Tess Of The Durbervilles Essays (2857 words) - Literature, Film

Tess Of The D'urbervilles Tess of the d'Urbervilles Oral: Structure, point of view and narrative techniques in Tess of the d'Ubervilles. Ok well this isn't really an essay as such it's a an oral that I had to give on Tess, but still it took ages and I guess I could be kind of helpful. -veronica Narrative techniques - Chance and coincidence, symbolises the forces working against Tess. Coincidence as a means to an end - Irony- social laws brought into account with the natural law. Ironies are also paralleled by separate ironies throughout he novel. Irony is enforced by omens - Technical words, jargon to add authenticity (local farming terms, musical, artistic or architectural) - Classical allusions. - Folk-law and folk magic. - Seasonal background as an accompaniment to emotions - Uses the microcosmic (Tess) to demonstrate the general - Tess shown in relation to the work she does, Tess is a natural women compared to Mercy. - Relies on change of place and the idea of pilgrimage - Insight into character - Sharply drawn visual and sensory descriptions - Exploits contrast and comparison of place and character - Letters Structure - Title, division into phases - Coherence and real life timing in regard to the length of the phases - Realism is not impaired by the controlled structure because of the coherent but however not entirely coinciding events, such as her successive journeys home - Final chapter as demonstration of Hardy's complete control - No sub-plots - Hardy's fluctuating fatalistic and determinism. - Double meanings - Symbolism, Tess as an animal Point of View - Written in third person - Omniscient narrator. - Different stand points of narration, Narrative: distinguished from descriptions of qualities, states or situations and also from dramatic enactment of events. Narrative technique is the method of telling stories. Narrative technique is a broad term to describe anything Thomas Hardy does to communicate his message and ideas. Under this umbrella of narrative technique also fall such things as structure, style, point of view, imagery and so on. To understand many of the narrative techniques Hardy adopts we must have some understanding of his background, the audience and the times he was writing in and why he would have wanted to broach such controversial issues. Hardy was a poet, he intensely read and studied poetry and literature from his early twenties. Prose fiction was his temporary profession out of economic necessity. This serves to explain the symbolic, metaphoric, poetic nature of his writing and also the many references to Shakespeare, other literature and the bible. In order for Hardy to convey his ideas he had to not only consider the needs of his current audience but also pursing his greater literary and personal obligations. To do this he had to include his insights indirectly and evasively, adopting symbolic meanings that reached beyond the superficial social actions of the time. It is also important to note how the novel was released and the ?censoring? that was in place to control controversial or ?inappropriate? morals, values and issues. The serialized format of realize also contributed in a large way, somewhat dictating the story line and affecting the general lay out. This is evident when you notice that there are several series of rising action, climax and denouement, generally towards the end of phases. Examine the explanatory note to the first edition - ?form a true sequence of thing?, talks of the Victorian expectations of a true story. Possibly why Hardy paid such attention to the surroundings and the use of local terminology. - ?Piece the trunks and the limbs of the novel together? The effect of the serialization and censoring had on the novel. It is not in its true form until can be read completely and together. - Artistic form?in respect of the book's opinions and sentiments? Hardy struggling to be true to his greater literary and personal values and morals. He had to entertain his current audience but his language was used in such a way that the general story lines transcends the ages, and elevates it beyond the story. The quote he reflects on is obviously appropriate and intended to the orthodox Victorian expectations, ?If an offence come out of the truth, better is that the offence come than that the truth be concealed? St Jerome's. Letters ? - They provide a different insight into the characters: - Altered level of narrative - Different character voices

There Ought to be a Law essays

There Ought to be a Law essays THERE was an interesting article in our Metro section last week. That was the one that said movie fans might no longer see Vilma Santos and Lito Lapid on the silver screen. Not unless they want to give up being mayor of Lipa City and governor of Pampanga province, respectively. Apparently, there's a provision in the Local Government Code that says mayors and governors "are prohibited from practicing their profession or engaging in any occupation other than the exercise of their functions as local chief executives." But for this to happen, the group that has raised this issue must first win its case in court. Happily, that group, the Social Justice Society, is composed mostly of lawyers. They have cited Joey Lina as respondent for allowing Santos and Lapid to appear in movies. I'm rooting for them. I've been arguing this for a long time now, and for all categories of public officials. The usual justification for senators in particular the Senate now having the dubious distinction of harboring the biggest number of fugitives from the silver screen, the hard court and television is that there is no law against it. Well, at the very least, there is no law against people defecating in public too. Or at least there is no law specifically citing it, though there's one reproaching, and penalizing, scandalous behavior. There is no (explicit) law against it because none is needed. It is common sense. You do not normally expect anyone to relieve himself gleefully, or disconsolately, against the wall. As it turns out, however, there is a law against public officials doing sidelines. If there's a prescription against local government officials reverting to their previous roles, in more ways than one, there should be one as well against national officials doing so. The principle applies equally, if not more so, to them. The principle applies as well to senators and congressmen who continue to host shows on television or do c ...

Presidential Pets of the Past

Presidential Pets of the Past Animal lovers savour that moment when a pet runs up to greet them at the end of the stressful day. Few jobs are probably more stressful than the U.S. presidents position. Thats why it is no surprising that presidents and their families have always been fond of animals. Dogs seem to be first in line, but creatures from mice to alligators have also been presidential pets in the White House. List of Presidential Pets George W. Bush President George W. Bush carries Barney to the South Portico of the White House Monday, Sept. 3, 2001, after disembarking Marine One. Photo by Tina Hager, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library â€Å"Barney was by my side during our eight years in the White House. He never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend.† President Bush remembered his little friend with these words when he died of lymphoma in 2013 at the age of 12. Barney, a Scottish terrier, was a gift to George W. Bush after the 2000 presidential election. He was always polite and liked to greet prime ministers, queens and heads of state in the White House. Barney was even a media star, he had his own website where his fans could watch videos from the dogs perspective about visiting celebrities and White House staff. â€Å"Barney and I enjoyed the outdoors,† Bush said. â€Å"His favourite activity was chasing golf balls.† However, Barney could also lose his temper. Once he bit the Reuters news reporter and the Bostons Celtics public relations director. Among other presidential pets were a Scottish terrier Miss Beazley, an English springler spaniel Spot, a cat India, and a longhorn cow Ofelia. Bill Clinton Socks, a black-and-white stray cat, became a presidential pet in 1991 when he jumped into the arms of Chelsea Clinton. Once the Clinton family took the cat, he took place in the Americas heart. He was a subject of a popular TV comedy, Murphy Brown, a cartoon book and a song, he appeared with the President on a series of stamps in the Central African Republic. Socks was so popular, that a Clinton family even asked the photographers to leave this poor cat. In 1997 a Labrador retriever Buddy joined the presidential family but Socks wasnt a fan of a new dog. Hillary Clinton said that Socks â€Å"despised Buddy from first sight, instantly and forever.† When Socks died in 2009, Bill Clinton admitted: â€Å"Socks brought much happiness to Chelsea and us over the years, and enjoyment to kids and cat lovers everywhere. We’re grateful for those memories† George H.W. Bush Millie is among the most notable pets in the White House. The English springer spaniel â€Å"wrote† Millies Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush that describes a day in her life at the White House. In 1992 it was at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Millie was depicted in several TV shows, including Whos the Boss and Murphy Brown. She even appeared in the episode of The Simpsons. The 15-acre Millie Bush Bark Park on the west side of Houston is named after her. Millie took active part in re-election. â€Å"My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos,† Bush claimed, mentioning his opponents Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Millie was even a mother of two other presidential pets: Ranger and Spot. She died at the age 12 of pneumonia. Ronald Reagan    Lucky, a large black dog, was said to â€Å"to be a size of a pony. † And not for reason. His breed Bouvier des Flandres originated in Belgium for the purposes of pulling carts and herding kettle. Bouviers are known as fearless dogs useful as both family friends and guard dogs. They require a lot of room to exercise and wander about, and the Reagans soon found that out. Lucky was named in the honour of Mrs. Reagans mother, Edith Luckett (â€Å"Lucky†) Davis. A small â€Å"ball of fluff,† a nine-year-old puppy, turned into a large dog just in several months. Lucky enjoyed running in the halls of the White House. However, despite the efforts at training, she didnt really adjust to live there. Thats why the president and his family decided to send her to their ranch in California in 1985. She died at the age of 10 in January 5, 1995. Ronald Reagan had a few other dogs: Rex, Cavalier King Charles spaniel; Victory, golden retriever; Peggy, Irish setter; Taca, Siberian husky; and Fuzzy, Belgian sheepdog. Jimmy Carter When Jimmy Carter and his family moved into the White House, they didnt take no pets along. Grits arrived at the White House on June 8, 1977. The dog was named in honour of the Carters family Southern roots. A handsome border collie mix was a present to Carters daughter Amy from her school teacher, Verona Meeder. Visitors admitted that Amy â€Å"sure loves that dog.† She enjoyed petting Grits on the steps of the White House. However, the Carters decided to return the dog to the Amys teacher. Some sources report that one of the reasons was that a dog had behaviour problems. Moreover, Grits didnt get along with the Carters cat, Misty Malarky Ying Yang. But it also may be because Amys teacher lost her own dog, and the girl wanted to ease the sadness. Gerald Ford The Fords have always been fond of dogs. Long before they moved to White House, they had golden retrievers. Their daughter, Susan, asked their family friend – a photographer David Kennerly to help them get a new dog. Kennerly contacted a breeder about a puppy. Susan surprised her father with a cute dog she called Liberty. Liberty became famous when Gerald Ford and his wife decided to breed her with a golden retriever. The press became crazy when Liberty gave birth to nine cute puppies. Mrs. Ford didnt let them to be photographed before they were 2 months old. The photos were made by Kennerly and was in high demand as well as puppies themselves. Liberty died at the age 11 in 1986. The Fords also had a Siamese cat Shan and a dog Lucky.    Richard Nixon Checkers is probably the most famous candidate in the list of presidential pets. Nixons cocker spaniel never lived in the White House, but he became a celebrity when Sinator Nixon mentioned him in his speech in 1952. It became to be known as the Checkers speech when the politician for the first time used TV to appeal to the voters. Nixon loved Checkers a lot. He always had dogs biscuits in his desk and enjoyed watching him to play. The cocker spaniel lived with Nixon until he died in 1964 at the age of 13, four years before Nixon was elected a president. Three other dogs lived with Nixon in the White House: poodle Vicky, terrier Pasha and Irish setter King Timahoe.    Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson loved dogs and they loved him a lot. The presidents beagles, Him and Her, became celebrities when the Life magazine published a photo portraying how Johnson was peaking up the dogs ears. Hundreds of calls and letters came from the dog lovers. They wrote â€Å"If someone picked you up by the ears, you’d yelp, too.† However, dogs seemed to like that a lot. They were treated very well and enjoyed swimming in the White House pool and riding along in the presidents car. Sadly, both Him and Her died at a young age. Him was hit by a car when he was chasing the squirrels in 1966, and Her died after swallowing a stone in 1964. After Him and Her died, Lyndon B. Johnson had two other dogs – collie Blanco and a mixed-breed dog Yuki. John F. Kennedy Charlie was a Welsh terrier the Kennedy family brought with them when they moved into the White House. Kennedy loved animals despite his allergy to animal hair and wanted his children to have experience of taking care of them. Jackie Kennedy gave Charlie to her husband as a gift during Kennedys campaign for president and he became a part of their family. However, John F. Kennedy didnt like one Charlies habit: He loved nothing more than to fetch a stick. He always brought the stick and drop it on the lap. The First Couple enjoyed walking outside the gates of the White House and playing with Charlie. They resembled two students taking a dog for a walk. They looked so happy,† told their son Bryant. Among other Kennedys pets were ponnies, hamsters, a cat, a rabbit, a horse, a canary, and seven dogs of different breeds. Dwight D. Eisenhower Heidi is probably the only dog banned from the White House. A beautiful female Weimaraner was born on the 9th of May, 1955. She had an accident on the expensive rug in the diplomatic reception room. Its cost was about $20,000 at that time. Because of the Heidis weak bladder, the Eisenhowers decided to send her to their farm in Pennsylvania. Heidi was protective of her owners. She was wary of photographers and always tried to prevent the First Lady from having her picture taken. Heidi just jumped between the Mamie Eisenhower and the camera. Weimaraners are great family dogs, known for their hunting abilities and loyalty. Heidi liked to sleep in the basket on the third floor and run in the White House. During the day, she napped in the presidents private office where Eisenhower gave her head scratches. After she left Washington she had four puppies and enjoyed life on the farm.

Summary of the Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summary of the - Article Example One of the absences is the absence of historical context that makes the painting mysterious and unchanging (35). She stresses that, in reality, the late 1860s, the period of the painting, is the period of French colonization of the Near East, which means that there is nothing mysterious or unchanging in the context of the painting. The other absences in the paintings are the presence of Westerners and art. Nochlin emphasizes that Westerners are present in The Snake Charmer by being the ones gazing at the painting. She notes that Westerners create meanings through projecting their ideas and feelings about Orientals on the painting. As for the absence of art, Nochlin criticizes Gà ©rà ´mes realism because it only appears logical and objective as an artistic approach, but it actually hides the reality of how Westerners perceived Orientals as lazy and decadent, by showing how they allow their cultural icons to decay. Moreover, Nochlin contrasts the success of The Snake Charmer over Eug à ¨ne Delacroix’s Death of Sardanapalus. She argues that Gà ©rà ´me was successful in allowing male Westerners to identify with power over women and the darker-skinned without giving them moral responsibility for these thoughts and actions unlike Delacroix. Hence, Nochlin shows that Orientalist paintings represent Western ideas and beliefs about Near Easterners where their main goals were political and physical domination and exploitation over the

Pediatric Palliative Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pediatric Palliative Care - Essay Example From that point of view, implementation of pediatric palliative care would need to involve palliative care networks and all children's services (Carroll et al., 2007). The key feature of pediatric palliative care is involvement of the adults, in many cases who are parents. The right for families to have their views heard is of prime importance. This right extends to research, and the research should incorporate an adequate representation of the reality of lived experiences of both the children and their caregivers. Small-scale research findings on their own are unlikely to play a crucial role in policy-making or provision. It has been expected that the impact of the evidence may gradually enter into the thinking of policymakers and practitioners (Rallison and Moules, 2004). Palliative care nursing that support the life-limited children and their families must draw on the findings from the relevant recent research. In this assignment, the palliative care nursing and its role will be d escribed followed by an examination of best practices as evidenced in recent literature. Palliative care services have rich opportunities to support children and their families through living out their stated ethos in practice. Pediatric palliative care with its broad approach to symptom management, psychosocial, spiritual, and practical care has the potential to help enormously in the care and relief of suffering of these children and their families, particularly as it is relatively inexpensive. In other words, pediatric palliative care embraces a philosophy that attends to the psychological, physical, spiritual and social needs of the child and their family (Maunder, 2006). This care has been described as a concept where there is a shift of emphasis from conventional care that focuses on quantity of life towards a commitment to care which enhances quality of life. It has been recommended that palliative care should be an integral part of clinical practice, available to all child patients. Such a philosophy presents a major challenge both clinically and culturally, dem anding that all providers including nurses work together to ensure seamless care that will meet the needs of medically vulnerable young people and their families (Powaski, 2006). Increasing numbers of very sick children are surviving as a result of advances in medicine and nursing. Many children die in a year as a result of progressive conditions needing palliative care. Some have a life-limiting condition with some palliative care needs, for half of whom the needs will be substantial. Evidence suggests that while some undergraduate medical and nursing educational programs provide a general overview of palliative care, they often include only a brief review of the pediatric specialty. A model for structured reflection on palliative care nursing has been described that focused on exploration of the challenges of palliative care nursing. The model was based on 6 types of knowledge or ways of knowing, scientific, personal, socio-political, spiritual, ethical, and aesthetic. The model required nurses to reflect on the aims of the professional interactions, and the sources of the knowledge used for specific types of practice in palliation. It also included questio ns focused on whether actions were consistent with beliefs of patient autonomy, promotion of quality of life, compassionate care, family involvement, and symptom control (Souter,

Personal Nursing Philosophy Essay Example for Free

Personal Nursing Philosophy Essay We often hear that nursing is an art and a science, and I firmly believe that. The way a nurse blends those aspects of care defines the nurse. As nurses, our roles in our patients’ lives vary depending on their needs. We are teachers as well as technical experts, and our ultimate goal is to ensure our patients and families are ready to take over when the patient no longer requires our care. Why I Chose Nursing I have known that I wanted to work with children since I was a young child myself. Before the age of ten, I thought I might be a teacher. As I enjoyed math and science, several of my aunts, nurses themselves, encouraged me to consider nursing. As a sibling of a disabled child, I was probably exposed to more medical knowledge than average, and I took my first CPR class when I was eight years old. I liked the nurses and therapists that worked with my sister, but I also had respect for the teachers that worked so tirelessly with her. I can pinpoint the moment I decided that nursing was for me, though it was a long time before I could act on that decision. My sister had contracted hepatitis A at school. That lowered her seizure threshold enough that she ended up in the intensive care unit. As it was winter, I was not allowed to visit her. At ten, I didn’t understand the concept of RSV restrictions. I only knew that she’d been hospitalized many times and I’d always been allowed at her bedside. Somehow I interpreted that to mean she must be dying, and no one wanted to tell me. I was in the waiting room outside the ICU while my mother was in with my sister, crying my heart out. A nurse walking by stopped to ask me what was wrong, and I spilled out my fears to her. She escorted my into the unit, telling me that she was going to find a supervisor to see if she could get permission for me to visit my sister. In the meantime, there was a room where I could wait for her†¦. which turned out to be my sister’s room. After failing to get permission for me to visit, the nurse returned to escort me back to the waiting room. Before we left, she took the time to explain the monitors and what they meant, and went over my sister’s plan of care and discharge criteria with me. Hugely reassured, I was content to wait in the waiting room. More than thirty years later, that nurse’s compassion still sticks with me. The Core of Nursing If compassion is at the heart of nursing, knowledge and skill must be its head and hands. Since the earliest days of nursing, the patient’s environment has been a consideration in their care. Florence Nightingale’s theory that hydration, nutrition, rest, and a clean environment were necessary to healing (Black, 2007) is a basic principle of nursing today. The world has changed since then, and nursing has changed with it. With every technological advance or new treatment modality, nurses have been called upon to be more than caretakers. It requires skilled hands to provide the treatments our patients need. Throughout a patient’s stay, teaching is a primary responsibility of the nurse. Patients cannot make informed decisions on their care without adequate information. Whether teaching the relatively simple task of taking medications, or the more complex management of a chronic condition, it is a nurse’s duty to make sure the patient and family are trained and prepared to assume care once the patient goes home. The teaching required necessarily varies from patient to patient, and often from day to day in the same patient as he or she moves on the continuum between health and illness. Finally, patients need to be able to count on nurses to be authorities in their field. Nurses must be accountable for remaining competent in their practice, and for continuing their education throughout their career (Killeen Saewert, 2007). Beliefs and Values Patients have needs unrelated to their illness or injury. Having spent my entire career in pediatrics, often my focus is on developmental needs and what activities can be provided that support normal development. Some needs, however, seem to be universal. The need for play, learning, and social contact are not restricted to children. Meeting the emotional and psychosocial needs of the patient without compromising the physical needs demanded by the illness or injury is occasionally a delicate balancing act, and is where the art of nursing meets the science of nursing. By collaborating with our patients and families and respecting their values, a plan can be reached that both supports their needs and involves them in their own care. From a pediatric perspective, the family is an integral part of the healthcare team. Parents are the primary ally and resource in providing individualized care for their child. Even in adult patients, who they are is impacted by the relationships that they have. Serious or chronic illnesses and injuries affect the entire family. The family, then, becomes the patient, particularly when it is necessary to make lifestyle changes. I have been fortunate enough to work in a teaching hospital for over a decade, on a unit that has a strong sense of teamwork. I have watched residents grow from unsure medical students to capable attending physicians, and have been gratified to precept and mentor new nurses into colleagues that can be relied on. Through we have a varied mix of skill levels, values, and talents, as a team we manage to form a cohesive whole. I count on my nurses to provide outstanding care to their patients, to hold themselves and each other accountable for maintaining high standards, and to support each other as needed. I also count on them for holding me accountable when the minutia of providing care for patients or my nurses gets in the way of my seeing the big picture. In my own life, it has taken me a long while to take charge of my health. I am currently working hard to quit smoking, and have recently lost fifty of the extra sixty or so pounds I’ve been carrying. Like a lot of nurses, I put off preventative care, and wait too long before seeing a physician when I need to. This disconnect between my professional values and my personal behavior baffles me. I cannot expect my patients and families to view me as an authority on health if I am unhealthy. This year has been one of trying to bring my own lifestyle into line with my beliefs. Vision for the Future In two years, I will have completed my BSN. At that point, I want to take a clinical instructor position while I pursue my MSN. I seem to have come full circle in what I want to be when I grow up, and combining my love of nursing with my love of teaching seems to be the best of both worlds. In five years, I hope to have completed my MSN. By that time I will have been a clinical instructor for long enough to know if I want to translate that to the classroom or perhaps become a nurse educator in an acute setting. I know I love teaching new nurses in my current setting, however I’m unsure of whether I would enjoy teaching in an academic setting. In ten years, my goals are much more nebulous and largely depend on whether I have chosen to move to an academic setting or remain in acute care. In either setting, there are always things to learn and opportunities to explore. Someday, I would like to open a medical foster care facility, though I have doubts about that happening in that time frame. Summary The pursuit of my professional goals is a long-term plan. I enjoy learning, have the support of my family, and the path to my goals are clearly defined. I am detail oriented, and hope that will help me to reach my goals. As I continue on this path, each success will pave the way to the next. Time management is an obstacle in my path, as I am currently working two jobs and trying to take care of my family while pursuing my degree. I am still learning how to manage all the demands on my time without stretching myself too thin. In addition, I sometimes get bogged down in the details and lose sight of the big picture, and then tend to procrastinate until I find my way again. Fortunately deadlines are effective in making me take a step back and rethink my approach.

Sioux Indians Essay -- American History

Sioux Indians We're going to tell you about a tribe of Indians known as the Sioux Indians. The Sioux Indians lived on the great plains. The Sioux's tribe is partially and fully located in 7 states. The states are known as Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Their natural resources include deer, beans, wild rice, and buffalo. The Sioux nation was divided into 7 groups. They were known as the 7 council fires. Each council fire had its own leaders and own group of families that always camped together. The largest Council Fire lived on the western plains. It was so big it was divided into 7 groups. It was called the Teton Sioux. They spoke the Lakota dialect of the Sioux language. Two councils lived on the middle plains, they were called Yankton Sioux. The language they spoke was the Nakota dialect of the Sioux language. The other Council Fires lived on the plains in the east. The name that they called themselves was Santee Sioux. The dialect that they spoke was the Dakota dialect of the Sioux language. The councils lived far away from each other, but they could understand each other's dialect. The families in each council fire met once a year , during the summer. When they met they shared news and traded things they had gotten from other tribes. They gave gifts away at special feats that were c alled giveaways. They also played ball games and raced horses. It was time to give thanks for the past year , and ask for help in the new year. They did this by taking part in a Sun Dance. The Sioux never camped in one place for very long. They were nomads and moved their camps to follow the buffalo and to find fresh grass for their ponies. Because of this they lived i... ... The plate was sometimes made out of buffalo horn hair pipes. The Sioux were also excellent riders. They trained their horses well and fast. The horses allowed the men to move quickly in battle and out of danger. As time passed, the Sioux traded with Europeans for guns. They became excellent marksmen. Sitting Bull was a well respected medicine man, and later became a chief. He led the Sioux through many battles. One of the most famous was called the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Sitting Bull believed the Ghost Dance would unite the Sioux. He encouraged his people to perform the dance. The U.S. government banned the dance and Sitting Bull was arrested and then killed. The Sioux Indians had very interesting traits and still live on reservations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The reservations have about 106,500 members.

Ethical Issues Surrounding Gay Marriage Essay

When I think of Ethical issues in the world today, Gay Marriage seems to hits me the hardest. Now Maybe it is the fact that I am bisexual myself or that I have a homosexual uncle who has been married for 2 years. Either way, I am a strong supporter of the entire marriage institution, especially gay marriage. In this paper I will first indentify the ethical issue of gay marriage and specifically explore the ethical problems gay marriage presents including their pros and cons. I will then explain the classical theory of and determine how it would resolve the problems at hand. Next I will continue by contrasting the theoretical solution with perspective of towards gay marriage. Lastly, I will go over which view is the closest to my own personal outlook of gay marriage. Let’s begin with the ethical issue at hand, Gay Marriage. The right for homosexual couples to become married is frowned upon in most of the world. In fact, Gay Marriage is and has been one of the greatest ethical issues in the United States since Slavery and Women Rights. In my own personal opinion, I believe Same-sex Marriage should not be an ethical issue. What is unethical, is how A person may lie, cheat, or fornicate, and still experience the grace of God; but if they are in a gay relationship they are somehow socially damned. I believe by denying any one person their constitution rights to equality is wrong. If a person is homosexual and they choose to marry their significant other, they have the civil right to do so under the constitution as a U. S. citizen. By denying any one person the right to marry whomever they choose, that is a violation of said persons civil rights, because marriage holds legal civil status. We all are Americans who have the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. How can anyone deny Americans this right primarily because of their sexual orientation? People pride themselves on being law abiding citizens, but choose to discriminate against homosexual person’s lifestyle and love interest based on the so called facts written many years ago in a â€Å"religious† book. The Bible is not the law! That is one thing that most religious groups have not yet grasped. No matter what any one person’s religious beliefs are, there is no law, power, or authority that gives them the right to push their religious beliefs onto another’s life. I do not nor have I ever thought religion should ever be the deciding factor in the worlds verdict about gay marriage? Today the growing acceptance of homosexuality is a direct threat to the domination of traditional Christian norms. According to the Christian Bible and many other religions texts, there is the believe that marriage is meant solely between a man and women, anything else is considered a act of sin. However, due to the bible stating that one should not pass judgment on another, many churches are more recently accepting same-sex couples. Personally speaking, many religious â€Å"church goers† use the bible as a means to attack others. They walk around presenting this holier than thou appearance, but neglect to follow all of the teachings their bible possesses. It is funny how those same religious groups that try to argue that gay marriage is a sin are the same people that are protesting to band their children’s public schools of religious content and practices. The separation of Church and State has been put into place in many U. S. cities. Knowing this, I do not understand how any government is to follow the rules on the separation of church and state, but then be given the right to place laws against gay marriage solely based of the Bibles written word. Homosexuals do not spend time going around telling heterosexual people that they are not allowed to engage in intercourse until marriage, while that’s in the bible. The Bible vs. The Constitution seems to play the biggest role in the argument against gay marriage. People have stated, â€Å"the constitution should be changed, its outdated. † However, their entire argument is incorporating the first amendment right of freedom of speech. before the constitution was written, going against the government was unlawful. No one was allowed to speak their minds. I know that even in the bible when one went against what god said they were punished or put to death. Heterosexuals don’t like certain rights in the constitution that go against their own personal beliefs, but will turn and cater to others, like freedom of speech. Without some of those rights it would be unlawful for me to write this paper. Plus, I would have been murdered some time ago for being a white and black, bisexual man. what most fail to realize is that yes the bible thought of gays as a sin but it also listed a number of other acts as sin. If our lives were truly run solely by the Bible’s scriptures, Gay marriage would be the last of the heterosexuals problems. Especially when most of the worlds murders are committed by heterosexuals. I personally do not like to base my arguments off a source unless I plan to use the entire source as foundation. I cannot say the constitution is wrong solely off on right I do not agree with. But turn around and accept the others that cater to my better living. That would label me as a hypocrite. Just like how many people use their religious beliefs to fight gay rights, but fail to follow other aspects of the bibles teachings. I am just human, who am I to judge anyone. This is just one of the many reasons why I can argue that many of the firm believers against gay marriage are set in hypocritical views. People against gay marriage claim that marriage is dedicated to starting a family. They argue that with marriage you have children and build a happy home. However, for many people, marriage is more about love and mutual trust than about starting a family, and so they would say that gay marriage is not an issue. So for those who say it’s only to start a family, I would call this a delusional fantasy. For one there are more broken homes in the world now than anything. Now yes, Homosexual couples cannot physically reproduce on their own. However, this does not give reasonability to deny the couple the right to marry. There are heterosexual couples that cannot physically have children of their own as well. There are many women out in the world that cannot bear children due to a numerous amount of health issues. My own aunt Kelly was told that she can never have children of her own. Her body just doesn’t have the strength and or properly functioning organs to create life. The same goes for many men. I have a neighbor that recently told me that he has a condition that denies him the ability to produce reproductive sperm. As he likes to say, â€Å"he is shooting blanks. † Knowing this I didn’t see any government laws stopping them from getting married. My aunt was told about her inabilities to birth, over 20 years ago. Today she has been married twice. May I remind you that she is a heterosexual woman that cannot have children of her own and is still legally allowed to marry. In today’s world, there are many alternative options for couples to start a family. The most popular way is adoption. Also, there is much more controversy no-a-days regarding adoption . It has become apparent that more and more Homosexual couples are going outside of the United States to adopt children. They are forced to go outside of the United states due to the fact that they are not legally allowed to adopt here in the states. Lesbian and gay-parented families may be more likely than others to include members from more than one ethnic group . So because the government wants to discriminate against the homosexual lifestyles, there are more and more American children left without a home. No one that can legally adopt them is stepping up for the responsibility. It is true that you truly respect something more that you have to fight for. My grandmother used to tell me this since I was really young. There are so many heterosexuals out there that are â€Å"horrible parents† or that take the gift of parenting for granted. They do drugs and make extreme decisions that break up their families or make the decision to rid themselves of the responsibility of parenting all together. I speak from person experience. As a young boy at the age of 5, my mother gave me and my 5 younger siblings up to child protective services. At the time she chose her friends and her drug abuse over her children and family. She did not care whether we would be okay or not, she dropped me off with only 1 shoe. All my mother cared about was being able to get high without the guilt of us seeing her do it. I ended up back in the family, but my siblings were all separated some are still in the system. Now I personally have never seen a homosexual couple that are bad parents. It is usually the exact opposite. Homosexual couples have to fight in order to build their families so they try not to do anything to mess that chance up. I have also never met a homosexual couple that didn’t want children. Along with starting families, those against gay marriage also argue that children brought up in a same-sex marriage household are taught morals and beliefs. Some say that this type of household is poisonous to the child, that it teaches them to go against â€Å"our creator†. what if their families do not share in the same religious beliefs as others. Contrary to what most assume, there are many people that do not believe in God. Just like there are many cultures that believe in gay rights. So no one can make the basis of their argument on â€Å"the creator† when not everyone believes in him. Also, they like to say that by growing up in a gay household, the child is going to turn gay. the association between religious attendance and attitudes toward gay marriage is mediated by a belief that sexual orientation is a choice rather than innate & . This is so ridiculous in so many ways. For one being gay is not a disease, you can’t just catch it. Being gay is not something you inhabit like a accent. People are not made gay they are born gay; its just a matter of when they decide to accept it. I was raised in a house with a male and female parenting role, and I still knew I was different. I am a bisexual male and so are many of my friends. These friends of mine were raised in all types of different households, but known were raised in same-sex households. At the same time I have 3 friends that were adopted and raised by two homosexual men and not a single one of them are gay. They are all in heterosexual relationships and never once thought of being with the same-sex. These are a few examples of discrimination against gay marriage. Another major problem with gay marriage that people are beginning to argue is the affect of heterosexual couples. Many people argue that the world will change for heterosexual couples if same-sex marriages were allowed. Income taxes is one on the many reasons they have behind this outrages claim. Many people are in the belief that income taxes will be increased. Also, the IRS gives certain credits and benefits to those individuals that have children and other dependants. Heterosexuals believe that the government will be forced to apply the same financial benefits and credits on income taxes towards homosexual couples which they believe will lower everyone’s benefits. Along with their income taxes, they’re under the assumption that social security taxes will increased and the benefits decrease if the government has to provide accommodation for these same-sex married couples. One of the more common ignorant claims is regarding heath care. People are arguing that their medical insurance premiums will rise based on these stereotypical images of homosexual lifestyles. They have always believed that homosexuals get diseases and illnesses like Aids or HIV easier than heterosexuals. Based on this belief they think that there will be a higher health care needs associated to the treatment of these more at risk diseases. These potential changes in circumstances do not hold enough credibility to deny a person the right to join the institution of marriage. It is unethical to claim the power to control if someone can get married. Most of the world believes Gay marriage is unethical. I have to disagree with that assumption. This is another way that heterosexuals choose to be hypocrites. Using Arranged marriage as an example, I prove my case. Mostly everyone in the world, whether homosexual or heterosexual, can agree that arranged marriage is unethical. Many people believe that all want arranged marriage is wrong because you should have the right to choose whom you marry. So how is that any different than what homosexuals want. Homosexuals are also being denied the chance to marry who they choose. Again being hypocritical! People believe Marriage is about love and commitment. Both homosexuals and those forced into arranged marriages are victims. Neither gets to decide what they want to do, how to live, who to love. The only difference between the two is that at least arranged marriage is marriage. The couple that is actually in love cannot be married. When two people fall in love, they all want the same thing. They dream of this life together, married, with a family, and more. Why should homosexuals be revoked that reality. It should not matter if you are gay or straight, you should be able to get married if you want. On another note I also, do not believe that anyone should have to travel away from home to legally get married. Some people have to travel multiple states away, because none of the states near them allow same-sex marriage. The day that all 50 states come to the same decision accepting gay marriage will not come anytime soon, but I do hope I am still alive to see a good size amount of them jump the bandwagon. This is one way that would begin to solve the issue. When it comes to gay marriage, I believe the classical theory of Utilitarianism would help solve many of the problems. Utilitarianism is a consequential theory. It is the view that the morally right action is the action that produces the most good . The Utilitarian view seeks to maximize the overall good in a situation. In other words, one should always act in a way that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It is proven that there are fewer people against same-sex marriage, than for it. So the theory of Utilitarianism is the best resolution to the issue the ethical problems of gay marriage. If the government acted with utilitarian views, then we would have less anger, debate, spend less money on a unnecessary battle. Along with this view one would also need a clear perspective of the issue. A clear perspective of the issue of same-sex marriage would be relativism. Relativism is the idea that one’s beliefs and values are understood in terms of one’s society, culture, or even one’s own individual values . It is the philosophical concept that all points of view are equally valid, and that all truth is relative to the individual . Both sides that are involved realize that neither side will ever agree nor neither side is right or wrong. Each Society, culture or religious group is formed by its own ethical values and beliefs, with how they see things to be right and wrong. I believe that when it comes to gay marriage everyone is going to have to agree to disagree. Religion is the top reason to why people are against same-sex marriage. What church goers fail to realize is that they are forcing their religious beliefs onto not only the homosexuals but to all. Everyone has their own views and when Homosexuals try to voice theirs, they are attacked, (metaphorically). The only way that this problem is ever going to get anywhere is if both sides try to understand that just because everyone doesn’t share your same views and beliefs, that doesn’t make them wrong. The cannot ignorantly believe that everyone automatically shares their beliefs. Homosexuals are already at this point, they are the hypocrites in this situation. All they want is equality, the same equality that everyone else has been fighting for all these years. In conclusion, I have indentified the ethical issue of gay marriage and explored the ethical problems gay marriage presents including the pros and cons. I then explained how the classical theory of Utilitarianism would resolve those problems. I continued by contrasting the theoretical solution with perspective of relativism towards gay marriage. Lastly, I went over which view is the closest to my own personal outlook of gay marriage. I do not believe that there should even be such a thing as â€Å"gay marriage†. The title itself is discriminatory. Gay people do not go around referring to a heterosexual couple’s marriage as straight marriage. So why should a society filled with diverse lifestyles be allowed to refer to homosexual marriages as â€Å"gay marriage†. Marriage is marriage, either way. It should not be labeled as any other. Whether, heterosexual or Homosexual, it’s the same institution and should hold the same rights. At the end of the day I am a firm believer that the discrimination against gay marriage should be outlawed. Gay people do value the institution of marriage, therefore their relationship and want to marry is ethical in my eyes. References Driver, J. (2009, June 21). The History of Utilitarianism. Retrieved from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato. stanford. edu/archives/sum2009/entries/utilitarianism-history/ Haider-Markel, D. P. (2008). Beliefs about the origins of homosexuality and support for gay rights. Public Opinion Quarterly, 72, pp. 291–310. doi:10. 1093/poq/nfn015 Mosser, K. (2010). Introduction to Ethics and Social Responsibility. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Patterson, C. J. (2013). Children of Lesbian and Gay Parents: Psychology, Law, and Policy. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 1(S), 27–34. Rosenfeld, M. J. (2007). The age of independence: Interracial Unions, Same-sex Unions, and the Changing American Family. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. Swoyer, C. (2010, December 21). Relativism. Retrieved from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/relativism/ Todd, N. R. , & Ong, K. S. (2012). Political and Theological Orientation as Moderators for the Association Between Religious Attendance and Attitudes Toward Gay Marriage for White Christians. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 4(1), 56–70.

Controversy Paper on United States Involvement in Global Affairs

Involvement of the United States in Global Affairs A major debate that is being discussed both domestically and internationally is the involvement of the United States of America in international affairs. This debate includes the practicality of where the United States has intervened in foreign affairs, its right to intervene in the first place considering past mistakes and questionable leadership, and whether or not that foreign involvement is in the general public’s best interest.Obviously, the two sides of the debate refer to the ‘yes’ position, explained by Ivan Eland (as in yes, the United States should limit it’s global involvement) and also the ‘no’ position, backed by President Barack Obama (as in no, the United States should not limit it’s foreign involvement). Eland’s basis for his argument is that the United States has habitually overspent it’s treasure and overextended it’s military power to a point where we cannot keep pace economically and which could bring upon the demise of the American government as we know it.He also points out that continued foreign endeavors increases the risk of the United States being a target for terrorist attack. Obama’s vision is that The United States of America needs to re-establish its place as a world leader by maintaining an active foreign policy. Obama admits that mistakes have been made where international affairs are concerned, but that is a reason to fix those mistakes and step up as a suitable leader once more. Discussed later in the paper is my own point of view, which supports President Barack Obama and his plan for active engagement in foreign affairs, in a conservative and confidant manner.In his position, Eland points out that both republican and democratic actors, as of now, support the use of military force and United State intervention in foreign affairs. This begs the question, who is on Eland’s side? His half of the deb ate offers advice to both the conservatives and the liberals who are currently apart of US involvement decision-making. While he upholds fair and good points, his arguments hold less sway due to his non-direct involvement.Eland’s first argument has a basis in the research of Christopher Coyne, a professor at West Virginia University. The bottom line of this research is that the Unites States attempts of bringing about democracy in countries where we have tried to intervene militarily has yielded low percent success rates. So it may be that it is time for America to change its tactics from a military to a more democratic approach. Another notion brought up by Eland is that it is in America’s best interest to unextend it’s military power.He points out that is unlikely for another hegemonic power to arise very quickly in the absence of our lessened military power, and also compares the overextending of the United States assets to when the Soviet Union overextended itself and it’s socialistic government collapsed. However, Eland also points out that economically, European countries and China are achieving much more than the US. Therefore, if America does not keep up its involvement globally, it is likely that one of those countries could succeed us as the new superpower, thus contradicting his earlier statement that there is unlikely to be a new hegemon anytime soon.It is also unfair to liken the demise of Russia to that of the United States, when the governmental systems are very different. President Barack Obama is in favor of upholding US involvement globally, and maintaining a leadership role. He plans to do this with 5 steps. First, by bringing troops home from Iraq but also leaving some to keep Al Queda and other terrorists at bay. However, the president doesn’t explain exactly how this will be accomplished more effectively since we are already supposedly fighting â€Å"The War on Terrorism† with all our best resourc es.The main point in Barack Obama’s debate is that the United States needs to stay active in the world to remain on top. To do that, new alliances must be built within NATO, but also keep up with the times and constantly revise our alliances and position within the global community. It is also clear that The United States of America has made mistakes in it’s leadership and economically, but overall, Obama’s plan is fairly clearly outlined in his debate, that mostly makes logistical sense. The first step outlined in order to regain influential leadership is changing the troops and approach in the war in Iraq.Second, to employ a 21st military that is powerful, bright and able. Third, to reinforce allies and stand by other in countries in attempt to keep the world’s deadliest weapons out of the worst hands. Fourth, to reduce carbon emissions, and lastly, to provide more foreign aid to countries who are lacking in basic needs and fair governments. As stated a bove, I believe that President Barack Obama’s side of the debate, supporting United States involvement globally, is the right path for America. I choose this because it isn’t just about the yes or no side of this debate.Obama successfully explains that continued involvement doesn’t mean America stomping on poorer countries and participating in unsuccessful expeditions in helping third world countries. US involvement in global affairs means leading the by way of example and will result in putting the interests and safety of American citizens first. Obama’s reasoning of this debate will hold the backing of American citizens. It gives a probable solution to our countries problems at hand. This policy is the best because the public can understand it and they can feel a stake in its success.Countering pro involvement is Eland’s isolationism position. I don’t believe it measures up because it ignores America’s ability to do well unto others , and it diminishes our ability to lead. America is one of the only countries able to use a quantifiable amount of money and military power for use of foreign aid. And unfortunately, a lot of counties need that. If America were to withdraw, many states would be worse for wear (Lieber). I also believe that America’s defining attribute is its leadership position.Withdrawing from international affairs would be to sacrifice that privilege. It is because that no other regional power has the economic power, political will, or military strength to match the United States that we have a great international influence. However, the European Union or China are certainly striving for that same international influence and will not hesitate to rise to it if the opportunity presents itself (Guest). Part of Obama’s outline to maintain world leadership is to build and maintain a 21st century military.He clarifies that recruiting the best and the brightest and rewarding the veterans who serve because they deserve it will be the foremost way to build a military power that is confident and skilled. A force likened to this will not only allow America’s staying power in the prime leadership spot, but also allow us to provision foreign aid. Eland does bring up an excellent point though, when he brings up that the US spends a great deal on it’s military compared to other countries. He points out that other countries are able to do better economically because they do not have such large ilitaries weighing their economies down. Nonetheless, sacrificing America’s military power is an unacceptable notion. All things considered, the United States should not limit its global involvement. It needs to maintain its leadership position in the world, not only for our own benefit but for other actors also. The procedures used by the United States to determine how it will become involved need to be always evolving and reconsidered to ensure the best possible out comes for our United States citizens, and also other citizens around the globe.The United States is very capable of accomplishing this if we lead by example and are always mindful of fellow countries and the repercussions, positive or negative, that our actions are able to preform. Citations Database Used: Academic Search Premier Lieber, Robert. â€Å"Examining America's Role in Global Affairs. † VOA. Voice of America, 31 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. Guest, Robert. â€Å"Examining America's Role in Global Affairs. † VOA. Voice of America, 31 Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.

Analyse how cultural variations can influence communication Essays

Analyse how cultural variations can influence communication Essays Analyse how cultural variations can influence communication Paper Analyse how cultural variations can influence communication Paper Good communication is essential to ensure optimum health care for people from different cultural backgrounds. Culture is something that we all have, so whilst some cultural beliefs and practices may seem strange to a white indigenous British person, then the opposite is likely to be true to a person from a different culture. Harris (1999) asserts that a culture is the socially learned ways of living found in human societies, and that it embraces all aspects of social life, including both thought and behaviour. Leinger (1991) described culture as ‘the learned, shared and transmitted values, beliefs, norms and lifeways of a particular group that guides their thinking, decisions and actions in patterned or certain ways (Burnard and Gill 2008). Culture is learned rather than innate and dynamic and constantly changing. The UK is becoming an increasingly diverse multicultural society and the different migration patterns throughout recent centuries have added to the dynamic nature of the British culture and society. It is estimated that there are at least 3 million people living in the UK where English is not their first language and the challenges that this poses for the NHS and other caring agencies are immense. At the heart of these challenges is the fostering of good communications where people from all cultural backgrounds can understand and respect each other. The first part of this essay outlines some cultural variations regarding communication. In the second part of this essay the implications that these cultural variations have for health and social care practice are investigated. Some of the different cultural variations that are detailed relate to national backgrounds, age, social class and gender. Cultural variations and communication It is a normal human condition to interpret actions, facial expressions, choice of words and other forms of communication according to a person’s cultural conditioning and past experience. As language is the primary vehicle of culture, perhaps the most obvious indicator of a person’s culture is the way they speak. Statistics from the 2011 Census shows that there are more than one hundred spoken languages in London, alone (Bentham, M 2013). There are also major differences in accents, dialect and usage of words throughout the general population of the United Kingdom. Furthermore, language is central to any subculture so different age groups, gender, different occupations and people with different lifestyles and preferences will develop their own cultures and languages. A good example of this is the recent use of the words ‘sick’ (meaning great or awesome) and ‘dope’ (meaning good, great or cool) by teenagers and young people. These words have a complete opposite meaning to people from an older generation. As well as cultural variations in the spoken word there are major variations in the body language of different cultures. Being bear hugged by a Russian person or being rebuked for smiling too much at somebody from Korea highlights the cultural blunders and confusions inherent in today’s global village. In Bulgaria, for instance, they shake their head for yes and nod for no, and in Korea touching your nose is very rude, and in France the V-sign is used for smoking. Other pitfalls include colours and symbols, for example in India the colour of mourning is white whilst in Saudi Arabia it is insulting to cross an ankle over a knee and display the sole of the shoe while talking to another person. Other taboos include Japanese people viewing it as rude to use too much eye contact, whilst in Saudi Arabia eye contact between a man and a woman would be frowned upon and seen by many as the woman being sexually promiscuous. And whilst people from Mediterranean countries are very animated when expressing themselves this may be misinterpreted to someone from a more reserved culture as being aggressive. It is important, therefore, in multicultural Britain that health and social care workers learn and embrace cultural variations in communication, as it is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals to provide equitable care for patients irrespective of their cultural background or communication abilities. Implications for Practice All health and social care workers need to be aware of cultural variations in communication. These include the care assistant who recognises the symbolic importance of the bindi and assists the Hindu service user to apply the red dot, to the midwife who refrains from installing praise on a new born Vietnamese baby because she (or he) understands the significance of Vietnamese taboos and superstitions. Furthermore, the surgeon who realises that the Asian child with a swastika painted on his head is displaying it for good look rather than for Nazi sympathiser reasons and this would hopefully prevent a reoccurrence where a surgeon refused to operate on a patient because they had a swastika tattoo (Day, M 2010). Other examples of understanding cultural variations in healthcare include the pharmacist underestimating the risks of dispensing medicines to non-literate people who statistically are in additional danger of being hospitalised through not being able to understand labels and written instructions. People from non-literate and lower social class groups are also less likely to be as autonomous in healthcare interactions as their white middle-class counterparts. One doctor in primary care reported how low literacy meant that patients were unable to articulate problems accurately and more time was required for explanation. These cultural barriers encourage healthcare workers, such as doctors, to make decisions for patients and service users believing that they are culturally limited in their ability to make big decisions. Equally, many older people may refrain from asking for clarification about matters for fear of being labelled confused or demented (Likupe, G 2014). Johnson et al (2004) reported that physicians in the US were more dominant and engaged in less patient-centred communication with African-American patients compared with white patients. As a result, African-American patients demonstrated reduced adherence to treatment regimens and less satisfaction with care compared with the white patients in the study (Likupe, G 2014) and again cultural variations influenced the communication and in turn outcomes for these patients. These examples highlight how cultural variations and misunderstandings can result in the manifestation of stereotypical views which in turn leads to discrimination. Another study showed that African-American women received different treatment from white women and that stereotyping influenced this treatment. These women were often stereotyped as being aggressive and this affected their interactions with healthcare professionals. Sometimes they felt that their conversations were being misinterpreted. One woman in the study described how a doctor was scared of her because she used her hands often when speaking and the doctor thought she was going to hit him (Likupe, G 2014). Cultural variations will also affect the way that health and social care workers and service users greet each other. The friendly, firm handshake common to the indigenous British population may appear rude to somebody from Arabic Middle-Eastern cultures. And in China, not only are weak handshakes preferred, but the custom is to hold on for an extended time after the initial shake. With no knowledge of this the indigenous healthcare worker may believe that the patient is very nervous. On the other hand receiving an extra firm hand shake from somebody with a South African culture, will not mean that they are being aggressive as in South Africa, the stronger the handshake, the better. Some cultures prohibit physical contact between men and women, so an handshake greeting would not be an option as it may cause offence. In such circumstances a nod of the head may be the appropriate way to greet a service user, and understanding these nuances are vital for building up relationships of respect and trust with the client and their family. There are also other cultural taboos that the healthcare worker will benefit from knowing. For example, not to shake hands over the doorstep when leaving the home of a Russian service-user, as they believe that this may cause an argument. Russian culture also has a different approach to proximity. Proxemics reveals that people handle space differently, depending on the type of culture they come from. If personal space is violated, people from individualistic cultures may react actively while people from collectivist cultures may adopt a passive stance. It is crucial for healthcare workers to understand more about how physical space is dealt with in different cultures in order to increase their comprehension and expression. Axtell (1997 p40) places cultures into the following categories. High contact† are touching cultures (for example, Middle East, Latin American, Greece,†¦), â€Å"moderate contact† are middle ground (for example, France, China, Ireland,†¦) and â€Å"low contact† do not touch (for example, Japan, US, England,†¦). Healthcare workers need to be sensitive to these differences since a body gesture can appear personal or intimate depending on the culture of the person. Perceptions of health and well-being, illness and disease are culturally defined and healthcare workers need to be aware of how this may translate to the way a service user understands and articulates pain. Some commentators have pointed out that some cultures have a more stoic attitude towards pain whilst others are more expressive with their reaction to pain. Expressive patients often come from Hispanic, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds, whilst stoic patients often come from Northern European and Asian backgrounds. However, whilst providing meaning to the way an individual responds to illness and other conditions, healthcare workers should not stereotype and always be vigilante when looking out for signs of ill health. Following on, some people may believe that their illness is caused by God, due to a sin (morality failure), and even karma. For instance, an Indian patient may believe that their illness or condition is due to events in a past life. Whilst acknowledging these beliefs it is equally important that the service user is given the best care in order to produce the best outcomes as possible. It may be that a family member who is helping to perpetuate such beliefs is spoken to sensitively. Safeguarding may also become a concern if a dominant member of the family insists on always being present when healthcare workers are there. For example in matriarchal cultures the head female will expect all communication to first go through her, and in patriarchal cultures it will be the head male. Consequently, a teenage girl from a patriarchal family may be unwilling to speak in front of her father about the real reasons that she wants to visit a healthcare professional. The professional, such as a GP or district nurse needs to be aware of this, especially if the father or mother is always present during healthcare appointments (especially when they are adults). It could be, for example, related to sexual health and early intervention may prevent the dangers of a patient contracting a sexually transmitted infection or having an unwanted pregnancy. Such dilemmas of who to respect can be difficult for the healthcare worker. Being a core value of health and social care interactions, the concept of respect has much cultural meaning. For example, respect may mean different things to people from different cultures, and it is these cultural differences that need to be taken into account when providing care. For example, in most African cultures, older people prefer not to be addressed by their first names and may like to be referred to as uncle, aunt or mama, depending on the relationship and difference in age between those they are communicating with. In Asian cultures older people may prefer to be addressed by their titles, such as doctor, Mr or Mrs (Likupe, G 2014). Due to negative stereotypes of older people it has also be shown that many younger people depersonalise older people in a process known as ‘over-accommodation’ where they use ‘elderspeak’. This involves communication being overly polite and warm, with a slowed speaking rate, increased volume of speech and use of exaggerated intonation and simple language. This for many older people is seen as condescending and patronising, to the older person and can result in lowering their self-esteem. Therefore, healthcare workers need to be aware that this may happen when talking to older people and be active in refraining from using elderspeak and pointing out to colleagues if they see them over accommodating. This is particularly important as elderspeak has been shown to increase aggressiveness and decrease receptiveness to care interventions. A good guide for health and social care organisations would be for them to provide staff with information about different cultural groups. For example, how in some cultures, old age is associated with wisdom, and often used to indicate status and power, and younger people are expected to respect older people. Another factor which has major implications to the way cultural variations may affect communication is the increasing reliance of overseas workers in British healthcare who bring with them a diverse range of cultures. For example, in 2005 Internationally Recruited Nurses (IRNs) accounted for more than 60% of the nursing workforce in some healthcare organisations (Nursing Standard). Whilst the majority of these healthcare workers provide an excellent service there has been criticism that due to language barriers some are unable to engage in ‘small-talk’ with service users. These informal chats between nurse and patient are arguably very important to the patient’s experience and road to recovery. Conclusion It is important for health and social care workers to become familiar with cultural practices and behaviours because unfamiliarity could lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding, with service users not receiving the desired care, thereby affecting safety and outcomes. The refusal of a Jewish surgeon to operate on a patient with a Nazi tattoo highlights the difficulties of cultural variations in communication and health and social care contexts (Day, M 2010). This also illustrates the power of non-verbal communication and how signs, symbols and the use of body language can influence the way a person interprets another person’s actions and intentions. In Multi-cultural Britain it is important that health and social care providers and educators make sure that the healthcare workforce are aware of cultural variations in health and social care in order to deliver the best care possible and achieve the best outcomes. Reference standard.co.uk/news/london/census-data-shows-100-different-languages-spoken-in-almost-every-london-borough-8472483.html

Which Year of High School Is Most Important for College Applications

Which Year of High School Is Most Important for College Applications SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips To figure out which year of high school academics is the most important, it helps to think of high school as a marathon. In order to win a marathon, of course you have to run the whole time – if you stop running, then lots of other people will pass you. But because you’re human, when you’re running a marathon, you can’t really run at the same speed the whole timed. Instead, you learn to pace yourself early on, and then really bust out your best sprint when it counts – at the finish line. So which part of high school is that all-out sprinting finish line? Read on for our answer. All Years Are Important Before I tell you which is the most important year of high school, let's be real: you can't really snooze your way through any of these four important years.High school is designed so that every year is a building block for the next. In other words, the classes you can take junior and senior years depend in large part on what you’ve been doing the previous years. This means that 9th and 10th grades are the setup years: this iswhen you take the prerequisite classes you need to take high level classes later, and also when you join the activities that you will hopefully rise to a leadership position in. On top of that, freshman year can be a reallyhard adjustment year. You suddenly have high school-level demands, much more academic and social pressure, not to mention the wild ride of adolescent development and the surge of hormones that comes with it. Actually, 9th grade is so hard that research shows that itis the make it or break it year – the year that determines whether kids stay to finish high school or drop out altogether. That awkward moment when your hormone surge turns you rabid. 12th grade is also not the best time to start slouching. Even though the GPA colleges will see is made up mostly of grades from the first three full years of high school,first-semester senior year grades are sometimes sent in with your transcript. This means that 12th gradealso needs to be stacked with impressive classes that build on what you accomplished junior year. What's more, if you really slack off senior year, your acceptance could even be rescinded Finally, if you’re taking AP classes, good grades on AP exams can get you college credit or at least place you out of intro college classes. Every AP class in every year matters - and you will most likely take the most number of AP classes in 11th and 12th grade. Junior Year Is the MostImportant If you were paying careful attention, you might have noticed that the last section kind of gave short shrift to 11th grade. That's because junior year is so important that we need to talk about it separately. Show off your academic chops The main reason that junior is the most important year for your college applications is because it’s the last full year of high school that colleges see. It also represents you atyour most mature -since teens grow a lot year by year, junior year is the best way forcolleges to extrapolate what you'll be like as an adult. Because you want to demonstrate your full capabilities, 11th grade should be the hardest course load year on your transcript.It should most closely approximate a college course load, so that colleges can get a sense of how you would handle that level of work. So, my advice is to take the highest level courses that you can reasonably handle (meaning get a B or higher in). Remember, this is the time to really push yourself, especially in classes that are your strengths, that you are passionate about, or that you can see yourself pursuing in college. Since you will be doing such intense and impressive work in your challenging classes, your 11th grade teachers are probably going to be the teachers that will write your college recommendations. Definitely come to class ready to impress. (Get a more detailed scoop on letters of recommendation in our guide.) Artglass: raising the bar onbringing your teacher an apple. Make up for past mistakes Another key reason that junior year is socrucial is that it can be the time when you redeem a lackluster freshman or sophomore year. Colleges like to see one of two things from your academic career: either a strong performance that is maintained throughout, or an upward trend of doing better and better each year.If you got reallygood gradesin 9th and 10th grade, then nice job! And, 11th grade needs to be more of the same - great grades in even harder classes. But if you had a tough time in 9th or 10th grade, then 11th grade is the year when you can show colleges the full range of your abilities by pulling off a banner year of good grades. Imagine an admissions officer seeing at a transcript with mediocre grades in 9th grade, followed by a junior year of challenging classes and good grades. This officer will see a student who rises to the challenge and has the perseverance to keep going even in the face of a setback. Time to erase those early bad grades from the admission officer's mind. On the other hand, a bad junior year canmake a good freshman or sophomore year look like a fluke. Now picture that same admissions officer seeing a transcript with a bunch of 10th grade A's, followed by 11th grade B's and C's. This time, the officer is likely to conclude that the strong sophomore year performance is not really an indicator of the student's ability. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Crush upcoming key tests At the same time, 11th grade is the year of important testing. Of course, you will take lots of tests every year of high school, but your junior year will most likely be full of statewide and nationwide tests that will matter a lot on your college application. AP exams that will end up on your college applications (check out ourfull list of available AP exams). If your state has a required exit exam, you will likely take it at the end of junior year. The PSAT – a test that is called â€Å"practice† but that you have to take very seriously because it couldqualify you for the National Merit Scholarship program and givea sense of howyou will likely score on the SAT (learn moreabout the PSAT here). SAT subject tests that will end up on your college applications (here's a breakdown of everything you need to know about SAT subject tests). And, of course, the SAT itself, which you will most likely take for the first time in late winter or early spring of your junior year.Learn why a high SAT/ACT score is the best single way to improve your chance of admission to a competitive school. You will be weighed. You will be measured. Hopefully you won't be found wanting. Be a leader Because junior year is also the last full year of extracurriculars that colleges will see, this might be the perfect time to prove your ability to lead and manage others. So run for that student council election, audition for that starring role, or work your way up to first singles on the tennis team! Can you be elected an officer of your club or student organization? Can you become captain of your sports team? Can you headline a performance, stage an exhibition, or get a lead role? Can you assumelarger responsibility for a volunteer project, like orienteering others or organizing donations? Is it Rumplestiltskin? Plan your future Finally, junior year is the year of the college search! This is when you will decide on where and how you will spend the next fouryears of your life. If you're curious how that process works, read our explainer. What If I Screwed Up My Junior Year? If you've been reading this and panicking because your junior year didn't go according to plan, don't worry. You still have some good options. You can explain what happened on your college applications, try to make up the grades through some hard work, or even just chalk it up to experience and move on to do better in the future. Did something happen in your personal life to derail you? Anything like your parents divorcing or losing a job, a serious illness or injury, or any other tremendous life upheaval is a completely understandable reason for grades to fall.If this happened to you, the key thing is to explain to colleges exactly what you were going through. Use either your personal essay or the â€Å"tell us anything else† space on your application to let schools know your circumstances. Additionally, for extra impact, ask your counselor or the teacherswriting your recommendations to also narrate these adverse events in their letters Are you still in the middle of your junior year? If you are still in the middle of 11th grade and have just noticed that your grades are slipping, there is probably still time in the year to undo the damage. Remember, your mid-year grades aren’t going to be seen by colleges, so you still have time to mitigate the situation. This is the time to ask the teachers whose classes you are struggling with for help, for extra credit assignments, or anything else that can help boost both your grade and their opinion of your work ethic. Also, if you've been taking it easy, this is the time to hit the books. Without overwhelming yourself, and without depriving yourself of sleep (7-8 hours a night is what the doctor ordered) or your sanity, spend some extra time assessing your study habits and improving them. Think about letting your social life take a bit of a backseat for now while you study – trust me, your future is worth a little hermitbehavior. Is hermit behavior anything like hobbit behavior? Because I think I could really get used to elevensies and second breakfast. Another way to make the case that you haven’t actually performed up to your potential is to really do your very best on the SAT or ACT test. A high score will show that you have untapped potential. We havedetailed advice on raising your GPA fastand on getting a full 2400 SAT score. Are you planning to recommit to academics in the future? Sometimes what happened in high school should just stay in high school. If you let your work slip,butnow have come to you to a sudden realization that you need to refocus on academics, then what you really need issome more time to show what you can really do. Then this might be the time to rethink your target schools, and then try to transfer midway through your college career. For example, you could first go to community college for one or two years, and then apply to a state or private university as a transfer student. Another great option is to seek out a university system and first enroll at aless selective campus, eventually transferring to one of the more selective ones.Explore your options in our guide to applying to college with a low GPA and our roundup of the best collegeswith low GPArequirements. What’s Next? Thinking about planning your high school curriculum? Then check out our discussion of the classes you should take in high school. If you’d like to see what a rigorous course load would look like, read our article on planning a challenging curriculum in high school. To learn more about how your GPA is calculated, read about how your GPA works and the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Reflection paper Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflection paper - Article Example In its pure form, which the author is quick to point out has not yet been discovered 'in nature', this form of authority rests on the individual's fitness to fulfill the legal obligations of the office he or she holds. This fitness is based on the person's specific training and demonstration of competence to carry out the duties of that office. Obedience is owed to that office and the legal elements it governs, but does not extend outside of this sphere in any way. The office itself is not a personal space for the individual filling it but is rather a space reserved for the carrying out of the legal duties of the position the person fills. Both in seeking redress and in issuing commands, the order of the established hierarchy is followed and each office within the hierarchy is filled with other individuals equally tested and deemed fit to fulfill the duties of that particular office. In theory, a hierarchy established on this pure form would run like clockwork, each individual acting within the boundaries of his or her office to which he or she is perfectly suited and trained and governed by clear laws of operation. Only the business of the office is conducted with little or no personal overlap of outside interests. To ensure all runs smoothly, there are set salaries for each of the positions within the hierarchy and all compensation is fulfilled in terms of money rather than 'in-kind' benefices. This is because benefices are difficult to quantify and often carry with them external, additional obligations. This type of authority, in an imperfect form, is found throughout the world almost every time you turn around. The republic of the United States is formed on such a system in which the President is elected to his office and appoints a number of supposedly qualified individuals to fill specific offices within his administration, each of which has their own set of obligations and responsibilities, their own hierarchical structure below them, and their own set o f laws to follow regarding how they conduct business. This is only an imperfect example, though, because it is not necessarily true that the electorate will vote for the most qualified candidate for President or that the elected President will place the most qualified candidates within the individual offices within his administration. Compensation for offices are frequently a mixture of salaries based on money and benefices consisting of favors, gifts, or other positive outcomes for the recipient. While behavior is ruled by law, there is often a great deal of politics occurring within this hierarchy, providing means by which laws are bent, broken, amended or over-ruled based upon a different system of obligation. Many of these same issues are also present in smaller organizations in which this form of authority is in place. These include corporations of all types as well as non-profit, philanthropic endeavors. Of course, in these smaller organizations, the rules can be bent to a gre ater or lesser degree simply because they are company policies rather than actual laws. In addition, the appointment of individuals to different offices can be based on things such as personal relationships or favors owed rather than actual fitness and training specific to the tasks of the office. In almost all systems of this sort, there is some reliance