Political rhetoric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Political rhetoric - Essay Example Given the variations in the economic state of the United States of America, Obama used his annual State of the Union podium to adopt a new trend in his executive authority as the President. The speech entailed rhetoric speech through the use of defiant words such as â€Å"with or without Congress† as an individual step in advancement of the economy. The President also adopted the use of alliteration in a number of paragraphs such as â€Å"It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country, the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love.† These words outline the repetition of words alongside words that soften the attention of the audience. In addition, the president insisted the use of rhetoric using character development by stating. â€Å"I’m eager to work with all of you,† â€Å"But America does not stand still and neither wil l I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do (Baker, n.d).† At the same time, republicans were not left out in responding to the rhetoric speech of Obama in the state of the Union. The five term congress woman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers rhetorically responded by blaming Obama for the current economic problems. She stated, â€Å"Too many people are falling further and further behind because, right now, the president’s policies are making people’s lives harder,† she said. â€Å"Republicans have plans to close the gap.† Her speech incorporated alliteration as a way of outlining how her 6 year old son, Cole was born with Down syndrome under the Obama’s health care program that had many regulations and a record in expenditure (Franke-Ruta, n.d). Obama’s speech at the annual State of the Union podium resembles that of Julius

Office of Strategic Services Essay Example for Free

Office of Strategic Services Essay The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was created on June 13, 1942 by President Franklin Roosevelt after he decided that he needed a new and different form of espionage group modeled after a British Intelligence agency. The primary reason for the OSS was to gather enemy information, carry out sabotage operations, distribute propaganda to attack the enemies and plan out special operations for different agencies. Willam J.  Donovan was the head of OSS appointed by President Roosevelt, who soon began to recruit everyone he thought was necessary for the job including, consulting, British spy-master Lan Fleming, author of the popular series James Bond. Donovan was born on January 1, 1883 and was a very successful man outside of all of his military duty. He was a lawyer and intelligence officer outside of the battlefield but also was a Colonel during WWI and reached Major General during WWII. Donovan was also named the Coordinator Of Information (COI) and received multiple medals for all of his service including: Distinguished Service Medal, three Oak Leaf Cluster Medals, a Medal of Honor (MOH) and three Purple Hearts. Donovan died on February 8, 1959 and is now a part of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. The OSS was formed from the COI but half of its members stayed to work with the government for the Foreign Information Service (FIS). When the OSS first began, many people didnt like the group because they thought it to be taking over and it was actually banned from all Japanese intercepts and was only allowed to certain German intercepts under FBI terms. The Counterintelligence unit (X-2) was only allowed to operate in the Eastern Hemisphere where the FBI was operated in the Western Hemisphere. However, the British Intelligence services were very helpful to the OSS, understanding what they were going through, British Intelligence helped with OSS training, information and experience. The OSS was separated into three different branches, The Research and Analysis Branch, The Moral Operations Branch and The Labor Division. The Research and Analysis Branch was responsible for employing academics for plan strategies for future invasions. The Moral Operations Branch was responsible for producing all of the propaganda used to attack enemies and The Labor Division was responsible for discouraging activity within trade unions. There were also three, main functional branches which were made of the Special Operations (SO), the Secret Intelligence (SI) and the Counterintelligence (X-2). Weapons and spy gear were a big part of the OSS and all of their success. Donovan created in-house capability to fabricate tools and weapons but by the end of the war there were multiple labs which created mass-productions of weapons and spy gear for all of the OSS to use. There was a Research and Development Branch which was the main-inventing station for all weapons and gadgets. Stanley P. Lovell was in charge of the Research and Development Branch. The OSS is now the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and has the most responsibilities that the OSS did during WWII. The functions of the OSS were split between the Department of State and the Department of War. The State Department received the Research and Analysis Branch of OSS which was renamed the Interim Research and Intelligence Service and the War Department took over the Secret Intelligence (SI) and Counter-espionage (X-2) Branches. The OSS was dissolved September 20, 1945 by President Truman. Over the years, the OSS conducted successful espionage and sabotage operations in Europe and Asia along with employing almost 13,000 men and women.

School trip to the forest

School trip to the forest Introduction I was six years old when we had a school trip to the forest in order to explore the local fauna and flora. When we walked through the forest I started noticing little white circles that were sprayed onto the bark of some old and sick looking trees. One week later, I found myself at a bus stop with my mum. Waiting for the bus was always very boring for me and therefore, I usually started interpreting the advertisement posters with my newly acquired reading abilities. One poster caught my attention immediately. This very poster had a baroque cross on it and it said something in a language which I did not understand. My mum explained me that day, that this was a poster of Scientology. On the bus we had a long conversation about sects and what they do and what they are. I assume that I was a bit too young to understand the whole dimension of the term sect but since that day, for many years, I was convinced that the white circles in the forest must have been some secret mean of communicat ion and that some sect would meet there every now and then to do some of their practices. Looking back at this now, I surely notice that the white circles were simply a mark for probably old or sick trees that needed special attention from the forester. However, being six years old I was sure that I discovered something extremely secret and hidden. In February 1748, Adam Weishaupt was born in Ingolstadt. Through his father and godfather he was taught the ideas of the enlightenment. Furthermore, he was a professor at the University of Ingolstadt for canon law and philosophy. The enlightened thinker Weishaupt struggled with the old and conservative Jesuit order at the university. He started studying the writings of the freemasons and in 1776 he founded the Bavarian Illuminati, an order which was intended to spread the ideas of the enlightenment. In January 1933, the Austrian-born Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of the German people. One year later, due to the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler was proclaimed ‘Fà ¼hrer and Reichskanzler which made him the head of state. From this extremely powerful position Hitler started his crusade against Jews, communists, foreigners and other ‘enemies of the German Reich. In April 1994, the lead singer of the grunge and rock band Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, was found dead in his home in Seattle. With three times the lethal amount of heroin in his body, the musician took a shotgun, put it into his mouth and shot himself. In September 2001, terrorists hijacked commercial passenger air planes. Two of these planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York City. Apart from the hijackers and the plane passengers also many people working in the towers were killed. Within, two hours both of the buildings collapsed and Ground Zero was erected as a memorial for the victims. All of these events and people are connected through the fact that there are conspiracy theories evolving around them. The illuminati are still often referred to as being the driving force behind global events and there is the popular theory among conspiracy believers â€Å"that the new nation was about to be taken over by the Bavarian Illuminati†. Adolf Hitler developed probably one of the most influential conspiracies which blamed the Jews for the loss of the First World War and the misfortune of the people in Germany. The death of Kurt Cobain and inconsistencies in the crime scene investigation caused the quite well known murder theory of his death. Lastly, the events of September 11th 2001 are probably most discussed in conspiracy theories. Several theories exist in which it is assumed that the US government actually initiated the attacks. Other theories claim, that despite the thousands of eye witnesses there were no planes what so ever. Whereas even other theories argue that shortly before the attacks happened a UFO could be seen and that these attacks were caused by aliens. Conspiracy beliefs have guided the human kind through many centuries of history. When considering the freemasons and the illuminati it becomes visible that conspiracy theories are by no means a contemporary phenomenon. Especially strong superstitious beliefs in the past gave rise to some influential conspiracy theories which led to the prosecution of witches and heretics, for instance. Despite the fact that conspiracy beliefs are rooted in the past, many sources speak of an increase in conspiracy beliefs especially among the population. Michael Barkun, professor at the Syracuse University in the state of New York and author of the book â€Å"A Culture of Conspiracy†, termed the belief in conspiracy theories as an â€Å"emerging cultural phenomenon†. Also the researcher for folklore studies at the Oregon University, Daniel Wojcik, claims: â€Å"Ideas and images about the end of the world permeate American popular culture and folklore, as well as popular religion, and ar e expressed in films, literature, music, poetry, [†¦], and commercial products†. The fact that conspiracy theories seem to gain more hold within the people seems intriguing and should be investigated. Therefore, the thesis for this paper will be: Despite the claim of insanity, conspiracy theories have become an important part of our contemporary thinking and due to popular culture, especially the mass media, they seem to be taken more and more seriously in our contemporary society. One of the main sources for this essay will be the book â€Å"A Culture of Conspiracy† by Michael Barkun, which offers a great approach to the dynamics of conspiracy theories. Furthermore, this essay will discuss the nature, types and functions of conspiracy beliefs and the role of the mass media in the spread of those. Lastly, this paper will analyze if there was actually an increase in people believing in conspiracy theories. The Nature Of Conspiracy Theories The New World Order, millennialism, area 51, black helicopters, UFO sightings – those are terms usually associated with conspiracy theories. But what exactly are conspiracy theories? What functions do they fulfill for the people who believe in them? Is it possible to speak of â€Å"factual† conspiracy theories? These are questions that will be approached in this essay. First of all, a formal definition of the term is needed: â€Å"A conspiracy theory is a belief that a group of people are secretly trying to harm someone or to achieve something. Usually this term is used to suggest something unlikely or even paranoid†. This definition mentions important criteria of conspiracy beliefs. One of the most important is that something is happening in secret. Due to this secrecy the conspiracy believers are convinced that they are the only ones who know the truth and that they need to spread the word to the unknowing population. Another aspect of conspiracy theories is that they connote a degree of paranoia. When speaking of a conspiracy or of someone who believes in conspiratorial theories, we usually incline that this person is mad or paranoid. A good example for this can be found in Friedrich Nietzsches ‘The Gay Science. In section 125, a madman runs around exclaiming the often quoted statement: â€Å"God is dead†. This exclamation can be interpreted as a conspiracy theory which the madman is attempting to spread. However, the viewers of this scene see merely an insane person: â€Å"Here the madman fell silent and looked again at his listeners; they too were silent and looked at him disconcertedly†. The madman and his beliefs are not taken seriously. Moreover, a very problematic criterion of conspiracy theories is the fact that they are non-falsifiable. Conspiracy theories are usually termed this way because they lack evidence or logical explanations compared to the official theory. It is most of the times impossible for believers to prove their theory. However, conspiracy believers are convinced that â€Å"information that appears to put a conspiracy theory in doubt must have been planted by the conspirators themselves in order to mislead†. This means that even information or evidence against the conspiracy is seen as a proof in favor of the theory because it must have been brought up by people who try to cover the conspiracy. Therefore, no matter what kind of evidence it will always speak in favor of a conspiracy theory. Types Of Conspiracies Barkun differentiates between three types of conspiracies: event conspiracies, systemic conspiracies and superconspiracies. In an event conspiracy, the conspirators are believed to be responsible for only a limited, discrete event. Systematic conspiracies are characterized by broader goals, such as gaining power over a country, a certain region or even the world. However, only a single group of people or a single organization are believed to take part in this. In a superconspiracy multiple conspiracy theories are linked to more conspiracy theories and global events. Superconspiracies are characterized by the belief that everything is connected. This paper will mainly deal with the identified event conspiracies. Although Barkuns book â€Å"A Culture of Conspiracy† displays an excellent theoretical approach to conspiracy theories it seems slightly narrow when it comes to different kinds and beliefs of conspiracy theories. Barkun generalizes conspiracy theories and theorists as believers in UFOs, alien intervention in global events and the New World Order. However, he does not discuss the possibility that there might be people, who do not believe in supernatural interventions in earthly happenings but who still believe in alternative explanations for national and international events that deviate from the official explanation. For this reason, two different categories have to be integrated into the types of conspiracy theories. This paper will differentiate between supernatural and factual theories. Supernatural conspiracy theories include, among others, beliefs in aliens, UFOs, the New World Order and millennialism. They are irrational and non-falsifiable as nothing supernatural was ever able to be empirically proved and verified. Most certainly, these theories are the reason why the term ‘conspiracy theory has a paranoid or even insane connotation. Furthermore, theories about the freemasons and the illuminati will be included into this category. The main focus of this paper will be the so-called factual theories. Factual conspiracy theories incline the secret involvement of an earthly group, organization or even state in global events and affairs. The murder theory of Kurt Cobains death as well as the theory of US state involvement in the 9/11 attacks constitute examples for this kind. However implausible these theories may sound, they do have a slightly more rational nature. They deal with an issue that could be verified or falsified with access to the right information. Nevertheless, this information is usually impossible to attain which also gives these conspiracy theories a non-falsifiable nature. So eventually, it still comes down to belief or disbelief. However, it is important to mention that these factual theories reduce the paranoid connotation of the term ‘conspiracy theory. The Case Of Anna Politkovskaya The events surrounding the death of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya is now used to explain the plausibility of factual conspiracy theories. On October 7th 2006 Politkovskaya was shot four times in the elevator of her apartment. Politkovskaya dedicated her life to the conflicts in Chechnya caused by the Russian domination. After the Russian troops brutally crashed down the separatist revolts in Chechnya after the first and second Chechen War the Russians reestablished their hegemony. However, the separatist cry for independence still finds proponents among the Chechen population. The Russian government is accused of using torture and other violent means to suppress these movements. This conflict has caused human rights activists such as Politkovskaya to investigate into and demonstrate against the Russian practices in Chechnya. Along with these demonstrations activists and demonstrators were held in custody without a legal basis. The events in Russia and Chechnya have caught the attention of many human rights organizations. In 2007, the human rights watch proclaimed: â€Å"Russia has ignored a series of judgments by the European Court of Human Rights on Chechnya, fueling unchecked violence in the North Caucasus. Following the recent murders of human rights defenders there, the Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly will decide on September 28, 2009 whether to schedule a debate to focus on the dangerous conditions for human rights defenders in the North Caucasus†. Politkovskaya was only one journalist and Kremlin critic that was murdered in a series of killings. However, Politkovskayas case has drawn global attention to the events in Russia and to the declining freedom of speech: â€Å"Her killing underlined the shrinking freedom allowed dissenters in Russian society, provoked international outrage and cast a shadow over Vladimir V. Putins Russia†. Not only the actual murder of Politkovskaya are a doubtful subject but also her trial was perceived as flawed and manipulated from western media. All of the four convicts were cleared of their charges and evidence such as a video of the assassination as well as photos and a sim card completely disappeared from the trial scene. The newspaper which Anna Politkovskaya was working for, Novaya Gazeta, suggested that the â€Å"conspiracy was planned at a much higher level†. In the case of Politkovskaya the Russian state as well as the Russia-oriented Chechen government disclaimed any involvement in the murders of any of the journalists and human rights activists. This claim can be seen as the official explanations of the journalist killings in Russia. Therefore, the theory that there is state involvement to some degree can be seen as a conspiracy theory. However, especially in the western part of the world it seems as if the state-involvement-theory around Politkovskayas death seems to find more and more acceptance. Due to unlawful arrests of demonstrators, several killings of other human rights journalists as well as the disappearing evidence from Politkovskayas trial it becomes more and more plausible that there is some kind of higher state involvement. In this sense, the events and conspiracy surrounding the death of Anna Politkovskaya can be seen as a factual conspiracy theory which has started to gain more and more proof as well as proponents all o ver the world. The Functions Of Conspiracy Beliefs Why do some people believe that Anna Politkovskaya was shot on order of the Kremlin whereas others do not? How come some people find it plausible that the US government initiated the attacks on the World Trade Centre whereas others think this extremely far-fetched? Conspiracy theories fulfill certain functions in the minds of the people and in the population as a whole. They can show a certain distrust of the people in what is official presented to them. Furthermore, they constitute another kind of choice that we have in a consumer society. Moreover, they can be seen as a new form of scapegoating. The following sections will analyze why people believe in conspiracy theories and what other options those theories offer to them. Conspiracy Theories As A Sign Of Distrust Conspiracy theories can be seen as a general sign of dissatisfaction and distrust that people have with the government, society and the system in general. Jodi Dean, professor for political science at the Hobart and William Smith College in the state of New York, stated: â€Å"[†¦] conspiracy theories, far from a label dismissively attached to the lunatic fringe, may well be an appropriate vehicle for political contestation†. Probably every country experiences every now and then affairs of corruption among politicians or within larger and well-known companies. Furthermore, everyone is familiar with parties or politicians who do not stick to their election promises. Those experiences fuel the feelings of distrust and skepticism. Many people show strong doubts of the trustworthiness of information that they get about the acts and deeds of the governments. Barkun points out: â€Å"[†¦] where political matters are concerned, there is no longer a consensus reality about the causes of events and reliability of evidence†. Furthermore, in our globalised world everything gets more interlinked. Big companies as resources for employment, gain more and more power in the political landscape of the countries. Moreover, the media coverage of events increases which makes it easier for people to hear about events all over the world. It can be argued that the increased media coverage leads to a rise in the imagination of people of what could happen or what could be going on. This development can lead to the described distrust into the governments and to the fact that conspiracy theories seem plausible to the people. However, this does not mean that people completely discard the official explanations. It merely inclines that people believe that the alternative explanations provided by the conspiracy theories seem imaginable. Conspiracy Theories And The Paradigm Of Choice In 2004, the American psychologist Barry Schwartz published the book â€Å"The Paradox of Choice – Why More Is Less†. In this book he argues that we have reached the height of a consumer society in which it might happen that choice â€Å"no longer liberates, but deliberates†. Schwartz describes the various areas of life in which we can choose these days, such as education, career, friendship and religion. On top of the field of religion one can place the general category of belief. In our society, people can choose what to believe in and what they find believable. Whereas some people believe that the earth and the species were created by god, others find this completely incredible and support Darwins theory of evolution. Choice is a crucial aspect of our lives. Schwartz points out that: â€Å"Choice is essential to autonomy, which is absolutely fundamental to well-being†. Although, not directly implied by Schwartz book, it can be argued that conspiracy theories constitute another choice that we have in our society, namely a choice of truth. The issue of belief and what we believe in is vital to human choice. Schwartz explains that: â€Å"[†¦] we make the most of our freedoms by learning to make good choices about the things that matter, while at the same time unburdening ourselves from too much concern about things that dont†. Continuing in this line of thought, beliefs are essential to a persons existence and personality: â€Å"Existence, at least human existence, is defined by the choices people make†. In order to choose we need to be able to believe and we need to be able to assume that our choice will bring about a desired outcome. When choosing our beliefs we have a choice between religions, political parties, movements of any kind and many more. However, the term belief also inclines that we have a belief in what is going on and how things work. When it comes to our own lives this is quite manageable and even if we feel that we do not know how we work we can go to a specialist who will clarify this for us. Nevertheless, when it comes to a more general truth, something that we cannot check or see for ourselves we need to rely on sources telling us the truth and making us believe. The field of ‘truth however, seemed to be ruled by the monopoly of official explanations. Obviously alien involvements, for instance, in several earthly events often served as useful alternative theories for believers in superconspiracies but there was no real choice for people who did not believe in supernatural happenings. As outlined before, it is important for people to on the one hand have choices and on the other hand to b e able to make choices about things that matter. Due to this, conspiracy theories offer a choice in truth to people or as Schwartz would put it: â€Å"Individual customers are free to ‘purchase whatever bundles of knowledge they want, [†¦]†. A New Form Of Scapegoating Explanations to negative events usually involve something or someone being blamed for having caused a negative outcome. It is a very common psychological phenomenon that in order to handle difficult, sad or even traumatic events people need someone on whom they can produce their anger, fear, frustration, sadness etc. Scapegoating is a special form of blaming in which â€Å"[†¦] a hostile social-psychological discrediting routine by which people move blame and responsibility away from themselves and towards a target person or group† is performed. By blaming the terrorists of Al-Qaida for the 9/11 attacks the US government has found a scapegoat for the public. This does not mean however, that the US government invented a new scapegoat. They merely found a group of people that was called responsible for the attacks. Most definitions of scapegoating involve that the scapegoats feel they are wrongly accused or persecuted. As Al-Qaida did claim responsibility for the events the US government was right in proclaiming this. However, the scapegoating process started in the minds of the people. Through generalizing, a large amount of people started to belief that it is the Muslims as a whole who try to cause damage to the western world. Continuing on this line of thought, conspiracy theories have a similar effect. They are merely alternative explanations for events but also they include the element of blame. So instead of blaming Al-Qaida for the attacks on the World Trade Centre they blamed the US government and instead of only blaming the murderers of Politkovskaya they blame the Russian state. Therefore, it can be concluded that conspiracy theories fulfill the basic functions that official explanations accomplish. The only difference is that the target of their blame is usually dissimilar. However, some articles argue that conspiracist scapegoating has a much larger effects than other kinds of scapegoating: â€Å"When conspiracist scapegoating occurs, the results can devastate a society, disrupting rational political discourse and creating targets who are harassed and even murdered†. The analysis if scapegoats that evolved out of a conspiracy theory are more in danger than those that evolved out of official explanations for events would go beyond the scope of this paper. Nevertheless, the medieval witch hunts as well as Hitlers conspiracy against Jews, Communists and foreigners might argue in favor of the claim that scapegoats made by conspiracy theories are in higher danger. Conspiracy Theories And Play In 1938, the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga published his work â€Å"Homo Ludens† which contains an exceptionally influential theory on contemporary culture. Literally translated from the Latin, homo ludens means something like ‘Man the Player. In Homo Ludens, Huizinga determines the play elements of contemporary culture and claims that culture itself bears the character of a play. Huizingas theory was mainly formed by the approaching fascism and the threats that it brought with it. However, his theory is still extremely influential in cultural studies and is used in order to analyze numerous elements of contemporary culture. Also conspiracy theories can be applied to Huizingas theory. Huizingas general idea of the nature of this play goes as follows: â€Å"Summing up the formal characteristics of play we might call it a free activity standing quite consciously outside ‘ordinary life as being ‘not serious, but at the same time absorbing the player intensely and utterly. It is an activity connected with no material interest, and no profit can be gained by it. It proceeds within its own proper boundaries of time and space according to fixed rules and in an orderly manner. It promotes the formation of social groupings which tend to surround themselves with secrecy and to stress their difference from the common world by disguise or other means†. This very complex definition can be unravelled into five most important qualities of play. First of all, play is supposed to be a free activity which intentionally stands outside of ordinary life and which is not seen as being serious. In addition to this, it is important to mention that Huizinga differentiated between ordinary life and higher culture. Ordinary life includes the basics of living and is not seen as an element of play. Higher culture however, is what Huizinga refers to in his play theory. Conspiracy theories partly fulfil this criterion. Conspiracy theories are a belief and beliefs and the choice of those, as outlined before, are important elements of our society. Therefore it can be claimed that conspiracy beliefs are a part of higher culture. However, those who believe in conspiracy theories do take this subject very seriously whereas other people might ridicule those beliefs. A second and third criterion for play is that it must absorb the player intensely and utterly and no material gain or profit must be achieved by it. Conspiracy theories complete this criterion. As conspiracy theories can be viewed as beliefs or also as persuasions, they will fully and intensely take in a person. Furthermore, it can be argued that thorough persuasions or beliefs of a person are not connected to material gain or profit. However, it can surely be claimed that some people hold certain views in order to gain material profit. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that those views cannot be considered an accurate persuasion. Therefore, one can assume that people who thoroughly belief in certain conspiracy theories do so without expecting any material profit. The fourth criterion states that this kind of play has to take place in an arranged manner within certain boundaries of time and space. Contemporary conspiracy theories usually evolve around contemporary subjects and events. However, conspiracy theories see history as a plot. Everything is interlinked and connected. Due to this conspiracy theories repeatedly deal with past and maybe even future events. However, the order of past, present and future is usually not confused or changed. The last main criterion includes that play supports the creation and development of social groups which are supposed to act in secrecy and which should differentiate themselves from other groups and people. It is very obvious that this element can be found in conspiracy theories. People who believe in conspiracy theories usually form a group with other people who agree with their event explanation and they communicate with each other. Secrecy is one of the main criteria of conspiracy theories as they incline that an action or event took place in secrecy and is trying to be concealed. Lastly, many psychological theories on group formation claim that groups include but also exclude. People who believe in certain conspiracy theories are therefore included into the group, whereas people who disbelieve are excluded. In this sense, group formation is also a mean of differentiating oneself from another group of people. Therefore, in conclusion it can be said that conspiracy theories can be seen as a play element in our contemporary culture. Conspiracy Theories In Popular Culture So far, this paper has outlined the nature and different types of conspiracy theories as well as their functions in the minds of the people and in the population as a whole. In addition to that, conspiracy theories have become an important part of popular culture: â€Å"The volume and influence of stigmatized knowledge [conspiracy theories] have increased dramatically through the mediation of popular culture. Motifs, theories and truth claims that once existed in hermetically sealed subcultures have begun to be recycled, often with great rapidity, through popular culture†. The main force behind this popularization of conspiracy theories is usually seen in the role of the mass media. However, popular culture also has the function of demystifying conspiracy theories. A common criterion of conspiracy theories is the fact that the believers think they are the only ones who know about this secret plot. By broadcasting the theories to an enormous number of people they lose their sec recy: â€Å"Once hidden, they are now revealed. Once intended only for the knowing few, they are now placed before the ignorant many. Once mysterious, they can now appear banal, the building blocks of not particularly distinguished popular entertainment†. The Mass Media And The Spread Of Conspiracy Theories The most crucial force in the spread of conspiracy theories is the mass media. Alternative explanations for events can be read in literature, internet and newspaper articles, can be seen on television and in the cinema and can be heard on the radio. The mass media is our biggest and maybe even most influential source of information. Conspiracy theories have long made their entrance into popular culture and mass media. Also Barkun describes this development: â€Å"Now, however, the boundary between the stigmatized and the mainstream has clearly become more permeable. Themes that once might have been found only in outsider literature or on the more outrà © Web sites have become the stuff of network television and multimillion-dollar motion picture†. When it comes to television, Barkun especially refers to shows like ‘The X-Files which were extremely popular, not only in the United States. The main focus of this series was to unravel conspiracies planned by the governments and accompanied through the help of extraterrestrial life. Furthermore, Barkun refers to films such as the 1997 Mel Gibson movie ‘Conspiracy Theory. In this movie, a paranoid taxi driver is convinced that many global events are triggered due to a government conspiracy. Barkun points out: â€Å"The appearance of conspiracism in major motion pictures signals a major change in the relation between stigmatized and mainstream knowledge claims†. However, one does not need to look into special conspiratorial films or series to figure out that the topic of conspiracism has been widely adopted by the mass media. Many mainstream films such as ‘Mission Impossible or ‘Three Days of the Condor evolve around conspiracies planted by governments or intelligence agencies. Furthermore, intriguing but admittedly quite propagandistic documentaries such as Michael Moores ‘Fahrenheit 9/11 contribute to manifest conspiracy theories in the mainstream. Many of these mentioned motion pictures serve to stimulate the imagination of the public. As already outlined when analyzing the functions of conspiracy theories, the broad and wide-ranging media coverage of different global events also leads to the fact that different views on events are accumulated. Furthermore, the media does not only show different views on events but also covers a wide range of events that happen all over the world. This together with conspiracy theories that can be found in mass media means of entertainment such as movies and TV programs leads to the increased imagination of people of what could possibly go on in their country or even in the world. Furthermore, it can be said that: â€Å"[†¦] the appearance of conspiracy themes in popular culture at least partially destigmatizes those ideas, by associating them with admired stars and propagating them through the most important forms of mass entertainment†. Considering this, it can be concluded that the media did not only spread popular conspiracy theories but moreover, did it de-condemn conspiracy theories to be only an issue to paranoid or lunatic people. By doing so the mass media made conspiracy theories which used to be considered as stigmatized knowledge available to a wide range of people. Barkun assigns another function to the mass media. Everyone has probably heard of the concept of surreptitious advertisement, when we see protagonists in a movie drinking a certain brand of cola or when they use a very popular new mobile phone

My Native Language Essays -- Russian Personal Narrative Communication

My Native Language Is your native language something you take for granted? Well, for me it has been a struggle — a struggle with history, politics, society, and myself. Yet something guided me through it. I don't know what you heard about my native land — Belarus. For most of the world it is a new country, as four centuries of severe Russian assimilation devastated Belarusian culture. But some of it managed to survive, mostly in the villages. This shaped my biography. Although I was born in a city in the western part of then Byelorussian SSR1, the first six years of my life I spent in a village with my grandparents. I remember the manmade old woody gate to the orchard. I remember noises of storks on the roofs of the houses and frogs croaking in the evening. I remember the sounds of whistling "ts," "dz," tough "ch," "r," "dzh" people made while talking. "Volya..." I would hear from my great-grandparents, and I would feel proud as this word also meant "freedom." All of those sounds seemed to come from nature, creating feeling of harmony and peace. At the age of six, like thousands of other children in the 16 Republics of the Soviet Union, I entered a school in my native town, Brest. It was at school I noticed I spoke a different dialect than the other children. They said I had bad grammar and pronounced words in strange, "village" ways, ways they used to correct. I felt ashamed because of my lack of education. In those soviet 80s, for the city people "village" was almost a derogatory word. Little by little, I learned to speak correctly. But during vacations I went back to the village, and the world there worked in other sounds — in another language. I would no longer accept that language as it stood for som... ...an culture, I can afford it, because I am out of the country for most of the year. My parents use Belarusian in the city themselves when I am in Belarus. As for strangers, I chose to surprise them, sometimes meeting resistance or anger, sometimes recieveing thanks and cheers. It is a battle every time I leave my apartment in Brest. It is hard to get used to. But sometimes that what it takes to be who you are. When I visit my grandmother, she laughs: "Remember, when you were a kid you used to correct me when I said "stork" in Belarusian to "stork" in Russian, saying that now you knew how to say it correctly. Old people also know something about life." ENDNOTES: I use a different spelling of Belarus and Belarusian when I refer to the Soviet era, as before 1991 the country's name was translated to English from Russian as "Byelorussia" or "Byelorussian SSR."

Avalanches

We keep our presentations on avalanches in response to the newspaper study: four killed by avalanches in Italy. The message appeared on February 7 at nu.nl.Then we explain more about avalanchesAn avalanche is a big mass of snow coming down a incline. An avalanche can be so great that full small towns buried by the snow, but besides a little avalanche can be lifelessly if they hit underneath.Newspaper PostFour killed by avalanches in Italy ROME / VIENNA – During the weekend in northern Italy four people killed by avalanches. That intelligence bureau ANSA reported. All the victims were Italians. On Sunday, in the mountains near Belluno a adult male by an avalanche, a second was earnestly injured. A 3rd was unharmed and alerted the governments. Furthermore, deliverance workers found the organic structure of the Monte Baldo, a 17-year-old male child that Saturday was struck by an avalanche. Another male child was found dead Saturday eventide. In Lecco was eventually the organic structure of a 50-year-old adult male found who was losing since Saturday after an avalanche. In Austria, by avalanches since Thursday killed seven people including a 35-year-old Norse, APA intelligence bureau reported Sunday. The hazard of avalanches remains really big, the governments said. In add-on to this notice, there are late published several articles on accidents affecting avalanchesMessage 1, 27 December ( nu.nl )Surely seven people were killed this weekend by avalanches in the Alps. The deceases occurred in cragged countries in the independent part of Trentino-South Tyrol in Italy. Four saviors died Saturday during a hunt for two losing tourers. They were maintained at a tallness of about 2000 metres buried by an avalanche. A 14-year-old snowboarder from Germany came elsewhere in the part were killed by an avalanche. In Austria, Saturday besides still contained the remains of two German skiers, who since last Monday to book were losing.Message 2, January 3 ( nu.nl )By avalanches in Switzerland on Sunday at least four people were killed. Surely six others were earnestly injured. The media have reported in the Alpine part. In the vale near the capital Bern Diemtigtal killed two skiers and a physician for life. The physician belonged to a group of saviors after an avalanche had come to the deliverance and was buried under a 2nd avalanche. The 4th decease is a cross-country skiers in the Gallic talking portion of Guangzhou Valais was buried under an avalanche. About the nationality of the dead were non disclosed.Message 3, 4 January ( nu.nl )The decease toll from avalanches on Sunday in Switzerland on Monday has risen to five. One individual died of his hurts in infirmary. Three skiers are still losing Monday, the Swiss intelligence bureau SDA reported. In Austria, two German skiers of 18 and 19 old ages to life. In Diedamskopf ski country in the West of the state fell two Sundays off a incline and crashed into a ravine. The Austrian intelligence bureau APA reported Monday that their cadavers were found.DangersSnow Avalanches may happen if dust avalanche or sliding or rollawine. The first move at high velocity, up to 100s of kilometres per hr, and are particularly unsafe because of the tremendous force per unit area wave they create. This force per unit area moving ridge can omblazen trees and snow in the lungs of victims imperativenesss. The 2nd type of avalanche is unsafe because he people, or even full houses, and retarding forces with him to bury himself under. The snow is so pressed and frequently really hard to delve off. Under the snow, a deficiency of O to happen, but besides an accretion of C dioxide from the exhaled air of the victim, thereby choking. Apart from asphyxiation, many victims of avalanches die from hypothermia. The survival chance of an avalanche victim falls quickly with the transition of clip. After 45 proceedingss, merely a 3rd of the victims alive from the snow be removed. Shortly after the deliverance is still a important hazard of decease by the alleged â€Å" Bergungstod † ( Salvation Death ) . It brings the blood circulation traveling in front every bit much waste merchandises of metamorphosis from the limbs back to the cardinal variety meats, so that it poisoned them and interrupt. With an increasing figure of skiers, take, despite security steps, the figure of avalanche victims in the Alps far. Many of them are outside the pronounced pistes. A strong substrate, such as a wood, or particular healthy fencings, able to cut down the hazard of an avalanche in that they hold the snow or decelerating down.Categorization of hazardThe European Avalanche Scale classifies the hazard that an avalanche occurs. This categorization normally refers to larger countries and gives merely a first indicant of the possible danger. Factors such as the abruptness of a incline, sneeuwverwaaiingen, temperature, Sun, clip of twenty-four hours and orientation of a incline are besides at the micro degree besides affected. The following tabular array explains the rating graduated table. The column â€Å" How frequently † indicates how frequently an mean winter in Switzerland, this state of affairs occurs.Hazard Avalanche danger How frequently Flag1 – Low Merely on steep inclines and at high tonss, for illustration, by a group of skiers, avalanches can happen. Spontaneous avalanches are non expected. For 1/5 of the winter Yellow flag 2 à ¢â‚¬â€œ Moderate Small self-generated avalanches are possible. On steep inclines, a individual skier cause an avalanche, groups can besides do avalanches on normal inclines. For 1/2 of the winter Yellow flag 3 – Considerable Spontaneous avalanches occurred on steep inclines that besides flatter and deeper country can make. On normal inclines, a individual skier already do an avalanche. Ski touring, so off-piste, can merely take topographic point under the counsel of an experient usher. For 1/3 of the winte Yellow-black checkered flag 4 – Large Large self-generated avalanches occur. It is unsafe to go forth the sphere. For several yearss per winter Black Flag 5 – Very Large Extreme avalanche danger. Not merely the inclines are unsafe, even small towns and substructure such as roads and railwaies are threatened. You may necessitate to be evacuated. Rarely, an norm of 1 twenty-four hours per winter Black Flag

Central African Republic

Central African Republic is the landlocked country located in the center of Africa. The country lies largely in the savanna zone of Africa. The north part is treeless, whereas the southern portion of the country contains dense tropical rainforests. The climate is too bad and moist because it covered with waterways and mountains. The population of the country is moderately populated. Agriculture is the largest sector and basis of Central African Republic because it situated on a fertile pleatue and abundant in water resources. So, in upcoming paragraph I will explain the population growth, components of population growth, total fertility rate, life expectancy and population pyramid of the Central African Republic in the year 1997, 2017 and 2037. In 2017 the population of the Central African Republic is increasing because the death rate is low constant and low during this year. On the other hand the birth rate is also decreasing but still higher than the death rate. According to, demographic transition theory the country is in phase 3 which is called transitional stage. Demographic transition is a model of population change in which high birth and death rates are replaced by low birth and death rates (Knox, Marston and imort .p.g.90). This happens due to improvements in hygiene (e.g. Availability of clean water and basic sanitation), nutrition and health services. Besides the decreasing birth rate; the population is still high due to the change in family pattern and also government spend less money on child benefits and maternal grants. The most common way for demographers to graphically represent the composition of the population is an age-sex pyramid, which is a representation of the population based on its composition according to age and sex. In an age-sex pyramid of Central African Republic there is baby boom appears in all the three years. Moreover, there is high fertility rate and low mortality rate in all three years. The average life expectancy (average no.of years a member can expect to live at current death rates.) of the people is 70 years and the death rate is approximately same in all the three years.in 2037 there is high dependency rate as compared to other years because there is more people in the youth charot than the people in the working class.(census, bureau). As according to population pyramid graph of the Central African Republic they predict that In 2037, there will be high population in the age group of 0-14 as compared to the other age group because birth rate seems to be increasing in the years 2017and 2037 and due to this there is more people in younger age group as compared to working class.Similarly,in 2037 this younger age group grow up and join the workforce but still there is high population in younger age group and consistency appears in the people of old age group. And due to this there is high dependency rate in the year 2037(census bureau). A demographic transition is a â€Å"model of population change in which high birth and death rates are replaced by low birth rate and death rates† (Knox, Marston & Imort pg.90). According to demographic transition theory in 2017, Population of Central African Republic lies in transitional phase (phase 3). Population trend increase in the year 2017 whereas birth rate and death rate decrease. Total population of demographic republic was 5,625,118 and its birth rate was 34.3 and death rate 13.2 this is because of industrialization. Most people focus on their carrier and they believe in family planning because due to industrialization life become more expensive.(census, bureau) Economic: Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry and mining, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with about 60% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates more than half of GDP. Timber and diamonds account for most export earnings, followed by cotton. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked geography, poor transportation system, largely unskilled work force, and legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs (2018, economy and trade). Due to the poor facilities people are not able to survive longer and the population seems to be less in the old age group. Social: Gender equality is only a dream for women in the Central African Republic, although, in comparison to other countries in the sub-region, the country has made a lot of progress. Women are treated as inferior to men both economically and socially, and women in rural areas suffer more discrimination than their urban counterparts. About 60 to 70 percent of urban women attend primary school as opposed to 10 to 20 percent of their rural counterparts. As the CFR is the developing country there is equal participation of the male and females in workforce appears in the year 2017 and 2037 as compared to 1997( 2018,women in business). On the home front, the entire family is involved in infant care. Infants are traditionally weaned only when they are about two years. There are only a few childcare units, and Christian missionary schools typically operate them. Due to these facilities available to them they are able to have more child. In its survey of 191 countries, the World Health Organization ranked the Central African Republic's health care system second from the bottom in overall performance. Medical facilities are extremely limited in the Central African Republic, and the quality of care is unreliable.  Sanitation levels are low, and drinking unfiltered tap water is inadvisable.  About 25 percent of funding for health care in the country comes from outside aid (2018, health care). Due to this people are unable to survive longer and their average life expectancy is less in all the three years. Environmental: Central African Republic is a landlocked country located north of the equator, in almost the precise center of Africa. The climate is largely tropical, however, there are differences between regions in the north and south of the country. In general the climate is hot with an average monthly temperature recorded in the capital, Bangui, of 25 °C (77 °F) or more all year-round(2018,climate). Due to bad climate condition there is less population in the tropical area. Over the next 15-20 years the biggest demographic challenge for this country is to increase the average life expectancy of the people so that the population growth is equal in all age groups. This is the biggest challenge because of poor health conditions and services and inadequate food distribution in society and as well as there is lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality rate ,high death rates and lower population growth going on currently in CFR. In the end, Central African Republic is progressing country and the government is working on providing better health and food facilities to the people and the population get balanced in all age groups in upcoming years. Due to this population will able to survive longer and more and more start joining the workforce. WORK CITEDCentral African Republic. (2018). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/Central-African-Republic/108327#40682.tocKnox, P. I., Marston, S. A., ; Imort, M. (2015). Human geography: Places and regions in global context.Global Road Warriorâ„ ¢. (2018, October) Central African Republic: Economy and Trade. World Trade Press. Retrieved from www.globalroadwarrior.com/#mode=country;regionId=28;uri=country-content;nid=1.04;key=facts-economyGlobal Road Warriorâ„ ¢. (2018, October) Central African Republic: Women in Business. World Trade Press. Retrieved from www.globalroadwarrior.com/#mode=country;regionId=28;uri=country-content;nid=20.33;key=women-businessGlobal Road Warriorâ„ ¢. (2018, October) Central African Republic: Climate. World Trade Press. Retrieved from www.globalroadwarrior.com/#mode=country;regionId=28;uri=country-content;nid=63;key=climate-overviewU.S. Census Bureau.(2018). International Programs: Internatio nal Data Base. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/datatools

Siddhartha essays

Siddhartha essays What do you get when you cross a novel with a spiritual guide to life? Hermann Hesses Siddhartha. The book is the life story of a man who has one lofty goal: to become enlightened. He was born the son of a Brahmin, a member of the highest social class. Yet he was unhappy with the teachings of the Brahmins, so instead of remaining one of them and becoming a priest, he became a wandering ascetic (a Samana), then a merchant, then a ferryman, seeking some sort of enlightenment every step of the way. Eventually, at the end of his life, he reached enlightenment, but only after a lifetime of diligently following divergent paths. Siddhartha had to take so many different paths in his life because he didnt really know what he was searching for. His goal was enlightenment. But what is enlightenment? That was the question that he never asked himself. He was searching for something undefined, something that is indescribable. He had a general idea of what it was, and he had a general idea of how to get it, but however hard he tried, whatever path he took, it never seemed to come any closer. As a Brahmin, something was bothering him. He felt unfulfilled, like his life was empty. The Brahmins...knew a tremendous number of things but was it worth while knowing all these things if they did not know the one important thing, the only important thing? He knew that he could not attain enlightenment as one of them, so he joined the Samanas, thinking that they were on the right path. But after three years with them, he was able to realize that they werent going anywhere either. I believe that amongst all the Samanas, probably not even one will attain Nirvana. He had heard rumors of a man who had become enlightened, and so he left the Samanas with his friend Govinda, and went to seek out Buddha, the enlightened one. There, he acknowledged Buddhas transcendence but disagreed with his teachings. ...

This book is so relevant for us adolescents at thi Essays

This book is so relevant for us adolescents at thi Essays This book is so relevant for us adolescents at this conference as we are moving from childhood to adulthood. This novel set in the 1950s is as relevant sixty years later as it was when it was originally published [Published in 1950s but set in 1930s]. It challenges us adolescents to grow from our naive view of the world like scout at the beginning of the novel into an understanding that prejudice exists in our world. It is our challenge to become adults like scout in the novel, and to accept our place in the adult world "you never really understand a person until you consider things from his [their] point of viewuntil you climb into his skin and walk around in [it]"-Atticus finch to Scout [chapter ] We see life from another point of view which is a true enjoyment of this book. Relevant because it critiques social issues relevant today, the morals and values are timeless as they still happen today It was written during a period of a huge change [1950] -Mockingbird is nostalgia [looking back at the past- beautiful moments] and criticism "The thing about it is, our kind of folks don't like the Cunningham's, the Cunningham's don't like the Ewells and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folks." Jem talking to Scout about hierarchy The role of woman - dresses, lady like Very strong roles of women Cant play sports Growing up Part of growing up to move from the pleasant to the unpleasant, to move on. i.e. Dill coming to Miss Maudie's house burning down they also learn their father is courageous and learn to admire him all over again [we need more of him today in our world -ms mcdonald] They have to learn not to accept the dominate view of Maycomb that negro's are inferior [racist views] Race and Racism The trial shows how racism shapes society i.e. How does racism shape Australia, aboriginals etc. Justice How should you treat people Justice isn't only about the law it is also about treating people nicely; with justice Difficult to do right in a system that is corrupt [scout tries to do the right thing but the community is corrupt - the trial, the jury] In the novel the novel both shows the unjust of Tom Robinson's death and the hope of justice with Bob Ewells death How to write an introduction **use personal pronouns as it is a persuasive text trying to convince others on your view and perspective** Example introduction: The quote of Maya Angelou, " Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible," is a timely reminder that this element present in all societies and time needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Prejudice lessens the potential of both the individual and society. We must always be vigilant of our own responses when faced with prejudice and fight for justice when evident within our communities. It is an honour to be invited to submit this paper to the Annual United Nation's Youth Conference to persuade you that Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mocking-bird should be included in a list of novels studied by students as it explores ideas relevant in the 21st century. Harper Lee brilliantly underpins the issue of prejudice in this Pulitzer Award winning novel. The narrative is set in 1930's in the small Alabama town of Maycomb. Although over eighty years separate this cultural context from today, its message of tolerance and understanding is as relevant then as today. Lee reveals the ugly face of prejudice in a myriad of societal situations. I will focus on how this plays out in racism, the role of women and the justice system. In all three it is evident that prejudice diminishes many individual's lives and therefore the potential for Maycomb to fully utilise the potential of its inhabitants. Hopefully, you will take Lee's analysis of the pernicious effects of prejudice and be inspired to fight against it in your own communities. This novel is truly a warning about how prejudice can undermine the healthy function of a community. For this reason it is truly a novel for all seasons and times, as relevant then as today. Steps to write an introduction Hook in Thesis Expand on the thesis Go back to

Banana Chips

This provides an ample opportunity to a new entrant as the market is not dominated by some brands and with good quality and competitive pricing, it is possible to capture adequate market share. Production Banana Chips or Crisps are deep fried snack a small or casual meal. Cooking type bananas produce good Chips/Crisps. It is easy to make and the product is very tasty. The small-scale production requires but a few equipment, viz. A stove (Gas, Diesel fired or even a Firewood Stove), Kitchen knives, Peelers, Cutting boards, Plastic buckets, Cooking pots, Containers, Frying pan or Wok, Long Spoons or ladles, Cheese cloth, Colander, Trays and Baskets, Plastic Pouches, Candles amp; old Hacksaw blade or a small Electric Impulse Heat Sealer and Weighing scale. Production steps of Banana ChipsGood large size green cooking bananas slices are cut cross wise to give circular shape. Bigger size fruits are preferred to produce large size slices and an attractive product. Different varieties give products of different colour, flavour and taste. Crosswise slicing gives uniform, circular, attractive, product and is universally adopted for commercial production. This way as the slicing is faster the production increases. The steps involved in Banana Chips processing are: Selection: Good quality, green cooking bananas is preferred. Cutting and Peeling: Using a knife, banana bunches are separated from the main stem and individual bananas hands are separated from the bunches. Using a hand peeler, bananas are peeled and immediately sliced cross wise into thin, round slices. As some varieties with latex cause itching or irritation while handling, it is better to rub the hands with salt before peeling and slicing. Immersion in salt water: Immediately after slicing the slices are placed in salt water @ 3 to 5% of salt to the water. Added salt gets in to the slices and improves taste arid acceptability of the product. If slices are not placed in water, they turn Brown and later give an unacceptable dark product. Frying: Keep a large shallow Frying Pan or wok over a suitable stove (with adjustments for flame/heat control). The frying pan should be thick bottomed and with side rings for easy handling. Good edible vegetable cooking oil is used for frying. Bring the oil to fuming hot temperature. The long spoon or ladle used for taking out the fried chips from the wok can be either a big perforated one, of 8 to 12 inches in diameter and with long handle or of a large diameter wire mesh spoon with bamboo handle. The salt soaked slices are then dropped one by one manually into the hot oil in the frying pan. Never put the slices together in clusters into the oil as the slices being starchy stick to each other and are difficult to separate later. The normal practice followed is: Holding slices in left hand and dropping in rapid succession the separated slices one by one into the hot oil, or Slices taken out from the salt solution, separated and arranged either on a cheese cloth or on the dry big spoon itself and then carefully dropped into the hot oil. The frying temperature is maintained around 150 to 160C (just fuming) and frying time around 3 5 minutes depending on the slice thickness. Slices are deep-fried to golden yellow colour (till the bubbles seize) and taken out immediately using big perforated spoon. Over frying turns the chips dark and this will be considered an unattractive product. Draining of oil: Deep fried chips are put into perforated Colander for the excess oil to drain out and later transferred to a wide plastic or aluminum tray lined with craft paper or kitchen towel which absorbs/removes excess oil in chips and product is allowed to cool. Packing: Chips should never be packed while hot since hot air inside the pack condenses into water, which moistens the crisps resulting in soft, soggy chips. After cooling, chips are packed manually in plastic pouches and scaled airtight using either Hacksaw blade over candle flame or an electric impulse plastic sealer. Market PotentialDemand and SupplyThere is a very large market for banana chips and they can be sold at all such places where people assemble like theatres, picnic spots, bus stands or railway stations, traffic junctions etc. Retailing has to be done through small grocery shops as well as big departmental stores and super markets. There exists a strong demand for banana chips as most people enjoy eating snacks. While fresh cooking bananas are widely available, banana chips are not easily available in many parts of the country. Making chips increases the shelf life of the product in times of abundant harvest. Sales Location The owner has several options for selling the product as follows: At the local market; Through shops; and Through hotels amp; clubs. If the owner wishes to sell direct to the end customer, then the location with the highest traffic should be chosen. This will generally mean higher expenses in the form of rent. If the owner wishes to sell through shops, hotels or clubs, then the business can be started from your house. However, the owner will have to accept a lower mark-up to allow for a margin to be made for the shop owner. Costing the BusinessEquipment cost The following list represents a range of possible equipment needed for establishing a small scale banana chip producing business: Item | Quantity | Estimated Cost (Birr) | Purpose | Equipment | | | | Wok of frying pan | 1 | 500 | Fry chips | Gas Burners | 2 | 3000 | Stove top cooking | Plastic pots with lids | 5 | 200 | Storage | Knives | 3 | 60 | Cutting food | Spoons, wooden ladles | 5 each | 100 | Stirring for uniform frying | Cooling trays | 2 | 100 | Cooling hot fried chips prior to packing | Bag sealer | | 1600 | Packing fried chips | Total Equipment | | 5560 | | The prices used are estimated average cost based on Adama prices at the time this document was prepared. The above capital requirements are based on the principle of starting a small scale banana chip producing operation with minimum outlay of capital. This business can be of larger scale through the introduction of a deep fryer, and slicing machine. Staff CostA basic banana chip operation could be started by an owner helped by a family member. Position | Main responsibility | Monthly salary (Birr) | Owner | Manage business: decide prices, prepare chips, procure suppliers, supervise all staffs | 1500 | Helper | Assist in all areas | 700 | Total Staff Cost | | 2200 | Raw Material costYour major raw material is cooking bananas. Availability and price you pay for bananas will be determined to some extent by the weather conditions. In times of drought, availability will be less and price will be high. We will buy regularly from a few farmers. Once the suppliers know that we will be buying regularly, they will adjust their production to meet our demand and they should be willing to offer us a special price. Based on the costing and pricing part of this document, our raw material cost will be 1. 80 birr per 100 gram package. Raw materials include the raw banana, oil, salt, packaging and label. Raw material cost for one month consumption: Item | Quantity | Estimated Cost (Birr) | Raw Banana | 50kg | 600 | Edible Oil | 30ltr | 850 | Salt | 5kg | 15 | Packaging polythene/plastic | 1package | 200 | Total Raw Material Cost | | 1665 | License or Registration CostThe size and nature of this business does not require company registration and will be set-up as small and micro enterprise. For the purpose of this guide, the annual licence fee is estimated at 200 Birr. Operating CostA banana chip producing business has certain operational costs. Some of these costs are: Paid once when we establish services such as water, electricity ; Some are paid on a monthly basis. When we start our business we will usually need some working capital (money) to establish services, pay certain yearly expenses and to meet some of our monthly operational costs until the business can generate enough income to meet these costs. In the case of a banana chip producing business this should only be for the first month. The size and nature of this business probably will not warrant renting a new place. Electricity is not needed, but water is essential to the operation. Hence the operating costs listed below are on the basis of incremental costs incurred to run the business. For the purposes of this guide, it has been assumed that the product will be sold through a market stall. Below is a table showing the start-up and monthly operating cost associated with a banana chip producing business. Operational Cost | Initial Working Capital (Birr) | Monthly (Birr) | Rent (market stall) | 1000 | 500 | Water charges | 10 | 10 | Electricity | 50 | 50 | Gas | 200 | 200 | Cleaning supplies | 50 | 25 | miscellaneous | 100 | 50 | Total Operating Cost | 1410 | 335 | Startup Costs Item | Total (Birr) | Equipment | 5560 | Staff | 2200 | License and Registration | 200 | Raw Materials (First month) | 1665 | Operating expenses | 1410 | Total Start-up cost | 11,035 | The cost to start a banana chip producing business is around Birr 10,000. Costing and PricingIngredients: Bunch of cooking banana Water Salt Cooking oil Plastic bag Label Costing Ingredients | Quantity | Cost (Birr) | Cooking Banana | 100gms | 1. 35 | Salt amp; Cooking oil | | 0. 15 | Plastic Bag | | 0. 15 | Label | | 0. 15 | Total Cost per 100gm bag | | 1. 80 | Selling PriceObviously our selling price cannot be below Birr 1. 80. To determine our selling price we will try and investigate prices for similar items available. If there is a similar item, then our price will be close to that price. As we will be selling our product through shops, hotels or clubs, so we would have to allow a reasonable margin for the reseller. Probably a reasonable price for the above product will be Birr 2. 50. We will review prices if our product is not selling. ProfitabilityMonthly profit and loss | Breakeven Sales | Sale per day | 175 bags | Sales per month (25 days) | 4335 bags | Cost of raw materials | 1. 80birr/bag*4335 bag=7803 birr | Gross Profit | 2. 50birr/bag*4335bag-7803birr=3035 | Operational expenses/month | | Rent(market stall) | 500 | Wages | 2200 | Electricity | 50 | Gas | 200 | Water | 10 | Cleaning Supplies | 25 | Miscellaneous | 50 | Total | 3035 | Operating profit per month before tax | 0 | If we assume 2. 0 birr per bag unit price then the breakeven sales for this business is 175 bags per day. This means that if you sell less than 175 bags per day, you will make a loss. If you sell more than 175 bags per day at unit price of 2. 50 birr, you will make a profit. Financing the BusinessThe size and nature of this business is such that savings must necessarily be used for financing the business. In addition to our saving we will take a loan from Oromia Micro Finance Enterprise. Source of Finance | Amount (Birr) | Saving | 300 0 | Loan | 9000 | Total | 12,000 |

Are you are an agonistic democrat Why or Why not Essay

Are you are an agonistic democrat Why or Why not - Essay Example Agonists might, in some cases, be seen as troublemakers—depending upon one’s viewpoint. Agonist ideals differ more than that of the views of regular Democrats because they insist upon arguing as a means to an end, not for other reasons. Here it will be attempted to explore: whether or not I am an agonistic Democrat; why or why not; and how a consideration of my own political life, my goals, and my experiences as an active citizen might shed light on the larger attractiveness and the applicability of an agonistic approach to democratic politics. II. Am I An Agonistic Democrat? (400 words) Although many times terms can be unclear, I do not consider myself an agonistic Democrat. After all, â€Å"One seldom finds a clear definition of the political.†1 I don’t exactly consider myself a deliberative Democrat either by any means. â€Å"Liberal democracy†¦is a specific form of organizing politically human coexistence which results from the articulation betwe en two different traditions: on one side, political liberalism†¦and, on the other side, the democratic tradition of popular sovereignty.†2 Usually, deliberative Democrats and agonistic Democrats are antagonistic to each other anyway. ... I strongly believe that exhausting all diplomatic means in order to reach an agreement is the best solution to any type of conflict. Physical disputes are not only barbaric but dated. Honestly, I don’t feel that verbal arguments necessarily solve many problems either. Instead, politicians should focus upon trying not to argue—but, rather, in developing a consistent dialogue that focuses upon the real problems that are plaguing their constituents. Instead of arguing over petty trivialities, politicians—especially Democrats—should be trying to shy away from political theater and the creation of drama for drama’s sake. It’s nice to give news organizations sound bytes—but when it comes down to brass tacks, words are just empty words until actions are aligned with those words. Democrats can argue until they are blue in the face—but until they ensure that positive actions are in line with what they are saying, the Democrats—ago nists alike—will not be taken seriously as a political party that can be trusted with the future of the country. Agonists in particular should abandon the notion that they must fight in order to prove their point. In order to effect real change, the American people require genuine diplomats. III. Why or Why Not? (300 words) I think the reason why I do not consider myself agonistic is because I find arguing pedantic and puerile. Agonistic Democrats seem like they are only interested in petty arguments—instead of arguing for the sake of producing true change. Aristotle claimed that â€Å"†¦the intimacy of ethical [alliances] limit†¦the number of our [alliance]s.†3 Agonistic Democrats are exactly what this country doesn’t need. People who are out just to create drama

How to Make Almost Anything Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How to Make Almost Anything - Essay Example ‘Digital fabrication will allow individuals to design and produce tangible objects on demand, wherever and whenever they need them.’ (Gershenfeld, 2012) In the past manufacturing and construction were run on manually procedures, which were then substituted with machines and other tool. However, when these machines were replaced by the digital technology the numerically controlled tools transformed the way of doing business. The additive manufacturing is another enhancement of the digital fabrication that turns data into things and things into data. It has made it possible to make two elements e.g. bearing and axle at the same time that was not possible through the traditional manufacturing processes and tools. The 3D printer is one of the examples of this technique used by many companies to create complex products and designs. The digital fabrication came in stages with the first generation being made available to the researchers with reasonable pricing. The second and more advanced generation of digital fabrication products are now in the market that are more expensive with freely shared plans and modifications. In order to demonstrate the usability of the digital fabrication products ‘fab labs (fabrication labs or fabulous lab)’ were created with different digital fabrication tools at a net worth of $50,000. These tools included the 3-D printers, computer-controlled lasers, milling components, components of moulding and casting arts etc. These labs showcased the usability of digital fabrication to the world. Also these fab labs provided to be parts of the continuing revolution for e.g. the fabrication lab in Manchester is taking an active part in the new industrial revolution. Digital fabrication is all about having the computer-controlled tools to custom design your product in a faster and more efficient manner. The article gives many examples that show that digital fabrication is a

Managing People and Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing People and Organisations - Essay Example It can change, it can grow and it can develop into something which is larger than the organisation itself. The literature on company cultures as well as other examples from companies such as GE and Apple shows us that having a strong culture is a good thing only if the culture is positive and leads to the objectives of the company being met. In a situation where the culture is strongly negative the environment can become toxic and the symptoms mentioned in the case certainly point towards that happening in Gillman Autos. Things such as shiftitus, covering ass and passing the buck are perfect signs of a negative culture and the stronger it is the worse off a company would be. For the company itself, it seems that the culture is certainly a result of the 2x4 management style. As per the literature on company culture, the formation of the culture depends on the leadership of the company (Gardner, 1995) and the present situation as described for Gillman Autos is simply a result of their ineffective management system. The controls which should have been in place to prevent this from happening seem to have been ignored altogether. Without effective control, a company will end up with bad leadership and a bad leader will not only bring down his/her own output but also of those who fulfil the role of subordinates (Armstrong, 1999). Culture, social responsibility, ethics and the work environment all flow from the leadership of a company. This was realised by GE when the company saw high turnover in their international communications department and even though the department was not one of the primary departments of the company, significant junior level turnover caused the senior managers to get worried. After making some inquires and revaluations of exit interviews, the company discovered that a line manager was causing problems for others by creating a negative culture within the department. The department could not be made productive until that manager

IASB improved conceptual framework for financial reporting Essay

IASB improved conceptual framework for financial reporting - Essay Example Legal entities of different types of ownership are obliged to comply with regulations in financial reporting, stated in the national accounting standards. But the current process of economic and business globalisation caused the necessity of a common set of standards that could be applied in many countries, providing the consistency and uniformity of accounting and financial reporting throughout the world.Thus, in 2001 the special International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has been established in the UK in order to design standards, intended to attain a global acceptance. If a company complies with the international accounting standard, it will likely achieve a faithful representation of its financial performance; as well as it will provide the basis for analysis of the company’s position on the global market and further prospects for development of its business. Such information is extremely useful for different stakeholders helping them to make better decisions concerni ng the company. The â€Å"decision-usefulness† approach in accounting has been known even from the 1930-40s. Currently it is laid at the heart of the Conceptual Framework of Financial Reporting, which is being developed by the IASB in collaboration with the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). This essay is aimed to analyse critically the IASB’s Framework, in particular, regarding the objectives of financial reporting and qualitative characteristics of financial reporting information. ... at that time conceptual frameworks with a common standard, which was intended to be â€Å"sound, comprehensive, and internally consistent† (IASB, 2006. p.8). Boards were primarily motivated by two objectives – firstly, to provide convergence of existing frameworks, and, secondly, to secure an improvement of the decision-usefulness approach in financial reporting. The fundamental principles of the new conception were adopted from several previous documents. A monograph â€Å"A Statement of Basic Accounting Theory†, published in 1966 by the American Accounting Association, emphasised that information ensuing from a process of accounting is more important than the process itself; it defined an accounting as â€Å"†¦identifying, measuring, and communicating economic information to permit informed judgements and decisions by users of the information.† (Lewis & Pendrill, 2004, p. 3) Another important document, which has begun to refocus the accounting polic y from stewardship to providing information useful for various stakeholders, is the Trueblood Committee report â€Å"Objectives of Financial Statements† (1973). It formulated an objective of financial statements as: â€Å"to provide information useful to investors and creditors for predicting, comparing, and evaluating potential cash flows to them in terms of amount, timing, and related uncertainty† (Zeff, 1999, p. 100). In July 2006 the first concept of IASB Framework was published in the form of a Discussion Paper. It defines the objective of financial reporting as â€Å"†¦to provide information that is useful to present and potential investors and creditors and others in making investment, credit, and similar resource allocation decisions† (IASB, 2006, p.18, OB2). This objective could be achieved if provided information

Promotion and Price Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Promotion and Price Paper - Essay Example This paper will look at the promotional and pricing strategies employed GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Plc in the marketing Advair. Focusing on the promotional efforts of the company, this report will identify the general strategy utilized by GSK. Next, the more specific efforts will be examined including the choice of media, content, and the message which is being conveyed. This paper will also look at the life cycle stage of Advair and how GSK prices according to this factor. Lastly, the appropriateness of the promotional and pricing strategies to the marketing mix will be examined. GlaxoSmithKline Plc is engaged in the "creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical and consumer health related products worldwide" (GlaxoSmithKline Plc Profile 2007). In furthering its quest in becoming an innovator and pioneer in the world's pharmaceutical industry, GSK launched Advair, a combination of Serevent and Flitoxide which offers a long acting bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory in a single inhaler (GlaxoSmithKline Annual Report 2005) in 2001. With the company's aggressive and intensive promotion effort, Advair is currently recognized brand in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among the products in the portfolio of GSK, Advair generates the highest revenue and total profit. During 2005, Advair is GSK's bestseller, posting annual double-digit growth. In order to support this growth, GSK also allocates chunk of its budget in Advair promotional strategy. Being a relatively new market product in the market, Advair is launched and introduced through the use of different media like print ads, televisions, direct mail, internet, telemarketing, radio, and point of purchase. During the first 11 months of 2006, AC-Nielsen reports that GSK spent $120.5 million for Advair. This represents 16% of GSK's total promotional expenditures (Lopatto 2006). Advair Promotion The promotional strategy of GSK has gone a long way in introducing and enhancing the position of Advair in the global pharmaceutical industry. In 2005, Advair is ranked 7th in terms of global turnover. There has also been an increased used of the product since it was launched in the COPD market in January 2004 (Timmons 2005). Both in Europe and United States, Advair is becoming a number one alternative for the treatment of COPD. Thus, GSK is intensifying its effort in marketing Advair as a treatment for this disease. During May 14, 2005 the product is also approved for the treatment of asthma in children ages 4-11 (GlaxoSmithKline 2006). Advair capitalizes on the strength of GSK in the treatment of asthma and COPD. The promotional strategies of Advair, thus, centers on this core competence. As mentioned above, GSK's effort in the promotion of Advair has been both extensive and intensive, making use of almost all available channels. Advair is generally promoted as an essential component of COPD treatment and the most effective and convenient choice in asthma treatment. In order to simplify the analysis of the message and content of the advertisemen

Managing People and Organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing People and Organisations - Essay Example It can change, it can grow and it can develop into something which is larger than the organisation itself. The literature on company cultures as well as other examples from companies such as GE and Apple shows us that having a strong culture is a good thing only if the culture is positive and leads to the objectives of the company being met. In a situation where the culture is strongly negative the environment can become toxic and the symptoms mentioned in the case certainly point towards that happening in Gillman Autos. Things such as shiftitus, covering ass and passing the buck are perfect signs of a negative culture and the stronger it is the worse off a company would be. For the company itself, it seems that the culture is certainly a result of the 2x4 management style. As per the literature on company culture, the formation of the culture depends on the leadership of the company (Gardner, 1995) and the present situation as described for Gillman Autos is simply a result of their ineffective management system. The controls which should have been in place to prevent this from happening seem to have been ignored altogether. Without effective control, a company will end up with bad leadership and a bad leader will not only bring down his/her own output but also of those who fulfil the role of subordinates (Armstrong, 1999). Culture, social responsibility, ethics and the work environment all flow from the leadership of a company. This was realised by GE when the company saw high turnover in their international communications department and even though the department was not one of the primary departments of the company, significant junior level turnover caused the senior managers to get worried. After making some inquires and revaluations of exit interviews, the company discovered that a line manager was causing problems for others by creating a negative culture within the department. The department could not be made productive until that manager

Promotion and Price Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Promotion and Price Paper - Essay Example This paper will look at the promotional and pricing strategies employed GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Plc in the marketing Advair. Focusing on the promotional efforts of the company, this report will identify the general strategy utilized by GSK. Next, the more specific efforts will be examined including the choice of media, content, and the message which is being conveyed. This paper will also look at the life cycle stage of Advair and how GSK prices according to this factor. Lastly, the appropriateness of the promotional and pricing strategies to the marketing mix will be examined. GlaxoSmithKline Plc is engaged in the "creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical and consumer health related products worldwide" (GlaxoSmithKline Plc Profile 2007). In furthering its quest in becoming an innovator and pioneer in the world's pharmaceutical industry, GSK launched Advair, a combination of Serevent and Flitoxide which offers a long acting bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory in a single inhaler (GlaxoSmithKline Annual Report 2005) in 2001. With the company's aggressive and intensive promotion effort, Advair is currently recognized brand in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among the products in the portfolio of GSK, Advair generates the highest revenue and total profit. During 2005, Advair is GSK's bestseller, posting annual double-digit growth. In order to support this growth, GSK also allocates chunk of its budget in Advair promotional strategy. Being a relatively new market product in the market, Advair is launched and introduced through the use of different media like print ads, televisions, direct mail, internet, telemarketing, radio, and point of purchase. During the first 11 months of 2006, AC-Nielsen reports that GSK spent $120.5 million for Advair. This represents 16% of GSK's total promotional expenditures (Lopatto 2006). Advair Promotion The promotional strategy of GSK has gone a long way in introducing and enhancing the position of Advair in the global pharmaceutical industry. In 2005, Advair is ranked 7th in terms of global turnover. There has also been an increased used of the product since it was launched in the COPD market in January 2004 (Timmons 2005). Both in Europe and United States, Advair is becoming a number one alternative for the treatment of COPD. Thus, GSK is intensifying its effort in marketing Advair as a treatment for this disease. During May 14, 2005 the product is also approved for the treatment of asthma in children ages 4-11 (GlaxoSmithKline 2006). Advair capitalizes on the strength of GSK in the treatment of asthma and COPD. The promotional strategies of Advair, thus, centers on this core competence. As mentioned above, GSK's effort in the promotion of Advair has been both extensive and intensive, making use of almost all available channels. Advair is generally promoted as an essential component of COPD treatment and the most effective and convenient choice in asthma treatment. In order to simplify the analysis of the message and content of the advertisemen

History of Mexican Revolution Essay Example for Free

History of Mexican Revolution Essay The novel transports readers to a ghost town on the desert plains in Mexico, and there it weaves together tales of passion, loss, and revenge. The village of Comala is populated by the wandering souls of former inhabitants, individuals not yet pure enough to enter heaven. Like the character Juan Preciado, who travels to Comala and suddenly finds himself confused, as readers we are not sure about what we see, hear, or understand. But the novel is enigmatic for other reasons. Since publication in 1955, the novel has come to define a style of writing in Mexico. Sparse language, echoes of orality, details heavy with meaning, and a fragmentary structure transformed the literary representation of rural life; instead of the social realism that had dominated in earlier decades, Rulfo created a quintessentially Mexican, modernist gothic.. The haunting effect of Pedro Paramo derives from the fitful story of Mexican modernity, a story that the novel tells in a way that more objective historical and sociological analyses cannot. As an aesthetic expression characterized by imaginative understanding, the novel explores Mexican social history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The decadent remnants of a quasi-feudal social order, violent revolutions, and a dramatic exodus from the countryside to the city all gave rise to ghost towns across Mexico. Pedro Paramo tells the stories of three main characters: Juan Preciado, Pedro Paramo, and Susana San Juan. From the point of view of Juan Preciado, the novel is the story of a sons search for identity and retribution. Juans mother, Dolores Preciado, was Pedro Paramos wife. Although he does not bear his fathers name, Juan is Pedros only legitimate son. Juan has returned to Comala to claim [j]ust whats ours, as he had earlier promised his dying mother. Juan Preciado guides readers into the ghost story as he encounters the lost souls of Comala, sees apparitions, hears voices, and eventually suspects that he too is dead. We see through Juans eyes and hear with his ears the voices of those buried in the cemetery, a reading experience that evokes the poetic obituaries of Edgar Lee Masters Spoon River Anthology (1915). Along with Juan Preciado, readers piece together these fragments of lives to construct an image of Comala and its demise. Interspersed among the fragments recounting Juans story are flashbacks to the biography of Pedro Paramo. Pedro is the son of landowners who have seen better days. He also loves a young girl, Susana San Juan, with a desire that consumes his life into adulthood. I came to Comala because I had been told that my father, a man named Pedro Paramo, lived there. —page 3 Although the story line in these biographical fragments follows a generally chronological order, the duration of time is strangely distorted; brief textual passages that may read like conversational exchanges sometimes condense large historical periods. Moreover, the third-person narrative voice oscillates between two discursive registers. On the one hand, poetic passages of interior monologue capture Pedros love for Susana and his sensuality; on the other, more exterior descriptions and dialogues represent a domineering rancher determined to amass wealth and possessions. Within this alternation between the first- and third-person narrative voices, readers must listen for another voice and reconstruct a third story, that of Susana San Juan. We overhear bits of her tale through the ears of Juan Preciado, listening with him to the complaints that Susana—in her restless death—gives forth in the cemetery of Comala. I was thinking of you, Susana. Of the green hills. Of when we used to fly kits in the windy season. We could hear the sounds of life from the town below; we were high above on the hill, playing out string to the wind. Help me Susana. And soft hands would tighten on mine. Let out more string. —page 12 Poetic sections evoke her passion for another man, Florencio, and Pedro never becomes the object of Susanas affection. Juan Preciado, Pedro Paramo, and Susana San Juan are all haunted by ghosts; in turn, they become ghosts who haunt the realities of others. They say that when people from there die and go to hell, they come back for a blanket. —page 6 Although as readers we have the sense of lives once lived by these characters, they emerge for us as phantasms, as partially known presences who are not immediately intelligible and who linger with inexplicable tenacity. Reading Pedro Paramo creates a transformative recognition of Mexicos move toward modernity in the early twentieth century; more than the objective lessons learned from social and cultural history, as a novel, Pedro Paramo produces a structure of feeling for readers that immerses us through the experience of haunting. As ghosts, Pedro, Susana, and Juan point outward to the social context of Mexico in the difficult movement toward modernization, toward social arrangements that never completely die as a newer social order is established. Pedros accumulation of land as a rancher harks back to the trends of capital accumulation during the benign dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz (1876-1911). The Porfiriato strove to modernize the nation through the development of infrastructure and investment; it allowed for anomalies such as the creation of the Media Luna ranch and strong local power brokers such as Pedro Paramo who shared the interests of the elite and helped maintain a thinly veiled feudal social order. Within this context, Susana San Juan and other individuals murmur their complaints in ghostly whispers. Indeed, at one point, Rulfo planned to call the novel Los murmullos—the murmurs. Speaking in the streets of Comala, overheard in dreams, and groaning in the cemetery, these spectral murmurs bespeak a reality hidden beneath the facade of Porfirian progress. The Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920 gave expression to repressed peasants—the campesinos of rural Mexico—and put an end to the Porfiriato. Susana San Juan, in turn, reveals the repressed role of women in a patriarchal order. In this world women are chattel and ranch-owners can forcibly populate the countryside with bastard children by asserting feudal rights to the bodies of peasant women living on their lands. Peasant revolutionaries and Susana San Juan as well are all manipulated by Pedro Paramo. He can force events to keep them all in the places where he would have them, but he cannot control their desires and their pleasures. The peasants celebrate festivals, and after the revolution they eventually rebel again by participating in the Cristero Revolt of 1926-1929. Susana suffers guilt and remembers pleasure in evocative passages that underscore her erotic ties to Florencio, a man unknown to others in the novel, perhaps a dead soldier from the revolution, the man Pedro would have had to be in order to have Susanas love. The sky was crowded with fat, swollen stars. The moon had come out for a little while and then vanished. It was one of those sad moons that nobody looks at or even notices. It hung there for a little while, pale and disfigured, and then hid itself behind the mountains. -Juan Rulfo References Carol Clark DLugo, The Fragmented Novel in Mexico: The Politics of Form (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997), 70-81. Patrick Dove, Exigele lo nuestro: Deconstruction, Restitution and the Demand of Speech in Pedro Paramo, Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies 10. 1 (2001): 25-44,

Political Application of Liberty and Rights

Political Application of Liberty and Rights The concept of freedom A general definition of liberty or freedom defines it as immunity from subjective exercise of authority. However, philosophers of the seventeenth and eighteenth century seem to explore deeper aspects of this concept. Among these philosophers are Thomas Hobbes and Rousseau, who held strong philosophies of liberty but somewhere along the line, their views differed. To begin with, Hobbes presents two categories of freedom in a persuasive manner where he argues that the first category of freedom is granting individual’s liberty to choose from alternatives, while the second category of freedom is freedom to approve individual’s choice in an instance (Tuckness, 2002, p,105). Analysts claim that Hobbes concept of liberty or freedom is persuasive in nature because the philosopher argues that only the exercise of a power has the ability to reduce people’s freedom. In this case, Hobbes is a determinist because he perceives that any happenings including human action is trig gered by the effect of ancestral or unpreventable causes. Therefore, man exists in a state of withdrawn liberty because the law of nature determines it; hence, freedom is of little use because it benefits no one and that whoever desires to live in freedom end up contradicting oneself (Tuckness, 2002, p, 105). Rousseau on his part brings forth two types of liberties namely, civil or moral liberty and natural liberty. He further explains that natural liberty is the freedom to influence personal desires, while civil liberty is the freedom to convince the general will (Tuckness, 2002, p, 105). Rousseau seems to dig deeper into freedom analysis where he explains that man is extremely free because the cruel state or fellow man does not dominate him nor does the spirituality of artificial needs that exist in the current society enslaves him. However, the scholar claims that man is enslaving himself with needs, which result to the ills experienced in the society today. The concepts outlined by the two scholars present the fact that both of them have similar perception on liberty but they differ in the sense that Hobbes supports negative liberty, while Locke supports the negative side of it. Locke’s positivity exhibits in the sense that he focuses on the positive aspects of what result the law can accomplish because it is only the law that do not restrict freedom (Tuckness, 2002, p, 105). However, this is the point through which differences chip in because Hobbes claims that law restricts peoples many choices; hence, restricting them from freedom (Tuckness, 2002, p, 105). However, he advocates for this kind of freedom by asserting that people should learn how to part with much liberty in order to acquire security and peace. Political application of the theory The two authors seem to disagree on political application of liberty theory. Hobbes believes that liberties must comply and surrender to a sovereign in order to flee the state of nature (Tuckness, 2002, p, 106). He further argues that the government should solely pass rules that govern the society in order to curb human conflicts and that no one should interfere with the government’s business. Hobbes meant that as long as people had basic freedom, acquired after letting go of the much-needed freedom, adhering to the government laws was not a hard task. This is the reason why the philosopher argued that equality is established in covenant form between people and not between people and sovereignty; hence, denying the many the decision making process. Conclusively, Hobbes meant to simplify that people should embrace a little liberty as long as their existed security and peace and grant the sovereign liberty to rule them. Rousseau on his part claims that the most fundamental objective of any government is to allow its citizens exercise freedom. Therefore, the endorsement and existence of certain government codes can grant a certain level of freedom to the society. In this regard, the philosopher meant that the government should not be extremely rigid towards its people in terms of passing laws that could lead to enslavement but rather should advocate for the society’s views and opinions in order to foster the needed freedom (Tuckness, 2002, p, 106). Unlike Hobbes who advocates for sovereign powers to restrict peoples’ freedom, Rousseau seems to advocate for equity and coordination between the sovereign and its people as a form of liberty. The concept of rights According to Hobbes, rights are liberty to do things without facing any sort of restriction and that Man is equal to the other. The philosopher outlines two types of rights namely basic and civil rights, where basic right is the right to cloth, shelter, food and other basic needs, while civil right is the right to freedom of expression, life and other fundamental rights (Edmundson, 2012, p, 23). However, a deeper perspective reflects that Hobbes generalizes the concept of rights on a social platform because he differs with the manner in which rights apply between society and the government. John Locke’s philosophy concerning rights is reviewed in a wider dimension because he believes that human beings are entitled to every necessary right that include the right to live, the right to freedom among other rights (Edmundson, 2012, p, 24). Unlike Hobbes who believes in social rights, Locke differs greatly because he believes that man should posses the right to dominate the society in every means possible. The difference between the two scholars is that Locke involves rights with larger moral complexity compared to Hobbes who views rights as doing whatever one pleased for their own survival. Political application of the rights concept Hobbes clarify that sovereign should safeguards people’s rights but in a shallow dimension because he advocates for government control over its citizens (Edmundson, 2012, p, 24). The reason why the philosopher argues that government should safeguard its people is because people undergo different aspects of conflicts that in one way or another will need superior intervention. The purpose of government at this point is to advocate for equality in the social context because it will ensure that people’s enacted rights are safeguarded (Edmundson, 2012, p, 24). However, sovereign safeguarding of rights occurs due to people’s inferiority and lack of adequate liberty to safeguard their own rights. Hobbes advocates for this type of liberty and the right to protection where the sovereign is the overall determiner of what rights befits the society. This concept drives to the fact that ordinary citizens will suffer because what the sovereign decides is final because no invol vement or negotiations between the two parties exist. Therefore, Hobbes political theory of rights is problematic because it enhances absolute obedience of sovereignty above the rights of millions of people in the society (Edmundson, 2012, p, 24). The philosopher further asserts that once the government is in place, people have no right to criticize or change its form; hence, defying peoples’ right to freedom of expression. Locke seems to challenge Hobbes view on sovereignty and rights because he believed that people had numerous rights that they could safeguard without the dictatorship of the sovereign. Among these rights is the right to challenge the government, which further grants people the right to overthrow an oppressive government (Edmundson, 2012, p, 24). This clarifies the fact that people’s rights should not face any sovereign dictatorship but rather the sovereign should grant its people the right to criticize injustices from any horizon including their rulers because they possess the liberty to do so. The two philosophers differ greatly because Hobbes advocates for the sovereign safeguarding people’s rights while Locke believes in peoples’ empowerment to the extent that they can fight for their own rights. The concept of private property Lock held strong views on property institution due to its importance to humankind and sacredness. Locke begins by reminding everyone that God the creator gave the world to man to dominate it and no one has an elite claim to anything. However, different versions of laws and policies have modified God’s will by allowing man to share the properties of the world according to sovereign constitutions and codes. These institutions grant human beings the right to property because it is the fruit of their labor. In this regard, Locke advocates for the right to own private property through labor and hard work. More so, the scholar advocates for heredity form of property ownership where an individual should not only acquire property through labor but also acquire it through inheritance (Bhargava, 2008, p, 216). This clarifies the point that man has fundamental objectives in the society that include ownership of property because it is beneficial to both the society and the sovereign. Lock ’s theory of property resulted from the reason that man mixes his labor with then earth in order to acquire as much as he needs. On the other hand, Karl Marx held a different view on property ownership because he advocated for its abolishment in all possible means. On his argument, Marx believed that a community should exercise equality in the sense that the community should not undergo any form of separation in form of classes. Resources that include private property ownership bring about these class variations within the society (Bhargava, 2008, p, 216). Marx argued that private property ownership oppressed the poor and should not be encouraged. The communist further differs with Locke’s view on property ownership as man’s own labor because he argues that man did not acquire property through labor, but rather became a victim of this property because it ended up exploiting them (Bhargava, 2008, p, 216). Marx wished to see equity especially on the amount of labor applied as well as its rewarding system because as much as he faced critics concerning man’s labor to acquire property, he saw a vacuum through which workers would face exploitation (Bhargava, 2008, p, 216). This leads to the conclusion that the two philosophers greatly differed on property ownership concept because Locke perceived property ownership as the main fundamental aspect to both the government and the society. This is the reason why he advocated for property ownership right and looked forward to a period when all citizens would acquire their own property. Marx on his perspective argues that property ownership does not necessarily imply to home or land ownership as perceived by many, but rather as a means of production, that ended up contributing to unequal distribution of wealth and exploitation of many. Therefore, as much as Locke campaigned for property ownership, Marx called upon its abolition. Political application of the private property concept Concerning legislative, Locke argues that the government should not interfere with an individual’s property without his consent irrespective of the existing constitution (Bhargava, 2008, p, 216). Such government involvement arises in form of taxes, where the philosopher argues that sovereign should not inflict tax payments on property owners if possible. Locke further argues that government should adhere to the will of the people by meeting their vast needs that include empowerment to acquire property rather than oppressing them through taxation. Marx on the other hand did not contribute much on issues concerning the government but he still depicted his mistrust in it. This came up because Marx claimed that most of the ruling class in the society supported the government and vice versa. This leads to the notion that the government will not foster the much-needed change in the society in terms of class equity but rather the solution lies on the society itself. Therefore, property ownership has led to social class emergence that even the government cannot help equate; hence, abolition of private property seemed to be Marx’s final option (Bhargava, 2008, p, 216). Conclusively, the two scholars seem to agree on government’s inefficiency in handling property ownership issues and the impact it inflicts towards the society. References Bhargava, R. (2008). Political Theory. Pearson Longman. Edmundson, W. A. (2012). An introduction to rights. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tuckness, A. S. (2002). Locke and the legislative point of view: Toleration, contested principles, and law. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.