is no ordinary captive, employs him as a tutor of Arabic and requires him to learn Latin, Turkish, and lessons in the Christian faith.   Hasan deems this â€Å"a refined form of forced labour . . . [and] proof of [the Pope’s] own enthusiastic interest in me† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 294). The end result of this gentle captivity is Description of Africa, a book describing his many travels in a continent with which Europeans were still largely unfamiliar.   He wins his freedom but again finds himself on the wrong side of a larger political conflict (this time within the Catholic Church), so he escapes Rome for Tunisia, where he can openly practice Islam again.   In closing, he advises the reader to be himself in the face of adversity, saying, â€Å"Wherever you are, some will want to ask questions about your skin or your prayers.   Beware of gratifying their instincts . . . beware of bending before the multitude!† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 360).   Though he has kept his Muslim faith inwardly intact, his ability to adapt and â€Å"go with the flow† preserves him. Without dwelling on the point, Maalouf makes clear to the reader that in this unstable, uncertain medieval world, Fate plays an exceptionally strong role in everyday life.   Indeed, Hasan witnesses plenty of calamity in his life; his birthplace is seized and made repressive by Spanish Catholics; he and his family see their wealth rise and vanish repeatedly; he marries twice and loses both wives (the first dies young, while the second abandons him after his enslavement); and he is forced to seek his fortunes elsewhere several times in his life. He accepts the fact that he is meant to live on the move and takes little for granted, seemingly aware that his fortunes can be reversed at any time (and frequently are).   However, he never becomes embittered; he accepts his fate but laments, â€Å"Such is the judgment of the Most High† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 214).   His faith does not waver throughout the story, and even when Christians abduct him and force his conversion to Catholicism, he follows but keeps his innermost religious beliefs to himself.   He excels as a chameleon and thus survives. His second wife comments on his tendency to travel and disrupt his own life, asking, â€Å"What substance are you made of that you accept the loss of one town after another, one homeland after another, one woman after another, without ever fighting, without ever regretting, without ever looking back?†Ã‚   † (Maalouf, 1989, p. 261).   He responds by telling her that â€Å"life is only a crossing. I go nowhere, I desire nothing I cling to nothing, I have faith in my passion for living, in my instinct to search for happiness, as well as in Providence† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 261).   Indeed, in this exchange, Maalouf presents the reader with the essence of Hasan’s character.   He is well aware of life’s transience and thus is passionate only about his religion; though he seeks wealth and happiness, he wastes little time mourning the loss of either and looks ahead to â€Å"the final Place where no man is a stranger before the face of the Creator† (Maalouf, 1989, p. 360). Leo Africanus is more than simply a fictionalized memoir.   It is a classic fish-out-of-water story, illustrating how this educated, well-connected Muslim merchant, traveler, and scholar finds reverses and radical changes in his life at several turns but adapts to each.   In addition, it demonstrates how people of that era were very much at Fate’s mercy; little could be taken for granted in such unstable times, but the narrator never loses faith in the â€Å"Most High,† the God to whom he turns for sustenance. In somewhat formal prose that one suspects was the norm for educated people of that era, Maalouf does not impose a modern viewpoint but offers a fair, compassionate, historically-aware portrayal of both Muslim society and one of the more unusual figures within it.   The story of Hasan al-Wazzan is, more than anything else, the tale of an accomplished scholar and a consummate survivor who never forgot who he was, the culture that produced him, or the deity that showed him mercy amidst the world’s turbulence. REFERENCES Maalouf, A. (1989).   Leo Africanus.   Chicago: New Amsterdam Books.

A Small Price to Pay essays

A Small Price to Pay essays Similar to my experience with stricter airport security rules, the United States Senate has approved of the creation of a massive Department of Homeland Security that will transform the way the federal government responds to emerging terrorist threats. Many Americans have argued against the creation of this department saying that it will take away too many freedoms. I ask these people, What good are these freedoms if terrorists wipe you out before you can enjoy them? Although many fear that the new laws created since 9/11 will transform our nation into a police state, the new laws exchange a minimal amount of freedom for vital security against terrorism. Let us begin with what the Homeland Security Act is and how it can benefit Americans. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th have changed United States operations, attitudes, and priorities, the government has created the Homeland Security Act. The four main divisions of this act are the Border and Transportation Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures, and Information Analysis and Infrastructure protests. Each division works to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduces America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimizes the damage and recovers from attacks that do occur. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, sums up the effect the act will have. It gives us the structure that we need in order to implement the national strategy and will bring together everyone under the same roof, working toward the same goal and pushing in the same direction. However, each division of the act will limit freedoms and privacy that Americans enjoy. For example, the Border and Transportation Security will subject Americans riding in cars crossing the state or country border subject to thorough inspections of their vehicles, yet this is a small price to pay for security. ...