Mesopotamian and Egyptian Culture

The main scripture that holds the Christian faith is the Holy Bible. It has existed for a very long time already that it is already considered as an â€Å"institution† when it comes to its teachings and the values that it imparts on the readers. Some religions have even sprung from Christianity itself, and the basis of their teachings is also the Bible. But there are some who dispels the notion as the Bible being an institution of knowledge by saying that some parts of the Old Testament has been copied or patterned to other writings from other cultures. This has greatly affected the formation of the Old Testament, since it has to incorporate some materials and information from other cultures. It could also just be a coincidence that they have similar points, other than that, neither one of them copied the contents of the other. The Epic of Gilgamesh/Gilgamesh as the Babylonian Noah One of the great literary pieces to ever exist was the Epic of Gilgamesh. It talks about how the great Sumerian King Gilgamesh lived is life. Even though epic was compiled into written form a very long time ago, it has existed way back in 2100 B.C. in another form which is through word of mouth. This just show how long it has already been in circulation, in order to establish a comparison with the existence of the Christian’s Moses, if he ever existed. Moses, when he came into the scene through the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, is said to be 800-900 years younger than the Epic of Gilgamesh. With this information at hand, it is clear to see that the Epic of Gilgamesh came first, with a head start of 900 years before The Book of Exodus in the Old Testament came into existence. One of the arguable points in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament was Great Flood that the Lord had given the lands of man. It was done in order to cleanse the earth of the sins of man. However, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, we can see that there was also a great flood delivered to cleanse the world of sinful people: same content, but different stories. It was Ut-Napishtim who told him about the gods giving such punishments to people. He told Gilgamesh to take down a house and make a boat out of it. He would spare Gilgamesh’ family and relatives; he was also instructed to gather as all the animals and living things that he can spare. Gilgamesh was vey much like the famous Noah who built the Ark on God’s bidding for them to be spared, along with pairs of different animals he can gather. But considering the time frame, it is more like, Noah was very much like Gilgamesh who built a large boat, and God was very much like Ut-Napishtim, who cleansed the lands with a great flood to get rid of sinful people. Gilgamesh and Noah are two different people coming from two different cultures in different time frames. They are very similar in a lot of aspects, especially in the matter of the Great Flood. If it was merely a coincidence that they both constructed a great water vessel and rounded up all the animals in the world, no one knows. It is just that These two men were both heroes and icons of their own times, and have made their marks in their own different cultures. The Code of Hammurabi and the Laws of Moses One of the most notable law maker/leader would be King Hammurabi of the Babylonian Dynasty. He was noted for his Code of Hammurabi, a very influential set of laws and corresponding punishments to its violators. He existed around 1792 B.C. to 1750 B.C., 300 years before Moses is said to have existed. The point of comparison that is being built-up here is that Hammurabi came before Moses. Most people know that Moses is noted to be the bearer of the Lord’s 10 Commandments. This is because of some claims saying that even the 10 Commandments, as well as the laws set by Moses or the Mosaic Laws were patterned to the Code of Hammurabi. There are several concepts that would attract one’s attention if he’s looking for similarities. One of these concepts is with regards to the respect for parents. For Hammurabi, a son who strikes his father should have his arm cut off. In Mosaic law, if someone curses his parents or is very rebellious, then death is the right punishment. Another would be on marriage. For Hammurabi, if a man wishes to leave his family, then he should prepare a fraction of his property and wealth in order for the mother to raise their children. On the other hand, Mosaic law says that divorce will only be allowed if a spouse becomes indecent or unfaithful. Both Hammurabi and the Mosaic law agreed that death should be the appropriate punishment for both man and woman committing adultery. Incest for them is also unacceptable, and should be dealt with sever punishment, and if necessary, it should be death for those who have committed the crime Theft is also another aspect of similarity, where both of them condone the act of stealing and robbing from other people. In the Mosaic law, whatever living property is stolen and has been killed, should be returned five folds. If it is alive, it should be returned immediately. On the other hand, Hammurabi states that it depends on the social position of the thief, whether he should pay ten-folds or thirty times the original. But for those caught in the act of robbing someone else or stealing someone else property, no matter how valuable it is, the punishment to be given should be death. Finally, the one that showed relevant similarity was on inflicting physical injury in another person. In Mosaic laws, it depends on the weight of the damage done by the offender. Injuries which are not serious should be given necessary fines, where the offender would pay this fine for the damages he has done to the victim. But for those who have committed serious injury on somebody else, then it would be necessary to exercise taking a life for a life, or a limb for a limb. The Hammurabic code is the source of the line â€Å"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.† The Hymn to Aton Not only did the Bible borrowed from the early Mesopotamian societies, they have also extracted some from early Egyptian cultures. Praise worship for the Lord which is found in several verses of the Bible can be traced back to tomb scriptures of some of the great men of Egypt, rulers who have made a great impact on their constituents. They are revered even after their deaths, with poems, songs and hymns being written for them as a form of praise-worship. This has been adopted by some verses in the Bible, showing how the Lord is miraculous, powerful and merciful. Not many of the people know that these verses were patterned from some dead guy’s tomb scriptures. The Sinai Covenant The Sinai covenant has been the primer of what seemed to as periodic worship, which is timely, for it was allotted a day in a week for worship. However, there are also other religions that follow this day of the Sabbath, where they would do nothing else but worship their gods all throughout the day. This is in relation to what the Bible claimed to be the day of worship for its followers. References: Anonymous. â€Å"Egyptian & Old Testament Scriptural Correspondences.†Ã‚   http://www.mystae.com/restricted/streams/thera/egypt.html. Caroll, Robert Todd. â€Å"Noah's Ark.†Ã‚   http://skepdic.com/noahsark.html. Latoundji, David Paul. â€Å"God at Sinai: Covenant and Theophany in the Bible and Ancient near East.† Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society ( Mar 1999). Nosotro, Rit. â€Å"Comparing the Content of Hammurabi's Code, Mosaic Law, and Justinian Law.†Ã‚   http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw03hammurabijustinlaw.htm. Tolerance, Ontario Consultants on Religious. â€Å"Comparison of the Babylonian and Noahic Flood Stories.†Ã‚   http://www.religioustolerance.org/noah_com.htm. Worldwide Church of God. â€Å"Did Moses Steal the Ten Commandments? .† Worldwide Church of God, http://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/law/steal10.htm.      

International Marketing Final Exam Essay

First Question: Disneyland Paris was one of Disneyland’s Global projects. Please discuss its advantages and disadvantages, and from reading and understanding the case suggest what was/were the mistake/s that Disney committed from the beginning till now. Second Question: Gillette is a giant company and has got a lot of success story globally, from your previous readings and your wide experience as marketing consultant specialized in International marketing. Compare between Gillette in Egypt and Gillette in Indonesia. From all aspects and suggest the best mode of entry for Gillette in Yemen. Third Question: You are the marketing consultant of Disneyland and you are thinking of a new market to enter in one or two of Arab countries. As an expert in International Marketing please consider the following: 1. Which country will you choose to enter, and why? 2. What is your mode of entry? 3. What should be taken into consideration in this regards? 4. What are the advantages and disadvantage of opening in Arab country? 5. What are the main obstacles that you are expecting to face? Fourth Question You are the working for an Egyptian company that is attempting to go globally with one of its products, and you are responsible for that, you will be deciding where and how to go. †¢ Assume that your company has † consumer or industrial product† †¢ You will follow all the needed steps to go globally from the first step that should be taken till the last decision † customization or standardization† Fifth question: Referring to the P&G case â€Å"Different for Gamble†, found in the â€Å"International Marketing Case Study.ppt† file, answer the following questions: †¢ Discuss the reasons for the initial failure for P&G in Japan. †¢ Where did P&G go wrong (if it did) in the evaluation of the Indian market and its strategy? †¢ Discuss the reasons for the differences in the performance of P&G in India and China.

Importance of Strategic Planning Essay

The small business I would like to start would be a candy store. This paper will define strategic management, planning and explain why a strategic plan is important to the success of this business, and explain the four functions of management relative to creating and implementing a strategic plan. Strategic Management is the groundwork for a company’s vision and allows a company to be ready to capitalize on opportunities. Strategic management is a process of evaluating a company’s mission, establishing the company’s design, developing the company’s organization and relationships, and guiding the company’s plan to execution to ensure that the management is consistent with the company’s strategy. Strategic management also enhances or protects the company’s interests and defines the way a company wants to expand or focus. Strategic management if often overlooked and should be the first step in defining a company’s core values, mission, and product focus (Fazzini, 2008). Strategic planning is so important to the success of my business. Its size is what makes strategic planning so important because it means growth from small to a thriving international corporation. This is basically a growth plan. Meaning where wells it be 3 years from now or 5 years or 7 years from now. First he or she must focus on gathering data about the internal and external environment of their company. He or she must also consider outside socio-cultural factors and inside factors, including management style and workforce (Strategic Planning, 2007). One of the most important factors is having goals for your company. Make sure your goals are attainable and reasonable; follow the SMART rule – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. By following this rule, it makes goals attainable. By being the owner, I have the yeah or nay when it comes to decisions. However, in order to have a successful business, your employees should have a say in some decision-making. This ensures that the company works together to obtain set goals. Finally devise an action plan. List possible and specific courses of action then choose what all you deem as most suitable. Define a schedule for everything but also give leeway for unexpected delays. During this time also set a budget. PlanningPlanning is a function where managers work together with others in the organization towards a common goal. Whether the goal is to increase profits or retaining employees is not the point. Working together and coming up with a plan to achieve that goal is. To be competitive in a local or global economy you need to begin by coming up with goals and create a plan on how to achieve them. Sometimes change is needed in leadership. Goals may need to be changed and updated from time to time. The planning stage will help in laying out these goals and the steps the organization will need to follow. OrganizingOrganizing an organization’s resources is the next step toward success for any management team. What can a business offer to attract employees, how can they acquire the financing they need, or what are the proper materials needed to get the project off the ground? These are but a few of the questions that need to be answered during the organizing phase. All the resources need to be organized so they can be used to the companies highest potential. If a company has strong financial backing but fails to offer incentives to retain their employees will fail in the end. The employees are who keep a company running. It is such a waste to spend the time and money to train an employee, then turn around, and offer nothing else but a pay check. Employee benefits and regular training are a few beginning incentives to keep employees interested in staying with your company. If the employees are not happy they will eventually go somewhere else and the company will have to spend more money to hire and train more employees to replace the ones that left. LeadingLeading people towards doing their best is a skill greatly needed in management positions. Helping coworkers to achieve the goals and programs of the company through two-way communication can help employees feel like their contributions have meaning and will be considered. Management that leads the  employees to contribute will have a better chance of success than a company that â€Å"tells† and expects the employees to blindly â€Å"follow.† The employees see the daily function of the organization. Many times he or she sees what does and does not work before management does. Management needs to take this information and use it to lead the company. ControllingEven with planning, organizing, and leading, you still need to exert some control to keep things on track. Managers need to know what it going on in the organization and be able to make changes when needed. A manager can also exert too much control over a situation by not helping the employees to think and work through a problem that may have arisen. A company that encourages its people to think is a company that will be able to succeed in the long run. As important as planning, organization, leadership and control are in a company, you need all these functions for the company to succeed in the business world. You cannot have planning and leadership with a small amount of organization and no control and expect things to work out well. Each function depends on the others to support and carry the organization. A successful company implements all four functions and uses the managers and employees to the best of their abilities. References Fazzini, D. (2008). How to Define Strategic Management. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from http://www.ehow.com/how_2364537_define-strategic-management.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_artStrategic Planning, (2007, March 15). Why Strategic Planning is Important Even for Small Businesses. Retrieved July 7, 2008, from http://smbconsulting.wordpress.com/?s=Why+Strategic+Planning+is+Important+Even+for+Small+Businesses&submit=

How Business ethical problem effect economy Essay

How Business ethical problem effect economy - Essay Example Sweatshops are mainly concentrated around regions like South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and so on. Most employees of sweatshops are denied sufficient salaries and are, in most cases, bound to the messy quarters that are cramped with machines and other equipments. These quarters also serve as homes for these workers where they sleep and eat. Because of their poor conditions, sweatshops impinge on the fundamental liberties of labors and are a serious violation of human rights which is why they present an ethical issue. They provide convenient and cheap sources of labor for high-end clothing and apparel manufacturers, which is why they continue to exist in the present century although strict laws regarding labor exist. After Nike, Zara has also been caught in a commotion regarding sweatshops where it had to pay a fine for operating sweatshops in Brazil (Sum of Us, n.pag.). However, the fine does not seem to have inhibited the capitalistic endeavors of Zara. The sweatshop issue is not a new one and their existence can be traced back to the early 20th century when women and children were the most common forced laborers (Rosen, 1). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights developed by the United Nations clearly mentions the rights of workers to healthy working environments. Thus, in the light of the UDHR, companies must pursue a policy of good practices providing a workable environment with appropriate wage rates and stipulated working hours. With bonded labor, various sweatshop workers are forced to work in bad environments which include long working hours and no breaks in between. To top this, workers are paid very little money to live on and mostly live in the same quarter they work in. So sweatshops characterize poor working places with overworked and underpaid labors. So, the companies are able to acquire very cheap labor out of sweatshops. The main ethical concern regarding sweatshops is

Pompeii Discoveries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pompeii Discoveries - Essay Example Following the discovery of the ruins, archaeologists have worked on the site to discover a city stopped in time, completely untouched by the progress of the preceding centuries and thus providing a slightly clouded impression of what life must have been like for this thriving society. Information gathered from eyewitness accounts of the incident as well as archaeological excavations have enabled us in the modern age to pinpoint just what happened on that day in 79 AD and discover a great deal of information regarding the daily life of people in the city at the time of the eruption. The eruption that buried Pompeii was not confined to Pompeii alone, although this is the most famous of the cities that were buried. When Mount Vesuvius erupted, spilling tons of poisonous gasses, molten rock, ash and pumice into the air, this material â€Å"engulfed the surrounding area suffocating the inhabitants of the neighboring Roman resort cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae.†1 While there remains some debate about the exact date of the eruption as it compares with the archaeological evidence2, history has been provided with a first-hand account of the eruption thanks to Pliny the Younger, who had been living at his uncle’s house in Misenum when the eruption occurred and who lost his beloved uncle, Pliny the Elder, to the mountain when he stayed too long trying to rescue survivors. According to Pliny’s account, from where he sat across the Bay of Naples, he and his family could see in the distance a great cloud forming. â€Å"Its general appearanc e can best be expressed as being like an umbrella pine, for it rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches, I imagine because it was thrust upwards by the first blast and then left unsupported as the pressure subsided, or else it was borne down by its own weight

Energy Anatomy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Energy Anatomy - Assignment Example This paper illustrates some of the chakra principles and how they affect life, health as well as energy Energy anatomy simply illustrates how human bodies are a large energetic work, which also forms the intersection point for the power, spirit and matter (Myss, 2005). The human body has a combination of several locations, which also serves as the reservoirs for the energy; they are known as chakras. It has been discovered that the only way in which these chakras can be balanced, is when individuals adopt the tendency to love themselves and others unconditionally. This is the most effective source of healing. It is impossible for people to have a physical expression without the help of the chakras which act as an open ‘doorway’ for the flow of the emotional, mental and spiritual forces within the human conscience. The energy that is generated from the mental and emotional structures of an individual is what flows within the chakras. It is later distributed to the tissues and cells of the human body. Energy anatomy has been vital especially to the individuals who have been dependent on the modern medication that is costly. This is because it is a self-healing plan that will make anyone lead a balanced life free from traumas, stress, and spiritual imbalance (Myss, 2005). There is a total of 7 chakra energy centre’s that are vital for the well-being of an individual. In chakra one, the most targeted areas during the exercise are the areas that support the spine, bones, legs, rectum, as well as the immune system. When these areas are balanced an individual will become secure in every surrounding, the self-esteem, confidence and feeling of security is which is good for health. Though regular exercises can lead to varicose veins, back pain in the lower parts as well as rectal tumors Chakra 2 is an energy exercise that

Pleas read the artical and answer qestion 5 with 6 steps. the answers Essay

Pleas read the artical and answer qestion 5 with 6 steps. the answers should be short and to the point - Essay Example The school is allowed to removal of the IDEA, Section 504, and ADA claims because the parents did not exhaust administrative remedies under IDEA. One issue raised by the trial court is that the exhaustion requirements of the IDEA applied in equal measure to the other claims since the Section 504 and ADA claims are associated with injuries that could be sought redress to under the IDEA. The issue put forward by the parents is that their complaint was with the refusal of the school to provide Section 504 services, to which the court noted that â€Å"a parent may not circumvent the administrative procedures of IDEA by voluntarily revoking approval under IDEA, and afterwards recast their complaints under Section 504 and the ADA. The trial court’s decision was that the parent are not capable of revoking assent to services under IDEA, and then proceed to demand that the school make available Section 504 services instead. Therefore, the school was not under any legal obligation to provide services. The reasoning behind this decision was influenced by a citation from a Letter of McKethan issued by OCR. By refusing services developed under IDEA, the parents effectively rejected services under Section 504. Hence, the revocation of services by the parents under IDEA was equivalent to revocation under Section 504 and the

The Tempest for Shakespeare Act I Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Tempest for Shakespeare Act I - Assignment Example There are two factions in the ship. One consists of the passengers, made up of Gonzalo and his party, and the other faction consists of the crew. In the middle is the boatswain, who acts as a stabilizing figure and the key point of contact between the crew and the passengers. The factions are characterized by their actions and their roles. The crew are active and ordered upon, while the passengers are good for nothing but to get out of the way of the crew while they do their work (Shakespeare). In this passage Gonzalo speaks and expresses his confidence in the talents and the fate of the boatswain, who was in effect in charge of stabilizing the ship and making sure that it survives the natural calamity buffeting it from all sides. The boatswain is the stabilizing force who is not fated to die in that storm, in that ship. This implies that the ship will survive the storm intact. Gonzalo is saying that either this is true, or else if the boatswain is not fated to die by hanging, then the entire ship and its crew and passengers are all doomed. On the other hand, Gonzalo is being sarcastic too, because the boatswain was rude to them. He was saying too that the boatswain by his rudeness ought to die by hanging rather than by the elements/storm. So they should get through the storm safely

Case Study Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Case Study Assessment - Essay Example 14). However, while this definition of leadership highlights the essence of leadership, it is only one of the numerous of definitions that have been proposed in the literature: the second edition of The Handbook of Leadership by Bass lists more than 130 definitions of this phenomenon and 13 major approaches (Bass, 1990, p. 12). Availability of such versatile data significantly facilitates analysis of problems related to leadership because in many cases the existing approaches and definitions are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary. The present report is an attempt to analyze a situation that provides valuable insights into the most essential aspects of leadership and is directly linked to effectiveness of managerial work. The story of Ted Willis who has been hired as the new supervisor suggests he is likely to face the classic type of leadership problem: the new leader vs. the old leader. One should not get misled by the fact that Ted is the new supervisor and the old supervisor has been fired. ... The so-called 'workers of influence' theory of leadership is particularly important to understand the distinction between managers and leaders. The key idea of this theory is that leadership may be exhibited by anyone in the organization in any type of position (Yukl 1989). According to this theory leaders may operate at different levels within the organization and within the same hierarchical level as their followers. Such perception of leadership conflicts the traditional theories which treat it as a set of attributes and behaviors exhibited by persons with legitimate power. Etzioni (1961) undertook the pioneering research effort to prove existence of leaders operating on the same hierarchical level with their followers. This type of leadership is labeled as 'informal' which means the leader does not possess official power over his followers, as opposed to formal leaders-managers that exert influence on subordinates by virtue of their higher hierarchical position. While the important role of informal leaders during organizational changes has been discussed in the literature, little is known about sources of their power and how traditional literature on leadership can be applied to them (Antonakis, Cianciolo, & Sternberg, 2004). Existence of such leaders demonstrates that sources of power for leaders and managers are not necessarily similar. In our case, this theory reasonably suggests that Ted's position does not automatically make him the leader - the most influential person within the group. Furthermore, the group already has an established long-time informal leader: that troublemaker who has managed to keep from getting fired because he is the only employee who knows the inventory

The Permitted Age Of Alcohol Consumption In The United States Essay

The Permitted Age Of Alcohol Consumption In The United States - Essay Example So, the law barely served its purpose of barring underage (below 21-year-old) drinking. Moreover, students like me, arriving from countries with lower drinking age are affected by this law. I want to propose that the age should be lowered, and this paper will apply three core principles in that course. It will use ethos to appeal to ethics, by my credibility as a Chinese who began drinking at age 18 according to the Chinese Law. It will also apply pathos to appeal to the emotion of the audience. In this approach, the paper will convince the audience why the alcohol age should be lowered down to 18 years-old, and not any further below that age. Moreover, the use of logos will ensure the proposal appeals to the audience through logic, persuading them by reason in a situation experienced by former US President Bushs daughter. The legal drinking age should be lowered to 18-year-old, but augmented with stricter policies.  Dwight B. Heath, a professor at the Brown University was asked ab out the what the minimum legal age of drinking should be in the US – â€Å"8, or maybe even 6,† was his response (Griggs). According to Heath, a professor of anthropology, he was not advocating for children to get drunk. Conversely, his response was favoring a cultural model upheld by common countries such as Italy or France, where after family meals, children were served with small wine amounts. By so doing, children are educated about alcohol, eliminating the numerous taboo about alcohol that makes teenagers sneak out to drink away from the supervision of an adult (Griggs). Though I do not support the drinking age he proposes – because alcohol could put children at risk of depression, memory loss, or brain damage (Martin), I endorse the lowering the age of drinking from 21 years-old to 18-year-old. Alcohol for kids would also put them at risk of accidents, impaired judgment, distorted vision, coordination, and hearing.  

Bad for Teenagers Worldwide Essay Example for Free

Bad for Teenagers Worldwide Essay This research paper mainly deals with how hip-hop music and things that are related to hip-hop are bad for teenagers. Some factors to be found that affect the teenagers are their lyrics or language used, media, clothes integrated, cross-over appeal, gender bias and racism, and the potential of this culture to break ethnic groups in our society. This also tackles some punishments that might be incurred by the youth from the bad effects of hip-hop. The hip hop traditions have pervaded all the rage way of life in an extraordinary manner. While shaped by â€Å"black youth† on the road, the impact of hip hop has turned out to be global. It has undertaken the outer reaches, to the peripheries, and into the communal panel quarters. Even though that the hip hop customs is a probable intense merger of varied populace for the reason that it has its massive traverse attractiveness, it still has its drawback effects. Having its collective influence on teenagers, the concept of hip hop has the aptitude to carry political, societal and trade and industry concerns in the way of life by exposing the public perceptiveness on what is in actuality occurring worldwide and negative aspects on the society and teenagers in particular (Africa Resource Center, Inc., 2007). Language Hip hop in the contemporary time is not similar as it appeared when it started. The precedent hip hop did have a discussion with reference to troubles of existence and music was merely for enjoyment. Different from the earlier period, the present day hip hop confers about subordinates and diversion. Each and every recent hip-hop composition are about the flight of the imagination vivacity as being prosperous, having grandeur, and catching every gorgeous lass, thus altering the standards of living of youngsters. They also influence the teenagers psyche on how to get all these assets aside from rigorously exerting one’s effort in a genuine job. The hip hop lyrics sway them to just vend illegal drugs, filch, and do not be concerned regarding other people. Street verbal communication is broadcasted to the hip hop ethos in the course of rap melody (Williams, 2003). One can perceive the sound of a hip hopper by means of the similar colloquial speech as the African American performers. Irrespective of their civilization, they use words like the word â€Å"nigger† which is one of their most common terms, with some customary belittling connotation of the remark. The rap performers may be revealing narratives of their jagged existence all the way through compositions, however the language used is wreaking the mentality of the listeners, does somehow indoctrinating them, as they tend to take note of the libretto over and over again. The majority of hip-hop music has exaggerated lines to gain lure more interest and sales. Hooligan hit, which shamelessly portrayed fugitive demeanor in the metropolitan, became prevalent. Media The channel of hip hop give the impression of being awfully accommodating of this kind of song and facilitates performers a great deal for their endorsements. Countless television programs have been allotted to hip hop. New-fangled records are constantly publicized on small screen. In point of fact, radios are also enormously especially significant for the progress of hip hop melodies since the youth can have the opportunity to eavesdrop various sorts of the hip hop songs everywhere. Even subversive kinds of music are aired here. These media are the factors that thrust them in the hip hop realm. Ahead of backing hip hop additionally, all hit music videos on music television or MTV must be evaluated well at the same time the youth cohorts of hip-hop must be monitored. If a small screen program can detonate a person from expressing his outlook on certain matters, then recording corporations should also be able to lay off artists for affronting people. Hip hop songs expose this class of aggression and compulsion around sexual pursuits as ordinary affairs. There is an existing reception among adolescents of the type of â€Å"sexual objectification† eminent in this manner of composition, and its displayed videos (Dickinson, 1998). Clothing As indicated by Kakutani, city juvenile African-Americans have drafted in the clothing of higher class whites as a sign of being short of authority in American civilization. Despite the fact that definite stuff achievement maybe unfeasible, the justification for embellishing luxurious branded get-up items is to put forward a picture of victory (1997). A means to utter contempt is by making out with the rebel figure of the street. A lot of fair children are civilizing sightseers who put on a pedestal the extremely ghetto living that numerous black youth desire to getaway. As an alternative of the dreadful transience degree for black adolescents, they perceive the thrill of hostility and as a substitute of aggravation, they set eyes on the vocal disobedience of that annoyance. She also proposed that this explicit channel of emblematic manifestation of teenagers have been converted into the biggest addressees of gangster music. Dark pelt and smeared tresses corresponded to the zeitgeist. The period of 1990 has become subjugated by hip hop style. This is made up of saggy denims showed very slackly, caps displayed rearwards, extra-large tops, and costly sporty footwear. This trend, distinctive from that of the other age groups, has inimitably crossed nearly every cultural frontier. A noteworthy quantity of African American, Whites, and Asian teenagers, without a doubt, get dressed the correspondingly despite of their background (Kakutani, 1997). Cross-over appeal For the reason that hip hop becomes an growing craze, colossal business corporations such as branded shops, industrial stores, and food chains in fact have profited from this occurrence (Salzman, Smith, and West, 1996). While detractors of the hip hop traditions appeared to be paranoid on the implication of sexual characteristics, brutality, and ruthless lingo, this field provides the youth of an archetype of what could be. In the equivalent stratum, the hip hop culture has defied the scheme in conduct that have amalgamated persons, predominantly the youth, crossways an abounding cultural variety. Notwithstanding this maturity of teenagers toward the sense of right and wrong of a nation for advancement, they all the same accepted a facade of American hip hop celebrity verves. Youngsters, alcohol, merrymakings, automobiles, posh garments make up their milieu. They typically do this to demonstrate their control although as a substitute of that, they are debasing their representation and showing a ghastly paradigm to the young people. Hip hop genre which give the impression to be acting the equal part which is to congregate the adolescents as one for an enhance awareness of societal matters and as a result, youngsters are urged to move violently for countrywide settlements. That is why events and performance are continuously prepared to allow the adolescents to put across their way of thinking and behaving through these avenues (Reese, 1998). Gender bias and racism Loads of individuals believe that Hip hop songs and traditions have an immoral power on the youth and that these have an unscrupulous standing of demeaning females through compositions that employ nasty colloquial speech and label females as â€Å"hoes†. What is sardonic is that the performers bring into play renowned terms, nevertheless if was to be told, it would sound as a racist. The artists do not become conscious that the youth is more affected by their kind of songs than any other. They ponder that coarse-hood living is breezy, amusing, and ferocity on the roads is hip, too. Moreover, if the commerce indicates agreement of librettos upholding abhorrence and taking advantage of the females are more and more acknowledged as valid types of inventive demonstration, hip hop music will certainly continue. Such well-known artists like Eminem has obtained a large amount of appreciation and awards delinquent hip hop music which is idolized by many. According to an interview with Dr. Gwendolyn Pough, â€Å"It definitely has an impact on young women, especially young black women† and there exists a few correlations to the themes of hip hop music and how a quantity of juvenile females picture themselves or perform (Alexander, 1998). That melody can generate a frame of mind for the youth and currently, there is a mounting penitentiary female inhabitant for their dealings, for vending illegal items and executing offenses for their boyfriends. A commended multimedia display intended to replicate female encounters with pestering, declares that hip hop melody has at all times been manipulative since it is so undemanding to absorb. It is an idea that females are perceived as things that is acceptable to be merely handed over along the guys. Punishments As stated by Rose in 1991, the associations between trendy society and lawbreaker regulations make available a brief account of hip hop customs, with particular consideration to the violation of directives that is present at the hip hop customs origin. This describes the bearing of hip-hop to the modern discussion in criminal decree erudition about public conventions. The point expressed is that â€Å"street† felony is a chief peril to the youth’s welfare and interests. Each of the notions of penalties such as vengeance, preclusion, incapacitation, and treatment, has come to more projection because of the inventive propositions of hip hop line of attack (Butler, 2004). It initially presents the inkling to engage retaliation as for the belief that for each deed there is an equal rejoinder. Hip hop culture grasps chastisement in person. Several youth in the hip hop realm have been imprisoned or have relatives who have been detained. Reprimand is an implementation of the society’s law enforcement control, as well as a repercussion of personal associations. The hip hop principle of retribution for the youth recognizes that once numerous youngsters are gone from their areas for the reason that they are being damned by the authority, penal complex may have inadvertent costs. Reprisal must be the entity of castigation; nevertheless it should be restricted by critical public good. In a noteworthy period in American record, hip hop sounds are mulling over the outlays of chastisement. Daring, defiant, time and again blasphemous, its melody has multicultural critic since for an instance, the concepts of hip hop aired in different media without fail disapprove of the authority’s courses of action (Lewis, 1998). The most normally alluded to current case in point is harsher central consequences for the use of prohibited drugs such as â€Å"crack cocaine† by the youth. These states of affairs are difficult to envisage for the reason that most of American hip hop customs are not directly articulated politically. Moreover, there almost certainly would be extensive divergence among the creators and regulars of the hip hop scheme about what political views to promote. The chastisement for producers was in particular severe. This topic is not fresh or remarkably astounding within a democratic system wherein anyone would anticipate hip hop society to report to bylaw. The latent of hip hop customs, nonetheless, to manipulate regulations appears less palpable, perchance as hip hop is a merchandise of youngster way of life and conceivably as it give the impression to rejoice insolent and even fugitive demeanor (Africa Resource Center, Inc., 2006). There are a number of stuffs about the formation of hip hop under this category. Initially, numerous performers acquired an active vision of the regulations. The infringe edict did not discourage the graffiti performer, the patent ruling did not hinder the disc jockeys from checking out any hip hop songs that they sought after, and the assets rule did not put off the jockeys from taking advantage of electrical energy from road posts at community recreational areas. Additionally, the hip hop way of life was more about reprocessing or remixing rather than generating out something new. Practically countless hip hop performers labeled themselves reflecting of the criminal directive. As a conclusion, hip hop traditions are atypical, habitually plainly opinionated. Its affairs of state are not all the time straightforward to uncover, and on a few matters, there is an immense multiplicity of viewpoints. Hip hop characteristics indeed presents a lot of disadvantages for the youth as these not only harm them physically, but also mentally. On the evenhandedness and efficacy of American iniquitous impartiality, the hip hop population seems to be dangerously addresses as solitary and the acts of certain groups of youngsters may be hazardously carried out in the society. In the modern account of the world, it is challenging to believe that another leading style of well-liked tradition is growing at a larger scale since several teenagers seem to be listening and adapting the fashion. Hip-hop customs also creates physically powerful set of circumstances for a revolution of criminal impartialities worldwide in the future.Bearing in mind the aforementioned negative factors, this prospect ought to have further inspections and assessments. References: Africa Resource Center, Inc. (2006). Black Life, its Culture, Politics and Consciousness, for â€Å"All Over the World†. ProudFlesh Journal. Africa Resource Center, Inc. (2007). Hip-Hop Culture. Academic Peer-Reviewed Journals. Alexander, Keith L (1998, December). Hip-Hop Magazine Gets Fiery Start, Good and Bad, USA Today interview, 30. Butler, Paul (2004, April 1). Much respect: toward a hip-hop theory of punishment. Introduction: The Hip-Hop Nation. Dickinson, Chris (1998, January 4). 3-CD Set Chronicles History of Rap,† Everday Magazine, 3. Kakutani, Michiko (1997, February 16). Common Threads: Why Are Homeboys and Surbanites Wearing Each Others Clothes?. The New York Times Magazine, 18. Lewis, Gregory (1998). Hip Hop Gives Birth to Its Own Black Economy, The San Francisco Examiner. Reese, R. (1998). The Hip Hop Culture and Ethnic Relations. Far West and Popular Culture Conference From the Fringe. Retrieved June 12, 2007, from http://www.tolerance.org/

Brutus, Antonius, Cassius, and Caesar Essay Example for Free

Brutus, Antonius, Cassius, and Caesar Essay It is 101 BC, the Roman Empire is at its zenith, and a man named Julius Caesar has the power of it within his grasp. Unwanted till now, he soon realizes the influence he now holds over so many lives. Perhaps he is naà ¯ve. However, if choosing who out of Marcus Brutus, Marcus Antonius, Cassius, and Julius Caesar; I choose whom the people chose. Julius Caesar would have been an extraordinary leader of Rome. As a revered general for the empire, he conquered many with an iron fist of trepidity including the dreaded Pompey, whose statue later, in a twisted sense of irony, Caesar meets his untimely fate upon. Caesar was a person the people of Rome could look up to, relate to, and follow. He was born and raised in Rome, joined the army at a young age and showed an almost predilectory understanding of warfare. He rose through the ranks to become the greatest general that Rome had ever known. Caesar was a remarkable man, with many kingly qualities such as his luminosity, endurance, perceptiveness, love for the people, any many, many more. He very well might have been the greatest leader that Rome would even know if not for the inequitable ideas of one man, Cassius. It was only after his return from conquering the mighty Pompey that the glory of Rome became to apparent to Julius Caesar. He wanted the crown; he wanted it like a child wants candy. With his advanced knowledge of subliminal tactics, he devised a plan that would force the citizens to beg him to take the crown. His beloved servant and yes-man, Marcus Antonius, offered him the crown three times with thousands there to witness the event; and each time Caesar refused the crown. Not because he did not want it, for he craved the crown; but because it was part of his brilliant plan. Mark Antonius speaks with anger and passion as he recounts the event of Caesars murder at his funeral, asking the people if Caesars death was truly justifiable: You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him with a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? III: II: 102-4. At the time the event-which Anotnius gave as evidence that Caesar was not an ambitious  man, which was Brutuss only given reason for partaking in the atrocious manslaughter-Caesar showed such restraint that he had some sort of seizure on stage and was carried away by Antonius and several other men. He showed great power over himself by refusing his craving; a quality that I believe would have made him an excellent leader. Perhaps Antonius did not know of Caesars plan, which is why he spoke so highly of him. Antonius later pleaded with the people of Rome to see the truth, what truth can lie within a dishonest man such as Caesar? A man whom lied in order to persuade the citizens of Rome to make him their king. However dishonest Caesars actions might have been, he showed brilliance and patience on the Lupercal, qualities which are required for a leader, which is quite possibly why the people of Rome chose him over any other men. What ultimately led Caesar to his demise can be construed as either a positive or negative trait when put before one in different contexts. What led him to his death were both his love for Rome, and more importantly his greed. He was a man for the people, believing that he was Gods gift to them; Caesar wanted more then anything to make Rome the greatest Empire the world would ever know, yet he would stop at nothing to accomplish this. His greed would have possibly led the people of Rome into chains, forcing them to work their entire lives in order to better the empire, which is why several members of the Senate felt the need to end his plan before it began. Just after he had killed Caesar, Brutus spoke to the people attempting to explain why he had done what he felt must be done: If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen? III: II: 21-5. Brutus was right in the fact that his predictions could have very well come true, but he was wrong in assuming Caesar would not have bettered the empire for the next generation. I believe that Brutus was thinking in the right now sense, instead of tomorrow. Yes, Caesar was ambitious, and yes he was greedy, both of which are necessary qualities for a leader. Many would say that Julius Caesar would have made a horrible leader; that he was naà ¯ve, paltry, inconsiderate, pretentious, and that he had a serious  inadequacy of experience when it came to political affairs. Most would not look further then the fact that he had little experience with politics, and only see his influence to the people as a threat; a very good quality for a man in an authorial position to have, influence. I am almost certain though, that if either Brutus or Cassius had actually sat down and discussed with Caesar what his plans for the future of Rome were, they would have had a serious change of heart and mind. Caesar was a good man who had many ideas as to what an eminent empire requires. His slaughter was untimely and a grievous event which sparked a war within Rome; an event that, ironically, the conspirators had worked so hard to prevent. Caesar would have been an excellent leader of Rome because he not only refrained from making impetuous and misguided deci sions about the other characters, but he displayed selfless loyalty to the citizens of Rome and to those he loved. It is striking and shocking to think what may have happened to the world as we know it if Julius Caesar had lived, lead, and loved.

Scope And Delimitation Example

Scope And Delimitation Example INTRODUCTION Background of the Study In relation to the goal of Philippine political and economic development and social cohesiveness, there is a growing clamor to revisit and revive nationalism. In the Philippines, it has been recognized that the issue of nationalism is important in education. One of the goals of the Education Act of 1982 that serves as a guideline for elementary education, is to promote and intensify the childs knowledge of identification with, and love for the nation and the people to which he belongs (Department of Education, 2002, p.2). This objective is also hinged on the 1987 Constitution Article XIV, Section 3 (2) that states that the school shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency (1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Department of Education, 2002, p.2). As agents of patriotism and nationalism, the school is mandated to cultivate pagka-Filipino in children. In compliance with the1987 Constitution and the Education Act of 1982, the Department of Education came up with the following objectives for the elementary education formal curriculum: (1) inculcation of spiritual and civic values and the development of a good Filipino based on an abiding faith in God and genuine love of country; (2) training of the young citizen in his rights, duties and responsibilities in a democratic society for active participation in a progressive and productive home and community life; (3) development of basic understanding about Philippine culture, the desirable tradition and virtues of our people as essential requisites in attaining national consciousness and solidarity (Department of Education, 2002, p.1-2). Moreover, the K to 12 Philippine Basic Education Curriculum also reflects the significance of teaching pagka-Filipino based on the Department of Educations curriculum guide. One of the desired outcomes of the implementation of the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) is to develop learners who take pride in their cultural heritage and are proud to be Filipinos. In the National Early Learning Framework (NELF), the Filipino child is considered as the most important asset of our county. The NELF firmly believes that the Filipino child is a human being who loves God, parents, and country, is proud to be a Filipino, honors the customs, traditions and good values of the people, knows his/her basic rights, respects other cultures and is able to live in peace and harmony with all (Department of Education, 2012, p.3). As early as kindergarten, pagiging maka-Filipino or a national consciousness of being a Filipino is cultivated in the children, with the hope that this will lead to ardent nationalism, love of country and pride as a Filipino. The importance of teaching nationalism and national identity in the early grades has been established and promoted by the state and state institutions such as school and the Department of Education. However, a study on national identity among urban school children by Doronila (1986) showed that Filipino children favor other countries over their own, and this preference deepens as they mature. A similar study was also conducted among 3rd year High School students in Baguio City by Herrera and Robias (2010), and the findings revealed that although respondents exhibit a positive preference for things Filipino, these preferences have not yet been lifted to a level of consciousness that would make their manifestation of such personal preferences as expressive of their identity as Filipino, or as charters of national identity (Herrera & Robias, 2010, p.67). This suggests that national identity among Filipino youth is superficial. According to Yacat (2002), there are two kinds of pagka-Fili pino: Filipino by name which is shallow and Filipino by heart which is deeply-rooted. He further stressed the importance of the family where culture and Filipino identity take root and of the school which nurtures the idea of pagka-Filipino. Koh (2010) emphasized that it is during childhood that an individual starts to identify with the nation. She declared that childhood experience is commonly taken to be the bedrock upon which self-identity is built, and national consciousness is regarded by many as a key foundation of a modern persons identity (Koh, 2010, p.1). Furthermore, she saw the need for studies on how children perceive national identity. She stated children should be central to the study of national feeling, place-belonging, and citizenship. And yet, we do not know a great deal about how school-age children actually do relate to the idea of nation (Koh, 2010, p.2). The assertion of Koh (2010) and the studies by Doronila, Herrera and Robias, and Yacat presented two crucial issues: (1) superficial national identification among Filipinos and (2) lack of studies on national identity and childhood. This research seeks to address these two problems by focusing on early graders and their perspectives of pagka-Filipino. In Vygotskys social development theory (Ormrod, 2011), the child learns concepts through language and action. He asserts that development is connected to social context and that the childs developmental level should complement his learning. Hedges (2012) explained further that during the early childhood years, Vygotsky believed that everyday concepts were most prominent. According to Vygotsky, Everyday concepts emerged from childrens thinking about their daily experiences; that is, they occur spontaneously in the context of normal participation in family and community practices and activities (Hedges, 2012, P.145). By probing how children in the early grades perceive and construct their identity as Filipinos in the context of their everyday experiences, policy makers, teacher educators, curriculum developers, and early grades teachers will gain greater insight into how the concept of national identity and nationalism take root in every Filipino child. The childrens perspectives will improve the K to 12 Philippine Basic Education Curriculum and its implementation. This study also investigates the perspectives of pagka-Filipino of early graders, based on locally-published picture books. This will hopefully add another dimension to the pedagogical aspect that can be gained from the childrens perspectives. Hillman (2003) described the picture book as the childs gateway to the world, the first step outside the childs immediate environment. The precise combination of art and words is a powerful experience because it triggers the imagination & introduces concepts for cognitive and language development (Hillman, 2003, p.89). Aquino (2009) said that childrens literature activates the schema of the child and presents vicarious experiences that encourage cognitive processes such as assimilation and accommodation. Piagets stages of cognitive development (Ormrod, 2011) show that as a child matures, he/she assimilates and accommodates knowledge, acquiring schemas through experience. Like building blocks, a child can create a castle by adding a block with e very bit of information learned. The existing blocks are used to widen the childs body of knowledge. These blocks form the childs schema and schema can be influenced by social and cultural experiences and interactions with text and illustrations found in picture books. Children learn by constructing their own knowledge. Carlsson-Paige (2001) states that children actively construct meaning for themselves. These meanings, unique to each child, are embedded in family and culture and are built over time (Carlsson-Paige, 2001, p.17). She further claims that through stories, children can build new meanings by referring to their personal meanings and experiences. Picture books are effective material to find out in concrete terms the pagka-Filipino of early graders. How the children perceive the words and images in the picture book that depict pagka-Filipino will enrich the concept of pagka-Filipino itself. The Filipino icons in the text and illustrations in picture books are concrete items that children can identify with. Through this study, early graders specifically Grade 1 and Grade 2 children will be engaged in defining pagka-Filipino according to their perspectives and in their own words. By sitting down and talking with the children themselves, know ledge will be gained on how they shape and restructure the concept of national identity. This research attempted to fill the gap of the study on national identity and perspectives of early graders based on picture books and their experiences. Drawing from Kohs statement that it is through everyday living experiences that the children experience the nation (Koh, 2010, p. 174) and following Vygotskys claim that everyday concepts emerged from childrens thinking about their daily experiences; that is, they occur spontaneously in the context of normal participation in family and community practices and activities (Hedges, 2012, P.145), it can be deduced that the everyday arena is important in the childs formation of the concept of pagka-FilipinoÃÆ'‚Â  as supported by Almario and Almario (2009) specifically on Filipino games and further, by Koh (2010) on habituated routines. Therefore, it can be assumed that everyday experiences and concrete materials surrounding the childs routines such as games, food, clothes, animals, famous people, things commonly used and activiti es often engaged in, are important domains to investigate in this study. Cook, G. and Cook, J. (2009) also stressed that socialization and differential experiences play roles in gender differences and this affects childrens perspectives (Cook, G. & Cook, J., 2009, p. 362). Comparing the similarities and differences in the early graders responses by gender and grade level will provide new layers on the childrens insights on pagka-Filipino. Research Objectives The objectives of this research were: To probe how children in the early grades perceive and construct their identity as Filipinos in the context of their everyday experiences. To investigate the perspectives of pagka-Filipino of early graders, based on the text and illustrations of locally-published picture books. To broaden way of understanding the childrens construction and definition of pagka-Filipino according to their perspectives and in their own words. To compare the early graders perspectives of pagka-Filipino by gender and grade level. Statement of the Problem Specifically, this research sought to answer the following questions: What are the urban low-income childrens perspectives of pagka-Filipino based on their experiences? What are the urban low-income childrens perspectives of pagka-Filipino based on the text of picture books? Significance of the Study The results of the study will hopefully aid the Department of Educations curriculum division and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts in developing a National Cultural Education Plan that will bring about appreciation of our culture, genuine love for our county and our pride in being a Filipino. It is also the hope of this study to raise the consciousness of publishers, writers, and illustrators to inculcate nationalism and Filipino pride in their published stories and other forms of literature for the early grades. This study of young learners perspectives of Pagka-Filipino and its depiction in picture books may be useful to our early grades teachers as a benchmark or yardstick on national identity formation and the corresponding interventions. Hopefully, it will also help educators in modifying their curriculum and teaching strategies based on what children know about our nation and their perspectives of being a Filipino. The research will also provide new directions for further studies that can be explored related to this topic. Furthermore, the study aims for the enhancement of the Teacher Education Instruction, especially Teaching in the Early Grades, Early Childhood Education, and other related programs, through growing emphasis on nationalism in their curriculum so that our future teachers will inculcate love of country in Filipino children as early as the early grades. Scope and Delimitation of the Study The study is descriptive in nature and focused on early graders belonging to low-families as identified by the National Statistical Coordination Board. The research sample is composed of forty (40) Grade 1 and Grade 2 students residing in two barangays in Quezon City. The primary data gathering method used was interview to determine the childrens perspectives of Pagka-Filipino based on their experiences and through their interactions with ten (10) locally-published picture books written by Filipino authors. This research used purposive and convenience sampling in which an equal representation for gender and grade level among the respondents was applied. The gathered data were analyzed using frequency distribution and coding. Verbatim quotes from the respondents were used. The research data was based on interview of early grades children based on their experiences and interaction with selected picture books. It focused on gender and grade level as variables in interpreting their perspectives of pagka-Filipino. The study is delimited to a group of Grade 1 and Grade 2 children coming from a socially-disadvantaged group in an urban area. Perspectives on pagka-Filipino is delimited to early graders everyday experiences on games Filipino children play, food Filipino children eat, clothes Filipino children wear, animals in the Philippines they know, famous Filipinos they know, things Filipino children use and activities Filipino children engage in; interactions with the text and illustration of selected picture books. In this research, Filipino icons were delimited to those identified by the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts Essential Knowledge on Philippine Arts, Culture and Heritage for the Basic Education Curriculum (EKPACHBEC) for Grade 1 and 2 (See Appendix A) and Adarna Houses 101 Filipino Icons Volumes I and II (2007, 2009). According to Wright (1998), there exists a politicization of culture wherein there is a political process of contestation over the power to define key concepts, including that of culture itself (Wright, 1998, p.14). In this case, the researcher is aware of the politics involved in the identification of Filipino icons by a state institution and a commercial publisher. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK This chapter is divided into the review of related literature and studies, the conceptual framework and definition of terms. The review of related literature discusses Schema Theory and Vygotskys Social Development Theory on which the study is anchored on, and the pertinent studies on children regarding (1) schema theory/culture schemata; (2) national identity and pagka-Filipino; (3) national identity among early grades children; (4) childrens literature, storytelling, and national identity; (5) picture books; (6) picture books and pagka-Filipino; and (7) gender and picture books. Schema Theory Piaget is the proponent of schema theory (Ormrod, 2011). He said that as a child matures, he/she assimilates and accommodates knowledge, acquiring schemata through experience. Like building blocks, a child can create a castle by adding a block with every bit of information learned. The existing blocks are used to widen the childs body of knowledge. These blocks form the childs schema and schema can be influenced by social and cultural experiences and interactions with text and illustrations found in picture books. In Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development, children from two to seven years old belong to the preoperational stage and can already express themselves and describe the world through words and images. R.C. Anderson (Widmayer, 2003 in Lee & Tsai, 2004), an educational psychologist, expanded the schema theory which proposes that our understanding or knowledge of the world is composed of organized network of abstract mental structures. Widmayer (2003), added that schema is used to interpret and predict situations (in Lee & Tsai, 2004). It was further proposed that each person possesses a unique set of schema which is built from the individuals cognitive processes and experiences (Lee & Tsai, 2004). Based on the schema theory, Lee and Tsai (2004) further suggest that individuals learn or acquire knowledge in three ways: accretation, tuning, and restructuring. Accretation involves assimilating new information into existing schema without any changes to overall schema. Tuning, on the other hand, entails modification of existing schema when it is inadequate for the encountered new information/knowledge, while restructuring involves creating a new schema for situations wherein there is inconsistency between the new information/knowledge and the old schema. Accretion is parallel to Piagets assimilation while tuning and restructuring are similar to accommodation. McVee, Dunsmore & Gayelek (2005), in a review of schema theory, indicated that schema theory was particularly prominent in the 1970s especially on the role of schema in reading, adding that the focus shifted to sociocultural theories in the 80s and 90s. The authors further pointed out the importance of the schema theory, particularly its utility in understanding the individuals prior knowledge and its role in comprehension and in understanding the reading process. Social Development Theory In Vygotskys Social Development Theory, engaging in social practice plays a critical role in the development of the child. Through socialization, children construct their own knowledge, form concepts, and actively find meaning to make sense of the world. It is a fundamental form of learning and cognition; consciousness is the result of interaction with other people within a shared experience. In this shared socio-cultural context, children use tools within a culture, such as signs, symbols, and language, to function in the social environment. Children assimilate language-a ready-made product of socio-historical development-and use it to analyze, generalize, and encode experience (Luriia, 1976, p. 9). Gleaning from Vygotskys semantic and system structure of consciousness, Luriia states that words are the fundamental units of consciousness reflecting the external world (Luriia, 1976, p. 9). Vygotsky believed that concept formation is rooted in the use of words which acquire different meanings at successive stages of development (Luriia, 1976, p. 50). It is interesting to note how Vygotsky described the thinking process of a child. At first, the child thinks by remembering but when he/she reaches adolescence, he/she remembers by thinking. According to Luriia, this is because an adolescent no longer generalizes on the basis of his immediate impressions but isolates certain distinct attributes of objects as the basis of categorization (1976, p. 52). This illustrates the movement from social to individual consciousness, a consciousness that is shaped and enriched by the childs participation in the society. Hedges (2012) explained further that during the early childhood years, Vygotsky believed that everyday concepts were most prominent. According to Vygotsky, Everyday concepts emerged from childrens thinking about their daily experiences, that is, they occur spontaneously in the context of normal participation in family and community practices and activities (Hedges, 2012, P.145) Studies on Schema Theory and Culture Schemata Webster (2001) examines the effect of culture schemata on reading comprehension of ninety-six 9th Grade students in four honor classes in Maryland. He analyzes the responses of the students to multicultural stories focusing on cultural awareness along with its significance to reading, comprehension, and learning. Results reveal varying response to the stories even for those with the same cultural background because of the respondents unique personalities and experiences. Of note are the responses of some participants who restructured their schemata to deal with new information. The respondents eventually assimilated the information from the storybooks which they initially rejected. Findings show that the participants are culturally aware and that cultural awareness aids the students in reading comprehension. However, the study is not clear on whether the similarity between the participants and the story (culture) helped them in reading it. Still, the results of the research support p ast studies which indicate that students tend to learn more information that are complementing or in congruence with their cultural background. Webster (2001) recommends a wholistic approach to culture, especially in education research. He calimed that, it should cover not just ethnicity and race but also extend to the individuals age, gender, education, religion, social class, politics, physical condition, sexual orientation, nationality, and residence. Furthermore, as the students are becoming more aware of the multicultural nature of their world, teachers are encouraged to take a multicultural perspective so as to reach out to their students. Kreishan and Saidat (2011), on the other hand, examine the impact of content schema on reading comprehension focusing on how religious and cultural schemata affect Jordanian students comprehension of English texts. Respondents are one hundred 10th Grade Arab Muslim students randomly selected and evenly distributed based on gender. Four reading texts were used to measure reading comprehension, two of which are of the participants culture and religion whereas the other two are of different or foreign culture and religion. Based on the results of the tests and interviews, the reading comprehension of participants tested in the familiar texts, which reflects native religion and culture, exhibited significantly higher performance. Findings indicate that cultural background can trigger schemata and improve comprehension. In light of the result, the authors recommend stimulating prior knowledge first on the subject matter before reading. Other recommendations were also mentioned such as imp roving texts to reflect various aspects of culture, religion, and local problems of the country; making use of the Internet to further learning and for better comprehension; and Islamicization, Jordanization, and Arabicization of English materials especially its cultural content. Further studies suggested include effect of extended time on comprehension and effect of other variables on reading comprehension such as the font of texts. The research of Lee & Tsai (2004) explores the impact of stories on young children particularly, on how childrens schema can be augmented by stories. The authors present a model to understand how stories affect quality of schemas among seven- year old children. The model suggests that there are three main sources of stories for the children: family members, teachers, and friends. The process would then involve decoding the stories and relating it with their already acquired concepts (accretating or no change to existing schemas). In cases of new knowledge, the model indicates that the new information will go through tuning (modification of existing schemas) or restructuring (forming new schemas). With children who are inquisitive and eager to learn, the model signifies that there is a higher chance of forming new schemas than modifying existing schemas among young children. The authors state that stories can enhance the quality of schemas of children and with it, the childrens level of interpretation, prediction, and understanding. Thus, there is a proposal that more stories would increase the childrens schemata of the world. Moreover, the authors further linked the quality of schemas to problem solving, suggesting that gaining more life experience would enhance problem solving ability. Although cognitively, females develop verbal and language skills at a younger age and are more talkative, Cook, G. and Cook, J. (2009) stressed that socialization and differential experiences play roles in gender differences and this affects childrens perspectives (Cook, G. & Cook, J., 2009, p. 362). National Identity and Pagka-Filipino In their study of national identity among high school students, Herrera and Robias cited William Blooms definition of national identity as a condition in which a mass of people have made the same identification with national symbolshave internalized the symbols of the nation so that they may act as one psychological group when there is a threat to, or the possibility of enhancement of, their symbols of national identity (in Herrera & Robias, 2010, p.10). This coincides with Doronilas (1986) research on the meaning of Filipino national identity conducted among urban school children using a 35-item National Identity Scale (NIS) for Students. The questions were based on the four value patterns namely: (1) ethnocentrism; (2) valuing socio-historical aspects reflective of national identity; (3) loyalty to the national state beyond ethnic loyalties; (4) commitment to the role requirements of citizenship (Doronila, 1986, p.11-12). Under each value pattern are a set of orientation or attitud es that serve as defining parameters for national identity. The 16 attitudes are either essentialist or epochalist in nature, using Geertz forms of national consciousness. Doronila agreed with Geertz that essentialist aspects of national ideologizing are the initial point of identification. The essentialist aspects are national symbols, generalized love of country, and appreciation of cultural aspects. Her findings reveal that Filipino children favor other countries over their own and this preference deepens as they mature. Brown (2000) explains the constructivist approach to national identity. He claims that it is constructed on the basis of institutional or ideological frameworks which offer simple and simplistic formulas of identity, and diagnoses of contemporary problems, to otherwise confused and insecure individuals (Brown, 2000, p.20). For children, social institutions like family and school help in shaping their national identity. Herrera and Robias (2010) adapted Doronilas NIS to find out the perspectives of national identity among third year high school students in Baguio City. The results showed that although respondents exhibit a positive preference for things Filipino, these preferences have not yet been lifted to a level of consciousness that would make their manifestation of such personal preferences as expressive of their identity as Filipino, or as charters of national identity (Herrera & Robias, 2010, p.67). This suggests that even at the age of adolescence, Filipinos are still on the essentialist level of identifying with our nation. The study also shows that Filipinos are perceived as industrious and family-oriented people. In a study on pagka-Filipino, Yacat (2002) claimed that there are two kinds of pagka-Filipino: Filipino by name which is shallow and Filipino by heart which is deeply-rooted. He provided several sources of knowledge which he acknowledged as important in the process of being a Filipino. Among them are family, school, community, and mass media. He further stressed the importance of the family where culture and Filipino identity take root and of the school which nurtures the idea of pagka-Filipino. Moreover, Yacat (2002) elaborates that the consciousness of being a Filipino starts through the observed external experiences of the people and is imbibed internally only through teachings and learning through their own experience. Thus, the individuals sense of pagka-Filipino depends on the kind and type of information being processed and accepted. David (2009) asserts that our consciousness of pagka-Filipino does not come automatically. Knowing the national symbols is not enough. These should not only remind us that we are Filipinos but also of our commitment as Filipinos. Being aware that we are part of one country should be deeper than the mere singing of the national anthem (David, 2009). Felipe de Leon Jr., Chair of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, emphasizes that pride in being a Filipino leads to national development. He further claimed that it requires a deep sense of identity to claim what is ours. Moreover, to achieve national unity, there must be a generalized pride for our country and a genuine love for the Philippines. Taking to heart this national sense of being a Filipino should be a collective WE feeling that translates to national unity and economic success (Abueva, 1999). Sanchez presents a way to achieve these shared aspirations of Filipinos through education. She states further, This national consciousness will then help define our identity as a people and lead us to work towards the attainment of common goals for our society (2002, p.2). Sanchez (2002) explains that Filipinos have a shared schema, knowledge and culture known as cultural literacy. Her study measured the cultural literacy of high school students. The study yielded disappointing results: students from private and public schools do not have adequate knowledge of Philippine art, not one respondent reached the passing score of 50. Equally worth discussing is the teachers performance: only 20% received a passing score in the same cultural literacy test. The cultural literacy test was based on a canon/ must know checklist of cultural items that every grade VI and fourth year high school should know. According to Wright (1998), there exists a politicization of culture wherein there is a political process of contestation over the power to define key concepts, including that of culture itself (Wright, 1998, p.14). The National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is a state institution that defines culture and cultural icons. In 2004, the NCCA started work on the Philippine Cultural Index Project (PCIP), the key project of its Philippine Cultural Education Plan (PCEP). The PCIP is a massive research, database enrichment, computerization and publication program that would provide a national database on culture and the arts in the Philippines (Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO, 2005, p.7). One of the outputs of PCIP is the Essential Knowledge on Philippine Arts, Culture and Heritage for the Basic Education Curriculum (EKPACHBEC) for elementary and secondary level (See Appendix A). The EKPACHBEC is a concise list of important people/institutions, events, places, and ob jects for each grade level up to high school. Adarna House also came out with 101 Filipino Icons Volumes 1 and 2 (2007, 2009). Virgilio Almario, National Artist for Literature, defined Filipino icons as events, objects, places, and people significant in Philippine history and valued by majority of Filipinos. He further stated that these icons can influence our pagka-Filipino and pride in being a Filipino. National Identity Among Early Grades Children The paper Findings, Theories and Methods in the Study of Childrens National Identifications and National Attitudes (Barrett & Oppenheimer, 2011)

Transient Global Amnesia :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Transient Global Amnesia A little while ago, my father and grandfather were driving in our car together. All of a sudden, my grandfather said that he was feeling dizzy and thought the beginnings of a migraine were coming on. My grandfather is extremely healthy and has an amazing memory, so my father was shocked when not long after, when grandfather asked where Ruthy, his recently deceased wife, was. When my father reminded him that she had died of cancer last year, my grandfather broke into tears, as if he was being told for the first time. In addition, he couldn't even remember what he had just eaten for dinner or any other events of the day. My father drove him straight to the emergency room, worried that he had perhaps just suffered a minor stoke. By the time that he got to the hospital, he was already beginning to regain some of the memories that had been lost. The doctors reassured him that it was not a stroke, but rather a memory disorder called transient global amnesia. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a type of amnesia involving the sudden, temporary disturbance in an otherwise healthy person's memory. The other main kinds of amnesia are called anterograde and retrograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia is a type of memory loss associated with a trauma, disease, or emotional events. It is characterized by the inability to remember new information. (1) Retrograde amnesia is associated with the loss of distant memories usually preceding a given trauma. (2) In transient global amnesia, generally both distant memories and immediate recall are retained, as are language function, attention, visual-spatial and social skills. However, during the period of amnesia, people suffering from the disorder cannot remember recent occurrences nor can they retain any new visual or verbal information for more than a couple minutes. (3) Though patients generally remember their own identities, they are often very confused by their surroundings and the people around them. T hey continuously ask questions about events that are transpiring, for example where they are, who is with them, what is happening. However, once they are told, they immediate forget the answer, and repeat the question again. (4) The period of amnesia can last anywhere from one to twenty-four hours. Some people suffer from a headache, dizziness, and nausea while others have only memory loss. TGA generally affects fifty to eighty-year-old men, about 3.4 to 5.

Trends In Copyright Infringement: A Review of Two Predictive Articles :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Trends In Copyright Infringement: A Review of Two Predictive Articles      Ã‚  Ã‚   Abstract: In 1995 Lance Rose and Esther Dyson wrote articles in Wired Magazine expressing polarized views on the future of copyright law and copyright infringement.   This essay reviews those articles, analyzes each article's accuracy as defined by current trends years later.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Over the past decade the societal view of creative society has greatly changed due to advances in computer technology and the Internet.   In 1995, aware of the beginning of this change, two authors wrote articles in Wired Magazine expressing diametrically opposed views on how this technological change would take form, and how it would affect copyright law.   In the article "The Emperor's Clothes Still Fit Just Fine" Lance Rose hypothesized that the criminal nature of copyright infringement would prevent it from developing into a socially acceptable practice. Thus, he wrote, we would not need to revise copyright law to prevent copyright infringement.   In another article, Entitled "Intellectual Value", Esther Dyson presented a completely different view of the copyright issue.   She based many her arguments on the belief that mainstream copyright infringement would proliferate in the following years, causing a radical revision of Ame rican ideas and laws towards intellectual property.  Ã‚   What has happened since then?   Who was right?   This paper analyzes the situation then and now, with the knowledge that these trends are still in a state of transformation. As new software and hardware innovations make it easier to create, copy, alter, and disseminate original digital content, this discussion will be come even more critical.    Whereas Rose advocated better policing practices and improved copyright legislation, Dyson proposed that the de facto legalization of content duplication would nullify copyright law, resulting in a service-based economy with little copyright law.   While this economic and legal evolution will continue for years to come, it is this author's opinion that Dyson's model of change seems much more likely based on events and trends over the past six years.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Much of Rose's argument for the retention of current copyright laws stems from the faulty belief that copyright infringement will remain much of an underground practice.   In his article Rose asserts that "Net users who aren't at least mildly familiar with the [file-sharing] underworld will never even hear about such systems before they are dismembered" [1].   While file-sharing might not have been an important issue in 1995, the word "underworld" does not accurately describe the flourishing file sharing situation today.

Its my opinion :: social issues

It's my opinion I was told that the principal had used her executive power to chop up my article into bits that didn’t contain the harassing, offensive points that it originally owned. I was sad, very very sad. It’s tough for someone with a weak emotional structure to be rejected and told I’m harassing to younger people. So, the advisors went to the bargaining table, nothing changed. Therefore we revised, redid, and reedited the entire article and pumped out a version that had the heart and soul cut out of it, but we put it in the paper anyway. The version that came out in the last edition didn’t have the same edge that the original copy had. Now I have respect for people who have the courage to challenge the freedom of press (that’d be me). Bring it on. I’m not afraid of having my paper rejected. I take it as a compliment. If you want to try to challenge me, I will have the last word. I think of myself as an Epicurean. That means I don’t believe in emotions, but it also means I’m perverted. Anyway, someone without emotions has no conscience, without a conscience you are free of convictions. Being free of conviction means I cannot be offended. My anger is under my control, I choose not anger myself with the people who are angered with me. I divert my anger to people who cannot control themselves. That basically means that if your mad at me, and you try to make me angry it won’t work. For the last year of writing this column it has been more or less a joke. It was designed to make people chuckle a little. Now, this year I was told by the staff that the offender had no real point, just humor. So I decided for my first piece I would take a controversial subject, such as eroding senior privileges, and put my own point of view down and the point of view from many of the other seniors. I realize that I didn’t look at it from everyone’s point of view. That, I believe, was a mistake on my behalf. This is a subject that has seriously infuriated me and I took it out in a public piece. I believe there will be more people looking to my column, since I have written a controversial piece.

Guilt vs Acceptance Essay

The power and impact that guilt can have on one’s life can be a positive and negative experience depending on how the individual deals with their situation and whether or not they learn a lesson from their mistake. The novels A Separate Peace by John Knowles and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies share the theme of guilt in their storylines through events and relationships but differ as to how to the characters cope with their reactions through reflection and confrontation. A Separate Peace tells the story of a young boy by the name of Gene Forrester who in an act of jealousy and competitiveness pushes his friend Phineas out of a tree. Fifth Business surrounds the character Dunstan Ramsay, who as a child, ducks a snowball with a rock hidden within thrown at him by his friend Guy. The snowball hits Mary Dempster at the back of the head, causing her brain damage and the premature birth of her baby Paul Dempster. Both plots surround two men who look back at their lives and how a single negative event affects their childhood. What would appear to be an insignificant moment of the past evolves into a lifelong mental scar that poisons the characters with guilt and the desire for acceptance. The novels’ protagonists share encounters in childhood fueled by competitive friendships; however, Gene Forrester accepts responsibility for his actions and is able to move on while Dunstan Ramsay does not and lets his memories and guilt plague his life. The two novels are similar in the aspect that both Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay are involved in childhood incidents that curse them with guilt. In the novel A Separate Peace, Gene Forrester subconsciously moves the branch he and his physically and socially superior friend Finny are standing on. Finny falls and is heavily injured and the casualties lead to his early death later on. â€Å"†¦and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me for an instant with extreme interest, and then he tumbled sideways, broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud† (Knowles 60). Gene Forrester feels solely responsible for this terrible accident and feels extremely guilty. â€Å"If Phineas had been sitting here in this pool of guilt, how would he have felt, what would he have done? (Knowles 66). In the novel Fifth Business, a rich and jealous enraged friend Percy Boyd Staunton pursues Dunstan Ramsay. When Percy throws a rock concealed in a snowball at Dunstan’s head he ducks and lets it strike the pregnant Mary Dempster. This accident is the cause of the premature birth of Paul Dempster and the destruction of Mr. and Mrs. Dempster’s marriage and family. â€Å"I stepped briskly†¦in front of the Dempsters just as Percy threw, and the snowball hit Mrs. Dempster on the back of the head† (Davies 2). Dunstan feels responsible for Mrs. Dempster’s mental health, Paul Dempster’s physical health, and their ruin as a family. â€Å"I was contrite and guilty, for I knew the snowball had been meant for me, but the Dempster’s did not seem to think that† (Davies 3). Both characters suffer from these self-inflicted negative occurrences and struggle with the realization of what they have done and how it affects those involved. Another similarity between A Separate Peace and Fifth Business is that both Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay have intimate friendships infused with jealousy and competition. These poisoned relationships both ignite the impactful events that occur in their childhoods. Gene feels in constant competition with Finny, who appears to be good at everything. â€Å"That way he, the great athlete, would be way ahead of me. It was all cold trickery, it was all calculated, it was all enmity† (Knowles 53). He is superior in appearance, physical capability, personal stamina and respect gained from popularity amongst the other boys at the school. â€Å"I couldn’t help envy him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little† (Knowles 25). Dunstan knows that Boy Staunton wishes to be the best in everything. He aspires to be the most handsome, most successful in a romantic relationship, most successful in a career and most popular. â€Å"Percy Boyd Staunton†¦the only man who accepted his watch with an air†¦it was a fine effect, and as I grinned and clapped, my stomach burned with jealousy† (Davies 97). He feels aggressive resentment for Boy as he lives the life that Dunstan secretly wishes he could himself. â€Å"Boy wore a gorgeous pullover of brownish-red†¦and his demeanor was that of the lords of creation. A pretty girl with shingled hair and rolled stockings that allowed you to see delightful flashes of her bare knees was with him, and they were taking alternate pulls on a flask that contained, I am sure, something intoxicating†¦I was filled with a sour scorn that I now know was nothing but envy†¦I didn’t really want the clothes, I didn’t really want the girl or the booze, but it scalded me to see him enjoying them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Davies 113). The two novels capture the intensity of the character’s conflicted relationships with their closest friends as their constant struggle for a balance between hatred and respect fails to cease. The novels A Separate Peace and Fifth Business differ from each other within the main character’s thoughts and reflections on their memories. Gene Forrester accepts jostling the tree limb so Finny would fall, but understands the particular incident as a fragment of the past with no lasting effect on his life. Dunstan Ramsay however, remains attached to his guilt and responsibility for letting the snowball hit Mrs. Dempster and his actions haunt him for the remainder of his days. Gene Forrester revisits his old school and although experiences memories of fear from the past, it is only an echo not a current emotion. â€Å"Looking back now across fifteen years, I could see with great clarity the fear that I have lived in, which must mean that in the interval I had succeeded in a very important undertaking: I must have made my escape from it† (Knowles 10). He has not severed his feelings of regret towards the incident nor does he see Finny’s untimely death as unimportant but instead is able to appreciate his strong connection with this part of his past and can learn from his childhood errors. He understands that the experience matured him and was a crucial step in the climb of growing up. Gene visits the site where Finny fell with confidence and seeks the gratification of knowing that those years trapped at Devon school with an injured friend are behind him. â€Å"This was the tree, and it seemed to me standing there to resemble those men, the giants of your childhood, whom you encounter years later and find that they are not merely smaller in relation to your growth, but that they are absolutely smaller, shrunken by age† (Knowles 14). Dunstan Ramsay on the other hand, does not revisit sites from his past every 15 years but instead dedicates his entire life to the study of Saints and Mary Dempster’s impact on his life. He does not permit himself assessment of his child-self’s mentality during the accident and therefore, is never able to gain the satisfaction of learning from his mistakes. â€Å"Ramsey†¦You have paid such a price, and you look like a man full of secrets-grim-mouthed and buttoned-up and hard-eyed and cruel, because you are cruel to yourself. It has done you good to tell what you know; you look much more human already† (Davies 220). Instead of visiting places of his past or confronting those involved with his childhood, he sees his memories through a haze of anger and anxiety. An event that should have seemed insignificant and even negligible after so many years, is still important to him in his daily life and the emotions he felt 40 years ago have not changed but intensified. The fear and guilt he felt as a child is still fresh in his mind. â€Å"Cursing what seemed to be a life sentence†¦my association with Mrs. Dempster†¦It was as though I were visiting a part of my own soul that was condemned to live in hell† (Davies 182). The two characters, although faced with similar situations, choose different paths for their lives, which separate them from each other. A final contrast between the characters Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay in the novels A Separate Peace and Fifth Business is the difference in their reaction to the event in their past. Both Gene and Dunstan suffer guilt about a single action in their childhood. Gene confronts his emotions and immediately tells Finny what happened, while Dunstan keeps the truth of the event a secret. While Finny is still recovering from his fall, Gene immediately visits Phineas after the accident and tells him the truth. Although he feels he makes things worse, it gives him a peace of mind and helps him to move on. â€Å"Finny, I’ve got something to tell you. You’re going to hate it, but there’s something I’ve got to tell you†¦This is the worst thing in the world† (Knowles 66-67). Gene is able to move past his guilty conscience of causing Finny’s fall and is able to focus his attention to mentally recovering and pushing forward in life. †¦in spite of everything, I welcomed each new day as though it were a new life, where all past failures and problems were erased, and all future possibilities and joys open and available, to be achieved probably before night fell again† (Knowles 105). Dunstan however, bottles up his thoughts and emotions concerning the events that occurred on the night Mrs. Dempster was hit on the back of t he head with a snowball. He does not tell anyone about the stone in the snow until the later years of his life. â€Å"Nevertheless this conversation reheated my strong sense of guilt and esponsibility about Paul, the war and my adult life had banked down that fire but not quenched it† (Davies 136). Dunstan keeps everything to himself and seeks out no help for his troubled mind and the stories and truths that are trapped within it. â€Å"The snow-in-the-snowball has been characteristic of too much you’ve done for you to forget it forever! † (Davies 270). The two outcomes of the two character’s lives is a reflection of how they handle the injury of the innocent and how they come to face the consequences of what they have done. The novels A Separate Peace and Fifth Business both display the lives of men who suffer a great deal in their childhood from unhealthy friendships and a singular bad event. Gene Forrester and Dunstan Ramsay share similarities in the occurrences of their lives but differentiate from each other in how they dealt with it. Gene faces his victim Finny with the truth of the accident, being that he deliberately jounced the limb so his superior friend would fall, and is therefore granted elation from his confession and a peace of mind. Gene matures free of guilt and the residue of the horrific event is but a memory he can briefly recall in his mind but not linger on. Dunstan Ramsey takes a different route, and on a downwards-spiraling path of shame, he lives a solitary life, left to face his childhood troubles every day, making ancient memories a constant reality. He matures with many emotional scars and does not feel any release from his inner torments. In conclusion, the two novels depict contrasting scenarios of self-reproach, one displays a character’s positive liberation of guilt and one shows a character’s negative manifestation of guilt.