Should children be spanked; a polemical approach Essay Example

Should children be spanked; a polemical approach Essay Literally it is metaphorically emphasised that ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’, this enough reason to espouse spanking children in any life setting so as to impart purported discipline and moral values that seem decadent within the children. Disciplined children are products of the environment they are brought up in. (Ken David 2007)Disciplined clever kids is modern days parent dream But with economic recession biting deep, work holism creeping into the house and job insecurity on the rise, parents are becoming more worrisome of their fiscal future than their children’s. Instead of bright disciplined kids most parent are afraid they are rearing brats and insubordinate devils and imps, of which they are to blame. This blame emanates from regulation that has surmounted values and ethics of discipline and forced a precautionary attitude towards spanking.Discipline is vital in bringing forth responsible and prosperous children who’ll reckon upon themselves in future. Discipline is instilled and recommendations by experts are that this should be done in the best and simple way possible. Spanking is concise and impartial, it has physiological authority over even crime and it is effective in instilling discipline in children. Discipline is derived from the term disciple hence discipline is discipleship. This means disciplined children are a product of the environment they are brought up in. This clarifies discipline in our children as emulated characters, speech, dressing code and etiquette besides habits from us. This is the principle which guides discipline as an induced but cognitive life principle which should whatsoever should be administered regardless of the modus. Spanking as such becomes the most effective and admissible modus. Spanking has had a history and this is what have been a subject of controversy and much ado. Spanking is necessary conflict within family values and has far reaching implications on social integrity and status of individual children once they become adults. Those that have had a robust and easy life, often getting away with their lewd, wayward ways have a difficult time adjusting and coping with the general society that is quite discontented with immoral outward ness and social misfits. In modern society young adults have been murdered after becoming problems within their society and much of their bad character is inherent from their parent’s ignorance and hands off the cane parenting style.On the other end, institutional based disciplining is another important aspect of imparting good moral values and respectful and responsible adults. On the spot today are kids for using vulgar language, abusing each other and talking ill things about their neighbours and specific parties. Much of this is attributed and derived from their parents or those in the environment. When this is availed in institutions, of which and of whom a responsibility to mould and educate the young to become immaculate, respectful and respectable social members, and the repercussions have roused controversial stances and proxies about spanking. While spanking is important since it physiologically warns and adapts the child to becoming restrained from using the vulgar lingo or being abusive, disobedient or in any way outwards and in-disciplined, some teachers and individuals have gone step beyond necessary spanking to harmful beating rather than spanking.It becomes basic to mentor children to become adults who’ll say acceptable things in the society. While they desperately try to be like us we should mould them into responsible and respectable individuals who’ll live to impart similar values to their sons and daughters In future. Spanking becomes a necessary social conflict through which we achieve discipline in principle. Manifestation of social ethics and moral uprightness is impartial in context and argumentatively we are faced with a hypothetical situation which seeks to identify how we should spank rather than how we should discipline. Spanking should be mildly violent in nature and besides the violent appeal during appeal which is meant to rouse physiological awareness as to the profundity of the error committed and should not become more than a harassment of physical well being. The pain felt or excruciated during spanking becomes the key to the much important physiological awareness that the deeds that have led to the spanking are negatively consequential.Habits exhibited by both parents and other senior siblings are easily taken in by kids. A father who especially rebukes his wife, calls her names and criticizes her, refuses to eat her food and often demoralize her obviously has his sons taking after him. Like father like son. His boys will bully their sisters, disrespect their mother and abuse girls in school. They will continue with all these bad habits blazing (Tucker, W, 2003). This ratifies the fact that the increased incidences of chil d abuse, name calling amongst children and the use of very vulgar lingo in the society are a progeny and a consequence of irresponsible parenting. In modern world we are faced by the incumbent problem of parent beating children. In fact, the African community in its nascent is more affected than ever. Parents debuting old age are being badly beaten by their own children. These are in context causes or reagents of indiscipline (Norris M, 1997).Besides the institutional based disciplining which of course plays a major role in moulding and making the young to be responsible a respectable, caning has been explicit and feared by children. Excessiveness in spanking has resulted to violent approach towards the spanker. Hatred and discontentment towards the teacher or parent has seen homicides and violent crimes rise based on rebellion begotten from the beatings that were excessive. Institutions then are the onset of discipline maintenance and subsequently mould the children into discipline d young adults.Within this level of education and social position respect and responsibility are arguably the basis of moral implications to the children. As such, this is a very important phase in life and spanking is necessary to consolidate the gains and efforts of parenthood in the children.However, the commonplace scenario is that spanking has become so politicised and socially criticised as extreme force and an avenue of revenge and a vent of frustration by protagonists and other relevant figures within the disciplining authority. Subsequently the anger borne out of spanking transforms in hatred and this hatred towards the spanker relevantly has transformed and consummated to revenge through grievous crimes and murders both within and outside the institution. These have been witnessed in the recent past in the United States alone with high school youngsters shooting teachers and other students.Politically, spanking is eyed as a doctrine that has elements of instilling rebellio n based on the fact that force brings rebellion. However as argued within the text, spanking should be done under due physiological perspectives and purposefully, through which the physiological response from the child is that what she/he done is incorrect and that repeating the deed again would result to the same physiological effect and physical pain again. Politics have made spanking a subject that cannot be manifested on long term. The truly profound is that, with increasing social problems and rifts between parents, neighbours, teachers, the circle of revenge and the social economic transformation has created apertures of spanking to be revenge and settling score avenues within the vast society hence rather than being purposeful as it was in the recent past it is controversial and abusive due to the extent of physical pain, injury from caning and physiological breakdown and demoralization of children.   This has forced spanking to be deemed a destructive principle in moral te achings and methodologies and has been regulated and in various societies abolished. If abolished it affects the family which is the basic unit of the society and the only institution that can offset good values and onset responsible kids. The overview basis on the political order is that if; legal, educational, and family systems are designed to benefit owners, resulting in an economic determinism. P.G. Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories and methods: A contextual approach (pp. 357-381).   New York: Plenum.  1993.However the repercussions are grossly worrying with the rise in crime and immoral youngsters reining the social circles. Drugs, gun wielding and totting teens are now a commonplace place scenario, dead armed robbers are the same youngsters and the decadent rapists and social misfits are the progenies of the lack of spanking. It should be emphasized that spanking is necessary conflict. All these problems are related to social cultural and economic transformations (Harvard mental health newsletter, 2002). Socio cultural and economic transformation has been developing through various economic phases which are part of the diverse development. The transformations implication affects the society subsequently drawing conflicts. The social conflicts are profound and based on diverse interest. According to Machiavelli 1948 and Hobbes 1947 tendency towards conflict is a basic element of human nature. With such essential philosophical and socio cultural assertions and facts, there is no question as to the vitality of spanking children. The overall conclusion is that spanking is essential and a necessary conflict.SourcesKen David 2007: Disciplined children are products of the environment they are brought up in. Goldman Publications (pg 3)P.G. Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories and methods: A contextual approach (pp. 357-381).à ‚   New York: Plenum.  1993.(Norris M, 1997): Both sides of the capital punishment: Caribbean journal of criminology. Pp 2-5(Harvard mental health newsletter, 2002) www.health.harvard.eduThe spanking debate: pp 2-4(Tucker, W, 2003): The case for retaining capital punishment: Deterring homicides with the death penalty: Human Events Vol 59; pp 1-3Should be children be spanked? A Research approachSpanking as explained and defined by experts, sociologists and paediatricians is that it is striking a child aged 2years to 6 years on the buttocks purposefully to instil discipline only and if the child has shown or done something that is obviously reflecting indiscipline or bad morals and values. Spanking is a type of corporal punishment with the intention of modifying behaviour without causing physical injury. Saadeh, Rizzo, Roberts {2002} Clinical Paediatrics. {pg 87}Ideologically spanking is acceptable in diverse global communities though barred in places like Sweden. The average accept ance rate is at around 70% internationally though the parameters speak else in certain countries like the USA where there are variables and attitudes towards spanking. Acceptability of spanking is based on the extremes of a Childs outward behaviour and if the child escalates in the dangerous and socially inadmissible behaviour. The ideology of spontaneous spanking is controversial in context. Parents find themselves in a more policy based situation than a parental one due to the fact that they have to explain the reason of spanking to the child so as to enact and induce principles of continuous adherence to discipline and pre-empting dangerous behaviour in children. However it is only virtually applicable when parents have proper relationship with their children that such a situation is apt.Spanking is only authoritative in context and only by the parents and empirically the outright caretakers. No other, inclusive of house help or maids or other third parties without immediate rela tion with the child should spank a child. The age limit as discussed is only 2 to 6 years of age. Within the higher age group spanking is deemed literally inconsequential and morally ineffective. Saadeh, Rizzo, Roberts {2002} Clinical Paediatrics. {pg 88}Is spanking effective measure?The idea of spanking is becoming more controversial. The ideology is becoming ineffective due to diverse interests in the spanker and the kind of moral values within and portended by the child. According to Clinical Paediatrics spanking methodology is more of a subject that careens dangerously and one that has led to decline on effectiveness of spanking generally. Spanking has been over the years identified as effective in forcing time out. Continued spanking is negatively consequential with children who have been spanked often, becoming adaptive to spanking and subsequently not responding to the intended purpose of spanking. Children spanked repeatedly develop aggression that may lead to fighting back. Saadeh, Rizzo, Roberts {2002} Clinical Paediatrics. {pg 88}Through principals of ethics, spanking is effective and a long-term measure with objectives and has consolidated gains over the years. Conflicting perspectives about the implications and the repercussions is not pragmatic within the social order and leaves us with sociological perspectives to measure and seek after resolves rather than arguments about how spanking should be regulated. In principal theorist of conflict draw out conflict as purposeful, as such bad morals and abusive, irresponsible and dangerous kids are inadmissible in the latent   and good society and as such in principal social value adopt the transformation of social values and the subsequent adoption of all possible change of institutions in-spite of negative implications to promote diversity and change while functionalist want stifling of aggressive virtues and applications to conserve and maintain social order and integration to foster an in equilibri um that is safe for the social institutions based on socio-political perspectives within the social transformation. Giddiness A: The Consequences of Modernity Polity Press, Cambridge, 1990Spanking as a inducement of values and discipline a case studyCorporal punishment involves some form of physical pain in response to a undesirable character or behaviour. Saadeh, Rizzo, Roberts {2002} Clinical Paediatrics. Counterpoint on spanking {pg 90}. The ill mannered children and their counterparts are basically progenies of our social and family values based on Location and the neighbourhood. This is becoming a factor of character and attitude development. Children brought up in urban settlements are renowned bad company to those who are disciplined. These urban kids have the ‘know it all’ attitude and always impose themselves as the superior patents in the group, morally, they have not been under pressure to do away with their ill manners and under no pressure to relent form ap proaching life in a negative perspective. They intimidate and coerce others into their circles.Most of these kids are blamed for introducing drugs and similar irresponsible behaviours in schools and at home even at tender ages of 6 years.   Due to location in the   urban setting, the accessibility of vice’s from peers and aping the trends as seen in television, magazines all over town and the movies, there’s no doubt these children are bad company. The need to find the loopholes that are supportive of the decadency in social values on the long-term are needed. Need of cohesiveness and a consistent socio-economic balance is valuable and is more important today as seen in sociological arguments (Sheline , Skipper Broadhead, 1994).   Theoretical assertions about the functionalism of the society based on its economic equity and the resonance of economic implications through standards of political pragmatics is devout in assenting to centralization of social perspect ives about its own stability as partial overbearing in contrast to the political inclination of economic gains towards some margins of the same society through default or bias. They rely on perspectives, they are open-ended. Beilharz, P. (ed.): Social Theory Guide to Central thinkers Allen Unwin, NSW, 1892However it’s evident that most of these kids are from the rich families who are well up, it’s the irresponsibility of the parents that trounces the kids fine sides. Spoiling their kids is the bane of the rich but the world is becoming incompatible for such. The peer group factor is taken upon seriously by most parents and expulsion of bad company from their precincts is becoming commonplace to the chagrin of their children and the neighbours who have warm relations with these ill mannered kids. But that’s a sufficing step towards nurturing fine kids and a bold one, however it depends on how you teach your children to desist the ill by being a good example and teaching them to be just like that, a good example. Spanking becomes a cognitive methodology of instilling good social values and proper morals. The physical pain should be more or so part of the physiological approach towards rectification of the errors. Within the same frame, the issue of style and ferocity of spanking becomes important. Frustration and anger should be warded off during spanking and resolve plus a cognitive approach to the problem should be used. Ken, David (2007): Disciplined children are products of the environment they are brought up in. {pg 17}

How to Write a Sample Sheet of a Letter to Write a Research Paper

How to Write a Sample Sheet of a Letter to Write a Research PaperHow to write a sample sheet of a letter to write a research paper? For those people who are not familiar with writing essays, they might be wondering if you should just use the sample essay form to get your questions answered. Although this form does have a simple format, it can be quite confusing to those who are unfamiliar with how it works. In order to make it easier for those who are unfamiliar with the standard essay writing format, here are some things you can do in order to prepare your essay.First, you need to do some research and figure out exactly what format to use when writing your essay. You need to think about all the different types of essays that are available. This can help you determine what style is best for you. You can either go with a topic based one or something that is more of a personal essay. Although there are many online essays that can be found, this does not mean that you can always rely on them.In order to make sure that your essay has all the right details, make sure that you carefully read through the sample essay and figure out what is missing and what could have been better. In fact, it is recommended that you take some time to really read through the sample. This will make sure that you know what you are doing and that you can edit the article in a way that can be better for you. This can be done by editing down your paper so that it only focuses on the topics that are important to you.There are many different ways that you can go about editing your essay. You can just use a word processor and just delete the things that you do not want included. You might even want to use a software program that has an advanced editor that can handle even the most difficult of projects. However, if you have a high school education or you have a problem understanding the grammar, then you should not try to get help with editing.If you are using a computer program to edit your es say, then you can always go back to your essay after you have done the editing. This way, you can go back and find the errors. Just be careful not to make any mistakes and make sure that you follow the format that is outlined in the online essay. In addition, do not just give up and go back to your original work. You should instead continue editing until you are satisfied with the end result.Once you are done editing your essay, you are going to want to proofread it thoroughly. This is important because it can make all the difference in the world. When you are not 100% sure that you have followed the proper steps, you will end up coming up with a whole bunch of errors that you did not even realize were there. Instead of reading through a few pages, you will want to sit down and proofread the entire essay. This will ensure that you can come up with the best essay possible.You should always make sure that you are following the directions when you are writing your essay. In this way, y ou will be able to get the best output that you can. In addition, by being consistent with your writing, you will be able to enjoy your essay. Also, this is something that you can do at home and not have to worry about it being graded by your professor.

Major and Minor Moods in English Grammar

Major and Minor Moods in English Grammar In English grammar, mood is the quality of a verb that conveys the writers attitude toward a subject. It is also known as mode and modality. In traditional grammar, there are three major moods: The indicative mood is used to make factual statements (the  declarative)  or pose questions, such as the interrogative.The imperative mood is used to express a request or command.The (comparatively rare) subjunctive mood  is used to show a wish, doubt, or anything else contrary to fact. In addition, there are several minor moods in English. Major Moods in English The indicative mood is the  form of the verb used in ordinary statements: stating a fact, expressing an opinion, or asking a question. The  majority of English sentences are in the indicative mood.  It is also called (primarily in  19th-century grammar) indicative mode. An example would be this quote from writer, actor, and director Woody Allen: Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering- and its all over much too soon. Here, Allen is expressing a statement of fact (at least in his interpretation). The word is shows that he is stating a fact as he sees it. The imperative mood, by contrast, is the form of the  verb  that makes direct commands and requests, such as Sit  still and Count  your blessings. Another example would be this famous quote from President John F. Kennedy: Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country. In this sentence, Kennedy was essentially giving a command to the American people. The  subjunctive mood expresses wishes, stipulates demands, or makes statements contrary to fact, such as this line from the play, Fiddler on the Roof: If I were rich, Id have the time that I lack. In this sentence, Tevye, the main character, is expressing that he would have more time if he were rich (which, of course, he is not). Minor Moods in English In addition to the three major moods of English, there are also minor moods. A. Akmajian, R. Demers, A. Farmer, and R. Harnish, explain in Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication that minor moods are usually peripheral to communication, infrequently used, and vary widely. One of the more common minor moods is a tag, a sentence, question, or declaration added to a declarative sentence. These include: Tag declarative: Youve been drinking again, havent you.Tag imperative: Leave the room, will you! Other examples of minor moods are: Pseudo-imperative: Move or Ill shoot!Alternative question: a type of question (or interrogative) that offers the listener a closed choice between two or more answers: Does John resemble his father or his mother? (In this sentence, there is a rising intonation on father and falling intonation on mother.)Exclamative: a sudden, forceful expression or cry.  What a nice day!Optative: a  category of grammatical mood  that expresses a wish, hope, or desire,  May he rest in peace.One more sentence: One more beer and Ill leave.Curse:  a pronouncement of ill fortune. You are a pig!

Social Class College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Class College - Essay Example In mapping the prospects of this nursing student, a future professional, one does see where the possibility strongly exists that economic and social opportunities will be readily available. Because of the socio-economic connections (because of social and market structures) these factors will have an effect on the future life chances of such a person (Savage, 74). Social class structures and demarcations have been somewhat eroded with the advent of generalised education, yet the distinctions still exist. As an educated person, one will have the ability and opportunity or chance (as propounded by Weber) to access not just different economic classes, but other groups and cliques whose defining characteristics depend on the very education that they have in common. Mike Savage has pointed out that persons (termed human capital) usually get paid an amount that reflects the amount of investment placed in the development of their skills (67). As a nurse, one will be a professional and will most likely get paid accordingly. In 1998, professionals earned an approximately 95% more wages than their clerical counterparts.

Dicussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dicussion - Essay Example Corporations are viewed as persons because they have rights and freedoms almost similar to those given to a human being. For example, under the United Sates constitution corporations cannot be deprived the right to liberty, life or property without due process. Additionally, under the Fourteenth Amendment no state shall not deny any person the equal protection of the laws in that even the corporations should not be discriminated. Corporations have the right to own, acquire and dispose of property, as well as, sue and be sued. However, although corporations are given these rights they are denied the right to vote as a person and to acquire licensure because the corporations do not meet any educational requirements. A corporation is created by filing the article of association with the secretary of state and when the articles are accepted or approved a corporate charter is given to a corporation (Showalter, 2014). Incorporation of the organization means gives the corporation five principal advantages. They include limited liability, perpetual existence, free transfer of ownership interest, ability to raise capital and taxation separate from individual income taxes. Corporations have both implied and express powers that are written down clearly under the statute or charter. The powers of the corporation have to be consistent with the charter and when the corporation goes against those powers they are held to be ultra vires meaning that they acted beyond their limit. Hospitals are viewed as Not-for-profit organization, which is mostly owned by shareholders. The shareholders are entitled and are expected to receive dividends from the corporation’s earnings, and they are also allowed to share assets in case of the dissolution of the corporation. Although Not-for- Profit corporation are allowed most of the privileges of the corporation in case they want to use the corporation for other gains they have to include such acts in

Understanding Slavery Essay Example for Free

Understanding Slavery Essay A poignantly moving tale of a woman’s courage and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl undoubtedly serves as an inspiration for those who endeavor to rise beyond their initial station in life on the way to achieving one’s dreams. Though the author claims it to be a historical account, it could easily pass off for a work of fiction in the tradition of the historical novel – a romanticizing American life and history with its tale of noble suffering, heroic daring and unwavering zeal. Perhaps more significantly, its merit lies in offering the reader the painful truth of the slave experience through the eyes of an African-American slave girl. As Jacobs narrates, she was born a slave but she never knew it until six years of happy childhood had passed away (Jacobs, p. 1). Though they were all slaves in the family, she was so fondly shielded from that fact and they appear to have lived normal lives that she never dreamed she was â€Å"a piece of merchandise trusted to them for safe keeping, and liable to be demanded of them at any moment† (Jacobs, p. 1). That is, until her mother died and her life took a turn for the worse, experiencing first hand what it meant to be a slave in those days. Because of the way she was raised, it would appear that Linda Brent is exceptional for a woman of her social stature. Having received the rudiments of a basic education at the hands of her family’s original owners, she is clear thinking and possesses a keen intellect. Not surprisingly, she was able to transcend the limitations of race, class and gender and grasp the reality that women, regardless of color, race and stature, share the common experience of victimization at the hands of a male-dominated, patriarchal society. Moreover, by virtue of the loving relationships she had established early on with her family and immediate community, she is quite capable of empathy. Her initial understanding of the nature of slavery, though nonetheless negative, did not prevent her from maintaining a positive outlook towards life, notwithstanding her position in the social hierarchy. This however has been severely challenged throughout the years of her ordeal. Due to the many betrayals she had experienced in her lifetime, she learns to distrust people, and even though this is gradually tempered by the formation of positive relationships, she retains her hesitant, guarded approach to life. The book’s main strength lies in its rich narratives, the vivid portrayal of the female slave experience, and its use of the female point of view in the narration of her tale. In terms of limitations, the book would have problems in its illustration of the slave experience as representative of the larger Africa-America black community. Linda Brent and her family could be considered among the lucky few fate seemed to have favored among the millions more of their kind, who, though some might have endeavored to attain their freedom were faced with more dire, less relenting circumstances which made freedom remain a dream for them. A cursory glance at historical accounts of slavery would reveal that many have attempted to escape from their masters, with a considerable number dying in the attempt. In Jacobs’ particular tale, the experience of women in bondage is illuminated. Yet more than a narration of physical infliction of pain, torture and misery – the often-told tale of American slavery – what is striking is how she makes the reader comprehend that the most devastating blow endured and inflicted upon female slaves is that of the continuing existence of a system recognizing, even illicitly sanctioning concubinage and licentiousness among white males, the double standard of the times which make it doubly hard for women, most especially slaves, to live a decent, dignified existence wherein they could realize their true worth as individuals. For the slaves in America’s colonial past, every day was deplorable. Suffering in its various forms – physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual – was common-day fare subject to the wiles and dispositions of their masters. For both men and women, manual labor, e. g. working the fields in the plantations of the South, was a large component of the day. As Jacobs (p. 12) illustrates: â€Å"On a farm, they work until the corn and cotton are laid. They then have two holidays. Some masters give them a good dinner under the trees. This over, they work until Christmas Eve. If no heavy charges are meantime brought against them, they are given four or five holidays, whichever the master or overseer may think proper. † For the women, this was often aggravated by (more often than not) unwarranted sexual advances, if not from their masters, the other male members of the household, or among fellow slaves. New Year’s Day was a terribly appalling affair, for hiring day at the South took place every first of January. To the slave mother, New Years Day comes laden with peculiar sorrows: â€Å"She sits on her cold cabin floor, watching the children who may all be torn from her the next morning; and often does she wish that she and they might die before the day dawns. She may be an ignorant creature, degraded by the system that has brutalized her from childhood; but she has a mothers instincts, and is capable of feeling a mothers agonies† (Jacobs, p. 13). Children born as slaves were sold off at the auction block, for they belonged to their master just as their parents did, for him to do with as he pleases. For is that not the nature of property? Slaves were treated as such, not regarded as human beings, but rather little more than animals to be set to labor upon the fields, to assist in the keeping of the household, to run errands and perform manual labor deemed unworthy of the white master’s unsoiled hands. Those same white hands were quick with the whip for every transgression committed by an erring slave, and a mouth which reserved the foulest of words to further degrade the slave and instill in his/her consciousness his/her lack of worth, how inferior and far beneath their master they were. The ensuing slave consciousness formed from this inhuman treatment, nourished throughout a life of bondage and suffering, is bitter and bleak, their minds ignorant and uncultured, deprived of the conditions which give human existence its dignity, the individual his self-worth (Fowler and Fowler, p. 2). Yet in this condition of bondage, in their shared experience of misery, pain and wretchedness, they became increasingly aware of their sorry plight, and learned to yearn for freedom (Genovese, p. 114). The first stirrings of rebelliousness began to beat in their hearts yearning for a life free from bondage and servitude. In this shared experience, the slave community developed a culture distinctly its own, reverberating with the influence of their African origins infused with their newfound material conditions in American soil. It is the experience of a particular slave girl by the name of Linda Brent which we shall explore in detail. Jacobs’ work, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, utilizes the literary form of the slave narrative, a form of autobiography with a unique structure and distinctive themes tracing the narrator’s path form slavery to freedom. It traces the narrator’s journey from poverty to freedom as her determination to overcome societal and self-imposed limitations leads her on to prevail despite her harrowing circumstances. It is quite a moving and inspiring tale, and the author succeeds in painting a deft picture of the real-life suffering of men and women in bondage who were born, raised and died as slaves at the hands of their masters in the sprawling plantations of the South. Though the slave narrative is recognized as a powerful literary form with obvious merits as a tool for anti-slavery and human rights causes as it compellingly illustrates how individuals could rise above the depths of their despair and overcome seemingly impossible odds, it too has its flaws as a resource for fully understanding the complex institution of slavery. At one point, it perpetuates the myth that individuals can overcome established social structures and societal features disadvantageous to marginalized groups, e. g. racism against colored peoples, through sheer determination, will power, a never-say-die attitude, and a perpetually rosy outlook in life that things could only get better. In actual truth, for most slaves the matter of winning one’s freedom is a whole lot more complicated than what most narratives seem to suggest in their â€Å"success stories. † The abolition of slavery was not simply a case of dissolving a centuries-old institution due to the influence of writers who decided to go public with their personal accounts of the evils of slavery. In a way, the slave narrative is deceptive in its promise of deliverance (giving a sense of false hope) to blacks while reinforcing the notions of a superiority complex of whites over other colored peoples as they could always say that those who fail to break down society’s barriers, e. g. racial boundaries and the gap between rich and poor, to achieve success have only themselves to blame for their failures. It thus becomes a case of â€Å"If others can’t do it, why can’t I? † Yet the situation is inherently more complex than this. In analyzing slavery one has to consider the larger macro factors – economics, political institutions, cultural norms, ideology, etc. – as shaping the micro ones. That is, in the case of the slave narrative one needs to situate the personal accounts in the larger social context of the period, the interplay between the personal and the historical, personal troubles and public issues, the intertwining of biography and history. Moreover, one could also apply a feminist reading in Jacobs’ text for as Linda laments the birth of her daughter Ellen, she remarks how â€Å"†¦slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women† (Jacobs, p. ). Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl illustrates how slavery proved to be a more wretched state for women who had to endure the same dehumanizing cruelty and brutality inflicted on men, as well as the torment of sexual abuse at the hands of their male masters and the anguish of being taken away from their children. Their pain and degradation were further compounded as they suffered being used as vessels of lust for their masters, breeding bastards to add to their master’s stock but denied a mother’s right to care for her children. The children born from such unions, Linda chillingly points out, was more often than not sold to protect the honor of the slave owner’s wife faced with the undeniable living testimony to her husband’s lust. Addressing the issue of human bondage from a woman’s perspective, Jacobs attempts to get through to her readers, particularly the women of the Northern states, to make them aware of their responsibility to make their voices heard in protesting against slavery for their silence would be in support of the perpetuation of slavery as an institution. Her tale emphasizes the struggle of a particular woman (herself) to protect her family, in the process learning to fight for her freedom to be an independent individual in control of her own life, and enticing her own family and community to join in the struggle for the emancipation and liberation of slaves. All said, in its own way Jacobs’ work has significantly contributed to the success of the movement to abolish slavery in the United States of America, and for that her efforts have been well-rewarded with the renewed scholarly interest in her work. Works Cited Andrews, William L. Classic African American Women’s Narratives. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2003. Bell, Ella Louise. Myths, Stereotypes and Realities of Black Women. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Vol. 40, No. 2, 146-159, 2004. Fowler, Lois J. and David H. Fowler, eds. Revelations of Self: American Women in Autobiography. New York: SUNY Press. Gates, Henry Louis Jr. The Classic Slave Narratives. Signet Classic, 2003. Genovese, Eugee. Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made. New York: Pantheon Press, 1974. Gronniosaw, James Albert, Olaudah Equiano, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, William W. Brown, Henry Bibb, Sojourner Truth, William and Ellen Craft, Harriet A. Jacobs and Jacob Green. Slave Narratives. Library of America, 2002. Jacobs, Harriet Ann. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1988. Mccaskill, Barbara. â€Å"Yours very truly: Ellen Craft – the fugitive as Text and Artifact. † African American Review, Vol. 28, 1994. Randle, Gloria T. â€Å"Between the Rock and the Hard Place: Mediating spaces in Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. † African America Review, Vol. 33, 1999. Yetman, Norman R. ed. Voices from Slavery: 100 Authentic Slave Narratives. Courier Dover Publications

How Our Universe Was Created :: essays papers

How Our Universe Was Created Creation Stories, myths that explain the origin of the universe, or cosmos. The origin of the cosmos forms one of the principal themes of mythology throughout the world. (Rev. Bruce Vawter). Cosmogony has attempted to explain everything from the Greek deities Uranus (sky god) and Gaea (earth goddess), to say the creation of humankind, after which the mythic cosmos comes to resemble the world of human experience. In mythic history, the earliest era of the world is usually the closest to perfection-a Golden Age or Garden of Eden. There are thirty-five religions that I have heard of and countless others that have not been documented. I have always wondered why we Latinos, African, Asians, Italians, Indians, and the rest of the cultures on this earth practice different religions and ideas. The answer is billions of years ago, in a galaxy far away, an intergalactic council was formed. The council members consisted of dozens of what we call Gods. Each was a ruler of a planet. And on each of these planets there were people who worshiped their Creator (God). The climate of each world was different from the other. Each planet could only sustain life for its people. The inhabitant’s needed a particular climate so that they could survive. Even there agriculture was dependant on the climate as well. One day the supreme deity who created each of the Gods, decided to allow each of the member’s to unite it’s people with the other. They wondered how they would be this since all of the planets differed in climate and no one could survive on the others planet. So it was decided that they would all create what today is know as the Milky Way. With careful planning the RNA/DNA was joined to create a human that would be able to withstand various climates and be able to eventually procreate. Fifteen billion years ago, give or take five billion years, the entirety of our universe was compressed into the confines of an atomic nucleus. Known as a singularity, this is the moment before creation when space and time did not exist. According to the prevailing cosmological models that explain our universe, an ineffable explosion, trillions