In what ways does phonological transfer affects Spanish learners in Research Paper

In what ways does phonological transfer affects Spanish learners in the learning of English - Research Paper Example The critical analysis of the articles will explain phonological transfer in the sense of vowel transfers. The other part of the work will make an analysis and recommendations on phonological transfer and their impacts with the two extremes of language. The mistakes of Spanish students in terms of phonology and morphology of language will be analyzed real context. The analysis will integrate the analysis of influencing factors and how they affect the learning of the new language with reiteration being made on English learners as the second language. A conclusion will furnish the readers with my final stand on the issue of phonological transfer with respect to vowel transfer. The study further shows the interaction between bilingualism, vowel contrasts, and novel words. Bilingual participants had greater difficulty with the certainty of vowel contrasts that were contained in learners words, whereas native English participants had no significant difficulty with vowel contrasts in either real or novel words. The main variables that affected the bilingual participants’ in the process of phonological transfer were the age of acquisition of English, the report of problems in communication in English, and the overall percentage of time that was devoted to communication and learning in English. INTRODUCTION A number of previous studies have shown that phonological transfers have a vast impact when it comes to the learning of a language as the second language. The impacts have been observed when it comes to the experience of both the adults in production and perception of L2 sounds. Non-native speakers of language accuracy of pronouncing the vowels are inversely related to their age as opposed to their accuracy in pronouncing the consonants. Flege (1991b) found out in one of his studies that the non-native Spanish speakers who went to the US produced English vowels in an intended manner more often than those who went to the US as adults who produced the vowels in a more or less non-intended manner. There was a less spectral overlap between adjacent between the adjacent vowels as spoken by the early bilinguals as compared to those from the late bilinguals (Garcia Perez, 2003). Furthermore, there is the other impact of phonological transfer in terms of the vowel production accuracy as they vary among the individuals who began speaking the language when they are adults. Flege (199a) found out that English spoken by students with mild accents were more intelligible than that spoken by students with strong foreign accents. This is despite the fact that the basis of the strong accent with respect to vowel production differences still remaining unknown. There are questions raised though of whether the improvement in vowel production in adults occur naturally when one is exposed to L2 or it needs some special talents. The methodology for the findings above was conducted on ten Spanish speakers and having no other language acquired in the period of t he research at level 400 or at far the university level. The students were recruited at their respective English classes across the universities of the US states. The students were generally from the same state and were between 20-23 years of age. The average number of years that the students had studied English was 7.8 with the greatest having studied for 12 years and the least 4 years (Kuhl & Iverson, 1995). A greater percentage of about 60% and above had done the studies of the language for more than 7 years including how vowels move concerning the experience of the speaker with English language. This

Women Have Natural Power And Abilities English Literature Essay

Women Have Natural Power And Abilities English Literature Essay Abstract The common story in most parts of the globe is that of the humble woman suffering under the cruelty of man. The widespread belief that women have borne the blunt of mans beastly nature makes it challenging to market the idea that women have enormous power that they sometimes utilize in ways that are detrimental to society. This research proposal uses Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights and Anne Brontes Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall in examining these immense powers on the hands of women. These novels are replete with issues pertaining to female behavior and male response that will help analyze the subject of female power in a deeper sense. Through their strong wills, purposes, and desires, women characters in these novels often form mens characters, and define their behaviors. For example, in Wuthering Heights, Catherines headstrong and rebellious ways are partially responsible for Heathcliffs antisocial behavior, and it is through Catherines lens of how men should behave and react to her demands that she forms Heathcliffs character and leaves him to his madness at her death. In Agnes Grey, Miss Murray forms the manipulative and ultimate perspective alterations in Mr. Hatfields view of women as helpless creatures in their need for rescue, protection, and provision. In light of this argument, how does the womans creation of the patriarchal figuration for the male character affect the man and the woman, especially in the formation of the womans worldview? Does this power result in ramifications for the woman as well? Are women aware of the power that they wield, and if they are, why do they blame the man for relationship and cultural breakdowns? In my dissertation, I use evidence from the Bronte novels to show that it is womens unwillingness toward self-awareness and accountability that contributes to variant male behavior and perceptual outcomes. To that end, I argue that women have far more influence and power than often they acknowledge either publicly or privately, and this power and influence consistently contribute to the formation of male thinking and behavior. Summary Women have natural power and abilities. These innate characteristics affect the intellectual, cultural, spiritual, emotional, sociopolitical, and interpersonal world of men with different outcome and with detrimental results to both genders. An in-depth study of the emergence, construction, and outcomes of feminism on men within myriad contexts is a sure way of vindicating the existence of the female power. Applying this theory to three British novels written by Emily and Anne Bronte Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall- this study will draw important correlates between female abilities, capacities, and innate talents and the use of these elements to alter or supersede male potentialities. For example, Catherines misuse of her natural female strengths and talents is used to override Heathcliffs reticence against and desire to withdraw from her controlling manipulation, culminating in tragedy to both characters. Additionally, much has been written about the Bildungsroman in Brontes adolescent-to-adult theme in Agnes Grey. The use of feminine potential and power toward men found in this novel shows the deleterious effects on both men and women. Similarly, female power and control in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is measured through Helen Grahams interactions with the men in her life. In this novel, Bronte reveals this power and manipulative awareness in her protagonist, but the theme remains intact: women often have inordinate amounts of power and control over men in myriad realms of their lives. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the above three novels to show the deleterious outcomes of the immense powers in the hands of women. Tentative Title: Medusa never Died: Female Power and Men Victimization Introductory Statement of Background, Purpose and Thesis I will analyze The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte and Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights with the aim of showing how they developed female characters that revealed the resulting destruction when females neither correctly understand nor properly apply their power. The analysis will prove that the female power and influence affect the intellectual, cultural, spiritual, emotional, sociopolitical, and interpersonal world of men with different outcome and with detrimental results to both genders. The purpose of this study will involve comparing three British novels, written by sisters, through whom female power is used to effect masculine changes, behaviors, and affect situational outcomes. Demonstrating the application of feminine power in relationship dyads will support the hypothesis that the female power can manipulate, control, and cause harm to men and, through them, socio-political constructs which affect everyone. In addressing the research problem, then, a thorough review of the selected works, combined with a thorough literature review of existing studies which serve to amplify the feminine use of power to manipulate or form outcomes. As a contribution to human science, my research topic is highly significant for socio-cultural, gender-based, and psychological awareness of conflict source and resolution, and greatly contributes to the literatures body of knowledge. While the literature is rife with widely diverse discourse and study on feminism, the body of knowledge is seriously deficient in considering the research problem. That is because this issue requires a major paradigmatic change since the major outcomes of feminism have been militant and rejects feminine limitations while creating male-opposition toward many of its tenets. Signe Arnfred exposes a practical sense of feminine power in a non-western setting in her article entitled Sex, Food and Female Power: Discussion of Data Material from Northern Mozambique. In this article, she shows how women in a certain part of the world harness their mastery of feminine chores in both reproduction and family into a power tool that calls for respect from men (141). It is vital to note that what the characters in the Bronte novels do is not so much removed from what Arnfred tries to show in her article. The setting might be different, but the game is the same as shown by the similarity of the playe rs. In fact, male dominance was common in Victorian times, as was female servility; But it is this servility that supported the dominance. Critics of the Bronte novels have noticed the male dominance in these novels, and identified the role women play in perpetuating this dominance. The feminine role in the advancement of male dominance is a power in itself, which, if withdrawn, can have a regulatory outcome on male behavior. In the article The Question of Credibility in Anne Brontes The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Arlene Jackson points out that, Anne Bronte also answers a question that other novels of her time do not ask: what happens to a marriage and to the innocent partner when one partner (specifically, the male) leads a solipsistic life, where personal pleasures are seen as deserved, where maleness and the role of husband is tied to the freedom to do as one wants, and femaleness and the role of wife is linked to providing service and pleasure not necessarily sexual, but including daily praise and ego-boosting and, quite simply, constant attention (203), On the surface, Jackson is asserting that powerlessness is another way of describing women. This is how she decodes the message that Anne Bronte is sending to society through her book. Obviously, numerous people agree with this position, considering the woman to be the victim, suffering silently without a means of escape from the cruel claws of the man. But this is not the case because in the process of praising someone, there is the knowledge that the praise can be withheld. There is also the knowledge that the praise can lead to dependency as well as other undesirable manifestations of character that may be harmful to both the person lavishing praise, who is the woman as well as the man, who is the recipient of the praise. An objective analysis of the message from Jackson reveals that men have a certain degree of dependency on the lavish praise they are showered with by women. As much as Jacksons work may have been an attempt to show the credibility of Anne Brontes literary skills, she helps in the identification of areas of female power that is sometimes wrongly used to enhance female servitude and perpetuate male dominance. Maggie Berg, in her Hapless Dependants, Women and Animals in Anne Brontes Agnes Grey argues that, in a patriarchal society where women are faced with challenges of identity, expression and recognition- the general treatment of women is implied to be like treatment of animals. This position is also shared by another critic of Anne Brontes The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Juliet McMaster, who takes the position that the Victorian period was characterized by a huge power imbalance that tilted heavily in favor of men. In her article entitled Imbecile Laughter and Desperate Earnest in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, McMaster talks of a Victorian power structure that did not allow women to have a say in society. All things were done according to the rules set by men for everyone (368). However Berg and McMasters view is harsh and seems to fall into a perception that women have no place in the society. In support of the position that goes against this perception, the several published works that have a stand on womens power in relation to men will be examined too. In this line of scholarship, Naomi Wolf is a popular and influential voice. Her critically acclaimed book entitled Fire with Fire: The New Female Power and How to Use it is a slap on the face of McMaster and Jackson as it crushes their positions on female victimhood. Wolf believes that women have always had more power than men. The biggest problem according to her is that women have not mastered the art of utilizing this power for their benefit (23-25). She further disagrees with women whose time is spent agonizing over a male dominated society where every woman is a victim (56). Evidently, Wolf is not ready to buy into the ideas of Jackson and McMaster. The areas where the latter two see oppression and in justice, the former sees opportunity and freedom that has not been seized by women. As it were, scholarly arguments are as strong as the evidence. Wolf avails solid examples of women who have managed to live happily through the realization that female power is sufficient to combat what has come to be known as male dominance. She points out that politics, business, and family life are all potential areas of female excellence if women meet fire with fire and learn to use some of the tactics men use to manage affairs in society (34). This is the basis of her phrase, fire with fire. Another female scholar who has done research on the issue of female power and influence is Margaret Beetham. In an article entitled Thinking Back Through our Mothers Magazines: Feminisms Inheritance from Nineteenth-Century Magazines for Mothers, Beetham, whose main objective is to survey the motherhood oriented magazines that existed in the nineteenth century, makes a refreshingly different statement based on what she discovers in the magazines she reads. As much as there was injustice in society during a greater part of the Victorian period, there was the acceptance that women were equal to men, but different. The admission of equality in these magazines that were published for mothers shows that the empowering element for women was present. What lacked was the will to pursue the path of equality through the elimination of obstacles that made it difficult for women to enjoy the trappings of a free life. It helps to point out that the writers and publishers of the magazines that Margaret Beetham analyzes in her work were both men and women, with most of them being in the hands of women. The significance of this is that women had access to the tools for empowerment as early as the Victorian time, a period that is attacked as highly paternalistic and patriarchal. This point is shared by Lisa Duggan and Nan Hunter. In Sex Wars: Sexual Dissent and Political Culture, the authors poignantly state that man and woman have always tried to live as a united pair, but the truth is that each is pulling in a different direction. The struggle is purely power based and is largely to blame for much of the s uffering that goes on in society (19-21). My study will be unique in the sense that it will depart from the traditional feminist readings and exegeses like that of Jackson and McMaster. The dissertation will prove the existence of the female power and influence even in the Victorian society; a society that is known as purely chauvinistic. Even in this analysis, my study will also go beyond the stress on the female power in the political and economic spheres as perpetuated by Arnfred, Wolf and Beetham. In contrast, I will focus on the psychological and personal dimension of feminine power. Through the critical examination of the Bronte novels, I will show that the power and influence held by women is not the literal political or physical power that society is used to, but rather the psychological one. It is partially the psychological dependency that men have on women that gives women the ability of manipulate circumstances and conditions in ways that can hurt or heal both parties. Evidently, my dissertation carries anti-feminist tone. The feminist theory will be employed to deconstruct the myth it perpetuates about the hegemony of man and the victimhood of woman. I will also shed light on the psychoanalytic theory to highlight the psychological power and influence women have on men. In a nutshell, through analyzing the three novels and borrowing from the other available materials and the theoretical framework, my study will purposefully prove that women have natural power and abilities; when these innate characteristics are applied to the intellectual, cultural, spiritual, emotional, sociopolitical, and interpersonal world of men, this power can be abused to control and define the opposite sex, with detrimental results to both genders.

Essay --

In mijn essay behandel ik het boek het Maatschappelijke verdrag van Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Ik heb voor dit boek gekozen, omdat Rousseau mij heel erg interesseerde toen ik hem tegenkwam in handboek 2, het oog in de storm geschreven door Ellen Geerlings. Ik was vooral aangetrokken door zijn denken over de staat, omdat ik mijzelf al lang afvraag waar het naar toe gaat met deze maatschappij waar wij nu in leven, en zo kwam ik bij het Maatschappelijke verdrag terecht. Rousseau is geboren in 1712 te Genà ¨ve. Zijn moeder overleed kort na zijn geboorte en zijn vader leerde hem lezen en schrijven op goed niveau. Op zijn 17e bekeerde hij zich tot het katholicisme. En hij gaat naar Parijs in 1742. Zijn interesse naar de filosofie kwam in zijn 37e levensjaar toen hij de opstelwedstrijd: â€Å"Welke bijdrage heeft de versterkte positie van wetenschappen en kunsten geleverd aan de verfijning der zeden?† won en daardoor in 1 klap een beroemde schrijver is. Zijn interesse voor de filosofie groeit. Hij keert terug naar Genà ¨ve en wordt weer protestants. De plotselinge aandacht die hij kreeg maakte het moeilijk om zijn visie weer te geven. Rousseau is een contractdenker, die de ongelijkheid in deze maatschappij ziet als een voortbrengsel van cultuurhistorische teruggang, doordat bezit en liefde naar onszelf toe ingang hebben gevonden in een meer oorspronkelijke natuurtoestand van samenleven. Er is een verschil tussen mensen die in de natuurtoestand leven en tussen mensen die leven in de maatschappij. Iemand moet de stad gaan bewonen en voordeel doen, en niet doen wat de rest van de stad doet. Rousseau zijn denken in het algemeen is dat de mens terug naar de natuur moet om helemaal vrij te zijn, maar hier bedoelt hij niet mee dat mensen weer in het wo... ...us gevormd door een ieder die zich aan dit Maatschappelijke verdrag houdt. De staat zijn dus dezelfde mensen als de Soeverein. Dus de burgers bepalen wat ze willen en dan zijn zij ook de onderdanen die doen wat zij zelf willen, dus die de algemene wil volgen. Hierdoor ontstaat er voor iedereen vrijheid, omdat iedereen doet wat hij/zij zelf bepaald heeft. Er ontstaat natuurlijk ook zelfbehoud, omdat iedereen bepaald heeft en het dan ook iedereen zijn verantwoordelijkheid is dat elk individu beschermd wordt tegen aanvallen. Datgene wat de burgers (soeverein) bepaald over het belang worden wetten genoemd. Hierin staat de vrijheid van het volk en dit zijn geen wetten die de vrijheid willen beperken. Dit is volgens Rousseau ‘’de enige menselijke vorm die de vrijheid kan aannemen wanneer men het zelfbehoud als uitgangspunt neemt’’ (blz.20 Het Maatschappelijke verdrag) .

Faith in the Things They Carried

Henry Dobbins wears his girlfriend's pantyhose around his neck for protection and comfort. He is much more confident when he equips the stockings, therefore they act as a talisman that shield him from the evils of war. â€Å"Dobbins was invulnerable. Never wounded, never a scratch†¦ No cover at all, but he just slipped the pantyhose over his nose and breathed deep and let the magic do its work† (O' Brine 112). O'Brien uses Dobbins as an example to show the implementation of faith and hope. Through Dobbins and his close relationship with the pantyhose, It Is shown how mentality can affect reality.The stockings not only display the importance of faith and a positive attitude, but also a yearning for femininity, revealing the softer side of Dobbins. They express his longing for love and home. With the stockings, Dobbins journeys through the war untouched and fearless. â€Å"It turned us into a platoon of believers†¦ ‘No sweat,' he said. The magic doesn't go awayà ¢â‚¬  (O'Brien 112). The leggings give Dobbins a of the other platoon members. They began to make the soldiers rely on superstition rather than rationality because the twists of the Jungle were unpredictable.Even after his girlfriend dumped him, Dobbins remained immaculately brave which means hat the power of the stockings did not come from love or his memories, but Dobbin's himself. â€Å"A heroic warrior whose victories†¦ Affirm the country fundamental goodness and power† (Gibson 510). He was able to find hope more than anyone else in the platoon and because of that, Dobbins is singled out as a simple, yet unique individual who can take on the obstructions and terrors of war by simply remaining himself. Throughout the war Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, the platoon leader, can't resist reminiscing about his hungering love for Martha.His anticipation for returning home after the war only grows heavier as his thoughts overrun his mind. This uncontrollability leads to Lavender's death on which Cross can't ever forgive himself for letting happen. â€Å"Lavender was dead. You couldn't burn the blame† (O'Brien 22). His guilt and remorse builds up too point where he tries to rid his mind of the tragedy by burning his memories of Martha, changing nothing. This is essential to understanding Cross' character because no matter what harm comes his way, he ties it back to Martha.Several years after the war, Lieutenant Cross visits O'Brien house ND tells him about how Martha gave him another photo at a college reunion. When O'Brien tells Cross that he wants to write a story about Martha and Cross, Cross replies, â€Å"Why not? Maybe she'll read it and come begging. There's always hope, right? † (O'Brien 28). In the war, Lieutenant Cross puts his faith in returning to Martha because it gives him something worth fighting for. He is completely broken when he finds out she doesn't love him, yet still loves her and wants to be with her.Likewise, O'Brien teac hes through Cross that many soldier's would have the high expectations f coming home after war to find their dreams come true, clearly that is not always the case. Even though Cross isn't fully satisfied, he still believes that there is a possibility that Martha will come back to him after O'Brien writes a story of him as brave, handsome and heroic. Muff need to persist, to listen, and to give them something to hold on to, something that gives them a sense of possibility' (Kowtowing 206). Both Martha and O'Brien offer Cross something to look forward to, a reason to keep his hopes up and remain positive.

Explain Concepts

Explaining Concepts Concepts of Dating According to the article Dating, by Beth L. Bailey. We know dating is a new style of courtship, which was started in the early twentieth. With the emergence of this new style of courtship, the old one was replaced. What I remembered as an example of good explanatory writing is the writer using time order to tell the history of old courtship and when the new system of dating was emerging.And the readers probably are young people they don’t know how the old courtship worked, then the authors cited many resources for comparing and contrast how women lead the old style courtship and after the dating system was created, men have more initiative in the dating. By describing the changing of American courtship to explanatory the concept of dating.One example of effective explanatory part I remember is the â€Å"feminine† power, young women and young men cannot stay alone in public, and one older woman called chaperonage would create a bala nce of power and control the old dating system and the chaperonage could indicate to the man that his attention were unwelcome. Probably like the movie Titanic every time Rose and her fiance Cal have dinner together her mom always seat between them, and them never stay alone.Courtship took place within the girl’s home- in women â€Å"sphere† or at entertainments largely devised and presided over by women. After the mid-1910 on dating, young couples would go to theater, dance or restaurant has more freedom and possibility. After the dating system was created, men have more power in the courtship, not simply because dating took place in the public sphere, but because dating moved courtship into the world of the economy. Money– men’s money—was the center of the dating. Different classes men may choose the different sphere for date.Movie Titanic still is a good example, Rose and her fiance were living in first class, her fiance gave Rose a diamond neck lace— The Heart of Ocean, this is how rich people dating. When Rose and Jack backed to the steerage, they had drunk beer and dance with other people. This part shows how worker-class dating. In the new dating system men can decide where they can date based on their income. In this article, the author using more cited from the newspapers and magazines to support his describe the dating system improve and the history of courtship tell readers the concept of dating.

Coney Island Film Critique essays

Coney Island Film Critique essays In the documentary Coney Island produced by Ric Burns illustrates Coney Islands transformation over its existence. Basically the film is a reflection of America at the time and as America changed so did Coney Island. The over all message that Ric Burns was conveying through the film was that Coney Island was a place that offered the future to all its visitors a playful happy atmosphere with roller coasters, rides and cultural attractions. A few examples of these attractions described were the Ferris wheel, Sea Lion Park, horse races, the Blow Hole Theater, an infant incubator site and the Steeplechase. All of those attractions redefine leisure, entertainment, and, above all else, imagination for the modern era. With all of that said the directors dont just glorify Coney Island, its hardships and set backs were also documented. Through out Coney Islands history there were many set backs that almost ended its existence but some how the Island always seemed to survive and still provide a happy haven for city dwellers. I am not sure if that was Ric Burnss intent but I feel it was very well documented. A way that Ric Burns added to the dynamic of Coney Islands peaks and hardships was with the use of sound and music. Ric Burns used people laughing often to show the underlying emotion felt at Coney Island; freedom. To contrast that feeling whenever the dialogue referred to one of the parks at Coney Island that fell victim to a fire the same gloomy music was played. During those depressing times depicted at Coney Island often there was less dialogue and more pictures to illustrate the horrible aftermath the fires had on Coney Island. The director used images to convey his message, feelings and transformations of Coney Island. Often when still images were used there was an accompanying mysterious voice usually talking about the atmosphere of Coney Island. An example of this is a voice other then the ...

In Vitro Fertilization essays

In Vitro Fertilization essays Many individuals are looking to alternatives in child bearing, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) being one of the most popular. IVF in the United States is a costly procedure. It can cost up to $12,000 for one attempt and that is not adding the cost of additional attempts should the first one fail. There are individuals who are in debt for $60,000 in attempting to get pregnant through IVF. Fertility treatments are now a hot commodity, especially in the global marketplace. Many women are looking to oversea options in having IVF done. One major factor in women going overseas is the price tag. IVF overseas is about  ¼ of the price it is in the US. Price Tag of One Cycle of IVF (*Estimated prices, not including donor eggs or fertility drugs, based on costs from top clinics and converted to US dollars.) Brief History of In Vitro Fertilization In Vitro Fertilization is a fertility procedure in which medical physicians remove eggs from the ovaries of a female, fertilize them in a laboratory, and then replace the embryos back into the females uterus where they implant and mature. In Vitro literally mean in glass meaning the Petri dishes that the eggs are placed into for fertilization. This procedure first came into place in England about 25 years ago by the late Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards. The first successfully delivered baby through IVF is Louise Brown on July 25, 1978. She is considered the worlds first test tube baby. IVF was introduced, as a means to assist couples who were not successful in becoming pregnant. It has proven to be a successful means of having child for those couples who had ovulation disorders, unexplained fertility, endometriosis, and male factor problems. The IVF procedure is responsible for the birth of more than 500,000 healthy children around the world. While it may seem that IVF is the answer there are risks involved in this miracle procedure...

Essay on Christian Propaganda

Essay on Christian Propaganda Essay on Christian Propaganda This is a free example essay on Christian Propaganda: Throughout history, the Christian community has used various ploys in order to gain members. In the Ninth Century AD, monks, in England, recorded the folklore of their â€Å"heathen† neighbors in their own language. In the 11th through 18th centuries, in various areas, Catholics used raw torture and death to force conversion. And even today television stations such as PAX â€Å"family programming† is little more than tele-evangelists and trumped up â€Å"miracles.† Two prime examples of the texts written and some what enriched by the monks of England are, of course Beowulf and Judith. While it remains unclear as to exactly who wrote the original manuscripts, it is believed that it was a monk or priest, and it has been widely accepted that these stories were handed down, generation to generation, by oral tradition. The epic poem Beowulf directly precedes Judith in the same manuscript, leading us to believe they were recorded by the same persons, with the same motives. In Beowulf we read of a hero that destroys the enemy of his brethren, Grendel (and Grendel’s mother), believed by some to be the descendant of the biblical Cain, thus ending his lineage; a lineage that has been that of pure evil from the time of Cain’s brother Abel’s murder. Beowulf then leads his people into battle with the dragon, killing both the dragon and himself, much like St. George. In Judith we read of a heroine (interestingly an Israelite) oppressed b y a tyrant, Holofernes. Eventually Judith can take no more, and rises up and smites her oppressor, with, ironically, his own sword. Much as the Hebrews did in Exodus. We then must look at instances such as the various Inquisitions instituted by the Catholic Church for nearly eight centuries, the most commonly known being the Spanish Inquisition. Starting in the mid- 15th century (1478), the Spanish Inquisition was not suppressed until 1834. Over these 356 years hundreds of thousands of heretics, heathens and other â€Å"sacrilegious† persons were tortured and killed by some of the most horrible means possible; all for what they believed, or did not believe, as the case may be. People were hanged, burned at the stake, boiled alive, or worse, for no â€Å"good† reason except they were not Catholic. They were told if they renounced their faith, they would be spared, but as those who did found out, more often than not, they were lied to. As anyone would guess, word of these events traveled rather quickly, and the Catholic population in Spain grew rapidly. So we ask. why did the Inquisition last 356 years? The answer is it did not, at lea st not in practice. Granted there were the fanatics that continued to torture those accused of heresy, but as a whole the practice was discontinued after a relatively short period of time. The institution, however, was not officially suppressed by the Pope until July 15, 1834. If a person were to look at local television listings, the majority of what they would find would pertain to what the American public watches most, drugs, sex, and violence. However, there are a few networks, such as PAX that offer what they call family programming; what I call Propaganda. Over half of their programming consists of tele-evangelists. The network executives, rope in young parents with inoffensive material, hoping that they will watch their network almost exclusively. Before long, the children of these young parents are asking Mom and Dad, why they never go to church. Have they ever seen a miracle? And before you know it, this entire family is going to not only a Sunday worship, but Wednesday evening as well, not to mention the Tuesday-Thursday Bible Study; thus completing this vicious cycle. We have in this country, what is called Separation of Church and State, and freedom of speech. This is why we can turn on our television at five o’clock in the morning and s ee The Reverend Brother What’s his Face. But where does it stop? Will the church ever stop trying to brain wash us â€Å"heathens† into belief? ______________ is a professional essay writing service which can provide high school, college and university students with 100% original custom written essays, research papers, term papers, dissertations, courseworks, homeworks, book reviews, book reports, lab reports, projects, presentations and other assignments of top quality. More than 700 professional Ph.D. and Master’s academic writers. Feel free to order a custom written essay on Christian Propaganda from our professional essay writing service.

Zionism and the Negation of the Diaspora Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Zionism and the Negation of the Diaspora - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the concept of the negation of the Diaspora was a slogan that showed a negative attitude toward the Diaspora. It was commonly supported by the Zionists who suggested that solutions to the national problem can be found beyond the Diaspora. This position of the Zionists reflected a negative attitude towards Diaspora or exile, which is an objective attitude because it relates to the issue itself rather than the reactions of the Zionists. This paper argues that the negation of the Diaspora demonstrates an objective negative attitude that the Zionist Jews had towards Diaspora, and the Zionists demonstrated this slogan by opposing dispersion and advocating for the establishment of Jewish State in the historic homeland of the Jews. This slogan was demonstrated through the acts and thoughts of Zionists. Zionism rose as a movement of the Jews in the western world that fought for the Jewish rights and unity after being dispersed and alienated in foreign lands for a long time. Zionism considered religious mechanisms essential to revive and foster a national consciousness of Jews. They were concerned with the establishment of the Jewish solution to the Jewish problem. Zionism is also considered as a movement that supported the establishment of a Jewish state in the Jewish historic homeland in early 20th century. Zionists existed in different groups, but they all had common thoughts for the Jews.

Differences between Single and Marriage Life Essay

Differences between Single and Marriage Life - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that there are a number of factors such as friendship, freedom and money matters that one must consider before making a decision to marry or to stay single. However, it is undeniable that at least married and single individuals are both alike and different. Marriage changes a lot in people’s lives. Commitment to marriage implies that one has to be fully responsible for their spouses both materially and emotionally. Expenses are supposed to be managed economically and should be based on the family interest but not an individual’s interest. It is not easy for a married couple to be extravagant as it is likely to happen amongst singles. Moreover, married people have to exercise utmost obligation of taking care and raising their children in a responsible way. Children come with a lot of demands that ought to be met. Medical expenses, education, and food are some of the major expenses that every married couple must think about. Addit ionally, there are the issues of fixed time management amongst married people. A married person must always find time to spend with their children, wives or husbands almost on a daily basis unlike single people who have all the time to decide on what to do and at what time, even in the middle of the night. It is obvious that freedom amongst the married couples is always denied by the fact that their lives are always busier. Married people normally make decisions from a wife’s or husband’s points of view because they must think of themselves as husband and wife and that every decision they make affect their families as a whole. Although single people are always in control of their financial destiny they may be faced with high expenses of courtship thus making them spend more than they can in the name of wooing someone. On the other hand, married people may also enjoy their financial freedom by sharing their dual income but tax returns and perhaps children’s educa tional or medical expenses may be high. Married couples may at times experience disagreements amongst themselves while singles may also disagree with their roommates, friends or even annoying behaviors brought about by infatuation while dating. Additionally, it is common for both singles and married people to set higher objectives and goals for themselves. Both are always concerned about their future. Both would strive to have better future by creating aims that they want to achieve. For instance, single persons may decide to spend on education as a way of expecting better job or promotion in their careers. On the other hand, married people my plan for their young children better education or even plan to buy a home for their families. Also, the need to remain comfortable is shared amongst the singles and married couples. The more a married couple stays together, the more they get comfortable with their spouses and their lives in general. Singles too normally decide to stay single r elaxation, peace of mind and comfort is the hallmarks of singleness. Single people normally enjoy a lot of privacy in their lives because they are not bothered by anybody. They may decide what to do with their lives such as spending the whole day with their friends anywhere at any time because they live freely.  

The Great War What were the war aims OR military strategies of the Essay

The Great War What were the war aims OR military strategies of the various belligerents in World War I How was the Great War the first truly global conflict - Essay Example Reflecting on what happened during the Russo-Japanese War, Block felt that this new, technological sort of war would destroy Europe. 1 A new belief circulated amongst European General Staffs that contingency plans needed to be made allowing them to win any future war they might come upon. The main problem that followed from this, however, was the fact that they did not understand the concept of modern war, and thus the plans they put together actually resulted in a catastrophic war of attrition. Four reasons actually caused this catastrophe. The first issue was the fact that industrialization resulted in weapons and equipment being made on a large scale. Next, there was a huge population growth which allowed for the manpower necessary to create the large armies necessary to fight the war. Third, reserves became a popular concept, and this allowed the armies to grow quickly. Last, the creation of large railroad networks allowed for armies to be supplied in the trenches. The combination of these four concepts would alter the face of war forever, and this resulted in a near death struggle by the end of 1914 that neith er country wanted nor expected. Furthermore, none of the European rulers could discover a way to end the terrible war or justify the large amount of men lost to it during the first months of war. Most of them, instead, focused on the next campaign, believing that it would finally win the war-and of course, it never did.2 Each side involved in the war had several issues it needed to face. These issues included figuring out how to mobilize the necessary items in order to actually but together a successful industrial war without completely destroying society as a whole. History indicated that a short, decisive war would be best (the only recent war standing out that stood out in contrast to this at the time was the American Civil War, which at this time was largely ignored as a usual war). The most recent wars, which has included the Russo-Japanese War and the Italian Unification Wars made many believe that modern wars could be quick, fast business forcibly decided by a few short battles. So, there was an overall feeling present in Europe that the European military establishments could win quickly. 3 However, they would be wrong, and they could not have necessarily guessed or understood that they would be. Obviously, they were searching for an answer and looking at things from optimistic perspectives, although they did not necessarily realize this at the time. They are not to blame, because even today, modern historians have problems understanding this war. If one, for example, decides to take a close look at memoirs and study each campaign, the picture simply becomes more and more complex. The only way one can truly understand this war is by taking a close look at military demography, economic systems, labor controls, and transportation theory. One can only understand the Great War by taking a close look via a material assessment in order to lift away obscurity. Therefore, one needs to conclude that three material factors led to the outcome of the war, and these two items include economic mobilization, human and resource mobilization. With this concept in mind, one can understa nd how each coalition developed its strategies to win the Great War. The outcomes of the Great War were serious indeed; the excessive force of economic

Current event paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Current event paper - Assignment Example y people often don’t want to notice the fact that their relationships are based on wrong values, so they decline noticing aggressive, controlling, and partly paranoid behavior of their intimate partners. The second reason is human fear about two things. One is to lose their partner and stay alone, which for most people is more frightening than being abused, another is fear to seek for help because of possibility to make the situation public, or because of threat of being abused harder by a mad partner. Though, the most crucial reason for the violent consequences of wrong relationships is people’s unwillingness to do something when they feel that their relationships are wrong, so they make up their minds to the situation until it turns into domestic violence. The article â€Å"14 Red Flags of Domestic Violence† by GinaL. Cafasso describes the most common first signals of the behavior which more likely will later lead to serious domestic violence. Statistics on dom estic violence shows terrible results; â€Å"according to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average 20 people, in the U.S., per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner† (Cafasso n.pag). The statistics is terrifying. The author claims that the most common problem of the victims of domestic abuse is that often abusers make them feel so insignificant that after each act of abuse the victims just have feeling like they have nowhere to go and don’t believe that there is a way out of the situation. The story of Linda Rees who has been abused by her husband for 20 years teaches that if there are signs of incoming domestic violence, it is never too late to abandon the relationships (â€Å"His Name Calling and Jealousy was All I Knew but then He Threatened to Kill Me†). Linda claims that as far as her husband was her first boyfriend she didn’t realize that there was something wrong with their relationships, so she confused his over controlling behavior with love and thought that it

ETHICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

ETHICS - Essay Example For instance, a consequentialist may at times compromise on lying to someone depending on the situation while a deontologist may not at anytime condone lying of any sort. The case is, however, different for a virtue ethicist, which puts into consideration on what the implication of telling or not telling a lie has on someone’s character (Aristotle 3). Consequently, for a virtue ethicist, the morality of lying is dependent on factors such as group or personal benefits and intentions. The Aristotelian virtue ethics will help deal with the morality dilemma of the invisible ring in a considerable number of ways. An individual while wearing the ring might be tempted to do certain things, voluntary actions. Aristotle explained that ethics is more practical than it is theoretical, therefore, the determinant of my responsibilities while wearing the ring, is my human nature (8). Prior to indulging in any action while wearing the ring, ethics virtue requires me to carry out a moral evaluation of any action presupposing the attributions and contributions of responsibility to other people. The actions that I decide to undertake should at all times be voluntary. Most importantly, the action that I choose to engage myself in while wearing the rings ought to result to giving me true happiness and satisfaction. I will make a deliberate decision on the moral dilemma of wearing the magical ring after I have weighed in my character and the Aristotelian virtue ethics. Should my ch aracter and the Aristotelian virtue ethics be compatible, I would wear the ring if not I would not wear the ring. Confucius social harmony ethics is also the Confucianism or Ruism that occasionally has the descriptions of a religion. Aristotle explained that the Confucian philosophy has shaped and inspired generations for hundreds of years, with its impacts evident in the people’s cultural structures and beliefs (5). The

Economic Theories and the Music Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economic Theories and the Music Industry - Essay Example Musicians have made a living out of selling their music formats and thus the identification of the importance of the industry. However, of contemporary times, the sales of music formats have fallen continuously. It is the fear of many that there will lack and industry in this sector after some years and this can gain attribution to several economic theories. One of the standing economic theories in the identification of this is Market Anomaly. The key aspects of this theory are that there is inefficiency in the sales of a particular product in a given economic sector may depreciate and go against efficient market hypothesis (Fabozzi, 2011, 71). There are two main reasons that lead to market anomaly and they are ranges in two spectrums, the structural factors and the behavioral aspects. Focusing on the structural factors, one of the key components is unfair competition. The music industry is one that has undergone numerous changes over the years and thus the need to keep up with the c hanges. The changes have been caused by the development of Information Technology and thus the necessity to keep up with current trends in the creation of music formats. This necessity has led to different people in the various music sectors to develop a competition culture bases on the goal of most market sales. However, this unfair competition has led to their loss of customers rather than an increase and this is based from the fact that they focus more on the quantity of music produced to outdo each other rather than the quantity (Fabozzi, 2011, 125). The customers do not care about the quantity of music formats produced but rather on the quality. When customers find the quality not appealing to their needs, they decrease their focus on the particular music and spend the money in another manner. Unfair competition also comes up based on other entertainment industries rather than music. A major competitor in entertainment is the movies. The movie industry also started a long time ago and the amount of developments that the sector has witnessed over the past decade goes nothing short of overwhelming. Many movie directors have invented a lot of technology that has drawn more attention to entertainment fans. An example of this is the introduction of 3D films that give the viewer a livelier experience while watching a movie. Upon the introduction of the aspect, the music industry is in a fast search to develop a new concept in terms of music formats that will outdo the theatre developments (Robert, 2012, 153). This form of competition is healthy but of contemporary reports, it has led to various rivalries developing between music producers and movie directors and this has not had a positive impact on music formats. Another factor in the theory that affects the sale of music formats negatively is market transparency. In this case, not many people recognize the various genres of music formats that society is willing to offer due to less publicity made by the respo nsible promoters (Nilsson, 2010, 63). Less promotion by advertisement is one conflict that has hit markets in the 21st century and the credit for this goes to the high amount of inflation that the current global market is facing. The less the promotion made the more anonymous music formats are in society. This is one contribution to the poor music market figures in the 21st century. Moreover, regulatory actions for various music formats by authorities have led to a decrease in the number of sales over the past few years.

ETHICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

ETHICS - Essay Example For instance, a consequentialist may at times compromise on lying to someone depending on the situation while a deontologist may not at anytime condone lying of any sort. The case is, however, different for a virtue ethicist, which puts into consideration on what the implication of telling or not telling a lie has on someone’s character (Aristotle 3). Consequently, for a virtue ethicist, the morality of lying is dependent on factors such as group or personal benefits and intentions. The Aristotelian virtue ethics will help deal with the morality dilemma of the invisible ring in a considerable number of ways. An individual while wearing the ring might be tempted to do certain things, voluntary actions. Aristotle explained that ethics is more practical than it is theoretical, therefore, the determinant of my responsibilities while wearing the ring, is my human nature (8). Prior to indulging in any action while wearing the ring, ethics virtue requires me to carry out a moral evaluation of any action presupposing the attributions and contributions of responsibility to other people. The actions that I decide to undertake should at all times be voluntary. Most importantly, the action that I choose to engage myself in while wearing the rings ought to result to giving me true happiness and satisfaction. I will make a deliberate decision on the moral dilemma of wearing the magical ring after I have weighed in my character and the Aristotelian virtue ethics. Should my ch aracter and the Aristotelian virtue ethics be compatible, I would wear the ring if not I would not wear the ring. Confucius social harmony ethics is also the Confucianism or Ruism that occasionally has the descriptions of a religion. Aristotle explained that the Confucian philosophy has shaped and inspired generations for hundreds of years, with its impacts evident in the people’s cultural structures and beliefs (5). The

Economic Factors That Influence Manager Decision Essay

Economic Factors That Influence Manager Decision - Essay Example As the paper explores it is important to understand that economic factors refer to the changes that take place in cost and prices of commodities, the exchange rates, inflation rate, and interest rates among others. In simple terms, they hamper the ability of an organization to generate profits thus often require to be monitored closely. According to the report findings organizations look at their budgets before setting out to start a project. This is because it will be able to give them an overview of the finances they have to carry out the project. However, there have been instances where organizations did not look at the resources they have due to myopic vision. Most of these leaders were driven by the interests that had been forecast if the project succeeds but did not want to look on the other side of what happens to the organization when the project fails. Take the case of Apple Inc in the 1990s when it was on the brink of bankruptcy because of the decisions that were being made by the management. It forced the board of members to employ back Steve Jobs who had parted ways with the organization. Therefore, this is just but an illustration of the importance of an organization working within its budgets in relation to the resources available. The aim of any business entity is to make profits, and if this does not take place, then there is no need of operating because it will mean that losses will be frequently incurred. This does not mean that the organization forgets there is a need to have a balance between maximization of profits and minimization of costs

The Location Of Activities Cultural Studies Essay

The Location Of Activities Cultural Studies Essay The Almighty Vice Lord Nation are based in Chicago, Illinois and began to spread over many neighbourhoods and community areas in the 1960s, for example in Garfield Park, Austin, Fifth City and several housing projects, like Cabrini-Green, Rockwell Gardens and Lawndale Gardens. While usually found on the west side in the 1980s they expanded on the south and north side as well to neighbourhoods such as Englewood, Roseland and East Side as well as to housing projects of Altgeld Gardens and Washington Park Homes. Today they can also be found in Wisconsin, where they are predominantly on the north side of Racine County. In summary it can be stated that the Almighty Vice Lord Nation mostly operates in Chicago suburbs at the moment. Furthermore there are different factions and sub-gangs, which can be found all over the United States.http://www.uic.edu/orgs/kbc/maps/Gangstoday.gif Personal comment When I first started doing some research for my gang I was a bit irritated, because it didnt seem to be a real gang. I didnt have the impression that this association could be taken really seriously, especially due to their symbols (a playboy bunny is in my opinion neither threatening nor serious). But when I learned more and more details about the Almighty Vice Lord Nation I was really shocked about how brutal and violent they operate. What surprised me was Bobby Gores attempt to turn a street gang into an activism community which aimed to help children and I was sort of disappointed that his mission failed. All in all I am definitely against violence and brutality, no matter if it happens in gangs or outside such a community. Furthermore I am worried that if you once become a member of a gang it is nearly impossible to leave it. http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/Lordism5/lordred.jpg Reasons for becoming a gang member There are plenty of reasons why people want to join a gang. Especially teenagers often struggle to find their place in the world and to define themselves. Being a gang member creates the feeling of being part of something and enhances their self-esteem by emotional support, attention, affirmation or simply understanding. Often those young people come from a difficult family or are loners and just want to fulfill their basic needs. Another reason to join a gang is peer pressure: if they live for example in a gang-dominated area or go to a school with a strong gang presence they are very likely to join this gang because most of their friends and acquaintances are already members. Furthermore, Chicago for instance can be very dangerous at night and being a member of a gang means to be protected from rival gangs.http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/profile01/147/5a3d2502b6ab451bbe150fabc5c827cc/p.jpg History The Almighty Vice Lord Nation is one of the oldest and most violent gangs of Chicago. Their history begins in 1958 in the juvenile detention centre St. Charles in a western suburb of Chicago, where seven incarcerated boys, namely Edward Peppilow Perry, who is credited with the actual founding of the gang and would become their official chief, Ralph Bonds, Leonard Cal Calloway, Bobby Gore, Maurice Miller, Toehold, and Wren, had the idea of founding this gang. The name Vice was chosen, when one of the gang founders looked the term up in a dictionary and found the meaning having a tight hold. After being released from incarceration the gang started to recruit lots of new members and engaged in wars against several clubs. At that time their territory was concentrated at about 21st and Lawndale. By the early 1960s the Almighty Vice Lords were involved in every kind of illegal activity such as robberies, assaults and extortion and their number began to grow and they began to expand in dist ricts beyond the west side. To soften their public image, which was known as very brutal and violent, and to create a structure the gang was renamed the Conservative Vice Lord Nation by one of the founders, Bobby Gore. To reflect their new mission, community activism, the gang turned into a legitimate organisation, trying to protect the neighbourhoods and opening a shop. In 1966 they even became part of the Civil Rights Movement and marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and his Southern Christian Leadership Council in a rally in the Marquette neighbourhood. After getting a lot of positive publicity and support of various politicians and community leaders the Conservative Vice Lords were able to open several legitimate businesses and community establishments with a grant of the Rockefeller Foundation. Despite their attempts of leaving their former image of being a violent gang, it was quickly discovered that the CVL were still violent criminals and had no intention to cooperate with the local police. In 1969 Bobby Gore got arrested for the murder of a young police man, though Gore denied to have committed the crime. Without his leadership the CVLs social activities failed, shutting down all of their programs. They began to engage in another lucrative business, the drug market. In the 1980s several leaders of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation were killed or sent to prison. To give the organisation a spiritual meaning the gang adapted a lot of the Islamic principles and even transformed some of their long time gang symbols. In the 1990s some criminal activities of the Almighty Vice Lords became more sophisticated, such as mortgage fraud, credit card fraud, and money laundering. Rituals They do accept everyone to join their gang. Before becoming a member you are required to take an oath and to memorize and obey all gang laws and rules. You are furthermore required to attend weekly meetings that are held by senior leaders. If you break a law or rule or miss a meeting, you get beaten. Allies and Adversaries Allies (People Nation): Blackstone Rangers, Bloods, Latin Kings, Black Peace Stones, Cobra Stones, Insane Popes, Gaylords, Future Stones, Four Corner Hustlershttp://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/gangs/images/c-people_sym.gif http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/gangs/images/c-folk_sym.gif Adversaries (Folk Nation): Gangster Disciples, Black Gangsters, Black Disciples, Crips, Party People, Imperial Gangsters, La Raza, Latin Eagles, Maniac Latin Disciples Clothes, colours, etc Colors: Black (race), Gold (wealth) and Red* Formerly the gang members used to wear trench coats, trousers and a sweater or a white button shirt. Some of them wore black capes with the word vice lords written in gold and an earring. Nowadays their attire is very mixed, Vice Lords wear everything from old jeans and black hooded sweatshirts to expensive suits. Especially most of the younger members try to keep up with the latest fashion; however some members wear cheap clothing. In order to avoid detection from police and rivals they prefer to wear dark after nightfall. In the Winter Vice Lords wear bottom or tug hoods. *The original gang colours are Black and Gold, however, in cities where Bloods have a presence, gang members of the AVLN tend to wear red in order to identify with that gang. Sizehttp://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/123/c34f115c61e74a779c80364fb1b23671/l.jpg There is an estimated number of 30.000 to 35.000 members, while other sources claim them to be about 27.000. Ethnic Origin The members of The Almighty Vice Lord Nation are mostly African American males. Typical Activities The Almighty Vice Lord Nation engages in many criminal activities, namely vandalism, extortion, armed robbery, murder,  assault, battery, dog-fighting, gang-banging, arson, auto-theft, burglary, armed robbery, shootings, fraud, identity theft, money laundering and street-level distribution of cocaine, heroin and marijuana, the latter being their main source of income. Structure In the early years of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, the three-top leadership positions consisted of a three-tiered structure, the seniors, the juniors and the midgets. Within the seniors there are ranking positions including the president (chief), the vice president, the war counsellor, the enforcers, and regular members. As the gang developed different branches, they incorporated the above-named rankings into each branch and some even created their own unique positions. Later on the gang established the group SCIA, which was founded to spy on the operations of other gangs. Furthermore they operate in factions, which are all considered legitimate. The current structure of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation Supreme Chief-King of Kings Prince of the Nation Minister of Justice Free and Accepted Almighty Minister Kings of the Nation Universal Elites Ambassadors Minister of Command Lieutenants Minister of Literature Symbols http://gangresearch.net/ChicagoGangs/SouthChicago/images/cvlsymb.jpg

Celtic Culture and the Arts Essay -- Celtic Traditions Cultural Artist

Celtic Culture and the Arts The legacy the Celts and their culture have bestowed upon the face of civilization is powerful and enduring. With their rich and intriguing history, and their complex and beautiful beliefs, they have been a great influence in many aspects of present day life, from their art and innovations, to deeply rooted traditions modern humanity still continues to preserve. It is through the examination of the Celtic culture as a whole, from their origins, tool usage and inventions, social systems, judicial systems, to their intricate spiritual beliefs that one is able to draw a strong sense of unity and connection to these mysterious people from whom most every Indo-European descendant draws their ancestry. The Celts were a people unsurpassed in their skill and endurance as a culture, and even now, at the dawning of the new millennia, their influence and inspiration continues to be felt. The Celts are thought to have originated in the area of what is now Central Europe, primarily east of the Rhine River, such as southern Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, or even so far as the Volga Steppes in western Russia at about 2000 BC (Pennick, 1997). These inhabitants were called the Beaker People, named for their tradition of burying pottery and various artifacts with their dead (Blundell, 1996). By the twelve century BC, they had expanded across the continent until they dominated most of central, western and northwestern Europe. There their culture flourished as they began to settle into an increasing agricultural lifestyle, gradually becoming less nomadic, and dependent of hunting and gathering as a primary means of survival. This is what is widely regarded as the Urnfield culture. The Urnfielders, with their name derived from their practice of cremating their dead, are now thought to be the immediate ancestors of the Celts as they had similar social and societal structures. It has even been suggested that the Urnfielders spoke an early form of Celtic language. The Celts emerged from this lineage at some point between 1200 to 700 BC. The traditional Celts were a result of a mixture of many bloodlines from cultures during that period, ultimately arising from the interbreeding and mingling of of a variety of existing cultures and spiritual practices, eventually developing into the Celtic culture a... ...int, or to ward off the mischievous â€Å"faery folk† or the little people. There still remains an order of Druids, a select group of neo-pagan priests who are dedicated to the preservation of the ancient belief system of their ancestors, the Celts. With more pagan traditions emerging today from former Celtic traditions, such as that of Wicca and Druidry, the world, or so it seems, has never been more fascinated with the Celts. But, like anything else that has the power of endurance, the Celts as a people have changed in every aspect of their lives to adapt with the pressures facing them, and thus, despite the resurgence of Celtic spiritualists, the original beliefs as the Celts once held them are now essentially lost, and will for the most part, remain forever unknown. Bibliography Blundell, Nigel 1999 Ancient England. Prospero Books, London. Eddy, Steve 1999 Timeless Wisdom of the Celts. Hodder and Stoughton Publishing, London. Lavin, Patrick 1999 The Celtic World. Hippocrene Books Inc., New York. Pennick, Nigel 1997 The Sacred World of the Celts. Inner Traditions International, Rochester. Piggot, Stuart 1996 The Druids. Thames and Hudson, London.

Human Rights :: Human Rights Essays

This is a 3 page paper that describes evaluates and recommends the human right aspect of application in real life. INTRODUCTION: As laid down by the United Nations there are 30 articles pertaining to the definition of Human Rights. According to these articles it contains human rights to be considered innocent until proven guilty, and the right of freedom from discrimination and the right of free and fair trial. RESPECT FOR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS: Globally speaking the world has faced a lot of human discrimination collectively in the past year, and this human rights violation is still going on. â€Å"All human beings, whatever their cultural or historical background, suffer when they are intimidated, imprisoned or tortured. The question of human rights is so fundamentally important that there should be no difference of views on this. We must therefore insist on a global consensus not only on the need to respect human rights world wide but more importantly on the definition of these rights.†(1). The tragedy of September 11 is a major human rights violation, but it doesn’t end here. The repercussions have lead into more human rights degrading. The supposedly guilty ‘terrorists’ held in Guatemala Bay are a living proof of serious human rights violation. With treatment meted out like animals to them they are being kept in cages in open view all the time. Where is one wonders the U.N. rights article number 11- Right to be considered innocent until proven Guilty? It is also clearly stated in the U.N. Charters of War and Crime that all arrests made in a state of war will be treated as Prisoners of War. And such prisoners have basic fundamental rights which are not being followed on these prisoners. To date there are innocent Saudis, Pakistani nationals and even French confined in these cages and whose governments are demanding their release. Since it is guarded severely in Cuba there are no exclusive pictures and footage to view for an audience however snaps and eye-witness accounts of Red Cross workers and Human Rights groups is available. â€Å"We need to think in global terms because the effects of one nation's actions are felt far beyond its borders. The acceptance of universally binding standards of Human Rights as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants of Human Rights is essential in today's shrinking world. Respect for fundamental human rights should not remain an ideal to be achieved but a requisite foundation for every human society.

Case of Thabo Meli V R

THABO MELI v R Fact of the case : The defendants had taken their intended victim to a hut and plied him with drink so that he became intoxicated. They then hit the victim around the head, intending to kill him. In fact the defendants only succeeded in knocking him unconscious, but believing the victim to be dead, they threw his body over a cliff. The victim survived but died of exposure some time later. The defendants were convicted of murder, and appealed to the Privy Council on the ground that there had been no coincidence between mens rea and actus reus in order to put them liable for murder.Principle of the case : Approach use is the series of acts. This approach involves treating a series of distinct act as continuent parts of a larger transaction. Liability may be attached where at some point in the series of acts, the accused has the necessary mens rea even if the mens rea does not coincide precisely in time with act causing death. Argument by the appellant: The appellant cont ended that the two acts done were separate acts.The first act was done accompanied by mens rea which did not caused the death but the second act that caused death. They argued that the second act was not accompanied by mens rea, therefore, they were not guilty of murder. Defence by the respondent : it appears from the medical evidence that the injuries which deceased received in the hut were not sufficient to cause the death and that the final cause of his death was exposure where he was left at the foot of the krantz.There is no doubt that the accused set out to do all these acts in order to achieve their plan. Judgment of the case : It was impossible to divide up what was really one series of acts; the crime was not reduced from murder to a lesser crime, merely because the appellants were under some misapprehension for a time during the completion of their criminal plot; and, therefore, the appellants were guilty of murder.

Racism in Disney Movies

Anastasia Trus WRTG 3020 Professor Pat Sullivan 30 March 2010 Racism in Disney During the last several decades, the media has become a strong agent in directing and controlling social beliefs and behaviors. Children, by nature, can be particularly susceptible to the influencing powers of the media, opening an avenue where media created especially for children can indoctrinate entire generations. Disney movies, like all other media â€Å"are powerful vehicles for certain notions about our culture,† such as racism. Giroux 32). Racist scenes in Disney movies are often identified as simply being â€Å"symbols of the time† when the films were produced. Furthermore, Disney racism is often passed over as simple humor, or as a simple guide to children's understanding of cultures. These explanations of racism in the films are incomplete because they fail to take into account the fact that the primary audience members of Disney films are not old enough to see the movies as relics of a different time and place. This is not to say that Disney films indoctrinate children with racist tendencies; nevertheless, racist scenes in still-popular films cast a blanket of insensitivity over the subject of racism. Disney’s reputation of being racially insensitive has never been more evident than in the time leading up to the release of its latest movie Princess and the Frog. Nearly everything about this film has caused a storm of criticism both from the public and from people within the film industry itself. It is curious that people are so enraged and concerned with this movie, when they ignore potentially more offensive racist elements in other films. If one analyzes society’s response to Princess and the Frog as a single phenomenon, then it does seem a bit odd that a children’s film could start such a heated social debate; however, after taking into account Disney’s history with racism and racial insensitivity, it is not surprising at all that the first black Disney princess would be such a controversial figure. Bombarded with accusations of anti-Semitism and racism, in the 1940’s Walt Disney was an avid supporter of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, a â€Å"red-scare† anti-Semitic industry group that wanted to blacklist artists (Alan 12). Perhaps this is one of the reasons Disney’s past is filled with questionable cinematic material. Fantasia was released in 1940, the third theatrical full-length animation, as shown in Disney's canon of animated films. The original version of Disney's classic â€Å"Fantasia† (1940) features a character called Sunflower, a little black centaur handmaiden. Sunflower is an extremely insulting caricature, and a bluntly racist stereotype of the â€Å"servile grinning nigger† variety (Walker 22). In a featured scene during â€Å"The Pastoral Symphony† elegant white centaurs frolick through the woods and are waited on by Sunflower. She is noticeably smaller than the other centaurs—ostensibly because she is half-donkey instead of half-horse, but more likely to exaggerate her inferiority—and has a darker complexion. Her sole function in the film is to eagerly polish and shine the hooves of the tall, sexy Aryan centaur women who glare down their petite noses at this pathetic servant. Such scenes were later censored in the film due to the characters being considered â€Å"ethnically offensive during the civil rights movement† (Walker 26).? In addition to reinforcing the stereotype of blacks as inferior beings, the scene from the â€Å"Pastoral Symphony† also furthers racism by supporting segregation. Throughout the film the female Aryan centaurs pair up with the males of their â€Å"race,† leaving Sunflower alone and separated from the group. Rather than correcting the racism within the scene, Disney later chose to eliminate it from the film – as if it never happened. When the racial climate of America changed in the 60s, the portrayal of such insulting stereotypes in movies and television became politically incorrect, and Disney (fearing accusations of racism) deleted Sunflower from Fantasia for the theatrical re-release of the film. Her troubling presence was simply cropped out of the movie even though you can still see the Aryans she used to pamper. Eliminating Sunflower from the movie may have been intended as harmless and as an attempt to be politically correct; however, it is cinematic decisions such as this that contributed to Disney’s reputation of being insensitive to issues of race. It was insulting enough for Disney to include the smiling servant stereotype to begin with, but to make matters worse, they started denying Sunflower's existence with the Fantasia re-release in 1960. How does that possibly make things better? A few angered African American communities said, â€Å"No, you misunderstand. In our perfect, Fantasia world, Africans aren't servants. They don't fucking exist† (Weinman 64). A contemporary film critic said, â€Å"What's fun though is that Disney says they never had such a character! We're all delusional† (Brunette 123). Maybe it was â€Å"acceptable† in the past to portray characters that had such blatant racist features; nevertheless, it is strange to deny its existence to audiences who had already seen the original version. This is how we deal with our ugly past: we deny it, trivialize it, gloss over it with pretty distractions and wishful thinking. Doing so, we deny ourselves a glimpse of the compelling reality of naked history. The well-meaning rush to unmake evil deeds by hiding them from the critical eye of modern sensibilities does nothing to honor the people who lived and struggled in those different times (Walker 28). Sunflower’s existence may be news to younger generations of Disney fans, but she has been here all along, and her presence as well as her absence carry great significance, especially in the context of how viewers and critics respond to other potentially racist films. Dumbo, the fourth film in the Disney industry, was made in 1941 and produced by Walt Disney himself. It was originally designed as an economical feature to help generate income after the financial failure of Fantasia. The concerns people had against Disney being anti-Semitic and racist were sill strong, especially after Disney projected his own sense of alienation onto â€Å"others† in Hollywood, namely, Jews, blacks, and union workers. In retaliation against the studio entrepreneurs, who were predominantly Jewish, Disney refused to employ Jews in high-level positions at his studio or as actors in his live-action features. Not until 1969, two years after Disney's death, did a Jewish actor, Buddy Hackett, feature prominently in a Disney film, The Love Bug. Disney Studios also denied black workers even minimal opportunities, as technicians and support personnel. Because Walt Disney was an infamous racist, even for his time, it is not surprising that a film he produced himself would be racist as well. Dumbo is full of racist images and themes. Dumbo’s birth itself speaks to the foundations of racism when the other female elephants single Dumbo out because he looks different with his unusual ears. Considering the fact that â€Å"big-eared elephants are African,† it is especially racist that Dumbo, who is seen as different and even freakish would be associated with Africa (Lugo-Lugo 167). Because Dumbo is different from everyone else, he is ridiculed for it. Just because his ears are bigger than those of a normal elephant, he is ostracized from the rest of the group. He only has one friend (Timothy Mouse), who ironically is also socially shunned because elephants are generally supposed to be scared of mice. This could be seen as another form of racism where someone is ostracized because they are different. Furthermore, in the movie, when it is time to set up the circus in town, it is significant to take note of who performs the hard labor necessary to make the circus function. Not only are the circus animals themselves condemned to build their own chamber of humiliation, but there are also faceless black men working hard at this labor. The faces on these men are featureless, with no eyes, no mouths, and no noses – showing that they possess no individual identities, like a group of invisible men. This is characteristic of the time period because the 1940s were right before the Civil Rights Movement, and although slavery had been abolished, blacks were still segregated and considered as lesser people. The song they sing while working is very appalling: We work all day, we work all night We never learned to read or writeWe're happy-hearted roustabouts When other folks have gone to bed We slave until we're almost dead We're happy-hearted roustabouts We don't know when we get our payAnd when we do, we throw our pay away We get our pay when children say With happy hearts, It's circus day today. The lyrics of this song portray slaves working day and night doing backbreaking labor. However, it says nothing about the system doing something wrong because the slaves seem happy to do the work. The song even mentions that slaves are also satisfied with working for no pay. The lyrics suggest that money was not something they worry about. The lyrics are insulting to the workers, stating that they do not know when they will get paid, but it does not matter because once they do get paid they will just throw their money away. Furthermore, the lyrics construct and laud the image of the passive and content slave whose true payment and fulfillment is watching the joy of (white) children on circus day. Lyrics such as â€Å"we slave until we're almost dead† but, â€Å"we're happy-hearted† are utterly absurd and disgraceful. Slavery was a morally wrong institution and the fact that Disney condoned its practices in Dumbo is horrifying. Another overtly racist element in Dumbo is the characterization and function of the crows. Richard Schickel says, â€Å"There was one distasteful moment in the film. The crows who teach Dumbo to fly are too obviously Negro caricatures† (Shickel 113). Leonardo Maltint, after quoting Schickel, says that critics may be overreacting to the crows: â€Å"There has been considerable controversy over the Black Crow sequence in recent years, most of it unjustified. The crows are undeniably black, but they are black characters, not black stereotypes† (Maltin 56). Even though Maltint makes a valid point, he does not address the fact that the crows in the film are very specifically depicted as poor and uneducated. They also use slang words such as calling each other â€Å"brotha† and speak in southern accents with incorrect grammar. Any one of these characteristics could be ignored as having racial implications; however, by combining them into one character, it is very reasonable, indeed, almost necessary to interpret the crow as a black stereotype. The other big argument for the Black Crow sequence being interpreted as racist is that the leader of the group of crows, towards the end of the movie, is named Jim. Therefore, Jim the Crow can very well be construed as being a reference to the Jim Crow Laws, which were prevalent in the southern United States from 1876-1965 and promoted racism and racial segregation. The crows' racial identities as black are further implied when they perform their song in a jazz style complete with scat stylization. The song â€Å"When I  See an Elephant Fly† is part of the music style generally popular at the time in black communities. As the crows begin humiliating poor Dumbo, Timothy Mouse steps up to defend him with the following comments: â€Å"Suppose you was torn away from your mother when you was just a baby. Nobody to tuck you in at nights. No warm, soft, caressing trunk to snuzzle into. How would you like to be left out alone†¦ in a cold, cruel, heartless world? † What an ironic comment to make to a set of characters who represent African-Americans, who, at the time, would only have been a few generations removed from the time when black slaves were routinely torn away from their families. The mouse continues: â€Å"And why? I ask ya, why? Just because he's got those big ears, they call him a freak. † Finally, Timothy says, â€Å"And on top of that, they made him a clown! Interestingly, Timothy’s reference to the clown points to the time when the white power structure practiced minstrelsy by making clowns of the socially despised blacks. It is important to recognize that Dumbo is racist not because of any single scene or image, but because of the message produced when all the racist scenes and images are combined. Dumbo is a freak with big â€Å"African† ears who must be segregated from the others. Furthermore, the only role he can have in the circus is that of the clown. The crows also point to black stereotypes through color, dialogue, and even name. Finally, the blatant reference to slavery through the figures of the circus workers contributes to an overall feeling of racism in the film. In many ways, analyzing whether one scene is racist is not nearly as important as understanding that racist undertones are present and noticeable in Dumbo whether we as a society want them be or not. It is important to note that not all racism in Disney films is directed at African Americans. One of the most well recognized racist symbols perpetuated by Disney is the portrayal of the Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp (1955). Like stereotypical Asians, they are buck-toothed and have slanted eyes, and speak in ridiculously exaggerated accents that bear little, if any, resemblance to actual Thai speech patterns. Their features, along with the banging of a gong at the beginning of their song, could not make the Asian-specific racism any more obvious, â€Å"We are Siamese, if you please. We are Siamese if you don't please! We are former residents of Siam. There are no finer cats than we am. † Goldmark comments: One can hear the confidence and superiority in their voices. Those two cats don't care about anyone but themselves, lacking any kind of empathy. They are sociopaths, prepared to ruin Lady's life because it is fun and it serves them. They are portrayed as cunning and manipulative, giving the widespread idea that all Asians act superior, are cunning and manipulative. (Goldmark 115) In the film, the Siamese cats function not only as a racial stereotype but also as a stereotype of the upper classes in Oriental countries: â€Å"The cats prance around arrogantly in a Hollywood-invented style that is supposed to represent what the audience should assume are mannerisms of aristocratic Siamese or Chinese† (Romalov 46). The ambiguity in the exact ethnicity of the cats is significant because it demonstrates how Disney films tend to combine different ethnicities under the umbrella of one: â€Å"(Disney’s films, like many Hollywood films, often tended to lump ethnic groups together into a kind of undifferentiated mass-Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Siamese, for example Arab and East Indians as another example. ) The cats even roundly sing of their supposed heritage† (Romalov 46). This practice of ethnic â€Å"lumping† is even more obscene in Aladdin where Arabic and Indian cultures are intertwined and assumed to be one and the same. Like Lady and the Tramp, Aladdin attempted to include other races in the film that had not been included in other Disney movies of the past; unfortunately, we see many of the same racist undertones in Aladdin that are present in the film’s predecessors. Perhaps the most controversial and racist part in Aladdin (1992) is a set of lines in the opening song, â€Å"Arabian Nights. † It is one of the most contentious messages found in the film and begins the movie’s â€Å"depiction of Arab culture with a decidedly racist tone† (Giroux 104). An Arab merchant sings the lyrics: â€Å"Oh I come from a land/From a faraway place/Where the caravan camels roam. Where they cut off your ears/If they don’t like your face. /It’s barbaric, but hey, its home. † The message that is given right at the beginning of the film is that the Middle East is a desolate wasteland where the justice system runs on a simple limb-removal policy. The opening song alone s ets a tone that alienates the Arabic community from Western culture: â€Å"One would have to be very naive to believe that Hollywood would dare to use such a song if it did not see Arabs as belonging to an `other' or `alien' culture. Successive themes drive home the view that these creatures are suspicious, lazy, unethical, and violent outsiders. They' most definitely are not like ‘us’†(Shaheen 50). The lyrics to the opening song in Aladdin caused an uproar in Arab countries and the words were later changed to: â€Å"Where it’s flat and immense/ And the heat is intense. † Not only are the lyrics violent, but they are truly an example of the worst kind of racism. Disney distribution president Dick Cook was quoted as saying the change was made after meetings with members of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination League but that â€Å"it was something we did because we wanted to do it [†¦] In no way would we ever do anything [†¦] insensitive to anyone,† he said (Shaheem 52). Yousef Salem, a former spokesperson for the South Bay Islamic Association, characterizes the film in the following way: â€Å"All of the bad guys have beards and large, bulbous noses, sinister eyes and heavy accents, and they're wielding swords constantly. Aladdin doesn't have a big nose, he has a small nose. He doesn't have a beard or turban. He doesn't have an accent† (Shaheen 56). This portrayal of Arab characters gives people a negative perception of Arabs. Furthermore, the Arab characters are mean whereas those who speak clear English and appear to be Americanized are â€Å"socially accepted†, or the â€Å"heroes† of society. In the first few scenes of the movie we see an Arab merchant, with a thick accent, wearing a turban and who is trying to sell stereotypical middle-eastern products (a vase which contains â€Å"a combination of hookah and coffee maker,† which can also produce â€Å"a million fries†). In addition, the movie shows Jasmine almost loosing her hand for giving a poor little boy an apple from the market stand. That is not accurate for most Middle Easterners who strive to help the poor and the homeless – they would not attempt to cut someone’s hand off for giving an apple to a poor child. These instances show the racist way in which people from the East are portrayed as barbaric. The film could also be considered racist in that it portrays Arab culture as deeply oppressive of women and brutally violent. Princess Jasmine is trapped mercilessly inside her palace home, and the palace guards threaten to cut off her hand at one point in the film. She is also constantly controlled by the men who surround her. Finally, she is the only other woman we see in the film besides the belly dancers in the opening scenes. What does that say in regard to the significance of women in Disney? Of course, Disney does not intend to offend anyone – that would be bad business. Most people who watch the movies are probably caught up in the Disney magic and do not notice these things. Problematically, one way in which Disney creates the magic is by using stereotypes that people respond to without thinking. Aladdin looks â€Å"right† for a hero; Jafar looks â€Å"right† for a villain; Jasmine looks â€Å"right† for a trapped princess. We as consumers do not think about it, but the practices and images we internalize as being â€Å"right† are very dangerous for society. For example, it is especially concerning that the upper class in the film, the royal family, appears white. The Sultan, Jasmine, and Aladdin are all fair-skinned and do not speak with accents, suggesting that they are more â€Å"white† than the other characters in the film. This image perpetuates the white power structure in America, and most viewers are only aware of this on a subconscious level (Shaheem 54). This subconscious awareness of practices such as racism in the media is especially hazardous for our society because if an individual is not perceptive of when she internalizes social evils, than she cannot be perceptive of when she perpetuates them. Even still, the fact remains that regardless of whether we think about it, recognize or denounce it, racism and stereotyping takes place in many Disney films, including the classic 1994 film The Lion King. The first and perhaps most noticeable example of racism in The Lion King mirrors a stereotyping practice seen in Aladdin. Like Jaffar in Aladdin, Scar is arguably one of the darkest colored characters in The Lion King. While the other heroic lions are lighter skinned, Scar is the only one with dark fur and a jet-black mane, reinforcing the stereotype where the darker and more ethnic character is the villain (Twomey 1). Another obvious example of racism in Aladdin, is seen with the hyenas, who are portrayed as stupid and violent, and are comprised of a lower-class animal group that feeds upon the scraps and leftovers of the more dominant, strong, intelligent creatures. This dichotomy is then reinforced by the use of stereotypes, classifying these stupid, low-class hyenas through the use of African-American (Whoopi Goldberg as â€Å"Shenzi†) and Latino (Cheech Marin as â€Å"Banzai†) stereotypes. It has even been said that â€Å"despicable hyena storm troopers speak†¦ in racially coded accents that take on the nuances of the discourse of a decidedly urban, black, and Latino youth† (Byrne 62). The speech patterns and accents of the hyenas present quite a stark contrast compared to the American and British accents of the rest of the cast. The hyenas also serve as an interesting opposition to the thoughtful, strong, and intelligent characters of the rest of the film, who represent the upper class, indeed, mostly â€Å"white† culture. That is not to say all African-Americans are poorly depicted. James Earl Jones voices the role of the powerful and wise â€Å"Mufasa†, and Robert Guillaume voices â€Å"Rafiki,† the wise shaman. Yet even with two of the strongest main characters being voiced by African-Americans, it is hard not to notice the stereotyping Disney seems to be making about Black, Latino, and lower-class culture. It is significant to recognize that The Lion King does not stop with racial stereotypes, but also cruelly targets other underrepresented groups including women and homosexuals. According to the Associated Press, Carolyn Newberger of Harvard University complained in the Boston Globe that â€Å"the good-for-nothing hyenas are urban blacks; the arch-villain's gestures are effeminate, and he speaks in supposed gay cliches† (Twomey 33). The film also furthers gender stereotypes by displaying women as subservient and dependent upon the strength of males. The strong-spirited Nala can be viewed as a counter to this, but just as with the racial stereotyping, one strong female character does not undo the overall statement being made about the weakness of women. It is the combination of Disney’s insensitive treatment of stereotypes targeting not only non-whites, but also women, and other minorities in films such as Aladdin and The Lion King that can help explain the 21st century’s response to The Princess and the Frog. Both before and after The Princess and the Frog was released, many of the film’s critics were very vocal about racism in the movie. Nearly everyone who has an opinion about the film has something different to say – in sum, nearly everything about the film is racist and offensive to someone and needs to be changed. As a starting point in analyzing the public’s critical response to Princess and the Frog, it is important to address all the criticism surrounding the black princess’s name. Many argue that the princess’s original name, Maddy, is to close to he slave term â€Å"mammy†: â€Å"A voice actor’s tongue wouldn’t have to slip very much to say â€Å"mammy† while ordering Maddy to do a chore, and in such a context, the name â€Å"Maddy† seemed both deliberately inappropriately evocative and easy for the audience to mishear† (Kareem 1). Furthermore, others argue that Maddy’s position as chambermaid fo r a spoiled, white girl is demeaning. Just as Disney changed the name of its protagonist to â€Å"Tiana,† they have also changed her from being a maid to being a prospective owner of a restaurant. True it is traditional for fairy tale protagonists to begin their stories with having a low social status, but a black heroine who is a domestic could be legitimately read not as a fairy tale trope but as a reinforcement of real world racial denigration (Kareem 1). Some may claim that it would be historically accurate for a 1920’s black woman to be a maid, but Disney does not even necessarily care about historical accuracy when animating actual history. Another point of heated debate in the film centers on the fact that the black princess ends up with an arguably whiter prince, Naveen (or at least a prince who looks white and is voiced by a Brazilian actor who also looks white). Whatever Naveen's ethnicity is, in her article â€Å"The Word on the â€Å"Princess and the Frog,† Disney’s First Film With a Black Heroine,† Nandra Careem quotes Shannon Prince who raises some interesting points about the problems behind Disney’s choice not to make him African American: Some might argue that portraying interracial marriage in film is good – but why then weren't any of the white princesses given non-white princes to save them from white villains? And since Disney doesn't give white princesses non-white princes, isn't this interracial relationship at the expense of black boys who deserve a hero just as much as black girls deserve a heroine? (Kareem, 1) Prince is not the only critic to take issue with the difference in skin color between the prince and princess. Cultural critic Hensley Jameson comments, â€Å"The prince is lighter than she is. What’s that say about black men? Sure, Boris Kodjoe is fine, and we come in all shades, but to be truly black, a character can’t be any lighter than Denzel Washington (Kareem 1). Originally the prince was explicitly reported as being the jazz-loving monarch of a European country. By giving the prince an olive, but still white, complexion and a Brazilian accent, Disney gets to go forward with their original white hero yet make him ambiguous enough to not be unequivocally criticized as white at the same time. Tiana isn't the problem,† says Angela Bonner Helm at Black Voices: â€Å"Was there any particular reason why her love interest, Prince Naveen of Maldonia, couldn't be black, too? Though America has a â€Å"real-life black man in the highest office of the land with a black wife, Disney obviously doesn't think a black man is worth the title of prince† (Kareem 1). The plot of The Princess and the Frog also follows Disney’s pattern of making their ev il characters more â€Å"ethnic† and darker than their good characters. The central villain in the film is the voodoo master, who is also African American. Elaborating on the presence of voodoo in the film, Careem comments that Disney grossly misrepresented the purpose and reality of voodoo: â€Å"The foundation of voodoo is not charms but monotheistic faith, belief in saints and spirits, and a focus on moral values such as charity and respect for the elderly. People do perform rites for protection and defense, but suffice it to say that voodoo is not about being a magician or a fairy godmother† (Mathews 1). The fact that Disney uses uninformed voodoo stereotypes rather than accurate facts in the film furthers the racist undertones in the film. The final major point of criticism in the film is concerned with the fact that the first black Disney princess spends most of the time in the movie as a frog: â€Å"Why does the black princess have to be a frog the whole time? Are they saying black people should be green instead of black? † wonders Shirley Wilson, a waitress at Rob’s diner who plans to boycott the movie: â€Å"when I watched the film I felt disappointed to learn that the heroine spends a significant chunk of the movie not as a black princess at all but as a frog. After decades of waiting, would it be too much to actually see an hour and a half of a black princess on the screen? † (Matthews 1). Wilson’s response to The Princess and the Frog is especially significant because it demonstrates how many people, even on a non-academic level have serious concerns about issues of race in the film. When addressing the critical response to The Princess and the Frog, it is difficult to ignore the fact that even though it has been over half of a century since the first Disney films were released, racism is still a point of criticism, both in the older films and in the ones being produced today. Furthermore, despite the fact that The Princess and the Frog features the first black Disney Princess, critics are even more upset about racism in the film than they ever were before – even in the case of more overtly racist films. Many of the points raised about racism and racial stereotypes in the film are valid and interesting; nevertheless, one cannot help but notice that they overshadow many of the advances Disney has made in eliminating other equally offensive stereotypes in their films. For example, whereas other Disney films typically lack the mother figure completely and perhaps only reference the mother when explaining the past, The Princess and the Frog includes a mother who is present for the entire film. It may not be obvious to most viewers of The Princess and the Frog, but Disney takes a huge and important step in introducing a mother figure to their film – their past practice of eliminating the mother figure is arguably sexist and offensive to the female identity. Another important change Disney makes in Princess and the Frog centers on the fact that unlike other Disney princesses who dream about meeting a prince, Tiana has realistic dreams and expectations – she wants to be a restaurant owner and works very diligently to achieve her goal. Despite this significant statement about female power, however, most film critics will probably instead choose to focus on the fact that Tiana, as an African American, is limited to owning a restaurant rather than a Fortune 500 company. Works Cited: Alan, Spector J. Cultural Diversity and the US Media. Albany: State Univ. of New York, 1998. Print. Brunette, Libby. Stereotypes and Racism in Children's movies. London: Harper Collins Publishers, 2002 Byrne, Eleanor, and Martin McQuillan. Deconstructing Disney. London: Pluto, 1999. Print. Giroux, Henry A. â€Å"Are Disney Movies Good for Your Kids? † Rethinking Childhood 10. 2 (2000): 32-115. Print. 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Robin, Allan. â€Å"European Influences on Early Disney Feature Films. † A Reader in Animation Studies 25. 3 (1997): 42-46. Print. Romalov, Nancy. â€Å"Lady and the Tramps: The Cultural Work of Gypsies in Nancy Drew and Her Foremothers. † The Lion and the Unicorn 18. 1 (1994). Http://muse. jhu. edu/journals. 1 June 1994. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. Schickel, Richard. The Disney Version; the Life, Times, Art, and Commerce of Walt Disney. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1968. Print. Shaheen, Jack. â€Å"Aladdin Animated Racism. † Cineaste 20. 1 (1994): 49-52. Print. Twomey, Steve. â€Å"†The Lion King† a Roaring Success Despite Lambasting. † Washington Post 28 July 1994, 46th ed. , sec. B: 4-7. Print. Walker, Janet. â€Å"Disney's Policy? No Black People, Please. † Academic Search Premier. 23 July 1994. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. Weinman, Jamie. â€Å"Zip-a-dee-dee-doo-don't Mention It. † Maclean's 120. 18 (2007): 63-64. Print.