Friday, July 24, 2020

Pakistan Flooding First Hand View COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Pakistan Flooding First Hand View COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog One of the great benefits of SIPA is that no matter where in the world something is happening, you will likely share a class with someone from the place where x is happening.   Just yesterday I received an email from an incoming student from Pakistan.   He wrote a post for the SIPA student blog, The Morningside Post (TMP). Yes, SIPA students have their own blog and I would recommend adding it to your RSS feeds as well.   He has experienced the horrific floods in Pakistan first hand and this is a short part of his entry, visit TMP for the entire post: Flood-hit Jampur, Pakistan (AP Photo/B.K.Bangash) Despite these odds, the unbelievable resilience of the Pakistani people continues to amaze me. A sad, constant stream of images of people wading through flood water or being marooned on roof tops and trees can be seen on the national electronic and print media. Yet in the faces of these people one can see a will to survive and live that is hard to describe in words. They have lost their homes, lands, livestock and in many cases their loved ones, but continue to struggle and cope as best they can. These millions of flood victims need our continued support. The government needs to perform better so that the trust of the people and the international community can be restored in its ability to conduct the massive relief and rehabilitation effort that is required. With the monsoons predicted to stay around in the coming weeks, the future still looks uncertain. I feel tormented having to leave Pakistan at this time in order to join Columbia for the start of my graduate degree. However, there is consolation in thinking that I might be able to increase awareness about the plight of my countrymen through this blog. I would urge everyone reading this to please contribute to one of the many international aid agencies currently operating in Pakistan. We are extremely grateful for every cent or penny that is donated. But most of all, our gratitude is reserved for the international community’s wishes and prayers, and the hope that we will not be forgotten in this trying time.

Friday, May 22, 2020

An Analysis Of Frederick Douglass s The Narrative Of...

Yordanose SolomoneAfro 3597 WEssay ATuesday October 18, 2016The Contradicting Nature of Christianity and the Institution of Slavery A Thematic Analysis of Frederick Douglass s NarrativeChristianity quite often, especially when associated to the system of slavery becomes even more of a contentious issue than it already is. In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass presents the theme of perversion of Christianity by slaveholders as a way to bring out the contradiction that lie deep within slaveholders adulterated interpretation of the belief system. In this paper, I will highlight these perversions that Douglass discusses in his narrative and explore why slaveholders form of Christianity make strong impression in his writing. Lastly, I will examine the larger tonal meaning as it relates to the theme and share some reasoning behind Douglass s need to include it in his narrative.The first element of perversion of Christianity that Douglass mentions is the d ehumanization role the slaveholders Christianity plays in dismantling any form of familial structure the slaves may have created.Douglass speaks about this in this association with his own separation from his mother, Harriet Bailey and not completely knowing who his father is. Thus establishing the first element in this perversion, which can be explained easily as a breaking down the first requirement for a growing boy, a family.This perversion lets slaveholders not only to distort theShow MoreRelatedEssay about Narrative of Life of Frederick Douglass893 Words   |  4 Pages1845, ‘Narrative of life of Frederick Douglass an American slave written by himself’ is still the most highly acclaimed American autobiography ever written. It was published seven years after Douglass escaped from his life as a slave in Maryland. It describes his experience of being slave and his psychological insights into the slave-master relationship. The main focus is on ‘How he learn to read and write ‘and ‘the pain of slavery.’ The goal of this paper is to bring more insight analysis of hisRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay858 Words   |  4 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Boxill, Bernard. Frederick Douglass’s Patriotism. Journal of Ethics 13.4 (2009): 301-317. EBSCO. Web. 19 Oct 2015. Bernard argues that Frederick Douglass always was a patriot even throughout slavery. He states that most Americans are patriots even if they do not agree with the politics, but rather just a love for their country. It talks about Americans who give selfless amounts of time toward the improvement of America. Buccola, Nicholas. Each for All and All for Each:Read More Response of Fredrick Douglass to Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe964 Words   |  4 PagesFredrick Douglass Response to Uncle Toms Cabin      Ã‚   Frederick Douglass was arguably the most prominent African American abolitionist during the mid-19th century. He established his notoriety through his narrative entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave published in 1845. Frederick Douglass also produced an African American newspaper, Frederick Douglass Paper, which highlighted the reception and critiques of Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin. FrederickRead MoreJacobs Douglass: An Insight Into The Experience of The American Slave1019 Words   |  5 PagesThe slave narratives of the ante-bellum time period have come across numerous types of themes. Much of the work concentrates on the underlining ideas beneath the stories. In the narratives, fugitives and ex-slaves appealed to the humanity they shared with their readers during these times, men being lynched and marked all over and women being the subject of grueling rapes. The slave narrative of Frederick Douglas and Harriet Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl themes come from the existenceRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesDate Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Writing in the favor of black people has always remained controversial from the very beginning. Critics regard such writing as â€Å"a highly conventionalized genre† indicating that â€Å"its status as literature was long disputed but the literary merits of its most famous example such as Frederick Douglass s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass†¦are widely recognized today.† (Ryan:537) Despite of such severe resistance, writers like Douglass have pennedRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave Essay2361 Words   |  10 PagesEssays ââ€" » Analysis eText ââ€" » Reference Teacher Resources ââ€" » More ââ€" » Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave Summary Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave cover image summary In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass recounts his experiences as a slave. He details the horrors of growing up on a plantation, being subjected to extreme racism, and running away to freedom. He later became an influential writer and activist. Douglass describesRead MoreThe Life Of Frederick Douglass, Web Dubois, And Booker T Washington1323 Words   |  6 Pagesfor these African Americans of the 19th and 20th centuries is to combine the ideas of great African American leaders like Frederick Douglass, WEB DuBois, and Booker T Washington. The optimal path to freedom for the subjected people is to become educated, to value themselves, working hard, and proving to oppressors that they are equal. DOUGLASS AND EDUCATION YO: Frederick Douglass was an extremely influential abolitionist in the 19th century. As an escaped slave, he had firsthand experience with theRead MoreFrederick Douglass, A Brave Man Who Escaped Slavery3423 Words   |  14 Pagestransfer the blacks. Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey (his given name), otherwise known as Frederick Douglass, was a brave man who escaped slavery, fought for what he believed in, and became the first African-American to hold a high U.S. government rank, and became the most famous and respected African American of the nineteenth century. This paper will analyze the history and life of Frederick Douglass according to the autobiography â€Å"The Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave†Read MoreFreedom Is An Innate Right1407 Words   |  6 Pageswith that of most American livings in the free states, and others a source of considerable discomfort and dismay of many. At last he started a civil war to end the slavery to get freedom for nation. Thesis: American authors George Washington, Frederick Douglass and John Winthrop demonstrates the important of National, Personal and Religious freedom in the United Sates through their writings. George Washington was the first president of United States, serving from 1789- 1797. The tradition of GeorgeRead MoreTrickery in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass1880 Words   |  8 PagesAfrican-Americans and thus they do not survive. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, Douglass harnesses the ability to conform to the world of trickery and conveys his journey to freedom. Through his appeal to pathos, use of dramatic asides, and application of anecdotes, Douglass expresses the necessity of slaves to play the game of trickery to survive in the world of tricksters. Effectively establishing an appeal to pathos, Douglass emphasize his raw emotions to the reader

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Caning Education and Students - 1432 Words

Caning is a common form of punishment that has being used to solve discipline problems among students in schools now days. There are many cases about the caning in schools has been reported. These problem occurs because of the discipline problem in schools is increase and cannot be control by teachers and they think only cane is the method that they can be used to fix the indiscipline problems among students. Caning should not be considered as a most effective method to appropriate with problem of indiscipline (Devaraj, 2007). Why caning cannot be used as a method to solve with indiscipline problems? This is because caning could give more negative effect than the positive effect. What is the negative effect will occurs if caning is being†¦show more content†¦Last but not least, the negative effect of caning on student is increased more discipline problems. For example, bad behavior or attitude will be creating from the caning. This is because student will become more aggress ive and anger to the teachers or others student from what the teacher have done to them. For instance, the student cannot accept the punishment that they get from the caning because they think that the mistake that they have made is not a big issue to deal with the caning. So, caning is not the corrective punishment that can be used for fix the problem within the students. From what we can see, student’s now days is changes from day to days. They have grown up to become adult and they will rebel on whatever teachers say. So, the teacher should give some counseling and guide them for continue their life in the future without including themselves with the social problem. The merest vision of rod was enough to scare the more surprise students (Kayleigh, 2004). Instead of caning, the teacher should find another solution to solve the problem with the students because the caning only frighten the student but not deal with the problem that they have did .Caning is a method that can forces student to obey the rules of the school. For example, student will do what they want to do without feel fear to the rules. They think that they can fight back withShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of George Orwell s Such Many Were The Joys 1039 Words   |  5 Pagesadolescence, school is an institution where young people are taught technical skills like reading and math, as well as a place where they learn about morals and develop an understanding of the world around them. The ultimate goal of school is to prepare students to effectively navigate society as an adult. In order to achieve this, somes schools enforce strict rules and disciplinary actions, while others emphasize creativity and free thinking. For canonical science fiction writer George Orwell, his schoolRead MoreCorporal Punishment in Schools Should Be Abolished1141 Words   |  5 Pagesdisciplinary problems. It refers to school rules which allow students to be punished using physical pain without causing injury. It is believed that using punitive method can promote students’ obedience and reduce problematic behaviour. As a result, it can decrease the number of disciplinary cases and maintain order inside the classroom. Indirectly, it will help to build students’ discipline. Thus, teachers can focus on teaching the students. However, I believe that corporal punishment will bring moreRead MoreCorporal Punishment in Schools Should Be Abolished1125 Words   |  5 Pagesdisciplinary problems. It refers to school rules which allow students to be punished using physical pain without causing injury. It is believed that using punitive method can promote students’ obedience and reduce problematic behaviour. As a result, it can decrease the number of disciplinary cases and maintain order inside the classroom. Indirectly, it will help to build students’ discipline. Thus, teachers can focus on teaching the students. However, I believe that corporal punishment will bring moreRead M oreGender Socialisation Commences At Birth, Parental Conditioning And Expectations910 Words   |  4 Pagesvalues, ethics, morals, attitudes and standards. Students are more likely to come from diverse backgrounds which could include single parent, same sex parents or grandparents as primary carers. These factors will influence how children are socialised in the child’s microsystem, as defined by Bronfenbrenner (as cited in Kearns, 2010). Teachers need to take into consideration the diverse cultures and aim to unify the learning whilst respecting all students’ values and backgrounds. This could take theRead More Corporal Punishment Essay895 Words   |  4 Pagesacross the nation. Corporal punishment refers to any physical form of punishment, but in this case it refers to in schools. Currently there are many different terms used to label corporal punishment, for example, it has been called spanking, paddling, caning, lashing, popping, smacking, whipping or beating. Each term carries its own different meaning, but they all represents some form of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment involves the deliberate infliction of pain upon a child, by an adultRead MoreCorporal Punishment919 Words   |  4 Pagesacross the nation. Corporal punishment refers to any physical form of punishment, but in this case it refers to in schools. Currently there are many different terms used to label corporal punishment, for example, it has been called spanking, paddling, caning, lashing, popping, smacking, whipping or beating. Each term carries its own different meaning, but they all represents some form of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment involves the deliberate infliction of pain upon a child, by an adultRead MoreIs Corporal Punishment Child Abuse?841 Words   |  4 Pagesabuse whether in the home or in public schools, because it has long been used in society for hundreds of years and has proven to be an efficient and suitable punishment for children. Corporal Punishment- punishment of a physical nature, such as caning, flogging, or beating. (Farlex). Corporal Punishment is mainly thought of only in schools but can also include a kind of punishment in the home. Most Americans view it as an effective way to discipline. (dbutler). Corporal punishment otherwise knownRead MoreThe Effects Of Corporal Punishment On Student Development Beyond The Institution Of Education1632 Words   |  7 Pagesphysical nature, such as caning, flogging, or beating† (Corporal punishment). Some administers believe benefits include fewer student outbursts and a quiet environment; however, this logic fails to include the psychological implications of corporal punishment on students. Negative effects of corporal punishment negate the benefits of classroom management, as evidenced by the Social Learning Theory by creating anti-social behavior, and having a negative impact on student development beyond the institutionRead MoreThe After Math Of A Raised Hand . What Is The Harm Of A1616 Words   |  7 Pagesdefined as a â€Å"punishment of a physical nature, such as caning, flogging, or beating† however this fails to include the psychological implications of corporal punishment in schools (corporal punishment). The benefits of corporal punishment in the short-run are outweighed by the negative effects the punishment produces evident by the Social learning theory, anti-social behavior results, and development beyond the institution of education. When students are subjected to corporal punishment the cause canRead MoreA Synopsis of the Movie I Not Stupid Too4121 Words   |  17 Pagesbought dictionaries for them to understand his lesson aside from giving remedial classes. But he doesn’t really connect with his students through his teaching strategies and frequently focus or attack his students’ flaws and weaknesses. During a spot check of cellular phones, Tom was caught possessing a pornographic VCD. As Mr. Fu tried to confiscate it, the students passed it on each other until he was able to get it. Chengcai made an impertinent remark which provoked his teacher to hurt him

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Historical Changes of Affirmative Actions Free Essays

Affirmative action was established to practice equal employment opportunity. Moreover, in general, it is a catchall phrase that refers to laws, customs, and social policies. It intends to ease the discrimination between majorities and minorities by giving more opportunities for diverse demographic groups in various social organizations. We will write a custom essay sample on Historical Changes of Affirmative Actions or any similar topic only for you Order Now Also, it refers to both voluntary and mandatory efforts practiced by federal, state, local governments, private employers, and schools to overcome discrimination and to urge equal opportunity into the educational system and working environments (Stephanopoulos and Edley 1995). On the other hand, it is criticized and discussed since it was established due to its has very broad influences in America society. It is not simply a legal issue, but also an issue that affects every American†s way of life. However, it†s just like other laws and regulations, none of them can please all kinds of people. I am a supporter of the affirmative action. Some may say that this is because I am a student, and I need affirmative action to protect my opportunity of finding jobs in the future; unfortunately, they have the wrong thought. I am Taiwanese, and I will find my job in Taiwan where there is no regulation like affirmative action. Therefore, I am standing at a very objective position to discuss this topic with you. Of course, you can always keep you opinions in minds, but please open your minds to look at what I am going to tell you. I. The historical changes of affirmative action Affirmative action was first seen at 1961. President John F. Kennedy referred to his executive order that asked all federal contractors treat the applicants and their employees â€Å"without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin† (Pasour 1989). In 1964, affirmative action expanded its scope to prohibit employment discrimination by large employers, having over 15 employees, whether they have government contracts or not. In addition, from 1965 to 1967, affirmative action was expanded to require all government contractors and subcontractors to take it to expand job opportunities for women and minorities. Then, from 1970 to 1973, legislators evaluated and compared the affirmative action this program and status quo and made this program have more flexible goals and timetables for every organization to achieve it. II. I-200 Proposition 209 V. S. Affirmative Action When I heard that Washington and California have passed Initiative 200 (I-200) and Proposition 209, which are regulations that against affirmative action, I think the residents of these two states may not clearly realize what the affirmative action really is. These regulations were passed because the supporters believe affirmative action has gone too far to protect minorities and women. Furthermore, the affirmative action causes reverse discriminations, preferential treatments, and privileges at not only work places but also schools. Proponents of I-200 and California†s proposition 209 also argue that affirmative action has led American colleges and universities to use racial and ethnic as criteria to select a significant fraction of their entering classes. They also argue that because of affirmative action, companies may hire less qualified minorities or women instead of best-qualified white males. I cannot agree! If those are true, why are most of the top level managers white males? Besides, why are women getting lesser pay than men have when taking charge of the same duties? According to the report of the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission in March 1995, â€Å"a large proportion of minorities and women are locked into low-wage, low-prestige, and dead-end jobs† (Murrell and Jones). The Glass Ceiling Commission reported that â€Å"97 percent of senior managers at the Fortune 1,000 corporations were white males†(Morin and Warden A01). Also, in 1998, women were earning 75% of men†s salaries base on the same kind of job, said by Jim Hose, a Human Resource Professor of Eastern Washington University. The general pattern of male-female relations continues in modern societies. An example like Home Depot Inc. , â€Å"it was suited by EEOC in 1997 because it hired women into low-level jobs, such as cashier, with little chance for advancement into sales or management positions† (Lerner D3). The evidence shows that affirmative action is still needed due to society†s unequal status. Most importantly, opponents argue that affirmative action causes reverse discrimination, and that is not true. A statistic shows that â€Å"fewer than 100 out of 3000 discrimination cases filed actually involved reverse discrimination and only six out of 100 cases were true† (Wilson 1995). When the U. S. overnment stars to practice affirmative action, it creates broader opportunities for all populations instead of only for white men. At this point, white males may have some impact on them, but the affirmative action is still needed when you consider society as a whole. Another issue has been brought out by advocators of I-200 and Proposition 209, that affirmative action leads schools to select candidates unfairly. However, universities do not just look for racial and ethnic diversity when composing a class. Universities may reject some white students, but the reasons are absolutely not simply about racial and ethnic issues. According to the date, which is based on 1996 applications for ten public Virginia universities, â€Å"show those universities selected applicants would consider about race, sex, SAT scores, class rank, and high school grade point averages† (Mcqueen A13). Affirmative action is the regulation that ensures everyone in America has fair chances in every organization. Why did legislators established affirmative action? Is it because of historical discrimination of white people against African Americans? This notion gives those opponents a very big chance to criticize affirmative action. They argue that discrimination between blacks and whites has become history; therefore, we should not have affirmative action to deepen prejudice or recall everybody†s attention to racialism. Has our society become equal without discrimination? I don†t believe that someone is so naive to think so. Perhaps those critics just don†t want to face the truth of the status quo. There was an example on ABC news, which filmed two men that have the same education, age, appearance, and other qualities, However, one is African American and another is white. While the white got full service in shoes store, got a lower price and better financing plan for buying a car, the African American got opposite treatments. Thus, when you think that affirmative action is enough, please consider what the real world is. The truth is that there is pervasive racism in all areas of U. S. society. IV. Four-fifth rule/Quota and Affirmative action The most common argument about the affirmative action is that many people believe that affirmative action leads organizations to not hire the best-qualified people due to some quota restrictions, such as the four-fifth rule. The four-fifth rule means â€Å"adverse impact exists if the selection ration for the discriminated-against group is less than four-fifths (or 80 percent) of the selection ration for the majority group† (Ledvinka and Scarpello 143). These opponents of affirmative action argue that some affirmative action practices have involved the use of preferential treatment and privilege to achieve workforce diversity that destroyed the purity of assessing candidates. At this point, I am not going to say that there is no company that likes what they have described, but the problems occurred due to misunderstanding of those regulations. What we say about the Four-fifth rule, or simply say quota restriction, is a goal set by government for every organization to follow. So far, there is no company which hires employees base on BFOQ (Bona fide occupational qualification), that has been charged because of not reaching the goal of the Four-fifth rule. â€Å"True affirmative action does not enshrine preferences or mandate quotas. Nor has any effective affirmative-action program ever been structured to allow unqualified candidates to take jobs over the qualified† (Redwood 136). Everyone can have goal. By setting a good goal for yourself, even you can†t reach it, you are still going toward right direction. The affirmative action and Four-fifth rule as like. V. How do you identify the term â€Å"Best-qualified†? Can you give the â€Å"best-qualified† a definition? No, I can†t. Actually, by using â€Å"best-qualified,† this phrase is usually very subjective. Different employers have different considerations under their â€Å"best-qualified† catalogs. Tom may be the best-qualified candidate for company A, but may not be eligible for company B. Also, â€Å"Employers have traditionally hired people not only on test scores, but on personal appearance, family and personal connections, school tiles and on race and gender preferences, demonstrating that talent or desirability can be defined in many ways† (Kivel 1996). As we know, many job opportunities are heard from informal networks, like friends, family, and neighbors. If there is no affirmative action to ensure that everyone has a fair chance at what is available, the segregation between different groups, such as black and white, men and women, will become more and more serious. VI. Affirmative Action creates diversity for our environment Affirmative action helps organizations to find diverse and talented employees. America is a diverse country; therefore, if your company has more diverse employees, your company can get various ideas, information, and knowledge to enhance your competition. Many companies, such as Mountain Bell, have commented that â€Å"by instituting affirmative action, they not only made their employee population look like American, which is a diverse country, but also found more talented and skilled workers† (Pendleton and Douglas 1991). Another example for supporting affirmative action is the Aire Sheet Metal, which its president, Bobby Bramlett, said that â€Å"affirmative action creates opportunities with contractors who otherwise wouldn†t know us, or give us a chance†¦ The work comes through relationships, but that first opportunity to build a relationship comes from affirmative action† (Spencer 151). Therefore, affirmative action can let companies have various personnel to enrich companies† overall human resource and enhance companies competitive capacities. In conclusion, I just want you to recognize what affirmative action really is. Affirmative action ensures that everyone in America has an equal chance to compete with others. It is a law to minimize the gap between blacks and whites, men and women. Although affirmative action may have some impact to white males, we still need this law to balance our society by considering the society as a whole. Affirmative action is good for overall U. S. society, especially, when people can combine those diverse powers together. Affirmative action is a long-term benefit for the U. S. society. I believe every American should support this regulation. How to cite Historical Changes of Affirmative Actions, Essay examples

Monday, April 27, 2020

Infinite Spring Beaches free essay sample

Spring Break. For high schoolers, this weeklong vacation signifies a myriad of educational changes, including new teachers, new grades, and new sports. But the transition associated with Spring Break has more than academic components; outside, the Oregon weather shifts dramatically almost overnight from dreary downpours to sparkling sunshine. Thousands of flowers burst into full bloom, proudly displaying their bold purples, yellows and reds. The transformation seems remarkable to those living in the Willamette Valley, but in some locations, it can barely be noticed at all. I realized this when I visited the Oregon coast during my Spring Break. Many coastal towns recognize spring only by title; the weather stays damp and breezy, and the beaches remain devoid of flora or fauna. But although they appear stagnant to the casual observer, these sandy beaches signify the most remarkable transformation of all: that which changes not with the season, but with the millennia. We will write a custom essay sample on Infinite Spring Beaches or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Because most people rarely think about sand, they fail to realize the significance behind the substance. Sink your toes into sand, and you’re covering your feet in eons of history. Each individual grain of sand began as part of an enormous boulder, perhaps even a mountain. As the centuries passed, wind and water eroded the stone and broke off pieces. These rocks fragmented further over the next hundred thousand years, eventually becoming almost infinitesimally small. During this process, a grain of sand may travel thousands of miles across the ocean and reach an entirely different continent from its original mother rock, creating a unique blend of sediments on each beach. How can anyone, even Barack â€Å"the Change We Need† Obama, feel confident in his or her ability to transform the nation when it took the earth literally millions of years to create a single sandbar? This question soon sparked many more, because sand, as I learned, has many impressive qualities besid es its creation. For example, consider how many grains amount to one teaspoon of sand. Thousands? Millions? Now think how many grains compose a cup of sand. Billions? One gallon of sand contains trillions and quadrillions of these minute particles. One sandbar, therefore, contains more grains of sand than top scientific minds could conceivably count. Now consider that Earth alone contains millions of beaches, and our galaxy contains hundreds of sand-covered planets. Neither man nor computer, therefore, can even remotely conceive of the number of sand grains in the universe. Only the concept of infinity comes close to defining this staggering amount of sand, and even that estimate seems a bit low after a day on the beach. While strolling along the Oregon coastline during my Spring Break, kicking the sand that lay in mounds before me, I couldn’t help but feel insignificant. I imagined myself as one minuscule grain of sand, swept along the beach among billions of other grains a lmost identical to myself. Sure, I might look different if you put me under a microscope, but nobody takes the time to examine each individual sand grain. After considering how much time it took to create a single beach, or even a single grain of sand, how could I possibly accomplish anything in my small lifetime? And if I did manage to achieve something, would it really matter in the grand scheme of things? In a thousand years, or even a hundred, the beaches would remain largely unchanged, yet I would likely be totally forgotten, one grain lost among trillions of my peers. Why did I matter at all? Defeated, I lay down in the warm sand, letting the salty air cool my face. Immediately I realized the answer I sought: although each individual grain of sand may not be acknowledged, together the sand created something beautiful that spanned not only the beach, but the entire universe. I may not stand out by myself, but with a little cooperation, I could be a part of something as great as Oregon’s magnificent beaches. And perhaps together, our collective beach could change the world for the better.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Isolationism and its use within US foreign policy essays

Isolationism and it's use within US foreign policy essays Isolationism and its Use Within U.S Foreign Policy 1. Isolationism is a term associated with U.S foreign policy in the 1920s and 30s, Isolationism examples can occur in economic situations or politics. The United States was seen as an isolationist country, this was because of its economic polices and also politics. The United states was considered isolationist because of involvement without commitment - "advantages without obligations" as it was described. This meant the U.S would help be involved in world affairs but not act by interfering or having alliances with other countries. The republicans saw isolationism as a way of keeping the US as sovereign free and at peace. An example of isolationism was the 4 way naval power treaty where the US was involved but did not commit its self. The isolationist view is often interpreted as having no ties or any official economic or political alliances with other countries. 2. World war 1 had ended leaving America in a position of great financial importance, this put America far above Europe economically. In the 1920s the USA were still recovering from the war, the effects of the war meant that the power of the government had increased exceptionally. The power was almost too dangerous so liquidation of assets had begun. The railroads had all been sold back and railroad consolidation had been encouraged by the government. The parts of the government dealing with war time administration had been partly removed as they were not needed. The war still left a greater number of federal employees as many areas the government had acquired. The war led to increased involvement with Germany over Germanys finances after the loss of world war 1. America and European countries damaged by the war wanted reparations from the German government. When Germany could not afford to pay the counties involved the U.S helped them structu...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

French Architecture Not to Be Missed

French Architecture Not to Be Missed Touring France is like time traveling through the history of western Civilization. You wont be able to see all the architectural wonders  on your first visit, so youll want to return again and again. Follow this guide for an overview of the most significant buildings in France and a look at historic architecture you wont want to miss.   French Architecture and Its Importance From medieval times to modern days, France has been at the forefront of architectural innovation.  In Medieval times, Romanesque designs signaled pilgrimage churches, and the radical new Gothic style found its beginnings in France. During the Renaissance, the French borrowed from Italian ideas to create lavish Chateaux. In the 1600s, the French brought exuberance to the elaborate Baroque style. Neoclassism was popular in France until about 1840, followed by a revival of Gothic ideas. The Neoclassical architecture of public buildings in Washington, D.C. and throughout capital cities across the U.S. is in large part because of Thomas Jefferson in France. After the American Revolution, Jefferson served as Minister to France from 1784 to 1789, a time when he studied French and Roman architecture and brought them back to the new American nation. From 1885 until about 1820, the hot new French trend was Beaux Arts - an elaborate, highly decorated fashion inspired by many ideas from the past. Art Nouveau originated in France in the 1880s. Art Deco was born in Paris in 1925 before the style moved to Rockefeller Center in New York City. Then came the various modern movements, with France solidly in the lead. France is a Disney World of Western architecture. For centuries, students of architecture have made a point of traveling to France to learn historic design and construction techniques. Even today, the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris is considered the best architecture school in the world. But French architecture began even before France. Prehistoric Cave paintings have been stumbled upon throughout the world, and France is no exception. One of the most popular sites is Caverne du Pont d’Arc, a replica of the Chauvet Cave in the southern France area known as Vallon-Pont-dArc. The real cave is off limits to the casual traveler, but Caverne du Pont dArc is open for business. Also in southwestern France is the Và ©zà ¨re valley, a UNESCO Heritage area containing over 20 prehistoric painted caves. The most famous is the Grotte de Lascaux near Montignac, France. Roman Remains The Western Roman Empire in the 4th Century A.D. included what we now call France. Any countrys rulers will leave their architecture behind, and so did the Romans after its collapse. Most of the ancient Roman structures are, indeed, ruins, but some are not to be missed. Nà ®mes, on the southern coast of France, was called Nemausus thousands of years ago when Romans lived there. It was an important and well-known Roman city, and, so, many of the Roman ruins have been maintained, such as the Maison Carrà ©e and Les Arà ¨nes, The Amphitheater of Nà ®mes built around 70 A.D. The most spectacular example of Roman architecture, however, is the Pont du Gard, near Nimes. The famous aqueduct carried springwater to the city from the mountains about 20 miles away. Within two degrees latitude of  Nà ®mes is Vienne near Lyons and another area rich in Roman ruins. In addition to the 15 B.C. Grand Roman Theatre of Lyon, the Roman theater in Vienne is just one of many Roman ruins in a city once occupied by Julius Caesar. The Temple d’Auguste et de Livie and the Roman Pyramide in Vienne have been more recently joined by the newly discovered little Pompei a couple of miles across the Rhone River. As excavation for new housing was underway, intact mosaic floors were unearthed, which The Guardian described as remarkably preserved remains of luxury homes and public buildings. Of all the Roman ruins that remain, the amphitheatre may be the most prolific. The Thà ©Ãƒ ¢tre Antique in Orange is particularly well-preserved in southern France. And, of all the French villages that have so much to offer, the cities of Vaison-la-Romaine in southern France and  Saintes or Mà ©diolanum Santonum on the west coast will lead you through time from Roman ruins to Medieval walls. The cities themselves are architectural destinations. In and Around Paris La Ville-Lumià ¨re or the City of Light has long influenced the world, as a center of the Enlightenment and a canvas for western art and architecture. One of the most famous triumphal arches anywhere in the world is the Arc de Triomphe de lÉtoile. The 19th century Neoclassical structure is one of the largest Roman-inspired arches in the world. The spiral of streets emanating from this famous rotary is the Avenue des Champs-Élysà ©es, the road that leads to one of the most magnificent museums in the world, The Louvre, and the 1989 Louvre Pyramid designed by Pritzker Laureate I.M. Pei. Outside but near Paris is Versailles, whose popular garden and chateau are rich in history and architecture. Also just outside Paris is the Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis, the church that moved Medieval architecture to something more Gothic. Further afield is Chartres Cathedral, also called Cathà ©drale Notre-Dame, that takes Gothic sacred architecture to new heights. The cathedral in Chartres, a day trip from Paris, should not be confused with the Notre Dame Cathedral in downtown Paris. The Eiffel Tower, a New Seven Wonders of the World finalist, can be seen down the river from the gargoyles of Notre Dame. Paris is filled with modern architecture, too. The Center Pompidou designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano revolutionized museum design in the 1970s. Quai Branly Museum by Jean Nouvel and Louis Vuitton Foundation Museum by Frank Gehry continued the modernization of Paris. Paris is also known for its theaters, most notably the Paris Opà ©ra by Charles Garnier. Integrated within the Beaux-Arts-Baroque-Revival  Palais Garnier is LOpà ©ra Restaurant by the modern French architect Odile Decq. Pilgrimage Churches of France A pilgrimage church can be a destination in itself, such as the pilgrimage church of Wieskirche in Bavaria and Tournus Abbey in France, or it can be a church along the route pilgrims take. After the Edict of Milan legitimized Christianity, the most popular pilgrimage for European Christians was to a place in northern Spain. The Camino de Santiago, also called the Way of St. James, is the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, where the remains of Saint James, Apostle of Jesus Christ, is said to be. For European Christians who could not travel to Jerusalem during the Middle Ages, Galicia was wildly popular. To get to Spain, however, most travelers had to move through France. Camino Francà ©s or the French Way are the four pathways through France that lead to the final Spanish route to Santiago de Compostela. The Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France are historic, with historic architecture created to accommodate the REAL Middle Age tourist! These routes became part of the   UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998. Look for preserved, historic buildings and monuments along these routes. The symbolic use of the shell (an item given to pilgrims who completed the journey to Spains coast)   will be found everywhere. The architecture along these routes does not attract the large crowds of modern tourists, yet much of the historic significance is similar to more touristy structures.. Architecture Beyond Paris France has not stopped growing. Ancient Roman structures may stand near 21st century modern architecture. France may be for lovers, but the country also is for time travelers. Sarlat-la-Canà ©da en Dordogne, La Cite, the castle city of Carcassonne, Popes Palace in Avignon, Chà ¢teau du Clos Lucà ©, near Amboise, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last days - all have stories to tell. The work of 21st century architects abound throughout up-and-coming French cities: Lille Grand Palais (Congrexpo), Rem Koolhaas in Lille; Maison Bordeaux, Rem Koolhaas in Bordeaux; Millau Viaduct, Norman Foster in Southern France; FRAC Bretagne, Odile Decq in Rennes; and Pierres Vives, Zaha Hadid in Montpellier. Famous French Architects The writings of Eugà ¨ne Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) are well-known to the student of architecture, but his restoration of Medieval buildings throughout France  - most notably Notre Dame in Paris  - are better known to the tourist. Other architects with French roots include Charles Garnier (1825-1898); Le Corbusier (Swiss born in 1887, but educated in Paris, died in France 1965); Jean Nouvel; Odile Decq; Christian de Portzamparc; Dominique Perrault; and Gustave Eiffel. Sources France: archaeologists uncover little Pompeii south of Lyon, The Guardian, August 1, 2017,  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/02/france-archaeologists-uncover-little-pompeii-south-of-lyon [accessed October 29, 2017]