War And Psychology Essay Example For Students

War And Psychology Essay The experience of war places stresses on the human spirit that can scarcely beimagined in peacetime. Dilemmas that can be largely avoided in time of peacemust be faced in a time of war. Concern for ones own physical safety is oftenat odds with concern for the wellbeing of ones countrymen. The dictates ofthe mind often fight the dictates of the emotions. In such a tug of warsituation, where practical and moral factors align themselves in strange andironic patterns, it is hardly surprising that individuals respond in highlydivergent ways. In this paper, the dangers that war poses to the human psychewill be considered and an attempt will be made to account for the some of thevariability that can be seen in the way in which individuals respond to thesethreats. An examination of two books suggests that certain character traits helpinoculate people in time of war, better enabling them to withstand the assaultsof war. It also suggests that the absence of certain traits makes peoplevulnerabl e when they are placed in threatening circumstances. In examining twoliterary works: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and The English Patient byMichael Ondaatje three character traits that were necessary in order to ensurespiritual survival were clearly shown. These traits were faith, courage, andloyalty. In the course of this paper, special attention will be given to thecharacter traits described above. The significance of their presence or absencein the personalities of a number of literary characters will be considered. InThe Screwtape Letters, Lewis portrays an anonymous English protagoniststruggling to maintain his spiritual integrity against the assaults oftemptations of Hell during World War Two. In The English Patient, Ondaatjeportrays a group of characters, brought together by their circumstances,reacting to what the author portrays as the tidal wave of war. The importance offaith, courage and loyalty enable Lewis character to spiritually survive allthe assaults of warti me. The absence of these characteristics cause Ondaatjescharacters to flounder. Faith, courage and loyalty provide a necessary frameworkfor moral thought and action, enabling the soul to survive even under theadverse conditions presented by war. C.S. Lewis deals extensively with thedangers that war poses to the human psyche. In his wartime work entitled TheScrewtape Letters, he presents an essentially hopeful view concerning theability of the soul to survive the assaults of war. He proposes that having theright perspective is the key to the souls survival. Lewis deals with a widevariety of temptations that serve to undermine the integrity of man in hisjourney through life. All of these temptations assert their power to some degreein peacetime. Yet, their power is often strengthened by the pressures of war. InThe English Patient, Michael Ondaatje presents an entirely different perspectiveconcerning the effects of war on the human psyche. Although he never spells itout, Ondaatje seems to take a fairly deterministic view. The fate of hischaracters often seems to lie beyond their control. It is almost as if hischaracters have been struck by a giant tidal wave and are helpless to resist asthey are carried away. The reader seldom gets the impression that Ondaatjescharacters have alternatives other than to think and act the way they do. Theyare presented as victims of circumstances who warrant our compassion but not ourjudgment. Each leaves the war deeply scarred in the spiritual sense. In the workof C.S. Lewis, faithfulness to God is the factor that ensures the soulssurvival. Lewis describes the danger of being overwhelmed by the stream ofimmediate sense experiences (Lewis pg.12). A mans tendency to focus on theimmediate and the personal at the expense of the universal threatens his abilityto survive in any spiritual sense. When focusing on his own inconvenience,hunger and pain, a man tends to lose sight of broader concerns, such as hisspiritual wellbeing and the co mmon good. Faith enables a man to focus on thespiritual and the eternal, to face each days trials with commitment anddetermination and to survive war with his psyche intact. Lewis grapples with theparadox of war. Lewis argues convincingly that, while some may be destroyed bywar, others may actually experience spiritual growth through adversity. Alertedto the finite nature of life and made more conscious of the needs of others, amans faith and strength may flourish in ways that he never dreamed possible. .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c , .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .postImageUrl , .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c , .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:hover , .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:visited , .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:active { border:0!important; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:active , .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u50874588cec140a3385170e43a3b4e0c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Chemistry And Atom Essay We will write a custom essay on War And Psychology specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Lewis dispels the belief that a long, relatively peaceful or painless life isany guarantee of spiritual survival. He expresses fear for the souls of thosewho die in costly nursing homes amid doctors who lie, nurses who lie, friendswho liepromising life to the dying, encouraging the belief that sicknessexcuses every indulgence, and even withholding a priest lest is should betrayto the sick man his true condition. (Lewis pg. 32). During wartime, the needfor courage cannot be ignored. Lewis sees courage as not simply one of thevirtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means thepoint of highest reality. A chastity or honesty, or mercy, which yields todanger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate wasmerciful till it became risky (Lewis pg. 148). Yet, courage must be groundedin faith and resignation to Gods will. Lewis explains how worrying about thefuture and taking precautions against the dangers of war tend to underminecourage. When a man begins to obsess about all the things he can do to increasehis chances of survival, his commitment to doing his duty becomes honeycombedall through with little unconscious reservations. In a moment of terror,these reservations will assert themselves and his overriding concern will bephysical self-preservation.(Lewis p150). Only by putting his full trust in Godcan a man avoid the threats to the spirit that uncertainty brings and actcourageously under all conditions. Key characters in The English Patient eachpossess some of the traits that Lewis deems to be important: Yet each ofOndaatjes characters displays certain frailties that weaken his chances ofspiritual survival. Each of the characters is profoundly influenced by the?stream of immediate sense experiences that Lewis analyses so vividly inthe Screwtape Letters. Each allows the pain and suffering that he has witnessedto destroy any faith he had in God, country or the war effort. Caravaggio is aman who possesses tremendous courag e. In his role as a spy for the Allies, herisks death and torture on a daily basis throughout the war. After beingcaptured by the Germans and having his thumbs cut off by them, he finds his wayto a villa in Florence where Hana, a Canadian nurse and daughter of an oldfriend is caring for a burned and dying patient. There, he devotes his days toconvincing Hana and Kip, the sapper whom Hana loves, to abandon theirresponsibilities. He urges Hana to leave her dying patient even though there isno one left to care for him. Referring to the Bedoin tribesmen who rescued theburning man, he says, Those men in the desert were smarter than you. Theyassumed that he could be useful. So they saved him, but when he was no longeruseful, they left him.(Ondaatje pg. 45) Confiding to Kip, he blames the waron the rich who have to follow the rules of theircivilized world. Theydeclare war, they have honour and they cant leave. But you two. We three. Were free. How many sappers die? Why arent you dead yet? Be irresponsible. Luck runs out. (Ondaatje p.123) Caravaggio is portrayed as warm, human andvery likable. Yet, he is a man who has lost his faith, his loyalty and hisconfidence. The English Patient is portrayed as a man of great intellect. He is?the wise man who sees ?the greater picture. Yet, at critical times,he reacts in a manner that is narrow and self-serving. He has an affair with thewife of friend and colleague, a man whom he claims to love. This is portrayed asa natural response of one caught up in a tidal wave of emotion. He blames ?thewar for destroying his research, his adopted homeland, and his friendships;yet he makes no credible attempt to come to terms with the terrible events thatmade war inevitable. He collaborates with the Germans, dooming thousands in thedesert to torture and death. He rationalizes his behaviour and abdicatesresponsibility for his actions by blaming the war on international financial andmilitary interests rather than on Nazi aggression. Yet the English Patient ispor trayed as a thoroughly likable victim. Never is it suggested that he is theproduct of the choices that he himself has made. Kipp, the Sikh sapper, is a manof tremendous discipline. Charged with the unenviable task of diffusing bombs,he survives against all odds through a combination of resourcefulness and agreat ability to concentrate. He possesses many admirable qualities, traits thatshould have enabled him to withstand the assaults of war with integrity. Yet,Kip never seems to reflect upon the issue of why he is at war until the end whenhe falls apart . Kips wartime relationships with the English arecharacterised by mutual respect, acceptance and, in several instances, love. .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f , .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .postImageUrl , .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f , .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:hover , .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:visited , .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:active { border:0!important; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:active , .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uec4ac3ffd856191cc830018fff72610f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Thoughts on Marriage EssayThroughout the story, Kip is glued to his radio where he would, no doubt, haveheard of the German and Japanese atrocities that were being revealed on a dailybasis in 1945. Yet, suddenly, he is swept away with revulsion at the news of thedropping of The Bomb on Hiroshima. He literally blames the English for all ofthe evils of the world, including the dropping of the bomb. In response to anact that he sees as racist and imperialistic, he abandons his post and allloyalty to the war effort. Hana, the heroine of the novel, is, in many respects,the noblest of Ondaajes characters. After months of sustained and intensiveexposure to the pain and sufferi ng of others, she refuses to move on with theAllied troops as they travel north in their occupation of Italy. Instead, shechooses to remain with one horribly burned patient who is too ill to move. Hanas psyche is deeply damaged by the pain that she has witnessed. She istotally caught up in what Lewis would term ?the stream of immediate senseexperience. She is portrayed as half-mad, prone to mania and depression. Attimes she is completely overwhelmed with her sorrow and sense of helplessness. At other times, she rejoices as the rain drenches her through the gutted roof ofthe villa that she calls home. She seems to be lacking in religious faith andfeels nothing but scorn for the leaders of the Allied war effort. Still, sheremains loyal to a cause that goes beyond her own wellbeing. She risks death ona daily basis as she fulfils her duties in a villa that the Germans left full ofmines and booby traps. Her devotion to the English Patient and her stubbornrefusal to abandon him redeem her. They help compensate for her frailties,giving her something greater than her self to live for during the dreary springof 1945. Faith, courage, discipline and loyalty preserve the soul, though notthe body of Lewis anonymous hero. The absence of one or more of these traitsweakens the spiritual immune system of each of Ondaatjes leading EnglishPatient characters. Carvaggio faces post-war life lacking confidence and faith. Kip returns to India hating the system that he has given his heart and soul for. At best, he can see himself as a helpless pawn, a victim or a fool. At worst, hecan see himself as a willing agent of death and destruction. The EnglishPatient, presumably, dies muddled as much by his own rationalisations as by hismorphine. He clings to a love that he uses to excuse acts of personal andcollective treachery. Hana finds herself in an extremely vulnerable position asshe faces her post-war future. She has abandoned any faith that she ever had inGod, her country and her civilisation. She has placed all of her faith, trustand loyalty in the hands of her patient and her lover. This has given hersomething to live for as the war winds to an end. But when these two abandonher, she has no faith in anything but herself to fall back on. She returns toCanada, completely distrustful of human relationships. Many who have endured thehorrors of war may relate to the disillusionment portrayed by Ondaatjescharacters. Many who would never claim to possess the virtues promoted by C.S. Lewis clearly reflect them in the way in which they live their lives. These arethe wartime survivors who continue to inspire those who have never endured thehorrors of war. These are the survivors who show what it means to live a goodlife, even under the most adverse conditions. BibliographyLewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters. Great Britain: Fontana Books, 1942Ondaatje, Michael. The Engish Patient. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 1996

Battle of Midway essays

Battle of Midway essays The turning point in the American Civil War was reached at bloody Antietam, Maryland, when Confederate forces were fought to a standstill. The Allies reached several turning points in World War II: the Battle for Britain, the Battle of the North Atlantic, and the Defense of Stalingrad. For America, her shining hour, her turning point in that wars Pacific Theater was reached at an island called Midway. Midway is located in the Pacific Ocean, about 2100 miles east of Tokyo and 1135 miles west of Hawaii. Midway is actually two islets, Sand and Eastern, with a lagoon about five miles across and is located just inside the southern reef. Sand Island is only 850 acres or so and its highest point is only thirty nine feet. Eastern is not half of what Sand is, but the Navy placed great strategic value on Midway. Since1903, a telephone cable had connected it with Honolulu, and this cable was used in the battles preliminaries, leaving the level of radio traffic normal and there by foiling any enemy listeners. (1) The Battle of Midway started on the third of June, 1942 and lasted until the sixth of June, but the actual fighting in this battle only lasted one day. However, it could be argued that the real battle began the eighteenth of April, when Army Air Corps Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and his forces of sixteen B-25 Mitchell bombers were launched from the deck of the USS Hornet (CV 8), 668 miles off Tokyo for what was to be the famous Raid Over Tokyo. In Washington, D.C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt told reporters that the raid originated from a place called Shangri-La, a name designed to mislead enemies. The plan worked. The Japanese figured that the Aleutians or Midway Island had to be Shangri-La because it was within the bombers range. They Japanese decided that Midway had to be destroyed. (2) Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Combined Fleet, argued that the...

A Company That Has Had a Lawsuit in the Last 10 Years Research Paper

A Company That Has Had a Lawsuit in the Last 10 Years - Research Paper Example The paper chronologically accounts for the case how it started, got to be developed and concluded in a court of law. In the determination of the ruling, this paper has considered that basics that were used by the court of law to determine this case. In relation to this, the paper also gives accounts of the changes that has characterized the company following the law suit, the agencies charged with giving certificate of operation for drug companies as well as the recommendation to the companies in similar products based on the suit. Mylan Company is one of the world’s biggest and leading generics and pharmaceutical companies. The company’s products are available in almost over 150 countries worldwide; Germany, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Zech Republic, Denmark, Finland, and France are among the countries where the company operates. In its production, the company relies on contemporary production mechanisms where drugs safety and hygienic processes are observed. Throug h this, the company is producing reliable pharmaceutical products for consumers (Ceder, 2011). The company employs about 18,000 employees in all the branches all over the world. Given the company’s growth and service to the consumers, it has realized tremendous success in the industry. In this regard, it supplies most of the pharmaceutical drugs including the antiretroviral for treatment of HIV/AIDS patients (Ceder, 2011). The company was started in 1961 and became a publicly traded company in 1973 (Ceder, 2011). In 2002, the company was involved in a legal issue with the one of its client who sustained a back pain while changing the tires of the vehicle and was administered a painkiller fentanyl. Fentanyl is an addictive narcotic that affects the nervous system. After two days, the patient died and the postmortem results indicated that a lethal dose of the drug, Fentanyl was found in his blood stream, this was in 2002. The family filed a lawsuit against Mylan of manufacturin g lethal products since the physiological effects of the drugs contradicted the recommendation given in the package. The plaintiff lawyer argued that a defect in the drug and the only thing that has not been ascertained is the type of defect that was in the drug. During the period of the suit, Mylan maintained that the products were not defective and that they complied with the food and drugs administration that inspects quality of the drugs (Sobel, 2012). Discuss the legal theories used by the plaintiff to recover in this lawsuit. How the lawsuit was resolved, and why you agree with the decision in the case. The plaintiff asserted during their argument that there was defect in the drug and that is the company’s responsibility to identify such mistakes and to address any defect before releasing the drugs into the market. Specifically, they asserted that the defect was occasioned by negligence of the company workers during manufacturing. That the company has the duty of care t o its customers and should ensure that their products in the market are suitable for use by the customers (Mickey, 2004). The plaintiff accused the company of not observing professional due diligence in drug manufacturing and that this was not followed, defective drugs found their way into the market and resulted in to the death of their own. The defective in the drug was in its physiological departure where it affected the functionality of the nervous system. In the decision that was reached by the court over the case is that the company was liable for the death and they had to compensate the family appropriately for contributing into the death of the family’s bread winner. The court found that the company

Effectiveness of Senior Team Member and In-Depth Knowledge of the Essay

Effectiveness of Senior Team Member and In-Depth Knowledge of the Subject - Essay Example As it has been aforementioned that my role as a senior team member is very notable and important for the success of an entire team, in the same manner, the role and functions of other team members also play a crucial role in this regard. As a senior team member, I should be able to understand the potential, proficiencies, and skills of my team members so that I can effectively place them in the right order and can assign them the right duty and task which fits them the most. Furthermore, I should respect other team members and should expect the same from them. As a team, it is our foremost responsibility to understand that every individual and his role are equally important and that no one is assigned with an easy job or has been favored. Furthermore, I also need to check that all members of the team are performing their duties well and are following all the ethical and legal guidelines of prescribing, selling, and administration. It should be noted that prescribing someone is a serious and important issue. Although only authorized professionals are allowed to prescribe medicines, it is important that as a senior team member I should keep a check and balance on the procedures. A daily, weekly and monthly evaluation of the prescribing practices should be incorporated in the routine tasks as well as auditing and monitoring these practices. This will allow fewer chances of error and will ensure an effective and steady process of prescribing and other tasks. The presence of a code of ethics and conduct is made by the Ethics committee of â€Å"The British Psychological Society† (Cowden & Pullen-Sansfacon, 2014). They provide an insight to the educational, professional roles of Psychologists but they are not merely specific rules for psychologists but they are associated with certain principles that provide guidance on when to fulfill the demand of the patients and when it would be feasible to say no to them.

H.R. and line managers interaction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

H.R. and line managers interaction - Essay Example This suggests that the line managers should be aware of the link between the management of human resources and the strategic direction designed by the top management. However, the contribution of the line managers in playing the role of HR functions has been challenged. The middle managers or the line managers interact most frequently with the employees and hence play a vital role in any organization. The top management is busy formulating the strategies, goals and objectives and plays the role of transformational leaders (Thornhill & Saunders). Under the circumstances the line managers are expected to have the ability to inspire, motivate, direct and facilitate change by encouraging the employees to become committed to the organization. Bond and McCracken (2006) contend that the line managers should become more involved in HR functions at the operational level. A study at the NHS revealed that the middle managers did use their discretion on a number of issues which implies that the HR strategy is operationalized at the NHS. Line managers are definitely in a position to translate the HRM policies in an organization at the operational level. However, line managers may not be able to cope with the additional responsibilities given to them. They may feel stressed or may be unable to handle the HR functions (Renwick, 2003) and doubts have also been expressed whether they possess the necessary skills and knowledge (Whittaker & Marchington, 2003). This situation, according to Bond and McCracken, can arise when the line managers are not adequately trained and hence lack discretion and maturity. When a subordinate asks for leave the line managers are between positioned to ascertain how this leave would impact the work at the organization. The line manager must also have the ability to motivate the leave applicant to work extra hours in case of emergencies. This requires the use of discretion and calls for maturity on the part of the line managers. When line managers ar e not adequately trained they are not competent enough to make the right decisions and this situation may not be fair to the staff. At the same time, the line managers may be unable to embrace HR functions as they remain preoccupied with their primary responsibilities and the HR duties remain low on priority, emphasize Brandl et al (2009). Thus, the HR personnel must know the areas of priorities of the line managers before assigning responsibilities so that the right functions are delegated to them. Brandl et al also find that the line managers are keen to handle HR functions such as motivation and staff welfare but they are not keen to take on responsibilities of team building and coaching or in managing conflicts. The purpose of involving the line managers is to free the HR personnel for policy matters, to reduce costs and to enhance employee motivation. This is in view of the belief that direct interaction with the employees enhances competitiveness and production (Larsen & Brews ter, 2003). The input from the line managers is significant as it enables the HR to institute and frame the rewards policies. Moreover, certain issues may be too complex for the HR personnel to manage. Since the line managers are in direct contact it may be easier for them as it enhances the decision-making process which according to Budhwar (2000) is one of the most effective tools for employee motivation. For best results the line managers have to work in conjunction with the HR practitioners as it could lead to greater achievement of corporate

Identifying Illogical Fallacy And Arguments Philosophy Essay

Identifying Illogical Fallacy And Arguments Philosophy Essay Have you wondered the truth behind some peoples logic when considering why they believe what they do or why they believe it is true based upon their own interpretation? In almost every aspect of life there is some underlying reason that people conform or believe in things, whether its regarded as truth or fallacy. Most people would argue that there is a higher power in terms of religion while most or others will disagree that there is no such existence because they have not seen him personally. An argument can be said to be the exchanging of opposing views by means of persuasion in asserting that a view or purpose is true or false; right or wrong. Philosophers in history have argued that there is error in reasoning in the causation of life and this is can be referred to as a fallacy. A fallacy can be an intentional act or unintentional act or line of reasoning. There are several illogical fallacies beginning with a mere assertion. Mere Assertion: An illogical fallacy based up on the belief that an argument is true because you believe in it. In other words, if you argue that the sky is black ant is something that you believe or feel strongly about, and then it is presumed true. Clearly, any other person would note that the sky is never black and is in fact blue at all time. However, in this case, it is true because you believe it. Circular Reasoning: circular reasoning is the argument that suggests that whatever the argument may be, as long as the conclusion of an argument supports the premise (justifiable claim) then it is true. In simpler terms, the reason for the argument is also the reason in the conclusion. There must be evidence to prove that what you are arguing is a valid argument. For example: Reading is an excellent practice in learning as it helps to enhance ones knowledge. It is clear that reading does assist in learning new things but reading alone does not promote being more knowledgeable but it does assist in the learning processes. Ad Hominem: Ad Hominem is an arguments reasoning associated with demeaning the opposition relevant to the argument. My 4 year old I famous for this because whenever he does something he is not supposed to do or I asked him not to do, and I get on him because of his behavior, he attempts to divert my attention away for the purpose of preventing himself for getting a spanking or yelled at. He may say things like I just love you so much or Mommy can I give you a hug. Another example is when my mother and I get into arguments about the rude ways she speaks to me; she brings up the topic of money because she wants to control my income. Because we are already in a heated argument, she includes other things in the argument that are irrelevant to her rude ways when conversing. Red Herring: A form of drawing attention away for means of confusion and irrelevant subjects within an argument. Red herring is a part of an argument where the parties intend to manipulate the argument by including irrelevant reasoning and allow the opposing party to consider the irrelevant information pulling away from the initial reason for the argument. For example: An employee is in trouble with his boss for not completely assignments timely and being rude to clients. The employee mentions other employees who mingle in the workplace and take personal calls pretending to be talking business with clients. In this situation, the employee is attempting to influence his boss to consider the quality of others work in order to reduce the tension between the boss and himself. Pseudo Questions: Pseudo questions can be defined as rhetorical questions which mean that they cannot be answered. Pseudo question can be simple question that are hard to answer because the person who supposed to answer has no knowledge of the topic. A question by Billy Corgon asks If practice makes perfect and no one is perfect, then why practice? Or George Corlin asks Why do doctors call the work a practice? Isnt what they learned a skill? False Cause: False cause is a fallacy that suggests that something is the result of something else. This fallacy is similar to determinism where every event has a cause. An example of false cause: Tyler Perry became famous, a great writer and actor because he gained experience from living on the streets and being homeless. If this were true, then all homeless people would become actors because they lived on the street thus gaining experience. Sweeping generalizations: The fallacy that says if one assumes that all incidents of reason are applied to every situation. Furthermore, sweeping generalizations accepts the sense that there are no exceptions to generalization. For example: People who dont eat pork are Muslims. You are a Muslim because you dont eat pork. In this case, not eating pork can be for religious purposes but also can apply to the fact that the person is a vegetarian thus invalidating the argument because there is an exception to this argument. Slippery Slope: Suggests that a cause of events will continuously occur because one thing causes another. In other words, by chance one thing will finally lead to the last. Consider the slippery slope fallacy in this situation. Not wearing a coat in the winter will cause you to catch a cold eventually. How does this occur? Well first you get the sniffles and maybe allergy like symptoms (i.e. stuffy nose, clogged ears, runny eyes) following maybe changes in your body temperature then eventually you will cough which signifies that you have caught a cold. Any human knows that if you act carelessly in the winter, you will be subjected to catching a cold and being sick. Being sick is not fun right? Equivocation or Changing Means: Altering the meaning of a word in the course of an argument. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is a time of happiness therefore the birth of Jesus Christ must too be full of happiness. This example signals that both implications of the argument produces happiness (i.e. Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ); Jesus himself being full of happiness because his birth was full of happiness.

Comparing Villains and Victims from The Speckled Band, Twisted Lip and

Comparing Villains and Victims from The Speckled Band, Twisted Lip and The Cardboard Box The three villains which I am going to compare / contrast are Dr Roylott from The Speckled Band, Mr Neville St Claire from The Man With The Twisted Lip and Sarah Cushing from The Cardboard Box. The three victims I am going to compare / contrast are Helen Stoner from The Speckled Band, Mrs St Claire from The Man With The Twisted Lip and Susan Cushing from The Cardboard box. Dr Roylott is a stereotype villain. He is feared by his neighbours and is very violent and threatening. He is described as being "a man of immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable anger". I can say this because "he beat his native butler to death." He even abuses Helen physically "and covered over her injured wrist." This is when Holmes observes her. Helen finally falls in love with Percy Armitage who asks for her hand in marriage but Dr Roylott "offers no position to the match." This shows his selfish personality, he only cares for himself and not his stepdaughter's happiness. He hangs about with criminal gypsies but he is in fact worse than the gypsies. "He has a baboon and cheetah which wonder freely over his grounds" This shows his weird, strange hard character. He is also quite a bully because Helen says, "for a long time we did all the work of the house" They had to do this because all the servants were afraid of being employed by him "No servants would stay with us". He is such an evil character because he even kills his stepdaughter Julia just so he gets to keep her money and he also intended on killing his other stepdaughter Helen. The villain from The Man With The Twisted Lip, Mr Neville St Claire is a different type of... ...y are victims; they have most characteristics in common for example Helen is made to be a lonely person and so is Susan Cushing because Susan looses her sister who was described as being "an angel" and is left with the sister who she does not get along with, Sarah "a devil". Mrs Neville St Claire is also made to appear as if she is lonely because her husband goes and does not come back for a whole week "What a week she must have spent" this also shows that she could have been suffering. Helen and Mrs Neville St Claire end up having everything work out the best because Helen goes and gets married and claims the will her mother left her and Mrs Neville St Claire gets her husband back but Susan is just stuck as being a retired old lady with an evil sister, She does not have anything better going for her. This makes me feel moderately sympathetic towards her.

Money Transfer in Ghana Case Study

The introduction of mobile money service is taking place in isolation but in parallel with the advent and expansion of other financial electronic payments services. One of these is E-Zwich, an electronic platform that enables the loading and spending of electronic cash and also allows the settlement of inter-bank claims in addition to online transactions. Others are being made available over the Internet and through SMS-text messages. The government regards these services as banking. They are strictly regulated and licensed by the Central Bank- Bank of Ghana under its branchless banking policy. Both MTN and ZAIN SIM cards are enabled to utilize the service but each new subscriber needs to register for the service at before it is activated. Upon activation, the user is provided with a secure electronic â€Å"wallet† where funds can be disbursed or uploaded. The users can either exchange electronic money for physical cash (cash out) at shops, partner banks and accredited agents or make use of it in making purchases or transfers. Enabling a Cash Flow to Rural Areas In general, the most popular mobile money service is money transfer. The trend is for users in urban areas to transfer funds to recipients in rural areas. Traditionally in Ghana, city dwellers often send money to members of their extended family living in rural areas. Other typical services include the purchase of mobile phone airtime, goods and services through electronic transfer of money from user's wallet to the merchant's account. Commenting on money transfer via mobile phones, Carl NiikoiAshie, an mcommerce (mobile commerce) specialist at Zain who works on ZAP, said: â€Å"The customers can ‘cash in' by loading money onto their ZAP wallet, then send the money to someone else on their phone in a simple process. The person receiving the money can ‘cash out' by going to any of our outlets and exchanging the evalue for physical cash. We're seeing tremendous growth in the service across the country, with more cash-in done in the major cities while cash-outs are seen predominantly in the smaller towns. † Ashie sees a lot of evidence that his product is reaching Ghana's unbanked. â€Å"Users do not need to have a bank account to use the service. Currently, there are a lot of monetary transactions that take place outside the confines of the banks and it will take a product like ZAP to fill the void while providing a secure, convenient and trustworthy channel of transaction,† said Ashie. â€Å"Some customers have also requested products that will allow them to use their ZAP wallets for savings and hence enjoy interest on their savings, just as pertains in the traditional bank setting. † Today, consumers have a variety of ways to send and receive funds or money transfers. Although using cash to send a money transfer is the most popular method for most people, more and more people want additional options: to send and/or receive funds on the internet, over the phone, and now, on their mobile phones. Mobile money transfer is simply another way to send money. It is a transfer of money to a receiver in which the funds are deposited into a mobile or â€Å"virtual† wallet. As the number of mobile phone subscribers in Ghana increases, so does the market for mobile money services. The majority of Ghanaians lack any formal bank account. mobile money could change the shape of financial transactions in the country. An estimated 80 percent of Ghanaians are â€Å"unbanked† – meaning they conduct their transactions outside the banking sector with no access to financial services. Products like â€Å"mobile money,† that enable safe and secure money transfers without the use of a bank account, could have a major impact on this unserved segment of the population. Mobile money gives anyone with a mobile phone the ability to transfer money, make cash payments and conduct other financial transactions over the phone. Mobile money is a relatively new phenomenon in Ghana. It was first introduced by the telecom company MTN some years ago. MTN Mobile Money operates in partnership with nine banks. Currently, more than 2 million Ghanaians are registered as active users. MTN expects this number to grow as a result of the resources they have committed to educating subscribers about switching from the traditional mode of cash payments to electronic payments. Earlier this year, Zain became the second mobile operator to provide mobile money services through the introduction of ZAP, working with three banks. The coverage and accessibility that mobile services provide is of increasing interest to the financial services sector. Countries are considering mobile technology to reduce the cost of delivering financial services to clients beyond the reach of traditional financial services. ECONOMIC BENEFITS Mobile money transfer has some socio-economic benefits in Ghana, some these are Firstly Improved Financial Access, consider a situation whereby a given business has to carry out a common payment operation, such as bill payment or funds transfer, and that operation demands transportation with all inconveniences attached to it. If the same transportation cost were paid to a service that would effect the same payment on behalf of the company over the mobile phone instead, this more convenient method brings about saving time and energy for other activities, in so doing increasing productivity by performing two tasks instead of one at the end of the day. It appears, therefore, that using your mobile phone to make payments represents to a very large extent convenience taken to another level. By exploiting the extensive reach of mobile networks, the mobile industry has the opportunity to complement and extend remittance channels, make transferring money significantly more convenient and also bring many people into the formal banking system. With more than 15,000,000 mobile phone subscribers in Ghana, the potential market for these new services is significant. Mobile money presents certain advantages for Ghanaians without access to banks. Penetration of mobile services across the world is increasing rapidly. In 1990 there were just over 11m mobile phone users worldwide. Today, over 3 billion consumers own mobile phones. At the same time, the possibility to technically integrate mobile and financial services is becoming increasingly apparent. A recent survey conducted by Edgar Dunn & Company and the GSM Association (GSMA) predicts that, given an improved regulatory environment, in 2012 7% of the subscriber base in developed countries and 4% in developing countries will initiate at least one cross-border remittance. This equates to just over 248 million consumers in 2012 using mobile money transfer services. Financial access for the poor is still an issue in many developing countries. There are currently approximately only 0. 5 million bank branches globally with only 1. 4 million ATM's compared to over 3 billion mobile customers worldwide. The mobile device has the potential to extend access to financial services for the banked, but also for the under-served and unbanked parts of the population. This improved, financial access can be achieved by exploiting the extensive reach of mobile networks. Traditional remittance channels can be complemented and extended with mobile money transfer services. Thus making mobile money transfers significantly more convenient, bringing many remittances from informal channels into the formal system. Secondly it reduces the transaction cost of money transfers. Bank transfers and specialist remittance companies can be prohibitively expensive for small denomination transfers, limiting the ability of individual workers to distribute funds to a larger number of people and penalizing those sending small amounts. Retail premises and staff costs increase overheads, leading to high commissions, especially for remittances below ghc100. It drastically cuts down the cost of providing service to customers. A study carried out proved that there is a substantial cut in customer care cost. This results from the fact that mobile money transfer eliminates the need for costly call centers and frees up customer service help desk. In addition real-time information is provided to customers and employees. Using a mobile platform such as SMS fro simple task as payment reminders and funds transfer can reduce the burden on IT and personal resources. This has also been found to reduce cost and errors associated with paper-base operations. Significant reduction in operational costs means additional revenues can be invested in other areas of the business. Mobile technology can lower the cost of remittances as it removes the need for physical points of presence and ensures a timely and secure method of transaction. This concept of ‘mobile money' is extremely attractive to low income users in particular Mobile money transfer services can make remittances more affordable. Mobile technology lowers the cost of remittances as it removes the need for physical points of presence by banks and ensures a timely and secure method of transaction. This concept of ‘mobile money' is extremely attractive to low income users in particular. It reduces the transaction costs of financial services for the poor, especially those in rural areas where financial services seldom exist. Mobile money saves the cost of travel and time spent visiting the nearest town to access financial services. As noted in AudienceScapes research, mobile money provides people with a way to transfer money safely and keep (or even increase) their savings. From the customers’ perspective, mobile banking is relatively easy to use, and this is another advantage compared to traditional means of banking as well as electronic banking, given the fact that text messaging has become a common application of mobile phones. Thirdly mobile money transfers drive growth and development. Mobile money has the potential to create jobs directly through hiring in the mobile phone companies, partner banks and the more than 4,000 merchants involved in Ghana's mobile money system. Key partners in the provision of mobile money services include commercial banks, mobile phone operator's shops, distributor shops and accredited agents. Jobs may be created indirectly as mobile money contributes to growth in Ghana's business and trade. If deployed successfully, mobile money could help individuals harness funds outside the banking system and channel them into the formal financial sector, thus making it easier to gather funds for investments. Not surprisingly, the general manager of Mobile Money-MTN, Bruno Akpaka, sees many benefits for Ghana as it continues adopting this service. Akpaka believes mobile money will â€Å"help trade activities within the country and foster strong business partnerships. † â€Å"The creation of wide merchant footprints in places where traditional banks cannot go also contributes to bringing people into this new model of financial transactions,† said Akpaka. â€Å"MTN Mobile Money is bridging this existing huge gap between the unbanked and the financial sector. † Mobile-financial convergence creates socio-economic benefits. It is widely accepted, that increased access to mobile telephony in developing countries brings considerable benefits to the economies of the respective countries. It is estimated that an extra 10 mobile phones per 100 people in a typical developing country lead to an extra 0. 89 – 1. 210 percentage points of growth in GDP per person. In addition, remittances are an important engine for growth and development in developing countries. The World Bank estimates that reducing remittance commission charges by 2-5% could increase the flow of formal remittances by 50-70%, boosting local economies. Reducing the cost of sending each individual remittance would encourage the delivery of lower value remittances, at smaller values than today's average transfer of ghc200. Financial regulators have the opportunity to use the development of mobilefinancial convergence to achieve their aims: ? ? ? ? New services offered to consumers, i. e. mobile money transfer services (innovation) Cheaper prices through more efficient use of the mobile infrastructure (competition) Across all consumer groups (banked, under-banked, unbanked) Transition remittances from informal to formal remittance channels (more visibility of money flows) Both the mobile and the financial industry benefit from this opportunity to cooperate in new ways providing innovative services to an increased customer base. The challenges facing the market. Access Access to the facilities to receive money is often limited, particularly for the poorest people in more rural areas where the banking sector is under represented and a largely cash-based economy exists. There are currently approximately only 0. 5 million bank branches globally with only 1. 4 million ATM's compared to almost 2 billion mobile customers worldwide. Those who would benefit the most are therefore the least likely to benefit from remittances from migrant workers, locked out of their market through their social, economic and geographical position. Cost Bank transfers and specialist remittance companies are prohibitively expensive for small denomination transfers, limiting the ability of individual workers to distribute funds to a larger number of people and penalising the poor who can only afford to send small amounts. Retail premises and staff costs increase overheads, leading to a high fixed commission cost per remittance with industry revenues estimated at an average 15% per transaction, increasing to over 25% for remittances below ghc100. Handset operability There are a large number of different mobile phone devices and it is a big challenge for banks to offer mobile banking solution on any type of device. Some of these devices support Java ME and others support SIM Application Toolkit, a WAP browser, or only SMS. Initial interoperability issues however have been localized, with countries like Ghana using portals like R-World to enable the limitations of low end java based phones, while focus on areas such as South Africa have defaulted to the USSD as a basis of communication achievable with any phone. The desire for interoperability is largely dependent on the banks themselves, where installed applications (Java based or native) provide better security, are easier to use and allow development of more complex capabilities similar to those of internet banking while SMS can provide the basics but becomes difficult to operate with more complex transactions. There is a myth that there is a challenge of interoperability between mobile banking applications due to perceived lack of common technology standards for mobile banking. In practice it is too early in the service lifecycle for interoperability to be addressed within an individual country, as very few countries have more than one mobile banking service provider. In practice, banking interfaces are well defined and money movements between banks follow the IS0-8583 standard. As mobile banking matures, money movements between service providers will naturally adopt the same standards as in the banking world. Security Security of financial transactions, being executed from some remote location and transmission of financial information over the air, are the most complicated challenges that need to be addressed jointly by mobile application developers, wireless network service providers and the banks' IT departments. The following aspects need to be addressed to offer a secure infrastructure for financial transaction over wireless network: 1. Physical part of the hand-held device. If the bank is offering smart-card based security, the physical security of the device is more important. 2. Security of any thick-client application running on the device. In case the device is stolen, the hacker should require at least an ID/Password to access the application. 3. Authentication of the device with service provider before initiating a transaction. This would ensure that unauthorized devices are not connected to perform financial transactions. 4. User ID / Password authenticationof bank’s customer. 5. Encryptionof the data being transmitted over the air. 6. Encryption of the data that will be stored in device for later / off-line analysis by the customer. One-time password(OTPs) are the latest tool used by financial and banking service providers in the fight againstcyber fraud . Instead of relying on traditional memorized passwords, OTPs are requested by consumers each time they want to perform transactions using the online or mobile banking interface. When the request is received the password is sent to the consumer’s phone via SMS. The password is expired once it has been used or once its scheduled life-cycle has expired. Because of the concerns made explicit above, it is extremely important that SMS gateway providers can provide a decent quality of service for banks and financial institutions in regards to SMS services. Therefore, the provision of service level agreements (SLAs) is a requirement for this industry; it is necessary to give the bank customer delivery guarantees of all messages, as well as measurements on he speed of delivery, throughput, etc. SLAs give the service parameters in which a messaging solution is guaranteed to perform. Scalability & Reliability Another challenge for the CIOs and CTOs of the banks is to scale-up the mobile banking infrastructure to handle exponential growth of the customer base. With mobile banking, the customer may be sitting in any part of the world (true anytime, anywhere banking) and hence banks need to ensure that the systems are up and running in a true 24 x 7 fas hion. As customers will find mobile banking more and more useful, their expectations from the solution will increase. Banks unable to meet the performance and reliability expectations may lose customer confidence. There are systems such as Mobile Transaction Platform which allow quick and secure mobile enabling of various banking services. Recently in India there has been a phenomenal growth in the use of Mobile Banking applications, with leading banks adopting Mobile Transaction Platform and the Central Bank publishing guidelines for mobile banking operations. Application distribution Due to the nature of the connectivity between bank and its customers, it would be impractical to expect customers to regularly visit banks or connect to a web site for regular upgrade of their mobile banking application. It will be expected that the mobile application itself check the upgrades and updates and download necessary patches (so called â€Å"Over The Air† updates). However, there could be many issues to implement this approach such as upgrade / synchronization of other dependent components. Conclusion. For customers and businesses in the country, it is a unique platform to bring convenience in financial transactions to customers, an area which before this period had been beyond our domain and reach for those of us in Ghana and most of Africa. For the customer, its time and cost saving elements cannot be over emphasized and the earlier we adopt electronic ways of financial transactions, the better it will be for a whole society that would see a transformation, resulting from the ability to cut down on time lost accessing basic services like funds transfer amongst businesses and individuals.

Ukrainian Language and Culture

Every day we use, transmit and sometimes learn both language and culture. We are most likely oblivious to it, but our language is inevitably influenced by the culture we live in – e. . the way we are taught to treat people and speak are connected. We are also most likely to have the same traditions and customs as the people speaking the same language. In this essay I will briefly define language and culture and present some examples of the influence on each other from my own Ukrainian culture. What is culture? Found in Oxford Dictionary Online, culture means â€Å"the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group†¦ † The word itself comes from the Latin word cultura – meaning growing, cultivation.Edward Tylor (1871) summarized it the following way: Culture †¦ is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. We practice what we learn throughout life and transmit to our children what we have been taught – the basic behaviour, such as greeting, table manners and dressing but inevitably also traditions, such as birthday and Christmas celebration. Without investigating we know that this type of behaviour was taught and found in many generations before us, and will be long after we die.The culture – the way we do things – is transgenerational – it continues beyond lifetimes (Rosman&Rubel 2001). Neither does culture stand still – it changes and develops over time (Ferraro, 1998). What is language? Language, or speech, is the primary human communication tool which conveys ideas, transfers messages and makes people interact. Apart from the verbal communication we find the other two – written and non-verbal (body language). Languages are made out of devises like grammar, syntax, phonemes and mordhenics (Ferraro, 1998). Language is also one of the things that differs us from animals (Rosman&Rubel 2001).Just the same way as we experience and practice culture, we do with language. The dictionary definition of the word is â€Å"1. the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured way 2. †¦ used by a particular country or community† (Oxford Dictionaries Online, 2012). Here it is evident that language is, apart from being a body of words and systems and speech, tightly connected to a specific group of people and consequently a culture. How does language influence culture and vice versa?Based on the information above, we see a very clear pattern – the ways humans speak and behave are connected. Language is the tool through which cultural ideas can be conveyed, transmitted and kept, and â€Å"when a group begins to lose its language, its cultural tapestry begins to unravel† (Rosman&Rubel, 2001, pp. 41). Som examples of language and c ulture going hand in hand, can be found in my Ukrainian culture: In addition to your name, you also carry a middle name – a patronymic. According to Oxford Online Dictionary, it is â€Å"a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor, typically by the addition of a prefix or suffix†.For instance, my full name is Anastasia Oleksandrivna Semenova. My fathers name is Oleksandr and being a female, the ending is -ivna. Males’ endings are typically -ov or -ich. Culturally this links the father being highly honored in the typical Ukrainian family – he is the head of the house and the provider. The patronymic is kept for life. This is also essential when addressing to eachother. In everyday life people typically use the first name and the fathers name, if not being family or very close friends, e. g. Anastasia Oleksandrivna. When addressing someone formally, different types of ‘you’ is used – e. . a friend would be addressed as â€Å"ty † () but a teacher, a boss or, in a childs case, everyone that is older would be addressed as â€Å"vy† (). Showing respect this way is a strict rule, but is a habit since it is taught from infancy. Culturally, this links with the politeness taught from a very young age – to respect the older, non-familiar and higher-educated people than you. Changing the â€Å"vy† to â€Å"ty† is a sign of entering into the friend circle. Conclusion The broad term culture includes behaviour, customs, traditions, cuisine, law and morals of a specific group of people.It is taught, transmitted, transgenerational and changed over time. Language is the primary tool of interaction and communication of man. It is shared by a community or a group of people and is tightly connected to the culture of the group – by language culture is taught and transmitted. The Ukrainian culture values and teaches respect when addressing one another. Two good examples are the use of patronymics as a middle name (links to high position of the father) and a formal and informal ‘you’ (links to respect toward older and unfamiliar people). Bibliography&references

Free Essays on Day Of The Dead

Day of the Dead This is an ancient festivity that has been much transformed through the years, but which was intended in prehispanic Mexico to celebrate children and the dead. Hence, the best way to describe this Mexican holiday is to say that it is a time when Mexican families remember their dead, and the continuity of life. The original celebration can be traced to the festivities held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided by the goddess Mictecacihuatl ("Lady of the Dead"), and dedicated to children and the dead. The rituals during this month also featured a festivity dedicated to the major Aztec war deity, Huitzilopochtli ("Sinister Hummingbird"). In the Aztec calendar, this ritual fell roughly at the end of the Gregorian month of July and the beginning of August, but in the postconquest era it was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve (in Spanish: "DÃ ­a de Todos Santos,") in a vain effort to transform this from a "profane" to a Christian celebration. The result is that Mexicans now celebrate the day of the dead during the first two days of November, rather than at the beginning of summer, but remember the dead they still do, and the modern festivity is characterized by the traditional Mexican blend of ancient aboriginal an d introduced Christian features. Generalizing broadly, the day's activities consist of visits by families to the graves of their close kin. At the gravesites family members engage in sprucing up the gravesite, decorating it with flowers, setting out and enjoying a picnic, and interacting socially with other family and community members who gather at the cemetary. Families remember the departed by telling stories about them. The meals prepared for these picnics are sumptuous, usually featuring meat dishes in spicy sauces, a special egg-batter bread, cookies, chocolate, and sugary confections in a variety of animal or skull shapes. Gra... Free Essays on Day Of The Dead Free Essays on Day Of The Dead Day of the Dead This is an ancient festivity that has been much transformed through the years, but which was intended in prehispanic Mexico to celebrate children and the dead. Hence, the best way to describe this Mexican holiday is to say that it is a time when Mexican families remember their dead, and the continuity of life. The original celebration can be traced to the festivities held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided by the goddess Mictecacihuatl ("Lady of the Dead"), and dedicated to children and the dead. The rituals during this month also featured a festivity dedicated to the major Aztec war deity, Huitzilopochtli ("Sinister Hummingbird"). In the Aztec calendar, this ritual fell roughly at the end of the Gregorian month of July and the beginning of August, but in the postconquest era it was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve (in Spanish: "DÃ ­a de Todos Santos,") in a vain effort to transform this from a "profane" to a Christian celebration. The result is that Mexicans now celebrate the day of the dead during the first two days of November, rather than at the beginning of summer, but remember the dead they still do, and the modern festivity is characterized by the traditional Mexican blend of ancient aboriginal an d introduced Christian features. Generalizing broadly, the day's activities consist of visits by families to the graves of their close kin. At the gravesites family members engage in sprucing up the gravesite, decorating it with flowers, setting out and enjoying a picnic, and interacting socially with other family and community members who gather at the cemetary. Families remember the departed by telling stories about them. The meals prepared for these picnics are sumptuous, usually featuring meat dishes in spicy sauces, a special egg-batter bread, cookies, chocolate, and sugary confections in a variety of animal or skull shapes. Gra...

Ancient Egyptian Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ancient Egyptian Religion - Essay Example During ancient history of Egypt, most religious practices centered on the pharaoh, who used to be the king of Egypt. This pharaoh was believed by ordinary Egyptians to be descended from the gods, as Egyptians, during this old time in history, believed in many deities, not just one God. In that sense, the pharaoh acted as the intermediary person between people and the gods. Another important aspect of the ancient Egyptian religion was the sincere belief in the afterlife and this belief shaped their funerary practices. As such, ancient Egyptians made great efforts to ensure the survival of their bodies and souls after death, providing tombs, grave goods, and offerings to preserve the bodies and spirits of the deceased. After believing in a number of deities for long periods of time, a new religious trend started to emerge, depending on monotheism and belief in one God. The birth of Moses represented the climax of this religious trend in old Egypt. Moses lived during the 13th or the 14t h century B.C. The story of the name as mentioned in the second chapter of the Exodus answers the question. The story says that the Egyptian princess who saved the child from the Nile gave him his name: â€Å"because I picked him up from the water†, so he will be called Moshe. But it is obvious that this is not the appropriate explanation (Freud, "Translation and study by Dr. Abdel Moniem El Hefny". 1991, 26) In another version of the story, an author says in Jadishness Lexicon magazine the interpretation of the name in the Torah is â€Å"the one who was picked up from the water† (the name of Moshe only means â€Å"the one who was picked up†). This opinion may be supported by two other arguments; the first one is that it is absurd to say that an Egyptian princess knows the Hebrew language, and the second one is that it is most probable that the water from which the child was picked up is not the Nile ("A History of Christianity in Egypt"). Many people suggested a long time ago that Moses’ name is derived from the Egyptian language because of a newly published book written by the chronicler Peristide, â€Å"Egypt’s history†: â€Å"It is important to notice that the name of Moses is an Egyptian name. It is not other than the word mose that means â€Å"a child†, which is an abbreviation of the compound name, for example â€Å"Amon Mose† that means â€Å"the child Amon† or â€Å"Betah Mose† that means â€Å"the child Betah†. But this divine name has been gradually omitted by use, and was limited to the boy’s name of Moses. However, when Peristide mentioned unrelated names, he reviewed the list of the names of the Egyptian kings which are similar in terms of the religious connotations, for example â€Å"Ah-Moses† (Ahmos), â€Å"Tut-Moses† (Tuhutmos) and â€Å"Ra-Moses† (Ramses). (Soliman, 1988, 25) Many authors who discovered that the name Moses is an Egyptian name, to conclude that the one who bears an Egyptian name must be Egyptian himself, or at least to say that this is possible (Freud, "Translation and study by Dr. Abdel Moniem El Hefny", 1991, 26). The first family where he was born is usually a special family according to legends. But it is here a very modest Jewish family. And the second family where the child was raised is, as usual, a modest one. But here, it is the Egyptian royal house as the princess has raised him by her side. This discrepancy from the traditional type of legends seemed really odd to many researchers, to the extent that Eduardo Myer and others said that the original form of the legend was different; as Pharaoh had a dream warning him of his grandson who will be dangerous to him and to his kingdom. Therefore, this resulted into delivering the child to the Nile waters

I want to get married, Ghad Abdel Aal Assignment

I want to get married, Ghad Abdel Aal - Assignment Example in Egypt, a country that has over 3 million spinsters over the age of the 35, 25% of marriages ending up in divorce within a year and 50% of men between the youthful and economically active age of 25-29 are unmarried. Ghada strives to obtain a â€Å"Mr. Right† that will be accepted by the parents, but fails to secure one despite attending numerous living room meetings arranged by friends and family. Young men are failing to rise to the expectations of their parents and girls experience the stiffest challenge when time comes for them to be married. While some might perceive Ghada to be debauched and the foulest example of single ladies, she in fact portrays the exasperating, interesting, amusing and lousy world of dating, aspects that can be attributed to the new millennium. Moreover, Ghada reveals the overwrought gender relations predominant not only in Egypt but also in many developing countries. While intermarriages seemed to popup in the story, it is something that a good portion of the contemporary society is yet to embrace and give the modern woman more freedom to determine her fate. Disparagingly, parents have failed in guiding their children in the growth and development process, a factor that has increase the challenges being experienced by young people of Ghada’s age and this challenges the existence of families and social