The 1960s Essay Example For Students

The 1960s Essay Religious overtones within the culture continued to place restrictions on individuals during the 1960s. This is exemplified through the fact that although the contraceptive pill and abortion were made legal, social taboo still prevented most women from accessing these things. My Grandmother was a social worker who worked predominantly with immigrant women. She recalled that amongst her clients and even more surprisingly amongst her colleagues (educated supposedly liberated) there was not a single woman who openly admitted they were on the pill. We will write a custom essay on The 1960s specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This account confirms that authentic social change was not realised within the 1960s, though the groundwork for it was laid. Thus the narrative that the 1960s were a period in which many members of the culture actively sought and achieved social change cannot be fully substantiated. Having conducted a conversation with my Grandparents, both of whom experienced the 1960s, it has come to my attention that perhaps those of my generation impart a great deal of wishful thinking into our understanding of the cultural narratives relating to the 1960s. We have grown up in a culture that is defined by the ideology of individualism. The idea of a time in which community, brotherhood and solidarity were experienced amongst all people, registers strongly with many young people. The 1960s being an era of community, brotherhood and solidarity (and success against tyranny! ) is the dominant cultural narrative amongst my own friends, and it is perpetuated by the majority of representations which circulate within our culture today. The conversation I had with a group of peers revealed that movies such as Forest Gump and Austin Powers were the primary informants of our understandings about the 1960s. Forest Gump portrays the 1960s to be an era marked by protest and change. Austin Powers comically represents the 1960s as an era of free love and hedonism through allusions to sex, drugs and rock and roll. Moreover, it represents independent women who have the freedom to wear what they want and go to bed with whom they please. As young women in the 21st century, our emotional investments in these narratives are very strong. We want to believe that the 1960s were a period of successful social activism, especially for women. However, when analyzing cultural narratives our desires uncover little in the way of objectivism. Moreover, any narrative which claims to be representative of the entire culture is certainly not objective. Such narratives are selective and privilege one group (usually the dominant) within the culture over others. The narrative that all members of the culture were socially active does not represent the experience of those who were either members of minority groups, or members of groups that were marginalised at the time. South Asian immigrants in the U. K and Irish-Roman Catholics in Australia are examples of such groups. Within the conversations I had, these groups were represented respectively by my Grandparents and the parents of my friends. My Grandparents remember that it was only by watching the six oclock news that they had any idea about of the protests which were occurring around them. Likewise, the parents of my friends were not particularly interested in the activism movements of the day. Having said this, I myself struggle to recall any representations of these groups from the 1960s. Representations which circulate today are merely those of the dominant and therefore it is not surprising that the assumption that all members of the culture were socially active has been able to perpetuate. Therefore, the 1960s are an era which demonstrates that narratives which represent the experience of the dominant are the ones which come to be regarded as the truth, even by those who are technically members of the minority, such as myself. .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 , .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .postImageUrl , .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 , .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:hover , .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:visited , .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:active { border:0!important; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:active , .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58 .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uca4aa85cdd82f1f500bb44ba638a1a58:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: God's Lift is Out of Order EssayThe conversations I conducted revealed that in terms of knowledge about factual events, such as the legalisation of the contraceptive pill and abortion, there were no disparities between the narratives of my Grandparents or peers. However, in terms of the understanding of cultural reaction to these events, there was a great divide in the narratives. My peers and I held highly the highly romanticised view that the pill and abortion were legalised and all was well. Our Parents and Grandparents reality revealed a different truth and altered our own perception of these events. Thus cultural narratives are not fixed in the time which they originate from or pertain to. Rather, narratives and thereby meanings are continually being made according to who the narrative is received by and their personal investments. Hence the idea that a master narrative or a completely objective narrative exists, is ludicrous. All narratives are subjective, as all narratives tell only one version of the truth.

Literature Review Sample on Adolescent Depression as a Mental Disorder of Modern Era

Literature Review Sample on Adolescent Depression as a Mental Disorder of Modern Era A literature review is a kind of academic work that aims to cover information, evaluate, and summarize knowledge on a specific subject by collecting already written items dedicated to a literature review topic of the selected investigation and analyzing them in accordance with the chosen issue. As the style of the work requires particular knowledge regarding a scientific problem, the paper has to be conducted in an academic manner relying mostly on arguments, key points, discussions, and conclusions of the selected references. A literature review can be either a stand-alone work type or a section included in a research paper, essay, thesis, or other variants of academic genres. The significance of this type of research paper consists of revealing and assembling the main notions and ideas of various authors. Aside from merely collecting the published discoveries in certain scientific areas, literature review purports to summarize and systematize the gathered concepts into a clear, coherent, and comprehensible paper. Such a method of developing a scientific thought allows researchers to reevaluate and reinterpret discoveries concerning a specific issue that helps other investigators not to start their works from the beginning but to base them on the already proved arguments. Besides, literature reviews are useful regarding teaching students how to collect the needed pieces of information, search for credible sources, and summarize their most important aspects. ‘Adolescent Depression as a Mental Disorder of Modern Era’ Review Sample Depression is a form of mental disorder that implies the presence of such symptoms like irritation, constant, prevailing, and unexplained sadness, changes in appetite, weight, a decreased interest in life, boredom, lack of motivation to lead an active lifestyle. The fact that other symptoms relate closely to one another creates a firm dependence of mental health on physiological conditions. The significance of investigating adolescent depression has been set as a central part of this work because contemporary scientific methods allow other researchers to discover the most successful solutions to the issue. This review aims to gather and analyze the information on the origins of teen depression, its impact on society, and variants suggesting how to deal with this global problem. Etiology of Adolescent Depression The etiology of adolescent depression relies on the same psychological and physiological backgrounds as adult depression that enables scholars to claim that there is no vivid difference between these two manifestations of oppressed mental state. According to Clayborne, Varin, and Colman: â€Å"Depression is highly prevalent in adolescence, with conservative estimates suggesting up to 12.5% of 12- to 17-year-olds experience symptoms of a major depressive episode in a 12-month period† (72). Thus, the problem is considered a large-scale and global phenomenon that occurs on a daily basis in all regions of the world notwithstanding cultural peculiarities, economy, and geographical position. Nevertheless, due to recent research, â€Å"depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents can be prevented. A number of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses support the efficacy of existing preventive programs† (Cardamone-Breen et al. para. 9). Proceeding from this s tatement, it is essential that either adult or adolescent depression is a mental disorder that can be averted. Whereas physiological constituent can be only treated as a result of biological processes in the human organism, a psychological component is regarded as entirely preventable. Physiological origins of this mental issue can be explained by appealing to the biological processes engendering the decrease of vital hormones like endorphin, serotonin, or adrenaline that may result in the appearance of oppressed physical states. The Need for Preventative Programs to Deal with Depression As new investigations claim, preventative programs and services dealing with the consequences of depression do allow experts to alleviate the most severe symptoms of depression and even cure a patient completely. Owing to the findings discovered by Neufeld et al., â€Å"14-year-old adolescents who had contact with mental health services in the past year had a greater decrease in depressive symptoms than those without contact (adjusted coefficient −1 ·68, 95% CI −3 ·22 to −0 ·14; p=0 ·033)† (120). Specifically, teens under the age of sixteen are claimed to be treated easier than more psychologically developed adolescents. As the investigations report, when children visit mental health services, they are less likely to be subject to depressive states. Subsequently, similar preventative health care programs are being founded not only to deal with the initial stages of depressive syndromes but also to treat the consequences. The Role of Substance Addiction as a Cofactor of Depression Furthermore, the problem of adolescent depression can be aggravated by substance addiction that is closely related to the issue of mental health disorders. A new statistical study of the correlation between addictions and depressive syndromes affirms that adolescents with depressions have extremely high risks of being addicted to drugs (Mason et al. 1-2). Having investigated 248 urban adolescents, the researchers concluded that health care programs for teens are helpful in most cases of early treatment. Provided that a child appeals to similar programs at the earliest stages of substance addiction, the chance to solve the issue depends on the time spent with psychiatrists and experts in narcology. The earlier psychological assistance is supplied, the more successful is the treatment. However, even though the connection between substance addiction and depressive states among adolescents is reported to be evident, yet scholars agree that the lack of socialization, parental care, and re lationships with peers are contributing to the emergence of mental health disorders more significantly. In the statistical experiment conducted by Breton and other researchers with the purpose of defining how many adolescents are prone to depressive states or already possessing them, the results appeared to be astonishingly positive because the majority of examined children were proved to having no depression. Thus, the investigation demonstrates that: â€Å"Among the 283 adolescents from the community, 70 (25%) were found to have light-to-severe depression and the other 213 (75%) had no depression. Among the 119 adolescents from the clinical population, 71 (60%) were found to have severe depression† (Breton et al. 11). Without a doubt, the numbers in various statistics are severely dependent on the territory where the experiment took place because different political regimes, societal states, climatic conditions on par with many other influential factors are having a serious impact on similar results. Adolescents, being not psychologically and physiologically formed, tend to absorb the ambient conditions within which they are educated. Subsequently, in the cases when children are upbrought in the unpleasant psychological environment, the studies show that the risks of being subject to depressive states become higher. Depression and Suicidal Inclinations Apart from the already-mentioned aspects regarding depression in adolescents, it is substantial to underline the connection of melancholic conditions with the appearance of suicidal thoughts. The newest research warns that adolescents, who spent more time on social media and electronic devices like smartphones, were more likely to report mental health disorders, and adolescents who spent more time on non-screen activities (in-person social interaction, print media, sports/exercise, and attending religious services) were less likely (Twenge et al. 3). Grounding hypotheses on the functioning of modern social media, scholars have reached a consensus that the time spent using smartphones, computers, and other anti-social activities are negatively contributing to the emergence of depressive syndromes, whereas outdoor activities including sports are alleviating the onsets of mental disorders. Owing to recent advancements in technological evolution, adolescents tend to employ gadgets to communicate with each other instead of meetings in reality. This situation often results in subdued and despondent mental conditions. Peer Victimization and Its Impact on Adolescent Depression Another issue concerning the etiology of depression in the adolescent period is peer victimization that occurs in all schools without exceptions. According to some researchers: â€Å"Adolescent peer victimization was associated with immediate and delayed elevations in anxiety and depression. The early intervention aimed at identifying and supporting victimized adolescents may prevent the development of these disorders† (Stapinski et al. 105-106). Investigations confirm that bullying at schools is one of the most rewarding issues that is causing inequalities among peers. Besides, such inequalities are directly leading to the appearance of depressions among those teenagers who become the target of victimization. The authors of scientific articles on psychology are certain that bullying affects the perception of normality and justice aiming to reduce the feeling of importance in a teenager’s attitude towards oneself. The lack of positive self-esteem and the absence of acce ptance among peers is a crucial factor that brings forward many other problems ensuing from the realization of non-adoption. Sleep problems, oppressed psychological state, and other concomitant issues are thought to be triggered by either peer or domestic violence exposure. Kliewer and Lepore summarize the data collected during the experiment on cognitive processes of adolescents who have witnessed violence: â€Å"Participants were 362 early adolescents (Mage = 12.45 years, SD = 0.59; range 11–14 years; 48.9 % male; 51 % Latino/a; 34 % black) from urban communities enrolled in a middle-school-based intervention study on the east coast of the United States† (507). In terms of this research, the majority of respondents have affirmed the fact of either observing violence or being an object of violence. As a result, scholars come to terms that there is a direct relation between witnessing violence and the aggravation of depressive syndromes. Familial Bonds as Protective Measures Different investigations have concluded that love and acceptance within families protect children from depressive states. As Cupito, Stein, and Gonzalez substantiate: â€Å"Past studies document that Latino familial cultural values (i.e., familism, affiliative obedience, and filial obligation) protect against depressive symptoms and promote academic resilience in adolescence† (1638). Nonetheless, the same research claims that even though Hispanic families are famous for traditional values, the problem is that there is gender discrimination, regarding which, female adolescents report being obliged to more household activities and possessing fewer freedoms than males. Gender disparities are one of the most spread issues causing teen depressions among the oppressed individuals. In the research based on 179 Latino adolescents, 52.9% of which comprise females in the age of fourteen, the authors of the article underline the aspect of gender inequalities in various cultures implying patriarchal standpoints. At any rate, the statistical data convince scholars of the necessity of educational programs for ethnic groups who live under unpleasant circumstances. In addition, the newest studies illustrate that there is an urgent need for establishing institutions that are helping discriminated individuals to cope with the aftermaths of gender stereotypes and biased attention. The overviewed works evidence the negative impact of domestic violence, school bullying, victimization, lack of socialization, acceptance, and understanding of parents for adolescent’s part. All the listed factors are significantly contributing to the proliferation of their depression, poor academic success, and performance at school, substance addiction, and the progression of suicidal inclinations. Owing to the innovative technological progress, gadgets are becoming more popular among teenagers, so the depression in the current era is a modernized mental disorder provoked by anti-socialization and the lack of evaluation amongst peers. The literature review has combined academic papers with relatively similar concepts to prove the need for establishing official institutions specializing in psychological assistance. Consequently, this literature review has been conducted with an aim to investigate and assemble the selected pieces of information regarding the cause and effect o f adolescent depressive states that is expected to bring into action more scientists involved in the studies and prevention of similar issues. The present literature review sample demonstrates how the key concepts and purposes of this type of academic work are functioning. Use the given literature review topic as an example and piece of referral information. Precisely this work type should combine a specialized methodological search for a strictly limited circle of papers dedicated to a single subject. One of its main aims consists of summarizing the selected data to illustrate a distinguished standpoint that is likely to be helpful for future investigations. Adolescent depression is a ubiquitous and serious issue for experts in psychology to deal with, seeing that numbers of accompanying problems like suicide, violence, and substance addiction are causing not only mental problems but often bring lethal outcomes both for children and adults. This sample aims to cover the significant information on the selected subject to reveal its highlights and thereby induce scholars to activate more investigations. Breton, Jean-Jacques, et al. â€Å"Protective Factors Against Depression and Suicidal Behaviour in Adolescence.† Can J Psychiatry, vol. 60, no. 2, ser. 1, Feb. 2015, pp. 5–15. 1. Cardamone-Breen, Mairead, et al. â€Å"A Single-Session, Web-Based Parenting Intervention to Prevent Adolescent Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Randomized Controlled Trial.† J Med Internet Res, vol. 20, no. 4, Apr. 2018. Clayborne, Zahra, et al. â€Å"Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Adolescent Depression and Long-Term Psychosocial Outcomes.† Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 58, no. 1, 2018, pp. 72–79. Elsevier. Cupito, Alexandra, et al. â€Å"Familial Cultural Values, Depressive Symptoms, School Belonging and Grades in Latino Adolescents: Does Gender Matter?† Journal of Child and Family Studies, vol. 24, no. 6, June 2015, pp. 1638–1649. Kliewer, Wendy, and Stephen Lepore. â€Å"Exposure to Violence, Social Cognitive Processing Sleep Problems in Urban Adolescents.† Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 44, no. 2, Feb. 2015, pp. 507–517. Mason, Michael, et al. â€Å"Adolescent Depression and Substance Use: the Protective Role of Prosocial Peer Behavior.† Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Dec. 2018, pp. 1–10. Springer. Neufeld, Sharon, et al. â€Å"Reduction in Adolescent Depression after Contact with Mental Health Services: a Longitudinal Cohort Study in the UK Author Links Open Overlay Panel.† The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 4, no. 2, Feb. 2017, pp. 120–127. Stapinski, Lexine, et al. â€Å"Peer Victimization during Adolescence: Concurrent and Prospective Impact on Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.† Anxiety, Stress, Coping, vol. 28, no. 1, Oct. 2013, pp. 105–120. Twenge, Jean, et al. â€Å"Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen Time.† Clinical Psychological Science, vol. 6, no. 1, 2018, pp. 3–17.

GPS Road Navigation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GPS Road Navigation - Essay Example Like the Internet, it was developed by the government and was once used exclusively for military purposes only. However, its benefits had been used and made available for civilian uses and everybody had made extensive use of it these days. It is simply incredible how a proven technology can make the quantum jump from being purely military to civilian applications; today, GPS has widespread uses (McNamara 2008, p 122). I am interested in the GPS because of its extensive use of electronics and this is one of majors I will be taking up next year in my college studies. The sheer complexity of the GPS is what intrigues me and this paper is an attempt to gain further knowledge and understanding in how this magnificent technology works and the many applications in which it is used today. In essence, the global positioning system is a US-government endeavour costing it $12 billion originally to provide its military with a precise form of worldwide positioning (Trimble 2010). This space-based radio-navigation system provides accurate positioning in three-dimensional location and works in all weather conditions. The best part is that it is free (USA.gov 2010). The global positioning system has found widespread applications in all aspects of life. This means it is used in a variety of civilian uses such as in work related to farming, geology, civilian commercial aircraft, land transportation, banking services, cellular phone technology and even in the provision of emergency life-saving services. The original purpose of GPS was to provide accurate information regarding ones exact location on the high seas where there are no landmarks to provide and guide mariners on where they are and where they are going. Ancient mariners employed other methods to reckon their positions such as using the stars but this crude method only works at night and assuming weather is fine with good

Competitor Analysis for Conserv-A-Store Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Competitor Analysis for Conserv-A-Store - Essay Example a. Unlike Conserv-A-Store which is web retailer of green products for business and home and also acts as information resource dept for those attempting to practice greener way of life, many of its direct competitors only focus on lifestyle items such as yoga mats, items directed at women for the home, organic bedding and are not heavily on hard goods. The competitors are also poor when it comes to energy saving items. In categories such as rubber mulch mats,company has few direct competitors such as Gemplers and Gardeners Supply. All competitors apart from Greendepot.com have a similar weakness of a relatively smaller market share hence reaping little benefits.a. Unlike Conserv-A-Store which is web retailer of green products for business and home and also acts as information resource dept for those attempting to practice greener way of life, many of its direct competitors only focus on lifestyle items such as yoga mats, items directed at women for the home, organic bedding and are no t heavily on hard goods. The competitors are also poor when it comes to energy saving items and have limited selection of alternative energy items. In categories such as rubber mulch mats, Conserv-A-Store has few direct competitors such as Gemplers and Gardeners Supply. All competitors apart from Greendepot.com have a similar weakness of a relatively smaller market share hence reaping little benefits.Letsgogreen.biz has a competitive advantage since it is a one-stop web superstore that sells eco-friendly green products.

Early Ages Essay Example for Free

Early Ages Essay The Middle Ages is a catchall phrase often used by historians alluding to the thousands of years between the fall of the Roman Empire and the period of discovery and reawakening. The term Middle Ages was coined during the period that followed it, which was the Renaissance (Roseinwein, 2008). Since people from the Renaissance period thought of themselves as â€Å"advanced and civilized,† they deemed the time between them and the earlier world as the â€Å"Middle Age† (2008). The term derived from the Latin medium, which means middle and aevium, referring to age (2008). The Early Middle Ages, which occurred from 5th – 8th centuries, was dominated by Christianity which eventually became the rationale for uniting Europe culturally and linguistically (Herrin, 2002, p. 609). It was also a period marked by distinctions of social classes- the noble, the peasants and the clergy, with peasants populating more (Kamien, 1998, p. 62). This was the reason by medieval society was often described as a period with lack of food supply, poor agriculture, and poor economic conditions (p. 612). As aforementioned, the Early Middle Ages brought forth the importance of religion, specifically that of the Roman Catholic Church. It was during this time when the Holy Roman Empire was established. . One outstanding work from this period and perhaps had the earliest record was medieval music, particularly the Gregorian chant. The Gregorian chant was the official music of the Roman Catholic Church (Kamien, 1998, p. 65). Although the Gregorian chant was named in honor of Pope Gregory I, it was said that the pope was in fact not its creator (p. 65). Historians accounted the existence of Gregorian account or what they believed was its evolution to psalm singing in Jewish synagogues in the first centuries after Christ (p. 65). However the case may be, Pope Gregory could still be held responsible for the popularity of the Gregorian chant. The Gregorian chant is actually a body of unaccompanied vocal music. It was meant to set the mood for certain religious services (Kamien, 1998, p. 65). Set in Latin, Gregorian chants swept the music of the Early Middle Ages. Gregorian chant is like no other music for has no meter nor regular rhythms (p. 65). However, it is this distinct characteristic that makes the Gregorian chant a somewhat free-flowing disposition. Listening to a Gregorian melody invokes serenity, as if disengaging the listener from any anxieties. It is considered monophonic since it is music for one line and is sung in unison. It is said that there are only few names of Gregorian chant composers. This is because composers did not think of themselves as composers but as conduits of the voice of God. One of the most known contributors of the Gregorian chant was Hildegard (p. 68). A nun, Hildegard composed O Successores (You Successors), a chant intended to give praise to the â€Å"holy confessors who are successors of Christ† (p. 68). In the period that followed the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the predominant sound continued to be unaccompanied vocal music. However, the dawn of the Baroque period saw the musical style embracing the use of musical instruments like the harpsichord, violin and viola (Kamien, 1998, p. 104). Likewise, the melody has become wider instead of the narrow range that accompanied the Gregorian chant. While the Renaissance period still had Mass music, the Baroque period ushered in opera, sonata and concertos (pp. 100-115). Church music, especially the Lutheran service, was called a church cantata (p. 129). Whereas the Middle Ages was limited to the culture of the Church, the succeeding periods created new attitudes- that of showing that people have the capacity to create and shape their world instead of merely serving as conduits. The Gregorian chants, which was passed on by oral traditions, ebbed away slowly until a 1994 release of ‘Chant† by the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos. This made Gregorian chant popular again due its similarity with New Age Music- smooth, uniform and non confrontational. The Early Middle Ages may have focused on sublime spirituality but the beauty of it has emanated throughout the centuries. Listen to a church hymn and feel how it has evolved from a simple, monophonic music to the finely crafted yet polyphonic texture of today. References Herrin, J. E. (2002). Early Middle Ages. In The new encyclopedia Britannica (Vol. 16, pp. 609-612) USA: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Kamien, R. (1998). Music an appreciation 3rd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill. Rosenwein, B. (2008). Middle Ages. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from Microsoft Encarta Web site: http://encarta. msn. com/text_761578474___0/Middle_Ages. html

Are We Now Becoming the Terrorists? Essay -- September 11 Terrorism Es

Are We Now Becoming the Terrorists?    Terrorism is a weapon of the weak. Shut out of the great conversations that shape our histories and unable to control the grand forces that shape our destinies, terrorists strike out in angry desperation to force those they have identified as their oppressors to pay attention to the plight of the alienated and to hear the terrorists' demands. The events of September 11 were just such a gesture. The horror we felt watching a jet flown deliberately into a tall building and watching people leap to their deaths to escape the flames and collapse of the ruined skyscrapers filled us with a strange awe and a feeling of helplessness. We felt forced to pay attention.   The first question on everyone's lips was: what can we do? What can we do to prevent this from happening again? What can we do to punish those responsible? How we answer these questions will decide whether we live in a civilization worth defending, or if we, too, are weak.       This unprecedented attack on American soil brings into focus the connections between our freedoms, our security, and the international system. Our choices over what to do are constrained by the ways these parts of our lives are connected. Our leaders and representatives, responding to the theories and analyses of their advisors and of the think tanks that dedicate themselves to studying such questions, have already begun to speak of September 11 as this generation's Pearl Harbor and the need to prepare for war, and of the trade-offs we will have to make for our security. Their first responses - and those of many of us - are to lash out at those who have wronged us.       However, to lash out now is a path fraught with n... ...saster relief and peacekeepers, but we are the single largest supplier of arms to the already intensely violent Middle East. And because Israel is our strategic ally in the region, we won't even allow discussion of whether its policies towards Palestinians are racist.       If we are to do anything, we must be ready to take a path more difficult than anyone has suggested so far. We must be ready to be thoughtful and sober, and to look for political solutions to the problems in the world that are now producing the threats to our security. Today, we feel like now is the time to act. Our pain, our helplessness, our frustration at discovering we are vulnerable makes us want to take control over our lives again. We are ready to retaliate against acts of angry desperation with anger and despair. But now is not the time to become terrorists ourselves.   

Women and Equality: Current Reality or Distant Future?

Given that women now hold jobs which conventionally have not been associated with their gender, some may think that the plight to attain equality in terms of opportunities has succeeded. People sometimes accept such notion unconditionally as if gender bias has been eliminated. However, such thoughts would definitely be ideal examples of a form of fallacy: hasty generalization. In reality, such notions could not be any farther from the truth. In pursuits as simple as sports for example, women still suffer from the bias; highlighting women basketball players as evidence, their paychecks are only a meager fraction if compared to their male counterparts (Person, 2009). Furthermore, the opportunities of women in athletic pursuits are still crippled due to the presence of stereotypes. Profitability remains to be a question in forming women sports leagues or teams as businessmen still believe that men's sports would garner the most beneficial public response and attention (Person, 2009). With such examples, it is irrefutable that equality is still yet to be reached. If modern-day America still cannot be referred to as an example of a society where in men and women have equal opportunities, when would such a time come? When the time comes that headlines about women holding jobs as a minority would no longer be existent then equal opportunity among genders might have been achieved. Some may claim that such a scenario would never materialize as women are not inclined toward certain tasks. In rebuttal, is it not true that such inclinations or tendencies manifest only due to biases, stereotypes, and gender roles? It is quite interesting to think that equality may only be possibly attained if such concerns are first eliminated. Naturally, obstacles such as gender marking and administrative representation, all present in sports as well (Person, 2009), should be effectively tackled. Nonetheless, when gender distribution among jobs no longer become an issue or when a meager number of women holding high profile responsibilities no longer make headlines as aforesaid, then equality of opportunity must have been realized.