The Modern KKK Essay Example For Students

The Modern KKK Essay Although the modern Ku Klux Klan, or KKK, is not the same group that terrorized African Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they still have the same basic goals and ideas. There are many local and regional KKK groups such as the Oregon Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the New Order Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is the national and largest organization, but the only one seeking a political agenda. They are the group that claims they are keeping alive the spirit and ideas of the original Klansmen. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, or the KKKK, was formed in Louisiana in 1956. They have had many national directors, or Grand Wizards that led the group. The first Grand Wizard of the KKKK was former Louisiana State representative David Duke. Another notable Grand Dragon was Tom Metzger, who now heads a White supremacy group called the White Aryan Resistance. Today, the Grand Dragon of the KKKK is Pastor Thomas Robb. The KKKK claims that they are not racist, but rather they are racialist. This means that they do not necessarily hate any one particular race based on skin color, but they love the White race and have White pride. Most of their ideas are centered on this concept. Therefore, the first and foremost thing that the KKKK stands for is the White Race. They say that the White Race is the irreplaceable hub of our Nation, our Christian faith, and the high levels of Western culture and technology (Intro to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan). The KKKK believes that the only way to achieve their goals is to have a United States with all White people living in it, and there should be absolutely no integration. We will write a custom essay on The Modern KKK specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Another thing that the KKKK stands for is America first. This means that they think the interests of the United States should be put before those of any other nation. It is basically a policy of protectionism because the KKKK also does not want any foreign influence or interests in the United States. Another aspect of the America first policy is that there should be a foreign policy of military non-intervention (Intro to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan). The KKKK does not want to get involved with anything non-American.The KKKKs stand on foreign aid and trade relates to their America first policy. They believe that all foreign aid should be stopped immediately because while the United States tax dollars are being given to other countries, Americans themselves are still needy (The program). The KKKK believes that the money being spent on foreign aid should be kept within the United States and should be put into things like Social Security and Medicare. As for trade, the KKKK believes that NAFTA and GATT should be done away with because they take jobs away from American workers and will put millions upon millions into poverty (The program). Christianity is an important part of the KKKKs ideas and beliefs. In fact, one of the things that the KKKK claims is that the United States was formed as not only a White Nation, but as a Christian nation. They quote James Madison saying this about the founding of the United States on their web page (?The program?):We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacityof mankind for self-government upon the capacity of each and all of us togovern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to theTen Commandments of God. .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 , .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .postImageUrl , .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 , .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:hover , .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:visited , .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:active { border:0!important; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:active , .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58 .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u53970258df343e0b5c50fd2482e40f58:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Americanism Summary 4 EssayTherefore, the KKKKs views on abortion and homosexuality reflect those of the Bible. They are against abortion and believe it should be illegal unless the mothers life is endangered or the woman was raped or a victim of incest. And since the United States is a ?Christian nation? and the Bible is against homosexuality, there should be a national law against it. They also believe church and state should no longer be separated, making prayer in public schools legal. Because the KKKK is so heavily involved in Christianity, they often light a large wooden cross on fire at their rallies. They say that they are not desecrating the cross but rather they are illuminating it and the truth and the light of Christianity (Intro to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan). The KKKK also believes that the White Race is being discriminated against. Their organization is based on the premise of equal rights for all, special privileges for none (Introduction to the Knights). Because of this premise, the KKKK is against all Affirmative Action programs. They claim that by giving the non-White minorities jobs and accepting them into college, Whites are being discriminated against. The KKKK considers this to be reverse racism.Among their other beliefs, the KKKK believes that the United States should cut off trade with countries that do not have strict environmental laws (one of their only liberal beliefs); military troops should be put on the borders of the United States to keep illegal aliens from entering the country; all of the anti-gun laws in the United States should be done away with so every American can protect himself or herself; the budget of the United States should be balanced; there should be a flat tax to contribute to the funding of community, s tate, and federal projects; and all those who can physically work should work (The Program). The KKKK has many ways that they spread these ideas and beliefs to the public. One of the easiest ways is to make themselves seen through public rallies and protests. Recently, the KKKK and other groups associated with the KKK have protested the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. They are against this holiday because they claim that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a communist and anti-Christian. Another reason the KKKK is against the holiday is because Martin Luther King, Jr. urged integration. The KKKK also stages rallies and protests outside of public courthouses. Since courthouses are well-known visible places, the KKKK knows that they will get media coverage and they can get their message out. This leads to another way that the KKKK thinks that they can get their message of White rights and White power out to the general public. Using the media to inform the public of your ideas is one of the easiest and most effective methods. The KKKK uses all forms of media to get their message out, including television, radio, and print advertising (?What is our goal?). However, the most common form of media that the KKKK uses is television. Members of the KKKK make their own videos talking about the White Rights movement, and what the KKKK stands for, etc. They then distribute these videos or play them on a public access television channel. The KKKK also prints and distributes its own literature. They print pamphlets among other things not only because they want the public to know about their beliefs and ideas, but they also want to let the public know who they are. The KKKK believes that the public thinks that its members are ?stupid, ignorant, backward, and hicks (Activity report). Even David Duke has written a book on his beliefs and experiences with the KKKK, called My Awakening (David Dukes Official International Web Site). .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc , .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .postImageUrl , .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc , .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:hover , .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:visited , .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:active { border:0!important; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:active , .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf7eea0185c581f139ebefebfd0ee9cfc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Love is worth the inevitable pain EssayPublic relations are another way in which the KKKK gets its message out and tries to improve their image. They do not hire a public relations company but rather they train their own Klansmen and Klanswomen to do the job. They go on television programs and radio shows to answer questions from reporters or from the public. Grand Wizard Thomas Robb frequently appears on radio, televised debates, and in documentaries. Another way that the KKKK uses public relations is that they give interviews to high school or college students working on reports. The KKKK wants to break into United States politics and the way they hope to accomplish this is through sleepers. A sleeper is a person who keeps his or her association with the KKK or the KKKK private. They then become involved with either the democratic or republican party. The KKKK does not immediately expect to gain any seats in the United States congress, so they start out small by winning seats as precinct captains or on state electoral committees (Activity report). This then paves the way for members of the KKK or KKKK to run for seats such as those in a state legislature. An example of this is former Grand Wizard and Louisiana State legislator David Duke. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1989. While a State representative, Duke was the Health and Welfare and Judiciary committees. He then ran from governor of Louisiana and received over 700,000 votes (Introduction to the Knights). Duke allowed media access to Klan rallies and appeared on many talk sh ows. Today, Duke is still involved with politics in Louisiana, as he is the chairman of the Republican Parish Executive Committee of the largest Republican county (David Dukes Official International Web Site). One of the methods that the KKKK considers the most important in getting its message out is by re-educating the educators (Activity report). They consider teachers one of the most effective tools in educating young White people about the White Rights movement. The KKKK designs workbooks for teachers to give them an accurate perception about the Christian foundation of education in the United States. These workbooks include information on the struggles White youth face today, how there is a war going on for the minds of White youth in the United States , and how the White youth are made to feel guilty about everything wrong in the world today. They want the teachers to teach their White students that it is okay to be White and proud. Another important and easy way that the KKKK gets their message out is through the Internet. It is very to obtain information on the Internet on any subject, and the KKKK is no exception. On web pages, the KKKK and other groups associated with the KKK can post their ideas and beliefs and anyone with a computer and modem can access it. The KKKK also has membership forms that their supporters can submit. KKKK merchandise such as T-shirts and hats are available on certain web pages as well. Because of advanced technology and the importance of politics in todays world, the KKKK and groups associated with the KKK can spread their message without using violence. The KKKKs ultimate goal is to obtain political power so they can implement all of their ideas and beliefs into laws among other things. The number of KKK-affiliated groups in the United States has grown and is no longer concentrated in the South. This makes the KKKK and other groups a real threat to society today.

The Bitter Truth about Betty Botter You’re Not Thinking Straight

The Bitter Truth about Betty Botter You’re Not Thinking Straight Can you say this tongue twister 10x fast? Betty Botter bought some butter, â€Å"But,† she said, â€Å"This butter’s bitter! If I put it in my batter, It will make my batter bitter!† So she bought some better butter, Put it in her bitter batter, Made her bitter batter better. I learned this one from my mother when I was young, and I always thought it was an easy one to roll off the tongue. I also thought it was cute and logical. I always enjoyed tongue twisters growing up, and even got to perform one (Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers) when I was on Sesame Street as a kid. Yes that was a moment of fame and glory! Stopping to Think I never really delved into the meaning of a given tongue twister. But on my recent trip to visit family in Austin, the Betty Botter rhyme came into my wandering mind after some talk with my mom about bats and batters- and I realized there’s a gaping logical hole in the poem. Here’s the question: How did the batter get bitter if Betty Botter never put the bitter butter in her batter in the first place? I went straight to my mom with my question. Surely, I thought, I must be remembering the words wrong! There must be a line I was missing! But mom confirmed that I remembered the words just as she had passed them down to me- and she admitted that she, too, had missed the gap in logic in the verse. Next stop Google. Perhaps mom had learned an incomplete version of the poem? Here’s what I found on Wikipedia as the full text: Betty Botter bought some butter; â€Å"But,† said she, â€Å"this butter’s bitter! If I put it in my batter It will make my batter bitter. But a bit o’ better butter Will but make my batter better.† Then she bought a bit o’ butter Better than the bitter butter, Made her bitter batter better. So ’twas better Betty Botter Bought a bit o’ better butter. While this version is longer and a bit of a better tongue twister, it by no means solved the problem that Betty never put that bitter butter in her batter! And while I did find one version that had a line, â€Å"The butter Betty Botter bought was a bit bitter / And made her batter bitter,† this version was clunky and contrived. Sigh†¦ We Are Gullible How many things like this are there in our lives? How easy is it for someone, or for the media, to trick us with a clever gimmick into accepting something as reasonable or logical that simply makes no sense? I’m reminded of the well-known joke that goes something like this: What’s the opposite of least? Most. What do you call a person who throws a party? The host. What’s another word for seashore? Coast. What’s another word for brag? Boast. What do you call a dead person who comes back to life? A ghost. What do you put in a toaster? Toast. Oops. You don’t put toast in a toaster. The correct answer is â€Å"bread.† Or maybe â€Å"a bagel.† Back to Google. I put â€Å"what do you put in a toaster joke† into my search bar and was gifted with multiple lists of jokes that made me feel like an idiot when I read them. I was hoping for some brain science around these types of jokes, but came up empty except for one suggestion that brain training can be accomplished without the help of Luminosity.com. Read, Think and Listen Carefully Mostly I am reminded by all these examples to pay attention. To listen carefully and closely, and as much as possible, not to accept things at face value. This is easier said than done, and I know I will miss important subtleties and inconsistencies more often than I would like to predict. And in the meantime, I will leave you with this: A plane crashes fatally on the border of the United States and Canada. Where do they bury the survivors? Answer: First of all, it sounds like there were no survivors. But even if there were, you do not bury survivors. They are alive.

To Investigate whether Different Leadership Styles are Preferred in Essay

To Investigate whether Different Leadership Styles are Preferred in Different Industries, and If So, Why - Essay Example Apart from this the effect of these leadership styles on the organisations will also be examined. The research focuses on the issue of employee retention and motivation. The impacts of different leadership styles on the organisation have been detected in the research. This research will help the organisations to implement better leadership styles to attain better results. Though this research has been conducted based on specific industry but it has a broader application and can be put into effect in context to other industries as well. The research has conducted literature review to highlight the issue in context to autocratic and democratic leadership styles. Literature review is followed by the research design which includes sampling and the methodology process. The research then evaluates the practical and ethical issues related to the autocratic and democratic leadership styles. Finally plan and the time table activities were covered in the research. ... Further leadership styles are required to adapt to the changing organisational environment (Joshi, 2009, p. 68). It is difficult to vote for or against a particular leadership style. Every leadership style is unique in itself. It all depends on the leaders, who apply these different styles of leadership in an organisation (Cooper, 2009, p. 4). Depending on the way different leaders employs their ability, many researchers have found two main leadership styles, the autocratic and the democratic (Kocher, Pogrebna & Sutter, 2009, p. 1). The study on leadership reveals that leadership is an important aspect in fostering passion, imagination, purpose amongst the people. The leadership holds the key to success for an organisation. It is the leadership quality of a leader which makes a big difference in creating right opportunities for the organisation. Leadership also helps to enhance the productivity amongst the employees which otherwise benefits an organisation. Few studies reveal that le aders are in control of rewards and punishments and the interpersonal relationship which has a direct impact on the employee’s behaviour and thereby influences the motivational factor of the employee to a large extent. The effect of leadership style has a greater magnitude as the influence on a single employee gradually impacts the whole group (Warrick, n. d, p. 155). Leadership is based on certain characteristics which have evolved over the time. These characteristics which define the importance of leadership in an organisation can be discussed below: Leadership is based upon mutual understanding between the leader and the follower. The value of leadership holds no place without the followers. The

An overview of Under Armor and how they are challenging nike in sports Essay

An overview of Under Armor and how they are challenging nike in sports apparel - Essay Example The company’s wide range of products is being used by many reputed consumers and other people of the world as well. Apart from all these, there also exist numerous competitors of Under Armour in the world. Among them, Nike is one of the major competitors of the company as both of them operate their business in the world of sports brand (Thomas Reuters, 2014). To analyse the competition between these two huge brands, this study will consist of the overview about Under Armour and the ways they are competing with its competitors. A complete study of the background of the company along with its vision, business culture and expansion strategies will be taken into due consideration. This information will help to understand the competitive advantage of the company in the local as well as the global market. Since 1996, Under Armour has been running its business successfully in the field of sports shoes and other required accessories for sports. In the present scenario, the company is operating its business in major parts of the world such as North America, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Asia. The idea of business of sports brand came from a simple idea developed by the 23 year old former captain of the University of Maryland i.e. Kevin Plank’s special team. During playing days of Kevin Plank, he hated to wear the sweat soaked cotton T-shirt again and again, especially in the hot warmers days. In order to get rid of this problem, he set out an idea of manufacturing such T-shirt, which can be suitable for the players to wear even in the hotter days. Plank named the company of sports brand as Under Armour. For the first time in the world of sports, a new design of T-shirt named as #0037 came into existence. This t-shirt was designed in such a manner that it comprised of moisture soaking fibres, which help the players to keep them cool and dry even in the hotter conditions. At the initial stages of the development of such

Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe: Loss Of Identity

Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe: Loss Of Identity Research Question: how does male dominance, reputation, and responsibility lead to the downfall of Okonkwos and other characters identity. My research paper has to do with the loss of identity of the main character as well as others. The conflicting battles they had with themselves and society as a whole. I believe this is important because within this novel, Things Fall Apart, there are countless conflicts that mostly ended in disarray. My gist was that the underlying themes within this novel were mostly responsible for these conflicts and so I took it upon myself to scrutinize the novel and find out for myself. In doing so, I heavily relied on the novel attained from my high school and researched other peoples perceptions concerning this topic. Through writing this paper I have made clear the motifs in this novel such as letting power control you instead of vice versa and such things were the cause of many characters downfall or rise within the novel. Loss of Identity in Things Fall Apart From reading the novel Things Fall Apart, you instantly pick up idea that the world of the Igbo people is engulfed in ancestral believes and hierarchy. These notions are strongly embedded within the society that the villages resistance to the European rein by force rumbles disarray in the society. The reader is reminded of a similar paradigm in the days of Queen Elizabeth the first.  From an Igbos view, one could pronounce that the emergence of the Europeans might have triggered the chaos follow-on their meddling with Igbo traditions. The foremost adjustment of these set in stone conventional cultures alarmed mainly the customary authority accredited to men by their known patriarchal society. Moreover, the characters keenness for male dominance undoubtedly interrupted various aspects of the existing ancestral believes and hierarchy, particularly reputation and responsibility which were deemed manly traits. Even more so, these traits amount to the main standard for measuring a mans respect and authority/dominance. The dominance of the male characters emerges inherent, within the Igbo patriarchal community where power is usually cited as the most important factor used by men to construct their own identities as the engendered representatives of humanity.(OLI) This sort of power is portrayed at the physical level as well as on a social and interactive level. On the physical level, people who tend to be lazy are regarded as an  agbala, which means a woman in Igbo. This idea is vividly illustrated through Onkonkwos father. Okonkwo himself achieved fame after showing his strength when he defeated Amalinze in a wrestling contest. This is the first account we have of Okonkwos t physical strength and ability; Okonkwo asserts comparison to the coercive physical power exercised by the British colonisers upon Umuofia people, and which Okonkwo uses to punish his wives (EP, p.52). On the social plane, we are introduced to a structural supremacy which involves several privileges accorded to the person by the tribe they belong to. We see this being exemplified through Ogbuefi Ezeudu a character who had been a great and fearless warrior in his time, and was now accorded a great respect in all the clan. (TFA, p.57). The positive male supremacy is the ideology employed in contrast to the coercive physical power. These perceptions were values customary to clans and established by the elders as a primary foundation of their ancestral beliefs and hierarchy in the Umuofia village. Within this novel, we observe the direct link between male dominance/authority and reputation. Effectively, the structural supremacy is accorded on the basis of the persons intelligence, and as well as some principles defined by the clan. Reputation however becomes the fulcrum around which most aspects of their ancestral beliefs and hierarchy turn. A reputation being the main focus in the org anised Umuofia system is stressed upon by fact that it is a standout feature of people who are capable to accede to the leadership of the clan. Subsequently, these people (men) show a great sense of responsibility because they do not want to be viewed as failures and also to encourage values that guarantee the continuation of the ancestral beliefs and hierarchy in the clan. Likewise any man who fails to attain authority or dominance loses his identity as a true member of the tribe. Consequently, my distress lies in depicting how male dominance, reputation, and responsibility have all directed to the downfall of Okonkwo and other characters identity. Situated in Igboland approaching the beginning of the twentieth century, Things Fall Apart  is embodied via the overlapping of various premises among which one is able to pull out male dominance, reputation, responsibility, collisions of cultures, ancestral beliefs and hierarchy. The novel points out the disarray as well as the incompatible circumstances caused by the onset of the white Europeans who on their arrival brought with them a new religion, new ways of going about life, and a shift in paradigm. The beginning phase of Things Fall Apart limns the integrated community of Umuofia Village, with its kingship political system.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  The reader also experiences the initial exposure of male power through the central figure, Okonkwo who is portrayed as a strong fearless warrior whose celebrity status is undeniable across the Igboland, Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honor to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino. (TFA, p.3) Okonkwos reputation is given more weight by the narrator who stresses on the physical account that discloses much about his personality and gives the reader insight into the main character and his capabilities: That was many years ago, twenty years or more, and during this time Okonkwos fame had grown like a bush-fire in the harmattan.  He was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look. He breathed heavily, and it was said that, when he slept, his wives and children in their houses could hear him breathe. When he walked, his heels hardly touched the ground and he seemed to walk on springs, as if he was going to pounce on somebody. And he did pounce on people quite often.  He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough; he would use his fists. He had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with his father. (TFA, pg.3-4) At this point you could come to the conclusion that Okonkwo is satisfied with his accomplishments taking into account his authority as a man and status within the community. In accordance to Ada Uzoamaka Azado: In the Umuofia community of  Things Fall Apart, Igbo men are constrained to achieve and flaunt [male superiority], in order to be seen and respected.  (EP,  p.50) (OLI) The Nigerian civilization described within the novel has been established by patriarchy which is intern manifested throughout the novel. Regardless of the concept of  Nneka, which in translation means Mother is Supreme, which brings to mind the assertion that the most important factor with regard to the woman in traditional society is her role as mother, women are often measured and represented as possessions of men: In domestic terms, women are reckon as part of a mans acquisitions. Hence, women are regarded in the Umuofia community as part of the several measures perceived to be as sociated to masculinity. The seclusion of female characters from the social hierarchy is hammered on by the narrator. It was clear from the way the crowd stood or sat that the ceremony was for men. (TFA, pg.87). However this circumstance is not typical to Umuofia alone. Actuality, in pre-colonial African culture, women were deemed inferior and not at pair with the opposite sex. It is then not surprising when the author controverts Okonkwos father to him. His father Unoka is presented as a sluggish and irresponsible drunk; Unoka, for that was his fathers name, had died ten years ago. In his day he was a lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow. If any money came his way, and it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of palm-wine, called round his neighbors and made merry. He always said that whenever he saw a dead mans mouth he saw the folly of not eating what one had in ones lifetime. Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts. (TFA, pg.4) His fathers irresponsibility is portrayed through his failure to manage money properly. His main aim is to drink palm wine and to make merry with his friends. He is talked about as a failure, an  agbala. He endured mockery just because he did not live up to the standards set for men in the community; Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure. He was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer, and they swore never to lend him any more money because he never paid back. /à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦/ Unoka was never happy when it came to wars. He was in fact a coward and could not bear the sight of blood. And so he changed the subject and talked about music, and his face beamed. (TFA, pp.5-6) The subdued image of Unoka is by no means accidental. Achebe uses this as a medium to represent male dominance in the Igbo society as well as to depict the perception against men who do not succeed. Therefore, one comes to the realisation that male dominance within the novel is strongly associated with the individuals own pursuit for identity. This elucidates the motive behind the main characters unending efforts to attain power which is threatened in novel from time to time. Simply, Okonkwo aims to characterize himself in the sense of creating an image that regarded as the real man with all authority accredited to him in this patriarchal community Okonkwo appears, first, as a successful man who has achieved the self-fulfilment he tries to look for. As Ifeoma Onyemelukwe states:  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   [Okonkwo] is the man who was able to resolve his identity crisis in late adolescence. At age 18 he had developed self-confidence, a high self-concept, and self-esteem and had high achievement motivation as typical of the average Igbo man. The consequence of this is his reverberating achievement and celebrity.  (EP, p.37) Okonkwos bodily strength in combination with the mans keenness to attain social climax moulded a very commanding persona which is fit for such a patriarchal community.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  The ideology of the male character as an influential and commanding individual is subsequently toughened by the image of the  agbala  which generally alludes to fruitless or sluggish men. Onyemelukwe comments:   Things Fall Apart  depicts very successful Okonkwo as showing no empathy or sympathy to less fortunate men like his father, Unoka. Such individuals, to his mind, are simply agbala  (Igbo word for woman) or she-men.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   It is not surprising that Okonkwo stands out in the novel as a macho man with a great deal of self-esteem and self-confidence.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   The cap fits Okonkwo in many instances in the given description. Achebe  portrays him as one who is neither patient nor tolerant. (EP, pp. 37-38)   Okonkwos authority is as a result of his will to attain success. This is evidently highlighted within the novel:  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says yes his  chi  says yes also. Okonkwo said yes very strongly; so his  chi  agreed. And not only his  chi but his clan too, because it judged a man by the work of his hands. That was why Okonkwo had been chosen by the nine villages to carry a message of war to their enemies unless they agreed to give up a young woman and a virgin to atone for the murder of Udos wife.  (TFA, pg.27) Achebe allows the speaker to broaden the confines of Okonkwos authority, evoking what his own father could not achieve: accomplishing himself as a man and building up his reputation. However, Okonkwo was unsuccessful in effectively conveying the authority he possessed. One might argue that the power controlled his actions and in the end the rationale behind his failure may be to shed light on the flaws of the hero blinded by his reputation of and his edge to climb up on the social ladder. Okonkwos reputation drops suddenly following his accidental murder of a young boy. He is no longer deemed as the figure of authority, fame and masculinity just because a bullet from his gun inadvertently killed a young boy. In addition, the laws and regulations customary to the Igbo community demands that any being found guilty of taking anothers life must be banished to his or her motherland. This in contrast to Okonkwos macho personality highlights the shame that adorn him. Overnight, great Okonkwo, the great warrior, the great warrior, the great wrestler, one of the most outstanding achievers of his time, most respected and revered, loses all he has laboured to achieve just in the twinkle of an eye. His hope or remaining one of the lords of the clan, is shattered.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   His flight to Mbanta implies starting life afresh, from the scratch. It means loss of self-esteem, peace, happiness. His ego is obviously punctured. His fame transforms into shame. His identity crumbles. Crises and conflict set in again. (EP,  pp.41-42) It is evident that the situation Okonkwo finds himself in is a paradoxical one because, in spite of the patriarchal trend, he is still banished to his mothers village. This occurrence can be regarded as a device Achebe utilizes to reconstruct the image of women. In this regard the author celebrates the Mother as a Supreme Being, a concept which is recurrent in Achebes writings. Noticeably, Okonkwos return to his motherland plays an important role as it secures him from European influences. At this point, Okonkwo becomes fully aware of his of himself in exile. The identity alteration is first observed by his mothers brother who pertinently comments.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Why is Okonkwo with us today? This is not his clan. We are only his mothers kinsmen. He does not belong here. He is an exile, condemned for seven years to live in a strange land. And so he is bowed with grief. But there is just one question I would like to ask him. Can you tell me, Okonkwo, why it is that one of the commonest names we give our children is Nneka, or Mother is Supreme? We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. A child belongs to its father and his family and not to its mother and her family. A man belongs to his fatherland and not to his motherland. (TFA, pg.133) The speaker highlights Okonkwos responsiveness to his loss of identity. [He] knew these things. He knew that he had lost his place among the nine masked spirits who administered justice in the clan. (TFA,  p.171) However, his return in the subsequent lines stress upon his reputation and responsibility:  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   He was determined that his return should be marked by his people. He would return with a flourish, and regain the seven wasted years. /à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦/ Even in his first year in exile he had begun to plan his return. (TFA, pp.171) One might wonder if the changes that have occurred in his society would allow him to achieve his reintegration without troubles. However taking into account Okonkwo we knew at the early stages of the novel, you would come to think that his return would once more rekindle the ancestral beliefs and hierarchy within the village of Umuofia. Nonetheless the overlapping of models like reputation, male dominance, and responsibility are such that they compose in a common focus characterised by violent behaviour and also the downfall of Okonkwos fame and persona Revisiting Okonkwos reassimilation within his society, he is put in the skeleton of the above body depicting that his final condition is by no means perchance. Effectively, Okonkwo composes a blend of male dominance, reputation, and responsibility. Okonkwos petulance and zeal to succeed demonstrates the fundamental nature of his character. Hence, the violent condition that has propelled Okonkwo into an inevitable downfall is a produce of the overlapping of male dominance, reputation and responsibility. The society of Umuofia is structured such that man must climb up on the social ladder if he wants to gain respect in the community. The other side of the coin is set aside for women, or in this case, men incapable of achieving masculinity. In effect, the permutation female honour / power do not lead to a decline because a woman moving upward on the social ladder is tantamount to re-examination. Its an amelioration of their rank and cannot be viewed as a downfall. This is also evident in Achebes works; A Man of the People and the Devil on the Cross when Eunice and Warrà ®Ãƒ ®nga respectively, rid themselves of their male tyrannisers. These individuals found their identity and repositioned themselves at superiors on the social ladder and hierarchy.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  In consequence, Okonkwo who is unable to find some of his previous attributes is, inevitably excluded from his rank on the social hierarchy. No longer is he perceived as a role model that he was and, as a result, declines o n the hierarchy as low as an  agbala, like his  father. Okonkwos shift on the social hierarchy is negative. The only factor resultant from the overlapping talked about themes is violence. Eunice uses this as a tool however; this is not the same in Okonkwos situation. In the first instance, violence is utilized at the personal level to liberate themselves from the Europeans, whiles the second instance has an effect on the entire village of Umuofia. Moreover, because the violence in the case of Okonkwo is not tied to one person, the reparation thereafter is irrepressible and, things fall apart. To shed light on Okonkwos failure, Achebe distances the main character from the various revolutions taking place and affecting the people of Umuofia. The author shows a significant role in conjunction to his banishment and uses that as a tool to segregate Okonkwo from the occurring changes. The altercation is no more among Okonkwo and his community, but his cultural beliefs and the European imposed culture. In point of fact, the Europeans having accomplished their efforts in convincing the Igbo people, Okonkwo is left standing alone defending the traditions of Umuofia. His accomplishments and disappointments rest on his capability to formulate a suitable decision of the three principles that constitute to his personality: reputation, male dominance, and responsibility Okonkwo inhabits a society where male dominance is the focal point of traditional beliefs. The patriarchy that he and many others have emulated from ancestral traditions vitalizes him to adopt a mind-set of superiority over the opposite sex by abusing his wives. Okonkwo rose to fame as early as the age of eighteen and since then has been most certainly blinded by fame. As a result, his main aim is to stay at the peak of his power. Okonkwo then shifts from a well-liked hero to a villain. This shift in Okonkwos character demonstrates violence as a predestined outcome of the transformations which affected Okonkwos community. For Okonkwo and many others like himself, the only respond is through violence. Achebe exemplifies Okonkwos calamity as a character falling victim to social violence on the one hand, but also of himself on the other. The first of the violence is one brought upon the Village of Umuofia by European colonisers. This violence was physically imposed and it goes up against the two different lifestyles and their cultures. The second is violence imposed by traditions on the characters. For example; Okonkwo serves seven years banishment for having killed a Klansman; the intentionally killing of twin children to avoid a curse that may strike the village; also Ikemefuna as young as she is sacrificed to Ani (the Earth goddess,) to provide justice after the death of a member of the neighbouring village. Also the individual violence Okonkwo works out on his own personality. We first observe this particular type of conflict mentally. This was where he strongly believed in recapturing his lost identity and to achieve his cause, he ends up as the physical victim of his own violence choosing to hang himself rather than fall into captivity. However, in doing this, he sheds off his reputation.   It is apparent that the last few sections of  Things Fall Apart reveal an Okonkwo who has come to terms with his failure, and tries to evoke his identity. Okonkwo now is not the same Okonkwo who said yes strongly; so his chi agreed (TFA, pg.27). Sadly for Okonkwo, he came to realisation a little late and his strive to keep the little honour he had prove to be futile. Consequentially, committing suicide is gaze at as a taboo: It is an abomination for a man to take his own life. It is an offence against the Earth, and a man who commits it will not be buried by his clansmen. (TFA, pg. 207). He is forsaken even in death just because his ordeal was against [their] custom. (TFA, pg.207). However, the speakers convey some compassion through Obierika:   Obierika, who had been gazing steadily at his friends body, turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill  himself;  and now he will be buried like a dogà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ He could not say any more. His voice trembled and choked his words. (TFA, pg.208) The narrator attributes the blame of Okonkwos death to the District Commissioners men. And at this point Achebe condemns the negative and brutal aspects of the arrival of the colonisers in Africa  in general and the Igboland in  particular.  Things Fall Apart  can also be considered as a novel that Achebe uses to epitomise the irrationality of certain traditions which in the end have overwhelming effects on the individual and the entire society. Hence I conclude with this famous quote by W.B Yeats, Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Word count: 3,582

A Comparison of Hemingway and Frederic in A Farewell to Arms Essay

Parallels Between Hemingway and Frederic in A Farewell to Arms      Ã‚  Ã‚   "All fiction is autobiographical, no matter how obscure from the author's experience it may be, marks of their life can be detected in any of their tales"(Bell, 17).   A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway is based largely on Hemingway's own personal experiences.   The main character of the novel, Frederic Henry, experiences many of the same situations that Hemingway lived.   Some of these similarities are exact, while some are less similar, and some events have a completely different outcome.  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois. Hemingway worked as a reporter for the Kansas City Star after graduating from high school in 1917.   During World War I, he served as an ambulance driver in the Italian infantry and was wounded just before his 19th birthday.   Hospitalized, Hemingway fell in love with an older nurse.   Later, while working in Paris as a correspondent for the Toronto Star, he became involved with the expatriate literary and artistic circle surrounding Gertrude Stein.   During the Spanish Civil War, Hemingway served as a correspondent on the loyalist side. He fought in World War II and then settled in Cuba in 1945. In 1954, Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.   After his expulsion from Cuba by the Castro regime, he moved to Idaho.   In his life, Hemingway married four times and wrote numerous essays, short stories and novels.   The effects of Hemingway's lifelo ng depressions, illnesses and accidents caught up with him. In July 1961, he committed suicide in Ketchum, Idaho.   What remains, are his works, the product of a talented author.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A Farewell to Arms is the stor... ...est Hemingway: The Writer in Context. Ed. James Nagel. Madison: U of Wisconsin, 1984. Bloom, Harold. Introduction. Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea, 1987. Donaldson, Scott. "Frederic Henry's Escape and the Pose of Passivity." Hemingway: A Revaluation. Ed. Donald R. Noble. Troy: Whitson, 1983. Lewis, Wyndham. Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Farewell to Arms. Ed. Jay Gellens. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice, 1970. 56-64. Schneider, Daniel. "Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms: The Novel as Pure Poetry." Modern Fiction Studies, 14 (Autumn 1968): 283-96. Spanier, Sandra Whipple. "Hemingway's Unknown Soldier: Catherine Barkley, the Critics, and the Great War." New Essays on A Farewell to Arms. Ed. Scott Donaldson. New York: Cambridge U, 1990. Young, Philip. Ernest Hemingway. New York: Rinehart, 1952.   

Debut albums, Life Essay

This is a phrase, a philosophy phrase that is about living, daily living. But what do you think it really means or should we say what is the hidden meaning about it? Why just living is not enough? Living is not enough because we need to experience all the things we can. Simple as to explore the world or the things that was given to us by our beloved GOD. We need to experience all good, better and best, bad, worse and worst. From worst to best to know what the word LIFE truly means. It also doesn’t mean we need to do crimes in order to experience bad things, it’s just like problems, wounds and etc. We and I consider it as bad things because I don’t like any of that happen to me. Just living is not enough†¦. We need to explore and find the true meaning of life. He who hesitates is probably right. This is a philosophy that we can use daily, why? Because this is about decision making. And we always make decision in every aspect of our life. As a student I can relate in this because of our recitations in school. We always hesitate before we raise our hands to answer. We will suddenly know that our or my answer is right because someone answers it. And it’s too late to get the credit. The philosophy above is trying to teach or to tell us that if we have ideas, share it, tell it, explain it because we will never know if our ideas is right if we don’t try it. Not only for students but all individuals around the globe. Human life is purely a matter of deciding what’s important to you. This Philosophy is saying human life always choose what’s important to you. But why? All individuals are different from each other, different tastes, likes, dislikes and many more. But we all have similarities, we always choose what’s important to us in every problem that comes in our life. For some instances, family problems like marriage and your family doesn’t want your fiance or fiancee, you will decide what’s MORE important to you your family or your love one? If you choose your family, then go and it’s also the same if you choose your love one. I understand in this philosophy that this our instict that we always choose what’s important to us but it never assures us that what is important will be the best for us. Only friends can answer your calls everytime of day that matter. This is a simple philosophy that is about friendship. If we first read it, we will quickly understand what it means. But what do we understand? We all know we have many friends in our life, friends in school, friends in the neighborhood and many more. We also know not all friends are real, just like this saying says â€Å"Some friends are gold and some friends are silver†. The philosophy above is trying to tell us that only TRUE and REAL friends can answer your calls no matter what your problem is. The friends that are there for you no matter what. No matter what time of day it is, you could call them and they’d be there for you. And it’s true, they are the ones that matter. The people who you can really rely on to be there for you are the ones that should matter in your life.