Sunday, August 23, 2020

To what extent is the reluctant fundamentalist about nostalgia free essay sample

Changez frequently gives indications of sentimentality when recollecting his excursion. The crowd can see that around the end Changez is spiraling into the threats of Nostalgia. When Changez considers his nations past he feels desirous, not at America, however at the way that the world notification America’s enormity and admires the nation yet doesn’t contemplate on Lahore’s articulated history. Changez frequently recollects New York with affection yet he has a significant scorn toward America. While thinking back about his time in New York, Changez recalls the â€Å"cosmopolitan nature† of the city showed before 9/11, and what America transformed it into after 9/11. Body Paragraph 2: Erica can't relinquish the memory of her expired youth darling While she truly moves actually, intellectually she is stuck in the recollections of her past. Body Paragraph 3: America After September 11 America sticks to its past. â€Å"Nostalgia was their split cocaine† TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST ABOUT NOSTALGIA? Sentimentality is characterized as a â€Å"sentimental aching or contemplative intuition for a period in the past†. We will compose a custom article test on What exactly degree is the hesitant fundamentalist about sentimentality? or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page In principle sentimentality is a great encounter of thinking back on recollections before, yet now and then wistfulness can effectsly affect one’s mindset. In â€Å"The Reluctant Fundamentalist† Mohsid Hamid consolidates the subject of wistfulness all through the monolog. Through his characters, Hamid delineations both the constructive and pessimistic impacts sentimentality has on an individual. He discloses to us that whenever dealt with cautiously, sentimentality could be a type of help, yet on the off chance that one chooses not to move on they will lose themselves, and discover it about difficult to recognize their existence from their memory. The hero Changez opens up to the American ‘tourist’, and in doing so shows solid feeling of wistfulness that regularly assumes control over him. In numerous events Changez glances back at his time in New York with a specific level of love, introducing to the crowd the way that there is and consistently will be a spot â€Å"of incredible affection in [his] heart† for his adored New York. He regularly recollects the easily overlooked details with a feeling of aching, for example, the delightful popcorn shrimp, â€Å"a delicacy [they] completely need Lahore†. These concise snapshots of want permits Changez to immediately bring out upon the satisfactions in America without bring helped to remember the agony and enduring he suffers during his time there. This exhibits how sentimentality can light up certain recollections while simultaneously obscure others. It is additionally clear through Changez the savage perils that sentimentality can achieve. Significantly in the wake of moving to the contrary side of the world Changez â€Å"remained sincerely weaved with Erica† He started to live in his memory, ill-equipped to grapple with the way that Erica is rarely returning. He clung to the expectation that she is as yet alive and looks for her reality with no prize. Changez faces a steady fight with his recollections capitulating to their incredible misguided judgments of the real world. He began to show a reality that was just fiction. From various perspectives it appears as though wistfulness is an infectious sickness which was once looked by Erica yet has now taken a hold of Changez. Erica is the young lady of Changez’s dreams. She is the perfect American socialite; smooth, exquisite and with the attraction of a big name {Britney lances quote-find} But regardless of her external flawlessness, Erica is intellectually temperamental, â€Å"struggling with a present pulling her inside herself†. After the abrupt passing of her one genuine romance Erica was lost and confounded, she didn’t realize how to carry on with an existence without him, and not at all like the numerous individuals who endure the departure of a friend or family member, Erica never recuperated. Rather than tolerating his demise Erica frequently sentimental people her time went through with Chris, enlightening the great occasions and obscuring the terrible. While she genuinely moved in the realm of the living, intellectually she was left with her sick darling, reluctant to give up. At long last Erica sinks so profound into her creative mind and is devoured by wistfulness. Much the same as Erica, America thinks that its hard to proceed onward from an earlier time and anticipate what's to come. After the obliteration of the Twin Towers America sticks to the past, and â€Å"was progressively offering over to the risky sentimentality at the time† America was brought somewhere around an underdeveloped nation, who’s mechanical advances and information were probably much mediocre compared to Americas, and this assault on America harmed its sense of self as well as its picture. America wouldn’t acknowledge rout by a nation that is apparently interminably second rate compared to theirs and thus America responded ruinously. The country out of nowhere changed its face, from multi-social to hostile to Muslim, in a moment. Regardless of being aligns with Muslim nation, America assaulted them, one wold assume as a type of retribution, just as to guarantee to individuals of the world that America is a nation that one can't challenge without outcome. America’s inability to proceed onward from these assaults mists their choices, in these conditions they are happy to see just the annihilation brought about by a little gathering of individuals from Muslim people group and not the dynamic results of their reality in and outside their nation. In end in the novel â€Å"The Reluctant Fundamentalist† Mohsin Hamid joins the topic of sentimentality subtly all through the novel. Through his characters, He exhibits the constructive and contrary impacts wistfulness can have on an individual. By contrasting wistfulness with â€Å"crack cocaine† we can expect that sentimentality can numb the agony of the real world yet whenever activated all the time one gets dependent, and loses themselves in their memory, unfit to recognize a memory from the real world.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Free Essays on Couch Potatoes

one potatoe, 2 potatoe Habitual slouches The TV has gotten one of the most significant belongings any American could possess. Pretty much every family unit in all of America particularly in the United States has in any event one TV. This implies individuals around the globe are investing energy being sluggish sitting before the TV sitting idle yet watching and eating. TV watchers can be arranged from multiple points of view: by the various kinds of shows they watch or by the measure of time an individual watches the TV seven days, yet this appears to be too broad to even think about classifying a habitually lazy person. The four significant classifications of the habitual slouches are positioned on a mix of relaxation or leisure time spent watching, power of viewing, and the craving to watch refrains the longing to take part in other non-watching exercises. In the first place, there is the genuine habitually lazy person. These individuals have no life what so ever. They are diehard watchers who, when they return home, plunk down directly before the TV for the remainder of the night or day. These individuals presently make their lounge room likewise their lounge area. They sit before the TV stuffing their appearances the entire night. After hearing the word book of scriptures the, the genuine habitual slouch thinks about the TV manage. Habitual slouches plan every day by day action around the TV. Some attempt to achieve things while they watch, however numerous don’t complete anything. In the event that the president was on each channel yet one and they loathed Clinton like everybody in America, they would observe Farley2 the one channel regardless of what on. While at home these genuine habitually lazy people never dream about killing the TV. The subsequent gathering is the standard habitually lazy person. These are planned TV watchers. They have interests other than the TV a... Free Essays on Couch Potatoes Free Essays on Couch Potatoes Habitually lazy people The TV has gotten one of the most significant belongings any American could possess. Pretty much every family in all of America particularly in the United States has in any event one TV. This implies individuals around the globe are investing energy being lethargic sitting before the TV sitting idle yet watching and eating. TV watchers can be grouped from numerous points of view: by the various sorts of shows they watch or by the measure of time an individual watches the TV seven days, yet this appears to be too broad to even think about classifying a habitually lazy person. The four significant classifications of the habitual slouches are positioned on a mix of recreation or extra time spent watching, power of viewing, and the craving to watch sections the longing to participate in other non-watching exercises. Initially, there is the genuine habitually lazy person. These individuals have no life what so ever. They are diehard watchers who, when they return home, plunk down directly before the TV for the remainder of the night or day. These individuals currently make their parlor likewise their lounge area. They sit before the TV stuffing their appearances the entire night. After hearing the word book of scriptures the, the genuine habitual slouch thinks about the TV direct. Habitually lazy people plan every single day by day action around the TV. Some attempt to achieve things while they watch, yet numerous don’t complete anything. In the event that the president was on each channel yet one and they detested Clinton like everybody in America, they would observe Farley2 the one channel regardless of what on. While at home these genuine habitual slouches never dream about killing the TV. The subsequent gathering is the normal habitual slouch. These are planned TV watchers. They have interests other than the TV and don’t have supper in t... Free Essays on Couch Potatoes one potatoe, 2 potatoe Habitual slouches The TV has gotten one of the most significant belongings any American could claim. Pretty much every family in all of America particularly in the United States has in any event one TV. This implies individuals around the globe are investing energy being apathetic sitting before the TV sitting idle however watching and eating. TV watchers can be ordered from multiple points of view: by the various sorts of shows they watch or by the measure of time an individual watches the TV seven days, however this appears to be too broad to even think about classifying a habitually lazy person. The four significant classifications of the habitual slouches are positioned on a blend of relaxation or spare time spent watching, power of viewing, and the craving to watch refrains the longing to take part in other non-watching exercises. In the first place, there is the genuine habitual slouch. These individuals have no life what so ever. They are diehard watchers who, when they return home, plunk down directly before the TV for the remainder of the night or day. These individuals currently make their lounge additionally their lounge area. They sit before the TV stuffing their appearances the entire night. After hearing the word book of scriptures the, the genuine habitually lazy person thinks about the TV direct. Habitual slouches plan every single day by day action around the TV. Some attempt to achieve things while they watch, however numerous don’t complete anything. In the event that the president was on each channel however one and they detested Clinton like everybody in America, they would observe Farley2 the one channel regardless of what on. While at home these genuine habitually lazy people never dream about killing the TV. The subsequent gathering is the ordinary habitually lazy person. These are planned TV watchers. They have interests other than the TV a...

Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE BANKING SECTOR IN THE BULGARIAN ECONOMY - Free Essay Example

Banking is by far the most important sector in Bulgarias financial system which works on the principle of universal banking, being authorized to carry out a wide range of financial activities with both individuals and institutions (September 2003, By Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs). However, until the early 1990s, like in other central and eastern European countries, to a large extent, in banks as institutions that intermediate, the lending and the borrowing process did not exist. Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) The beginning of banking in Bulgaria is associated with the establishment of Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) on January, 25, 1879. BNB is one of the oldest central banks in the world and it has seen many changes over its 131 years of operation, it had its ups and downs. Among the most significant were the sovietisation of the banking system in late 1947, the return to a two tier banking system in 1991, the privatization of the banks over the rest of the 1990s, the banking crisis of 1996-97 and the introduction of currency board arrangements on July 1, 1997. The economic life in Bulgaria was deeply affected by each of these periods. Bulgarias goal for a market economy and democracy following the collapse of the Soviet Union started slowly, especially with the banking crisis of 1996/7 and the related hyperinflation. The introduction of currency board arrangements in mid 1997 helped a lot the BNBs contribution to Bulgarias economic growth (BNB, Annual report, 1999). According to the Law for establishment of BNB (at the beginning of 1885), it was a governmental bank with fixed capital 10 000 000 golden Levs and had operations traditional for the central bank, such as: emission of coins and bank-notes, preserving of money resources, crediting of the state and cash servicing of the governmental budget. At the same time BNB was permitted to realize banking (by the same law) deposit and credit deals typical for a commercial bank. The first Bulgarian coins were cut in 1881 and four years later the first Bulgarian banknotes were put into currency (BNB, Annual report, 1999). There was a significance increase in the independence of BNB with the last two laws for in 1906 and 1926 and it became a real central bank of the banks with issuing and regulatory functions. With the development of the BNB, the number of commercial banks increased as well. In 1945, the banking system in Bulgaria already consisted of: BNB 107 branch offices, Bulgarian agricultural and cooperati ve bank -119 branch offices, Bank Bulgarian credit 32 branch offices, foreign banks 33 branch offices, General union of popular banks with 250 popular banks (Stoyanov, S., 2008). Centrally-planned economy (communist era) In 1947 was the beginning of the era of centrally-planned economy in Bulgaria. During the communist era the domestic banking sector was under monopolistic policy. The commercial banking was liquidated and there was only one state bank-BNB- with a network of branches. In this period the Bulgarian National Bank was performing both central bank functions and commercial operations under the control of the government. Before 1981 there were only two other banks: Foreign Trade Bank (at present Bulbank) was responsible for international transactions and the State Saving Bank for holding all the deposits of the Bulgarian population (Cherneva, T.,2009). After 1981 started the first reforms in the Bulgarian banking sector, Mineralbank was established to provide credits to small and medium-size enterprises which were newly created. However, the establishment of seven new banks in 1989 had more serious impact on the development of the banking sector in Bulgaria. The key aim of these banks was to offer credits in different branches. The fall of communism (two-tier banking system) Following the political changes in 1989 (the fall of communism), the real banking sector reform in the country started and the banking system was replaced by two-tier system with the central bank in one tier and commercial, state-owned, banks in the other, most of them established from the previous branches of the BNB. In parallel, many private banks entered the market (Yonkova, A., Alexandrova, S. and Bogdanov, L.,1999). After 1989, another very important step in financial reform was the bank privatization, which main aim was to create modern commercial organizations that would provide credits to different entities and support the development of the financial sector. Banks which had previously specialized in selected sectors were transformed into universal banks providing financial services to all sectors of the economy. Following the political changed of 1989, two years later the commercial and central banking sectors in the national economy were restored according to the new laws, the first one is the Law for BNB (1991) and the second one is Law for Banks and Credit Activity (1992). According to the first law BNB received the status of central bank with significant autonomy. The second Law established the principle of universal banking; it clearly defined the legal forms of banks and specified banking activities and licensing conditions (Yonkova, A., Alexandrova, S. and Bogdanov, L., 1999). In early 1991, apart from the three main banking institutions (BNB, Foreign Trade Bank and the State Saving Bank), there were also 69 commercial banks. Commercial banks received the right to acquire up to 10% of the stock of nonfinancial enterprises. The Basel criterion of 8% had to be matched by the capital adequacy ratio of a bank. The banks received in 1992 one more year in order to adjust to the capital adequacy requirement. Since they could not achieve this deadline, it was extended to March 1995 and then 2001. A number of important prudential regulations specif ying the legal framework were adopted in early 1993, but enforcement was weak (Barisitz, S., 2001). Since it was not efficient to have large number of state-owned commercial banks, the government introduced the Banking Consolidation Company (BCC) in 1992 in order to support the establishment of larger operating units through mergers. As a consequence, the total number of banks decreased from 81 in 1992 to 42 in 1995. Also, foreign banks were not entering the market because they were discouraged from policies. The first foreign bank was established in 1993 while by the end of 1997, BNB licensed 61 banks and the total number became 70 (Vinceletter, 2001). Bad loans After the fall of communist regime, the worsening of the banking portfolios turned into a serious problem for the financial system in Bulgaria. At the end of 1990, the non-performing loans amounted to BGL 21.3 billion and accounted for more than 50 percent of the commercial banks outstanding loans. Their volume was over 34 percent of the nations GDP at the time (Ravitz 1992, 33). Another big issue with the nonperforming loans was that their denomination was generally in hard currency, which meant that their value remained high even in the situation of high inflation. In 1993 the parliament adopted the Law on the Settlement of Nonperforming Credits. In accordance with this Law, the Bulgarian government issued ZUNK (stands for the Bulgarian acronym of the Law) bonds trying to solve the problem with bad loans. Their initial aim was to dry up the large sources of budget deficit. The ZUNKs were 25-year government securities, issued to cover non-performing credits accumulated by enter prises prior to 1990. Government budget was directly influenced by the exchange of enterprise loans for government securities. It created an obligation to pay interest on the bonds. However, the ZUNKs paid only part of the base interest rate. This was a clear attempt to finance part of the government debt at less than market interest rates (Nenova et al. 1997: 24). The commercial banks, which owned the ZUNKs, started to experience losses and liquidity problems. The attempt with the ZUNK bonds to solve the problem with bad loan in Bulgaria was not successful. One of the key reasons could be the difference between the return and maturity of these bonds and the banks liabilities, and the governments initiative to cover this difference. On the other hand, the issue of bad debt was problematical because of the lack of bankruptcy legislation outside the financial sector (OECD 1997: 90-102). In addition, the ZUNK bonds were inadequate as privatization instruments due to the unfavorab le institutional environment in Bulgaria. This includes an underdeveloped bond market, slow real sector privatization and an extremely thin stock exchange. The blend of these factors formed an obstacle to the market recognition of the ZUNK bonds. At the same time, there were many banks that faced liquidity problems when the privatization started, which were temporary eased through massive central bank refinancing. The foreign exchange market was also affected because of the continuous supply of money. The confidence in the national currency was diminished and led to the devaluation of the lev/USD exchange rate to 3200 in February, 1996. During this time also the inflation rate raised to over 1000% (Tsikripis et al., 2005). As a result of the weak private sector, bad banking management, the over-supply on the banking market, credit risk concentration, negative structure of credit portfolios and increasing share of nonperforming credits, decapitalization of the banking system and t he following loss of confidence in the banking system, etc., the Bulgarian banking sector suffered transactional irregularities and a series of failures that ended in a severe banking catastrophe and a chaos in the banking system (Yonkova, A., Alexandrova, S. and Bogdanov, L., 1999). Banking crisis 1996-1997 In 1996 the Bulgarian banking sector entered into an economic and financial crisis. The impact on the financial sector and the real sector as a whole as well as its monetary effects, proved that the Bulgarian banking crisis is one of the largest and most serious domestic financial crises of transition economies (up to this time), if not the most serious. (Barisitz, S., 2001). It looked impossible to be resolved for many years. The Bulgarian currency (Lev) depreciated, inflation rate sharply increased and one third of the banking sector went bankrupt. After the collapse of the communist block in 1989/90 Bulgaria suffered serious adjustment shocks, a fall in GDP and increasing prices. The other former communist block countries, which were the main trading partners, were themselves involved in severe domestic crises and thus unable to support each other (see Figure 1). Furthermore, it was not possible for the Bulgarias opening economy to compete with the more advanced western econo mies. 40 years of central price control and centrally planned economy deeply distorted the price system (Ivanov, A., 2003). Figure 1, Source: IMF The deficits started to increase significantly, being shifted from firms to banks through bad debts and eventually to the government budget through bailouts or monetization. The result from this is in April 1996 when the Bulgarian currency started falling and finally collapsed in February 1997. The depreciation in 1996 is approximately six-fold, with the currency sinking from some 70 Leva per US dollar in January to almost 500 Leva per US dollar by the end of the year. Furthermore, at the beginning of 1997 the depreciation accelerates further. In February 1997, it reaches the exceptional levels of about 3000 Leva per US dollar, while foreign exchange reserves dried out (see Chart 1) (Vincelette, G., 2001). At the height of the crisis in February 1997, the Lev felt to over 3,000 leva per 1 U.S. dollar (from 71 at end-1995), and mon thly inflation exceeded 240%. The interbank market ground to a halt. Annual inflation jumped to 579% in 1997, with GDP declining another 7.0% that year and unemployment reaching 13.7%. The average minimum wage of employees in the state sector reached the unprecedented level of just 4 U.S. dollars per month (Barisitz, S., 2001). This crisis has led to very serious social, psychological, and cultural changes among the population. In 1997, for example, school curricula shrunk visibly, generally within primary schools. Theaters, philharmonic orchestras, and museums were closed down. At the beginning of the reforms in 1990 there are a large number of state-owned banks specialized in providing funds to particular branches and areas. This is one of the preconditions of the banking crisis. Most of them took over large amount of non-performing credits extended to the enterprises during the period of socialism. About half of the loans given to nonfinancial institutions were written off due to the influence of the government on lending to strategically important public enterprises. The banks credit portfolio is weakened even further because of inefficient framework, which would concern collecting credits from not truthful borrowers. As a consequence of an ineffective legal procedure against liquidation and the recapitalization of the banking sector only four banks reported profit at the end of 1995 (Roussenova, 2005). The instable state of the banks and the capital market weakened the confidence in the banking system among depositors and investors, provoking a withdrawal of deposits from the banks. The effect was a lack of investment opportunities and economic decline. The impact of the banking system is profound; a result is the closure of eighteen banks in the period between May 1996 and April 1997 and putting them under special supervision by the BNB. In May 1996, in the Banking Law were made changes and this is the first time since the creation of the reform when legal procedures for bank bankruptcy were introduced. In 1996, 14 banks which concentrated 24 % of total assets in the banking system were put under conservatorship. There were 27 private banks existing by the time, the 4 biggest ones were put under special supervision (Yonkova, A., Alexandrova, S. and Bogdanov, L., 1999). At the beginning of 1997, some of the banks that survived are private and small and they still needed to solve some problems related to their solvency. The Central Bank increased the minimum reserve requirements, raised the interest rates and traded US dollars to defend the lev exchange rate. The new requirement for the minimal level of banking founding capital of 10 bln BGL (5.4 mln USD) was one of the biggest problems that the small and private banks had to overcome with a deadline by the end of June 1998. Foreign investors were the only solution to dial with this problem. In 1997 the Banking and Credit Act and the Basle Accords were replaced by the new Banking Act, BNB issued Regulation N 8 dealing with capital adequacy and minimal founding capital requirements. All banks in Bulgaria are obliged to have 8 % capital adequacy ratio at the end 1997, 10% capital adequacy ratio at the end of 1998 and 12% at the end of 1999 (Yonkova, A., Alexandrova, S. and Bogdanov, L., 1999). The combination of mainly difficult initial conditions of a transition economy, the bad governments interfere, no bankruptcy legislation, weak supervision and enormous external debt repayments were just some of the reasons which lead to the banking crisis in 1996-1997. The only solution was a new radical economic program. In July 1997, the Currency Board Arrangement was introduced, firstly tying the Lev to the Deutschmark and since 1999 to the euro. Also, there were implemented a number of essential laws that imposed financial regulation on banks and companies (Barisitz, S., 2001). Currency Board July 1997 The basic definition of a currency board is that it combines three elements: a fixed exchange rate between a countrys currency and an anchor currency, automatic convertibility, and a long-term commitment to the system, often made explicit in the central bank law. The main reason for countries to consider a currency board is to demonstrate that they are pursuing an anti-inflationary policy. It is the hardest form of a pegged exchange rate regime and is appropriate for countries with an unstable weak monetary history (Gulde, A., 1999). Currency board arrangements are different in each country (Balià ±o and others, 1997). The important characteristics of a currency board that need to be decided at the beginning of the planning process include the peg currency, the exchange rate, the organizational structure, and the operating principles and instruments. In 1997, following the advice of IMF, the Bulgarian government turned the Bulgarian National Bank into a Currency Board. The deci sion was taken when the new government took place in spring of 1997. The main role of the Currency Board was to restore confidence and help stabilize the economy by eliminating unnecessary spending and avoiding further hyperinflation after several years of significant currency depreciation. BNB implemented laws that imposed financial regulations and reduced the period of loans to commercial banks in order to recover the banking sector and mainly to reduce the inflation rate. In addition, it was observed monetary stability. Also, BNB considerably decreased the exchange risk, thus reducing the insecurity and foreign trade transaction costs. However, not everything was decided smoothly. There was a debate about the choice of anchor currency. The dilemma was between U.S. dollar and deutsche mark. U.S. dollar was supported because of its common use in informal transactions and as a store of value, whereas the deutsche mark was considered as more stable with the countrys trade organiza tion and beneficial to greater integration with the European Community. At the end it has been decided in favor of the deutsche mark (Gulde, A., 1999). Applying of a monetary policy (adjustment of the interest rate to the exchange rate) is not permitted in the existence of currency board. The government had to control the wages and prices to avoid external shocks and to stabilize its economy. However, it decreases the possibility of reacting to external shocks such as the weak foreign demand and the strong dollar which restricted the economic growth of the country. Under the currency board, Bulgaria decreased annual inflation to 13 % by mid-1998 and to 1 % by the end of 1998. Foreign exchange reserves have marked an increase from less than US$800 million in 1996 to US$ 3, 300 million in (see table below). The BNB basic interest rate during the top of the Bulgarias economic crisis had been more than 200 %, by the end of 1998 it fell to 5.2 %. Retail interest rates moved close t o German levels as soon as the currency board was introduced (Gulde, A., 1999). Bulgarias experience highlights the power of a credible, rule-based system to rapidly change perception and economic behavior. However, there are three lessons that need to be emphasized. First, a currency board requires more preparation than other stabilization programs, and preparation of a different kind. Because the changes can be time-consuming, a currency board may not be possible in countries that have not met the requirements. Second, because of the legal changes required to implement a currency board, broad parliamentary support is needed. It was possible for Bulgaria to get support for its currency board because near-hyperinflation had made obvious the need for radical solutions. Third, a currency board is but one aspect of a stabilization program. Even though if it is well designed, it will help to reduce macroeconomic imbalances, its long-term survival depends equally on the implementation of appropriate supporting procedures (Gulde, A., 1999).

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

English-Spanish Basketball Glossary

Since its origins in late-18th-century Massachusetts, basketball has become an international sport. It continues to be dominated by the United States, however, so it shouldnt be surprising that much of the Spanish-language vocabulary of the game comes from English. In fact, even in Spanish-speaking countries, English terms may be understood more readily than their Spanish equivalents. The Spanish vocabulary for the sport developed somewhat independently in various regions, so terms can vary not only between Spain and Latin America, but also between neighboring countries. Even the name of the game isnt uniform throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The vocabulary below represents some of the most common terms used by Spanish speakers, but it shouldnt be considered complete. Basketball Terms In Spanish air ball — el air ballassist (noun) — la asistenciabackboard — el tablerobank shot — el tiro a tablabasket (goal) — el cesto, la canastabasket (score) — la canasta, el encestebasketball (ball) — el balà ³n, la pelotabasketball (game) — el baloncesto, el bà ¡squetbol, el basquetbol, el bà ¡squetbox score — el box score, el sumariocenter — el/la pà ­votcheerleader — la animadora, el animador, el/la cheerleadercoach — el entrenador, la entrenadoracorner — la esquinacourt (playing field) — la pista, la canchadefend — defenderdribble (noun) — el drible, la finta, la bota, el dribblingdribble (verb) — driblardunk (noun) — el mate, el dunkfast break — el ataque rà ¡pido, el contraataqueforward — el/la alerofree throw — el tiro librehalf, quarter (period of play) — el periodo, el perà ­odohook shot — el ganchojump ball — el salto entre dosjump pass — el pase en suspensià ³njump shot — el tiro en suspensià ³nkey — la botella, la zona de tres segundosman-to-man (defense) — (la defensa) hombre a hombre, (la defensa) a hombreoffense — el ataqueovertime — la prà ³rroga, el tiempo aà ±adido, el tiempo extrapass (noun) — el pasepass (verb) — pasarpersonal foul — la falta personalpivot (verb) — pivotearplay (noun, as in three-point play) — la jugada (la jugada de tres puntos)player — el jugador, la jugadora, el/la baloncestistaplayoff — la liguilla, la eliminatoria, el playoffpoint (score) — el puntopoint guard — el/la base, el armador, la armadorapost — el postepower forward — el/la alero fuerte, el/la ala-pà ­votpress (noun) — la presià ³nrebound (noun) — el reboterebound (verb) — rebotarrecord  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  el rà ©cordreferee — el/la à ¡rbitro, el/la refereerookie — el novato, la novata, el/la rookiescreen (noun) — el bloqueoscreen (verb) — bloquearscrimmage — la escaramuzaseason — la temporadaseed, seeded (as in a tournament)  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  la clasificacià ³n, clasificadoshoot — tirarshooting guard — el/la escoltashot — el tiroteam — el equipotechnical foul — la falta tà ©cnicatimeout — el tiempo muertotip-off  Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã‚  salto entre dostournament — el torneoturnover — el balà ³n perdido, la pelota perdida, el turnoverwarmup — el calentamientowing — el/la alerozone defense — la defensa en zonazone offense — el ataque zonalzone press — el marcaje en zona Sample Spanish Sentences About Basketball These sentences have been adapted from current online publications to show how Spanish basketball terminology is used in real life. Cuando caigo hago dos movimiento de pivot y luego paso la pelota. (When I fall, I do two pivoting movements and then I pass the ball.)Pà ©rez convirtià ³ una jugada de tres puntos con 18.2 segundos por jugar en el tiempo extra. (Pà ©rez converted a three-point play with 18.2 seconds left in overtime.)Los ganadores de cada regià ³n avanzan a la Final Four. (The winners in each region advance to the Final Four.)Final Four is feminine because the reference is to la ronda Final Four, or the Final Four round.La temporada 2018–19 de la NBA es la septuagà ©simo tercera  temporada de la historia de la competicià ³n. (The 2018–19 season of the NBA is the 73rd season in the history of the competition.)Note that the abbreviation NBA is treated as feminine because asociacià ³n, the word for association, is feminine.El proceso de clasificacià ³n para el torneo de la NCAA consta de los torneos de cada conferencia. (The seeding process for the NCAA tournament is made up of t he tournaments of each conference.)El torneo es de eliminacià ³n directa y no existen partidos de consolacià ³n. (The tournament is single-elimination and there are no consolation games.)Dos tiros libres dieron la victoria a los Bulls. (Two free throws gave the win to the Bulls.)Una falta personal implica un contacto con el adversario mientras el balà ³n està ¡ en juego. (A personal foul involves contact with an opposing player while the ball is in play.)

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Argumentative Essay On Beauty Pageants - 814 Words

Beauty contests for women have always been popular around the world, but in recent years child pageants have become more successful. This success led to the production of the well-known show, Toddlers and Tiaras. Beauty pageants have now evolved and even include newborn babies. Contestants are not only rewarded with a title, but also receive cash prices. These rewards and fame without a doubt attract parents into the world of beauty pageants. Children who are involved in beauty pageants are perceived as â€Å"perfect† on stage and are expected to be perfect off stage. In the long run pageants take a toll on children causing psychological impacts that outweigh the benefits. In order to be recognized as champions, children must be flawless†¦show more content†¦There is no other explanation besides parental approval that will lead these young contestants to approve self-harm. Cartwright explains that pageants cause Princess Syndrome, an unhealthy drive to achieve physical perfection that can lead to dissatisfaction with ones body and eating disorders later in life (Cartwright 1106-07). Judges base their decision mainly on appearance because a talent category is not always included in pageants. Being constantly exposed to different options from various unknown people makes children self-conscious about their body. Adults and especially children feel pressure to be perfect on and off the stage; in effect, they develop low self-esteem and are tormented by the negative characteristics in their bodies. In the article, Childhood Beauty Pageant Contest: Associations with Adult Disordered Eating and Metal Health, the study concluded, Childhood pageant participants [show] body dissatisfaction, interpersonal distrust, and impulse dysregulation than non- participants, and showed a trend toward greater ineffectiveness (Wonderlich 291). Due to beauty pageants children have unwillingly allowed beauty pageants to take over their lifes and future without even noticing. When you are exposed to the beauty industry in such harsh conditions from an early age, you are unaware of the negativity that comes along. Many parents takeShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay On Beauty Pageants780 Words   |  4 Pagesterm â€Å"beauty pageants coming up,† will result in 2,710,000 results appearing in 1.18 seconds. Children are the fastest-growing segment of the beauty pageant market, with annual childrens competitions attracting an estimated 3 million children, mostly girls, ages six months to 16 years, who compete for crowns and cash. Infants, carried onto the stage by their mothers, are commonplace. April Brilliant, reigning Mrs. Maryland and the director of Maryland-based Mystic Pageants, says pageants give littleRead MoreBeauty Pageants Argumentative Essay1311 Words   |  6 PagesThe Problems and Pleasures of Pageants Beauty pageants have been questioned on whether or not their truly innocent. In some cases, the smiles are more likely than not phony. On the other hand, the abundance of memories and skills gained from these extravaganzas can create a positive effect on the child. On the negative side, pageants are found to be full of drama from both the parents and from the stress of the requirements, including eating disorders. They also lead to bad sportsmanship and theRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Beauty Pageants794 Words   |  4 Pagesever watched beauty pageants like the tv show Toddlers and Tiaras, and think the parents are absurd for pushing their daughters too hard for a sparkling plastic tiara? Maybe you have been to a live beauty-pageant, or specifically, support or despise them. Well, most people particularly do not like beauty-pageants as the toddlers mothers have them on strict diets, make them wear extensive makeup, shave their legs, and get spray tans. But to the people within th is culture, beauty-pageants are valuableRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Beauty Pageants758 Words   |  4 Pagesthe barbie look.† a mom on Toddlers and Tiaras said. Now available to children, around 250,000 girls compete in beauty pageants each year. These pageants have had damaging consequences on them. Child beauty pageants need to be banned because they sexualize young girls, put too much pressure on them to win, and lead them to focus too much on beauty. Girls are sexualized in beauty pageants at a very young age. On Toddlers and Tiaras, girls are shown in ‘sexy’ costumes, showing too much skin, especiallyRead MoreEdward Burtynsky s Photographic Series, Oil, And His Nature1815 Words   |  8 Pagesfeelings often provoked by the boundless essence drawn from the power of landscape. This essay will investigate the Edward Burtynsky’s photographic series, Oil, and his approach to find a sinister beauty within the damned. The underlying metaphors poised within Burtynsky’s work in regard to environmental change, in pursuit to document nature transformed through industry will be the central idea in this argumentative dissertation. Oil comprises 50 photographs, some referred to as primary landscapes that

Taking Care Of Our Children Essay Research free essay sample

Taking Care Of Our Children Essay, Research Paper We who have been entrusted with the instruction and attention of kids are obligated to travel? above and beyond? when it comes to looking out for their public assistance. Educators and decision makers have no resort but to look beyond the surface, look into if necessary, and protect the kids to whom we have made ourselves responsible. Dave Pelzer, who is presently an advocator for abused kids, has written a compelling three book series detailing his ain life as an abused kid and the aftereffects of his maltreatment. His instance was the 3rd worst instance of kid maltreatment on record in the province of California. ( Pelzer, 1995, 168 ) Pelzer? s female parent was an alky who was both physically and emotionally opprobrious to him. What made this a awful state of affairs more alone was that the female parent did non mistreat her other four kids. Merely Dave was the mark of her hatred. Pelzer? s male parent, besides an alcoholic, who ignored his married woman? s opprobrious inclinations, even though he in secret indicated to his boy that he did non excuse it, compounded the opprobrious behaviour. The male parent? s silence served to formalize the female parent? s actions. Pelzer? s instructors and decision makers besides maintained silence, therefore intensifying his feeling of isolation. These events occurred during the 1960? s and early 1970? s, so the behaviour of both Pelzer? s male parent and his pedagogues was non unusual. Physical subject was more recognized during that clip than it is now. Pelzer was rescued from his female parent? s inhuman treatment in 1973 by a school nurse and counsellor, after covering with her utmost maltreatment for about ten old ages. His instructors and decision makers had for old ages seen him attend school in shreds, common, frequently with contusions and scratchs, but as stated earlier, these were different times. When the school nurse determined she could no longer stand by and accept this opprobrious behaviour, she saw to it that county services was contacted. Pelzer goes on to associate how his emotional harm contributed to his traveling frequently between surrogate places. He neer felt equal, and these feelings of insufficiency compounded Pelzer? s jobs and anxiousnesss that kids in surrogate places usually feel. Pelzer speaks of his first matrimony stoping in failure, due largely to his deficiency of ability to swear and efficaciously pass on with his married woman. His grownup life has been built around raising his boy in as healthy a nd environment as possible. He speaks repeatedly of desiring to guarantee the rhythm of maltreatment does non go on through him. His 2nd matrimony has been a closely knit partnership, with trust and unfastened lines of communicating. The intent in telling so much information in Pelzer? s books is to remind us that we, as pedagogues, must take our duties as caretakers of kids with the highest grade of importance. Even though child maltreatment is detestable, it can be stopped and, as in the instance of Dave Pelzer, through subject and difficult work, the rhythm of maltreatment can be broken. Although these opprobrious types of parents are gratefully in the minority, they do be. It is hence imperative that we maintain awareness of any unusual fortunes we may detect refering our kids. Recluse behaviour, unexplained contusions or other Markss, unattended physical hygiene, or violent effusions should be cause for concern. ( Gestwicki, 435 ) This is non to state that we should go paranoid and study every kid with a contusion as a victim of maltreatment. We should, nevertheless, be cognizant of unusual idiosyncrasies or fortunes and act when we feel we have a right to be concerned. Documenting any intuitions and finding s is indispensable. This can bring out any tendencies or forms that may be. Keep in head that kids will frequently cover up for and try to protect opprobrious parents. This is besides a immense burden for a kid to bear ; the duty of? taking attention of? a parent who is opprobrious is an inordinate load. ( Somers, 62 ) Valerie Biven s, a societal worker in California, stresses that most of us are incognizant of the extent of kid maltreatment. Often instances of maltreatment go unreported, and the kid may turn their choler against themselves or others, go oning the rhythm of maltreatment. ( Pelzer, 1995, 171 ) Over three million instances of kid maltreatment were reported in 1996, and about one tierce of that figure were substantiated instances. ( Gestwicki, 435 ) Claudia Black stated that kids who are abused would usually hold feelings of low dignity. Those who should be loved and trusted abuse them ; therefore these kids do non experience safe or protected. ( Somers, 33 ) Intensifying our concerns even more are surveies that show that instructors, contract workers, and other school employees are besides among those who mistreat our kids. ( Karp, 78 ) Many provinces Dons? t administer background cheques for instructors or other school employees. This allows those with condemnable records to travel from one school system to another, frequently from province to province, in order to go on to learn or work in some capacity within the instruction system. Missouri presently does non hold a demand for background cheques for contract workers. This means that a janitor or individual who works in a lunchroom has the capableness to be convicted of a sex offense and be hired on at another establishment without fright of being recognized by his/her felon record. This is more than a small alarming. Kansas? Torahs are even more indulgent, non necessitating a background cheque for instructors. ( Karp, 81 ) This puts the burden on us as instructors, decision makers, c ounsellors, and parents to carefully measure all grownups with whom we see our kids make contact. There is no such thing as being excessively careful. Again, we needn? t become paranoiac and get down witch-hunts, but we must stay cognizant of what is traveling on with those under our attention. Abuse is an unpleasant subject, at best. However, if we are to make justness to the kids we care for, we must be cognizant of its being. Of the 1000000s of reported instances of kid abuse each twelvemonth, how many could hold been changed or halted by a concerned instructor or decision maker? If we maintain awareness we can do a difference in a kid? s life. Isn? T that what drew us to working with kids in the first topographic point? Bibliography Gestiwicki, Carol. Home, School, and Community Relations. New York: Delmar Thomson Learning, 2000 Karp, Hal. ? Who? s Traveling to School With Your Kids? ? Reader? s Digest 156 ( 2000 ) : 76-82. Pelzer, Dave. A Child Called? It? : One Child? s Courage to Survive. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. , 1995. Pelzer, Dave. The Lost Boy: A Foster Child? s Search for the Love of a Family. Deerfield Beach, Floridas: Health Communications, Inc. , 1997. Pelzer, Dave. A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness. New York: Penguin Group, 1999. Somers, Suzanne. Wednesday? s Children: Adult Survivors of Abuse Speak Out. New York: Putnam/HealingVision, 1992. Bibliography Gestiwicki, Carol. Home, School, and Community Relations. New York: Delmar Thomson Learning, 2000 Karp, Hal. ? Who? s Traveling to School With Your Kids? ? Reader? s Digest 156 ( 2000 ) : 76-82. Pelzer, Dave. A Child Called? It? : One Child? s Courage to Survive. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. , 1995. Pelzer, Dave. The Lost Boy: A Foster Child? s Search for the Love of a Family. Deerfield Beach, Floridas: Health Communications, Inc. , 1997. Pelzer, Dave. A Man Named Dave: A Story of Triumph and Forgiveness. New York: Penguin Group, 1999. Somers, Suzanne. Wednesday? s Children: Adult Survivors of Abuse Speak Out. New York: Putnam/HealingVision, 1992.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Mount Everest Essays - Beck Weathers, Mount Everest, Jon Krakauer

Mount Everest The speaker's words silenced the audience as he began, ?On the night of May 10, 1996 a blizzard swept over Mount Everest, striking more than thirty mountain climbers with heavy snow, subzero temperatures, and unbelievably strong winds. In the next twenty-four hours, eight of the climbers, including three professional guides were dead. This night would become the most ill fated attempt ever to summit Mount Everest.? ?Among these climbers was a 49-year old Dallas pathologist and an amateur climber, Dr. Beck Weathers, who was left to die in the icy storm 300 yards from his camp. Miraculously, Dr. Weathers survived and came back from his ordeal to speak of his experiences, and to tell us about some valuable lessons he has learned. Let's welcome Dr. Beck Weathers.? I watched and listened as this man swayed his disfigured arms and explained that he had scaled the world's largest heights and yet, still had not been at peace with himself. He had wanted more ?courageous? success, because he had conquered all but the grand Mount Everest. The drive for more accomplishment and the need to be more ?courageous? had persuaded Beck to follow the 1996 expedition. Beck sobbed as he stated that on May 10, 1996, he had realized, as he was near death, that what he had thought to be courageous was truly a relentless pursuit of success and goals and ambitions. He had risked his life in a cowardly and selfish way for his own fortune. Dr. Weathers had found that his irrational triumph of desire over sensibility was the most pathetic feat he was to face. Risking your life, such as mountain climbers do, is not an act of courage because it is backed by low self-esteem and is in pursuit for irrational goals and selfish success. Courage is denoted by Encarta Encyclopedia '96 dictionary as the quality of the mind that enables one to face danger with confidence and resolution. Danger is defined as exposure to harm and should be faced with self-assurance. Beck Weathers exposed himself to danger because of his lack of self-assurance or inner peace. Beck disclosed to the audience that had he been surer of himself as a person, his ideals of achieving everything might not have been so harsh and ridiculous. Unfortunately it had taken Beck a near death experience to drag out of life what was really important to him. Dr. Weathers explained that the climbers had set out for fame of scaling the highest peak in the world. The climb had been in pursuit of irrational goals that had lead many to their deaths and Beck to eight major operations and several minor ones to rebuild his left hand and nose, while his right hand was amputated from the severe frostbite. Even Jon Krakauer, a fellow climber of Beck's on the 1996 expedition, stated in his novel Into Thin Air that there were many, many fine reasons not to go, but attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act. Any person who would seriously consider it is almost by definition beyond the sway of reasoned argument. Beck continued his story and told us that there are blocks of ice the size of multistory buildings that teeter and fall, wiping out everything below them, and the air is so thin that if a person was instantaneously transported there, on Everest, that he or she would immediately die. Climbers eventually reach heights where the lack of air is so great that they cannot eat, drink, or sleep. ?The drive to climb is extremely irrational. It defies logic. ? (Mudge, 2). Encarta ?96 defines selfishness as thinking only of oneself. Dr. Weathers noted that of all the thirty climbers, many had spouses and children, including himself, in which their headstrong desires had forgotten to consider. The determined, stubborn climbers neglected to think of what possible consequences could have or did come, and how they could have effected or did effect their families. Krakauer states in his novel that Everest seems to have poisoned many lives. Relationships have foundered. The wife of one of the victims has been hospitalized for depression, and many families have been torn apart from the strain of coping with the expedition's aftereffects. Instead of

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

The Meaning of Citizenship in A Democratic Nation †History Essay

The Meaning of Citizenship in A Democratic Nation – History Essay Free Online Research Papers The Meaning of Citizenship in A Democratic Nation History Essay The meaning of citizenship depends of course, on what context that it is used in most democratic countries it is associated with civil and not religious or moral rights that advocate the rights of freedom of exchange, belief and choice. It is generally accepted that contemporary citizenship theory started in Britain with TH Marshall in post-WWII. Were Marshall divided citizenship into three sets of citizen rights. Civil rights, which developed in the eighteenth-century which included free speech, access to the legal system, rights to a fair trail, and rights of contract and property. Political rights which included the extension of the vote, the right to hold office were developed in the nineteenth-century, (but only for men). Social rights that were formed in the twentieth-century and are entitlements to social security when faced with unemployment, sickness, and other forms of hardship this is when the welfare state made its appearance (TH Marshall, Citizenship and social class. 1950: 46). It is the role of the welfare state and the social rights of people that we will be more concerned with here. So what was the thinking behind the development of the welfare state, the most obvious answer is that it was intended to provide for a greater level of equality among classes, and a protection for those who were worst hit by the excesses of capitalism. This is however a debatable point. Brian Abel Smith argued that the welfare states â€Å"were never intended as great institutions of equality† and that they â€Å"did not intend to try to create a more equal society, but to establish a floor of protection at the bottom† (Brian Abel Smith, The major problems of the welfare state. 1985: 32). In many ways, the concept of a welfare state is the peak of a social democracy, seemingly balancing the benefits of capitalism and socialism without the extremes of either. The theory seems to be almost perfect, with the state playing a large role in the area of social policy, working to alleviate the problems and inequalities created by the capitalist market economy. This seems to be supported by the fact that all the earliest reforms related to social insurance were set up for those who were injured in the workplace. It would appear that the rationale behind the welfare states varies depending on which political ideology that one subscribes to. For conservatives, the welfare state was a way of avoiding unrest among the poorer classes and a means of maintaining political stability. Liberals believed that it was simply a means of solving the problems of an unequal and illiberal society, and of the victims of that society. While socialists believed that it was merely a step in the right direction towards the ultimate goal of a classless society (David Held, Models of democracy. 1996: 235-236). Apart from the political ideologies the welfare state can be seen as a result of the merging of the new capitalist system and the new mass democracies in which citizens were politically active. In essence it was an attempt to compromise the beliefs of the ca pitalist ruling class with the rest of society (Flora Heidenheimer, The historical core and changing boundaries of the welfare state. 1981: 22). This was the reality of the welfare state, an institution which tried to resolve the conflicts within the class-based society. The first stage came in the 1920s, which was a period of social experimentation (Hecio, Towards a new welfare state. 1981: 386-387). It was during this period that the institutions of the welfare state were created. Social insurance was instituted, and advances in the fields of health and education provisions were made. The second stage was one of consolidation between the 1930s and 1940s. This stage was the inevitable follow-on from the period of experimentation. Many of the ideas which had been put forward in the first period were revolutionary and challenged the relationship between the state and its citizenry. While the second period allowed for a consolidation of the achievements that had been made, it was also a time in which the seeds were sown for the huge expansion in social rights that were to come. In the immediate post-WWII period, Britain was in the process of constructing its social welfare system. Marshall was attempting to justify the national provision of social benefits. He focused on the major contradiction between formal political equality and individual freedom, on the one hand, and the significant social and economic inequality on the other (Bryan Turner, Outline of a theory of citizenship. 1992: 48-51). This paved the way for the future expansion of the welfare state. This expansion came in the years between the 1950s and the mid-1970s. After World War II, the amount government spending that was spent on social policy soared. There were a number of reasons for this firstly, there was an increase in the number of dependants within society, a rise in the number of the elderly, which increased the cost of maintaining health care and pensions. The other major reason was that this period was one of unprecedented economic growth and thus finding the funds to pay for thes e services was possible. However by the late 1970s the welfare state had come under severe pressure and its very existence was in question. How did this come about only a few years after its halcyon days? Basically, the expansion of the welfare state was too much too soon. Were the expansion of social rights that existed during a period of economic prosperity simply could not be maintained in a time of recession. With a fall in economic growth and a rise in unemployment increased pressure was put on the welfare state. The funds that were there during the good times dried up and states started to question the costs involved. There was a genuine feeling that the investment in the future security of society, on which the welfare state was founded, was seriously threatening its economic security (Hecio, 1981: 400). As the level of government indebtedness rose, people began to resent paying out for services that were formally their entitlements and the sense of solidarity and consensus of the post-war period bega n to wither. Indeed there are now some grave concerns over the future of the welfare state. Dismayed at the very high levels of persistent unemployment, and constrained by the monetary policies of the EU, many policymakers are thinking that a developed, welfare state is no longer possible within a global economy (David Held, 1996: 251). Hecio lists three main reasons for the decline in the welfare state and its impact on the social rights of citizens: pointing to high costs, ineffective spending and the over-regulation of the welfare system (Hecio, 1981: 399-400). The social rights that most people enjoyed and have come to depend on in times of prosperity do not hold up in times of hardship. It goes without saying that it is the most vulnerable of people in society that are worst affected when the social safety net is removed. Given the growth of social exclusion it is not surprising that many writers on social citizenship are concerned about the deindustrialisation, and the spreading of inequalities. Increasingly, conservatives as well as moderates are emphasising the obligations of people, and not their rights or entitlements. Dahrendrof, believed that citizenship is a body of rights and duties a status that defines full membership of a society; that by very its definition is removed from the whims of the market. Although there are obligations that all citizen should and must obey such as the law, taxes, etc, but these obligations have be limited so as not to infringe on either personal or civil rights. Dahrendorf argued that the most tangible evidence concerning the loss of citizen entitlements can be seen in the development of an underclass in the wealthy OECD states (Ralf Dahrendorf, The changing quality of citizenship 1994: 10-19). These groups are the long-term unemployed, the persistent poor, disa dvantaged and ethnic groups and refugees that have fallen through the safety net. Another failing of the state is that the welfare state has done little to make Europe a classless society. Indeed, instead of abolishing inequalities it has perpetuated them: the extension of many benefits and payments to large sectors of the middle class during the expansionary period did little to improve the relative life chances of the working class. On the charge that the welfare state is over-regulated, we need only look at the size of the bureaucracies established to run the system for its verification. These organisations have become detached from the people whose needs they are supposed to represent. A â€Å"them and us† mentality has developed with the welfare state being seen as faceless, and the recipients being seen as charity cases. As Turner noted, citizenship, despite the claim of universality excludes as well as incorporates. Social citizenship requires equality but is incompatible with individualism since equality requires a bureaucracy and in turn that bureaucracy destroys individualism (Bryan Turner, Citizenship and social theory. 1994: 24-29). Taken together, the failings of the system represent near fatal flaws and explain the decline of the welfare state and its effect on the rights of citizenship. A number of theorists have focused on a more expansive definition of citizenship. In part, its emphasis is due to the various developments of capitalism. Prior theories assumed that developing capitalism necessarily corresponded with modernisation, which argue that economic rights are part of the larger struggle for citizenship. This assumption can no longer be considered to be completely true, as capitalism can flourish under traditional societies and settings (Turner, 1992: 24). Furthermore, in post-industrial societies, there is deindustrialisation, deskilling, and continued inequality and poverty. Finally, there are some counter-trends of growing nationalism and ethnic conflict, on the one hand, and globalisation on the other. In response to these mixed trends, writers on citizenship take different ideological viewpoints, ranging from basic human rights, as in what people have rights to, because of what they share in common as human beings. To human identities that are deeply imbedded in community, to common agency, rights, understandings and shared purposes (Martin Bulmer, Anthony Rees, Citizenship Today. 1996: 79-83). Turner defines citizenship in a sociological context as a set of practices: juridical, political, economic and cultural that define a person as a competent member of a society and which as a consequence shape the flow of resources to people and social groups. The emphasis here is very much on practices. Indeed, citizenship changes historically as a consequence of political struggles for better access to life’s chances. Thus defined, citizenship is centrally concerned with inequality, power, and social class; it is inevitably bound up with the problem of the unequal distribution of resources. Therefore, citizenship is essentially concerned about the nature of social membership within modern political collectives, in short, social movements. Turner focuses on the spaces within capitalist economies for the growth of social movements seeking citizenship rights. There is considerable variation in contemporary capitalism, thus, the real changes in capitalism will come through the democratic process. Gradual changes in consumption, welfare, will come more as a consequence of collective resistance and pressure to improve conditions and expand the civil rights of minorities (Turner, 1992: 44). He argues that welfare rights are more than merely a pacifier for class differences rather they have fundamentally transformed the nature of the class struggle itself. The condition of the working class has improved immensely over the last century, despite the persistent of inequalities. There is the emergence of new classes and the ambiguous location of the middle classes, the changing nature of class consciousness and class imagery. Turner sees multiple social movements, minorities, feminists, and the aged. Although Turner believed that class was important, he believed that it was not the complete story (Turner, Citizenship and capitalism. 1986: 105). Conclusion Hugh Hecio believed that a transformation is taking place with the idea of social inclusiveness. Despite gaps and inconsistencies, the prevailing ideology during the twentieth-century was to expand the circle of people who were considered to be equal in terms of life goals and aspirations. Marshalls concept of social citizenship was not only to reduce poverty but to make society more equal and just. It was an expression of solidarity a sense of citizenship. The concept of social solidarity, the recognition of individual dignity, expressed a defining aspiration a presumption of inclusion that was a remarkable and unique development. In contrast to earlier generations that routinely accepted and defended exclusionary practices, in the post-WWII, the moral sense had changed. To be sure, there were gaps and inconsistencies in the ideal, but they were not endorsed. The overall goal of the post-WWII social welfare state was the economic security of the family. The nation state was the appropriate political organization to achieve these goals. Those assumptions are now being questioned, as a normal working life is no longer assured, especially for the most vulnerable in society. Nations are no longer in control of their economies. Global economic forces and cross border migrations are threatening state welfare programs. Instead of the protection and reconciliation of individual diversity in the common community, there is the reassertion of local political and economic interests, and ethnic and racial identities. The concept of inclusion is increasingly contested. As the economies of both the US and Western Europe continue to produce growing inequalities, increased social divisions, and continues to threatening universal citizen rights. Bibliography Abel Smith, Brian (1985) The major problems of the welfare state: defining the issues. In Eisenstadt Ahimer [eds] The welfare state and its aftermath. London: Croom Helm. Bulmer, Martin Anthony Rees (1996) Citizenship Today: The Contemporary Relevance of TH Marshall. London: UCL Press. Dahrendorf, Ralf (1994) The changing quality of citizenship. In van Steenbergen, Bart [ed] (1994) The condition of citizenship. London: Sage. Flora, P AJ Heidenheimer (1981) The historical core and changing boundaries of the welfare state. In P Flora AJ Heidenheimer [eds] The development of the welfare state in Europe. London: McCroom Helm. Hecio, H (1981) Towards a new welfare state. In Flora Heidenheimer [ed] The development of the welfare state in Europe. London: McCroom Helm. Held, David (1996) Models of democracy. Cambridge, Polity Press. Marshall, Thomas (1950) Citizenship and social class. Cambridge: Pluto Press. Turner, Bryan (1986) Citizenship and capitalism: the debate over reformism. London: Allen and Unwin. Turner, Bryan (1992) Outline of a theory of citizenship. In Mouffe, Chantal [ed] (1992) Dimensions of radical democracy: pluralism, citizenship, community. London: Verso. Turner, Bryan [ed] (1994) Citizenship and social theory. London: Sage. Research Papers on The Meaning of Citizenship in A Democratic Nation - History EssayBringing Democracy to AfricaPETSTEL analysis of India19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeQuebec and CanadaRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andTwilight of the UAWBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Annotated bibliography Essay Example for Free (#7)

Annotated bibliography Essay Source 1:http://business.time.com/2011/08/31/will-steve-jobs-departure-hurt-the-economy/ Summarize: This article discusses how big of an impact Steve Jobs has on the economy we live in today. Apple is a multi-billion dollar company. It has more financial ammo than most sovereign countries, by financial ammo I mean it has much more money than others companies in sovereign countries. Apple trumps the Gross domestic production of Denmark, Thailand, and Greece, which makes the company a true power house in today’s Society. If someone were to ask me what this article is about, I would tell them it explains in detail the impact Steve jobs had on the global economy. Mr. Jobs affected many countries from japan to the United States in a multitude of ways. Assess: This source is useful because it exemplifies the impact of Steve jobs from the Economic perspective. This source is very reliable because it is covered with update information and it is an original written article. The author of this article is not biased; the article exhibits both pros and cons. The goal of this article is to explain the impact Steve jobs had on the economy. Reflection: This source is genuinely helpful to me because it brings forth perfect points that I can connect to while I write my paper. It states how apple affects not only the United States Economy but other countries’ economies as well. This article helps my argument because it says that Steve jobs have a very big effect on the economy. An example of this is in the stock market, when Steve jobs stepped down as CEO of apple, the stock market dropped 5 percent. That is a bona-fide example of how he affects the economy in contrast to the prime Minister of Japan. Source 2: http://www.economist.com/node/21551058 Summarize: This article predominantly talks about how Apple is a major economy innovator. In the last 11 years, apple has come out with 3 products that have completely changed the market. The iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Apple has provided ways to effortlessly surf the internet anywhere anyone wants to, with a beautiful design. Apple has basically created its own mobile generation. Apple has demonstrated that even though the economy is strict, consumers are willing to pay for a â€Å"must have gadget†. Assess: This source is ideally useful because it describes how apple has surpassed its  competitors. Within the last 11 years apple has come out with 3 products that have changed the economy not only in the United States but in other countries too. The information presented in this article is reliable, because all the information is authentic. Also this article is not biased; it shows both the pros and con of the affects Apple has on the economy. The goal of this source is to show how Steve jobs affected the economy in various countries. Reflection: This source will be used to represent how much money Steve jobs generates and how people are willing to do to get this â€Å"must have product†. For an example there was a near-riot in Beijing when customers could not buy the latest iPhone. This source is useful to me because it shows how Steve jobs effects the economy, again when your product runs out and it starts a riot, it is clearly affecting the economy of that region. The source will shape my argument because it helps me show people just how much of an affect Steve Jobs has on the economy, his products are so well loved that if there aren’t any left people start to riot over it. Global Politics: Source 1: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2& Summarize: This article mainly discuses the comment made by President Obama. As Steve Jobs was speaking, President Barack Obama interrupted and asked him â€Å"what would it take to make iPhones in the United States?Why can’t that work come home?† He said that because apple was saying that their products were made in the United States but practically all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other products that Apple produce were sold last year, were manufactured overseas. Mr. Jobs responded withâ€Å"Those jobs aren’t coming back.† He said that because 700,000 people engineer and build and assemble apple parts, in addition to the 43,00 people apple employs in the United States and the 20,000 they employ overseas. Nearly none of those 700,000 people live in the United states, they work in other countries. Some part of the iPhone are American. The software for the iPhone, for instance, and its marketing campaigns were created in the United States. Apple recently built a $500 million data center in North Carolina.â€Å"Also another advantage for Apple was that China provided engineers at an extent the United States could not Annotated bibliography. (2016, May 23). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Economics - war, crime, and terror Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economics - war, crime, and terror - Essay Example It is evident that war and other terror attacks are known to cause economic and psychological effects of varying intensity. Nonetheless, these impacts come from the indirect costs of crimes that differ through sectors, countries and time (Schneider & Meierrieks 17). The most notable consequence associated with crimes is the human loss. Terror activities are known to cause civilian mortalities ranging from hostage takeover to the bombings (Schneider & Meierrieks 14). Although this does not seem like a direct economic impact; however, panic is known to influence the economy. It affects consumption, as well as investment behavior of persons that can lead to market disturbances. Therefore, the feeling of insecurity has several repercussions hence can disrupt the population’s spending behavior. Businesses are the major targets of any terror attack (Schneider & Meierrieks 28). As a result, this affect the way insurance operates since the risks of terrorism are difficult to quantify the prices. Many people have argued that the economic consequence of international crime remains a medium to a long term issue (Schneider & Meierrieks 44). Civilization is important in the sense of believing that we are all under God. We are not supposed to be too hard on ourselves instead we should embrace love to one another. In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ will always be there for us, and he is not the kind to choose violence at the expense of peace. As a result, some parties will withdraw the troops and others mention the aim of strengthening their military in order to have a stronger nation. War is likely to have a significant impact to the change of foreign policy. Some of the target sectors in the policy include security and military. It is imperative that these aspects have a considerable impact on the economy of the country that enforces the policy (Schneider & Meierrieks 42). As a

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The Indian Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Indian Economy - Essay Example India was confronted with the worst possible food disasters in 1943 during the British rule. Food production was given a low priority by the British as a consequence of the hysteria which developed during the World War II. The existence of acute food shortage continued even after the British left India. Thus food security became on the issues of paramount importance on India’s agenda. This led to the Green Revolution and the emergence of various other legislative measures for ensuring that the Indian businessmen would never again hoard food for making profits (Teacher web, â€Å"Why Green Revolution?†). The period between 1967 and 1978 has been referred to as the period of Green Revolution. This primary aim was the achievement of food self sufficiency. It was a period of successful agricultural experiments in India. Thesis Statement India had famously been known as an agro-based economy which caters to the agricultural needs not only of its own nationals but of foreign nations as well. The climate and other ecological factors in India had been conducive for a variety of agricultural production even though a vulnerable one. During the post independence era, India decided to put a greater emphasis upon its agricultural segment where it had already enjoyed an edge. The sector performed in a commendable way during the first five-year plan phase but gave up to climatic irregularities 1950 onwards. The nation at that time had been in a pitiable state lacking ample food reserves as well as resources to import an abundant supply of the same. Hence, there had been little options left for the national government but to figure a permanent way-out of the same. It decided to modify the agricultural state of the nation through technological enhancements which could sustain not only the nation’s large population base but could also produce enough surpluses for export supplies. This led to a movement called Green Revolution which was characterised by sowin g of high yielding variety

Friday, January 24, 2020

Thomas Plantes Do the Right Thing Essay examples -- Personal Reflecti

This is paper is a personal reflection on the views reflected by Thomas Plante the author of Do the Right Thing. Living ethically in an unethical world. Thomas Plante interprets principled and ethical understanding into realistic life approaches. By use of his five moral mechanisms for making tough Life decisions Plante steers readers all the way through a step-by-step process for generating a individual fair foundation based on truthfulness, capability, individual responsibility, admiration, and consciousness of the interests of others. Readers are then coached on ways to apply this self-designed scheme and systems to hard-hitting life situation. For instance, it deals with intricate professional environments or situations, family and relationship choices and even private economic decisions. As a personal reflection this paper will give personal opinions, examples and day to day examples of the application of these ethical views. It will use examples of the different dilemma situati ons. Medical ethics is a system of well placed guidelines, rules and principles to guide the conduct and judgments of medical practitioners or personnel in their endeavor to practice medicine. In this case, there is a dilemma in a supposed unborn baby who apparently has a damaged brain. The dilemma involves whether to terminate or rather abort the baby or let him live and donate the organs to other deformed children. The family decides to let the baby live however the hospital has advances by declaring the baby’s brain dead and they need the body parts as part of the requirements for a required transplant. This is the dilemma behind this healthcare issue (Beauchamp & Childress, 2008). It is however important to note that brain damage is the actual de... ... We Really Want to Produce Good People? Journal of Moral Education, 16(3), 177-188. Noddings, N. (1988). An Ethnic of Caring and Its Implications for Instructional Arrangements. An American Journal of Education, (962), 215-230. Oman, D., & Thoresen, C. E. (2007). How does one learn to be spiritual? Westport, CT: Praeger/Greenwood. Peters, R. S. (1970) Ethics and Education. London. Allen & Unwin Pollack, J. (2007). Ethics in criminal justice: Dilemmas and decisions (6th ed.). Belmont: Thomson and Wadsworth. Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2008). The police in America: An introduction (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Purpel , D. & Ryan, K. (1976). Moral Education. It Comes With Territory. Berkeley: McCutchman. Straughan , R .(1988). Can We Teach Children Good? Milton Keynes: Open University Press. Tom, A. (1984). Teaching as a Moral Craft. New York: Longman. . Thomas Plante's Do the Right Thing Essay examples -- Personal Reflecti This is paper is a personal reflection on the views reflected by Thomas Plante the author of Do the Right Thing. Living ethically in an unethical world. Thomas Plante interprets principled and ethical understanding into realistic life approaches. By use of his five moral mechanisms for making tough Life decisions Plante steers readers all the way through a step-by-step process for generating a individual fair foundation based on truthfulness, capability, individual responsibility, admiration, and consciousness of the interests of others. Readers are then coached on ways to apply this self-designed scheme and systems to hard-hitting life situation. For instance, it deals with intricate professional environments or situations, family and relationship choices and even private economic decisions. As a personal reflection this paper will give personal opinions, examples and day to day examples of the application of these ethical views. It will use examples of the different dilemma situati ons. Medical ethics is a system of well placed guidelines, rules and principles to guide the conduct and judgments of medical practitioners or personnel in their endeavor to practice medicine. In this case, there is a dilemma in a supposed unborn baby who apparently has a damaged brain. The dilemma involves whether to terminate or rather abort the baby or let him live and donate the organs to other deformed children. The family decides to let the baby live however the hospital has advances by declaring the baby’s brain dead and they need the body parts as part of the requirements for a required transplant. This is the dilemma behind this healthcare issue (Beauchamp & Childress, 2008). It is however important to note that brain damage is the actual de... ... We Really Want to Produce Good People? Journal of Moral Education, 16(3), 177-188. Noddings, N. (1988). An Ethnic of Caring and Its Implications for Instructional Arrangements. An American Journal of Education, (962), 215-230. Oman, D., & Thoresen, C. E. (2007). How does one learn to be spiritual? Westport, CT: Praeger/Greenwood. Peters, R. S. (1970) Ethics and Education. London. Allen & Unwin Pollack, J. (2007). Ethics in criminal justice: Dilemmas and decisions (6th ed.). Belmont: Thomson and Wadsworth. Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2008). The police in America: An introduction (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Purpel , D. & Ryan, K. (1976). Moral Education. It Comes With Territory. Berkeley: McCutchman. Straughan , R .(1988). Can We Teach Children Good? Milton Keynes: Open University Press. Tom, A. (1984). Teaching as a Moral Craft. New York: Longman. .

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Bisexuality Politicised Essay

This paper asks the question how can bisexuality be or become a danger to the dominant sexual script which I problematise as produced racism, sexism, homophobia, and monosexism. That this brand of heterosexuality occupies 99% of our cultural space in entertainment, education, history and public expression and is considered inevitable and unchallengable for 90% of peoples relationships is, I will argue, the victory of white patriarchal science. I intend to show the nature of this victory and imagine what counter struggle and victories might emerge from the site of my bisexuality. The Historical role of Biphopia- Policing the Treaty. Underpinning this paper is the belief in that many if not all heterosexual identifying people can be bisexual and that the majority are to some extent not privately monosexual. The majority status of bisexuality does not make it normal nor ideal however I mention it because it is important to realise that the invisibility of bisexuality requires extraordinary effort to maintain and it’s repression occurs against all people not just a few â€Å"natural† bisexuals. To understand the historical role that biphobia has played and the historical position of bisexuality it is necessary to recognise homosexuality as a creation of western patriarchal and homophobic medical science. Women have always loved women and men have always loved men but the classification of these experiences as a sexuality with little or no element of choice and a biological or individual psychological basis was given currency in the 19th century by a professional class that feared same sex desire. Their construction of homosexuality shaped and informs Western cultural understanding of sexuality â€Å"not in the first place because of its meaningfulness to those whom it defines but because of its indispensableness to those who define themselves against it. † (Segal, L. p145) for it was and is needed â€Å"not only for the persecutory regulation of a nascent minority of distinctly homosexual men (and women) but also for the regulation of the male (and female) homosocial bonds that structure all culture – at any rate all public or heterosexual culture. † (Eve Sedgewick in Segal, L. pp194-5) Early psychoanalytic texts were quite explicit that the project was to police all male and female relationships warning â€Å"teachers and parents not to take too lightly friendships among girls which become passionate† and society to â€Å"be more concerned with the degree of heterosexuality or homosexuality in an individual than they are with the question of whether he has ever had an experience of either sort†. â€Å"The real danger from homosexuality† was seen to lie â€Å"not in actual sex association but in homosexual attitudes towards life† such as the negative attitudes of â€Å"thousands of women †¦ toward men, marriage and family life† influenced by â€Å"latent homosexuality† for â€Å"neurotic attitudes about love and marriage can prove contagious. † (Caprio, F. pp 6 -11) Generally, prior to this the western world had relied on Christianity to dictate the terms of sexuality. Whether sexual attraction was â€Å"natural† was no defence under a regime which tended to view â€Å"natural† sexual desires as needing control from a religious authority. The medical establishment faced the dilemma of replacing religious authorities without having any utilitarian basis for the repression of same sex desire. The construction of homosexuality as a distinct condition was to define normality as exclusive heterosexuality. In fact heterosexuality was simply the condition of being human. Sexual behaviour became a product of a persons condition; the â€Å"human condition† producing normal heterosexual behaviour. There was now no need for a religious justification for preferencing the heterosexual over the homosexual because behaviour was not a matter of choice but a matter of whether or not you were ill; Well or sane people simply didn’t want to have sex with people of their own gender. This was presented as a more humane response to homosexuality than religious condemnation or incarceration. Psychiatrists often called themselves compassionate as they argued for an adoption of â€Å"scientific† curative responses to homosexuality. (Caprio, F, p. xi) The majority gay and lesbian movement accepted the shifting of sexuality into an area for science and have embraced the notion of a biological basis or early psychological basis for sexuality. Their fight has largely been for homosexuality to be treated as incurable and it follows natural and equally valid alternative to heterosexuality, jettisoning any agenda to argue that is better. Only a minority have argued that homosexuality is a political choice and an option for everyone. With both sides ceasing hostilities1, when homosexuality was delisted as a mental illness in 1973 (Altman,D. ,p5), institutionalised heterosexuality and gays and lesbians overt interests have moved to coincide. Victories to normalise homosexuality also normalise heterosexuality’s dominance by depoliticising sexuality in general. In 1993 when a homosexuality gene was â€Å"discovered† a genetic basis for the majority status of heterosexuality was created though not declared. Anyone who would argue that the commonality of heterosexuality might have something to do with social programming and institutional support can now be said to be messing with nature. The proud bisexual threatens this peaceful coexistence of the heterosexual majority and homosexual minority. Recognition of our bisexuality requires a validation of our sexual relationships with people of our own gender based on choice rather than the agreed legitimate biological basis. Such choice may be personal or circumstantial but also political or moral. Normalising bisexuality with a biological cause won’t defuse it’s threat though it could contain it if it relegates us to a fixed minority status. Society still has to reckon with why we choose to validate relationships with people of our own gender by identifying as bisexual. We reopen old debates that many who have found safety in a biological basis for their monosexual identity want to keep closed. (I will revisit this fear in the last section, Bisexuality and the Future when I discuss Bi supremacy. ) A bisexual identity simply has to be defined as confused or an exception to the rule. Individuals have to be pressured to fit themselves into one or the other category. In a secular society without moral taboos people can’t be allowed to entertain the idea that their partners gender is political. Also, understandably gays and lesbians know those moral taboos still hold significant power so many still see their best option as policing the treaty based on the attribution of their sexuality to a biological or psychological cause. Bisexuality and identification – Withdrawing our support for the status quo. The bisexual identifying person is not predominantly someone who feels attraction equally to both genders or without any reference to gender2 and in terms of actual sexual or emotional experience the majority could be classified as predominantly homosexual or heterosexual. â€Å"Why then, don’t you call yourself gay or straight? † is the inevitable response to this confession. And confession it feels like because to indicate a â€Å"leaning† puts at risk the validity given to a bisexual identity within contemporary discourse. Sexual expression is usually presented as representative of something innate rather than a mediation between a person and their world. Consequently the woman who says she usually finds women easier to make emotional connections with is seen to be describing her â€Å"innate† difficulty emotionally connecting with men rather than her experience of men and their culture. Asserting a bisexual identity in the face of this invalidation is about contextualising sexual responses rather than finding invisible internal reasons for them. A bisexual identity in the above circumstance keeps open the possibility that a preference for emotional relationships with women could change if men and male culture changed. Alternatively a preference for sex with men might be attributable to homophobia. (Weinberg, M. S. , p221) The reasons for choices are not always positive ones but the possibility for counter argument exists. Holding onto a bisexual identification based on potentiality, rejects the conservatism of describing reality by the status quo. However a bisexual identity is also partially an attempt to accurately relate personal history as well and this too has a radical power. Most monosexual identifications represent people only by concealing some bisexuality. By identifying as bisexual a person accepts and celebrates those aspects of their life that are inconsistent with a monosexual identity. The power of metanarratives within modernism, including descriptions of sexuality, relies on such inconsistencies being deemed insignificant. Hence a public bisexual identity is a confrontation of generalist theories with lived experience. If people promote such a solidarity with their experiences and the people who compose them that is greater than any to a proposed theory then expounders of metanarratives (including myself) will lose power. Our authority to dictate â€Å"from above† will be replaced by a decentralised authority based on being â€Å"up close† to our own reality. Bisexuality and other oppressions. Sexuality forms alliances across genders, ethnicities, and classes so any bisexual movement which fails to take gender, race or class issues into account poses a real danger of obscuring differences and concealing oppression. (This is also true for a multiplicity of issues such as disability or mental illness). My discussion of bisexuality and other basis for oppression are not intended to present bisexual identification as the panacea of the worlds ills. Social change must be inspired by a diversity of experience and informed by a range of critiques. Given the above it is presumptious for me as a half-wog male to seek to resolve ongoing debates about a bisexual political agenda among feminist women or debates among black women and men on how to connect bi pride with anti-racism. To do so would be to pretend that I can speak from only my bisexuality and abandon any white, male perspctive. As a long term unemployed person I believe I can speak on class issues from the inside to some extent but also still acknowledge the privelage of my university education. This is not to say that I think that sexism is a womens issue or that the responsibility for opposing racism is solely non-whites. Nor am I comfortable being accountable to lesbian or straight feminists on the issue of bisexual profeminism or placing beyond reproach the homophobia of some black liberationist theorists like Eldrige Cleaver. What to speak on and when in regard to a radical bisexualitys’ impact on patriarchal, white supremist and class oppresion is best defined as problematic. As a simple way out I hope to show how I see a politicised bisexuality contributes to my pro-feminism, anti-racism and support for class struggles. It is my hope that this will have relevance for a wider audience. Radical Bisexuality and Pro-feminism. Judith Butler states that â€Å"the heterosexualisation of desire requires and institutes the production of discrete and assymetrical oppositions between â€Å"feminine† and â€Å"masculine† identities. † (Segal, L. p190) Monique Wittig goes further to argue that a woman’s place in heterosexuality is a class of oppression and that the lesbian escapes her class position. (Wittig, M, p. 47) I agree that â€Å"hetero†-sexuality (literally a sexuality based on opposites) reproduces and supports womens oppression in other spheres by creating a binary gender system. Men need to realise that their love for women is problematic when it is that â€Å"love† of the â€Å"feminine identity† that belongs to this sytem. This is the attraction for the other and requires women’s difference to be exaggerated and emphasised. These exaggerations shape women as not-men while we men shape ourselves and are shaped into embodiments of the ideal. The seeming irony of male heterosexuality where women are objects of love being consistent with misoginy where women are objects of hate makes perfect sense through the operation of oppositional heterosexuality precisely because the love requires women to be less than men. A love that does not require partners to be different than ourselves is not possible within exclusive heterosexuality because it fails to provide the argument to repress same sex desire. It is necessary for heterosexual men to confront their homophobia which demands they repress or invalidate their same sex desire before they can love their female partners as their â€Å"own kind† and not another species. An additional benifit to patriarchy of discrete gender identities that is liable to be lost when men reject oppositional heterosexuality is the regulation of male social interaction. The arguments to exclude gay men from the military reveal the mindset deemed necessary to produce a war machine; â€Å"We are asking men in combat to do an essentially irrational thing – put themselves in a position where they are likely to get killed †¦ One of the few ways to persuade men to do that is to appeal to their masculinity †¦ You cannot have an adrogynous military †¦ The idea that fighting is a masculine trait runs deep. As a cultural trait it predates any written history. It may even be a genitic trait †¦ Just think what it would mean to demasculinize combat. The effect on combat effectiveness might be catastrophic. † – Charles Moskos, Military Socioligist quoted in Colonel R. D. Ray, Military Necessity and Homosexuality (Gays:In or Out, p63) It is regrettable that non-heterosexual men and many women are proving they too can make excellent soldiers. 3 However the above quote exaggerates a fact that male â€Å"buddy† relationships are relied on by the military and that this requires a repression of same sex desire. This is because same sex desire is preferential – it is not a love of all men equally – but of a few and potentially for a time. The same-sex loyalty that is demanded by patriarchy including it’s military needs the stability of exclusive heterosexuality; â€Å".. the recognition of homosexuality is a threat to that peculiar combination of male camaraderie and hierachy on which most organisations depend; sexual desire is too anarchic, too disrespectful of established boundaries to be trusted. † (Altman, D. p63) Unravelling their heterosexuality is not the most important thing men must do to support feminism however it is a legitimate part of this support for â€Å"it is the repressed recognition of this fact (that everyone can be homosexual) that does much to fuel homophobia, but equally acts so as to promote male bonding and certain crucial authority structures. † (Altman D. ,p XI) Radical Bisexuality and Racism. The construction of homosexuality as a â€Å"natural† difference from the heterosexual norm shares and competes for the same conceptual space as constructions of race as biological differences from the white norm. This is particularly true because the hetrosexual ideal is represented as white with the sexuality of non-whites traditionally seen as untamed, violent, promiscuous or otherwise deviant even if heterosexual. Non-whites are considered only ever partly heterosexual while white queers are considered not proper whites. The competition for the limited conceptual space has led to historical difficulites in linking white supremacy with heterosexism (exacerbated by white queer activists own racial interests) and in fact has unwittingly linked Gay Power with white power. â€Å"Homosexuality as a race† has developed into a gay and lesbian ethnicity. For whites under racism where their whiteness is considered the norm and thus unnamed, this ethnicity is their only ethnicity, the lesbian/gay â€Å"language† their only language, and lesbian/gay history their only history, to the point that it is not seen as a difference within whiteness but a difference from whiteness. (Blasingame, p52) While we (white queers) are unconscious of our whiteness queer cultural politics consequently becomes a way of colonising non-white cultures with a new white culture, white leaders and white history in a particularly insidious way. While not as powerful as heterosexual institutions for people wanting to be publicly non-heterosexual we have considerable power; in the framing of beauty along racist lines, in the support of white non-heterosexual bourgeoius or political leaders and in the very conceptualisation of sexuality. As one example Brenda Marie Blasingame in Bisexuality and Feminism speaks of a history of sexuality in U. S. black communities which did not include placing people in particular â€Å"boxes† and accepted the practice of bisexuality. A part of moving into the white gay and lesbian movement for her was the requirement to come out as a specific sexuality and accept the marginalisation of bisexuals. For many people who are not white taking up a gay or lesbian and to a different extent bisexual identity requires an abandonment of their own ethnic politcal identity or view. (Blasingame, pp. 51 – 53) The common conceptual space of non-heterosexual and non-white however can and should however produce queer anti-racism provided white queers realise that this conception of their sexuality is wrong. There is a shared interest in anti-racism and anti-heterosexism in critiqing normalcy and naturalness. As only one example the construction of beauty posits that naturally â€Å"Gentlemen prefer Blondes†. Not only is this sexist for reducing women to a hair colour (and the Blonde is meant to be read as a woman) but it is heterosexist and clearly as racist as â€Å"Gentlemen prefer whites† when Blonde is only a white persons natural hair colour. When we politicise our sexuality we can open up not only the arguments against heterosexual dominance but the arguments against the sexual sterotypes of non-whites including the framing of Asian men as â€Å"young girls† represented in this regrettable quote from the 70’s magazine Gay Power; â€Å"I dig beautiful oriental men. Asking me to shoot at them is the same thing as asking heterosexual soldiers to shoot at beautiful young girls that they would like to fuck. † (Teal, D. p99) Radical Bisexuality and Class. It is worth noting that capitalism which I understand as the continual oppression of the poor that patriarchy is for women is no longer wedded to heterosexuality in Western affluent nations as it has been in the past. This is because Western nations are primarily consumer societies of fairly easily produced goods (easily because their production is either located in the Third World or in the Quattro Monde – the world of the Western underclass or because their production is automated). Western capitalism can therefore relax the â€Å"restraint and repression† which was necessary to both control factory floors and ensure a ready supply of human capital through reproduction. (Altman D, p90) Part of this is also due to unemployment and global capital mobility being sufficient to obtain cheap labour and another contributing factor has been Western women raising their education so they are more useful in employment than at home. Also marriage was the institution by which women were given the role of providing a whole range of services capitalism wouldn’t such as aged care and child raising as well as supporting adult men. Now many of these services are provided by profitable private institutions so traditional marriages are actually in competition with capitalism. Of course the worlds poor can’t afford these services and Thirld World countries remain supportive of compulsory heterosexuality (Altman, D, p90) but in the Western consumer-capitalism there is a an interest to increase consumption through the market of previous services fulfilled by women’s unpaid labour. In order to perpetuate consumption growth capitalism must also locate new disatisfactions like teenage angst, at an alarming rate while also offering at a price their answer. In this context gay, lesbian and even bisexual identities as well as transgenderism, S+M and fetish celebrations are eagerly embraced by many industries as the basis for new markets. Our anxiety for recognition, meaning, ceremony and a positive celebration of our sexuality are easily exploitable. â€Å"†¦ one of the possible negative side-effects of the popularity of ‘lesbian chic’ was that it codes lesbianism as merely a kind of fashion statement, something that requires certain consumer goods to mark the individual as lesbian. † (Newitz & Sandell) Bisexuals have to be mindful that while we seek recognition, capitalism is looking for new markets and while these interests coincide this will only be true for those of us who can afford it and it will be on the backs of the world’s poor involved in the production of our new consumerables and bearing the greatest brunt of the waste from our new consumption. One positive way to resist becoming merely another market is by applying the awareness of the political nature of sexual desire to the desire for consumer goods and services. Both desires are constructed to serve particular interests and not fundamentally our own. Through working to ensure that all of our desire works for liberation we will resist commodification as we achieve recognition. Bisexuality and the Future To outline what I see as the goal of Radical Bisexuality I will illustrate two scenarios depicting false victories and one which I believe genuinely opens up the greatest possibility for liberation. Scenario 1. Recognition of bisexuality as a third alternative way that people unchangably are. To some extent as I have said earlier this can’t overcome the capacity of bisexuals to fit in as straight and thus can’t conceal the choice to embrace the homosexuality within the heterosexual that they represent. However there are arguments that could be presented that bisexuals have to express their same sex desire or become depressed (â€Å"go mad†). These arguments could form the basis of depoliticising and medicalising bisexuality as has been done with homosexuality. This may make bisexual lives easier to defend and add to the options for young people but relegates bisexuals to the same minority status as is currently given to gays and lesbians. Most people who admit to loving their own gender in straight society would face the same oppression bisexuals now face as â€Å"heterosexual experimenters† and recruitment of the majority would be difficult as they would remain â€Å"true† heterosexuals as unable to change as â€Å"true† bisexuals or gays and lesbians. Further it could also trade the oppression that is invisibility for bisexuals with the oppression that is hyper-visibility for straight men and women, and increasingly gays and lesbians. Having recognised sexuality’s repression but not it’s production we will be easily exploitable by capitalism and our liberation may mean as being as marketed to and ritutalised as heterosexuality. Scenario 2. Bisexuality is considered the only natural sexuality which equates it with the only right sexuality. Heterosexuality would be patholigised along with homosexuality as both are considered to have unnatural â€Å"blocks† to loving one or the other gender. This is Bisexual Supremacy which I acknowledge as a justification for gays and lesbians to distrust bisexuals. While it is unlikely to be widely accepted it is possible that it could dominate queer spaces as a pocket of resistance to heterosexual dominance in the same way as celebrations of gay and lesbian purity have. It is certainly more likely to be targetted at lesbians and gays than straights and while this is the fault of heterosexism’s power, not my own, it must be refuted. This is not to say that politicising sexuality will not require some gay men in particular to reassess their rhetoric. Mysoginistic comments which denegrate women’s bodies deserve political criticism and can’t be assured the right to be accepted. However the wider charge of institutionalising the sexual oppression of women and supporting male social bonding can’t be levelled at male homosexuality and certainly not at lesbianism. Indeed at certain points in the struggle against institutionalised oppression different sexual identifications and choices will be appropriate. Because bisexuality is as deliberate a sexuality choice as any other and not a submission to some biological imperative (and even if it were I reject the claim that naturalness equals rightness) we can’t claim an non-contextual ideal status. Its political usefulness is only that of any tactic relative both to the circumstances and to the person, meaning that for some and at some times other sexual choices and identifications are more appropriate. Bisexual supremacy also prioritises the effort to be bisexual over other efforts to unravel heterosexist, patriarchal and racist programming. I have already stressed the need for a variety of critiques of power to inform social change which Bisexual supremacy ignores. In particular men in relationships with women need to realise that doing their share of the housework is far more meaningful than maintaining or developing their capacity to love other men. Scenario 3. The Dream. Realising our sexualities are scripted will hopefully prompt redrafts along feminist, anti-racist and anti-capitalist lines. No-one should be the sole author of this project even with their own sexuality as we all need to listen to the perspectives our privelages rob us off. Certainly a part of this will be a dialogue between political lesbians, bisexuals and straight women which already has a history and whose future I don’t want to conclude. Consequently my dream is vague. What I don’t see in this future is the fetishisation of wealth, whiteness or gendered difference. Women in relationships with men will recieve support and encouragement as full humans. Advertisers will be incapable of capturing our consumption with snake oil as we demand economic production satisfy new needs that we create, for justice and community. Pleasure including sexual pleasure will mean enjoying our values not forgetting them. Bisexuality like other sexualities will have to argue it’s political legitimacy but not it’s existance. Sexual identifications such as â€Å"Confused† may replace bisexual for many if it is recognises more of their personal truth and political terms like Anti-racist may be key elements of sexual identification. Radical bisexuality wont end all struggles but the raw energy of sexuality will be accountable to and in the employ of the great project of improving the world . Bibliography Altman, Dennis, The Homosexualisation of America, The Americanization of the Homosexual, St. Martins Press, New York, 1982 Sedgewick, E. K. , â€Å"How to Bring Your Kids Up Gay†, pp. 69 – 81, Fear of a Queer Planet : Queer Politics and Social Theory, Warner,M. (Editor), University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1993 Segal, Lynne, Straight Sex: Rethinking the Politics of Pleasure, University of California Press, U. S. A. , 1994. Foucalt, Michel, The History of Sexuality, Volume 1:An Introduction, Allen Lane, London, 1978 Newitz, A. and J. Sandell,â€Å"Bisexuality And How To Use It: Toward a Coalitional Identity Politics†, Bad Subjects, Issue # 16, October 1994 Caprio, F. S. M. D. Female Homosexuality:A Psychodynamic study of Lesbianism, The Citadel Press, New York, 1954 Weinberg,M. S. , C. J. Williams, D. W. Pryor, Dual Attraction: Understanding Bisexuality, Oxford University Press, Inc. , New York, 1994 Blasingame, B. M. , â€Å"The Roots of Biphobia: Internalised Racism and Internalised Heterosexism† in Closer to Home: Bisexuality and Feminism, Edited by E. R. Wise, Seal Press, U. S. A. , 1992 Colonel R. D. Ray, Military Necessity and Homosexuality , reprinted in Gays:In or Out: The U. S. Military & Homosexuals – A Source book, Brassey’s, March 1993. Teal D. , The Gay Militants, Stein and Day Publishers, New York, 1971. Wittig, M. , The Straight Mind and Other Essays, Beacon Press. Boston, 1992 Descriptors for Sexual Minorities †¢ Front Page †¢ What is h2g2? †¢ Who’s Online †¢ Write an Entry †¢ Browse †¢ Announcements †¢ Feedback †¢ h2g2 Help †¢ RSS Feeds Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend! Descriptors for Sexual Minorities | Asexuality | Homosexuality Heterosexuality | Bisexuality | Polyamory | The Kinsey Scale | The Gender Pronoun Game | Coming Out Embarrassing Questions About Sexual Orientation | Going Back In – Sexuality U-turns Modern culture has developed a number of terms and symbols to set apart its sexual minorities. Some of these originated within the different communities themselves. Others evolved from scientists, psychologists, legislators, and newspaper reporters trying to describe their gay, bisexual, transsexual, and polyamorous subjects. Many include obscure references to history that go largely unrecognized. Words Lesbian The word lesbian comes from the Greek island Lesbos, where the poet Sappho lived in 600 BC. Sappho wrote numerous poems about her female love, most of which were destroyed by religious fanatics during the Middle Ages. While the first usage of the word lesbian is unknown, it was used in several academic books as early as 1880. The word became more popular during the 20th Century, especially during the feminist era. The term ‘lesbian separatist’ was commonly used to distinguish feminists who wished to avoid the company of men altogether. Fag, Faggot, Fag Hag ‘Fag’ and ‘faggot’ are American insults for gay men. The term ‘faggot’ first started being used in this way in around 1914, but it is not clear where the word came from. A faggot is a bundle of sticks, used for firewood and tied up for carrying around. In the 16th century it was used as an insulting term for a useless old woman as something that weighs you down, in the same way that ‘baggage’ is sometimes used nowadays. But it’s quite a jump from 1592 to 1914 with nothing recorded in between. Gay men in the latter half of the 20th Century began using the term ‘fag hag’ to refer to straight women who frequently gather at gay establishments, partly as an insult and partly because of the rhyme. Dyke Contrary to popular belief, the origin of the insult ‘dyke’1, in reference to lesbians, has nothing to do with waterways or canals. The word first appeared in 1710 in British newspaper stories about presumed homosexuals Anne Bonny and Mary Reed. The two women captained a very successful pirate venture and completed several lucrative raids of the British Empire before agreeing to be interviewed. Reporters often noted their predilection for wearing men’s clothing, and one editorial avoided the unpleasant connotations of cross dressing by using a French word which refers to men’s clothing, dike. Over the years, this term was corrupted to the modern form ‘dyke’. Since then, general misunderstanding about the term’s origins have inspired many stand-up comedy routines and bad puns. Polyamory, Polygamy, Monogamy The prefix ‘poly-‘ means many, while ‘mono’ means one. The suffix ‘gamy’ was originally from the French word for marriage, but has since been misunderstood as referring to sex. These terms refer to the number of consensual romantic partners taken by each adult in a family. Of course, the suffix ‘amory’ refers to love. Polyamory is a relatively new term coined by modern practitioners, and is greatly preferred by them. Polygamy and the now defunct term bigamy were coined as early as 1800, as the practice of multiple marriages was outlawed in most Western nations. The state of Utah in the USA applied for Statehood three times before finally accepting an injunction against the polygamy practised at that time by the Mormon church. Polygamy is commonly understood as referring to heterosexual relationships where the man has multiple partners. However, with modern polyamory any combination of genders and orientations fulfills the definition. It is not necessary for all parties in a polyamorous relationship to be involved each with the other. Gay During the 1800s and early 1900s, ‘gay’ was simply a state of jubilant happiness. However, during the late 1800s gay was sometimes used to describe prostitutes in much the same way that the phrase ‘happy hookers’ is used today. One theory is that gay came into use to describe homosexual men because of the rise in numbers of male prostitutes during the 1900s. Another theory is that ‘gay’ was