Freedom in the United States :: essays papers

Freedom in the United States Essay submitted by Unknown No other democratic society in the world permits personal freedoms to the degree of the United States of America. Within the last sixty years, American courts, especially the Supreme Court, have developed a set of legal doctrines that thoroughly protect all forms of the freedom of expression. When it comes to evaluating the degree to which we take advantage of the opportunity to express our opinions, some members of society may be guilty of violating the bounds of the First Amendment by publicly offending others through obscenity or racism. Americans have developed a distinct disposition toward the freedom of expression throughout history. The First Amendment clearly voices a great American respect toward the freedom of religion. It also prevents the government from "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Since the early history of our country, the protection of basic freedoms has been of the utmost importance to Americans. In Langston Hughes' poem, "Freedom," he emphasizes the struggle to enjoy the freedoms that he knows are rightfully his. He reflects the American desire for freedom now when he says, "I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread." He recognizes the need for freedom in its entirety without compromise or fear. I think Langston Hughes captures the essence of the American immigrants' quest for freedom in his poem, "Freedom's Plow." He accurately describes American's as arriving with nothing but dreams and building America with the hopes of finding greater freedom or freedom for the first time. He depicts how people of all backgrounds worked together for one cause: freedom. I selected Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 as a fictitious example of the evils of censorship in a world that is becoming illiterate. In this book, the government convinces the public that book reading is evil because it spreads harmful opinions and agitates people against the government. The vast majority of people accept this censorship of expression without question and are content to see and hear only the government's propaganda. I found this disturbing yet realistic. Bradbury's hidden opposition to this form of censorship was apparent throughout the book and finally prevailed in the end when his main character rebelled against the practice of burning books. Among the many forms of protests are pickets, strikes, public speeches and rallies.

Blood pressure Essay

Question One: Hypertension (in addition to a number of medical conditions) may be considered as primary or secondary. Explain these concepts giving three examples of secondary hypertension and their pathophysiology. Most of the conditions that cause secondary hypertension involve the overproduction of one of the body’s hormones. Some of the medical problems that can cause secondary hypertension include: Kidney disease. Secondary hypertension is related to damaged kidneys or to an abnormal narrowing of one or both renal arteries. The renal arteries are the major blood vessels that bring blood to each kidney. When the kidney’s blood supply is reduced by a narrowing (called renal artery stenosis), the kidney produces high levels of a hormone called renin. High levels of renin trigger the production of other substances in the body that raise blood pressure, particularly a molecule called angiotensin II. Adrenal disease. The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and produce several hormones that help regulate blood pressure. Sometimes, one or both adrenal glands make and secrete an excess of one of these hormones. Three different types of adrenal gland conditions cause high blood pressure: Pheochromocytoma. A tumour of the adrenal gland that overproduces the hormones epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine (noradrenalin). Hyperaldosteronism (also called Conn’s syndrome). Both adrenal glands can overproduce the salt-retaining hormone aldosterone or it can arise in a benign adrenal tumour. Hypercortisolism (also called Cushing’s syndrome). Both adrenal glands can overproduce the hormone cortisol or it can arise in a benign or malignant tumour. Hyperparathyroidism. A hormone called parathormone is made by four tiny glands in the neck called parathyroid glands. If the glands produce too much hormone, calcium levels in the blood increase. People with hyperparathyroidism are more likely to have high blood pressure. The exact reason for this association is not known. Question Two: Roger was a symptomatic and only came in for a check up. Why is it important for this ‘silent disease’ to be detected and appropriately treated? As blood flows through arteries it pushes against the inside of the artery walls. The more pressure the blood exerts on the artery walls, the higher the blood pressure will be. The size of small arteries also affects the blood pressure. When the muscular walls of arteries are relaxed, or dilated, the pressure of the blood flowing through them is lower than when the artery walls narrow, or constrict. Blood pressure is highest when the heart beats to push blood out into the arteries. When the heart relaxes to fill with blood again, the pressure is at its lowest point. Blood pressure when the heart beats is called systolic pressure. Blood pressure when the heart is at rest is called diastolic pressure. When blood pressure is measured, the systolic pressure is stated first and the diastolic pressure second. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). For example, if a person’s systolic pressure is 120 and diastolic pressure is 80, it is written as 120/80 mm Hg. T he American Heart Association has long considred blood pressure less than 140 over 90 normal for adults. However, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland released new clinical guidelines for blood pressure in 2003, lowering the standard normal readings. A normal reading was lowered to less than 120 over less than 80. Hypertension is a major health problem, especially because it has no symptoms. Many people have hypertension without knowing it. In the United States, about 50 million people age six and older have high blood pressure. Hypertension is more common in men than women and in people over the age of 65 than in younger persons. More than half of all Americans over the age of 65 have hypertension. It also is more common in African-Americans than in white Americans. Hypertension is serious because people with the condition have a higher risk for heart disease and other medical problems than people with normal blood pressure. Serious complications can be avoided by getting regular blood pressure checks and treating hypertension as soon as it is diagnosed. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to the following medical conditions: arteriosclerosis, also called atherosclerosis heart attack stroke enlarged heart kidney damage. Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries. The walls of arteries have a layer of muscle and elastic tissue that makes them flexible and able to dilate and constrict as blood flows through them. High blood pressure can make the artery walls thicken and harden. When artery walls thicken, the inside of the blood vessel narrows. Cholesterol and fats are more likely to build up on the walls of damaged arteries, making them even narrower. Blood clots also can get trapped in narrowed arteries, blocking the flow of blood. Arteries narrowed by arteriosclerosis may not deliver enough blood to organs and other tissues. Reduced or blocked blood flow to the heart can cause a heart attack. If an artery to the brain is blocked, a stroke can result. Hypertension makes the heart work harder to pump blood through the body. The extra workload can make the heart muscle thicken and stretch. When the heart becomes too enlarged it cannot pump enough blood. If the hypertension is not treated, the heart may fail. The kidneys remove the body’s wastes from the blood. If hypertension thickens the arteries to the kidneys, less waste can be filtered from the blood. As the condition worsens, the kidneys fail and wastes build up in the blood. Dialysis or a kidney transplant are needed when the kidneys fail. About 25% of people who receive kidney dialysis have kidney failure caused by hypertension. Question Three: The renin-angiotensin system plays a central role in blood pressure regulation. Explain the renin-angiotensin system with reference to Conn’s syndrome. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System is a hormone system that regulates BP and fluid balance. When blood volume is low, the juxtaglomerular cells in the kidneys secrete Renin directly into circulation. Plasma Renin converts a polypeptide called Angiotensinogen, which is secreted from Liver into Angiotensin I, which in turn is converted to Angiotensin II (or ATII) by the enzyme called ACE (Angiotensin converting enzyme) found in the lungs. It so happens that Angiotensin II is a potent vaso-active peptide that causes blood vessels to constrict, resulting in increased blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates the secretion of the hormone Aldosterone from Adrenal cortex. Aldosterone causes the tubules of the kidneys to increase the reabsorption of sodium and water into the blood. This increases the volume of fluid in the body, which also increases blood pressure. If the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is too active, blood pressure will be too high. There are many drugs that interrupt different steps in this system to lower blood pressure. These drugs are one of the main ways to control HBP, heart failure, renal failure and the harmful effects of Diabetes. Angiotensin II is degraded to angiotensin III by angiotensinases located in red blood cells and the vascular beds of most tissues. Angiotensin III has 40% of the pressor action of ATII, but 100% of the aldosterone-producing activity of ATII. Angiotensin II has autocrine, paracrine and endocrine actions on different systems: Cardiovascular effects: AT II is the most powerful vasopressor known, constricting both arteries and veins. Myocyte growth is stimulated through a local tissue RAAS. The same system can be activated in the smooth muscle cells in conditions of HTN or endothelial damage thus contributing to and accelerating the process of Atherosclerosis. Neurological effects: ATII increases the thirst sensation by directly stimulating the Subfornical organ of the brain (Dipsogenic action). AT II also decreases the response of Baroreceptor reflex. ATII increases secretions of both ADH and ACTH besides stimulating postganglionic sympathetic fibers to secrete Noradrenaline. Adrenal effects: Angiotensin II acts on the Adrenal cortex causing it to release Aldosterone, a hormone that causes the kidneys to retain sodium and lose potassium.

Assessment of Health and Nutrition Indicators of Early Childhood in India - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1888 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/03/13 Category Sociology Essay Level High school Tags: Childhood Essay Did you like this example? Introduction Early childhood health and nutrition is a true indication of countries’ level of progress and development. These health indicators are directly linked from beginning to end existing Govt. policies, plans and programmes to countries’ investment in early childhood and respect for children’s rights. Social determinants of health and nutrition are factors that characterize environments to which individuals and the population are â€Å"exposed† and which can influence lifelong developmental and health outcomes. Social determinants act at various levels of influence, interrelate with each another and represent a broad array of characteristics that are not biologically or hereditarily based but rather are entrenched in interactions between individuals and socio-physical environments. For example of the most important social determinants of child health, nutrition and development include living conditions, child parents and peers inter-personal relations, family socio-demographics, learning environments in day care centers and schools, access to premises, neighborhood safety and socio-political context. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Assessment of Health and Nutrition Indicators of Early Childhood in India" essay for you Create order Early Childhood Care and Education builds a positive contribution to children’s long period development and learning by facilitating an enabling and stimulating environment in these foundation stages of lifelong learning. Universal brain research also imposes the significance of early years for brain development. Parents as caregivers are critical in providing a stimulating learning environment to the child and the first two and a half to three years need not be in a formal learning environment. The National Curriculum Framework acknowledges the significance of involvement of parent’s family and community. Early childhood is a stage in human development. It generally includes toddlerhood and some time afterwards. Play age is an unspecific designation approximately within the scope of early childhood. Some age-related development periods and examples of defined intervals are: newborn (ages 0–5 weeks); infant (ages 5 weeks – 1 year); toddler (ages 1–3 years); preschooler (ages 3–5 years); school-aged child (ages 5–12 years); adolescent (ages 13–19) The first few years of life are a critical period during which lifelong patterns of health vulnerability are determined by the complex interplay of social determinants. As action can be taken on environmental conditions in order to improve the people’s health outcomes, researchers, governments and policy makers have increasingly been attempting to improve their understanding of the conditions under which children achieve optimal health and developmental outcomes. Early childhood health and nutrition is a true reflection of countries’ level of development. These health indicators are directly or indirectly linked through existing policies, plans and programmes to countries’ investment in early childhood and respect for children’s rights. Analysis of health and nutrition indicators should include the environmental and social determinants of disease, mortality, poor population, quality of life and the yawning inequality gaps between and within countries. There are three broad stages of development: early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. The definitions of these stages are organized around the primary tasks of development in each stage, though the boundaries of these stages are malleable. Societys ideas about childhood shift over time, and research has led to new understandings of the development that takes place in each stage. Basic newborn care include immunizing mothers against tetanus, ensuring clean delivery practices in a hygienic birthing environment, drying and wrapping the baby immediately after birth, thus providing the necessary warmth: The promotion of immediate and continuous breastfeeding, immunization and treatment of infections with antibiotics could save the lives of 3 million newborns annually. Improved sanitation and access to clean drinking water can reduce childhood infections and diarrhoea. More than 40% of the worlds population does not have access to basic sanitation, and more than one billion people use unsafe sources of drinking water. Hunger and malnutrition are an unfortunate reality of the world. While people in industrialized societies live in plenty, malnutrition contributes yearly to the death of 5.6 million children less than five years of age in non-industrialized societies. In the developing world, millions of children develop too slowly and millions of people cannot develop their potential to the fullest. Malnutrition has particularly serious effects on children, above all, infectious secondary immune deficiency, learning deficits and, subsequently, school drop-out. Furthermore, malnutrition threatens girls’ ability to have healthy children in the future and perpetuates the generational cycle of poverty. Good nutrition, in turn, is the cornerstone of survival, health and development not only for current but also future generations. Well-nourished women face fewer risks during pregnancy and labour, and their children develop much better physically and mentally. An Indian Conceptual Framework for Integrated Child Development As the word suggests, an indicator gives an indication that is intended to reflect a particular situation or an underlying reality, usually by providing an order of magnitude, which means that it is difficult to meet the criteria directly. Indicators are variables that attempt to measure or objectify a quantitative or qualitative collective (especially biodemographic) event in order to support political action and evaluate achievements and goals. WHO defines them as variables used to measure changes† Information sources Some indicators may be sensitive to more than one situation or phenomenon; for example, the infant mortality rate is a population health indicator and it is also sensitive enough for use in assessing the general population welfare. However, it may not be specific to any particular health measure because the reduction rate may be the result numerous factors of social and economic development. Health indicators are used to evaluate the effectiveness of courses of action and effects. An indicator requires a reliable source of information and technical rigour in its construction and interpretation. The principal sources of data used universally are the following: Records of demographic events; Population and housing census; Routine health services records; Epidemiological surveillance data; Sample surveys (survey population); Disease registers; Other data sources from other sectors (economic, political and social welfare). The above are sources of routinely and regularly compiled primary data. If these data are unreliable or non-existent, alternative sources may be sought that are generally indirect estimates of the real value. The various health-related items for which indicators are constructed are the following: health policy (resource allocation, % of GDP invested in child health services, and number of hospital beds per x number of inhabitants, etc.); socioeconomic conditions (housing, poverty, food availability, literacy rate etc.); Performance in Public Health Care Health Status:   (a) activity – availability of services, accessibility, indicators of quality of care, coverage indicators could and hopefully would be disaggregated by population subgroup so that gateways for strategic action could be identified; health status indicators – these are the most used and can be divided operationally into 4   types: (1) mortality indicators – widely used, since death is universal, occurs only once and is recorded frequently and systematically; (2) birth – population’s reproducibility, there being a clear correlation between birth rate and health, socioeconomic and cultural standard; (3) morbidity – indicators that attempt to estimate the risk of disease (disease burden) to quantify the magnitude and impact; they are difficult to obtain owing to problems of definition, phenomena to be measured and protracted change over time; (4) quality of life – generally composed of indicators designed to objectify a complex fact such as people’s functional capacity, life expectancy, adaptability to their surroundings, and others. An indicator is not confined to data on which it is based; it usually contains elements (a threshold, a point of reference, a mode of expression, etc.) that can be used universally to assess the information transmitted and facilitate comparisons in time and space. The use of such indicators has been covered extensively by literature in the various sectors concerned. In fact, information associated with an indicator can cover more than the mere quantification of phenomena and should therefore be selected, analyzed and interpreted by a specialist. Data on the malnutrition prevalence rate will, for example, evaluate its severity in public health terms or its likely implications for the broader development context, taking into account its known effects on health, productivity, schooling and social dynamics. The analysis must therefore be conducted by inter-sectoral groups, when many indicators are involved. Indicators of the nutritional situation These indicators should be suitable to characterize each type of malnutrition, which is associated with features of malnutrition itself, the people who suffer from it, where they are, etc., to obtain an indication of the level of risk to various population groups and thus obtain an overview of the situation for the purposes of diagnosis and formulation of overall evaluation strategies – some differentiated and others targeted. It is difficult to determine a person’s nutritional status accurately, and even more so that of a population. This is a global concept that can be gauged only through a series of clinical, physical or functional characteristics, which may be used as additional indicators if a threshold value for separating the malnourished from the well-nourished is incorporated. This task was accomplished after achieving a consensus, mainly on child and adult malnutrition and the widespread lack of three micronutrients with serious implications for people†™s health (vitamin A, iodine and iron). First, the individual’s parameters or indices (e.g. weight, arm circumference, haemoglobin level, etc.) were measured. Then, the information was expressed for the population group concerned as a prevalence rate or as the percentage of well-nourished or malnourished people showing the particular type of malnutrition, according to the selected thresholds. There is no single global indicator to provide a picture of nutrition. consequently, the particular aspect of nutrition to be characterized energy state, protein, iron, vitamin. A must be stated specifically. That said, there is no synthetic indicator, even on the energy state for example. For this reason, the indicator most relevant to the priority issue will be collected: physical, biochemical, functional, and so on. With regard to the measurement of the population’s general nutritional status, a number of individual physical measurements must be taken to be compared with reference values for determining the status of persons (or the population at large) and constitute the set of relevant indicators to be used in preference to any other. However, in using these indicators, their limited validity must be borne in mind: they provide synthetic nutrition information but do not represent all aspects. Cause indicators Once the population groups’ nutritional status and their geographical or socioeconomic distribution are known and goals for improvement have been set, information is needed on the factors that have determined such situation, for example the factors, events or characteristics that affect to some extent the nutritional status of individuals in a particular population. (a) Nutritional insecurity:- includes food production or supply problems, issues of family and community access to food of good nutritional value, in particular regard to purchasing power, but also includes access to fortified foods, supplementation and treatment in certain cases. These data are collected regularly through information systems in ministries of agriculture and trade. (b) Environmental health: access to health services covers water supplies and healthy foods, environmental sanitation, including infectious and parasitic diseases health care systems and their use. The various ministries of health units are responsible for collecting these indicators. (c) Provision of care and care practices:- this concerns care within the family, social protection afforded by the community or State, of household or community members’ attitudes and practices in providing maternal and child care for the most vulnerable, and the providers’ level of education. This type of indicator is rarely collected on a regular basis. In most cases, information collected through specific community surveys must be supplemented, with emphasis on qualitative aspects.

The Inner Human Beast in Lord of the Flies by William...

In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses symbolism and parables to illustrate and define the human inner beast. There are some main ideas that William Golding sets forth in Lord of the Flies. These main ideas are impulses of mankind and they exist within all human beings in the world. The author talks about how mankind and society gives us rules and duties. Like to act peacefully, have moral standards, and how to accept others and their views. The story can be told as if it were civilization versus anarchy. In Lord of the Flies, Golding introduces a group of young English boys. The boy’s names are Ralph, Jack, Simon, Piggy, Sam, Eric, and Roger. This group of boys happen to be stranded on a desert island. The boy’s transition has challenged them with uncivilized behavior. However each boy has his own personality and with each personality gives more distinguished ability to the group of boys. As the novel progresses, Golding explains how different people feel and act because of the influences of the instincts of civilization and chaos through different levels and strategies. Different characters in the novel are created to represent different inner beats of an individual. Ralph is elected to be the group’s leader. Ralph is the order, civilized and productive. The other boys are concerned with having fun and avoiding work. Ralph has his mind set on survival and civilization. Ralph thinks about building shelter and constantly thinking of ways that they can be saved fromShow MoreRelatedLord Of The Flies Symbolism Essay1080 Words   |  5 PagesLord of the Flies Essay â€Å"Maybe there is a beast†¦ maybe its only us.†(Golding [Page 50]) The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is a novel that goes much deeper than a group of 12 year old boys stranded on an island. Throughout the book Golding portrays symbols and constant themes which show how he feels about the human race; that there is an inner beast inside everyone and no matter who you are, it will eventually get exposed. Golding also shows symbols throughout the book which represent theRead MoreGood Versus Evil in Lord of the Flies by William Golding Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesyears ago, Charles Darwin introduced a theory that we humans are a species which evolved from animals that have inhabited the Earth for many years, and he believed that we were civilized, intelligent, and logical life forms for these very reasons. In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding there is a prominent theme of good versus evil which reveals that maybe humans are not the civilized hum an beings that they were said to be. William Golding carefully netted this theme with his utilization ofRead MoreLord of the Flies by William Golding754 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† there are several symbols of interpretations in terms of meaning. The beast within the novel, â€Å"Lord of the Flies† by William Golding was never a monster, however neither was it really human (Shmoop). On a stranded island alone with no adults to look below the bed or look within the closet, there are sure to be ghosts and monsters roaming amongst the forest woods, and from the very start this belief of some monster hiding within the darkness is unfolded around theRead MoreSymbols in Lord of the Files by William Golding 779 Words   |  3 PagesIn the long story â€Å"Lord of the Flies† there are several symbols of interpretations in terms of meaning. The beasty that was mentioned a number of times in the novel, â€Å"Lord of the Flies† by Wi lliam Golding was never really a beast, however it was never really human either (Shmoop). When kids are stranded on an island alone with no adults to look below the bed or look within the closet, there are sure to be ghosts and monsters roaming amongst the forest woods. From the very start this belief of someRead MoreMorals vs. Instinct in The Lord of the Flies by William Golding728 Words   |  3 PagesThe Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is an allegory that connects the boys’ behavior in the novel to the basic behavior of human nature. In the novel, the boys fear a wild beast that has the potential to kill them off. However, Simon, a quiet boy, finds that the beast is not an animal that everyone should fear, but is a part of each boy himself. As Simon wanders back to a beautiful meadow that he had traveled to before, he finds that it has changed. Instead of the peaceful meadow that SimonRead MoreLord Of The Flies Allegory820 Words   |  4 Pagesallegorical novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the innocence of schoolboys deserted on an island is tested and broken. In a failed attempt to reach safety in the midst of World War II, these boys are stranded on an island to fend for themselves. Golding uses Simon, the archetypal innocent character, in the text to demonstrate the corruption the boys face, as well as the loss of their innocence. Thus, through the characterization of Simon in Lord of the Flies, William Golding symbolizes innocenceRead MoreLord of the Flies Descriptive Good or Evil1070 Words   |  5 PagesLord of the Flies The novel The Lord of the Flies is based on one significant question that philosophers have been puzzled by for centuries – are humans essentially good, or are they evil? Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a famous French philosopher, theorized that humans are instinctively good, however, when given an aggravating situation, then their minds become warped and are set into a bad state. Thus, humans are naturally good, but it is society that demeans them.Read MoreWilliam Golding s Lord Of The Flies1603 Words   |  7 Pagestechniques often used by authors to portray in-depth analyses of major characters, storylines, and central themes, which take place in a story. These analyses help readers understand a message the author is trying to convey. In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different literary devices in order to demonstrate the boys’ struggle against the lack of society and law on the island, as well as the consequences that have transpired due to this loss. This conflict is evident through the differentRead MoreSummary Of Lord Of The Flies 1186 Words   |  5 PagesAlex Nguyen Mrs. Black, Period 5 26 May 2016 An Island of Savagery Lord of the Flies by William Golding is a book set during World War 2 about a group of young boys having to fend for themselves on an island with no signs of civilization. Within the novel, there are many different themes, most conveying the ingrained evil within all human beings and the malevolent complexions of humanity. As the story advances, Golding manifests the continuous conversion of the boys from being civilized and methodicalRead MoreThe Immortality Of Man s Heart1579 Words   |  7 Pagesevil. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding a group of young, British schoolboys become deserted on a mysterious island after their plane crashes down at a time of war. As they fight for survival, they are also constantly conflicted by their own inner beings. One of Golding’s most significant themes throughout the book is that man is essentially corrupt and animalistic. In his book, he uses hunting, the beast, and the Lord of the Flies to symbolize the savagery that lives within every human being

Were Black Americans Made Free and Equal by the Abolition...

While the formal abolition of slavery, on the 6th of December 1865 freed black Americans from their slave labour, they were still unequal to and discriminated by white Americans for the next century. This ‘freedom’, meant that black Americans ‘felt like a bird out of a cage’ , but this freedom from slavery did not equate to their complete liberty, rather they were kept in destitute through their economic, social, and political state. After the black Americans were freed from their slave masters they did not have ‘a cent in their pockets’ and ‘without a hut to shelter them’ . This obvious lack a home, and the monetary funds needed to support them [the freed slaves] and their families, together with the lack of widespread Government†¦show more content†¦While this economic destitute directly affected most ex-slaves directly in a physical manner, its indirect effects of encouraging prejudice had a far deeper impact on society. The negative attitudes towards black Americans, influenced by racism, wealth (the lack thereof), violence, and white supremacy, ensured that black inequality would remain. While there was ‘no racial prejudice in the American dollar , the obvious lack of economic support for most black Americans, meant that there already low acceptance among the primarily white American population, shrunk further due to enhanced prejudice because of their [the ex-slaves] economic destitute. The social hierarchy created during the time of slavery in America meant that equality for black, newly freed slaves was very hard to achieve, because (almost) century old traditions needed to be changed. The belief in white supremacy was encouraged by philosophies, like Social Darwinism pioneered by Herbert Spencer, which meant that ‘attitudes towards black people were reinforced’ . The prejudice against black Americans meant that they would become the subject to violence from racist white group s, like the Ku Klux Klan. This ‘made the creation of equal citizens, regardless of their colour, more difficultShow MoreRelatedWacquant - From Slavery to Mass Incarceration - Critique and Reflection1394 Words   |  6 PagesFrom Slavery to Mass Incarceration: Necessary Extremes Of the supplementary readings provided, I found â€Å"From Slavery to Mass Incarceration† by Loà ¯c Wacquant the most intriguing. This particular article is based on â€Å"rethinking the ‘race question’ in the US† and the disproportionate institutions set apart for African Americans in the United States. The volatile beginnings of African Americans presented obvious hardships for future advancement, but Wacquant argues that they still suffer from a formRead MoreAfrican Americans from 1865 to the Present2215 Words   |  9 PagesAfrican Americans from 1865 to the Present HIS 204 Instructor Cheryl Lemus 2014 The United States have come along way in terms of making society what it is today. These ground that we walk on have been the pot in which many different races brew. From the beginning of the development of the United States, there have always been at least two or three different types of races talked about in almost every historical event. The United States would not be what it is today without unity, and the combinationRead MoreBibliographic Essay on African American History6221 Words   |  25 PagesBibliographic Essay on African American History Introduction In the essay â€Å"On the Evolution of Scholarship in Afro- American History† the eminent historian John Hope Franklin declared â€Å"Every generation has the opportunity to write its own history, and indeed it is obliged to do so.†1 The social and political revolutions of 1960s have made fulfilling such a responsibility less daunting than ever. Invaluable references, including Darlene Clark Hine, ed. Black Women in America: AnRead MoreA History of African Americans after Reconstruction Essay2543 Words   |  11 PagesHistory of African Americans after Reconstruction During reconstruction the United States was divided on social issues, presidential campaigns were won and loss on these issues during this period. The struggle for development of African Americans and how they initiated change in political, economic, educational, and social conditions to shape their future and that of the United States. (Dixon, 2000) The South’s attempts to recover from the Civil war included determining what to do with newly freedRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesand Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture in Recent America Joanne Meyerowitz, ed., History and September 11th John McMillian and Paul Buhle, eds., The New Left Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking

Literature Essay One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest by K Kesey Free Essays

string(177) " bad when they overloaded him in the Shock Shop†¦Ã¢â‚¬  \(18\) When McMurphy enters the ward, he assumes the role of a leader over all of his fellow patients in the ward\." It is suggested that Ken Kesey†s One Flew over the Cuckoo†s Nest contains examples of behaviour and attitudes displayed by characters within the clinical environment of the psychiatric ward which can be compared to behaviour found within contemporary American society. These include examples of leadership and hierarchy within a class or caste system, sexism and crime and punishment. In the text, the theme of leadership is very prominent and important to the story. We will write a custom essay sample on Literature Essay: One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest by K Kesey or any similar topic only for you Order Now Arguably it is more important theme of the book, than the issue of mental illness, which forms the setting and the core of the novel. The leader figure in the ward is Big Nurse, who has complete control over the ward. Any decisions that are made over a patient or with regards the running of the ward must go through Big Nurse first. She is seen by the Chief as being almost mechanical in her approach to her running of the ward: She†s got that bag full of a thousand parts she aims to use in her duties today-wheels and gears, cogs polished to a hard glitter†¦(10) The ward is run by her to a very strict daily routine, which is almost fanatically neurotic in it†s precision and dedication. Chief describes Big Nurse†s devotion to her daily routine: ‘The slightest thing messy or out of kilter in any way ties her into a little white knot of tight-smiled fury† (27) When McMurphy enters the ward, the delicate equilibrium which the nurse has created is upset. This is because, like the nurse, McMurphy is a natural leader-figure. He takes over the control of the ward by manipulating the patients; seemingly for their own good, but it may be argued that he gets a feeling a control from being a leader over a large group of people. This may be a feeling of control and power which has previously been absent in his life for some reason. We are told, early in the book, of McMurphy†s admission to the ward doctor about his conviction for raping a fifteen year old girl, and his unwillingness to acknowledge that he had committed a crime: ‘Said she was seventeen, Doc, and she was plenty willin†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ so willin†, in fact, I took to sowing my pants up† (40) This could also be argued for Big Nurse; What is her motive for her total dedication to the job? It is possible that she also relishes the feeling of control over the patients in her care which her job allows. She knows that she has absolute power over every patient in her ‘care†; The power to change any of her patient†s lives immediately wherever she might see fit. Such behaviour can also be seen in contemporary society in an environment such as a school; The school is a good example because it has a central leader in the position of the head teacher. The head teacher has full responsibility over every person within the school, and also sets the rules and regulations which everyone in that particular school must obey. If a member of the school breaks any of the rules, the head teacher will decide an appropriate punishment. While the head teacher is answerable to the Governing Board of the school, they still have the most ‘power† and authority over the school. It can also be shown within a large corporation with the position of a Managing Director. All other staff in the company are directly answerable to him. The Managing Director has the power to hire new staff, and also to make staff redundant. But, again, he is answerable to the owner of the company and perhaps the shareholders; so he can never have total power in his position This can be contrasted with Big Nurse; She is, in theory, answerable to the Management Board of the hospital, and even to the doctors who work on the ward. But she appears to have the most control over the daily running of the ward, as if she were senior to the doctors, even though, in fact, she is only a nurse. She seems to have total and complete authority over every person in the ward. The theme of leadership does not mirror the outside world very accurately, as in contemporary society a leader of a society or an organisation is almost always accountable to a person senior to him. This is not seen in the novel, as Big Nurse seems to be answerable to no one, in fact, it is arguable that everyone answers to her. A hierarchy or class system operates inside the ward which can be clearly seen throughout the course of the novel. Patients living within the ward are ‘classed† according to the state of their mental health or to the condition of which they suffer from. Chief describes the method of discriminating patients from one another: ‘Across the room from the Acutes are the Chronics†¦ Not in the hospital, these, to get fixed, but to keep them walking the streets†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (17) Patients are divided into two categories of Acutes Chronics: Chronics are those patients who have a condition which is untreatable, â€Å"machines with flaws which cannot be repaired† (17) and can only be controlled with medical methods. They will spend the rest of their lives inside the ward of the hospital. Patients who are seen as being likely to recover from their illness, and will return to society. Acutes are those patients e.g. Harding, who are seen as being likely to recover from their illness, and will return to society. Chronics can either have full use of their bodies or can be again sub-categorised into Wheelers and Vegetables; Those whose movement is impaired to such an extent, they can only move by being pushed around in wheelchairs. Vegetables are patients who, through excessive ECT ‘Shock Shop† (18) or through the overperscription of tranquillising medications: ‘Ellis is a chronic came in an Acute and got fouled up bad when they overloaded him in the Shock Shop†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (18) When McMurphy enters the ward, he assumes the role of a leader over all of his fellow patients in the ward. McMurphy has a strong, intelligent character and so he is able to manipulate others who are more vulnerable than he is. An example of his manipulation is when he shows some playing cards with pornographic photographs on them to Cheswick: ‘I brought along my own deck†¦Fifty-two positions†. Cheswick is pop-eyed already†¦those cards don†t help his condition. (16) Personality types which can be seen in contemporary society can also be seen very clearly with regard to the characters in the ward setting: McMurphy†s character is a rebel character who hates authority and authoritative figures. This is, perhaps, why he clashes so fiercely with Big Nurse. Chief is the veteran of the ward. He has been there the longest, since the start of World War II, with the exception of Big Nurse. He has the mutual respect of everyone in the ward. Billy Bibbit is insecure and has a stutter. His name is ironic in that it resembles a stutter when said. His problems have probably been caused by his overbearing mother, who was very protective and spoke for him whenever possible. In a large group of individuals, these personalities are often seen; A rebel character who goes against the system is almost always present in a class inside a school; A veteran who has gained the respect of everyone in that particular grouping; A person who is lacking in confidence, often reluctant to speak out. Today, in contemporary society, a class system is still very much a part of everyday life. People are classed on wealth, status and employment. Discrimination can also exist between classes; lower classes finding higher classes snobbish and elitist; higher classes perhaps seeing lower classes as ‘common† and uneducated. The book mirrors hierarchy in contemporary society very well, as it shows different personality types and differentiates between the different classes of people within it very clearly and accurately. However, it does not show discrimination between the different classes which exists today in contemporary society and is quite important to the structure of modern societies. The issues of Sexism and Sexuality are also raised within the book. Although they do not feature so prominently as the themes of Leadership and Hierarchy, they are nevertheless very important to the behaviour of the characters. Taking the theme of sexism in the text, women are placed into two distinct stereotypical types. They are portrayed as either whores, sluts or nymphomaniac wives; or the book goes to the other extreme where women are held as asexual ‘machines†. This view is very important when referring to Big Nurse. The prostitutes that appear during McMurphy†s fishing trip are a good example of the first way the book describes women. They are shown as amoral, trivialising sex so that it is seen only as a meaningless business transaction. It is also made clear of the loss of McMurphy†s at the age of nine: ‘The first girl ever drug me to bed wore that same dress. I was about ten†¦Taught me how to love, bless her sweet ass (201)† Ruckly†s wife is another example of this such view of women as adulteresses. Ruckly has had an unsuccessful lobotomy, making him rather mentally unstable. The text portrays him very sympathetically, so the reader empathises with his character from the outset: ‘They brought him back to the ward two weeks later†¦you can see by his eyes how they burned him up in there† (18) Ruckly had found out that his wife had been seeing other men; Every time she is mentioned he remembers what she did to him: ‘Memory whispers someplace in that jumbled machinery†¦He turns red and veins clog up†¦Fffffffuck da wife! Ffffffuck da wife!† (19) This is not the only unfavourable way women are portrayed in the novel. Big Nurse is shown as a hardened and rather sterile asexual character. ‘ ‘A mistake was made in manufacturing, putting those big, womanly breasts on her†¦and you can she how bitter she is for it† (11) Whenever she is described by Chief, her attributes are likened to a piece of machinery which is cold and unfeeling. It appears that she is so dedicated to the ward that she is ‘married† to the job and sexual relationships have no place in her ‘plan†. It is arguable that this is why she becomes so enraged when she discovers McMurphy†s relations with the prostitutes towards the end of the book. Today, in contemporary society, the view sometimes is still held that women inferior to men. They can be seen as incapable of carrying out work, and should stay at home to look after the children. Although the advent of feminism has almost vanquished these ‘male chauvinist† attitudes, women can still be stereotyped as above; as whores or nymphomaniacs or, like Big Nurse; ‘frigid†, asexual and cold. It can be seen, thus, the text of One Flew over the Cuckoo†s Nest shows sexism in contemporary society accurately. Finally, the issues of crime and punishment are raised throughout the book and are very important from the outset and ultimately to the ending of the story. The ward, like the society outside, is run on a system of sanctions and rewards which are allocated according to a patient†s behaviour. Punishments may be issued, by Big Nurse, for unwillingness to co-operate with the daily routine or with the staff. Punishments included ECT , the removal of privileges such as cigarettes or more serious, repeat offenders as a last resort, a lobotomy. A patient could also be sent to Disturbed, in effect a ‘hospital within a hospital† where a patient could be sent to recover from an outburst and they will return to the ward when Big Nurse sees fit. A lobotomy is a surgical procedure in which the pre-frontal lobes of the brain are either removed or destroyed. This was thought to pacify aggressive patients, but in practise, it transformed them into inactive individuals: â€Å"The installations they do these days are usually successful†¦a success they say†¦like Ruckly fumbling and drooling all over his picture† (18-19) Rewards were also issued to by the establishment of the ward; Patients were give a ‘ration† of cigarettes every week, but this was stopped when McMurphy arrived in the ward as he used to win the others† cigarettes from them in gambling card games. It is arguable that the security of the hospital could be seen as a reward. Patients, who through the result of their ‘mental illness † could not cope in the outside world and require the constant daily routine to feel secure and safe. Contemporary society has a system of rules, laws and legislations which must be followed to be a member of that society. Society also has the power, like the ward to issue sanctions for those who break the rules. Although many countries have abolished the use of corporal or capital punishment for serious crimes, North America is one such a country where, depending on the state, a person may face capital punishment by lethal injection, electric chair or gas chamber. The ward applies corporal punishment in the form of the ECT and it may be argued that a lobotomy is a form of capital punishment because the patient has little or no quality of life left after the procedure, so they might as well have been killed. Ken Kesey†s One Flew Over The Cuckoo†s Nest mirrors, in the behaviour of it†s characters, contemporary society very accurately and can still be relied on, as a contemporary text, an accurate display of the treatment of patients within a mental hospital today. How to cite Literature Essay: One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest by K Kesey, Essay examples

Extra Terrestrial Civilization

Questions: 1.Is it possible for an extra-terrestrial civilization having a SETI project that is similar to ours to detect signals from the earth?2.How do people know if the signal is a message? How do they understand the message?3.Will the alien senders know that we are receiving their signal?4.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using the transit method for detecting planets. Provide an example for each. Answers: 1. The electronic signals from the earth can only travel at the speed of light. Thus, the reach of our signal is roughly 100 light years in radius, with the earth at the center of the sphere. Also, Frank and Sullivan (2016) argues that at some point the signal from the earth would degrade to a level that an extra-terrestrial civilization at a similar technology to ours would not be able to distinguish between background noises and our signal. Moreover, Griffiths, (2016) argues that despite the fact that the magnitude of our Radio signal is strong enough to be detected beyond the cosmic background radiation, there is a problem with locating the signal in the first place because cosmic background radiation is everywhere and other radio sources are stronger than ours. Thus, it is possible for other extra-terrestrial civilization with similar technology to ours to detect signals from the earth. However, scientist argues that there is no intelligent life similar to ours because there are no potential places for it to thrive. 2. According to Brabaw (2016) communication with extra-terrestrial civilization (CETI) is a branch of SETI that deals with transmission and reception of messages between alien civilization and our world. Scientists have been trying to detect signals from alien civilization since the 1960s with no success (Mosher, 2016). Thus, this makes it hard to determine a framework that can be used to decipher the message once received. 3. It is hard to realize if a signal sent in space has been received because there are many signals in space. However, if there were a direct communication line where the message can be replied, the alien senders can know their message has been received (Hall, 2016). 4. Advantages It is effective and sensitive; this is because it has already detected thousands, planetary candidates. It can provide valuable information about the detected planet because it can deduce the size of a planet from the degree of the dims during transit. Transit Photometry can operate on different scales because it can surpass all other methods in the number of planets detected ("Transit Photometry," 2016). Disadvantages It is entirely dependent of transit that is for a planet to be detected it must travel between its start and the earth. It produces falls positive that is, a star can be mistaken for a planet orbiting a star ("Transit Photometry," 2016). References Brabaw, K. (2016). Hubble Telescope Captures Sharpest Image yet of Mysterious Red Rectangle. Space.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017, from https://www.space.com/32655-mysterious-red-rectangle-hubble-telescope-sharpest-image.html Frank, A. Sullivan, W. (2016). A New Empirical Constraint on the Prevalence of Technological Species in the Universe. Astrobiology, 16(5), 359-362. https://dx.doi.org/10.1089/ast.2015.1418 Griffiths, J. (2016). Can you hear me now? 'Strong signal' from star sparks alien speculation. CNN. Retrieved 26 January 2017, from https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/30/health/seti-signal-hd-164595-alien-civilization/ Hall, S. (2016). Mysterious SETI signal sends alien-hunting telescopes scrambling. New Scientist. Retrieved 26 January 2017, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2102970-mysterious-seti-signal-sends-alien-hunting-telescopes-scrambling/ Mosher, D. (2016). Astronomers have detected an 'interesting' and possibly alien radio signal coming from a sun-like star. Business Insider. Retrieved 26 January 2017, from https://www.businessinsider.com/alien-signal-seti-hd164595-2016-8 Transit Photometry. (2016). Planetary.org. Retrieved 26 January 2017, from https://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/exoplanets/transit-photometry.html