The Castle of Otranto †a Gothic Novel

The Castle of Otranto – A Gothic Novel Picture of the Title Page of the Second Edition A Dossier by Luisa Hiller, Johannes Klein, Benjamin Priebst, and Claudia Haack Table of Contents: 1. Introduction – The Gothic Novel 2. Horace Walpole 2. 1. The Life of Horace Walpole 2. 2. The Works of Horace Walpole 3. â€Å"The Castle of Otranto – A Gothic Novelâ€Å" 3. 1. Introduction 3. 2. Index of Characters 3. 3. Summary of the Plot 3. 4. The Characters' Appearance 3. 5. The Character Constellation 3. 6. Gothic Elements in The Castle of Otranto . Bibliography 1. Introduction – The Gothic Novel In the first half of the 18th century the word â€Å"Gothic† was mainly related to the Nordic invaders, the Goths, who were disliked because of their barbarous behaviour and their brutal invasion. Therefore â€Å"gothic† had a pejorative connotation, which, nevertheless, changed in the middle of the 18th century into a word being related to supernatural and fantastic events. The first gothic novel appeared in 1764, when Horace Walpole? s â€Å"The Castle of Otranto† was published. From this time on to approximately 1820 there was an explosion of gothic writings, which almost turned into addiction, especially for the female readership, who were craving for popular entertainment. This form of writing dominated British literature during this period and can be described as a hybrid between novel and romance, also encompassing drama and poetry. Though the gothic novel had many critics, it became unexpectedly successful due to the fact that it signified morality, beauty, a lack of reason and feudal beliefs which formed, at that time, a sharp contrast to the actual values of the Age of Enlightenment. Consequently, the gothic novel functioned as a mirror of 18th century conventions and values. The emergence of this new development in literature implied the assumption that there was a need for sacred and transcendent forces due to the denial of the existence of supernatural forces by the modern enlightened society. So the gothic novel provoked a rebellion against the predominant ideal of order and unity, which caused a lot of annoyance and was a socially subversive force for many critics. Finally, the author? intention was to evoke fear and terror, but also grandeur, and to make people be reverential. Writers of that period wanted, moreover, to wind up the reader? s feelings. This aim could be achieved by the usage of particular elements, which appeared in almost every gothic novel. Some of these elements are mentioned below. >setting The action usually takes place in some ruined castle or abbey in a remote and dark time, like the Middle Ages. Furthermore, the buildings are in many cases full of crypts, catacombs, dungeons, trap doors and secret underground passages. atmosphere The atmosphere of the whole story seems threatening and mysterious due to some inexplicable events as ancient prophecies and curses coming true, visions or other supernatural occurrences which sometimes can be elucidated. There are, furthermore, extreme landscapes as thick forests and rugged mountains often containing caves. Additionally a terrifying atmosphere is created by the apparent gloom, shadows, moonlight or a flickering candle. >emotions A gothic novel always contains powerful emotions like pride, anger, sadness, surprise, and especially, terror. Romantic elements like love and its often tragical implications (uncertainty of reciprocation, rival lovers, †¦ ) are also part of many gothic novels. Characteristics for the partly overwrought emotions are crying and melodramatic speeches, as well as panic and fainting. >distressed women Frequently women are oppressed and threatened, either by male relatives or other powerful men, for instance kings or lords which are mostly tyrannical. These women are often the main characters, demanded to do something unbearable as marrying someone they do not love. After the outstanding success of the gothic novel in the 1790? s, it began to fade in 1820. One reason for this was the frequent imitation, so that people became bored and the gothic novels stereotypes. Moreover, critics have been slow to accept the gothic novel as a valuable genre, for which reason it has almost vanished from European literature. The most important representatives: Horace Walpole>The Castle of Otranto (1764) Ann Radcliffe>The Italian; or the Confessional of the Black Penitents (1797) Mary Shelley>Frankenstein (1818) Charles Maturin>Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) 2. Horace Walpole 2. 1. The Life of Horace Walpole Horace Walpole was born on September 24 in London, the forth son of later Prime Minister Robert Walpole. Rumour has it that the eight-year-old boy met Alexander Pope during a summer holiday spent at Cambridge House, Twickenham, in 1725. Stages of his education include such famous names as Eton (1727-1734) and King? s College, Cambridge (1735-39). The following two years of his life were spent on the obligatory â€Å"Grand Tour†. Walpole was accompanied by his schoolfriend, the poet Thomas Gray, and the two of them toured France and Italy. When he returned to England in 1741, Walpole could immediately take up office, having been elected Member of Parliament for the family borough Callington in Cornwell while he was still abroad. For the following quarter of a century Walpole served as an MP in varying constituencies, before he finally retired in 1767. 1747 marked the beginning of a lifelong â€Å"obsession†. In this year, Walpole took up residence at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, and began transforming his domicile into â€Å"the most celebrated Gothic House in England†. In 1757, a private printing press was set up at Strawberry Hill and Walpole brought out some of his own works by means of it. After the death of his nephew in 1791, Horace Walpole succeeded him as fourth Earl of Orford. He died five years later, on March 2, 1797. 2. 2. The Works of Horace Walpole –1747First book, â€Å"Aedes Walpolianae†, a description of the paintings at Houghton (the family seat in Norfolk), published –1751Walpole starts writing his â€Å"Memoirs†, a process continuing until 1791 –1758â€Å"Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors†, 2 vols. 1762â€Å"Anecdotes of Painting in England†, 5 vols. (-1780) –1764December 24, â€Å"The Castle of Otranto† published –1768â€Å"The Mysterious Mother† (a tragedy) â€Å"Historic Doubts on the Life and Reign of King Richard the Third† Apart from the above-listed works, Walpole is known for his extensive correspondence. 4000 of his letters have been p reserved. 3. â€Å"The Castle of Otranto – A Gothic Novel† 3. 1. Introduction On December 24, 1764, the English readership was presented with â€Å"The Castle of Otrantoâ€Å", a novel which gave rise to a new literary genre: the Gothic Novel. Its author – Horace Walpole – obviously had not reckoned with the immediate success of his work. Why else would he have published the first edition of it anonymously? In fact, Walpole concealed his authorship by a rather complex story of the origin and discovery of â€Å"The Castle of Otrantoâ€Å". His anxiety about the reception of his novel was basically founded on the â€Å"novelty of the attemptâ€Å" (Otranto 7). Two aspects shall be mentioned to explain what he meant. Firstly, one of Wal-pole? s major intentions in writing the book was â€Å"[†¦ to blend the two kinds of romance, the ancient and the modernâ€Å" (Otranto 7), the former distinguished by imagination and improbability, the latter by a more realistic presentation of life (Walpole himself used the term â€Å"natureâ€Å" rather than â€Å"realisticâ€Å"). His object was to reconcile the two different approaches by showing people acting in a natural way while being exposed to the most u nnatural situations. The second motive that originally prevented Walpole from revealing his authorship were the super-natural elements contained in the story; ironically enough the very reason for its later fame. But by the time of its publication Walpole could not be sure that the mysterious events around â€Å"The Castle of Otrantoâ€Å" would meet with the approval of mid-18th century readers. After all, this was the Age of Enlightenment, the period of â€Å"cold reasonâ€Å" (Letter to Mme du Deffand, 13 March 1767, quoted from Otranto x) in which there was no place for ghosts, spectres, visions, prophecies and the like supernatural phenomena. With his fears not being confirmed and the positive reception of the novel, Walpole finally revealed his authorship with the appearance of the second edition in April 1765. The second edition brought another innovation: the subtitle â€Å"A Gothic Novelâ€Å" was added to the book, thereby providing the term for a whole literary branch which became very popular with readers in the following decades. Beside the above-mentioned supernatural elements which can be applied to any Gothic story there are several elements which are peculiar to â€Å"The Castle of Otrantoâ€Å". One of them can be perceived whenever servants and aristocratic characters meet. In writing these scenes Walpole was inspired by and imitated another prominent figure of English literary history, and he freely admits: â€Å"That great master of nature, Shakespeare, was the model I copiedâ€Å" (Otranto 8). And in another passage from the second edition Walpole describes the function of the domestics in the following way: â€Å"The simplicity of their behaviour, almost tending to excite smiles, [†¦ ] appeared to me not only not improper, but was marked designedly in that manner. My rule was nature. [†¦ In my humble opinion, the contrast between the sublime of the one [the noble characters] and the naivete of the other, sets the pathetic of the former in a stronger lightâ€Å" (Otranto 8). Finally, the last aspect to be mentioned is one that is not missing from any description of Walpole? s life and works. At the end of the preface to the first edition Walpole writes: I will detain the reader not longer than to make one short remark. Though the machin e- ry is invention, and the names of the actors imaginary, I cannot but believe that the groundwork of the story is founded on truth. The scene is undoubtedly laid in some real castle. The author seems frequently, without design, to describe particular parts. â€Å"The chamberâ€Å", says he, â€Å"on the right hand: the door on the left hand; the distance from the chapel to Conrad? s apartmentâ€Å": these and other passages are strong presumptions that the author had some certain building in his eye (Otranto 5-6). This extract could well be seen as a proof for Walpole? s sense of humour. In fact, the author – Walpole himself – did have a certain building in mind, namely his own domicile, Strawberry Hill. . 2. Index of Characters Manfred, Prince of Otranto†¢Hippolita, Princess of Otranto Conrad, their son and heir†¢Matilda, their daughter Isabella, engaged to Conrad, daughter of >†¢Frederic, Marquis of Vicenza Bianca, the princesses’ chambermaid †¢Jaquez and Diego, the prince’s servants Theodore (heir to Alfonso the Good,)son of>†¢Jerome (Count of Falconara, ) friar of the church of St. NicholasTwo knights, Frederic? s escort†¢A herald A giant knight, Ghost of Alfonso the Good†¢A phantom, ghost of a wise hermit Manfred? s servants, soldiers, people of the nearby village 3. 3. Summary of the Plot The story takes place in the old castle of Otranto, south Italy, in the Late Middle Ages. Because of an inscrutable prophecy, Manfred, Lord of Otranto, fears the downfall of his dynasty. After his only son Conrad’s sudden and mysterious death on his wedding day, Manfred intends to merry Conrad’s fiancee Isabella, which results in her flight from the castle. Theodore, a suspicious stranger, seems to be involved in her escape. Later, Frederic, Father of Isabella, who was reckoned to be lost in the last crusade, arrives to claim the authority over the Castle. He pretends to be the successor of Alfonso, the former legitimate Lord of Otranto, who died during the crusade. By offering his beautiful daughter Matilda to the challenger, Manfred tries to come to an arrangement with Frederic. Frederic should merry Matilda and Manfred should become husband to Isabella. Manfred’s wife Hippolita does not offer much resistance. However, because of increasing cryptic occurrences that remind Frederic of a prophecy he had been told, he rejects Manfred’s offer. Meanwhile, Manfred is becoming more and more jealous of Theodore, suspecting him to be Isabella? lover. His jealousy leads to the sad climax of the drama: Manfred, taking his daughter for Isabella, kills her accidentally when he discovers her secretly meeting Theodore. Manfred slays his only heir. Completing the prophecy, the giant ghost of Alfonso appears and Manfred resigns his dominion. Theodore? s identity as the true heir of Alfonso is revealed and he becomes the legitimate Lord of Otranto. 3. 4. The Characters? Appearance Throughout the Chapters (Only characters significant to the plot have been indexed. ) Man-fredHippo- litaCon- radMatil- aIsabel- laTheo- doreJeromeFrede-ricBian- caJaquez + DiegoGiantPhan- tom 1. XXXXXX—XX- 2. XX-X- XX-X— 3. X–XXXXX—- 4. XX-XXXXX—- 5. XX-XXXXXX-XX 3. 5. The Character Constellation 3. 6. Hippolita Frederic Jerome Manfred Isabella Theodore Matilda Bianca Manfred + Hippolitamarried; he wants to divorce her; she obeys him in everything (exception: authority of the church) Manfred + JeromeM. respects the friar, but suspects and scorns the man; J. exercises the authority of his position and his knowledge of the prophecy Manfred + TheodoreM. suspicion, anger, jealousy, aversion, but respect; T. > obedience, ‘superiority of manners' Manfred + Frederic business-like relationship, trying to come to an arrangement Manfred + IsabellaM. > she is the object of his desire I. > repulsiveness, fear Isabella + Fredericfather and daughter; I. > dutiful child; F. > considers ‘exchanging' her for Matilda Isabella + TheodoreT. > a friend in need, chivalrous helper I. > thankful for the assistance of the ‘peasant' T. , later falls in love with the ‘ true heir' T. Isabella + Matildamutual affection and confidence (like sisters); for some time rivals (> Theodore) Matilda + Theodoretragic lovestory Jerome + Theodorefather and son; J. > fatherly love and concern; T. > less emotional, retains some distance Jerome + Hippolitathe friar as confidant and advisor; H. > devoted and obedient Christian Matilda + Biancamistress and maid-servant 3. 6. Gothic Elements in â€Å"The Castle of Otrantoâ€Å" Not before the second edition did Horace Walpole admit that he himself wrote the book, which in its initial edition had the title: The Castle of Otranto, A Story. Translated by William Marshal, Gent. From the Original Italian of Onuphrio Muralto, Canon of the Church of St. Nicholas at Otranto (Otranto 1). But it was not before the work had been such a success that he admitted that â€Å"The Castle of Otranto† was in fact a work of fiction and not, as he had claimed in the preface of the first edition, which was published in 1764, â€Å"[†¦ ]found in the library of an ancient Catholic family in the north of England† (First Edition 3) and had only been translated. To further strengthen the point that the original story was based on reality, he adds that â€Å"Though the machinery is invention, and the names of the actors imaginary, I cannot but believe that the groundwork of the story is founded on truth† (First Preface 5) and proves his conviction by giving the reader examples of where he thinks that the original author must have unconsciously been referring to a specific place: â€Å" ‘The chamber,' says he, ‘on the right hand; the door on the left hand; the distance from the chapel to Conrad's apartment' [†¦ †(Second Preface 6). Through the preface to the first edition Horace Walpole sets the setting and describes the scene to have happened â€Å"[†¦ ] between 1095, the era of the first crusade, and 1243, the date of the last, or not long afterwards† (First Preface 3). Main themes of a gothic novel include ancient prophecies that are almost forgotten. In this case there are two which are both linke d to the true heir of Alfonso and thus the rightful lord of Otranto. The reader hears the first one already in the second paragraph where it says, â€Å"[t]hat the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it† (Otranto 15). The next one is more in the sense of a classical prophecy: â€Å"Where? er a casque that suits this sword is found, [w]ith perils is thy daughtercompass'd round: Alfonso? s blood alone can save the maid, [a]nd quiet a long-restless prince's shade† (Otranto79). It is in rhyme and not, as the first one, passed on oraly, but written on a giant sabre which was found far far away from the castle of Otranto. Another defining characteristic of a gothic novel are inexplicable sounds: â€Å"At that instant the portrait of his grandfather, which hung over the bench where they had been sitting, uttered a deep sigh, and heaved its breast† (Otranto 23). Furthermore, there are visions of things that can not possibly exist: â€Å"[I]t is a giant, I believe; he is all clad in armour, for I saw his foot and part of his leg, and they are as large as the helmet below in the court† (Otranto 33). And, most importantly, the one that sets the whole story in motion: â€Å"He beheld his child dashed to pieces, and almost buried under an enormous helmet, an hundred times more large than any casque ever made for human being, and shaded with a proportionable quantity of black feathers† (Otranto 17). Further characteristics include women in distress. Since Hippolita, Manfred's lawfully wedded wife, can not concieve any more children, and Conrad has been squashed by the gigantic helmet, Manfred needs a male heir and thus decides to divorce Hippolita and to marry Isabella:â€Å"Isabella, since I cannot give you my son, I offer you myself (Otranto 23). In the end, every hint that has been given throughout the story is packed together in a great vision for all the protagonists to see: A clap of thunder at that instant shook the castle to its foundations; the earth rocked and the clank of more than mortal armours was heard behind. [†¦ ] The moment Theo- dore appeared, the walls of the castle behind Manfred were thrown down with a migh- ty force, and form of Alfonso, dilated to an immense magnitude, appeared in the centre of the ruins. Behold in Theodore, the true heir of Alfonso! â€Å" said the vision: and having pronounced those words, accompanied by a clap of thunder, it ascended solemnly to- wards heaven, where the clouds parting asunder, he form of saint Nicholas was seen; and receiving Alfonso? s shade, they were soon wrapt from mortal eyes in a blaze of glory. The beholders fell prostrate on their faces, acknowledging the divine will (Otran- to 108). 4. Bibliography Walpole, Horace. The Castle of Otranto. 1764. Oxford: O xford University Press, 1964.

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Characters of Journeys End by R.C. Sherriff and Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks Essay The First World War is known to be one of the worst, if not the worst war in military history. The strategies used were often ineffective and repetitive, meaning a lack of movement and years of stalemate on the western front. Soldiers had to live in conditions which were squalid and foul, they had to deal with diseases such as trench foot and millions of rats and lice infestations. These general images of soldiers living in these fetid conditions has become widely known and linked with the huge suffering caused by the First World War. The use of literature can enable us to gain a picture of what trench warfare was really like. Journeys End a play written by R.C. Sherriff in 1928 based on his own life experiences gives a realistic image of life as a soldier in the trenches. However, the novel Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks which was not written till 2005 gives a version of what Faulks believed trench warfare to be like; it is a fictional idea based on knowledge and understanding of World War One. Also the authors chose different formats with one being a novel the other a play, thus giving them contrasting ways of conveying soldiers experiences of war. A play deals with the actions and reactions of characters using dialogue and yet a novel can go into the heads of characters, giving the reader an understanding of a persons emotions and feelings through description and narrative. The characters presented in both Journeys End and Birdsong are attempting to avoid and deal with the horrors of trench warfare in many different ways including; drinking, violence, and memories of loved ones and trying to use humour as a way of distancing themselves from the horrors facing them. Each character has to find there own way of dealing with the situation, as anyone would when faced with the constant fear of death. In both Journeys End and Birdsong we get a glimpse of what the characters Stanhope and Wraysford were like before the terror of war affected them. In Journeys End although we dont see Stanhope before the war; Sherriff cleverly uses Raleigh to give us an idea of what he was like when he was younger. We see Raleigh as this optimistic, patriotic man excited at the prospect of going into war alongside his childhood hero. His confession to Osborne that he was Keen to get out here is a representation of many patriotic soldiers at the break out of the first world war and could show us how Stanhope may have felt before the realisation of what warfare was really like. The growing sense of conflict between Stanhope and Raleigh just shows how much the war has changed Stanhope, and affected him. Not only do we see Raleigh as a young version of Stanhope but also we hear from him background information on Stanhopes life, he was skipper of Rugger at Barford, and kept wicket for the eleven. A jolly good bat, too. This is not needed in Birdsong as we gain a background on what Wraysford was like before the war in part one of the novel. Novels allow writers to add descriptive back stories through narrative rather than dialogue, we can learn about one persons perspective unlike in a play when we are unable to hear thoughts and feelings these can only be expressed through actors portraying the role. Birdsong can go into depth about the emotional effects war can have on a person, which is a tricky detail to encapsulate in a play and yet I believe R.C. Sherriff uses dialogue and the actions of each individual to show their emotional state. We can see strongly in both, just what the war can do, seeing and living in those conditions certainly would bring about change in a person however it is the way they deal with it that helps them continue on through. An easy escape for many soldiers during the war was drink. For an ordinary private on the front line getting alcohol was hard and they were only allowed a small drop before going over the top, however officers were allowed to drink (as believed responsible enough for it) and alcoholism among officers was common. Both Stanhope in Journeys End and Wraysford and Weir in Birdsong use drink as a method of getting through the horrors in front of them, She doesnt know that if I went up those steps into the front line without being doped with whisky Id go mad with fright. Drink was a way to forget, and maybe for a moment be away from the front line in their heads, although eventually become addicted not needing it for any purpose but for wanting, cast his eyes round hopefully. Stephen reluctantly pushed a bottle towards him. Drink was not the best way to deal with the situation though, it may have clouded their memories but would not have completed erase them if sleep came it was as a gift and was as likely to come after tea as after alcohol. Soldiers on the front line could turn on each other, either because of alcohol consumption or just the fact that these men were pushed together in such bad conditions. Maybe getting angry at one another would give them something other than fighting the enemy to focus on Hibbert raises his stick and strikes blindly at Stanhope. The violence shown in Journeys End could also represent the battles taking place outside, as an audience member you never get to see any conflict between the enemy and therefore Stanhopes arguments and fights with the soldiers substitutes this. The anger Stanhope feels towards Hibbert and also Raleigh, could also show us how he feels and acts in battle situations. Unlike Journeys End in Birdsong we are able to follow Stephen as he goes out into No-mans land, fighting for his life but we also get violence in the trenches too Fuck off, Weir, fuck off out of my way. The use of the word fuck is a powerful one; we can understand Wraysfords fear just through that one word, all his fear for the battle ahead builds up the tension. In Journeys End Stanhope is worried about what Raleigh would write home in his letter, I believe that maybe another matter that Stanhope uses to redirect his thoughts away from memories, it gives him something else to think about. Which again leads to more violence Dyou understand an order? Give me that letter! Despite these small areas of conflict there is a strong theme in both Journeys End and Birdsong, of comradeship. Men on the front line were often forced into forming new relationships with people and often because of this gained extraordinarily strong bonds with men they were fighting alongside with. This is shown by the example of Stanhope and Osborne, and shown to the audience in many scenes but mostly through the touching goodbye scene before the fatal raid and right at the end Stanhope and Raleigh final bond over his death, Stanhope sits with one hand on Raleighs arm they had fought together in the same battles and known what the other men had seen, they understood. In Birdsong the strong relationship between Wraysford and Weir grew throughout the novel and like many soldiers on the frontline Wraysford needed Weir for company and to help his sanity, Weir alone had made the war bearable friendships like Weirs and Wraysfords meant that soldiers could get through the war together. They did not need to be alone. Although Raleigh in Journeys End believed he needed to distance himself when Osborne dies, Raleigh who is first seen as this innocent character in the beginning of the play is opened to this horror after the death of Osborne, he now knows truly just how hard . He eats away from the officers with the other men, he finds it disrespectful that the others are eating and drinking. Maybe some may believe distancing themselves would mean when or if it came to them dying it would not be as hard. Many soldiers needed to be friends, to join together because even though loss is hard the sharing of jokes in such a situation as terrible as this one may have helped. In Journeys End many of the characters particularly Trotters main form of escapism is in making jokes about the war and the Germans I expect a nasty old Germanll cop out of it and say, Ock der Kaiser in doing this they are able to cover up their fear and make light of the situation. In Birdsong the use of comedy is more subtle, the soldiers go down to the pub and watch entertainment and laugh with each other as friends rather than making obvious jokes. Jack performing for the soldiers gave some time for the men to relax and enjoy themselves. If they could shout loud enough, they might bring the world back to its senses; they might laugh loud enough to raise the dead although raising the dead was not possible, the idea that in laughing and having as good a time as you can they could remember their losses and keep them alive in their thoughts. In Journeys End some of the soldiers liked to talk about home and familiar things like rugby and cricket to take their minds of the horrors of trench warfare. Thinking about home would help them to remember how their life was before the war; it would make them want to get out and gave them something to live for. Another thing they might think about is their girlfriends, wives or just women in general, I just prayed to come through the war and and do things and keep absolutely fit for her. Jack Firebrace wanted to survive for his family, dealt with the struggle with the belief he had his wife and child to return to His endurance was for them; the care he took to try to stay alive was so that he would see the boy again. As for Stephen he did not have a family or anyone really he wanted to go home for, he kept on fighting and wanting to survive for the men who had died before, he wanted to win, to continue for their benefit. The idea and hope that the men he had lost had not died in vain. With trench conditions as foul as they were; rats, lice and illnesses such as trench foot one thing that could keep the men going was the idea and the relief of getting food. The importance of food in Journeys End is shown by how many times the men talk about it and bring it up in general conversation. Complaining about inconsequential things like chunks of pineapple instead of apricots take their minds of the war I say, Stanhope, its a terrible business. We thought wed got a tin of pineapple chunks; it turns out to be apricots. The men on the front lines wouldnt very often have the nicest of food, and when Stanhope has to visit the Colonel and is given really expensive foods he immediately thinks of his men but he will eat the food as it is the one thing that he can gain pleasure from A thin stew followed, then ripe cheese and fresh bread. Lunch went on past three oclockStephen smiled to himself, aware that his brief flight from reality would soon be ended. Birdsong touches on the idea of religion and how this can be affected by war. Many soldiers lost their faith due to the mass slaughter or even the loss of a son at home like Jack Firebrace however Stephen seemed to gain a belief in God, the idea that nothing this cruel can be the end. He hoped that when Weir or any other Soldier died they had a better world to escape to and maybe this idea kept him going helped him deal with the death of his friends. Journeys End doesnt really touch on the mens faith or religion, however the idea of hero worshipping used by Raleigh could be linked. The belief in a God and a higher being could also be like Raleigh looking up to Stanhope I believe Raleigh will go on liking you and looking up to you through everything. Theres something very deep, and rather fine, about hero worship. Many soldiers may have used the method of positive thinking like Osborne to cover up just how scared and fearful they were I never knew the sun could rise in so many ways till I came out here. Each soldier on the front line had to choose their own way of escaping and dealing with the horrors of trench warfare. The putrid living conditions and the everyday horror of death meant that it was necessary for them to break out of the truth they were living. Many of the methods used in both Journeys End and Birdsong are similar but their methods were carried out in different ways. Others didnt use methods at all, they just didnt cope; like Hibbert in Journeys End faking an illness to get away. Each character in either Journeys End or Birdsong took on different methods of dealing with their long hardships and suffering. The true horrors of the war however could not be forgotten, the sight of death and the stench in the trenches would not be quickly removed from their thoughts. These literary texts both play and book give us, today, just a brief insight into the lives of men on the western front, the challenges faced by these men were truly horrific and just surviving must have been a hardship. No one now or then on the home front could ever know the true extent of the struggle and the effects it had both mentally and physically, If they could see the way these men live they would not believe their eyes. This is not a war; this is an exploration of how far men can be degraded.

Jung and Freud Essay Example for Free

Jung and Freud Essay Dreams had been the subject of numerous works from famous psychology theorists Sigmund Freud and Carl G. Jung, although the two giants had divergent views. Freud, in accordance with his psychoanalytic tradition, believed that dreams and their imagery have specific psychological significance for the dreamer (Bower, 1986). As far back as 1899, in Freuds The Interpretation of Dreams, he declared that dream interpretation is the road to knowing the unconscious activities of ones mind (Price, 1986). Freud emphasized that dreams are associated with a person’s subconsciously repressed thoughts. On the other hand, Jung believes that recurring dreams suggest psychoanalytical conflict. Recent studies building upon Jungs theory noted that recurrent dreamers registered marked elevations in depression and anxiety, thereby lending proof to the theory of Jung that recurrent dreams mean psychoanalytical conflict (Bower, 1986). However, compared to Freud, Jung did not believe that dreams are attempts at repression; instead he believed that dreams are means by which the personal unconscious can be understood. Personally, I am inclined to believe the account of Jung on dreams and their interpretation. It is easier to view dreams as manifestations of inner conflict, rather than attempts at repression. Indeed, the conscious mind is inactive while people are in sleep, and it is at this time that anxiety and depression could actually rise to the surface. I believe the mind processes a lot of information, whether it is awake or not. Thus, the mind would naturally attempt to process, involuntarily, the things that are most bothersome when it has less control. Thus, dreams are better interpreted as the mind’s way of sorting things out. For example, I observed that I often dream about my family when there is tension in my home. I would dream of both happy and sad moments. These dreams I consider to be calls of my subconscious to address my family issues and resolve them. I believe these dreams recur because the conflict within my family brings me anxiety, which I bring in my sleep. References Bower, B. (1986). Recurrent Dreams: Clues to Conflict. Science News 129(13), 197. Price, S. R. F. (1986). The Future of Dreams: From Freud to Artemidorus. Past and Present 113, 3-37. Willbern, D. (1979). Freud and the Inter-Penetration of Dreams. Diacritics 9(1 The Tropology of Freud), 97-110.

Soft Skills And Communication Skills For Engineers

Soft Skills And Communication Skills For Engineers Abstract Engineering education widely recognize an increasing need to equip students with effective study skills early in their university education and basic professional skills prior to graduation. These, however, are traditionally difficult modules to teach successfully to larger groups through traditional lecturing. Observations suggest a poor absorption rate from the students and thus a lack in their ability to benefit from these skills both personally and professionally. Specific techniques described in this paper can be easily integrated into most types of teaching material. Introduction Over the years there has been an increase in emphasis on soft skills and particularly communication skills in the engineering programs. Reflecting both the demands of potential employers and professional bodies, as well as the creativity of course designers, modules such as first year study skills and final year professional skills have become more and more common. The greatest focus has been placed on fundamental topics such as presentation skills, effective report writing, teamwork, and time/project management. Whilst this change is certainly a positive one, these modules seem to be among the more challenging to teach and assess successfully, the criteria for success being that the student can understand the concepts presented, apply them using exercises, and demonstrate the resulting competence through assessment. A modified teaching approach is required that addresses the professional students. The approach needs to add interest and obvious relevance; students need to feel that any guidelines presented can solve a pressing issue or concern that exists in their world. Above all, to be successful the teaching approach must be dynamic, interesting, practical and organized to manage tactically the attention span of the audience. Modifying the approach Keeping a large number of undergraduate students continually engaged is not the easiest of tasks, particularly considering the challenges above. It was decided that a different and more dynamic teaching approach was required to stimulate students in place of traditional lecturing styles based essentially on one-way communication. If students frequently had to respond, discuss, react or participate they would be far less likely to disengage or go to sleep! Allowing them to make mistakes in a supportive environment would also go some way to convincing them that they needed to improve their skills and were doing so by attending the learning sessions. Some might argue that a high level of interaction is only practicable with smaller audiences. Whilst smaller groups are indeed easier to manage this was found not to be the case, although an experienced lecturer is required who is willing to engage in open discussions and deviate from a detailed lecture plan if necessary. Towards a task-based approach Typically, a traditional ELT syllabus lists learning items in terms of structures, functions, notions and vocabulary which are then set in situations and which usually integrate a variety of skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking). This dominant approach has been characterized as product-orientated because it focuses on what is to be learnt or on products. The problem with this approach, as Nunan (1988) has pointed out, is that input cannot be equated with output and that teaching cannot be equated with learning. In short, what the teacher teaches is not what the learner learns. Swan (2005) in his critique of task-based learning laments the polarization of attitudes in relation to recent discussion of language learning. On the one hand traditionalists argue in favor of a linear, atomistic syllabus design. On the other hand, hard-line task-based ideologues seem to exclude any atomistic activity in favor of all-or-nothing holism. Bygates distinction (2003, p. 176) between tasks and exercises helps to situate this debate. He defines exercises as activities which practice parts of a skill, a new sub-skill, a new piece of knowledge. In contrast, he defines tasks as activities which practice the whole integrated skill in some way. Bygates discussion (2001, pp.23-48) lends support to the idea that task-based teaching needs to be situated in a broad curriculum framework, suggesting that isolated tasks are not sufficient in themselves to promote learning. The implication drawn from such research and discussion is that units of learning that involve the strategic use of holistic repeated tasks and supporting atomistic exercises provide one means of avoiding narrow ideological positions. A task-based unitary framework is therefore proposed here that leads to student-led holistic outcomes in the form of written reports, spoken presentations and substantial small-group conversations that lead to decision-making outcomes. However, due consideration is also given to the design of atomistic exercises within the framework. In her model for task-based learning, Willis (1996, pp.52-65) proposes a pre-task component, a task-cycle component (pre-task/task/post-task) and a language focus component. With regard to focus on form, Willis emphasizes the importance of a post-task report phase, which could be a written activity such as writing a polished report or a spoken public-report phase in which students can be encouraged to focus on accuracy and can be prompted to recast inaccurate forms. Other key stages for Willis that improve the linguistic focus of task-based learning are the planning stage during which the teacher can take on a role of language advisor. This 1996 framewor k by Willis has been influential. In his 2006 Asian EFL Journal (AEJ) conference keynote speech, for example, Ellis made extensive reference to it, adopting it as his basic framework. Components of a Task Tasks contain some form of input that may be verbal (a dialogue/role play/reading) or, nonverbal (pictures/a gesture) followed by an activity, which is in some way derived from the input. This activity sets out what learners need to do in relation to the input. Tasks have also goals and roles for both teachers and learners. Components of a Task (Nunan: 1989) From the above diagram, a task can be viewed as a piece of meaning focused work, involving learners in comprehending, producing and/or interacting in the target language. Before taking up the task of converting the textual content into various tasks, the following points were noted and kept in mind by the investigators: -The objective of the task must be stated very clearly -The task must be appropriate for the level of the learners -The task must equip the learners with the ability to apply classroom learning in new situations. -Tasks must be interesting and motivating to the students -The form the input takes, must be clear to the teacher -The roles of teachers and students must be specified clearly -Through the task, learners must be encouraged to negotiate meaning -The language that will be generated by the task must be predicted -There should be variety and flexibility in the tasks The following are eight well documented techniques that can be used flexibly to transform any standard lecture into a more dynamic one. These techniques are summarized below. An emphatic and captivating introduction A successful training session must begin by creating a sense of urgency and somehow capturing the interest of the audience, usually by emphasizing the importance of the topic and its relevance. What rewards can be obtained by applying the content of the session? What pitfalls exist for those who lack the competence? However, it is important that in emphasizing the importance of a topic the presenter is not perceived as finger wagging. For example, when youre in industry youll have to . . . or you wont pass your final year project unless you learn to . . . are unlikely to prove engaging whereas would you like me to help you get more marks for your lab reports without doing any more work is. Use of relevant examples and storytelling Examples, stories and anecdotes turn theories and guidelines into perceived reality by providing a true-to-life basis for their application. They will also capture the full attention of most audiences. Use plenty of these at least one for each principal point covered and, wherever possible, focuses on real examples rather than hypotheses. Let students share their similar experiences. Group exercises Have students perform short exercises in groups to try out the application of concepts presented, followed by debriefing where each group reports its findings, progress and difficulties to the audience. Exercises of this type break up the session, increase engagement and can be easily conducted even in a lecture theatre. They also force the students to admit their errors, even if these errors are not reported to the audience, and this helps to establish for them the fact that they have learnt something. Brainstorming This is another interactive technique to provide stimulation and variation. Provide an open question and have students brainstorm in small groups (usually together with those sitting next to them) before beginning a discussion session. Demonstrations/simulations It is much more effective to demonstrate an idea than to talk about it. Documentation could include some type of physical simulation, a simple game, or even a video clip. Role playing is particularly effective as it involves the students in an active way, provided that a risk-free and supportive environment is provided to those who participate. This in turn is dependent on the lecturers making sure that students are never embarrassed by failure during an activity. Opinion polls This is a quick change and helps students to engage in a new activity or a new aspect of a topic. For example a quick show of hands: How many people think .? The mind break Used to refresh the listeners attention span during more demanding presentation components, for example, take a 2 minute break to chat with your neighbor before we move on . . . Facilitation vs. lecturing Whenever possible, lean towards the process of facilitation rather than lecturing. Prompt the audience with relevant questions, challenges their ideas, and shapes an understanding based upon the responses and active discussions rather than reading a script. It is, however, important to be respectful towards students who give wrong or poor answers. The techniques presented above provide some of the most important ingredients for an engaging lecture. They are well documented and widely used in isolation. Not all are applicable to all situations and types of material, and the next step is, therefore, to devise session plans into which they are woven appropriately. The choice of techniques will depend largely on the topic to be presented and to some extent the lecturers personality and individual style. Conclusion Perfect communication is near impossible in the classroom because it depends on many variables. However, if the teacher is to be successful, the content of his message should be clear in his mind and be put in suitable code and transmitted through appropriate media. There is need for a careful sequencing of ideas and the use of activities that is within the experience and understanding of the students. Whatever learning experience the students are exposed to, they should be allowed to practice it. Learning takes place through the active behavior of the students. It is what the student does that he learns and not what the teacher does. The teacher is only a facilitator of learning. The quality of learning that takes place in any situation, to a very large extent, is dependent on the effectiveness of the teachers plan and communication.

Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground - Exposing the Unseen Depths

Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground - Exposing the Unseen Depths of the Human Mind The lights are on but nobody’s home. My elevator doesn’t go to the top. I’m not playing with a full deck. I’ve lost my marbles. †¦.cause I am cra-a-zy! Just like yooou! -Barenaked Ladies Crazy. That is how Dostoevsky’s man from the underground is referred to as he writes his notes-- his paradox on life. Is he crazy? Are his ramblings only the cries of a madman? Many would like to think so and our narrator would probably agree that they are only normal in thinking that. They are "decent" people. And yet, maybe there is a bit of truth in these notes. Perhaps we are all crazy. No? Ok, we are all decent people who function effectively in society. But what if there were hidden secrets behind the surface of this decency? â€Å"Dostoevsky uses his narrator to reveal those unseen depths of the human mind. His "craziness" is merely an amplification of what all people have inside of them. This man from the underground attempts to break these chains, but he too is human, and can never completely escape. He tries to uncover our eyes to a cycle to which humans are forever subject†( Morson 482 ). Knowing of their contempt for him, our narrator follows his old schoolmates to a brothel wanting to prove that he is unconquerable. He follows to undermine the superiority that he knows they feel over him. It is from this spiteful drive that the man from the underground finds his way to Liza, his closest experience to genuine happiness. Instead of being faced with another round of proving himself, he finds that they had all "gone their separate ways". It is her face that catches his attention when she comes in the room: "There was something simple and kind in... ... This deceptiveness festers until one can no longer be distinguished from any other. He conforms to the "generalhumanness." He becomes a slave to society and loses the courage to break the chains that keep him from being vulnerable. This cycle makes him normal. He is what is expected. Works Cited Coetzee, J. M. â€Å"Confession and Double Thoughts: Tolstoy, Rousseau, Dostoevsky.† Comparative Literature, Vol. 37, No. 3. (Summer, 1985):193-232. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Three Short Novels: Notes from the Underground. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1960. Matlaw, Ralph. â€Å"Structure and Integration in Notes from the Underground.† PMLA 73.1 (March 1958): 101-109. Morson, Gary Saul. â€Å"Paradoxical Dostoevsky.† The Slavic and East European Journal 43.3 (Autumn 1999): 471-494. Paris, Bernard. â€Å"Notes from Underground: A Horneyan Analysis.† PMLA 88.3 (May 1973): 511-522.

Hawthornes Puritanical Beliefs Revealed in The Scarlett Letter and You

Hawthorne's Puritanical Beliefs Revealed in The Scarlett Letter and Young Goodman Brown When an author depicts a person or group of people in his or her work, the opinion of the writer most often sifts into the descriptions, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Some writers are very guarded regarding their feelings toward any particular subject, while others are very open and happy to share. Nathaniel Hawthorne belongs to the latter group. The purpose of the majority of his literary work was to share his view of the group of strict Christians known as the Puritans. Hawthorne himself was a direct descendent of Puritans, and he obviously held very particular views of his ancestors. These views are clearly demonstrated in his works The Scarlett Letter and "Young Goodman Brown," in which Hawthorne shows his disdain for the judgement and hypocrisy that was a daily practice of the Puritan church. In the New Testament of the Holy Bible, Matthew wrote in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Seven, Verse 1, "Judge not, that you be not judged." This is an often quoted verse of scripture that has been the subject of countless sermons and has been the chastisement to even more Christians. The Puritans, without a doubt, had this verse branded on their hearts, and yet, according to the works of Hawthorne, never practiced the Bible that they quoted so frequently. His disdain toward them and the judgement that they inflict on others, as well as the hypocrisy that they are immersed in from the time of birth. In the second chapter of The Scarlett Letter, Hawthorne shows the reader both the judgement and hypocrisy of a small part of the society - the women. As they wait for the arrival of Hester Prynne, this town's resident adulteress, they... ...n authors Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor. Perhaps, had Hawthorne studied these two writers, he may have discovered the bit of beauty that is hiding in stoic Puritanism. Works Cited Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature vol. I. New York: Norton and Co., 1998. McKeithan, D. M. "Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown': An Interpretation." Modern Language Notes (1952): 93-96. Reprinted in Short Story Criticism vol. 29. "A Review of The Scarlet Letter." Littell's Living Age (1850): 203-207. Reprinted in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism vol.10. Duyckinck, E.A. "Nathaniel Hawthorne." The Literary World (1850): 323-325. Reprinted in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism vol.10. Macy, John. "Hawthorne." The Spirit of American Literature (1913): 77-96. Reprinted in Nineteenth Century Literary Criticism vol.10.

Discrimination in the United States Today

Two blue and white school buses pull out of TC Williams High School parking lot destined for Gettysburg College, the site for this summer's football camp. Parents looked on with expressions of disgust and worry as their sons disappeared around the corner, now under control of the new black head coach, Herman Boone. Every seat on the bus was to be occupied by one white and one black football player. Players either stared off into space or out the window in order to avoid any contact with the player sitting beside them.The year was 1971 and this was going to be the first season the Titans played as an integrated school with both blacks and whites on the football team. The season would be characterized by hate, crime, brotherhood and determination and triumph. Despite their differences in appearance and the disapproval of the town they left behind, the team would need to come together as brothers to bring home the perfect season so that everyone would remember the Titans.According to Me rriam – Webster dictionary, the definition of racism is â€Å"a belief that race is the primary determinant of human trait and capacities and racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race† (Merriam Webster Dictionary 484). Racism has existed in our culture throughout human history in many different forms. Differences in skin color, language and customs have influenced the way people view and treat others. Racism has influenced past wars with slavery, caused segregation in the US in the 1960s and early '70s, and is present still today in the form of discrimination.The first documented form of racism in the US may have been slavery. Even though slavery was eventually banned in America, segregation continued. Not until many years later did the blacks received the same rights as white people. Still today, racism between ethnic groups is evident in the form of discrimination. Despite the efforts many have made to put an end to racism, eliminating a ll traces of it is ultimately impossible. Racism is still alive and well in the United States today.Issues on racial profiling, corporate downsizing, layoffs in the industry, racial and class segregation, hyper – segregation, economic racism and institutional racism are but just some of the living proofs to this kind of discrimination happening around us. It has been a struggle our forefathers have battled out and today, it has still not seen an end. It has and still continues to endure since time immemorial. The struggle to impede partiality from affecting law enforcement practices is as patriarchal as the Constitution of the United States itself.Also adversely, for the most part of our past, partiality peace enforcement – founded on fear rather than evidence – has been prevalent and futile (ACLU 4). Since the disaster of September 11, America have witnessed a boost in the country's desire to let pass law enforcement and defense practices founded mainly on skin pigmentation or other permanent attributes, and a certain desire on the end of the present administration to administer such procedures (ACLU 4). The country's Asian, Muslim and Arab populace are very much affected by such physical assaults.Rules chiefly laid out to impact specific classes usually end in the damage of the human rights of everyone involved. Furthermore, racism causes the United States to be less secure as a nation, considering the inadequate law enforcement assets are redirected and people who would rather not to be subjected to government perlustration are pinpointed (ACLU 4). The disaster of September 11 has created general counter – immigrant perception tolerable in the law enforcement and civil defense actions integrate prejudice into their implementation (ACLU 4).Ever since the disaster of the September 11 insurgent assault, it has been the legitimate tactics of the administration to hold, cross – examine and arrest beyond criminal offense  œ usually for long – term on the grounds of their native roots, race and faith. Actually, the very insertion of civil defense exclusion in the guidelines is an affirmation by the justice department that depends on racism and discrimination in its local anti – insurgent efforts (ACLU 5). Racism is at all times at odds with the nation's central statutory principles of impartiality and justice.Law enforcement founded on general attributes in the likes of ethnicity, faith and native roots, instead on the analysis of a person's conduct, is a faulty and useless action for guaranteeing civil (ACLU 6). During the times shortly after the September 11 insurgent attacks, the justice department began what measured to a comprehensive agenda of defensive arrest. It was the initial huge – scope arrest of a set of people on the grounds of their native roots or descent since the inhumation of Japanese – American at the time of the Second World War.In the period of the ins urgent assaults, civic personnel pierced through Asian, Muslim and Arab territories all over the United States, grabbing them from pathways, and even inside their residences, offices and places of worship (ACLU 9). The cluster and detention of a large number of the population were subjected under a strange disguise of cover – up, abandoning wives, offspring, schoolmates and bosses suspecting the victim's whereabouts and speculating on the identity of the next captive (ACLU 9).The individual expenses of the authority’s racism policies are immeasurable: diligent, obedient citizens abruptly finding themselves bound arms and foot, detained incommunicado in lone incarceration for over a month each; estranged from relations; residences and workplaces lost and existence flipped right side facing down. For most people, the ultimate defeat of all time is actually the harsh discovery that the place they came to call as their own, the very one which swore liberty and prospective, favored them no more (ACLU 11).The application of segregating by ethnic group, background, faith or native land runs opposite to what is questionably the central theory of democracy: each and everyone are made equal, and are at liberty must be dealt with unvaryingly by the government, notwithstanding immutable self like skin pigmentation, religion, ethnic or national roots (ACLU 18). For both citizens, either Black or Brown, racial discrimination connotes shorter, not so healthy, less – esteemed lifestyles. Racial discrimination verdict class philosophies and is the thought and tradition of white domination.It is the system of racism and repression based on skin pigmentation, physical appearances, roots and ethnicity. Its foundations can be traced as a validation for slavery and the invasion of the people of the United States. Ever since, slavery in America was attached to the progress and evolution of capitalism. Based on the trade and possession of human beings on the grou nds of their physical appearances and skin tone, its idea was the manipulation of unsettled labor for great earnings.As properties, Africans were sought as if they were animals, brought to now the United States, and then traded on public sale like creatures of inconvenience. Native American Indians suffered the same fate as their African counterparts as they too were murdered on a huge scale (Marshall NP). Ethical and logical reasoning were invented to give reason for this capture, trade, enslavement and mass killings against humanity. As a philosophy, racial discrimination presented the ethical and logical foundations of slavery, the spreading out of colonialism further to the west and the capture of Mexico’s other half.Hence the reason of this set of guidelines was, and even until now is, to set further views and philosophies based on the illusion that people of darker tones are innately low-grade (Marshall NP). The racially prejudiced utilization of the crime subject, incr easing chauvinistic and law enforcement aggression, intensifying separation, criminalization, immigrant – related assaults, rising poverty, living rough and joblessness, amplifying typecasts in media and environmental racial discrimination all signify the intensity of the crisis (Marshall NP).The leanings must be viewed in the perspective of the strengthening of the class efforts. Corporate curb and mass dismissal in the business have resulted to an general drop in the standards of living by the blue – collar workers, particularly the ethnically and nationally demoralized components, and have aggravated the development of racial discrimination. There is a direct relationship between these subject matters (Marshall NP). Capitalism’s general predicament combines a brand new aspect to these issues. Corporate curb and mass dismissal have swept out a lot of the previous reaps opposed to racism in the industry.As the fiscal crisis intensifies, contemporary types of ec onomic racial discrimination are making their presence felt (Marshall NP). Huge rate of joblessness and demarcation are its most straight and stunning result. Rising figures of unemployment cases concerning Asians and their African American counterparts are twice the rate of the Whites. Prolonged joblessness is also exceptionally grave. A huge fraction of those living in the rough are Latinos and Black. Economic racial discrimination’s dreadfulness is mostly observed on its effect on Latinos and Black youths, who predominantly live in penury (Marshall NP).A main attribute of the growth of racial discrimination at the present moment is the height of quality of separation. Segregation has hastened rather than degenerated and happened to be more severe, depicted by pressing destitution and awfully meager situations of life. This is grounds for closer scrutiny of the implication of segregation these days, as more than a consequence of fiscal factors but as a conscious business an d administration policy, with far – reaching repercussions (Marshall NP).It is a consequence of business and administrative policies counting red – lining as well as the former President Reagan’s and current administration’s bureaucrats’ slashes in housing and municipal expenditures, which have brought about the damage of metropolitan zones. The damage on national support for developing and maintaining civic housing projects has lead to disastrous outcomes; other than this is the former President Clinton’s bureaucrats’ unsympathetically racist and influential scheme to utilize HUD taxes to construct prisons (Marshall NP).Ethnic and class separation has created a segregated institutional organization, and played a role in the sudden descending glide of the quality of learning made available for both Latinos and Black youths of society particularly in the United States. The privatization of municipal education is aggravating this crisis and bringing new disparities into the scene (Marshall NP).The problem of segregation confronting all ethnically and nationally demoralized and particularly African Americans are the straightforward consequences of the organizational problems specifically during the later parts of the 1970s and 1980s as well as the industrial cut back of the 1990s. These cultures and neighborhoods must be regarded as an indispensable feature of the particular repression of these peoples – group, ethnic and national – and a way of manipulating and slashing these neighborhoods off from the rest of humanity and of actually isolating the blue collar workers (Marshall NP).Recent reports directs to what is called hyper – segregation of African Americana within the country’s major industrial metropolises namely Houston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Newark, Philadelphia, New York, and Chicago, metropolises in which the organizational problems and prolonged and generational re dundancy have been deeply felt. Hyper – segregation encompasses the topographical, political, fiscal and social segregation of â€Å"`the aforementioned neighborhoods. It exposes that racial discrimination aimed at the African Americans has a exceptional feature and has arrive at a contemporary and unparalleled phase (Marshall NP).Economic racial discrimination is also associated with the issues of metropolises, where the most neighborhoods are situated. As central industries set out, services are permitted to deteriorate, lanes disintegrate, bridges collapse. Here, the drug use and abuse goes on increasingly, mortality rates sky rocket levels much higher those in the less developed countries, and illnesses such as tuberculosis and AIDS are almost uncontrollable. Here the neighborhoods are in a virtual situation of obstruction as racist law enforcers, under the excuse of combating drugs, threaten and coerce.Here, people of color particularly the younger ones are regularly cu rved up in speed, and have crammed the country’s penitentiary and detention centers almost to a spill over, African American adolescents amounting to approximately 35%, either in detention centers or subjected to the jurisdiction of the criminal justice organization (Marshall NP). Nationality, sex and background in the business realm must not be a problem. Instead, working well in a diversified environment must be everyone’s aim (Ishimaru NP). Varied sets of skills are in tall order particularly in the American offices these days.But then again, a certain race in itself cannot possibly make it all happen. At this point, diversity fulfills its real essence. Various people from every civilization must share and value each other’s outlooks and beliefs to be able to come off a solution to a crisis and ultimately cause success not just for themselves but for the team they work with (qtd. in Ishimaru NP). Every industry should aspire to diversify. Certainly, it is the proper way to go. Diversity in the business world makes a good logical in itself. It requires thoughtfulness, visualization and commitment to be momentous.Furthermore, it commands eagerness to scrutinize the conventional way of handling business and what is prized in its employees (Ishimaru NP). To be able to produce advancement as far as diversity in the business world is concerned, it is vital to re-evaluate one’s principles and be able to communicative what merit is really about. As people keep on diversifying even more, elevating workers who displayed an ability to diversify to communicate well with his co – employees setting apart aside social discrimination must be highlighted (Ishimaru NP).Studies confirm that operating in a diversified setting is associated with more important associations. Moreover, more friendships between different races are also created in this place. â€Å"The ethnically varied neighborhood is also a model of a diversified surrounding (E stlund 10). There are reasons to trust that the distinctly augmented occurrence of reported friendship between people from diverse backgrounds is founded chiefly from improved relations and incorporation in the business realm. Yet in the greater scheme of things, it is more than a friendship tale.It also speaks of the common but spread out implication of connectedness that shell out of the daily cooperation, informal sociability, mutual welfare, whines, achievements and frustrations among co – workers. All the same, their positive feature is suggested by the occurrence with which they are able to establish real friendship that transcends social discrimination. Racial conflict and segregation is still alive and well. Even so, they were definitely narrowed and combined with thoughts of harmony, respect, friendship and resemblance (Estlund 11).In point of fact, it is only in the business realm where a more lasting and mutual interaction is possible. It is the only place where on e can actually see it happen. Every person must search for to be able to team up with their co – workers in any place and time. This type of team up must be made amongst people of diverse roots, ethnic set and gender. Diversity in the business realm, affairs and association that go beyond social discrimination can be counted on to bring about heightened approval and empathy. Besides, it can perhaps form less hostility and typecasting amongst diverse roots, ethnic set and custom (Estlund 12).African – American middle school learners are sensitive regarding the issue of racial discrimination and are willing to voice out their thoughts about the topic at hand. Thoughts of injustice and prejudice associated to race will take place specifically in a teacher relationship, which is made difficult by problems of command and influence (Melvin 37). The condition of the increasing population of pupils from ethnic minorities in public institutions and the majority of white instruc tors in the public institutions is a crisis.White instructors need to rethink the crisis of the failure of various pupils from ethnic minorities in the institutions. Instructors nowadays hardly ever display explicit racial discrimination, but may unintentionally act discriminatorily in concealed and understated ways. As a result of placing the burden of achievement in institution completely upon a pupil from an ethnic minority, the instructor does not reflect on his role in creating the institution a positive learning ground.The floor is certainly amassed against people from ethnic minorities and instructors in an undersized way have the capability to offset the effects of racial discrimination. Definitely, there are a lot of other aspects that be part of the cause of a pupil success like a supportive family. Still, white instructors lean to classify these aspects with the consequence of holding responsible the victim and omitting the reality that the true rival is institutional rac ial discrimination.White instructors must to be not as much concerned about being branded racially prejudiced and be less troubled with contesting such accusations whenever they are expressed by pupils. Rather, instructors should to observe how their own actions, both with respect to their dealings with pupils and their selections of classroom matter to guarantee that they are doing everything feasible to assist pupils from ethnic minorities to succeed (Melvin 39). The asset of the United States as a country has been rooted in its ability to distinguish and nurture its diversity.Its blend of diversity has been a collage of expressions and outlooks that collaborated to clothe the country to be unified, in a never ending quest for life, liberation and sovereignty for all. While there will always be disagreements on the ways and measures that gets in the way of success, may all rise up every single day, and safeguard the nation’s ability to expressive what it deems as its absolu te right to be heard exercising its people’s freedom of speech (Jones NP). Hope should remain. Hope in the odd that living in an ethnically diversified world is feasible.More than being an odd, it is the kind of life everyone else must work hard to achieve. A life that is lived in accord between people regardless of native roots is an ideal kind of life. It is certainly a kind of life that transforms and surpasses boundaries formerly defined, aimed for the betterment of all (Racebridges. net NP). As we close the chapter on one heritage recognition to bridge the pages to the next, may everyone else never forget that the United States was molded on the hard labors of its immigrant populace.Having come from the Plymouth Rock, or from the weight of servitude, the force has been established and set free of the control of racial discrimination (Jones NP). For everyone to gaze further at the road that lie ahead, it is necessary to set sights on the rear view mirror to keep certain t hat alarming signs of the threats that lies further on are not overlooked. It is important to study, assess and commemorate history, or be condemned in recurring failures habitually. The past should be the handbook and experience must be the lead. It is there to serve as a reflection of the path yet to be (Jones NP).Ethic and socio – economic condition are amid the most well-known kind of inter – class affairs that mirrors kinds of social discrimination in the country. Whenever social discrimination is present, prejudice is a crucial feature of inter – class affairs. Prejudice can function to underpin the representational borders that divide ethnic class from one and the other (MacArthur & MacArthur NP). Racial discrimination is as relevant a subject matter at present as it was two decades ago (Miles168). Quite the opposite of other age group the world today is typically more and varied, mobile and integrated than it has ever been.These days, people find themsel ves living in a world with not only complete strangers, rather quite particularly exceptional individuals (Estlund 20). In our day than ever before, it is critical that all people take a firm position against racial discrimination. Everyone must stay alert and prepared to battle it out in opposition to those who longs to segregate and demoralize societies on grounds of race, background, ethnic group, faith or principles. A hate – provoked offense against members of a specific race is still an assault all of humanity. We are constantly challenged by racial discrimination in every aspect of society.Countless marginal neighborhoods are still subjected to different faces of racial discrimination and racist brutality. For most neighborhoods, the racist danger has augmented. There is a need for efficient and impartial actions to deal with all forms of racial discrimination. The governmental structure counter racism or hostility have not yet stood firmly on its ground, in some parts of the country still needs execution. There is a need to enforce it successfully and noticeably. Victims must recognize that their encounters of racial discrimination will be critically dealt with by powers that be.Perpetrators of the crimes must be made aware that their deeds will not be allowed by the world. For one, the possibility of creating deep and multi –thread ties grounded on resemblance is nothing sort of usual. On the contrary, the possibility of creating ties that surpasses social discrimination thrives. However, establishing such kind of ties that surpasses social discrimination is not quite simple. By not counting on the help of a certain amount of force, this type of ties is unfeasible. All the same when it carried out, it is perhaps more lean and more awkward that the type of ties grounded on resemblance (Estlund 20).To all intents and purposes, these ties can foster trust. It can generate a sense of togetherness, harmony for a reason. Ultimately, compounded with the development towards objectivity and integration in the office and beyond, trust could be encouraged as well (Estlund 20). In spite of everything, no one person can possibly live solely by himself. It is man’s basic nature that requires him to establish and interconnection with his neighbors. The world exists to blend diverse civilization. This is just but one of the certainties in this world.Instead of isolating oneself from his neighbors whom he perceives to be unlike himself, may everyone else simply learn to love and embrace his own as well as his neighbor’s individuality. The diversity in this world is worth more than its simple meaning. It exists to be a living reminder of the real essence of man’s uniqueness. It is there to impart the lesson to all ears that need to hear that differences in all intents and purposes are the common ground where people of all races and places can meet half way. And all else is better taken a step further from there. Firm rebuff of the racist philosophy is necessary for everyone.Impartiality, non – existence of prejudice and deference for the human civil liberties of all are frequent threads in our culture, which highlight the battle in opposition to racism. They are an essential part of one’s commitment to his neighbors. It is not simply a subject for institutional action. There is a demand to remain united in the battle in opposition to racism and succeed. It is a form of corruption to the future and a renouncement to the common codes of conduct if with consent the racist is permitted to develop a scheme wherein the people’s actions are deemed to be normal.

Mystery Story for English

Seek for revenge It was a Monday night when Max Sam if he wanted to go to the movies tonight. Suddenly, Sam heard someone whispering from a distance not far from where they were. Max was to say something when a loud noise was heard. He turned around and Sam was lying on the ground in a puddle of blood. Max called the police as quickly as possible. His brother was unconscious on the ground. The police arrived in a hurry in a short time of 7 minutes accompanied by the ambulance. They rapidly rushed him to the hospital. When Max and Sam’s family waited an hour that seems to have taken for ever Sam successfully made it through the operating room.When he was conscious, the detective Ford told him that he got shot. The detective asked if he had an idea of who would actually want to harm him. The young child knotted that he had no clue. Back when Ford was at the crime scene, he saw that a bush across the other side of the street was stomped. That made him knew that the shooter was st anding and expecting Sam. He also found a cigarette that was stomp by a foot measuring a size 11 inches. By the looks of the cigarette, it seemed that you could not get a DNA analyses. But he still sends it to the lab to try and get one.The foot mark made him realized that it was probably a teenager or a young adult who shot him. The evidence was good and he thought that he would solve this case quickly. The DNA was going to take two days before it got a match. When one of day passed, something happened. Max was heading home from a day at his college. Then he got shot tree time and was found dead. It seemed that Max’s family had problem with that guy. Sam and his family were shattered by the news. One day after this shocking news, he finally got his DNA sample. The murderer was named Greg.He lives in Quebec and came all this way to Toronto to try to kill two people. But why would he do that. Detective Ford found Greg hiding in a motel a couple of miles away from the crime sce ne. When they got him to the police station, Greg explained the story to the detective. Max was going out with a girl named Julie. He said that he stole her from him and that he wanted to seek revenge. But why did he shoot Sam? He had nothing to do with this story. Well Sam was next to Max so when Greg pulls the trigger he missed and shot Sam by accident. Greg was sentence to 40 years in jail for murder and attempted murder.

Aids in Africa Essay 14

Nicole Nickerson African Politics 11/18/2009 Aids in Africa AIDS is an unfortunate and deadly disease that affects the body which is caused by HIV. The body will try to fight off the disease but as time goes on the body will start to shut down will not be able to fight off things such as bacteria and viruses. Over 58 million people have been infected by this disease and over 22 million have died from AIDS. The epidemic spreads each and everyday, the death toll of this epidemic can not be foreseen until there is a full wave form that is seen. Africa is one of the most known continents for the AIDS epidemic. It has affected most of the countries since the late 70’s early 80’s. The WHO estimates that 12 million HIV-positive Africans are merely the tip of an iceberg; it also reports, however, that the epidemic has thus far produced only 331,000 cases of AIDS from 1981 to July 1994 (Geshekter, 5). According to the WHO estimate this shows that the 99. 95 percent of the people in Africa do not have AIDS, but 97 percent of those who have HIV were not yet proven to have developed AIDS. During the initial stages of the epidemic in the 1980s, the disease was concentrated in the so-called AIDS belt in Central Africa which encompassed the then Zaire, Kenya, Zambia, and Uganda (Agyei-Mensah, 442). In the 1990s, the disease began to spread southward to include Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and westward to Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Liberia, and Ghana (Agyei-Mensah, 442). It is now 2009 and there are countries that may not exist anymore due to the AIDS epidemic. AIDS in Africa has been one of the biggest issues facing African politics since the early 90s. Numerous studies into the AIDS epidemic in Africa have been conducted by Western medical and governmental organizations, as well as African medical and governmental organizations. The inherent difficulties facing the problem of Aids in Africa include unstable or ineffective African governments, poor or non-existent economies that are further hampered by the effects of aids, and cultural differences that create bias both in the reporting of the number of cases of aids and he symptomatic presentation of HIV/AIDS cases. These problems make it very difficult to combat a disease that has taken the lives of many millions of people. South Africa has a stable government but their policies on AIDS have been ineffective. In 1994 the country was criticized for prevarication and confusion on the policies that they set forth to help AIDS patience’s. The government was being blamed for misjudgment , inadequate analysis, and bureaucratic failure. The country had set up two different prescription policies to fight AIDS which were mobilization/biomedical and nationalist/ameliorative paradigm. Mobilization/biomedical would emphasized society-wide mobilization, political will, and anti-retroviral treatment, while the nationalist/ameliorative focused on poverty, individual responsibility, palliative care, traditional medicine, and appropriate care (Butler, 592). There were problems with both paradigms because of they were underpinned by different assumptions that the government needed to respond to appropriately. The AIDS policy of 1994-2004 in South Africa was brought forth by the African National Congress, the ANC-aligned United Democratic Front and the National Party government’s ministry of health to bring together a policy to fight AIDS. At the end of 1993 there were over 2,000 cases of AIDS and 500,000 people with HIV; the government had predicted that by 2000 there would be four to seven million cases of HIV with about 60 percent of death rates due to AIDS (Butler, 593). The policy was endorsed by the incoming minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma who was insufficiently informed by the institutional and social realities of South Africa (Butler, 593). The policy was overestimated just as all other policies were during this time of the economy and of human resources of an incoming government. The competing claims on resources in poor provinces demanded administrative reconfiguration and had undermined implications (Butler, 593). The tenure of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had plagued the finical of the non-government sector and health profession. There were many scandals and corruption while trying to run this policy to help AIDS victims. In 1997 the president in waiting Thabo Mbeki promised a new outlook on this pandemic by having greater public awareness and new institutional mechanisms to address the challenges of AIDS. Mbeki had put forth new institutions to teach life skills, condom promotion, and a renewed communication strategy but these places were still unstaffed to help show the people how to stay protected. The new treatments were resisted and the government was avoiding funding AVR therapies. South Africa had policies in affect to try and fight the AIDS epidemic such as the two paradigms of mobilization/biomedical and nationalist/ameliorative. This has caused a shift in alliances and schools of thought. There were many supporters of the mobilization/ biomedical paradigm because it would prevent the transfer of HIV from mother to child and to prevent exposure to prophylaxis for rape victims and health professionals. The supporters were later at the forefront of demands for an upscale ARV treatment program. The ameliorative paradigm was missing the ARV entirely and critics argued that it did not respect the biomedical science. Mbeki had advanced the ameliorative paradigm in 1999 and he failed. The critics criticized Mbeki for failing to mobilize resources, humans and financial, behind the government response (Butler, 597). Mbeki was criticized for silences more than his words and the attributions of irrational and denials of them. The critics believe that with the delay of ARV treatment this results in denialism. Though the government of South Africa has tried to put out policies to prevent and fight the AIDS epidemic they have failed in many ways. The leaders of South Africa have put forth policies that they believed would work for its country, but they can not celebrate or say they are winning the war on this pandemic. The government was unable to muster human resources for a universal ARV program due to political and economic defects which has delayed teaching people how to protect themselves from AIDS across the nation. Zimbabwe on the other hand is not stable when it comes to government and has been ineffective on the AIDS pandemic. There are many organizations that can help fight this epidemic but in Zimbabwe due to its wars with itself, it has yet taken any action to put up a fight against this disease. This is the worst hit country on the continent of Africa. This country fights amongst itself with coups and tribal wars. Instead of the country coming together as one to fight the war on AIDS they rather fight against each other. According to one article it states that the Zimbabwean government had swept this disease under the carpet instead of putting out policies to fight it. President Mugabe publicly acknowledged the national epidemic for the first time in April 1999, when more than 1,200 Zimbabweans were dying each week from the disease (Boone & Batsell, 10). President Mugabe, although he will occasionally wear an AIDS ribbon, has never taken the sort of leadership stance (Boone & Batsell, 10). In April 1999 AIDS victims were dying 1,200 in a week stance; this goes to show that Mugabe did not take responsibility for his country and make policies to save and protect his people from this disease. The people of Zimbabwe can not speak out against there leader because if they do it would cause war and chaos. The country is already in chaos not only because of loss of life due to AIDS but because of economic and tribal wars. The leaders of Zimbabwe are not making a fuss about AIDS like most other countries in Africa they are keeping it quite it makes the country seem suspicious. In the case of AIDS NGOs in Zimbabwe, limited political capacity may be due to their origin and mandates (such as providing basic services to highly localized clienteles), funding governmental, church-based, or external sources, or the absence of any organizational hold on or claim to represent their clients and constituents (Boone & Batsell, 16). The country of Zimbabwe is centralized and ruled by one person, Mugabe is not putting up a fight to control the AIDS epidemic in his country and other countries see this. There are organizations that are willing to help but Mugabe refuses to get help from them such as the NGO. The country will soon have no lives left in it if the leader refuses to put out policies to protect its people from AIDS. Though Zimbabwe and South Africa have been ineffective in the fight on AIDS at least they have put an effort into trying to help its people, where as in he country of Somalia the government is non existent and there are no policies set forth for this country to control AIDS. The country has faced civil war for over 10 years so it is very hard to fight a war on a disease when the country is fighting against one another. The government can not make policies for a disease when they are worried about war with in the country. The government of Somalia has done more harm to its citizens then it ha s done good, so overall the people of Somalia are not going to trust its government to make policies that are going to benefit their well being. The people would rather go to a different country and try and survive by other policies than depend on the government to protect them and teach them about the AIDS epidemic. The country of Somalia is failing due to its own economic and warfare problems. The only way this country will have a population in years to come is if another country steps in and takes control to not only help with the AIDS problem but also stop the civil war that has gone on for over 10 years. Uganda is one country that has refused to back down on fight the AIDS epidemic. AIDS prevention and education programs have lowered the HIV infection rate (Boone & Batsell, 9). Uganda where AIDS has been curbed most dramatically, the infection rate estimated to be near thirty percent in 1991 is now estimated at around twelve percent (Boone & Batsell, 9). In June 2000, UNAIDS Director Peter Piot called for U. S. $2 billion to provide for more Uganda-style prevention and awareness campaigns in Africa (Boone & Batsell, 9). This shows that even a country with poverty and economic problems can succeed in fighting AIDS if the policies are enforced. Some critics do not understand that Uganda is fighting AIDS and other countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa are having such a hard time control the AIDS epidemic. The reason Uganda is doing so well is because President Yoweri Museveni adopted a nationwide plan to combat AIDS in the mid-1980s, when Uganda was facing the most staggering increase of AIDS cases of any country in the world (Boone & Batsell, 9). The most distinguishing feature of Uganda's AIDS program, a characteristic which has yet to be matched by any other African country, is sustained political commitment at the highest levels-even the health minister took to the streets to distribute condoms (Boone & Batsell, 9). The President stood behind his country by taking charge and turning a horrible disease into something to learn about and protect his people from. He did not just sweep it under the carpet like the leader of Zimbabwe. As the years go on Africa’s economy gets worse by the days due to AIDS. The two major effects on the economy due to AIDS is reduction in labor supplies and increased cost. The loss of adults at their most productive years will affect over economic out put and if AIDS is more prevalent among the economic elite, then the impact could be worse then the number of deaths caused by AIDS (Bollinger & Stover, 3). The cost of AIDS will affect the people of these countries due to lost time from illness, care for orphans, and costs for the company to have to find more workers. Then there is fact of having little money and having to cut into savings which reduces investment and could lead to significant reduction in economic growth. The economic effects of AIDS will be felt first by individuals and their families, then ripple outwards to firms and businesses and the macro-economy (Bollinger & Stover, 4). The economic impact of AIDS on house holds will cause extreme damage. The member of the family who gets sick and is the main provider for the family will lose income. The medical bills will begin to dwindle in more and more causing debt putting the household into more carnage. Mother or daughters will begin to miss work and school to take care of the ill person, which also cause less of an income into the family. Death results in permanent loss of income, funeral cost as well as removal of children from schooling to save on experience which in the long run causes loss of future expansion. There is a backlog for those children who are orphans and are suffering from AIDS. The planning process for the government in providing this housing is made more complicated, and thus more lengthy, through the impact of HIV/AIDS (Bollinger & Stover, 5). Although fewer units will probably be needed because of AIDS deaths, the structure of households may change, making planning more difficult: households may become headed by children; households may be even poorer than before and so unable to pay for even the most basic services; and the number of people per household may decrease (Bollinger & Stover, 5). AIDS does not just impact households it will over time impact agriculture, firms, and other economic sectors such as health, transport, mining, education, and water. The macroeconomic impact on AIDS is the most difficult assess. Most studies have found that estimates of the macroeconomic impacts are sensitive to assumptions about how AIDS affects savings and investment rates and whether AIDS affects the best-educated employees more than others. Few studies have been able to incorporate the impacts at the household and firm level in macroeconomic projections (Bollinger & Stover, 11). According to Bollinger and Stover a recent set of projections of the macroeconomic impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa estimated that under the high impact scenario, the population size would be 22% smaller in 2010 than it would have been without AIDS. Without AIDS, the model predicts that the population would be about 59 million people in 2010, while under the high impact scenario; the population would be only 46 million people. The same model predicts that life expectancy will decrease by 45 percent under the high impact scenario, from 62 years without the impact of AIDS to 34 years under the high impact scenario. There are things that can be done to control AIDS and help the economy of Africa from being destroyed completely. A few examples are mitigating affects of AIDS on poverty, making programs to address specific problems, and preventing new infections (Bollinger & Stover, 15). The government not only has to deal with the policy making to fight AIDS and deal with the different economic struggles that it faces because of AIDS but it also has to deal with the different cultural issues that makes it difficult for the government to use its sources to combat the problem. For example in the country of Rwanda there is a cultural difference between the Hutu and Tutsi. These two civilizations dislike each other due to governmental issues and due to the genocides of one another in past years. It makes it hard for countries like this to be able to come up with a policy that is going to work for everyone when they are fighting one another. Then there are some cultures that refuse to use condoms which does not make it easy to protect people from developing AIDS if they have more then one partner. A country has to have the ability to control its people and educate them on this disease because if not then those countries will end up having no population or may not exist any more. Then there is the case where some cultures people will not take medicine that is not natural. An example of that is priest or clergymen claiming that there is a miracle cure for AIDS but in some countries commercials of the sort have been banned from being played. For many people living with HIV/AIDS, their faith also extends to the skills of traditional doctors and herbalists, while for others their religious faith overlaps with non-Christian or non- Muslim belief in traditional cosmology and the spirit world as expressed through witchdoctors (Love, 645). In one sense, the strength and pervasiveness of these institutions may be regarded as a response to exclusion from Western scientific bio-medical treatments: an exclusion determined by political and economic structures often with global tentacles as outlined above, but in another, they also reflect the depth and institutional complexity of ‘traditional' societies in their negotiation with externally introduced change (Love, 645). This is more then likely very frustrating to the government if they spend all this money to make policies for people to not take the medicine to help ease their pain but instead take natural substances to believe they are being cured when they are being hoaxed. Africa has a long way to go for its countries to over come this epidemic. There are many problems within these countries that need to be taken care of if they are going to succeed in making policies that will teach and protect its populations. The countries of South Africa and Zimbabwe are well known for there failing policies to fight AIDS. South Africa is better off then Zimbabwe because it actually tries to make policies to help its people where as Zimbabwe would rather sweep it away and pretend that it is not a problem. It seems that Somalia may be lost cause when it comes to making policy on AIDS. This country has more problems dealing with is civil war then dealing with the deaths of millions of people due to AIDS. The only way this country would be able to survey or have some type of population in the future is if another country came in and took over the government or organization that is willing to h stop the war and focuses more on the problems of its economy and health problems. Uganda is the one country that some critics don’t understand how it is doing so well on policy making for the AIDS epidemic. Uganda has kept HIV infection rates in check through aggressive, state-initiated public education campaigns. The governments that have generally dealt openly with the AIDS challenge Uganda have tried (albeit with uneven commitment and success) to cultivate broad legitimacy by encouraging some grassroots participation in the political process (Boone & Batsell, 18). Organizations have tried to use Uganda along with other countries as an example for countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe which are having a rough time with control AIDS. AIDS has taken a toll on economic stability in all countries in Africa. The more AIDS cases that are known the more the countries become more poverty stricken. More children are left with out parents each and everyday due to AIDS, this also in time will live the child with out a home and living on the streets causing more poverty. The government can only provide so much for children, there are thousands of children who are orphans due to AIDS and the government can no support all of them. Political leaders need to learn from countries like Uganda so their economy will not deteriorate more then what it already has. The cultural outlook on AIDS is a very difficult one for the government of countries to deal with. If the country spends money on policies that people are not going to recognize or live by then the country will fail and over time there will be no life. It is understandable that certain people live by their tribal cultures but if it means life over death then they should succumb to what the government is doing to save lives. Millions of dollars are spend each year to find a cure to AIDS, but if these people live by their cultures way and do not believe in western science then they will fall causing the end of their tribe and culture. There have been numerous studies into the AIDS epidemic in Africa have been conducted by Western medical and governmental organizations, as well as African medical and governmental organizations. The inherent difficulties facing the problem of Aids in Africa include unstable or ineffective African governments, poor or non-existent economies that are further hampered by the effects of aids, and cultural differences that create bias both in the reporting of the number of cases of aids and the symptomatic presentation of HIV/Aids cases. These problems make it very difficult to combat a disease that has taken the lives of many millions of people. Based on the facts in this paper if the countries of Africa do not form good policies or come together as one unit then not only will the countries loss lives the whole continent will become a blur. Work Cited Agyei-Mensah, Samuel, ‘Twelve Years of HIV/ AIDS in Ghana: Puzzles of Interpretation’ Canadian Journal of African Studies 35. 3. (2001) pp. 441-72. Bollinger, Lori & Stover, John. ‘The Economic Impact of AIDS in South Africa’ 999. pp. 1-16. Boone, Catherine & Batsell, Jake, ‘Politics and AIDS in Africa: Research Agendas in Political Science and International Relations’ Africa Today 48. 2. (2001). pp. 3-33 Butler, Anthony, ‘South Africa’s HIV/AIDS Policy, 1994-2004: How Can it be Explained? ’ African Affairs 104, (2005). pp 591-614. Geshekter, Charles, ‘Outbreak? AIDS, Africa, and the Medicalization of Pov erty’ Tradition 67. (1995) pp. 4-14. Love, Roy, ‘HIV/AIDS in Africa: Links, Livelihoods & Legacies’ Review of African Political Economy 31. 102. (2004). pp. 639-48