Islam The Straight Path Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Islam The Straight Path Essay, Research Paper Islam The Straight Path An rating of the book by John L. Esposito: Islam The Straight Path. In this book, Esposito provides a compendious, up-to-date study of the Islamic experience, an debut to the religion, belief, and pattern of Islam from its beginnings to its modern-day revival. He traces the outgrowth and development of this dynamic religion and its impact on universe history and political relations. He discusses the formation of Islamic belief and pattern ( jurisprudence, divinity, doctrine, and mysticism ) , chronicling the battle of Muslims to specify and adhere to their Islamic manner of life. Equally of import is the indispensable information Esposito provides on the modern-day universe of Islam, from Muslim responses to the challenges of colonialism and modernisation to the reaffirmation of Islam in political relations and society. This introductory book in the instruction of Islam and Islamic manner of life by Esposito can be categorized in three different subdivisions with assorted sub-tittles. We will write a custom essay sample on Islam The Straight Path Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page First subdivision dressed ores on structural elements of Islam that includes Messenger and the Message ; that are Muhammad and the Holy Koran. Second subdivision is about The outgrowth of Islamic individuality, as the Muslim Community, which includes the belief and the pattern of the faith. And eventually the modern Interpretations of Islam. Esposito introduces three constructs ; in the first three chapters he explains what Islam is. I believe that he did an first-class occupation in showing pre-Islamic clip for Arabia and its encompassing part. But I besides believe that concentrating on Muhammad # 8217 ; s ( PBUH ) life has small relevant to Islam. Because Islam is based chiefly on the completion message of God to the World. I believe if a non-Muslim reader attempt were to understand Islam through this book he or she would compare it to the construct of Jesus, or David the Texan cult leader, and many others. I found that Esposito guides its readers to a clear apprehension of Muslims and non-Muslim prospective. However, he is a manager of centre for Muslim-Christian apprehension. Esposito has emphasized on the sanctum Quran, Gods message and the courier. I besides believe that he has introduced a clear guideline for Muslims and their pattern. Puting out their Torahs, beliefs, attitudes, values, and other spiritual duties. I besides found that Esposito writes with good academic purposes and composing on Islam from a western position. Esposito describes the worlds of the Muslim universe in their battle to specify their societal, political, and economical individuality. Although, he points that many of these aspirations are kept short due to miss of strong and faithful governments in the Muslim universe. As Esposito, introduces the religion, belief, and the pattern of Islam from pre-historic times one can clearly see the spiritual events and the battle of a faith through clip. As on page 31, Esposito says, # 8221 ; Muslims throughout the centuries, the message of the Koran and the illustrations of the Prophet # 8221 ; are the indispensable edifice axis of Muslim life. He besides e mphasizes on the importance of Islam history and civilisation, because he believes that they are the † record of that battle to construe and to follow the Straight Path.† ( Esposito 31:1998 ) Esposito besides, introduces the thought of Modernism, that Islamic times have non merely merely brought faith entirely but besides economic and military adversities to the West, as he puts it, # 8220 ; dispute to western engineering # 8221 ; . The impact of western imperialism has besides impacted the Islamic universe. As the book evolves, he talks about Modern states ; secular, Muslim and Islamic. Giving illustrations, such as Turkey being in the layman sector, Iran as the Islamic, and eventually the Muslim sector of modern states including Jordan and Egypt. Coming to an terminal at the Muslims of Western Europe, the presence of Muslims in Europe is non a new force, but a coevals of besieging and conquer. Over the old ages Ottomans and other missionaries have put forward their thought of Islam in many parts of Europe, including Bosnia and Romania. The Importance of Understanding Muslims and Islam: Moslems and Islam are two related footings, at the same clip different in its application. Let us first talk about the importance of understanding the term Muslims. Moslems are people who belong to the faith Islam. Muslims could move in assorted ways, showing their actions otherwise, a Muslim from India or South Africa. Another good illustration of a Muslim position would be, the public presentation of their political and sect actions. For illustration, Saidi Qutb of Egypt believed the West is corrupt in their actions and he has different position of the West. The other illustration would be Saudi Arabia # 8217 ; s credence of United States Forces to set down in the holy topographic point of Islam and welcoming the West. Our 2nd inquiry trades with the apprehension of Islam. The message that this faith brings to the universe is of import to understand that Islam claims the holy message of God, a force that has brought a completion to the Hagiographas of the three sanctum books of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Islam is a faith that has brought peace, enlightenment, and integrity to the faithful. I feel that this book could steer Muslims and non-Muslims in organizing clear positions on specific Islamic spiritual issues. In decision, throughout the book # 8220 ; Islam the Straight Path # 8221 ; , many apprehensions come about by looking at the many battles of any peculiar community. For the intent of this book reappraisal, I went through the book to hold on an apprehension of the rubric # 8220 ; The Straight Path # 8221 ; . For many centuries Muslims around the universe have experienced the transmutation of their society. The of import forces that build Islam and Muslims together are the spiritual life, religion, beliefs and patterns. Today Muslims around the universe face many challenges of leaders that build the community whether it is a secular or an Muslim state. As illustrations given earlier about modernisation which includes states such as Turkey and on the other side of the spectrum the pattern of Islamic Shariah. As a concluding note, my chief aim from this book reappraisal is to see Islam from the oculus of Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.

Dress for Success to Excel in Medicine

Dress for Success to Excel in Medicine Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.You’ve likely heard this advice before–when you put your best self forward, people around you will treat you with professionalism and respect.  This philosophy is especially true for health care professionals, and to understand why, you can take it one step further: Dress to be the medical professional you’d want in your time of need.Think about it: people turn to you for guidance and knowledge in their darkest hours. They need to feel that you are pulled together and ready to help in when they need it most.  Patients don’t know or care that you’re coming in on a Saturday, fresh from a day at the park with your family. It doesn’t matter to the parents of a sick child that today is your last day on call before a vacation. They just want and need a staff of professionals to put them at ease–just like you would if you were in their shoes.Can you give solid medical advice in jeans and a flannel shirt? Of course. But a pulled-together image and presentation helps convey a sense of authority people need when they put their lives and the lives of their loved ones in your hands.Casual Fridays Don’t Have a Place in MedicineRead More at Kevin MD–

Clinical Leadership Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Clinical Leadership - Outline Example Heart problems are usually chronic in nature and difficult to manage, which makes it one of the biggest reason for hospital admissions involving patients above the age of sixty five years (Rocchiccioli & Tilbury, 2012: p21). As a clinical leader, it is important to develop new ways that help the cardiac patients manage their ailments through management of teamwork and motivating healthcare staff to care for the patients. As a nursing leader in this area of practice, it is one’s responsibility to manage nursing administration. Inadequate manpower due to the round-the-clock nature of cardiac patient care results in lack of adequate leave for the nurses, which results in conflict and lack of motivation. In cases where the cardiac department is preparing for change involving the use of bedside reporting, it is important to consider decision making skills, interpersonal skills, and conflict resolution as a leader (Rocchiccioli & Tilbury, 2012: p22). It is important to be politically aware, especially since political factors influence the environment in which the clinical leader will operate in making the decision (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p32). In this case, being aware of legislation concerning annual leave is important. Political awareness enhances the ability to influence multi-level policy making, as well as enabling the leader to explain to the staff about the changes they are witnessing. In clinical practice areas that require as much effort as cardiac care, it is important to ensure that the staff is motivated to provide quality care. Motivation will enable the team members to enjoy their challenges, initiate optimism, and passionately go about their work (Jasper & Jumaa, 2012: p33). Motivating the entire staff to work as a team is a great challenge. Transformational leadership involves the motivation and inspiration of nurses in the cardiac

Why All the Management Needs to Have a Strong Strategic Preparation Research Paper

Why All the Management Needs to Have a Strong Strategic Preparation - Research Paper Example There is one constituent of an organisation’s risk management structure that includes every little aspect of a company that is Operational Risk Management. Operational risk is so important that it can demolish a business, via fiscal loss, or operating capacity or loss of repute. However, there are still some organisations where operational risk management is not taken as an important issue as it should be seen. (Kotter, 2007) The possibility of loss due to insufficient or unsuccessful internal practices, people and operations or because of exterior events is known as Operational risk. Operational risks also take in legal issues, nevertheless, they do not include strategic risk. Management of Operational risk is extremely crucial for a business. If there is no operational management, there is no surety that a business is being managed on a protected and principled basis. It is most significant for a company to manage Operational risk as both the first and last risk. (Hannagan, 2002, 18) Developing a detailed strategic plan may or may not be viable or even appropriate, depending on the size of the organisation, the size of the projects, and other factors. Nevertheless, a planning process ensures that: Each organisation needs to determine the extent to which it needs a formal strategic plan versus direct-to-implementation plans. Either way, the goal is to drive management in response to the corporate strategy, not have it be based on any "wow" factor or a perception that it will benefit the organisation. (Salisbury, 2008, 18) Business environment alters with time, hence management must acclimatize and modify incrementally too when periodic transformational change is compulsory. (Hebson, 209, 32) All strategy starts with the organisation's corporate strategic plan, which lays out the overall objectives for the organisation, including its business mix, growth goals, and risk tolerance.

B-Galactosidase Enzyme Activities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

B-Galactosidase Enzyme Activities - Essay Example The ideas on the regulation of protein synthesis in bacteria have mainly arisen from the studies of Perse Monod on the induced synthesis of B-galactosidase in E.coli. It resulted in the discovery of regulatory events to the transcription of DNA and the assemblage of functionally related genes into clusters called operons. The specific mechanisms exist to regulate the levels of expression in the cell. The regulation may be as a result of transcription, translation or messenger RNA stability. In this experiment, there is the regulation of transcription of bacterial genes that are either inducible or repressible enzyme systems. In induced enzymes, there is the breakdown of complex molecules for example lactose induces synthesis of the proteins B-galactosidase, galactose permease and thiogalactoside transacetylase in E.coli. The b-galactosidase enzyme found in E.coli is an example of an inducible enzyme. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of a wide variety of B-galactosides such as lactose into its constituent substances There was of sharing of the reagents labeled control and lactose (L) flask. It was vital that the lactose does not enter the control bottle. Separate, a labeled pipette was reserved to make an addition to, or to sample from the flask. Time was an important factor and lactose was timed at zero time, ninety minutes, hundred and twenty and one hundred and eighty minutes up to two hundred and forty minutes. From there, sampling procedure included. At the appropriate time, 3ml aliquots were removed from both control(C), and lactose (L) culture and further 0.5mL aliquots from lactose (L) culture placed in a plastic centrifuge tube. Dilution of 0.5mL aliquot one in five by adding 2ml of culture medium was done and labeled the cell L/5. (Michael & Nelson. 2008)

Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl | Analysis

Incidents In The Life Of A Slave Girl | Analysis Linda faces sexual harassment for the father of her mistress Dr. Flint. He is a licentious and cruel male, like several slaveholders, tries to make Linda his concubine, and subjects her to many years of sexual harassment. Linda describes the anger and shock she felt through his sadistic attacks on her individual autonomy. According to Jacobs (18), Linda narrates that when Flint told her that she was made for his use, meant to obey all his commands, that she was nothing but a slave, whose will should and must surrender to his. Flint murmured impure things in Lindas ears, wrote impure letters but she pretended that she could not hear or she could not read. She shuns his advances by usually being in presence of others and she displays an incredible power over and opposition of Flints will. The wife of Dr. Flint is brutal and callous woman who constantly enjoys the despair of the slaves. Other than confronting her spouse as a result of his lecherous deeds, she displays her respect to male power and blames Linda as the cause of her spouses lust. Because she does not have much power to handle the issue, Mrs. Flint jealously and hatred to Linda enlarges and she turns out to be obsessed with trailing her every step. Linda elucidates that a thing that commands approbation in the white female only speeds up the deprivation of the woman slave (Jacobs, 28). Dr. Flint who is Lindas master and enemy has legal rights to do anything he feels like to Linda, but desires to seduce her through threatening and tricking her other than taping her. All through the novel, Linda consistently goes against him and disobeys to have a sexual affair with him. This infuriates Dr. Flint and he quickly fixates over the thought of contravening her unruly spirit. Flint never distinguishes that Linda is a human being who has feelings, unamenable rights and desires. Cruelty of slaveholders According to Jacobs, (270, Linda claims sympathy for women slaves for there is no law to defend her form violence, from insult, and even from death., which are all imposed by friends who possess the shape of men Instead, the slavery institution defends slaveholders form allegations of sexual violence and assault. If the slave was sexually assaulted, it wasnt an offense against her but an intrude on the property of her master, although it was always a master that attacked her. When her daughter was born, the heart of Linda became heavy since she was aware that slaverly was terrible for males, but was far much terrible for females (Linda, 77). Women slaves were the most susceptible servants because they could do work in the field, take care of children of their masters, and most significantly reproduce slave populace, which became increasingly more significant after prohibition of slave imports in 1808.s For instance, when Benjamin, L indas uncle is sold, the slave trader stated that he could offer any price if the good looking young man was a female (Jacobs, 23). Lindas moral character Linda illustrates her strong moral trait in several ways. At an early and pre teen age, she was given similar things that children of the mistress were given. Her master taught her how to spell and read, which a privilege is since majority of slaves were not taught. Although she saw this as a fair thing, she still helped her family members because of their kindness toward her and she was also conscious that people needed to be treated with respect. Jacobs (65) argues that when Dr. Flint constantly called her harsh names and abused her, Linda she knew that it was not correct and felt that Flint was corrupting her as well as her pure mind, but she chose to remain silent for terror of her severe outcomes, even death. Linda continues leading her life, helping him together with his family, but knowing well that he was cruel and unjust. Arrogance of slaveholders It was extremely egotistical of slaveholders to tell the slaves brutal lies about the North. A slaveholder once told Linda one of the slaves who happened to be Lindas friend was in an awful shape and was pleading to be taken back to her master. Later on Linda discovered that this story was not true and this former slave did not have any wish of going back to slavery. Unfortunately, majority of slaves believes these stories and chose to the thought of protective slavery to hard freedom. Linda is appalled by the idea of really aspiring to return to slavery, even if the tales were true. Linda states that the slaves would start to recognize their personal capabilities, and wield themselves to be women and men (Garfield Zafar, 43). Conclusion The dominant social issue of the book incidences in the Life of a slave girl is sexual harassment of slaves by their masters. Dr. Flint who is Lindas master requires her to do anything for him including a sexual relationship with her. However, Linda does not give in to his sexual demands because she wants to buy her freedom away from enslavement. What is the Concept of Nationalism? What is the Concept of Nationalism? Nationalism is a concept that is not easily defined. There are numerous definitions and forms of what is nationalism, and many of these definitions even overlap. However, there is no one definition that is more adequate than another. Keeping in mind that these definitions are constantly evolving, with thorough analysis and the juxtaposition of arguments set out by eight prominent scholars, a clearer definition of nationalism can be attained. To begin with, the most well know definition today is from Professor Anthony Smith. He states that nationalism is simply an ideological movement for attaining and maintaining autonomy, unity and identity for a population which some of its members deem to constitute an actual or potential nation (Anthony Smith, Nationalism: Theory, Ideology, History, 2001, p.9). In this definition, Smith reveals what he believes the three main goals of nationalism are: autonomy, national unity, and national identity. Even Smiths profound definition has not been available for very long considering he was born in 1933. Although there is much argument on the definition of nationalism, Smith agrees that there is one main point of agreement and that is that the term nationalism is a modern phenomenon (Smith, Anthony 2001). Civic nationalism is basically defined as a group of people which have a certain loyalty to civic rights or laws and pledge to abide by these laws. Ethnic nationalism is basically a grou p that possess a common culture, language, land, etc. It is more specific in terms of who can be in it (McGregor 2010). Smith (1991) writes that every nationalism contains civic and ethnic elements in varying degrees and different forms. Sometimes civic and territorial elements predominate; at other times it is the ethnic and vernacular components that are emphasized (Smith, Anthony 2001). Smiths most important argument features civic and ethnic types of nationalism as opposed to eastern and western types. . Even more specifically, Smith makes the distinction between both civic and ethnic nationalisms. He also believes that Many modern nations are formed around pre-existing, and often pre-modern, ethnic cores (Theories of Nationalism Smith). Smith is claiming that nations had pre-existing-origins prior to their new origins of their new nation. One of the most popular arguments by critics is that the civic and ethnic viewpoint of nationalism collapses too much on the ethnic category. (http://cps.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/35/5/554). Smiths definition seems to be the foundation for nationalism. Other scholars go in to more detail on certain elements of the definition, but most relate back to Smiths original definition. On the contrary to Anthony Smiths definition of nationalism pertaining to the civic and ethnic type, Hans Kohn has argued that the two main types of nationalism are eastern and western. His definition is, Nationalism is a state of mind, in which the supreme loyalty of the individual is felt to be due to the nation-state. (Hans Kohn, Nationalism, 1965) His argument includes both eastern and western types of nationalism which refer to eastern and western Europe. Eastern nationalism conceived the nation as an organic community, united by culture, language and descent (McGregor 2010). This could possibly be related to Smiths ethnic type of nationalism. Western nationalism conceived the nation as a political and civic community, held together by voluntary adherence to democratic norms (McGregor 2010). Again, western nationalism could be perceived as a civic type of nationalism. This can be recognized as two similar classifications on two unfamiliar grounds. Kohn believes that nationalism relates directly with the eastern and western Europe and that it is also where the state of mind of nationalism originated. The main criticism of Kohns classification of nationalism is him being over simplistic. He certainly does not go into as much detail as Smith on the definition and relates only towards Europe which most likely is why he is being identified as over simplistic. Carlton J. H. Hayes definition of nationalism states, Loyalty and attachment to the interior of the group (namely the nation and homeland) are the basis of nationalism. In this definition, a common cultural background and common cultural group are considered the main factors in forming a nation. That remains true with most of the definitions of nationalism. Hayes definition of nationalism seems to be more specific to the ethnic ties toward nationalism. (http://www.al-islam.org/islamandnationalism/5.htm). Hayes is basically saying that land, language, and blood are the basis of nationalism. . He is saying that nation is something to be proud of. Hayes also believe that these ethnic qualities are the most important; even religion does not compare.   It is attachment to nationality that gives direction to ones individual and social postures, not attachment to religion and ideology. A human being takes pride in his national achievements and feels dependent on its cultural heritage, not on the history of religion and his faith (http://www.al-islam.org/islamandnationalism/5.htm). This quote further proves Hayes view on nationalism and how it relates to ones culture and past, and specifically not related to religion at all. The reason Hayes definition is unique from others, is his emphasis that religion is not a factor in forming a nation. To further specify Hayes definition on nationalism he says, What distinguishes one human being from another are not their beliefs, but their birth-place, homeland, language and race. Those who are within the four walls of the homeland and nation, belong to it, and those who are outside it, are aliens. It is on the basis of these factors that the people have a feeling of sharing a single destiny and a common past. (http://www.al-islam.org/islamandnationalism/5.htm). This quote goes hand in hand with Hayess definition of nationalism and just further explains it. According to scholar Benedict Anderson nationalism is, a new emerging nation imagines itself to be antique. This is similar to how Anthony Smith and Hayes defined nationalism. It is mostly like the Smiths ethnic nationalism, which focuses more on the origin of the nation. Anderson focuses more on modern Nationalism and suggests that it forms its attachment through language, especially through literature. Of particular importance to Andersons theory is his stress on the role of printed literature. In Andersons mind, the development of nationalism is linked with printed literature and the growth of these printed works. People were able to read about nationalism in a common dialect and that caused nationalism to mature. (CITE). Andersons definition of nationalism and nation differ greatly from other scholars. He defines nation as an imagined political community. He believes this because the nation is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship. Ultimately it is this fraternity th at makes it possible, over the past two centuries, for so many millions of people, not so much to kill, as willingly to die for such limited imaginings. Not only is Andersons theory distinctive because of the printed literature theory, but also the imagined political community. Peter Alter states, Nationalism is a political force which has been more important in shaping the history of Europe and the world over the last two centuries than the ideas of freedom and parliamentary democracy or, let alone, of communism. His argument is similar to John Breuilly in the sense that there is a strong emphasis on nationalism being a political force. Alter is saying that it has everything to do with being a political movement instead of the idea of freedom. In reference to nationalism, Alter states, It can be associated with forces striving for political, social, economic and cultural emancipation, as well as with those whose goal oppression. His outlook on nationalism seems much broader than other scholars. This particular reference virtually sums up many scholars definitions together. Alter does not seem to have a specific argument on nationalism, as in civic vs. ethnic or western vs. eastern but just an acceptance that nationalism could be based on all of these argum ents. Again, Alter says, It can mean emancipation, and it can mean oppressionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ dangers as well as opportunities. There is no precise argument when he tries to define nationalism even though he does have the idea that nationalism is directly related to a political force. Alter also states that nationalism was important to shaping Europe, but most scholars agree with that statement to begin with. Scholar Ernest Gellner states that, nationalism is primarily a political principle that holds that the political and the national unit should be congruent. Gellner has been considered the father of nationalism studies and was a teacher of Anthony Smith. Although most scholars would agree that nationalism appeared after the French Revolution, Gellner further argues that nationalism became a sociological necessity in the modern world. His argument is similar to the uniqueness of Benedict Andersons printed literature theory, but Gellner focuses more on the industrialization of work and cultural modernization to explain how nationalism expanded. Gellner believes that states only exist where there is division of labour, therefore the state comes before nationalism (http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~plam/irnotes07/Gellner1983.pdf). Like other scholars, Gellner believes that nationalism is a political force. There are many criticisms to Ernest Gellners theory, including Anthony Smith sayin g, It misreads the relationship between nationalism and industrialization (Smith 1998). Historian John Breuilly defends a more modern theory of nationalism. He concludes, The rise of the modern state system provides the institutional context within which an ideology of nationalism is necessary. Breuilly argues that the process of state modernization provides an important factor in understanding historical signs of nationalism (http://www.cjsonline.ca/reviews/nationalism.html). Breuilly argues that nationalism does not have much to do with ethnicity or ethnic background, rather more to do with political motivation. This is not the first scholar who believed that ethnic background had nothing to do with nationalism. In fact, Breuillys definition relates well to Gellner in the sense that they both argue for political motivation. Nationalists are seen to create their own ideology out of their own subjective sense of national culture. (John Breuilly, Nationalism and the State (Manchester University Press, Manchester, 1982). This particular quote is quite similar to Andersons imagined political community theory. Breuilly does not support the ethnic side of nationalism nearly as much as others and, like Benedict Anderson favors nationalism as just a political force. Breuilly criticizes most scholars due to the fact that they believe in national culture because he believes there is no such thing. He believes that the political component of nationalism is by far the most important. Michael Hechter defines nationalism as a, collective action designed to render the boundaries of the nation congruent with those of its governance unit (M. Hechter, Containing Nationalism, 2000). He further explains, Nation and governance can be made congruent by enacting exclusive policies that limit full membership in the polity to individuals from on one more favoured nations. In Hechters book, Containing Nationalism, he expresses his belief that the reason nationalism occurs is because of self-determination. Hechter explains how there are two different types of nationalism. The first one is sort of the ideology of freedom and he gives the example of the French Revolution. The second form is xenophobic or even goes as far as genocide (Hechter, Containing Nationalism, 2000). This explains where the different views of nationalism come in; civic vs. ethnic or eastern vs. western. Most importantly, Hechter defines many specific forms of nationalism to go beyond his original definition . These definitions include: state-building nationalism, peripheral nationalism, irredentist nationalism, and unification nationalism. (Hechter, Michael. Containing Nationalism. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2000). Each scholars definition seems to have its own uniqueness to it; from Anthony Smiths ethnic nationalism. SIMILARTIES AND DIFFERENCES Political, cultural, ethnic, civic, eastern, western Summary Vast diversity of aims and aspirations, including unification, separation, cultural/linguistic preservation, territorial expansion, protection of external co-nationals, overthrow of foreign domination, establishment of national homeland Vast diversity of forms and styles, from aggressive and militaristic to peaceable and inward-looking Nationalism is inherently particularistic, but at the same time constitutes an ideology of general application People can not agree on the definitionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.

Essay on Song of Solomon: The Names of a Society -- Song Solomon essay

Song of Solomon: The Names of a Society    Think of a time when the black society was still getting used to the word freedom and the white society hated the thought of it. The book Song of Solomon, written by Toni Morrison in 1977, takes place in Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. The book emphasizes the racial and social tensions between blacks and whites between the 1930s and the 1960s. The Dead family goes through many phases of self-discovery throughout the story. In an effort to hide his southern, working class roots, Macon Dead, an upper-class northern black businessman tries to insulate his family from the danger and despair of the rank and file blacks with whom he shares the neighborhood. Macon can not keep this from influencing his family when he learns that his son has different plans. The book introduces many characters that have received their names from yearnings, events, mistakes, and weaknesses. Some of these names are out of respect and others are given by certain occurrences. Mostly the names are used i n defiance to the "cracker society". The black society used this term to relate to the "white society".    The Dead family lives on a street officially named "Mains Avenue". The only black doctor in town lived on this street and it soon became known as "Doctor Street". Soon it became the unofficial name of the street known not only to the doctor's patients, but also to the rest of the black citizens of the town. White legislators soon put a stop to the incorrect naming of the street and posted notices forbidding incorrect references to it in the black neighborhood. The notices stated that the avenue "would always be known as Mains Avenue and not Doctor Street"(p. 4). In a subtle retaliation, the ci... ...ack society in those days. They kept and used names that the cracker society would forget about in a few days. By keeping such names the black community quietly defied conformation to the white society.    This novel illustrates how the human spirit can not be dominated. The black community is able to fill in the empty spaces, which the "other society" is not able to enter into or relate to. When Milkman thinks back of all of the people that he had met on his journey it reflects the essence of the novel, " Names they got from yearnings, gestures, flaws, events, mistakes, weaknesses. Names that bore witness"(p. 330). The African American population found a way to allow for life and spirit in a world controlled by "crackers". Their defiance shows that the human spirit is unstoppable.    Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. New York: First Plume Printing, 1987.

How Have Your Eating Habits Changed Since You Joined College?

Virginia Mwangi Name of institution Subject name September 24, 2011 Eating habits In a nutshell, I can describe the change in my eating habits since I joined college as transference from one distinct end of a continuum to the other. This is because they changed from healthy to unhealthy, regular to irregular and from eating in plentitude to small meals. The paucity of my pocket was partially responsible for the shift from plenty to minimal. With the little allowances my mom gave me for upkeep, no one was more adroit at achieving the intricate balance between my need to be stylish and food. Consequently, my meals were reduced to what may be considered by many as mere snacks. In essence therefore, the pounds I lost from eating less were compensated for adequately by my cheap but trendy dressing. On the other hand, it never really occurred to me that my college eating habits were a far cry from being healthy. The fact that mine were not exactly exceptional from those of the rest of the students contributed significantly to this. In addition, although we as students had a wealth of information on appropriate diets, we simply did not have a variety of nutrient packed food in our environment to choose from. Moreover, the readily available sumptuous fries retailed at student sensitive prices provided us with the impetus to eat unhealthy. The irregularity of my meals was not of my own making but was due to my hectic course schedule. Prior to joining college, I adhered to my meal times to the clock. However, this proved a daunting task in college since the time schedules did not strictly observe meal times. In particular, my tutorial schedule had the tenacity of coinciding with regular eating times. In conclusion, reflecting back on how my eating habits changed since I joined college makes my heart pause. In particular, the irregularity and paucity that came to characterize my meals was simply incredulous. The concept of eating healthy also seems to have been conspicuously absent as far as my eating habits in college were concerned.

Prehistoric Life During the Permian Period

Prehistoric Life During the Permian Period The Permian period was, literally, a time of beginnings and endings. It was during the Permian that the strange therapsids, or mammal-like reptiles, first appearedand a population of therapsids went on to spawn the very first mammals of the ensuing Triassic period. However, the end of the Permian witnessed the most severe mass extinction in the history of the planet, even worse than the one that doomed the dinosaurs tens of millions of years later. The Permian was the last period of the Paleozoic Era (542-250 million years ago), preceded by the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous periods. Climate and Geography As during the preceding Carboniferous period, the climate of the Permian period was intimately linked with its geography. Most of the earths land mass remained locked up in the supercontinent of Pangea, with remote offshoots comprising present-day Siberia, Australia, and China. During the early Permian period, large portions of southern Pangea were covered by glaciers, but conditions warmed considerably by the beginning of the Triassic period, with the reappearance of vast rain forests at or near the equator. Ecosystems around the globe also became significantly drier, which spurred the evolution of new types of reptiles better adapted to cope with the arid climate. Terrestrial Life During the Permian Period Reptiles: The most important event of the Permian period was the rise of synapsid reptiles (an anatomical term denoting the appearance of a single hole in the skull, behind each eye). During the early Permian, these synapsids resembled crocodiles and even dinosaurs, as witness famous examples like Varanops and Dimetrodon. By the end of the Permian, a population of  synapsids had branched off into therapsids, or mammal-like reptiles; at the same time, the very first archosaurs appeared, diapsid reptiles characterized by the two holes in their skulls behind each eye. A quarter of a billion years ago, no one could have predicted that these archosaurs were destined to evolve into the very first dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, as well as pterosaurs and crocodiles!Amphibians: The increasingly dry conditions of the Permian period were not kind to prehistoric amphibians, which found themselves out-competed by more adaptable reptiles (which could venture further onto dry land to lay their to ugh-shelled eggs, whereas amphibians were constrained to living near bodies of water). Two of the most notable amphibians of the early Permian were the six-foot-long Eryops and the bizarre Diplocaulus, which looked like a tentacled boomerang. Insects: During the Permian period, conditions werent yet ripe for the explosion of insect forms seen during the ensuing Mesozoic Era. The most common insects were giant cockroaches, the tough exoskeletons of which gave these arthropods a selective advantage over other terrestrial invertebrates, as well as various types of dragonflies, which werent quite as impressive as their plus-sized forebears of the earlier Carboniferous period, like the foot-long Megalneura. Marine Life During the Permian Period The Permian period has yielded surprisingly few fossils of marine vertebrates; the best-attested genera are prehistoric sharks like Helicoprion and Xenacanthus and prehistoric fish like Acanthodes. (This doesnt mean the worlds oceans werent well-stocked with sharks and fish, but rather that the geologic conditions didnt lend themselves to the fossilization process.) Marine reptiles were extremely scarce, especially compared to their explosion in the ensuing Triassic period; one of the few identified examples is the mysterious Claudiosaurus. Plant Life During the Permian Period If youre not a paleobotanist, you may or may not be interested in the replacement of one weird variety of prehistoric plant  (the lycopods) by another weird variety of prehistoric plant (the glossopterids). Suffice it to say that the Permian witnessed the evolution of new varieties of seed plants, as well as the spread of ferns, conifers, and cycads (which were an essential source of food to the reptiles of the Mesozoic Era). The Permian-Triassic Extinction Everyone knows about the K/T Extinction Event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, but the most severe mass extinction in earths history was the one that transpired at the end of the Permian period, which annihilated 70 percent of terrestrial genera and a whopping 95 percent of marine genera. No one knows exactly what caused the Permian-Triassic Extinction, though a series of massive volcanic eruptions resulting in a depletion of atmospheric oxygen is the most likely culprit. It was this great dying at the end of the Permian that opened up the earths ecosystems to new kinds of terrestrial and marine reptiles, and led, in turn, to the evolution of dinosaurs.

Free Essays on Swimming

"Swimming" In swimming there is no stroke harder to learn then the Butterfly stroke. This is the stroke where the swimmer swims kicking like a dolphin and pulling with his or her hands at the same time under the water and recovering for the next stroke above water with both arms at the same time in an almost circular motion. There are many steps in learning how to execute this stroke correctly. These steps are called drills, when you perform them in the pool. The first drill you should learn is the Kick drill. In this drill you learn to kick with your feet like a dolphin, making sure not to flutter kick with your feet, to move smoothly through the water with your head connected with your spine; this is the position your head is in when you stand with good posture, and make one smooth motion with your arms at your side thrusting only your hips, making a smooth relaxed shallow rolling motion through the water. Also, only one part of your body at a time should be slightly out of the water, starting from the back of your head, and continued down your back to your feet. The next drill to learn is the balance drill. This drill, to me, was extremely difficult to do. The balance drill is almost the same as the kick drill, only the swimmer puts his or her arms out in front of them with one hand on top of the other squeezing his or her head with their arms just behind the ears, remembering the kick drill to keep your head connected with your spine. Make the same smooth rolling motion only this time making sure your fingers are always pointing perpendicular to the wall of the pool, beginning with the back of your arms and head slightly out of the water. Continued down your back and to your feet. When trying this drill, I always moved my hands up and down as I did the rolling motion and it did nothing but make me dive deeper under the water then I wanted to, thus making me go slower. When you can ... Free Essays on Swimming Free Essays on Swimming "Swimming" In swimming there is no stroke harder to learn then the Butterfly stroke. This is the stroke where the swimmer swims kicking like a dolphin and pulling with his or her hands at the same time under the water and recovering for the next stroke above water with both arms at the same time in an almost circular motion. There are many steps in learning how to execute this stroke correctly. These steps are called drills, when you perform them in the pool. The first drill you should learn is the Kick drill. In this drill you learn to kick with your feet like a dolphin, making sure not to flutter kick with your feet, to move smoothly through the water with your head connected with your spine; this is the position your head is in when you stand with good posture, and make one smooth motion with your arms at your side thrusting only your hips, making a smooth relaxed shallow rolling motion through the water. Also, only one part of your body at a time should be slightly out of the water, starting from the back of your head, and continued down your back to your feet. The next drill to learn is the balance drill. This drill, to me, was extremely difficult to do. The balance drill is almost the same as the kick drill, only the swimmer puts his or her arms out in front of them with one hand on top of the other squeezing his or her head with their arms just behind the ears, remembering the kick drill to keep your head connected with your spine. Make the same smooth rolling motion only this time making sure your fingers are always pointing perpendicular to the wall of the pool, beginning with the back of your arms and head slightly out of the water. Continued down your back and to your feet. When trying this drill, I always moved my hands up and down as I did the rolling motion and it did nothing but make me dive deeper under the water then I wanted to, thus making me go slower. When you can ...

The importance of event evaluation for event managers and the process Essay

The importance of event evaluation for event managers and the process of event evaluation - Essay Example It is like a way of assessing the goals and objectives that we had set before. We undertake event evaluation at the end of an event in order to understand if we have achieved what we wanted. Evaluation of an even can also be used as a strategic planning tool that can help us to understanding the correct method or the correct procedure that we should use in order to achieve the desired goals and objectives. It is a fundamental process that helps us to discern the viability and sustainable of an event by assessing the best process that can be used to take us where we want to be. The evaluation of an event should take a holistic approach. In this regard, it should not be leaned on one side alone but it should be aimed at looking at all corners of the event. Evaluating an event as a whole is important as it helps us to understand it in all its dimensions. If an evaluation is carried on one side alone, there may be a probability of constrain from other areas that were not evaluated before which may be a possible failure of the event. By taking a holistic approach we mean that we have to focus on all areas. Most evaluation of an event tends to lean on the economic viability of an event and gives little attention to the areas of the event. Therefore we have to consider dimensions like the social aspect of he event, the environment aspect of the event, if it is a business event we have to asses the business leveraging, and also we have to evaluate the branding of the event and the impact that it has created. It is also very important to evaluate an event regularly in the sense that it has to be consistent throughout the whole process of its implementation. This means that we have to evaluate an event right from the start of the event, when it is being implemented and after it is implemented. There must also be a common base under which an event will be evaluation on. In

Religion and Theology. Hinduism and Buddhism Assignment

Religion and Theology. Hinduism and Buddhism - Assignment Example It was not until the 19th century when the British colonial administration in India started referring to Hinduism as a form of religion. Hinduism was used as a description for the various religious beliefs and practices of the majority of Indian people (Rinehart, 2004). Despite the dynamics that he religion has undergone, the religion is believed to be more than 4000 years old, tracing bhack to the early Indian valley civilization. Traditionally, the religion is believed to be timeless, as the old people found it in practice. Fundamental spiritual beliefs Hindus believe in in one Supreme Being according to their traditions is both imminent and transcendent. According to the Hindu religious beliefs, the Supreme Being is both their creator and is of Unmanifest reality who deserves their respect (Rinehart, 2004). The Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, which are the oldest and most ancient elements of scripture in the world. Further, they venerate the Agamas as revealed in an equal measure. They treat these as primordial hymns of God which forms the bedrock of Santana Dharma, a form of an eternal religion. According to the Hindu beliefs, the soul reincarnates, evolving through many beliefs. However, the reincarnation trend stops after the resolution of all karmas. They also believe in moksha, which is the liberation from the rebirth cycle that takes place after the end of the reincarnation process. Since the process is continuous and evolutionary in every soul, not a single soul can be denied of its destiny (Fisher, 2014). Spiritual Practices of Hinduism In Hindu, an individual’s personal spiritual practice is referred to as sadhana which is used to refer to the means of accomplishing individual goals. It recognizes adhikara, which means that every person holds a very unique position in life that is different from that of other people. Therefore, God exists in different forms, which gives people the freedom to feel attracted to one God and lea ve the rest. Similarly there are different forms of yoga, just like there are different forms of God, which are not similar to one another. Therefore, the Hindu spiritual practice varies from one person to another. Spiritual practices to the include prayer, meditation, going on pilgrimage, bathing, fasting, practicing acts of charity, chanting mantra, reading of the scripture and performing ones’ daily work. How Hindu is practiced today Many Hinduism traditional practices have remained to date (Fisher, 2014). However several adjustments have been made to suit the religion in the modern context. For instance, in schools years, Brahmacharga is a common practice that focuses on instilling knowledge and developing the character of the people. How Hindu is practiced around the world Due to immigration to different parts of the world, the Hindu religion and its practices have also spread all over the world to areas such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Guyana, Trinidad, Tobago, Fij i, Mauritius, among others. Rinehart (2004) points out that the various practices of the religion practiced in these areas include sadhana, which is an individual practice of cultivating spirituality and Japa, which is a silent or an audible practice of repeating a mantra. Buddhism Origin It is believed that Buddhism originated from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who was known as the Buddha in the years between ca 624-544. In his teachings, Gautama was opposed to the idea of man having an immortal soul. Moreover, his teachings did not touch on any Supreme Deity. In his teachings, Buddha insisted that man could overcome greed, hatred and delusion to attain enlightenment practicing the Four Noble Truths and