Prejudice Intertextuality Essay

â€Å"Why does he hate me so much? Is it me personally or just what I am? † I have chosen to explore the idea of prejudice (judgments of a person based on race, gender, social class, and religion or group associations. ) These themes are evident in the short film ‘Chinese Whispers’ directed by Neil Paddington and Stuart McKenzie, and in three written texts ‘Noughts and Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman, ‘Patches Hide No Scars’ by Haree Williams and ‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’ by Evan Hunter. â€Å"I used to comfort myself with the belief that it was only certain individuals and their peculiar notions that spoilt things for the rest of us.  But how many individuals does it take before it’s not the individuals who are prejudiced but society itself? † ‘Noughts and Crosses’ is a powerfully written, fictional novel about two teenagers Callum (a nought) and Sephy (a cross), who are stuck in a racist dystopia separated only by skin colour. In Malorie Blackman’s imaginative novel the characters are either a â€Å"black dagger bitch† or a â€Å"white blanker bastard. † Callum and Sephy are surrounded by a hierarchy, in which Noughts are considered second-class citizens and forbidden to be together. This disturbed society shows a racial prejudice in which interracial relationships are not allowed and there is favoritism towards the Crosses. â€Å"You’re a Nought and I’m a Cross and there’s nowhere for us to be, nowhere for us to go where we’d be left in peace†¦ That’s why I started crying. That’s why I couldn’t stop. For all the things we might’ve had and all the things we’re never going to have. † This example shows the desperation of Sephy as she realizes that because of the prejudices of her society she will never be allowed to be with Callum. This film relates back to events in the past in ‘our’ world with issues such as discrimination and the mistreatment of people of a particular race or religion. An example of this is the class-system in America. For many years African-Americans, (like Noughts), were judged by their skin colour and treated as inferior beings. Author Malorie Blackman used specific examples from events in the Black Civil Rights movement in the novel to add impact to her novel. An example used is the pioneering achievements of Robert Peary. Examples like these show that Noughts’ achievements are undervalued or ignored because they have white skin. I strongly believe it is important for children of today to be educated on issues like these to remove all racisim. ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ states â€Å"all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights†¦. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. This novel has made me believe in the importance of educating young people on events and issues, like genocide (eg the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, only 18 years ago, where an estimated 7 Tutsi citizens were brutally murdered every minute for 100 days! ) and racism, in order to prevent the future from becoming a place like in ‘Noughts and Crosses’. How are we to learn from the mistakes of mankind if we are never educated on them? â€Å"Dreams of living in a world with no more discrimination, no more prejudice, a fair police force, an equal justice system, equality of education, equality of life, a level playing field†¦ † His name is Andy. † This gang related short story â€Å"On the Sidewalk Bleeding† relates to the theme of prejudice by exploring the idea of lost identity through group association. At the exposition of this story, Andy (a member of the ‘Royal’ gang) is stabbed by a rival gang (‘The Guardians’) during a ‘rumble’. The plot then follows Andy’s thought path as he slowly bleeds to death. â€Å"The knife had not been plunged in hatred of Andy. The knife hated only the purple jacket. The jacket was as stupid meaningless thing that was robbing him of his life. † Andy wears a purple silk shirt, a symbol of his membership with the ‘Royals’. In his dying moments Andy comes to the realization that people don’t see him as Andy, a human being, but a member of the ‘Royals’. At the climax of the short story Andy uses his last strength to take off the jacket so that he can be Andy again. â€Å"I want to Andy. † Sadly, just after his death, Andy’s girlfriend Laura, finds Andy’s dead body and races off to find a police officer. The police officer sees the purple ‘Royal’ jacket next to Andy’s body, the officer then proceeds to say â€Å"A Royal, huh. † This shows that Andy’s efforts to remove himself from the gang have failed as the police officer judges him by the sight of the jacket. The police officer associates Andy as a part of the gang the ‘Royals’ and doesn’t see him as Andy, a sixteen year old boy. This short story by Evan Hunter has shown me how easily a person’s identity can be lost through association and how people can perceive you as a member of a group not an individual because of an item of clothing. â€Å"The world didn’t know he was Andy. † ‘Chinese Whispers’ directed by Stuart McKenzie and Neil Paddington also relates to racial prejudice or judgments based on race before actually meeting a person. The short film â€Å"Chinese Whispers† is based around Wellington teenager Vincent Chan’s struggle to fit in. Vincent confused by the two diverse aspects of his culture. At the beginning of the film Vincent lives in fear of encounters with xenophobic bogans who dislike and harass Vincent because he is Chinese. â€Å"Vincent is ashamed to be Chinese. † Vincent feels pressure to conform to the ‘social norm’ of his age group. He turns his back on his father’s cultural ways and instead joins Swan’s triad gang. Swan offers Vincent an illicit world of reward. Vincent sees this as an opportunity to stand up to xenophobic bogans but by joining the gang Vincent isolates himself from his family. Directors Neil Paddington and Stuart McKenzie use dark, blue lightening in many of the scenes in ‘Chinese Whispers’ to portray the sad, sinister world Vincent is being lured into. This is an effective visual feature because it stresses the consequences of Vincent’s decisions. An example of this is Vincent’s decision to conform to the Triad ways by taking illegal narcotics. Blue lighting is also used when Vincent’s father is sitting in a room lonely and longing for his distant son. This New Zealand film has made me more aware of the Chinese struggles in New Zealand. ‘Chinese Whispers’ has given me deep insight into the Chinese point of view and the pressures they withstand. It has shown me the importance of being accepting of minorities and their differences. Stuart McKenzie’s and Neil Paddington’s film has also shown me how important it is to end xenophobia and prejudices in order to help people like Vincent Chan to make better decisions to keep a balance between their culture and fitting in to society. All men are dangerous brutes, intruders, vagrants. † Haree William’s poem ‘Patches Hide No Scars’ refers to young Maoris, turning their back on the way of their ancestors preferring the â€Å"direction, discipline and orders† of gang life. This New Zealand poem has captured the sad truth about the loss of the Maori culture as the lost youths turn to gang membership in a search to add meaning to their lives. ‘Patches Hide No Scars’ relates to the idea of prejudice by describing the members of Maori gangs as one group, a whole, not a group of individuals. How do we prosecute those already punished? How do we fine those lost in the street of no direction? † Throughout this short text author Haree Williams continually uses words like ‘we’ and ‘those/them’, by doing this the gangs (‘those’) are separated from the rest of society (‘we’). By doing this Maori gangs distance from the rest of New Zealand is emphasized. This poem has raised questions to me: why do these youths find security in the rules and orders of gangs but not the rules and orders of regular jobs or life in the ‘normal’ society? And what is society doing to make the youngsters of the Maori race feel like they do not belong in society? By reading and viewing these texts, ‘Noughts and Crosses’, ‘Chinese Whispers’, â€Å"Patches Hide No Scars’ and ‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’, I have learnt of the struggles and pressures many people, fictional or not, suffer through due to the prejudices of modern society. â€Å"And just like that, I’d been assessed and judged. Nurse Fashoda didn’t know the first thing about me but she’d taken one look at my face and now she reckoned she knew my whole life story. †

Innocence Within To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

There are many times where childhood and adolescence, whether they be in metaphors or depicted by actual characters, are used in literature in order to convey different times in the work. Sometimes they can be used to convey tribulation or they can be used to convey times of prosperity. With Haper Lee’s story, To Kill A Mockingbird, she uses adolescence to be able to challenge the perspective of a Southern town still stuck in their older ways. She does this many times throughout the book, however in this essay; we will only discuss three instances that shape the story as a whole. The first instance that we will refer to is when in chapter 10, Scout and Jem get their rifles for Christmas. Once they receive their rifles, Atticus says,† ‘I’d rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. ’† Scout is confused by the saying and so a few sentences later, she asks Miss Maudie, their help, about why it was a sin to kill a mocking bird. Miss Maudie replies with a â€Å"’Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. ’† At first one might read this and think that on face value, they are simply talking about birds; however, if you look closer at the text, the mocking bird can be a depiction of children or a child’s innocence. By saying that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, because of the very heavy presence that childhood and adolescence takes within the book, one could take the saying as â€Å"it’s a sin to kill or smash innocence† and a mockingbird is a depiction of innocence in the book. It is a sin or rather a sad thing to take away a child’s innocence because it does no harm to anyone. In another chapter, it explains how Scout thinks of herself as an important figure in her household because she figures that without her, Atticus and Miss Maudie would have no clue what to do, while later on is explained in the same chapter that Dill has become aware of his insignificance of his household and is not better off for having that bit of innocence changed. This is one way the book is shaped is that it shows that innocence is a key element in the work and that Atticus throughout the book does not wish to taint the innocence of the children before it is time for them to grow up. Another instance in the book where innocence plays an important role in shaping the work, is in chapter 15 when Atticus is sitting at the jail where Tom Robinson is being held captive for his own protection while awaiting the trial. In the scene, Atticus has a lamp and a chair sitting beside the cell outside and is there to guard Tom Robinson before the trial. As the evening progresses, a crowd shows up with the intention to harm Tom Robinson and to harm Atticus if he does not step aside. During this scene, Scout happens to have been spying on her father and she rushes up to where her father is at, and ends up talking the crowd down with her innocence. In this scene, it is because of her innocence and the way that she speaks with Mr. Cunningham that remind the man that Atticus is a man with a family and that he is a neighbor and not some form of enemy. In this way, the innocence on Scout’s part shapes the work because it shows that no matter how callous someone might be, that innocence can penetrate through the hardened heart. It also shows that the townspeople do realize that Atticus is their friend and not someone who is out to get their women and children. And then the third way that innocence shapes the book is in chapter 19 when Dill cries after seeing the way that the prosecutor addresses Tom Robinson just because of his color. He sees that there is no reason to talk to a person despite race. This shapes the work because it shows that naturally even children can see injustice and it shows that we as adults sometimes lose sight of what’s right and wrong because our views can be tainted and skewed by callousness on our part. There is another instance in the book where Scout’s classmates speak poorly of Atticus for defending a man of color. During this time, Atticus shows Scout that regardless of color, that it was Atticus’ duty to defend anyone if they are innocent and that it should be Scout’s duty as well. This also shapes the work because it shows that no matter what, we should lose sight of what the morally right view is. Throughout the book, innocence is used in numerous occasions and pertaining to different instances in the book. Some of the most important instances where innocence is used is during Tom Robinson’s trial and where the children, Scout, Jem, and Dill can see that the way that the town is treating Tom Robinson is incorrect. At the time Haper Lee wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, it would have been a touchy subject to speak out on because of the Civil Rights Movement, and so the author uses the natural innocence of children to show us just how wrong the case and the treatment of Tom Robinson was throughout his trial and up until his death.

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 44

Booyah! When Danny finishes reading Tiffany's latest letter, he sighs, scratches his Afro, and looks out my bedroom window for a long time. I want his reaction because he is the only person I know who doesn't already have a strong opinion about Tiffany. Everyone else is obviously biased – even Cliff. â€Å"So,† I finally say from my bed. I'm sitting with my back against the headboard and my cast propped up on a few pillows. â€Å"What do you think I should do?† Danny sits down, opens up the Parcheesi box, and takes out the hand-painted wooden board and pieces my mother gave me for my birthday. â€Å"I feel like being red today,† he says. â€Å"What color you want?† After I pick blue, we set up the board on the little table my mother put in the room for us when I first came home with a broken leg. We play Parcheesi like we always do when Danny visits, and it becomes obvious that he isn't going to weigh in with an opinion regarding Tiffany, probably because he knows that only I can make this decision – but maybe because he just wants to play the game. He loves Parcheesi more than any man I have ever met, and when he lands on one of my spots and sends one of my pieces back to the start circle, Danny always points at my face and yells, â€Å"Booyah!† which makes me laugh because he is so goddamn serious about Parcheesi. Even though I don't really enjoy playing Parcheesi as much as Danny does – and he won't answer any of my questions about Tiffany – it's nice to have him back in my life again. We play Parcheesi for so many hours – days pass, and my record against Danny grows to 32 wins and 203 losses. Danny is a supreme Parcheesi player, and the best dice roller I have ever met. When he says, â€Å"Papa needs a doublet,† he almost always rolls two sixes. Whatever Papa needs, Danny rolls.

Mayan Civilization

Dwayne Sinclair 1 Taking Sides paper Prof John Dunn History 1111 02/26/2012 THE FALL OF MAYA CIVILIZATION DUE TO ENVIROMENTAL FACTORS. The collapse of the Maya civilization was a result of environmental factors which eventually led to warfare as a way of coming up with solutions to avoid the inevitable collapse of this civilization. Environmental factors like over population, agricultural scarcities, disease, natural disasters, were the major factors for the collapse of the Maya civilization. Judging from rcheological evidence from the lost chronicles of the Maya kings, by David Drew (university of California press, 1999). David focuses on the bones of the Maya people throughout the region in sites such as Tikal, Lamilpa, and Altar de sacrificios, with similar stories of an unhealthy and stressed population, shrunk skeletons, decrease in life expectancy of children which had not occurred in earlier societies of the Maya. The fact that similar patterns of deterioration was found in mo re than one area shows a pattern that spread all across the maya region.According to David, the Maya's view of their universe saw a ruler as having divine powers. Also in the text from Warfare in Ancient Mesoamerica by Payson D Sheets (AltaMira press, 2003) who argues that the collapse of the Maya civilization was a result of military expansion agrees with the view point that the rulers divine powers could influence the gods by by bloodletting sacrifices, essential for the proper functioning of the Maya society. Sacrifices in various forms like food and drink, human sacrifice in the form of captives needed to appease he gods for the purpose of receiving rainfall which led to a good crop harvest, and recovery from diseases. 2 Over a period, this unquestioned belief in the rulers wore thin, because of a series of natural disasters in the form of environmental factors like dense populations, famine, diseases, natural disasters like droughts, hurricanes, earthquakes which caused a lot o f ecological stress that made agriculture almost impossible, leading to food shortages to an already overpopulated region.In an attempt to salvage the situation of the Maya's, the rulers felt their powers were failing and the gods needed more blood sacrifices that led to expansive militarization for the purpose of capturing neighboring warriors who were offered as sacrifices to the gods, to take over antagonistic city states for the purpose of claiming new fertile agricultural land, because their land had been devastated by a combination of natural disasters that rendered their land unsuitable for agriculture. The only option that could keep the rulers in power and feed their assive population was to take land very scarce resources from neighboring states through violence in the form of war. The Maya's belief system could not hold up due to changes in environmental factors that were out of their rulers control, and this led to chaos in the form of wars and violence in desperation to turn their fortunes around. Environmental factors were the reasons that led to the excessive militarization that brought about wars, and brought about the collapse of the Maya civilization. Mayan Civilization Dwayne Sinclair 1 Taking Sides paper Prof John Dunn History 1111 02/26/2012 THE FALL OF MAYA CIVILIZATION DUE TO ENVIROMENTAL FACTORS. The collapse of the Maya civilization was a result of environmental factors which eventually led to warfare as a way of coming up with solutions to avoid the inevitable collapse of this civilization. Environmental factors like over population, agricultural scarcities, disease, natural disasters, were the major factors for the collapse of the Maya civilization. Judging from rcheological evidence from the lost chronicles of the Maya kings, by David Drew (university of California press, 1999). David focuses on the bones of the Maya people throughout the region in sites such as Tikal, Lamilpa, and Altar de sacrificios, with similar stories of an unhealthy and stressed population, shrunk skeletons, decrease in life expectancy of children which had not occurred in earlier societies of the Maya. The fact that similar patterns of deterioration was found in mo re than one area shows a pattern that spread all across the maya region.According to David, the Maya's view of their universe saw a ruler as having divine powers. Also in the text from Warfare in Ancient Mesoamerica by Payson D Sheets (AltaMira press, 2003) who argues that the collapse of the Maya civilization was a result of military expansion agrees with the view point that the rulers divine powers could influence the gods by by bloodletting sacrifices, essential for the proper functioning of the Maya society. Sacrifices in various forms like food and drink, human sacrifice in the form of captives needed to appease he gods for the purpose of receiving rainfall which led to a good crop harvest, and recovery from diseases. 2 Over a period, this unquestioned belief in the rulers wore thin, because of a series of natural disasters in the form of environmental factors like dense populations, famine, diseases, natural disasters like droughts, hurricanes, earthquakes which caused a lot o f ecological stress that made agriculture almost impossible, leading to food shortages to an already overpopulated region.In an attempt to salvage the situation of the Maya's, the rulers felt their powers were failing and the gods needed more blood sacrifices that led to expansive militarization for the purpose of capturing neighboring warriors who were offered as sacrifices to the gods, to take over antagonistic city states for the purpose of claiming new fertile agricultural land, because their land had been devastated by a combination of natural disasters that rendered their land unsuitable for agriculture. The only option that could keep the rulers in power and feed their assive population was to take land very scarce resources from neighboring states through violence in the form of war. The Maya's belief system could not hold up due to changes in environmental factors that were out of their rulers control, and this led to chaos in the form of wars and violence in desperation to turn their fortunes around. Environmental factors were the reasons that led to the excessive militarization that brought about wars, and brought about the collapse of the Maya civilization.

The Ethical Views of Socrates found in the Euthyphro and in The Crito Personal Statement

The Ethical Views of Socrates found in the Euthyphro and in The Crito - Personal Statement Example This is a section of philosophy involving systematic defending, and concepts of recommending of the wrong and right behaviour. A reasonable, ethical foundation needs a standard value in which all actions and goals could be compared. In this regard, these standards include an individual’s own life and happiness that makes them able to live (Melchert 5). This is an individual’s ultimate value of standard, the key goal for which an ethical man should always aim. These goals are arrived at through the examination of the nature of man and identifying man's needs that are always peculiar. In most cases, the ethical system consists of emergency situations and daily choices. In this regard, it includes an individual’s relation to other individuals and recognizes their necessity especially into ones physical survival, happiness and wellbeing (Melchert 6). It also identifies that life is an end in itself and that in many situations sacrifice may be destructive despite bein g necessary. According to the theory of wrong and right, evil and good, it is certain that human beings are more than just believers. Human beings are always known to be doers. The main question comes up concerning the extent of wisdom that may explain how people can live their lives best. Do the ideas that pleasure obtained from something makes it be right to be done? Should an individual think of how his or her actions influence the others? If so, then the question is - in what manner? Is there certainly bad or good or does having such thinking makes it to main so? Do individuals have duties? If so where does an individual come from? What is vice and virtue? What is meant by the word justice? Can the justice administered be considered to be vital? These include some among the different philosophical questions that one may ask himself. Each and every culture tries to give out answers to this question despite the fact that some cultures have not yet developed the most known philosop hy. Some of the answers that were given to these questions may universally take the form of some stories especially those involving gods. In this respect, gods were referred to as the gigantic nature of power, which takes part in massive creation feat that struggle frequently with other gods thus intervening in the human life evil or good (Melchert, 6). These are mostly referred to as myth stories. They are normally told and repeated, embroidered and elaborated. They are also told to children as facts that are straightforward and obtain some authority due to their age, aspect of repetition, and by the true fact that people in the society accepts them. In this respect, these stories have an effect of shaping traditions, which in turn shapes the lives of individuals. The philosophy that is referred to as the love to wisdom started when some individuals began to ask questions. For example, the questions like why an individual should believe stories of this kind, how can an individual g et to know that these stories are true, and whenever they try to give out answers that may look to be more going compared to plausibility, and antiquity coming from acceptance that is common. Different philosophers have tried to provide the people in the society with some impressive reasons to believe in one thing concerning this matter. These philosophers tend to provide good reasons that can make an individual think that he or she cannot answer questions of this type

Energy Resources in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Essay

Energy Resources in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries - Essay Example Saudi Arabia exists as the largest state among the GCC countries with the Shi’i population placed on the oil producing gulf coast of eastern province. The discovery of oil dates back to 1930s with its commercial production beginning shortly after the Second World War. Saudi Arabia became the largest producer of oil by 1993. Similarly, Kuwait became an oil producer ever since 1946 before gaining its independence from Britain in 1961. The country received independence before massive revenues from oil could be concentrated on the hands of the ruling family possessing overwhelming power. As well, cohesion and the historical organization of unique merchant families had significant contributions. Bahrain emerged as the first oil producing country among the six GCC countries with initial production occurring in 1932. The oil wealth possessed by Bahrain from the beginning gave it a head start to develop social and educational institutions. As a result, this contributed significantly t o its status as the best socially liberal over its neighbors in the GCC countries. However, Bahrain’s current oil reserves remain almost exhausted. By contrast, tourism and finance service industries play the main role in Bahrain’s present day economy (Gause 5-8). Abu Dhabi, Fujayra, Dubai, Ajman, Ra’s al-Khayma, ’Um al-Qaywayn and Sharjah constitute the seven emirates making up the federation of the UAE. Large production of oil began in the 1960s within the UAE mainly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Shaarjah. UAE’s per capita national income remains among the highest worldwide. Most notable would be Dubai which continues to develop into a regional communications, services and business center.

Argument Paper on Gay Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Argument Paper on Gay Marriage - Essay Example Gay marriage should not be allowed because it is unnatural, does not provide a child with both a mother and father, and does not fall under the jurisdiction of the government. Also, a counter argument will be given to the view that not allowing gay marriage is discriminatory. Marriage has always been thought of as between one man and one woman. The reason for this is simple—the main objective of marriage is to continue the human race. Gay people cannot make a child together because it is not physically possible. Of course, gay couples can adopt children or use a surrogate, but this is not the same as producing a child themselves. There is a reason why only one man and one woman can make a baby, and that is because they have the necessary means to do so. A man and a woman getting married further cements their relationship and helps confirm to their children that they will remain committed to one another for a very long time. Gay couples cannot have children together, so there i s no reason to allow them to marry. They should be thought of along the same lines as a heterosexual couple who choose to have a fling. They do not want to have a child together, and that is why they do not get married. Gay people should be able to act in the same way, but demanding marriage is going too far. How a child is brought up plays a significant role in how they act when they become adults. Parents have the greatest single influence over a child because they have the most to do with them. While it cannot be denied that having two parents is better than one, it can also be argued that having a parent of each gender helps a child to grow more. Recent research has shown that â€Å"fathers make some unique contributions† in their children’s lives (Eggebeen). Each gender has certain qualities that they can offer a child, and a child should benefit from all of these qualities rather than just one set of them. Two fathers or two mothers cannot fulfill a child’ s emotional needs because there will always be something missing. This is not to say that gay parents don’t try hard, it’s just that two parents of the same gender can only offer so much. Having parents of different genders means that one parent will make up for where the other one lacks and vice-versa. There has always been fierce debate among many religions over their different points of view, but one thing that nearly every major world religion can agree on is that gay marriage should be prohibited. The reason why virtually every religion believes this is because marriage is something that was invented long before any government came around. Thus, it should not be up to the government to decide who can and cannot get married; marriage is a religious institution. Senator Jim DeMint says that â€Å"the government [is] legitimizing and promoting behavior that culturally we have always considered wrong† (Mantyla). Besides being a religious institution, marriage i s also a cultural institution. It is true that culture is something that can evolve over time, but the concept of marriage has been set in stone for many thousands of years, and there is no reason to change that now. For the government to claim ownership of marriage, it would have to prove that it invented the institution of marriage. However, it did not. The only thing that the government does is legally recognize marriages so as to offer tax breaks and provide