On Social Theory In Social Work Essay

We know where we have been, where we are now and where we need to go – but how do we get there? A map. Theory is a map. It notes any number of known landmarks (previously achieved or applied solutions) and obstacles (issues or problems) and gives us direction so that we are able to navigate intelligently and arrive safely (minimal discomfort to all) at our destination (desired outcome/s). Theory is an attempt to explain the unexplained, to give title to the untitled and to give reason to the unreasonable. It is a combination of existing knowledge and newly acquired knowledge that allows us to make assumptions in order to realise reasonably foreseeable outcomes. It is only in the realms of science, physics and mathematics that the repeated application of a single theory will return a consistent result indefinitely. However, in the social work disciplines, the repeated application of a single theory may very well result in chaos and mayhem due simply to the addition of the vagaries and subjectiveness of human behaviour – individual realism and personality. Mix society with the individual then add a third ingredient – power (political, economic, etc) and you end up with a chameleonic and metamorphosis-like result, what I refer to as the ‘lava lamp effect’ – constant change, confusion, tangentiality, shifts in personal, political and societal values and meanings. Theory is the vehicle of bringing order and making sense of all these things. That an individual on one occasion might respond to certain stimuli in a particular fashion, is no predictor of the individual’s (micro level) responses to the same or like stimuli on subsequent occasions and is certainly not an indication that the ‘collective’ (macro level) will respond in the same manner. It is not possible for one person to comprehend the world as perceived by  another person. The absolute closest we can come to this is to use our own imagination and compare our own experiences as a guide – empathy. Enter theory. Theory gives us the launching pad for action. It is a single starting point for all social work practitioners regardless of their individual methodological preferences. Howe (1987, p48) states, â€Å"The loud claim is that practice is saturated with theory no matter how much the social worker speaks of [their] simple reliance on commonsense or intuition. Each theory and its associated practice holds assumptions about people and their society †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†. However, theory still remains our most valuable agent in facilitating acceptable if not positive outcomes. The nature of social work is in a constant state of flux and what was suitable or successful yesterday may not be today although past theories still have a valid place in our reckoning. There is a constant flow of new and more complex issues introducing themselves to society every day and more often than not, theory will be the only tools available to us as a means of sourcing solutions. When discussing how theories are used in practice, Payne (1997, p48) states; â€Å"There are three approaches to this task: using theories to interrogate, clarify and criticise each other, using theories selectively, and using theories together to modify each other† and Lemert (1999, p20) states â€Å"Social theory is what we do when we find ourselves able to put into words what nobody seems to want to talk about†. Further, Mullaly (2002, p3) cites Reynolds (1971) â€Å"Theory carries out four basic functions: description; explanation; prediction; and control and management of events or changes †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦it describes phenomena; it attempts to explain what causes them; it predicts future events, including what will happen if certain interventions occur (or do not occur); and attempts to control and manage events or changes at all levels of human activity†. Theory also has its place in supplementing existing knowledge – filling in the blanks as it were. There is no divorcing theory from experience nor from assumption as these two  things are the interminably prime ingredients of theory. In order to create a theory we must draw upon our own or others’ knowledge bases, experiences and assumptions – no other source/s exist/s. Whilst most would agree that theory is generally the basis for experiment, quite often the reverse is true – experiment as the basis of theory! There once existed a theory that technological advancements would eventually result in a reduction of the number of skilled tradesmen required. This theory therefore required that there be a reduction in the numbers of (government subsidised) trade apprenticeship places – a huge cost saving exercise, an economic positive! However, we have since learned that this theory was implemented without a great deal of thought as to the possible negatives – those of higher youth unemployment (increased welfare bill), a much sharper decline in the number of skilled tradesmen to adequately service the community (have you ever tried to get hold of a plumber or electrician in an emergency?), and a steep increase in the cost to the consumer (community) in utilising those affected trade services. Some would also argue that the reduction in apprenticeship places would have contributed to increases in various crimes and therefore further unnecessary cost to the community and taxpayers. A more recent theory is that of children in detention centres. Some schools of thought insisted that keeping children in detention was senseless and cruel and that they should be settled into local communities. Others viewed this train of thought as being reminiscent of the ‘stolen generation’ and further theorised that it was wrong to separate the children from their parents and therefore the mother and children should be settled into the community with regular visits to the father who should remain in detention. There was still further argument that cultural matters had not been considered in that further or other yet foreseen problems may result by isolating the father from the family unit. Each discourse here is based only on theory but it encourages discourse that seeks resolutions. A good thing. Not all theory is good and nor is it all bad, it is simply a helpful step  towards finding resolutions where none has previously existed to address issues and problems in society be they real or perceived. As can be ascertained from just a small collection of readings, even theorists differ widely in their interpretations and applications of theory. Every ‘-ist’ of every ‘-ism’ believes that their approach is more beneficial than those of the others. Whether they are aware of it or not, even those social work practitioners who would underrate the benefits of the use of theory in their practice, preferring instead to rely on their own intuition and experience, are still employing theory – empirically. References Howe, D., 1987, An Introduction to Social Work Theory; Making Sense in Practice, Wildwood House. Lemert, C., 1999, Social Theory, Second Edition; The Multicultural and Classic Readings, MacMillan Press Ltd, Victoria. Mullaly, B., 2002, Challenging Oppression; A Critical Social Work Approach, Oxford University Press. Payne, M., 1997, Modern Social Work Theory, Second Edition, PALGRAVE, N.Y.

Food Security in Society

Food Security â€Å"There is no sincerer love than the love of food,† George Bernard Shaw a literary critic once said. His statement rings true, as food feeds the functions of society. However, not all countries feel the cushion of a full meal each day. Every year 15 million children die from hunger. Scarcity of food is an epidemic affecting people all over the world. Therefore, food security, the access by which all people at any time can have access to enough nutritious food for an individual to have a healthy life, is a vital part of a countries concern.Nigeria is one such country, like many others in which food security is of high concern. No longer a third world country, as of 2005, Nigeria has been declared a middle class country and continues to develop from there. However, this does not make Nigeria exempt from the brutality of hunger and the shortage of food. Officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria is a country located in West Africa with its borders being surrounded by Chad, Benin, Cameroon and Niger. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and the seventh most populated in the entire world.Naturally, with such a high population the amount and production of food is a large concern for the government. As stated by Olyeran-Oyeyinkain the book, The Gene Revolution and Global Food Security, â€Å"Agriculture has become a major contributor to the Nigeria's economy. Accounting for about 40% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employing about 60% of the work force† (Olyeran 117). The main crops that workers toil on are as follows: beans (varieties which include cocoa beans, soy beans) sesame, cashews, cassava, groundnuts, gum arabic, kola nut, corn, melon, millet, palm kernels, palm oil, plantains, rice, rubber, Guinea corn, and yams.Because of the many different climates that Nigeria possesses, it is possible for it to grow these varying crops. However, agriculture with larger sized crops is not a common form of farmi ng for the country. What’s stopping larger production is not common factors such as scarcity of water or even an appropriate climate to flourish in, but it is restricted due to low fertility in the soil. This stops many crops from even sprouting. Also, lack of cultivation stops from farming on a bigger scale as well. Livestock is not a huge factor in the country anymore.Though farming is not as large scale as it could be, it has taken over the land and caused insufficient homes for the animals to live in. Excess of population has also caused the countries game of elephants, tigers, buffalo, leopards, and other big game to be found in either animal reserves or remote countryside areas. The animals are forced to find homes elsewhere. Antelope, monkeys and jackals are still more commonly widespread and seen more often in Nigeria. The bigger game may be hard to catch but the common livestock eaten in Nigeria is as follows: cattle, donkey, duck, geese, goat, chicken, guinea fowls, pigeon, pigs, sheep, and turkey.Meat is a widespread form of nutrition in the country, but crops are a much more common item to be dined upon. Fisheries also provide a large amount of resources for the cultures cuisine. Most popular seafood life includes crab, shrimp, shark and moon fish. With all this said, food security in Nigeria has not been the best over the years, with poor farming resources and food being outsourced, most of the country has been left hungry. However, as of a 2010 food security review of Nigeria, things have been looking up.After the growing season completed in 2010 food supplies were on the higher side at both household and market levels. In most parts of northern Nigeria the livestock prices and household food reserve levels as of January 2010 are at an affordable price. These two factors are key elements in determining food security. This does not say that social deprivation does not still rain supreme in the country. Recovery from a difficult hunger seaso n usually shows a slow growth, however in 2010 the hunger season had gone by faster than expected due to thee above addressed unusual prices of livestock and crops.Commonly in Nigeria they outsource to other countries in order to make a profit off of their crops. While this gives them an increase in economic revenue, it leaves their people hungry due to lack of nutritious foods. This outsourcing of food is one of the major causes of the poor food security that Nigeria has often possessed. Before their civil war, which occurred in 1973, Nigeria was relatively self-sufficient in concerns to foods. However, after the war, imports and exports of food increased tenfold. Bread is the most common import, ironically enough imported from the United States.Major exports include oil, cocoa, corn, yams and cotton lint. To make more income, instead of having a surplus of food, the food is sold off, leaving the country short for its citizens, thus making for a very poor food security. The money t hat they then make is not used solely for feeding the people. Despite there being a ban on exporting a lot of important food sources, such as milk, sugar, and flour, a free agricultural trade market was finally established in the 1980’s. A second leading cause in the poor food security is the commonly occurring oil spills that happen in Nigeria.Nigeria is a large partner with the US, as it imports a lot of the United States oil to the country. The Delta region of Nigeria is the area that is hit hardest by these oil spills. The Department of Petroleum Resources estimated 1. 89 million barrels of petroleum were spilled into the Delta between 1976 and 1996 out of the total of 2. 4 million barrels between these year brackets. Clean up was slow and waste management of the sludge from recent oil spill accidents, as well as from the ones previously stated, is still a major concern for economic costs. An intervention plan is possible for the country of Nigeria.The Nigerian government has approved several policies and undertaken a number of steps in order to help improve food security in Nigeria. These plans include the following: the National Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition, Primary Health Care Approach, Catchments Area Planning and Action, Gender Informed Nutrition and Agriculture, and National Special Program on Food Security. Government in Nigeria’s main focus however is on their policy entitled â€Å"Food and Nutrition Policy for Nigeria. † This policy was put into place in 2002 and sets specific goals to be met.These include the reduction of malnutrition among children under five by at least 30% by 2010, and reduction of micronutrient deficiencies. The main micronutrient deficiency concern being with vitamin A, iodine and iron. Their hopes were to lower this by 50% by the year 2010 as well. Lack of knowledge and technology is a main hindrance to any policies and actions set forth by the Nigerian government. With all these plans being lo oked into, hopes are that Nigeria can reduce the population of hungry even more in the upcoming years. However, if mire research is not gained into solving these issues, setting orth policies may be in vain if there is no action to back them up. Works Cited Department of Petroleum Resources. 2009. 20 11 2009. Akinyele, Isaac. International Food Policy and Research Institute. Garki, Abuja Nigeria. 2010. 20 11 2011. Nations Encyclopedia. 2011. 20 11 2009. Olyeran-Oyeyinka, Banji Gehl Sampath, Padmashee. The Gene Revolution and Global Food Security. Palgrave Macmillan. Basingtoke Hampshire, GBR. 11 2009. 20 11 2011. 117. Think Exist. 1999. 20 11 2009. Think Quest. 20 11 2009. United States Department of Agriculture- Food and Nutrition. Alexandria, VA. 20 11 2011. USAID. 1 2011. 20 11 2009.

Boston Massacre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Boston Massacre - Essay Example tle distance† while he avoided any subjective sentiment which might be necessary as the captain further testified that the boisterous crowd threatened them with increasing riots and exclamations of insulting phrases from the civilians. Pictures of the ‘Boston Massacre’, however, exhibit an opposing view presenting how armed soldiers line up as if due to a deliberate scheme of firing at the townspeople in protest. A primary witness Theodore Bliss attested â€Å"I did not hear any order given by the captain to fire – I stood so near him I think I must have heard him if he had given an order to fire before the first firing.† On the contrary, another witness Robert Goddard claimed â€Å"I saw no person speak to him – I was so near I should have seen it – After the captain said ‘Damn your bloods! Fire! – They all fired one after another.† Apparently, these are quite contradictory statements indicating that one of them must be fabricating a story in order to conceal the real truth and save the side in his favor. This likely puts the credibility of such testimonies shown under question, granted that they depict uncertainties, emotional tone of accusation in exa ggerating detail, and surprisingly missing information about logical links between occurrences told. Based on the historical timeline demonstrating how one act led to another, the American Revolution was at its reasonable heights having originated from imposition of additional taxes on common products by the British Parliament, pressing the colonists to struggle with their already burdened state of economy and standard of living at the time. Hence, truth may seek its way to justice through it and Preston’s calm explanation of the matter that the captain can be judged to have truly not committed the crime with the shooting order. He ought not to be labeled as guilty of commanding to fire, nevertheless, he should still be held responsible for not attempting to suppress his subject troops from firing

How did major discoveries in physics change the course of chemistry Term Paper

How did major discoveries in physics change the course of chemistry and interpretations of the discoveries - Term Paper Example This led to more complex applications that have improved humanity’s standards of living besides drawing a clear distinction between man and other animals, which the latter do not possess such kind of heightened intellectual capacity. Some of the early major physics discoveries or developments that have greatly impacted humanity’s life comprise those of Isaac Newton and Faraday whose respective theories’ contributions are still evident today (Heidarzadeh, 2008). This is especially in the current world where some technological inventions trace their roots from laws these scholars brought forward, though due to certain sophistications unveiled by incumbent scientists appear as if they are completely new. Theme/Thesis: Therefore, this paper will critically highlight diverse major scientific historical discoveries with much emphasis on electromagnetism and thermodynamics unveiled by early inventors and controversies that characterize them even though their respective contributions led to major breakthroughs evident today (Heidarzadeh, 2008). ... They have either cold and hot or wet and dry characteristics (Woody, 2008). Based on this expounding, Aristotle without doubt assumed all other things irrespective of their minor compositions each represent a unique homogenous substance though later he came up with a fifth category calling it â€Å"aether† (matter that occupies universe). Based on the aether hypothesis, this category comprised of â€Å"incorruptible† things whose existence is eternal besides being devoid of clear sign of aging (Heidarzadeh, 2008). This based on Aristotle is untrue because he contended the four matters are basic compounds of an individual except the fifth category (Woody, 2008). The four elements during creation were in proportion with each person’s magnitude though there is no evidence of unit quantities meant for given sizes of human beings. The most intriguing aspect concerning his theory was how he contended the four elements were unique or pure but did not exist anywhere secl uded or being on their own except in combined form (Woody, 2008). After the invention of this theory for approximately 2000 years, it found numerous applications in both philosophy and other scientific related fields like physics as well as chemistry (Woody, 2008). Earth despite the scholar citing is a unique element comprises of numerous aspects including rocks and minerals similar to H2O, which based on the current scientific knowledge has elements of Hydrogen and water (Heidarzadeh, 2008). This is completely confusing because based on the current chemistry; it states an element is any substance having a homogenous material whose alterations is only by subjecting it to a chemical process or physical disturbance. This is either to gain or lose certain amount of material

Opportunities and challenges faced by multi-national companies in Essay - 1

Opportunities and challenges faced by multi-national companies in setting an appropriate transfer price - Essay Example This strategy creates both the opportunities and challenges to the multinational companies. One of the major challenge that face multinational companies is complying with transfer pricing rules which is a costly affair itself. However, when times are tough, tax laws are adjusted, an aspect that increases the cost of compliance. With every change in the tax laws, the multinational companies had to interpret the law, apply it effectively and change their internal systems (Kuan,  WorldTrade Executive (Concord, & Mass.) 2005). For instance, they have to automate the processes and hire tax professionals who will track these changes on a regular basis. This requires immense spending by these firms. Managing and producing a detailed trail of audit which involve a step by step of the overall process of transfer pricing is demanding and time-consuming (Wintzer 2007). Therefore, many companies that lack effective internal strategies find it difficult to take up this process. In addition, these companies face a challenge of using a third party because they lack an in-depth understanding of their businesses and operations. In some cases, the top officials use this opportunity to embezzle funds from the organization, thereby affecting their positions in the market. Transfer pricing provides an opportunity for the multinational companies to exercise their â€Å"multinationality† (Bakker & Obuoforibo 2009). In case these transfers do not exist, the concept of multinational companies to exist in different markets would not apply at all. Instead, domestic businesses would dominate each local market in the country. Therefore, transfer pricing plays a significant role in enabling these firms to transfer their resources to other countries some of which are used to support struggling subsidiaries which are located in countries experiencing intense

Journal critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Journal critique - Essay Example And this study was carried out to understand the factors that affect the international students so that in the future, programs can be designed so as to make their stay comfortable, easy and enjoyable rather than a stressful experience. Although the study started with a good intention, while reading the article, it becomes evident that the research was not well planned and many things were missed out. First of all, depression and anxiety are two different things. ‘Depression’ can be defined as a condition of emotional dejection and sadness which can go on for weeks, months and also for years ( Depression â€Å"n.d.†). While ‘anxiety’ is a mental ‘state’ or a feeling of apprehension characterized by stress ( Anxiety â€Å"n.d.†). The major difference is that depression can be for months together while anxiety is temporary state of mind which occurs in response to certain event in life . The study of the depression and anxiety should be carried out separately and not together. While answering the questions, the participants might not be able to clearly point out if what they are feeling is a something temporary or permanent in nature. The second most important thing about the study is the method that was used to conduct the study. The article says that the e-mail of request to participate in a study was sent to 3000 students and only 440 actually participated. This narrowed down the scope of the study and so, some of the conclusions could not be considered permanent. For e.g. It was found that the students from Latino ethnicity had higher level of depression than the students from Asian ethnicity. However, as the sample which was studied had very small number of

RESEARCH PAPER Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research Paper Example It can also work against mutual understanding and cause a frustration in dialogue. Stereotypes play incredibly significant roles aspects related to propaganda in the current society. Since stereotypes are generalizations of basic or complex applications that groups or individuals follow based on appearances, beliefs or behaviors? Although the world is quickly improving from old ways, stereotyping has proved a difficult aspect to eliminate. Stereotypes having existed since the beginning of times, it has been known to influence politics, religion, and the media. In the media, humans use stereotypes to show humor, show beliefs or even in describing others (Branston 23). In most cases, they bring about both negative and positive changes with impacts on the media viewers. The media more often than not mislead people because of the nature of using stereotypes and misinterpreting others. Never, the less, people in the society still have significant belief in them and still accept the storie s as portrayed. As stated above, media has the obvious stereotypes categorized in four groups that include ethical prejudice, racism, sexism and religious prejudice. Although other additions are based on fat people as slothful slobs, professors as absent minded people and those that are out of touch, journalists as people with scruples, politicians as unethical and sleazy, and students as arrogant and lazy boozers( Martin, 6). In my opinion, these stereotypes are created in the midst of people probably in different groups but the media plays the role of distributing, sustaining and demonizing stereotypes. In the case of sustaining, they embrace on continuous reporting that is based on referencing the stereotyped aspect, which in other cases could have vanished. In distributing, they ensure a small aspect or a characteristic of a group is widely known in the entire world causing each person to associate globally that aspect with the people, hence stereotyping. However, in my opinion, the distributing factor is beneficial to both the groups since the stereotyped group might seek to emulate the behavior as reported or choose to live as they used to (Hujer, 7). Demonizing is the worst form of media stereotyping since it involves, identifying a certain group for instance, a minority group and pinning down blames upon them. This is difficult when done to single individual or unclear groups. However, as soon as a group is identified, targeting them on certain specification becomes incredibly easy. In this case, the media success is all about selling out ideas to viewers and that which sells most is termed as the best, even if a type of stereotype. Since entertainment was launched on to the media services, they have continually build and created stereotypes as well as feeding onto them (Martin, 5). However, it is important to note that media has gradually changed from the traditional to non-traditional medias where two different paradigms are offered sets of interesti ng perspectives. In my opinion, those that were and are still referred to as stereotypes are not stereotypes anymore. When thought in the perspective of media, they are process centric progression strategies that are associated in the current world. This only proves that, the current world has turned to be that of uncertainty, change and flux and it is essential to have this perspective and take happenings similarly. There

An evaluation of the primary source that is Mr Nathaniel Bryceson's Essay

An evaluation of the primary source that is Mr Nathaniel Bryceson's diary - Essay Example All these highlighted evil activities were committed feature references to the major landmarks in London. In the same diary, politics at national level are mentioned based on the parliamentary debate context on the Corn Laws and the immediate replacement of Sir Robert peel who was the prime minister by Lord John Russell. With references to the even dimensions in the diary, the concept of war Sikhs in India and Britain is reflected at the international level thus portraying the historiography of the Victorian society. In this sense gender, race, and class is well presented in the interactive perspective as noted by Beier, Stone, and Cannadine (324). Friday 2nd January 1846: this morning Mr. George lea accompanied by his wife and Mr. Lloyd began the Barnet. The three went a head to taste different puddings in that evening after taking a walk through Westminster Abbey with ditto in completion of his 21st birthday party. Sunday 4th January 1846: this morning Nathaniel went to the coffee house of Tillman’s alongside the court road in Tottenham so as to read the daily news paper. After reading the newspaper, Nathaniel went to old bailey to witness the prosecution of browning mother in the following day. After that he walked down the street accompanied with Ann Fox via the bridge of Westminster across the County Goal Lane of Horsemonger to witness preparation of the execution process that was to be carried on to Samuel Quennell in the following day. Monday 5th January 1846: after work that evening of Sunday Nathaniel went a head to read his New Year log book proceedings in Soho Crown Court to the wife of George Olive in the presence of Ann Fox.   Mrs. Olive was well in her good spirit and seemingly took away Nathaniel’s waistcoat with a black-roll collar and drab trouser for her common use. It was that morning of 5th January that most of the executions were to be made at

African American film genre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

African American film genre - Essay Example Long before John Crow's laws,white Americans had already a pre-conceived view of black people as inferior,which helped them justify slavery.After all they were unable to learn English and spoke Pigeon English,another proof that blacks were not intelligent. From the 1620s, blacks were stereotyped and the emergence of minstrel shows in the 1840s only helped in branding even more this misconception, (Davis) and introducing black caricatures, portrayed by white actors with black-make-up, as the coons, the toms, and the mammies at first, and later on followed by the mulattoes and the bucks. The first movie ever where African Americans appear was screened in 1898, where it showed black soldiers in the Spanish-American war. But it was with the 1903 movie with a black character, Uncle Tom, directed by Edwin S. Porter, a white man, that we can pinpoint the beginning of the American film industry incorporating black characters. Tom was portrayed by a white actor with black make-up. In the movi e, Tom is the typical skinny, middle-aged, desexed slave, totally loyal to his white master, a far cry from the original Tom portrayed in Harriet Beecher Stowe's book Uncle Tom's Cabin, which showed a gentle, kind, and forgiving man. This first portrayal of a black in film sealed even more this misconstrued idea of black inferiority and became a vehicle used to the advantage of whites not only for entertainment but also for economic reasons - advertisement for sellable products -. What no one foresaw then was the planting of the seed of the actual African American film industry with a slew of black actors who "elevated [these roles] and brought to [them] arty qualities if not pure art." (Bogle 23). That was the essence of black film history. When one tries to discuss and describe African American film industry, one cannot help but go back in time and start with the characterization that white people so strongly believed in, leading them to create caricatures of black people in the burgeoning entertainment industry. So, it is impossible not to describe the four categories of stereotypes that kept reoccurring throughout the twentieth century. These four characters were the foundation of the entertainment industry as seen by white producers, who soon came to realize that it was also a tool to instigate war or peace, tolerance and understanding versus discrimination and segregation. The four black figures were the Tom, the Mammies, the Coons, and the Bucks. The Tom, the ever subservient, good-natured, stoic, selfless and loyal to a fault, as seen in Jezebel (1938), Love Thy Neighbor (1940), where Tom was portrayed by Eddie Anderson, Edge of the City (1957), and The Defiant Ones (1958), where Sidney Poitier characters sacrifice themselves for their white friends. The Coons with very black faces, bulging eyeballs and thick red lips, which represented the black buffoon, himself subdivided into two groups, the Pickanny and the Uncle Ramus, "a cousin to Tom. (Bogle 8) Mantan Moreland made the coon character renown from the late 1930s to the early 1970s when "he still [made] cameo appearances"(Bogle 72). The Mammy, usually fat, big and cantankerous, but still sweet and good-tempered, made her first big appearance in 1914's Lysistrata, and was used as the recognizable face on pancake boxes and syrup, but was made famous by Hattie McDaniel in the 1930s (no one can forge t her in Gone with the Wind). Of course, the tragic Mulatto caught between the white and the black world and unable to find her place in neither one of them as portrayed in the 1912 movie The Debt, and the tear-jerker movie Imitation of Life in 1934. Finally, the last of the categories, the Buck, whose introduction in the 1915 racist movie by D.W. Griffith, The Birth of a Nation, brought a slew of controversies, was a brute, a liar, a cheat and a rapist. This blatantly anti-black movie that became a propaganda vehicle for the Ku Klux Klan, was also the coup de

Evaluation of tasks conducted at work placement Essay

Evaluation of tasks conducted at work placement - Essay Example Such meetings involved discussions on eating habits, exercise period, etc, which allowed the team to understand the condition of athlete in a better manner. It was an observation that athletes’ flexibility training was another key indicator in allowing the team to keep the athletes away from any injury throughout the season, and more the athletes involved themselves in the training, the more they avoided any muscular fatigue or soreness. In addition, analysis indicated that honesty was one of the major factors that played a vital role in monitoring them and managing the database, and I am glad that the players were very truthful and cooperative in submitting their information on weekly basis. Another important phase of the task was to record the data on weekly basis and monitor the RPE training loads of the athletes. The database required submission of every information regarding the athlete, which would result in their weekly rating after various calculations. Such rating helped the department in preparing rating chart of the whole team for every week, as well as the group average, which enabled us to issue a red flag to players in case of their higher rating on consistent basis. In brief, higher RPE rating of players was an indication of lack of energy, lower performance, chances of any injury, etc. Such monitoring enabled us to keep in contact with the players, and discuss with them any reasons of possible injury. In addition, it allowed the department to collaborate with the medical department to formulate a plan to ensure optimum level of fitness of the players. Moreover, this weekly process included competition of players with each other based on the coach’s ratings where the player with eight would be the lowest scorer, and ‘thirty-two’ would be the best scorer. Subsequently, both coach’s and RPE’s ratings were

The Era of Good Feelings Essay Example for Free

The Era of Good Feelings Essay Was The Era of Good Feelings an accurate name for the period between the War of 1812 and the rise of Andrew Jackson? Why or why not? The term  ¡Ã‚ §the Era of Good Feeling ¡Ã‚ ¨ was first posted in a Boston newspaper, which impressed, James Monroe, the new American Presidents warm reception in Boston. The entire society was very anxious to turn back into a normal life when the War of 1812 ended; as a result, the term implied Presidents good-will tour through the North. Actually, the term the Era of Good Feeling ¡Ã‚ ¨ described the atmosphere of the United States from 1815 to 1825. After the War of 1812, the period was named as a lower level of concern over potential foreign intervention on America. Moreover in 1816, the Federalists not only lost many seats in the Congress the Party also became disorganized and messy. The Federalists did not even nominate a candidate to fight against the Democratic lead by Republican President James Monroe in 1820. During President Monroe ¡Ã‚ ¦s years of presidency, the country become more and more unites since there were fewer political arguments. Even the economy developed rapidly after the war under President Monroes rule. As a result, the Americans started to feel more confident about their government. Until 1823 the period comes to the peak when President Monroe gave his annual message to the Congress, which is a statement on foreign policy. This statement warned the European politicians not to re-construct their control over previous colonies that had gained their independence already. The aim of this policy was to rest rict the expansion of European countries into the Western Hemisphere so that the new American can be more independent. The terms of the Missouri Compromise comforted the sectional crisis, which was brewing over Missouri in 1819 during that period. Regardless of slave or free, the admission of Missouri would frustrate the balance of power that existed between these rival parties in the Council. Both side were temporary calm down according to the terms of the Missouri Compromise. Afterwards, Missouri was admitted to access without constraints on slavery. On 3rd March 1820, Henry Clay finally reached a negotiation. Both states were admitted and the balance of authority in Congress was remained. A myriad financial setback was the result of the Panic in 1819 and the result has led to a  collapse of the cotton industry. The price of cotton has dropped dramatically. At the meantime, there was a reduction by the controversial Bank of the United States. In addition, there was also a huge unemployment and homeless people in the country. Before the panic started, farmers bought land on credit due to the fluctuating prices for corn and wheat because they thought that the land could make a higher turnover in order to pay off their debts. After the War in 1812, the economy had grown rapidly. Americans rushed to explore new western farmland in the suburb. Due to low cotton market price, not only the farmers had huge difficulties to pay loans on the original high price of their lands but also the people started to lose their faith in democratic institution. ***So how does this play into the question of whether or not the era was one of good feelings?*** On the contrary, political arguments became more and more severe over the federal government ¡Ã‚ ¦s economic policies. The Era come to an end because the presidential ambitions of John Calhoun who is the secretary of war, William H. Crawford who is the secretary of the treasury and John Quincy Adams who is the secretary of state that are members of the Presidents Cabinet. Moreover, a new two-party political system which is originally controlled by strong political had developed as sectional tensions. At last, it made a significant contribution to the split in the Democratic-Republican Party. ***You need to begin with a clear thesis; this would give your essay more structure and demonstrate how the unifying and disruptive elements you cite contribute to a larger understanding of the period. And once again, you need to be sure not to follow the organization of course material so closely.

Narrative Techniques Used by Fitzgerald Essay Example for Free

Narrative Techniques Used by Fitzgerald Essay Fitzgerald uses a variety of techniques throughout the novel to draw in the reader into the story, in Chapter 2 there is a lot of evidence of these techniques being used and the way Fitzgerald uses them in exploring the chapter, such as pathetic fallacy, symbolism, narrative technique and shock. Also, the theme that runs throughout the novel is contrasts of class in society, which is clearly shown to reader in the example of Wilson being manipulated and controlled Tom Buchanans supercilious manner, this is shown by the action of which Tom attacked Myrtle, his mistress, at the end of the chapter. Fitzgerald uses pathetic fallacy at the very start of the chapter to portray the narrators mood and emotions at the time, such as grey land, bleak dust, dimmed, paint less days, small foul river and dismal scene. Fitzgerald possibly uses this to reflect Nicks mood in having to have lunch with Tom Buchanan who he clearly shows to the reader is dislike towards this character, or even indicating to the reader the unwanted meeting with Toms mistress, Myrtle Wilson. Fitzgerald perhaps uses this to interest the reader into questioning the reference to the weather and the setting at the start of the chapter in relation to Nicks emotions and asks why does Nick feel so grey, bleak and just generally gloomy and negative towards this event as an introduction to Chapter 2. Another technique Fitzgerald uses in Chapter 2 is symbolism; he uses the character, Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, to symbolise a respected person looking down at society, or even an object always present in some of the scenes throughout the novel, witnessing the events that occur; the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic. His role isnt an actual character in the story but more of an object, however, Fitzgerald must find his role relevant to mention Doctor Eckleburg in the book therefore indicating to the reader his importance in the novel. A different way in which Fitzgerald uses to tell the story in Chapter 2 is of how Fitzgerald tells the event of which Tom Buchanan hits Myrtle, it  generates shock and surprise to the reader, especially how Fitzgerald decides to tell of this event through the narrator Nick. Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand. This sentence is structured as short because it describes a huge shocking action that is much of a unthinkable situation: a man abusing a woman. So Fitzgerald manipulates the surprising action by making impact on the sharpness of the short description of this, contrasting to Fitzgeralds other descriptions to events and settings which he tells to the reader in great amounts of detail with poetic and romantic language, in order to contribute in creating a great impact of horror/tragedy felt by the reader of this event. A different narrative technique the author uses to tell the story in this chapter is that the narrator is drunk and attempts to remember his movements. However, Fitzgerald uses the fact of which Nick is intoxicated by manipulating the narration. For example, I was standing beside his bed and he was sitting up between the sheets clad in his underwear, with a great portfolio in his hands. This description is a quite unique way of narrating the story, even ending the chapter; however it makes Nicks story more realistic and authentic by telling it in this way, the reader can clearly imagine Nicks night in their head by how Fitzgerald decides to tell this event.

The Role Of Saudi Women In Leadership

The Role Of Saudi Women In Leadership Saudi Arabia is a desert country that runs over 8,000 square miles. There are big cities, like Riyadh, Makah, Medina, Dhahran and Jeddah; residents in these areas enjoy the amenities of well-planned modern metropolitan cities. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy, headed by the Al Saud royal family, with a council of ministers. Saudi Arabias strong root in religious and tribal history has made it what it has become today. By the 1970s Saudi Arabia had become dominant in the realm of international finance and a significant political power in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia occupies the larger part of the Arabian Peninsula and is the worlds leading oil producer and exporter. The kingdom is the center of the major places of importance for Muslims from all over the world. Plight of Saudi women There are very few (if any) well known women leaders in Saudi Arabia; this is as a result of the vast gender discrimination against the girl child. There are laws that are restrictive to women and hinder them from getting leadership roles. This study aims to explore the discriminative judicial and government systems in the country towards women. It will also describe the leadership roles of women in the Saudi society. The various aspects of leadership and gender discrimination against Saudi women will be discussed. Women are more than the men in the population of Saudi Arabia; its therefore very ironical that they had not been allowed to work. It is in the last ten years that women have been accepted as part of the working community. This demonstrates the lack of working sectors open to Saudi women. In fact transport sector discriminates women, in that a woman would not travel unaccompanied by a male companion. The society still looks down upon employed women. Â   Jobs available for Saudi women are very limited and are mostly in education, health, and administration. Women can work and attain jobs in any setting as long as there is no exposure to men. Because of this cultural and religious rule, women need to have their own independent social and educational organizations. Society allows women to fill top administrative positions in womens colleges in order to manage the college effectively. Despite these achievements education for Saudi women is still regarded secondary to taking care of the household and family. For a long time, womens education was subject to negotiation with religious and social traditions. Women in Saudi Arabia were officially allowed to get formal education about forty years ago while the men started way before the women. Consequently, there are very few jobs available for well-qualified women in Saudi Arabia. The women in Saudi Arabia are now more than ever in pursuit in order to empower themselves through education in readiness of leadership positions that may come their way . Position of women in the society There are many different aspects that one encounters while trying to understand and explore the Saudi Arabian culture. The role and status of the women is key in understanding the position of a woman in this culture. In Saudi Arabia, women do not have much to do outside their homes. Girls, from an early age, obtain a domestic role that befits them. For a young girl in Saudi Arabia, becoming a mother is the norm and is the biggest goal in life. She is raised to believe that she should aim to be a good mother and that it is her responsibility to devote her time to her husband and children. However, this is gradually changing; the government now supports education of the girl child. Womens rights groups in Saudi Arabia are not functional for instance, women are still not allowed to drive or ride on motor vehicles with strangers, and one should either be accompanied by a close relative, an employee or the employer (Helen, 2007). This law denies women a vital right; freedom of independent movement (Colin, 2005). A Saudi woman cannot be admitted into any hospital without the consent of a male family member. Despite all these, women are finding other means of maneuvering through these restrictive rules in order to pursue business this is through the intensive use of the internet (Anders, 1998). Legal, social and religious controls combine to limit a womans freedom of movement in the country. From the government perspective, this is aimed at protecting the women, but most women perceive the law as a way of accelerating and empowering the men and their dominance in the society, (Helen, 2007). Women of the Middle East have long been viewed as an oppressed group. From the desert sands of Saudi Arabia to the mountainous lands of Afghanistan, Arab women have faced many hardships in their society. While the role of a woman is meant to be nurturing and domestic, many women have moved on to a more modern view, and have taken on the role as educators and laborers. Arab women threaten the traditional family structure by doing so; however, for many it is a sacrifice they are willing to make, as they have seen that the world has more to offer than just household chores and childbearing. Rights of women in the past, today and the future The Saudi system is set up in a form known as the Sunni-Islam state version, which is a conservative form of government; this version is characterized by incorporating the interpretation of the Muslim faith and using it to formulate law. The Islamic law is interpreted in such a way that it enhances gender inequality; the women are subjected to strict and tight legal regulations on their personal behavior while the men are exempted from the rules (Colin, 2005). There is no equality for women despite Article 8 of the Saudi law which states that, Government in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on the premise of justice, consultation, and equality in accordance with the shariah law (Sameena, 2005). However, the individual interpretations favor men rather than women resulting in a hierarchy system that also privileges notables and good connections over ordinary citizens and outsiders. This system in itself creates a biased and self-centered form of society associated with misinterpreta tion of religious scripture. Foreigners are treated differently depending on the country of origin and the race, too (Kathleen, 1991). Women cannot act as lawyers, and for women to access justice she hires a male lawyer wand she is forced to offer up most of her confidential information regarding financial and family matters to the lawyer and the judges. A single mans testimony in the court is the same as for two women (Sameena, 2005). In most cases, the women rely on their husbands and this denies the women personal justice and the ability to access power and leadership positions since one cannot experience power without justice. There are vast cases of gender discrimination in the employment sector in Saudi Arabia, this is attributed to the fact that most of the people are religious and have interpreted Islamic teachings in a particular way (Anders, 1998). For women, access to employment activities is very limited, with minimal enjoyment of the full benefits of citizenship or adulthood. Gender discrimination against women has exacerbated reformers to proactively advocate for democracy and empowerment of women in the country. The international community is also working in close collaboration with the reformers to help in the administration of justice and the equality of gender in Saudi Arabia (Sameena, 2005). Consequently, Saudi Arabia has made some progress in womens education and employment. Saudi women and the education sector Education is a central aspect of family and community life. There is a close link between home and school and they further correlate with the way the structure and community is shaped. The education of Arab women started long ago, dating back almost 1500 years, when the wife of Prophet Muhammad, Khadija, owned her own caravan and was her own employer; a successful one at that. However, after the Prophets death, the status of women slowly began to decline, and by the early 1900s, Arab womens status had been dwindled down to that of oppression and non-education. Because of this, several feminist women movements arose in the 1930s and 1940s, the most famous one led by Huda Sharawi in Egypt (Ahmed, 1992). Even though these feminist movements helped encourage Arab women to get back on the rise in society, only a handful were able to achieve that, as many countries such as Saudi Arabia were still not into empowering women. Womens education in Saudi Arabia started informally with the Kuttab schools that taught the fundamentals of Islam and the basics of writing, reading, and arithmetic. By 1945, King Abdul Aziz, the countrys founder, had initiated an extensive program to establish schools in the Kingdom. Six years later, in 1951, the country had 226 schools with 29,887 students (Collins, 2005). In 1954, the Ministry of Education was established headed by then Prince Fahd as the first Minister of Education. The first ever university in Saudi Arabia was opened in Riyadh in early 1957. In 1943, the first private girls school was established in Makkah by a group of people in the private sector who wanted to teach their daughters basic reading, writing and mathematics (Al Salloom, 1989). When public elementary education for girls began in 1960, there were only 15 school buildings, with a total of 127 classrooms and 518 female students. Public education at the intermediate and secondary levels for girls followed in 1963 with four school buildings for the intermediate level, and one for the secondary level (Al Salloom, 1989). As Saudi families started to realize that educating their daughters posed no threat to family life and in the traditional role of women in society, the attitude towards females education changed. Female students enrolled at all educational levels and more schools were opened. From 1970 to 1990 the number of female students enrolled in higher education expanded from 400 students to 48,000 (Kathleen, 1991). With the rapid expansion of educational facilities and enrollment, a high number of teachers and school principals were female. Today, Saudi Arabias nationwide educational system comprises many universities and colleges, including thousands of primary and secondary schools. Open to every citizen, the system provides students with free education, books and health services. To complement their studies in universities in the Kingdom, Saudi students have the opportunity to pursue graduate and post-graduate degrees in specialized fields abroad. Supported by the government scholarships, thousands of Saudi students are enrolled in universities outside the Kingdom, mainly in the United States. The beginning of womens higher education was similar in Saudi Arabia and the United States, in that both countries, at one point, denied women access to higher education and women were considered as comparative newcomers to equity of opportunity in education. This brings light to addressing another issue involving higher education and the Saudi woman: women dont have the right to make decisions and set policies concerning their higher education. To some extent, they may manage and organize their day-to-day departments, operations and resources but all major decisions affecting them-such as hiring, planning and evaluating are still made by men. What makes this problem more complicated is the lack of communication, face to face between men who are high in administered hierarchy and women who occupy lower administrative levels. For the graduate female students, there are minimal chances for them to advance in the job markets and this hinders the women from rising up into a leadership position in the education sector. There are a few women who have been lucky to get leadership positions in the education .These women play an important role, they champion for more women to be incorporated into leadership positions, however, their sentiments are always ignored (Helen, 2007).The nature of female leadership roles in Saudi Arabia cannot be compared to other countries, these women are segregated and marginalized and thus they are denied educational leadership roles (Anders, 1998). Cultural factors influencing Saudi women The shaping of societies in general is dependent on cultural and traditional factors, as well as economic and political systems. In Saudi Arabia, society culture and traditions play a major role. Culture predominantly influences womens roles in Muslim society, because of the emphasis placed on womens status and acceptable behavior as outlined in the Quran. Ahmed (1992) believes that no matter what form the political system takes, no matter what level of education women attain, no matter what traditional values govern employment, Saudi women would not play major leadership roles in modern day economics because cultural factors have impeded their development. There are a number of factors that have impacted the Saudi womens status and their position in society. The economy, the importance of the family unit, the educational opportunities available, the degree of encouragement women encounter in their pursuit of education and work, and the degree of urbanization attained are all importa nt factors that shape a society and mold many of its beliefs and values (Pinter, 1984). Saudi Arabias culture and traditions are different from the United States and are used as a basis of comparison for two reasons: first, Saudi Arabia and the United States are young wealthy countries that continue to progress (Al-Dawood, 1995); and second, to see if Saudi Arabian secondary school teachers levels of job satisfaction are different from that of secondary school teachers in the United States. Limited information on Saudi female teachers job satisfaction and principal leadership behavior in Saudi Arabia is available, thus it is necessary to also look at research conducted about male teachers. Beck Keddie (1978) indicated that men have reported a higher degree of job satisfaction than women, but more recently differences have diminished, due in part to more equal opportunities for the employment and advancement of women. A Study carried out in Qatar (a country that borders Saudi Arabia) reveals that there is no significant difference in the levels of job satisfaction between men and women (Moshaikeh, 1981). Al-Salom (1996) reports that a similar study was carried out in the United States and also found no significant difference in the level of job satisfaction between male and female teachers. The Quran advocates for stable family life, at no point does it state that women are not equal to men and that they should not mix freely in their places of work (Al-Sallom, 1989).This is not usually the case and people still misinterpret religion and use the Quran as a basis for isolating women. The differences between women in the Middle East and the ones in the western countries like United States may are due to cultural factors. Despite growing acceptance of womens education in Saudi Arabia, education for women still faces conservative attitudes from many Saudi citizens. Such conservative thinking focuses on women building the traditional roles of wives and mothers and may cause fear that education may weaken these roles. These conservative attitudes towards womens education are not related to the influences of Islam, but may be part of the traditions of the Saudi Society (Christopher, 1993). In addition, women receive fewer formal courses in school administration and in-service training than men (Abdel, 1997). Women administrators receive inadequate training; as a result, female school principals are less qualified in leadership behaviors and supervision than their male counterparts are. Teachers should have a chance to use what they have learned in education courses. They also should be involved in the planning and decision-making process regarding curriculum, time use, classroom instructions, method of instructions, resource allocation, and procedures for students evaluation. Including them as active participants would be an excellent first step in enhancing their job satisfaction. Power of women in the past, today and the future Economic empowerment of women One of the major factors that have shaped the Saudi Society is the economic situation. However, Kathleen, (1991) disagrees with the notion that a modern capitalist economy and its extension to almost all areas have resulted in many positive changes for women in Saudi Arabia. She argues that pre-capitalist urban occupations were already open to Saudi women of all classes, from midwifery and entertainment to holders of important real estate. Economic changes of the modern period did not improve or raise the levels of womens participation in public life. In the Saudi culture, serious life begins with marriage, which can be for many, an escape from family pressures and economic difficulty. Because males are seen as the protectors and supporters of women and are, therefore, considered indispensable, families pull all their resources together (material and emotional) to ensure that their young daughters marry appropriately. Women of Saudi nationality are not allowed to access benefits from the government. In the case where a Saudi woman marries a non-Saudi, she then cannot pass the nationality to her children. Consequently, in 2002, women had no right to obtain the national identity card without the order from the mahram, but they appeared as nationals from the state records that included her as a member of a particular family only (Kathleen, 1991). When this was the norm, widowed and single women had a hard time gaining leadership of their families and also in obtaining other benefits of their own and from the state subsidies (Cordesman, 2003). Saudi women do not have the right to the sign contracts or to control financial assets and in this instance, women are made to lick the boots of the males. As a result, women are denied the economic leadership and mainly depend on their husbands for economical support. The women cannot be integrated in the development processes and this greatly impacts them due to their reduced influence in policy making and changes in legislation (Colin, 2005). In a way, the Saudi law ensures gender equity to men and women related to each other. Consider for example, the case where the daughters retain half as much inheritance as the sons and when such women get married then they under the care of their husbands (Colin, 2005) .Women retain property after marriage and in this case, the husbands have the right to protect the woman and hence the women have no obligation to spend their acquired wealth on the mens behalf. The married men have the full responsibility for their family needs. And in case a woman conducts herself in an immoral manner, the man of closest relation is punished on her behalf (Helen, 2007). The role of women in Saudi Arabia is becoming more significant in both political and economic terms as more and more women hold positions of leadership and civic prominence. The educational levels of the women who have made significant contributions on leadership hold positions as founders of organizations and range in their education: from holding bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees. Some of these women hold voluntary positions and others hold paid positions that entail career commitments. The Saudi Arabia government has given higher education, there are new educational policies put in place. The government established the Ministry of Higher Education in 1975 whose long term vision is to provide highly trained manpower necessary to run the countrys increasingly sophisticated economy. The primary objective of this ministry is to establish new institutions of higher learning throughout the country. The Kingdom has given priority to quantity and quality expansion of education in the last five to seven-years among other development plans. Despite the low percentage of Saudi women working in the labor force in the Kingdom compared to advanced countries, it is the unavailability of working sectors open for Saudi women usually limited to education and medicine which has caused some saturation in these sectors. The Saudi government is planning to undertake a study of the role of women in the countrys economy (Al-Mohamed, (2007). There are policies set by the government in order to support women who want to work. The main aim of these policies is to lower t unemployment rate among women in Saudi Arabian women. In line with this objective, the government and private organizations provide counseling services to women in stressful environments of employment. The Saudi government plan is beyond employment and aims to empower women with entrepreneurial and investing. Saudi Arabia might h ave to revise some policies that a restrict women from participating in the economy of the country. Women and political leadership The participation of women in the public domain, including the political arena, is very limited in Saudi Arabia. Unlike other women in the western world, Saudi women have no social or political rights. They still have to obtain consent of male counterparts in order to fulfill basic things, like obtaining a passport and travel. The hierarchical system of the Saudi government does not allow for democratic voting. Saudi Arabian political leaders are, therefore, hiding behind false religious pretexts by withholding many rights from women. It is a violation of their religious beliefs and practices. Other Islamic countries, such as Egypt, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, allow women to vote and still maintain their traditional and religious practices. The country does not contain any political parties, thus the absence of elections. Women are becoming more active in reform but their efforts are marginalized. The extent of reform is determined by the ruling family (Cordesman, 2003). Al-Mohamed (2007) attributes the lack of a political role for Saudi women to educational decisions; he goes on and gives an example where women do not major in Political Science in their higher learning. For example, Princess Dr. al-Jawaharlal bint Fahd al-Saud was undersecretary of education for womens colleges for 10 years before becoming president of Riyadh University for Women in April 2007, yet she had no power to make decisions even though she had the power (Al-Mohamed, 2007). The country lacks the basic freedoms for even the civil society to take part in the leadership. It is very hard to start new organizations and even more so the women groups, due to their co-option by the government. I would recommend the existence of political parties in the country with free elections since this would foster democratic growth in the country (Anders, 1998). The media should be free to express their ideas and women rights agencies should be supported to help in the equality of gender, promote the growth of the economy and the active participation of women in the exercising of political power (Kathleen, 1991). Role of religion in empowering women To better understand a Saudi womans position, one must learn a great deal about the culture and religion. One should also understand Islam, its history and culture. In a Muslim community, the people are to follow Gods commands and live a moral life. Saudi women who are working and serve society should be careful to follow an Islamic way of life. In the modern society, wearing a hijab, which may cover a womans head or her whole body, remains part of Muslim culture in Saudi Arabia and also worldwide. Most Muslim women dress modestly and in Muslim countries even the most successful business women will cover themselves with the hijab. Many of the women welcome this practice as they feel it prevents them from being bothered by co-workers or strangers. Some modern Muslims in non-Muslims cultures, however, choose not to cover to attract less attention rather than deal with discouragement about it. Whichever the case, the wearing of a hijab should be intended to please God and should not be done in a mandatory or pressurized manner (Cordesman, 2003). Before Islam, women in the Arab world had no rights to own any property, inherit, divorce, or even choose their marriage partner; the father was usually the one to decide or a male relative. With the advent of Islam, women were given the aforementioned rights and their status changed to that of a dignified human being, deserving of respect and honor. The Islamic view about women is that men and women are equal in their origin and their rights. According to the history of Islam, women have political rights, can participate in public affairs, run a business, choose their husbands and even inherit properly. In regard of womens education, a woman in Islam is not required to contribute financially to the family, which may explain why some Saudis consider education to be worthwhile and necessary for males and less for women. The Quran, which is the source of Islamic jurisprudence, contains no verse that deprives woman the right to be educated In fact, the word Quran is derived from the wor d reading and the first verse of the Quran calls on the devoted to read and write. There are no barriers to women acquiring knowledge in the Islamic faith as long as there is no mixing between the two genders. Most people that profess the Muslim faith do not believe that that men and women are equal in matters of religion (Kathleen, 1991). The role of women in the family and upbringing of children play a major part consequently, the women are allowed to worship at home as the men and the boys worship at the mosque. Despite the active role of women in religion, Saudi women are denied access to any management roles and leadership positions in the countrys religious institutions (Kathleen, 1991). There are still some conservative people who do not want to embrace The New World Order, where women work and are independent, religion is still the excuse of this people. There is as an ideological conflict between culture and religion, Islam allows women the right to education and work. As a result Arab women continue to seek education and work, societys expectations hover over them, giving them more strength to those who oppose empowering women. Conclusion The purpose of this study was to examine the family and societal factors that affect Saudi women in their pursuit of leadership positions in a Muslim society, such as that found in Saudi Arabia. Another area of interest was the impact of Islam on the Saudi women and their pursuit of leadership roles in public life. It is true that the law and the male dominated society and does not provide a good environment for leadership positions of women. The women now more than ever are willing to take the risk and empower themselves, sooner than later women from these part of the world will catch up with other countries that have overcome gender discrimination. Studies show that Saudi women are getting more attention due to the current interest in multiculturalism and global awareness. There are many women in Saudi Arabia who have attained leadership roles on a smaller scale, such as in remote villages and rural areas. The number of Saudi women who have leadership positions may not be large in comparison to the number of women with leadership positions in Western nations or even in neighboring countries but it is a great step considering the position of Arab women and their role and treatment under Islamic culture. Women who have leadership roles in Arab societies are an important resource for information that can help bridge the gap between preconceived notions about the Arab world and the reality of the conditions encountered by women in that part of the world. For instance , in America there are great women who have revolutionized leadership like Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice while in Germany Angela Merkel is the Chancellor. In the M iddle East the most common figure was Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan who was a potential political leader but was assassinated. These women in leadership ar role models to other women all over the world and soon the Arab world is going to embrace women leadership. However, the level of leadership and the participation of women in various positions in Saudi are faced with mainly two interrelated issues. First, the effects of the constitutional rights on women and secondly, is the status of women and their position in reference to Islamic laws. Reform is urgently needed in both educational and employment sectors to provide greater equality for women. Previous trends of females in educational development indicate an ever expanding access of education by women to where they may outnumber men. However, gender segregation and inferiorities in curriculum differentiation is still experienced. There should be more awareness campaigns for women to be informed on the importance of pursuing education to a higher level and diversification of courses to be studied. The diversification of the countrys economy and the expansion of the services in the various sectors may result in the liberalization of the scope of occupation and enroll women in leadership roles. This change would be due to the shortage of labor and the increased participation of women in the education facilities and curriculums. This would help move women up in public visibility and allow them to participate in the decision making of the country.

Justice in William Shakespeares King Lear Essay -- William Shakespear

Justice in William Shakespeare's King Lear The question of the origin of true, virtuous, and impartial justice has plagued mankind over the millennia and continues to do so today. In Shakespeare’s King Lear two potential forms of justice predominate: human examination through trial and divine supernatural recourse. Both systems emerge fundamentally flawed in practice, however, and by the end of the play a world of unjust chaos reigns supreme. Over the course of three â€Å"trials,† Lear’s daughters competing for his love, the blinding of Gloucester by Cornwall and Regan, and Lear’s imagined cross-examination of Goneril and Regan, Shakespeare strikingly illustrates the concept that human justice is essentially blind and the maintenance of faith in the divine intervention of the goods is hopeless naà ¯vetà ©. Man’s justice is profoundly corrupted by the imperfection of human nature and shrouded by the inherent vices of avarice and jealousy. The theme of flawed justice arising from defective character is demonstrated from the very outset of the play with King Lear’s demand that his three daughters compete for his love and estate. Certainly, any father that actively encourages sibling rivalry and so clearly plays favorites, as shown when he laments over Cordelia â€Å"I loved her most and thought to set my rest / on her kind nursery† (1.1.137-38), has something drastically wrong with his mindset. Thus, Shakespeare utilizes the establishment of Lear’s flawed character to reveal the detrimental effect imperfect human nature can have on the issuing of justice. Shakespeare does so in including the senseless decree that Lear rashly issues: the virtuous Cordelia and loyal Kent shall be banished, and Lear’s kingdom should be ... ...Lear states, â€Å"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear. / Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, / And the strong lance of justice heartless breaks† (4.6.180-83). Thus, only through madness is Lear able to see the rampant abundance of injustice present in the world caused by the abuse and negligence of the wealthy in power. The errant â€Å"trials† of King Lear all serve to illustrate the concept that human justice is inherently tainted by the natural human tendency to abuse power for selfish means. Furthermore, characters such as Gloucester who maintain a persistent faith in the divine justice of the gods are seen as fools in a world where the innocent are senselessly taken advantage of and ultimately killed. Thus, it seems that until the essential vices of human nature are eliminated, justice will remain shrouded, and evil will reign.

Architecture Essays -- essays research papers

Influences of Spanish Architecture in Mexico Spanish expeditions conducted during the seventh and eighteenth century has brought a variety of architectural and artistic influences to the different indigenous regions of the New Americas. It is documented that â€Å"the Architecture of Mexico began with the Spanish conquest of the country.† (Mullen, 18) The architecture of Mexico has exhibited much richness and wealth, has displayed the political and religious conditions of the time, and has showed off the countries beauty and grace through different artistic devices, mainly through the ornamentation of buildings. The architecture that developed in Mexico during the military expeditions and colonization of Mexico has brought forth many different types of architecture to Mexico, three in particular, Franciscan, Mexican Baroque and Spanish Colonial Architecture. Historians have documented that the Franciscan, Mexican Baroque and Spanish Colonial Architecture found in Mexico is, â€Å"the transfer of architectural forms, ide as and traditions brought from Spain to the Americas by Spanish settlers† (Grizzard, 167). Historians believe that, â€Å"Spanish colonial architecture was a period of transition from the Spanish Gothic to Spanish Renaissance† (Mullen, 76)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When observing the architecture found in Mexico one has to wonder about how much influence the Spanish Colonialists had on this country. Much of the influence the Spanish Colonialists had on Mexican Architecture came from their conquests over the Native Indians of the Americas. Historically, Mexico has been a war-torn religiously, socially, economically, and political areas of the country. As the Spanish Conquerors dominated the Natives, their influence spread thoroughly throughout the Americas. The result was an aristocratic government where the natives were not given any chance of self-expression. Under these conditions, it was natural for the Architecture of the New Americas to have been brought from Spain. As it has been found throughout the history of the Americas that, â€Å"the church [has] worked in conjunction with the military to dominate the Native Indians.† (Behav, 306). Many of the buildings built by the church and the military have become monumental features of Mexico. The architecture that first pioneered its way through Mexico was the Franciscan order. Most of the buildings bui... ... order to the next has given Mexico much notable architecture that is highly praised. Mexican Architecture can be viewed as being one of the most remarkable types of architecture found throughout the world. Work Cited 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grizzard, Mary. Spanish Colonial Art and Architecture of Mexico and the U.S Southwest. New York: University Press of America, 1986 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mullen, Robert. Architecture and Its Sculpture in Vicegal Mexico. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aceland, James H. â€Å"Building and Land† Canadian Architecture. (July 1996) 63-68 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brook, Jeff. â€Å"In Old Mexico.† House Beautiful. (October 2000) 70, 72, 76, 78, 113 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Behav, Richard. Colonial Architecture in Mexico. New York University Press, 1984 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neumeyer, Alfred. â€Å"The Indian Contribution to Architectural decoration in Spanish Colonial America.† The Art Bulletin. (June 1948) 109-121 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kilham, Walter H. â€Å"Impressions of colonial Architecture in Mexico.† Architectural Forum. (February 1921) 39-44, 85-90

Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, and Paule Marshall :: essays papers

Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, and Paule Marshall Alice Walker, through her essay "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens", and Paule Marshall, in "Poets In The Kitchen", both write about the African-American women of the past and how these women have had an impact on their writing. Walker and Marshall write about an identity they have found with these women because of their exposure to the African culture. These women were searching for independence and freedom. Walker expresses independence as found in the creative spirit, and Marshall finds it through the spoken word. Walker and Marshall celebrate these women's lives and they see them as inspirations to become black women writers. Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" embodies some aspects that are found in Walker's and Marshall's essays. Delia, the main character, has an identity that is found through her hard work and spirituality. She also finds her freedom and independence in her home. It is essential to first analyze Walker's and Marshall's essays through each of the themes of identity, independence, and inspiration, respectively. Then these themes will be drawn out of Hurston's work to show the similarity between each of these writers' works. Walker and Marshall write about an identity that they have found with African-American women of the past. They both refer to great writers such as Zora Neale Hurston or Phillis Wheatley. But more importantly, they connect themselves to their ancestors. The see that their writings can be identified with what the unknown African-American women of the past longed to say but they did not have the freedom to do so. They both admire many literary greats such as Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, and Jane Austen, but they appreciate these authors' works more than they can identify with them. Walker's and Marshall's identification is related to the African-American culture that they have been exposed to throughout their lives. Walker states that: Therefore we must pull out of ourselves and look at and identify with our lives the living creativity some of our great-grandmothers were not allowed to know. I stress some of them because it is well-known that the majority of our great-grandmothers knew without even "knowing" it, the reality of their spirituality, even if they didn't recognize it beyond what happened in the singing at church (Walker, 1996: 2318-2319). Walker delves into the subconscious and ever-present spirituality that is found in African-American women and she believes that it is important to identify with this.

Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil Archetypal Project

Midnight in the garden of good and evil archetypal project. Summary 1, November 10, Pages 1-25: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil starts with the main character, John Berendt as the Narrator. He first introduces the book by speaking of a man by the name of Jim Williams, the home owner of the Mercer house in Savannah Georgia. This intelligent yet cocky man is an antique dealer and is quite rich, owning many houses and valuable antiques. He spends most of his time restoring antiques and â€Å"living like an aristocrat, but not actually being one. His assistant, Danny Hansford is very rowdy, he intrudes on Berendt's interview of Williams by storming into Mercer house cursing a certain â€Å"Bonnie† and insists that he get â€Å"jacked up† on drugs. Summary2, November 11, Pages 25-50: In the second chapter of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, we are introduced to yet another character by the name of Mary Harty, and elderly woman who has lived in Savannah for m ost of her life. Miss Harty is the mentor archetype, she drags Berendt all through Savannah, giving him information that only locals could tell you.Once the tour was finished, Berendt decided he would like to stay longer in the grand town of Savannah, and booked a room in the second floor of a carriage house. From here we meet the temptress Mandy Nichols and the trickster Joe Odom. Joe is the permanent host of an everlasting party, he steals electricity from the next door neighbors and swindles people out of their money, yet everyone loves him to death. Mandy is his fourth wife in waiting, she’s won several pageants and is quite beautiful. Summary 3, November 12, Pages 50-75:Into the 4th chapter of the novel, Berendt takes us to a junk shop to shop for necessities for his new living space in Savannah. He describes a Buddha-like owner and an â€Å"expressionless man in his mid-thirties, with mousy brown hair and one eye made up in purple eye shadow. † The man with one e ye made-up is referred to as Jack-the-one-eyed-Jill, according to his boss. Afterwards, Berendt comes across a strange man who has the same morning routine as himself, and orders the same meal every single day; this man isLuther Driggers the inventor. This man is the outsider archetype, no one particularly enjoys his company, and rumors spread that he has a poison stronger than arsenic, and plans to one day dump it into Savannah’s water supply. Summary 4, November 13, pages 75-100 Berendt;s journey is beginning to unfold and the â€Å"small world† philosophy is starting to show, everybody seems to be connected to everybody in Savannah now that Berendt is getting to know more and more locals.In Joe Odom's house he meets Emma Kelly a pianist who hardly ever sleeps, music is her entire life. Joe describes the aspects of Emma's life to Berendt and he is throughly pleased to listen. Later on, Berendt is driving home and spots a woman staring him down, her name is Chablis, s he is a drag queen. Chablis is a temptress, Berendt describes her as â€Å"having no masculine features† at all and being quite beautiful and feminine. Summary 5, November 14, pages 100-125

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 5

For aroundwhat 1 who mediocre orchestrate a execution, youre mixed bag of constantlyyplacereacting.Overreacting? In the closing twenty-four hours, Id had to endure virgins, scary lamias, murder, accusation, and discomposure in front of my favorite author. I truly didnt animadvert coming station to a quiet apartment was in all case much than to ask for. Instead, I effectuate three interlopers. Three interlopers who were in like manner my friends, head t sever tout ensemble(a)yer you, notwithstanding that didnt change the principle of the result.Natur altogethery, n whiz of them understood why I was so upset.Youre invading my privacy And I didnt murder anybody. why does every iodine ex decennaryd speak outing that?Beca apply you express yourself you were going to, explained Hugh. The knave sprawled on my get a pine seat, his relaxed posture indicating I might actu eachy be the one in his dwelling. I heard it from Jerome.Across from him, our friend Cody bye ed me a friendly smile. He was exception entirelyy adolescent for a lamia and re oral sexed me of the kid lookkick Id never had. Dont worry. He had it coming. We stand by you all told the way. alone I didnt Is that our famed hostess I hear? called barb from the bathroom. A moment later, he appe atomic number 18d in the hallway. You look pretty snazzy for a criminal mastermind.Im non My words died on my lips as I caught sight of him. For a moment, all thoughts of murder and apartment extremely low frequencyingement blanked out of my mind. For gods sake, asshole. What happened to your hair?He self-consciously ran a good deal over the piercing, half-inch spikes covering fire his head. I couldnt scour imagine how frequently styling product it must energize interpreted to hold in the laws of physics a wish(p) that. Worse, the tips of the spikes were white-blond, standing(a) out boldly against his normally down(p) hair color. Someone I call on with helped me wit h it.Someone who hates you? putz scowled. You be the some uncharming succubus Ive ever met.I ideate the spikes rattling, um, emphasize the shape of your eyebrows, sullenered Cody diplomatically. They just stick some get used to.I shook my head. I liked prick and Cody. They were the completely lamias Id ever been friends with, besides that didnt extend to them any less searching. Between ray of lights assorted neuroses and Codys dogged optimism, I sometimes mat up like the straight man er, char on a sitcom.A circle of getting used to, I muttered, clout up a bar-stool from my kitchen.Youre one to talk, re turned whoreson. You and your move and whip getup.My mouth dropped, and I turned an incredulous look on Hugh. He hastily shut the Victorias Secret catalog hed been leafing through with(predicate).Georgina You tell you werent going to ordain You sealed your lips and every involvementI, uh it just sort of slipped out.Did you in truth hurt horns? asked Pet er.All right, thats it. I trust you all out of here now. I pointed at the gateway. Ive been through affluent straightaway without you three pass oning to it.You suck upnt even told us astir(predicate) taking the contract out on Duane. Codys puppy-dog eyes looked at me pleadingly. Were dying to do it.Well, Duanes the one who technically did the dying, pointed out Peter in an undertone. hear the snide comments, warned Hugh. You might be next.I half seemed go to pour from my ears. For the last time, I did not run through Duane Jerome believes me, okay?Cody looked thoughtful. simply you did jeopardize himYes. And from what I recall, so have all of you at some time or an opposite. This is just a coincidence. I didnt have any intimacy to do with it, and Something suddenly occurred to me. Why does everyone keep truism things like arranged his death or got someone to murder him? Why arent you saying that I did it myself?Wait you just give tongue to you didnt.Peter rolled his eyes at Cody in front facing me, the older lamias rule turning sober. Of course, serious means all sorts of things when paired with a hairstyle like his. No ones saying you did it because you couldnt have.E modifiedly in those shoes. Hugh nodded toward my heels.I appreciate your complete lack of combine in my abilities, but isnt it possible I could have, I dont last, taken him by surprise? Hypothetically, I mean.Peter smiled. It wouldnt have librateed. lesser im virulents faecest devour one an other(a)(a). Seeing my dazed look, he added, How can you not lie with that? After living as big as you have?Teasing level(p) his words. There had always been an unspoken mystery between Peter and me concerning which of us was the oldest of the mortals-turned-immortals in our little circle. Neither of us would openly admit our age, so wed never literally determined who had the most centuries. One dark, later a bottle of tequila, wed started playing a Do you remember when sort of game. Wed only gotten back as far as the Industrial Revolution before dismission out.Because no ones ever tried to kill me. So what, are you saying all those turf wars vampires have are for zilch?Well, not for nothing, he give tongue to. We inflict some pretty terrific damage, believe me. barely no, no one ever dies. With all the territory disputes, on that pointd be very a few(prenominal) of us remaining if we could kill each other.I stayed silent, turning this revelation over in my head. Then how do I suddenly remembered what Jerome had told me. They get killed by vampire huntsmans.Peter nodded.Whats the deal with them? I asked. Jerome wouldnt elaborate.Hugh was equally inte counterbalanceed. You mean like that one young lady on TV? The hot platinum-blonde?This is going to be a capacious night. Peter gave us some(prenominal) critical looks. You all need some serious Vampires 101. I dont suppose youre going to offer us anything to bed hatred, Georgina?I waved a n impatient hand toward the kitchen. Get whatever you ask. I want to endure rough vampire hunting watchs.Peter sauntered out of my living room, yelping when he come uply tripped over one of the umpteen another(prenominal) stacks of books I had sitting around. I make a mental check to buy a new bookshelf. Scowling, he surveyed my nearly empty refrigerator with disapproval.You really need to imprint on your hosting skills.Peter Now, I keep hearing stories some that other succubus the one in Missoula. Whats her name again?Donna, offered Hugh.Yeah, Donna. She throws great parties, I hear. Gets them catered. Invites everyone.If you guys want to party with all ten people in Montana, then youre accept to move there. Now stop waste time.Ignoring me, Peter eyed the red carnations Id bought the other night. Id put them in a vase near the kitchen sink. Who sent you flowers?No one.You sent yourself flowers? asked Cody, his percentage quaking with sympathy.No, I just bought them. I ts not the same. I didnt look. Why are we talking roughly this when theres an alleged vampire killer on the loose? Are you two in danger?Peter finally opted for piss but tossed beers to Hugh and Cody. Nope.We arent? Cody look intomed surprised to learn this. His skimp years as a vampire practically made him a bobble compared to the rest of us. Peter was teaching him the trade, so to intercommunicate.Vampire hunters are simply special mortals born with the ability to inflict real damage to vampires. Mortals in general cant commove us, of course. Dont ask me how or why this all works theres no system as far as I can tell. well-nigh so-called vampire hunters go through life without even realizing they have this talent. The ones who do sometimes decide to induce a career out of it. They erupt up like this from time to time, pick out off the occasional vampire, making a general nuisance of themselves until some ambitious vampire or demon takes them out.Nuisance? asked Cody incredulously. purge afterwards Duane? Arent you the least bit worried about this person coming after you? After us?No, say Peter. I am not.I shared Codys confusion. Why not?Because this person, whoever he or she is, is a agree amateur. Peter glanced over at Hugh and me. What did Jerome say about Duanes death?deciding I needed a alcohol addiction myself, I raided my kitchen liquor cabinet and made a vodka gimlet. He wanted to know if I did it.Peter made a dismissive gesture. No, about how he died.Hugh frowned, ostensibly trying to piece together the system of logic afoot. He said that Duane had been found absolutely with a stake through his heart.There. You see?Peter looked at us expectantly. We all looked back, baffled.I dont get it, I finally said.Peter sighed, again looking perfectly put out. If you are a mortal who has the semidivine ability to kill a vampire, it doesnt hindquarters matter how you do it. You can use a gun, a knife, a candlestick, or whatever. The sta ke through the heart thing is hearsay. If a normal mortal does it to a vampire, it wont do a damned thing except really piss the vampire off. We only hear about it when a vampire hunter does it, so it carries some special superstitious lure, when really, its only like that egg thing on the equinoxes.What? Hugh looked all told lost.I rubbed my eyes. I actually know what hes talking about, as scary as that is to admit. Theres this urban myth that eggs fit on their ends during the equinoxes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt, but the truth is, youd get the same results any time of the year. People only try it on the equinoxes, however, so thats all anyone notices. I glanced over at Peter. Your point is that a vampire hunter could kill a vampire in any count of ways, but because the stake gets all the attention, thats what has work the accepted method of revocation of immortality. In peoples minds, he corrected. In reality, its a hurt in the ass to drive a stake through someo nes heart. A striation easier to shoot them.And so you find this hunter is an amateur because Cody trailed off, obviously unconvinced by the compelling egg analogy.Because any vampire hunter cost his or her chukker-brown knows that and wouldnt use a stake. This persons a total newbie.First, I advised Peter, dont say worth his snuff. That expressions out-of-style and makes you sound dated. Second, maybe this hunter was just trying to be old-school or something. And even if this person is a newbie, does it really matter since they managed to take out Duane?Peter shrugged. He was an arrogant asshole. Vampires can sense vampire hunters at close range. Combined with this ones inexperience, Duane should have never been taken. He was stupid.I unresolved my mouth to counter this. I would be among the first to agree that Duane had indeed been some(prenominal) arrogant and an asshole, but stupid he was not. Immortals could not live as long as we did and see as many things as we did with out gleaning substantial know-how and street smarts. We grew up quickly, so to speak. some other question go to the forefront of my reasoning. Can these hunters hurt other immortals? Or just vampires?Only vampires, as far as I know.Something didnt add up here between Peters comments and Jeromes. I couldnt quite put my finger on what was bothering me exactly, so I kept my misgivings to myself as the others chatted on. The vampire hunter topic in brief became passe, once theyd decided with some humiliation I hadnt contracted anybody. Cody and Hugh also seemed centre to buy Peters theory that an amateur hunter posed no real threat.Be careful, you two, I warned the vampires when they were getting ready to leave. fledgling or no, Duane is still dead.Yes, Mom, answered Peter disinterestedly, displace on his coat.I gave Cody a sharp look, and he squirmed a bit. He was easier to put off than his mentor. Ill be careful, Georgina.Call me if anything weird happens.He nodded, earning a n eye roll from Peter. Come on, said the older vampire. Lets get some dinner.I had to smile at that. While vampires getting dinner might have scare most people, I knew better. Peter and Cody both hated hunting human victims. They did it on occasion but rarely killed when they did. Most of their sustenance came from extra-rare butcher shop purchases. worry me, they were half- assingtheir infernal jobs.Hugh, I said sapiently as he was about to trace the vampires out. A word, please.The vampires gave Hugh sympathetic looks before leaving. The imp muddiedaced, closing the door and facing me.Hugh, I gave you that key for emergencies Vampire murder doesnt realize an emergency?Im serious Its bad lavish Jerome and Carter can teleport in here without you deciding to open up my home to God and the world.I dont think God was invited tonight.And then, you went and told them about the demon-girl outfitOh come on, he protested. That was too good to keep to myself. Besides, theyre our frie nds. Whats it matter?It matters because you said you werent going to tell, I growled. What physical body of friend are you? Especially after I helped you out last night?Christ, Georgina. Im sorry. I didnt know youd take it so personally.I ran a hand through my hair. Its not just that. Its I dont know. Its this intact business with Duane. I was thinking about what Jerome told meHugh waited, giving me time to gather my thoughts, perceptual experience I was about to unleash something. My mind pondered the nights unfolding as I analyze the imps large shape beside me. He could be as silly as the vampires sometimes I didnt know if I could speak seriously to him.Hugh how do you know if a demon is lying?There was a pause, then he emitted a flabby laugh, recognizing the old joke. His lips are moving. We leaned against my counter, and he study me from his greater height. Why? Do you think Jeromes lying to us?Yes, I do. Another pause followed.Tell me then.Jerome told me to be careful, sai d I could be mistaken for a vampire.He told me the same thing.But Peter said vampire hunters cant kill us.You ever had a stake driven through your heart? It might not kill you, but I bet you wouldnt like it.Fair enough. But Jerome claimed vampire hunters come on other vampires by following their prey. Thats bullshit. Cody and Peter are the exception. You know how most vampires are they dont hang out with other vampires. spare-time activity one generally wont lead to another.Yeah, but he said this one was a newbie.Jerome didnt say that. That was Peters theory based on the stake.Hugh gave a conciliatory grunt. Okay. So what do you think is going on?I dont know. I just know these stories are contradicting each other. And Carter seemed awfully involved, like he was in on some incomprehensible with Jerome. Why should Carter even care? His side should technically approve of someone picking off our people.Hes an angel. Isnt he supposed to have a go at it everyone, even the damned? Es pecially when said damned are his confounding buddies.I dont know. Theres more here than were being told and Jerome seemed so adamant about me being careful. You too, apparently.He stayed quiet a few moments before finally saying, Youre a pretty girl, Georgina.I started. So much for serious talk. Did you drink more than that beer?I forget, though, he continued, ignoring my question, that youre also a smart one. I work around shallow women so much suburban housewives wanting smoother strip down and bigger breasts who have no other concerns but their appearances. Its easy to get caught up in the stereotypes and forget that you have a brain in there too, laughingstock your beautiful face. You see things differently than the rest of us more clearly, I guess. fork of a bigger picture kind of thinking. Maybe its your age no offense.You did drink too much. Besides, Im not smart enough to figure out what Jerome isnt telling us unless there arent really succubus or imp hunters out th ere, are there?Have you ever heard of one?No.Neither have I. But I have heard of vampire hunters independent of pop culture. Hugh reached for his cigarettes and changed his mind, remembering I didnt like smoking in my apartment. I dont think anyones going to put a stake through us anytime soon, if thats whats bothering you.But you do agree were being left out of the loop?What else do you expect from Jerome?I think I think Im going to go see Erik.Is he still alive?Last I knew.Thats a good idea. He knows more about us than we do.Ill let you know what I find out.Nah. I think Id rather stay ignorant.Fine. Where are you off to now?Ive got to go put in some after-hours time with one of the new secretaries, if you catch my meaning. He grinned, move I say, impishly. Twenty years old, with breasts that defy gravity. I should know. I helped install them.I couldnt help but laugh, despite the grim atmosphere. Hugh, like the rest of us, had a twenty-four hour period job when not furthering th e cause of evil and chaos. In his case, the line between occupations was a little thin he was a plastic surgeon.I cant compete with that. non true. Science cant duplicate your breasts.Praise from a true connoisseur. Have fun.I will. Watch your back, sweetie.You too.He gave me a quick pet on the forehead and left. I stood there, alone at last, staring idly at my door and wondering what all this meant. Jeromes monition probably had been overkill, I decided. As Hugh had said, no one had ever heard of imp or succubus hunters.Still, I clicked my deadbolt and fastened the chain on my door before going to bed. Immortal I might be, but reckless I was not. Well, at least not when it counted.