Humanities Today - Define humanities and give current examples Essay Example for Free

Humanities Today Define humanities and give current examples Essay The Encyclopedia Britannica (2006) defines the humanities as Branches of knowledge that investigate human beings, their culture, and their self-expression. (Humanities). Those branches of knowledge include philosophy, literature, languages, the arts, religion and history. The humanities examine the human condition by studying the elements of culture that describe what is or was valued and considered important at a particular point in time. 15th century Italian humanists referred to the humanities as studia humanitas which means the studies of humanity, indicating secular literary and scholarly activities (in grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, moral philosophy, and ancient Greek and Latin studies) that that they thought to be more humane and classical rather than divine (Humanities, 2006). In contrast, the physical sciences tend to examine the world and its phenomena objectively, without reference to or consideration of human meaning and purpose, a key aspect of the humanities. Scholars further argue that the humanities are distinguished from other modes of study by either their subject mater and by the method of investigation used. One philosopher called the humanities the spiritual sciences and the human sciences (Humanities, 2006). He described them as areas of knowledge outside of the physical sciences. On the other hand, another turn-of-the-century philosopher instead characterized the humanities according to their method of study. He argued that the humanities do not seek or follow general laws, as the sciences do; and that they focus on values within human and cultural contexts, which is directly contrary to scientific methodologies. As described above, the humanities seek to understand the values of a people and their perceptions based on their direct expression through the arts, their language, and philosophies. Science is motivated by the desire to understand natural phenomena and dependent on empirical observation (Talk: Humanities, 2006). The 21st century brings a variety of social, economic, and technological changes. Following is a demonstration of the humanities in the 21st century through the examination of its art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. Art Is modern art in crisis? A new philosophical criticism emerged in the person of American critic Arthur Danto, who came out with the idea that the objects [of art] approach zero as their theory approaches infinitythat is, art really is over, having become transmuted into philosophy (Art Criticism, 2006). In his book The End of Art, author Donald Kuspit (2005) suggests that, Art has been replaced by postart, [ ] as a new visual category that elevates the banal over the enigmatic, the scatological over the sacred, cleverness over creativity. Contemporary art, or art that is done now, is largely characterized by its indefinability. It tends to include art made from the late 1960s to the present, or after the supposed or putative end of modern art or the Modernist period (Contemporary Art, 2006). Todays art, like most of the humanities, has been transformed by technological, economical, and sociological advancements. It may or may not use traditional forms such as painting or drawing, and often includes the use of any variety of materials, video, or even performance as a part of it. One trend seems to be a focus on world issues such as cloning, the price of oil, gender and sexuality, human rights, and war. A representative example is one of the most talked-about sales in the contemporary market. Maurizio Cattelans The Ballad of Trotsky (1996), a stuffed horse hanging in a leather sling from the ceiling, sold for $2,080,000 in 2005 (Art and Exhibitions, 2006). Music Contemporary music has also been greatly influenced by 21st century globalism. It has seen a development and acceptance of world music, or music that features or originates in a different culture. American artists such as Paul Simon and Sting featured musicians and singers from other countries and went on to win Grammys and American Music Awards. Simons Grammy Award-winning album Graceland (1986) featured black South African Musicians who controversially recorded and toured with him despite a widespread trade boycott of South Africa, selling more than five million copies since its release (World Music, 2006). Sting featured Farhat Bouallagui on his Brand New Day aIbum and Vicente Amigo and Anoushka Shankar on his Scared Love album. In the wake of their success, record stores became more willing to stock music of their kind. Architecture Critics have described one trend in 21st century architecture as deconstructivist architecture. In popular usage, the term has come to mean a critical dismantling of tradition and traditional modes of thought (Deconstruction, 2006). Technology has played a significant role in the development of deconstuctivist architectural methodologies. Architects such as Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain used computer modeling to develop its angular, anthropomorphic exterior. Made mostly of titanium, the museum was designed to represent the industrial heritage of the citys past. The museum was an international success and helped put Bilbao on the worlds cultural map. Philosophy A notable philosophy of the 21st century is that of the democratic community. Community in this case is defined globally. Philosophers such as American John Dewey believed in social planning, in conscious intelligent intervention to produce desirable social change; and he proposed a new guide to enlightened public action to promote the aims of a democratic community (Philosophy, 2006). Deweys writings and teachings have brought modern society to a place where it considers that it is only as strong as its individual members and their willingness to work together to evolve and to meet the challenges facing it. Technological advancements in travel and communication alone have created a new world where anyone can send anything just about anywhere in a matter of minutes, days, or hours including explosives and disease. In addition to diseases like HIV and the Bird Flu, this world community is faced with issues of severe weather such as killer tsunamis and hurricanes, and world terrorism. Modern philosophies like that of Dewey support the more pragmatic view and approach to solutions to societal issues of this type as the only way to successfully meet them is as a community. Literature Like many of the arts in contemporary society, literature is plagued by commercialism and by the desire for a quick paycheck. Contemporary literature features a great deal of writings about true events the more sensational and graphic the better. In addition, it features a trend in crime study and investigation, beyond that of the mystery and private eye novels of the past. Todays novels get into the science and methodology of solving violent crimes. Authors like James Patterson, Sue Grafton and John Grisham have enjoyed great popularity. Their success can be attributed to many things. The content and subject matter of these authors works feeds societys desensitization to extreme violence and its increasing demand for subject matter that is more violent and more shocking in order to be more compelling. Further, several of these authors stories have been made into movies. The humanities are distinguished by their examination of the aspects of culture and the human condition through the eyes of the humans who experience and create them. The approach to their study differs from that of others areas of study, as does their focus on the reflection on human meaning and purpose. 21st century humanities continue to reinforce the idea that current culture and the human condition is reflected in them, no matter what century. References: Art Criticism. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-236417 Art and Art Exhibitions. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-234830 Contemporary Art. (2006). Retrieved June 3, 2006 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Contemporary_art Deconstruction. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-9029711 Humanities. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 3, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-9041479 Kuspit, D. (2005). The End of Art. Cambridge University Press. Marcel Duchamp. (2006). Retrived June 3, 2006 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp Philosophy, History of. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-8876 Talk: Humanities, (2006). Retrieved June 4, 2006 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Talk:Humanities World Music. (2006). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved June 4, 2006, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Premium Service: http://www. britannica. com/eb/article-93180.

Personal experience Essay Example for Free

Personal experience Essay Few experiences in one’s lifetime have the capacity to transform. It takes an event of such immense magnitude to shake up ones’ frame of mind but when this occurs, one’s life never remains the same. Before the occurrence of such an event in my life, I was less concerned as the plight of refugees and I cared even less about the reasons behind their refugee status. However, I soon realized that these reasons were not as far fetched as I thought and that our country has a great role to play in these foreign nations. (Harries, 2004) The experience  During the month of July 2004, my family decided to visit some close relations at a neighboring districts; I had never been in that area before. Our intention was to stay there for two days. Our journey was uneventful but pleasant and we arrived there in one piece. Upon arrival, our hosts gave us a warm reception and asked us to feel at home. This was rather difficult owing to the fact that their house was much smaller than ours. I was beginning to ask myself just how long I could bear being so far away from home. These selfish feelings were quickly thrown aside when I noticed unusual family members joining us in the living room. Some young men probably in their mid twenties entered the living room and politely greeted us. I noticed that they had a foreign accent; one I had never heard before and this immediately sparked my curiosity. We began chatting with them and continued to so for one hour. They told us that they had been in the country for ten years and so they knew their way around our cousin’s neighborhood. Actually, I found out that my cousins (who are considerably older than I am) had adopted them seven years ago so we all shared second names. After a while, I got tired of staying indoors and asked the two guys to take me around; one was called Andrew and the other Gregory. I wanted to find out what had prompted Andrew and Gregory to leave their country that I assumed was in Africa. Andrew was more talkative than Gregory and the former began telling me the story of his life. He revealed that he was born and raised in Rwanda until the age of fifteen. Before coming to our country, he had been living a relatively normal life with his family and friends. However, in the year 1994, something happened in their country to change all this. Their prime minister who happened to come from the Hutu tribe was assassinated and all hell broke loose. Andrew told me that the political assassination was merely the straw that broke the camels back because there were ethnic tensions between the two Rwandese tribes from as far back as the colonial times. Andrew narrated that everything changed in a flash, the national radio was taken over by the Hutus (the majority tribe) and they used it to spread hate speech about the minorities who were the Tutsi. Andrew told me that he was a Tutsi and was therefore a potential victim of these extermination crimes. He explained that killings began in different parts of the country and they eventually reached his village. He had managed to hide from the exterminators because a member of the other tribe was protecting his family in a church. But the exterminators learned of this, and entered the church; they were armed with machetes and guns exclaimed ‘come out you little cockroaches! ’ Andrew watched as his family members were killed one after the other. He was lucky that the bullets never got to him since dead bodies covered him. The attackers went around to ensure that no one was left alive. When they got to Andrew, he had so much blood from other people that they assumed he was dead. The same thing had happened to Gregory. Andrew told me that he had remained under those piles of dead bodies for a whole week. What I learnt from the experienced Andrew and Gregory were one of the lucky Tutsi survivors who were enrolled in refugee programs with our country through an NGO. They stayed with this non-governmental organization until my cousins learnt about their story and volunteered to adopt them. I learnt many things from my experience with Andrew and Gregory. First of all, I learnt to appreciate the peace and freedom, that exists within our country because it gave hope to people who had lost it completely. These two young men had a chance to start their lives all over again because a country like ours was open to their experience. (Hamilton, 2000) However, I was deeply disturbed by the role that the rest of the world could have played in their country. Many people have suggested that had the world intervened in the Rwandan genocide much earlier, then the hundreds of thousands of lives lost would have been spared. This was a modern – day Holocaust and every government in the world; including ours turned a deaf year to their plight. The Rwandese killed themselves for four months without outside intervention even from the UN. This issue got me thinking about our government’s role in peace keeping missions around the world; especially those ones that have the danger of spiraling out of control. The citizens of this country may be living in relative peace but as international citizens, it is the duty of our government to protect the lives of innocent citizens such as Andrew and Gregory. I would never have thought of this issue, if my family had not taken that trip to visit our cousins. Through their kind actions, I began asking myself whether the government itself can demonstrate such good neighborliness today especially with regard to troubled countries. (DuBois, 2005) Political and social significance of the event This event was a revelation to me as I hope it will be to the rest of the class because I saw our government through different eyes. Andrew explained that if there had been outside help, then they would not have to deal with some of the problems that they were undergoing at the time. The world has become increasingly global; through information technology, we can now hear, watch and even analyze political and social issues in other countries. In contrast to the mid nineties, news of any nature can reach individuals in different parts of the world at the touch of a button. Consequently, our country and its citizens are firmly aware of the issues prevailing in almost all parts of the world. The government therefore has a platform for looking into the prevailing problems of the world. While our government has tried giving assistance, to certain countries, it would be nobler if the government extended their role in humanitarian crises of the world by participating in preventative initiatives. (Kissinger, 2001) One such illustration occurred earlier this year when an East African nation; Kenya began engaging in post election violence. The clashes and killings were as a result of ethnic and political tension prevailing in that country. The world did not watch as these people continued killing one another because the US government sent its secretary of state who strongly suggested a government of national unity; their interventions saved that nation. Other countries also intervened and the violence was immediately halted. Our government should adopt such a strategy its foreign policy. It is not responsible to simply turn a blind eye to other countries when there is something that our government can do. Arnold, 2001) Another example of a country at war is Sudan; this country has been undergoing a lot of turmoil especially in the Darfur region. Many western or foreign countries have taken a hands-off approach to the plight of the Sudanese because they have assumed that these problems have nothing to do with them. However, as citizens of the world and also as responsible citizens, it is the duty of the government to ta ke part in such initiatives a little more. We cannot operate in isolation because we all need one another. Had governments in the world been more vigilant about helping one another, the situation in Rwanda would not have catapulted into such magnanimous levels. Consequently, similar events in other countries can also be prevented if the government was keener with taking part in peacekeeping missions. Indeed our country’s foreign policy should be viewed a social work because we are our neighbor’s keepers. (Mandelbaum, 2002) Change starts from within and it then spreads to other parts of the world. If our government was to take up its international responsibility today, then the lives of many innocent people could be changed forever. Conclusion The event that changed my life occurred four years ago when I took a trip to my cousins’ place at a nearby district. During my stay there, I met some adopted nephews of Rwandese descent. They told me about their story and how they lost their lives. This meeting with them changed the way I perceived our government’s role in international affairs because I realized that it is not doing enough. Our government needs to exercise more corporate citizenry in order to prevent horrendous occurrences like Andrew’s and Gregory. If our government had been more participatory, then these Rwandese boys would still have relatives today. (Turner, 2001)

The Importance Of Logic And Language

The Importance Of Logic And Language Language is defined as anybody which can be written, spoken shown or otherwise communicated between people. It is method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way. Language is the most complex form of communication. Language problems are extremely complex, perhaps comparable with the complexities of human life itself. The importance of language is essential to every aspect and interaction in our everyday lives. We use language to inform the people around us of what we feel, what we desire, and question or understand the world around us. We communicate effectively with our words, gestures, and tone of voice in a multitude of situation. Would you talk to a small child with the same words you would in a business meeting. Being able to communicate with each other, form bonds, teamwork, and its what separates humans from other animal species. Communication drives our lives and better ourselves. The importance of l anguage is beneficial regardless if you do it for fun or for your career or even just for personal travel. It is obvious that learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, a sense of global citizenship and personal commitment. The significance of language in our lives is incomparable. It is not just restrained to being a means of communicating ones thoughts and ideas to the rest, but has also become a tool for forging friendships, cultural ties as well as economic relationships. Throughout history, learned men have reflected on the importance of language in our lives. Scholar Benjamin Whorf has noted that language shapes our thoughts and emotions and determines our perception of reality, whereas John Stuart Mill has referred language to be the light of the mind. For linguist Edward Sapir, language is not just a vehicle for carrying out expressions of thoughts, perceptions, sentiments, and values characteristic of a community, but is a representation of a fundamental expression of social identity. He also believes that language helps in maintaining the feelings of cultural kinship. The significance of language in our day-to-day living include: Language aids in developing and grooming ones personality as a whole. Since learning a language is part of our knowledge, it becomes one of the key factors in competitiveness. In the advanced industrial society of today, the basic knowledge of a single or more language has become indispensable. With the advent of the concept of globalization, people all over the globe communicate with each other and exchange ideas. Though technological advances have served as a medium for communication, you cannot deny the role played by language. Understanding of a common language has helped people to communicate, despite being from varied parts of the world. Language has become a major tool of communication between countries, cultural groups, various companies and organizations, communities and friends. Language is one of the key factors of our human developmental process, which sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom and knits a strong feeling of kinship amongst us. A baby is born without language, but even without formal training, by the age of five, the child knows several hundred words and grammar of a particular language. This is an inherent human tendency, which is extremely important for further growth. Any discrepancy seen in learning a language at such early stage might indicate certain illness in a child. In the developmental trajectory of a child, language plays an important role since it is connected with various aspects of a childs growth. Learning a language is directly related to emotional development. For instance, a baby gazing at his parents face is responded by cooing and few words of love by his parents. This retains in the babys mind and when he is a little older, he begins using language to express his emotions as well. Language is also connected to the moral development in a child. The process begins when the child is about 18 months old. The child learns the right and wrong by listening to what his parents or other adult authorities tell him. Imagine teaching the child the difference of right or wrong without the tool of language! Learning a language within the first five years of ones life is important. It is one of the best predictors of a childs later performance in school. A child who has significant speech or language delays has a high likelihood of eventually having trouble with reading, which may continue throughout school. IMPORTANCE OF LOGIC IN HUMAN AFFAIRS Logic is the study of the principles and methods of reasoning. Logic is generally based on deduction which is a method of exact inference. It is a study of correct reasoning that consist of language and reasoning. It explores how we distinguish between good (or sound) reasoning and bad (or unsound) reasoning. An instance of reasoning is called an argument or an inference. An argument consists of a set of statements called premises together with a statement called the conclusion, which is supposed to be supported by or derived from the premises. A good argument provides support for its conclusion, and a bad argument does not. Two basic types of reasoning are called deductive and inductive. A good deductive argument is said to be validthat is, the conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. A deductive argument whose conclusion does not follow necessarily from the premises is said to be invalid. The argument All human beings are mortal, all Greeks are human beings, therefore all Greeks are mortal is a valid deductive argument. But the argument All human beings are mortal, all Greeks are mortal, therefore all Greeks are human beings is invalid, even though the conclusion is true. On that line of reasoning, one could argue that all dogs, which are also mortal, are human beings. Misunderstandings commence from the heart of people who are not adept in expressing their needs and desires in a discreet and precise manner which sooner or later result to a more devastating damage like chaos and wars between confederations. Crimes like illegal and immoral acts are committed because of the endless sufferings of one whose needs are not adequately comprehended due to his poor ability of expressing himself. Major and minor dilemmas between friends, family members and other relationships are the aftermaths of ignorance in the appropriate and proper usage of language. These few and many more problems which we are facing today usually root from a distinct cause which is the lack of comprehension which could have been solved before it commenced if only the humanity learns how to study the structure of arguments and ascertain its validity and truthfulness. Indeed, the study Logic is a very vital necessity which could lead to a more vivid, harmonious and progressive future. These are some of the numerous good reasons why it is helpful to study of this subject. Logic learning can allow you to improve the quality of the arguments that you create. When you make rational disputes, you are apt to convince other people to agree with your claims. And people are much less likely to believe that you have a valid point by giving them accurate and logical justifications. The learning process will also give you the ability to evaluate the arguments of others. When you know how to understand arguments the way they are supposed to be constructed and the way they shouldnt be constructed, you will find all kinds of bad arguments out there that could weaken your opponents conclusion most especially during debates. As you argue with each other you will be able to determine the fallacies which were asserted because you will be able to critically scrutinize the rationality and authenticity of your opponents dispute. Another important aspect of Logic is Philosophical Logic and Reasoning and the importance of this in our lives include: This is essential in General Problem Solving: It helps us to analyze concepts, definitions, arguments and problems, and contributes to our capacity to organize ideas and issues to deal with questions of value. Communication Skills: Here our skills will be enhanced as we are able to present ideas through well-constructed systematic and reasoned arguments. Persuasive Powers: We will learn to build and defend our own views, to appreciate competing positions, and to indicate forcefully why we consider our own views preferable to alternatives. Writing Skills: Philosophical Logic and Reasoning teaches us interpretive writing through its examination of challenging texts, comparative writings through emphasis on fairness to alternative positions, argumentative writing through detailed portrayal of concrete examples and others. These are very important reasons why logic and reasoning matter in human affairs. They can be applied in the trained academic person life, or to the normal individual who has a desire to analyze the issues facing him/her before making a final crucial decision. Logic and Reasoning are important in career training and development on the job. In management, administration, law, finance, engineering, physics, chemistry, archeology, history and other disciplines, logic and reasoning are essential. We will be able to broaden the range of things we know and understand, be able to receive self-knowledge, foresight and a sense of direction in human affairs. We can accomplish self-discovery, expansion of consciousness, and self renewal. Therefore, when we are faced with a routine daily situation or a very difficult problem or issue to resolve, logic and reasoning are important to remember and be applied for the best or most desired results. Logic is important because it influences every decision we make in our lives. Logical thinking allows us to learn and make decisions that will affect our lifestyle. If no one thought logically, we would all be running around like chickens with our heads cut off, and nothing would make any sense. CONCLUSION Language is obviously a vital tool. Not only is it a means of communicating thoughts and ideas, but it forges friendships, cultural ties, and economic relationships. Language, of course, is knowledge, and in our world today knowledge is one of the key factors in competitiveness. Brains and knowledge are what create the prosperity and growth we tend to take for granted. In an advanced industrial society in an increasingly interdependent world, the knowledge of other languages becomes indispensable. Just think of how the advent of the Internet has changed our lives. For the last few years, millions of people across the world, who share common interests, are able to communicate with each other and exchange ideas. Not only are they able to do this due to the various technological advances, but also because they share a common language. The ability to think logically is of immense practical importance in our daily lives. Day after day, from moment to moment, we are busy interpreting available evidence and making predictions on what will happen next. When I walk along the sidewalk, it is my interpretation of the available evidence that leads me to the conclusion that it will be safe to put a foot forward for the next step. The moment conditions change (for example, if I hear a gunshot) I may have to reinterpret, and may then conclude that it is no longer safe to put a foot forward for a next step. Generally, logic is important in human affairs because It helps us to distinguish good argument from bad ones. It makes our thinking clear accurate. It strengthens our intellectual skills. It advances our quest for knowledge and understanding whatever is our field of interest. It enlarges our capacity to formulates argument analyse them critically.

The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Essay example -- Race Identit

The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Am I "American" or "Puerto Rican", a question that wanders along the halls of my mind all the time? Many Puerto Ricans might not agree, but I feel that I am, "American", Puerto Rican American that is. As a child my own parents deprived me of my culture and true identity. They spoke to me in a language that many Puerto Ricans refused or detested to learn, English. The only thing I can actually say that I know about Puerto Rican heritage is the comida we shared during family gatherings. "In Spanish the words are habichuelas con arroz; in English, rice and beans; and in any language they translate into the food staples of island life" (p. 59, Fernandez). I went to Puerto Rico when I was four years old and haven’t been ever since. I remember limbers and roosters crowing and hot floors burning my feet but nothing about my generations past. It’s sad to know nothing about an island that many of my own kind are very proud of. I’m clueless of what my Puerto Rican people h ave actually been through. Political, economics, social relations and identity issues, what about them, I wonder. All I know about the island’s history is that we are Puerto Ricans from an island in the Caribbean called Puerto Rico. We are Puerto Rican Americans to my knowledge. We are Puerto Rican Americans because we are a commonwealth island being assisted by the American Government so that gives us some affiliation to being American. Those of us who were born and raised in the United States are Puerto Rican Americans whether we want to admit it or not. The majority deny that they are American, maybe because of our historical past with governmental issues and struggles in the early and late eighteenth century. Who knew we w... ...r school day mornings with the pledge of allegiance, the "Star Spangled Banner", and "America the Beautiful", teachers hoped to instill the love of country that would make islanders 100 percent Americans" (p.56, Fernandez). Americans had many visions for the Island of Puerto Rico of which many, till this day, are still trying to be touched on. From fighting the Spanish-American War to invading the island, the Puerto Rican people did not once stop fighting for what was there’s. Americans tried so hard to make Puerto Rico a little America but through many struggles, were denied all rights. Puerto Ricans have to admit that, though they are not an official state of the United States of America, they are in a sense, still Americans because they have citizenship. And because some finally accepted the English language as a second language, whether by choice or by force. The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Essay example -- Race Identit The Identity of an American Puerto Rican Am I "American" or "Puerto Rican", a question that wanders along the halls of my mind all the time? Many Puerto Ricans might not agree, but I feel that I am, "American", Puerto Rican American that is. As a child my own parents deprived me of my culture and true identity. They spoke to me in a language that many Puerto Ricans refused or detested to learn, English. The only thing I can actually say that I know about Puerto Rican heritage is the comida we shared during family gatherings. "In Spanish the words are habichuelas con arroz; in English, rice and beans; and in any language they translate into the food staples of island life" (p. 59, Fernandez). I went to Puerto Rico when I was four years old and haven’t been ever since. I remember limbers and roosters crowing and hot floors burning my feet but nothing about my generations past. It’s sad to know nothing about an island that many of my own kind are very proud of. I’m clueless of what my Puerto Rican people h ave actually been through. Political, economics, social relations and identity issues, what about them, I wonder. All I know about the island’s history is that we are Puerto Ricans from an island in the Caribbean called Puerto Rico. We are Puerto Rican Americans to my knowledge. We are Puerto Rican Americans because we are a commonwealth island being assisted by the American Government so that gives us some affiliation to being American. Those of us who were born and raised in the United States are Puerto Rican Americans whether we want to admit it or not. The majority deny that they are American, maybe because of our historical past with governmental issues and struggles in the early and late eighteenth century. Who knew we w... ...r school day mornings with the pledge of allegiance, the "Star Spangled Banner", and "America the Beautiful", teachers hoped to instill the love of country that would make islanders 100 percent Americans" (p.56, Fernandez). Americans had many visions for the Island of Puerto Rico of which many, till this day, are still trying to be touched on. From fighting the Spanish-American War to invading the island, the Puerto Rican people did not once stop fighting for what was there’s. Americans tried so hard to make Puerto Rico a little America but through many struggles, were denied all rights. Puerto Ricans have to admit that, though they are not an official state of the United States of America, they are in a sense, still Americans because they have citizenship. And because some finally accepted the English language as a second language, whether by choice or by force.

Pride in Greenleaf and Spotted Horses :: Greenleaf Spotted Horses Essays

Pride in Greenleaf" and Spotted Horses Pride is a feeling that most people in the world have always shared. Pride can be a great thing to have, but when a person has too much pride, the situation becomes very different. Pride can cause a person to do things he would not do under normal circumstances, and it can cause a person unhappiness. Mrs. May in "Greenleaf" and Henry Armstid in "Spotted Horses" both have a sad type of pride that leads to untimely death and demise. In Henry's case, his pride is the direct cause of his injuries done by the horses, and Mrs. May's is somewhat more indirect. In "Greenleaf," Mrs. May thought that she was a blessing to the world. She thought that everything good that happened was her doing and that everything she did was good. At one point in the story she says, "I work and slave, I struggle and sweat to keep this place for them and as soon as I'm dead, they'll marry trash and bring it in here and ruin everything. They will marry trash and ruin everything I've done." Although she hates the dairy farm and her two sons do not live up to her standards, she still has a sense of pride about them causing her to be so preoccupied with what she has done for them. The bull, a prominent symbol for what Mrs. May cannot control, meanders throughout the story and clashes and conflicts with her pride. The two are intertwined: she constantly visualizes and hears the bull in the day and sleep. In one of her dreams she talks of being "aware that what ever it was had been eating as long as she had the place and had eaten everything from the beginning of her fence line up to the house and now was eating the house and calmly with the same steady rhythm would continue through the house, eating her and the boys, and then on, eating everything but the Greenleafs." The bull symbolizes what she cannot do in life, what she cannot control, and what she has not done, and it is what makes her take the last step before her death by bringing out her pride and causing her to try and take control over the unknown, over itself. She is then gored to death by the bull, and this proves the point that she should not have concerned her whole life with her pride and what she had done and what she could not ultimately control.

Masque Of The Red Death :: essays research papers

In "The Masque of the Red Death", Poe leads one event into another often. He uses much symbolism, and in the paragraphs below, I will show you it. In the first couple of paragraphs however, I will summarize the plot and state the theme. In this plot, Poe begins by talking about the Red Death, basically setting the stage for later events in the story. Then, he talks about Prince Prospero, which tells the reader that Prospero and the Red Death will have a conflict later in the story. Next, Poe gives a short summary of the setting, and also mentions that the "Red Death" was not there. After this, Poe gives a description of the rooms. The first room had blue ornaments and windows. Poe then makes each room darker until he gets to the seventh, which is black. This shows that death is coming to Prospero. Also, in the seventh room, the windows are blood red, which also shows that the "Red Death" is coming. Also, the ebony clock keeps on ticking, which is slowly setting up the conflict, Prince Prospero vs. "The Red Death." Also, the color of the wood is also symbolic. Ebony is black, so again death is symbolized. At the end, or conclusion, the clock strikes 12, and "The Red Death" makes its appearance, and kills Prospero. In the plot, I believe that the talking about the Red Death and Prospero is the introduction, because it introduced the two big influences in the story. I also think that the descriptions of the rooms is the rising action, because it gives the setting for the conflict. The conflict is Prospero trying to avoid the Red Death, which is man vs. nature. The falling action in the story is when Prospero is caught by the Red Death, and the conclusion is that he is dead. The theme of the story is that you cannot escape death no matter how hard

Fashions

A particular make, a shape ,a style ,or a pattern followed by most of the people may be called a fashion . Let includes clothing ,hairstyles furniture literature, Jewelry and many other things. â€Å"Style is the man,† claims Saints-Beebe, one of Matthew Arnold's heroes. The above cited quote is one of Matthew Arnold's intellectual stances. Some people believe that life is not worth-living without fashion. Everybody wants to appear fashionable and stylish, and he spends lots of money on his hairstyle, beauty products, dress designing and shoes.Fashions go on changing. One fashion that is in today may be outdated tomorrow. Fashions have been in the world since the beginning of human civilization. Fashion industry is not a new thing in today's world. Thousands and millions of people depend upon changing passions for their livelihood. â€Å"We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. † Moan Wolfgang) Fashions usually take their origin in the west. In Pakistan also, there are parties and social gatherings in which people try to outdo one another by their fashions and styles.From the west these fashions reach the third-world countries. By the time people of the poor countries adopt these fashions, the westerns discard them and eve on to the others, and thus the fashion industry goes on flourishing. Media has also contributed a lot towards fashions and fads. There are fashion shows, beauty contests and dress designing competitions in the form of catwalk shows, TV dramas especially soap serials on different channels like Star Plus. Movies and music shows have also triggered the fashion craze among the different classes of people.Fashions and styles make us look attractive and different from other people but, according to Aloud Huxley, it is our inner-self or soul that makes us beautiful or ugly. If we are red, depressed or morally decayed, our outward appearance will do nothing but reflect our soul. It is actually the purity and beauty of our soul that makes our skin glow and our eyes shine. Fashions are then only a disguise or a cover that hides our reality and make us look attractive outwardly.Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. † (Oscar Wiled) The craze of fashions is mostly found among women and youngsters. A visit to college of today would indeed be an interesting experiment for those who wish to know something about the influence of fashion on men . Boys as well as girls spend much of their time on toilet . Female students go two steps further . Fashion they regard as their special right . Girls have a natural and inborn love of pretty dresses and in college they get a real opportunity .Girls spend a great deal of their money on powder, cream and lipstick. Scents and perfumes are used by these Toilets to excite and stir their Romeos. Evidently such boys and girls do not take their studies seriously the They may forget the formulae of mathematics but they don't forget the names of the films. It is quite natural with women to beautify themselves. They hooked, however, give more importance to the purity of their soul than to their outward appearance.Beauty products, parlors, costly costumes and dandy shoes will not add to our attractiveness as much as do our peace of mind, contentment of our soul and spiritual happiness. We should not, therefore, imitate the westerns or other people because the western culture and civilization are hollow and the people there are spiritually dead. I recall here the saying by a famous writer who says we may have a fashion of our own if we retain our naturalness, innocence, and purity of heart and soul. â€Å"Fashions fade, style is eternal. † (Saint Laurent)