The Legacy of Enlightenment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Legacy of Enlightenment - Essay Example The opposing strand was counter enlightenment which constituted of royal antagonists of the old order and conservative clerical thinkers of both catholic and protestant denominations. Despite reaction, western religious traditions have been deeply enriched by the enlightenment. The mainstream religions have adapted to the enlightenment ethical values of free inquiry, democracy, equality and universality. Religious battles have tended to cease where enlightenment values were most cherished (Zafirovski, 2010). The concept of enlightenment is both a philosophical concept and an historical process. The critical social theory uses enlightenment in the wide sense as advance of thought which has always aimed at liberating human beings from fear and installing them as masters. The essence of enlightenment is understood as the choice between alternatives. The concept of enlightenment describes a fundamental structure of reason and characterises the historical practices that in modernity have led to rationalization and reification. The modern enlightenment is an embodiment of self cancelling ideas of bourgeois, democratic culture. Following the early critical theory, politics of emancipation is by necessity a politics of enlightenment, a form of enlightenment that transcends the parameters of modernity as the product of the eighteenth century enlightenment and thus beyond the latter itself. The modern enlightenment epitomizes and completes a process of enlightenment that began several millennia ago. This differentiates pre-modern and post modern enlightenment including persuasion and education, as non coercive means of moral regulation in contrast to coercive forms of social control (Jacob, 2001). The age of enlightenment or age of reason was aimed at reforming the society and advance knowledge. It also saw the promotion of science and intellectual exchange and opposed superstition, intolerance and profanity in churches and the government. A distinction occurs between oc cidental and oriental enlightenment whereas the former is associated with rationalism and liberalism and the latter constitutes mysticism and conservatism or traditionalism. Enlightened thinking is said to begin during the renaissance period, with the reformation or even the Greeks (Jonathan, 2001). The Children of Enlightenment According to Todorov, there are three ideas that form the basis of enlightenment project. These are universality, autonomy and human end which he believes is the purpose of our acts. What we require today is the realignment of enlightenment thinking in a way that preserves our culture while subjecting it to a critical evaluation, assessing it in light of wanted and unwanted consequences. The traditional antagonists of enlightenment are equated with Hydras that keep on growing even after they are cut. These traditional antagonists will never succeed because societies are becoming more liberal in the quest for autonomy and dialogue. He continues to assert that he is sceptical about the use of human rights since they are used as instrument for justifying our western superiority. There is a distinction between religions which appeal to human beings or to tribe only. Human beings have two obligations only; to love God and to love their neighbour. One characteristic about enlightenment is the celebration of plurality and difference. Decolonisation as such was channelled by ideas of autonomy,

Public Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Public Relations - Essay Example Yet another source cites the ‘Institute of Public Relations’ which gives the definition as â€Å"Public Relations practice is the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and mutual understanding between an organization and its publics† (www.buildingbrands.com). The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines public relations as â€Å"The business of inducing the public to have understanding for and goodwill toward a person, firm, or institution; also: the degree of understanding and goodwill achieved†. (www.merriam-webster.com). The worded definitions of ‘public relations’ may be different but they invariably point in the same direction i.e. the establishment of the identity of an organization, person or society into the psyche of the general masses whereby they come to understand the basic tenets of the philosophy and the setup of that organization which enhances the mutual understanding between the two for any fruitful and meaningful exchanges. The definitions however are oriented towards the positive aspects of public relations as they are invariably considered to be an effort to establish goodwill and harmony between two groups and talk nothing of any negative aspects which the organization may have. Therefore the orientation of public relations of an organization is always aimed at highlighting the positive aspects. More positivity can be induced when both the merits and demerits of the organization are shared with the public to give them a true picture, in order to avoid misunderstandings later. The ‘harmonization of private and public policies’ which is the ultimate aim of public relations according to the PRSA can be achieved only if the facts are presented accurately, precisely and supported by easily comprehensible data. Organizations like government departments, hospitals, educational institutions, private companies, religious societies, etc. have a distinct

Crisis Management: Preparedness for Tsunami

Crisis Management: Preparedness for Tsunami Implications of wave behaviour for everyday life How would a tsunami affect Christchurch? The effects of a tsunami on Christchurch and the surrounding areas would be devastating. Depending on where the tsunami is generated the damage will vary. The risks of a tsunami occurring in Christchurch are relatively low, but there is still a small risk. The highest risk of a tsunami is generated off the coasts of South America, caused by the Nazca plate colliding with the South American plate. These two plates have caused many large earthquakes and tsunamis. Chile’s 2010 8.8 magnitude earthquake caused a 2.3 – 2.6 meter tsunami to hit the coast of Chile and Peru. This tsunami travelled across the pacific ocean and reached New Zealand. Authorities stated they did not expect the tsunami to reach New Zealand but later issued a warning stating that waves of up to 1 meter could hit the coasts. Waves were recorded above 0.5 meters in some areas. The Heathcote and Avon estuary in Christchurch received waves of up to 0.50 meters and surges past 1 meter. Lyttleton which is no t far from Christchurch experienced surges over 2 meters, luckily it was low tide and the water didn’t break its banks. The effects of a tsunami on Christchurch can range from unnoticeable to devastating. The effects of a tsunami depend on the characteristics of theseismic eventthat generated the tsunami, the distance from its point of origin, magnitude and, at last, the depth of the ocean. Small tsunamis, non-destructive and are undetectable without specialized equipment, happen almost every day as a result of minorearthquakesand other events. They are very often too far away from land or they are too small to have any effect when they hit the shore. When a small tsunami comes to the shoreline it is often seen as a strong and fast-moving tide. Tsunamis have long periods and can overcome obstacles such as gulfs, bays and islands. These tsunamis make landfall usually in the form of suddenly decreasing and then rapidly increasing water levels, a combination of several large waves in session. Generally tsunamis arrive, not as giant breaking waves, but as a forceful rapid increase in water levels that result in violent flooding. However, when tsunami waves become extremely large in height, they savagely attack coastlines, causing devastating property damage and loss of life. A small wave only 30 centimetres high in the deep ocean may grow into a monster wave 30m high as it sweeps over the shore. The effects can be further amplified by bays, and harbours acting as a funnel for the waves to move inland. Large tsunamis have been known to rise to over 50 meters, although this clearly never occurred in New Zealand. The initial wave of a huge tsunami is extremely tall, however, most damage is not sustained by this wave. Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal area. It is the power behind the waves, the endless rushing water that causes devastation and loss of life. When the giant breaking waves of a tsunami batter the shoreline, they can destroy everything in their path. Destruction is caused by two mechanisms: the smashing force of a wall of water traveling at high speed, and the destructive power of a large volume of water draining off the land and carrying all with it, even if the wave did not look large. The energy tsunamis carry with them is massive. People living near coastal areas are advised to have an evacuation plan in place. If a local tsunami was to occur there would only be a few minutes to escape to higher ground. The violent force of the tsunami results in instant death, most commonly by drowning. Buildings collapsing, and electrocution, also floating debris is another cause of death. What evacuation plans are in place for Christchurch? The Christchurch City Council and NZ Police have evacuation plans in place for regional tsunamis. The NZ Police and Christchurch City Council have identified 19 at-risk sectorswithin the Christchurch coastal zone which will be the focus of any evacuation activity. About 23,000 people in 8570 households will be involved in a total evacuation of the zone. Official warnings will be announced via TV and radio. The following are official radio stations that the warning will be issued on: Classic Hits (97.7FM) National Radio (101.7FM or 675AM) Newstalk ZB (1098AM) More FM (92.1FM) Radio Live (99.3FM or 738 AM) The Breeze (94.5FM) NZ Police, Fire Service, Christchurch City Council Park Rangers and Response Team personnel, and Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Response Team personnel would start to evacuate residents from identified risk sectors. Evacuation personal will deliver messages to each of the residents of the risk sectors. Twenty-two sirens have been installed from Waimairi beach to Sumner beach. The warning system has been installed and working since July 1st 2012. These sirens will only be used for regional tsunamis that take 2 or more hours to reach the coasts of Christchurch. For a local tsunami the council and police have plans in place. The Christchurch city council highly suggest you have your own personal evacuation plan in place, especially if you are disabled or caring for someone with disabilities. It is advised to get at least 15 meters above sea level, travelling a few blocks inland or getting on top of a cliff, try and take shelter in a two story building if you do not have enough time to go inland or get to higher ground. Tsunami waves can travel twice their height up a wall or cliff, this is why it is advised to be at least 15 meters above sea level. Are the sirens loud enough and is there enough warning systems? Twenty-two sirens have been installed from Waimairi beach to Sumner beach. Some Christchurch residents are calling the citys new tsunami warning system a dud. The $550,000 sirens had been installed on the coastline between Waimari Beach and Sumner. Residents along the coast reported that the system sounded faint. However, Civil defence and emergency management manager Murray Sinclair said the sirens were only meant to be heard up to 600 metres away from the coast, and were not designed to penetrate walls. The sirens are set at 85 decibels, which was the balance between having as many people hear it as possible and preventing anyone nearby from suffering hearing damage. Although many people had to block their ears when standing outside as it was too loud. The reason for the sirens only operating at 85 decibels as any louder and peoples hearing will be damaged. Sound is measured in units called decibels. Sounds louder than 80 decibel will cause hearing damage. 75 db will not cause hear ing damage, even after a long time exposed to it; it is unlikely to cause hearing loss. Repeated sounds above 80 decibels for long periods of time will cause hearing loss. The higher the decibel, the less time it will take for hearing loss to occur. Hearing loss happens when you are over exposed to loud sounds. Sounds over 110 decibels will cause immediate damage to your ears. Inside the ear there are microscopic hair cells found in the cochlea. When exposed to loud sounds these hairs become damaged. These cells respond to sound vibrations by sending a chemical signal to the auditory nerve. The reason being that you lose higher frequencies first is because these groups of cells are more sensitive to louder sounds and therefor are damaged more easily. The human ear can hear sounds in the range of 20Hz to 20,000 Hz. With age and time, the cell’s stereocilia become damaged and broken. Hearing loss results when the hairs become damaged. Once these cells are damaged they cannot gr ow back, that is why it is important to protect your hearing. Here are the average decibel ratings of some familiar sounds in general life: The humming of a refrigerator: 45 decibels, Normal conversation: 60 decibels, Noise from heavy city traffic: 85 decibels, Motorcycles: 95 decibels, An MP3 player at maximum volume: 105 decibels, ambulance Sirens: 120 decibels, Firecrackers and firearms: 150 decibels The 85 Decibel sirens are designed to be heard up to 600 metres away. By moving away, the decibel level of a sound will decrease by 6dB every time you double the distance from the sound. The Inverse Square Law has taught us that for every doubling of the distance between a sound source and the recipient, the sound drops by 6db. At 1 metre is 85db then at 2 metres the sound will be 79db, 4 metres will be 73db, 8 metres will be 67db, and so on. That would mean at 600 metres the sound would be 30db, this is without considering the factors of weather, humidity, and temperature. Wind would also affect how far sound could travel. Wind currents can alter or distort the sound waves, which travel by compressing and decompressing the air particles. Winds and other airflows can disrupt that action and distort the sound, either by altering its volume so it will sound louder or nearly non-existent, changing its direction slightly, or even altering its frequency. Christchurch residents complain that in the case of a local tsunamis there is no warning system in place. The 22 sirens will only be used for tsunamis that will take 3 hours or more to arrive. Residents along the coast say that we need a warning system in place in case of a local tsunami. Christchurch city council states that they do not have the resources for a warning system for a local tsunami. The risk of a local tsunami happening in Christchurch is very low, there is only a few faults in the banks peninsula area that are capable of producing tsunamis with a max wave height of 1.5 – 2 meters. Therefor CCC has ruled that a warning system for local tsunamis would be unneeded. CCC says if you feel the ground shake and find it hard to stand up for 3 minutes or more you should evacuate the area and move to higher ground. Also during a regional tsunami evacuating groups will evacuate coastal areas. Conclusion Are the sirens loud enough? The majority of residents along the coast complain that the sirens are not loud enough. Obviously 85 decibel is not loud enough. CCC will not increase the sound as it will cause slight hearing damage. People complain that during a local tsunami that there should be a warning system in place, currently there is no systems in place for local tsunamis. People have to rely on natural signs. CCC will not install any siren systems as the risk for a local tsunami is not high enough. Are there enough warning systems in place? For a local tsunami the residents complain there isn’t, but for a regional tsunami there are the warning sirens and evacuation crews in place, also radio and TV will have official warnings in place. References: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/informationondisastershazards/tsunami.aspx#jumplink8 http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/canterbury/9227634/Review-of-Canterbury-tsunami-impact http://ecan.govt.nz/advice/emergencies-and-hazard/tsunami/pages/tsunami.aspx#what http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/CCCTsunamiBrochure-informationondisastershazards.pdf http://ecan.govt.nz/advice/emergencies-and-hazard/tsunami/pages/gns-tsunami-report-canterbury.aspx http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/informationondisastershazards/tsunami.aspx http://www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/informationondisastershazards/tsunamiwarningsystem.aspx Analysis of Globalization Theory: Hybridization Analysis of Globalization Theory: Hybridization On a Monday morning, I set out to carry out my ethnographic study at the city centre in Bradford. The city centre, a large surrounding filled with tall buildings with various concrete partitions. The sloping walking hill corner of the city centre witnesses most stores, shops and shopping plaza having their last floor with glass display or walling for product displays with attractive inscription of sales, price slashes and percentage reductions to attract passersby to their outlets. In trying to observe, I discovered loads of people encompassing various demography of gender and age description trooping in and out of the stores, shops and supermarkets with different bags and shopping packages. The people appeared focused inwards and determined to get to where they wanted to be; most people just seemed to be on the way without personal concerns. Everybody seemed to be walking in a rushed manner, like clockwork figures or programmed robots. The flower sellers and a man at the bakery stan d at the middle of the walking arena at the city centre seemed to be the only ones who were looking into the faces of people, trying to get them to stop and purchase their products. They were quite vocal with their sales chant. I also observed an old woman on a small mechanized wheel chair; she looked sober, tired and weary. As she drove past, I saw she had different packages from different stores on her machine tray. Many visible diverse nationalities (assumed based on various perception of sight) walking around were observed to have similar outfits. There were people in jean, jackets, boots, caftans, turbans, hijabs etc. the jacket being the most common and which was a result of the weather conditions and the adaptation of human culture through globalization. Apart from male police officers and one female officer taking a patrol with their hefty wear attached with various mechanical gadgets around them looking ready for crime mongers/war. Most observed people seem to know how and where to shop, there seem to be no description as to where to go and how to go about it but just mere advertisement in the front of every main door step with products of sales. However, a young man and woman were observed to be paying for a Chinese meal in a Chinese restaurant through the Debit Card point service and an attractive TV displaying Chinese movie was also seen from the outer view of the restaurant through its transparent glass partitioning. Looking behind, I saw a group of people discussing in English language and interchanging it with some Chinese language at intervals in a loud manner; while another group adjacent to them even though diverse, appeared to be speaking English but in a quiet mode. A further stroll, noticed the sight of a group of old men seen playing guitar by the road side singing (numerous cultural and globalized music spanning from Westernized to European and even Jamaican) and receiving accolades from a group of people comprising both genders but diff erent nationalities; assumed Pakistan and some European young blokes and ladies. Globalization thesis Hybridization theory Theoretically, Culture and globalization are two diverse concepts involved in this study. Globalization involves a process of local and regional adaptations in many areas of human life under emerging global situation (Mondal, 2010). This elucidates that Globalization creates a double challenge for all of concerns: that of trying to examine and understand these progressions, and their long-term implication, but also that of deciding how human beings act in response to them. Globalization, hence, poses normative preference as much as strained analytic comprehensions (Halliday 2000). It is described as a general currency only in the past decade and include many diverse and often vague meanings, spanning from the elimination of barriers between societies, political and economic systems and the significant enlarged volume of exchange, in terms of finance, trade, ideas or people, amid them (Halliday 2000). Braibant (2002) supported the definition of Halliday (2000) in a way but concluded b y stating that globalization also comes with various infections, diseases and pollution. Hofstede (1980) asserts that Cultures and nations mostly function through essential structures such as the family, local groups, societies and circumscribed traditions, etc. In effect, organizational structures and its functioning are impacted by unique cultural traditions. In combining these two concepts discussed above, Rankin (2009) opines that Cultural globalization is regularly understood to mean the expanded movement of images, goods, technology, people and ideas around the world resulting from processes of economic globalization ever since the 1970s. It has been the theme of sizeable moral angst in academic and popular venues alike, as observers diversely lament the cultural destructions or celebrate the cultural mixings that are regularly understood to go with globalizing processes. In addition, Mondal (2010) described cultural globalization as a process which creates global culture; arguing that globalization intends to expand a world view to support multicultural society and intercultural exchange with relevant respect of regional and local cultures. A range of cultural issues and consequence have been associated with globalization and these can be examined in relation to three foremost theses, which includes; polarization, homogenization and hybridization (Chris 2006). The polarization thesis claims that global interdependence and interconnection do not compulsorily mean cultural accord, as culture is stronger to standardize than economic society and technology; while the homogenization thesis advocates that global culture is becoming uniformed and standardized around an American or Westernized model. The hybridization thesis finally argues that local cultures borrow and integrate elements from each other, creating syncretic, or hybrid, forms. This can be evidenced from daily life activities such as popular religious and music life (Holton 2000). However, this study intends to engage the HYBRIDIZATION THEORY by Pierterse (1994) for the purpose of analyzing the perceptions and observation from the ethnography study. Pierterse (1994) refers globalization as a Hybridization process that results in global mà ©lange overtime. He argues that globalization is a multidimensional process that unfolds in numerous realms of existence concurrently, like all important social processes. Holton (2000) however, refers the hybridization thesis has a focus on the intercultural exchange and the incorporation of cultural elements from a variety of sources within particular cultural practices. Hybridization can be described as the chips among polar perspectives, its existence is assumed to be derived from the paradigm of polarization and the paradigm of homogenization, with derived significance in relation to them (Pierterse, 1995). World culture theorists have claimed that world culture exist, but to a large extent less homogeneous than claimed by the world polity theorists (Bryan 2001). Rather, globalization is better characterized by processes, alternatively described as hybridization (Pieterse, 1995), glocalization (Kraidy, 1999), or creolization (Hannerz, 2000/01) where different cultural elements are connected in new and at times unexpected ways as they make contact with each other as a product of different cultural flows (Bryan H, 2001). Pierterse (1995) observed that most interpretation refers globalization as a homogenization process that stems from the perception that the world is becoming more standard and uniform, through cultural, commercial and technological synchronization emerging from the west; and an assumption that modernity is often tied up to Globalization. He however argued that the assumption that modernity often equates globalization and westernization is critical, ambiguous, historically narrow and shallow. Pieterse (1995) advocates that globalization does not compulsorily portray declining of nation-states has frequently been referred. He argues that globalization can be reinforced together with localism as in Think globally, act locally. He opines that increase in politics of ethnic identity and neo-traditional religious actions can also be perceived in the light of globalization even as identity blueprint are emerging to be complex and local loyalties are asserted by people, who however want to share in global lifestyles and values. Globalization is perceived as a process of open-ended interconnection of influence on culture (western as well as eastern). The rapid awareness of cultural difference is interdependent with globalization and there exist both strive for acknowledgment and cultural difference on a global scale. The strive for acknowledgment entails a claim to equal rights, equality and sameness of interest which results generally as a universe with common difference. Pierte se (1994) refers culture as learned and shared beliefs and behavior; making emphasis to the term Learned not instinctual and shared not individual. This leads the argument that there exist no boundaries to culture, as cultures are always open. Nonetheless, Tomlinson (2003) argue that past scholars view globalization of culture in a pessimistic light as associated with the demolition of cultural uniqueness, and also victims of accelerated encroachment of westernized and homogenized consumer culture. He emphasized that the globalization depredation has put identification of culture at risk everywhere, particularly the developing world. His contradictory argument is that globalization is also a significant force for proliferating and creating cultural identity. Analysis of the Ethnographic study and Globalization theory (Hybridization) Glocalization, a concept of globalization that pierces through the heart of cultural hybridization (Kraidy, 1999). The glocalization concept can be viewed from the ethnography study stemming from the outer view of a young man who was using his Debit card to pay for his meal in a Chinese restaurant. This portrays a view of organizations using a global means (use of Debit card Internet banking) to satisfy local customers, and still retaining local culture of its Chinese meal and movie. This shows that globalization is out of the local or global context in which it has been perceived, as people from various nationalities of the world move around taking their country meals in other countries and making payments using a globalized advantage. The view of Piertese (1995), that globalization can be reinforced together with localism as in Think globally, act locally is emphasized. Another perception of the globalization process in relation to the ethnography study is the old man seen playing a guitar by the road side singing and receiving accolades from a group of people comprising both genders but different nationalities; assumed Pakistan and some European young blokes and ladies. The old man seems to entice people with various types of music stemming from European to westernized and also Jamaican musics. This shows the proposition by Holton (2000), that various elements of local cultures are been borrowed and integrated from each other, which in turn creates a syncretic, or hybrid, form. The groups of people viewed at the city centre are also another perception of the globalization process in relation to the ethnography study. The communication methods seem diverse and integrating. A mix of people perceived not to be from the same nationality speaking English and communicating fluently; while the some other set of people seem to be speaking some Chinese language. This elucidates Holton (2000) argument that the intercultural exchange and the integration of cultural elements from a range of sources within particular cultural practices results in Hybridization. The adaption of human nature is also an aspect of emphasis. Most people were viewed to be costumed with jean and jackets, however, some people were seen to be putting on caftans and hijabs; but a constant wear amid all is the jacket. This is as a result of the weather conditions with the most people seem adapted to irrespective of their nationalities or cultural values. Even the people putting on the caftans and hijabs were seen to be putting on the Jackets. This supports the hybridization thesis of individuals and local groups having great power to adapt with in a glocalized world. Local individuals and groups are important and creative agents. The impact of globalization on culture stems from ones thought about how his local culture should be protected from external influence, or how one thinks the cultural creativity results from communication and integration of ideas from diverse cultures (Rothenberg 2003). This was observed in the language, restaurant and musical analysis of the ethnography study carried out. People get integrated and form a cartel of globalised material in the world but however protect their local customs i.e. food, music and language evidenced by the ethnography study at the city centre. Granell (2000) argued that cultural issues are increasingly becoming an important source of strategic advantage, as part of the rising and ongoing globalization process. Although globalization is perceived by developing countries as a threat and an undesirable but nevertheless an inevitable process. He further argued that attributes of globalization does not include eradicating differences, mimicking others, or permitting more developed nations to force their models but rather incorporating differences, combination of strengths, restructuring differences and establishing efforts for a win-win process. He however, concluded by regarding Globalization is a worldwide pressure for change. Conclusion The importance of culture integration cannot be over-emphasized due to migration of various individuals and organizations to diverse nationalities. It is important to be conversant with different culture for enormous reasons; business, personal, social and governmental reasons. The knowledge of various cultures gives us an innovative idea for creating industrious inventions; while also creating better understanding amongst people in a simple way. The knowledge of diverse culture does not necessarily eliminate the cultural beliefs and values of an individual or a nation as posed by various theorists. It is not feasible to expect that the emerging global culture will substitute national cultures. Nevertheless, it is feasible to conclude that national cultures must be flexible and able to emphasize the charisma of their core essentials if they wish to remain significant in some viable style (Bird and Stevens, 2003). Globalization helps us to understand the world we live in and sometimes expands our ways of life. In the globalised times when our lives are rapidly closely tied to events and actions on the other side of the planet, culture that cross national boundaries are needed. Or else we have slight hope of making sense of happening around us. Globalization of culture can help populace embrace and come to terms with several dissimilar identities, without eliminating its own local identity. Globalization around the world those not change a persons perceptive from his local meals, language, music and religion. A globalized culture does increases knowledge of citizens in global world and does not stop them from having a feed day with their localized content, which is in support of the Hybridization theory by pieterse (1994).

Essay --

Asa Philip Randolph was a multi-dimensional man that fit into the categorizes of veteran, civil rights activist, and a intrepid leader that fought for overall labor equality for African American men. Although he was strong in his political stance he also faced the challenges of other prominent figures undermining his proactive methods which in turn deferred his results of acceptance in America. However this did not affect his advocacy for the mistreated and ignored masses. Throughout his adult life he achieved great changes in respect to unionization, work forces and was a voice of the people. Randolph believed in integration and as a result disagreed with the separated beliefs of Black Power advocates and considered violence an unethical and immoral strategy. He also did not see the problem of African American people in America as one that could be solved through isolation because it was seen as the symptom of a social illness, which in a conflict theorist perspective, is caused by an unfairly distributed amount of resources, wealth and power. As a result Randolph's views were shared in a magazine called the MESSENGER, which was founded in 1917, and according to the book A. Philip Randolph and the Struggle for Civil RIghts by Cornelius Bynum, it was considered "the only magazine of scientific radicalism published by Negroes." He co-edited the magazine with Chandler Owen, a fellow socialist who came to be Randolph's closest friend. Each were aware that many did not support their partnership but they disregarded these discriminations because they were confident that society would change with the organization of worker unions. Randolph and Owen outlined the purpose of their socialist publication in an early editorial that d... ...n the Vanguard by Andrew Edmund Kersten, this budget resorted to have the government spend $185 billion over 10 years to fight against poverty, because according to Randolph at the convention floor of the AFL-CIO the labor movement had been the only safe place for ignored, burdened and poor people. It was this ideal that kept his spirit strong through the enduring years when he was the voice for this issue. Asa Philip Randolph’s accomplishments show the immovable strength during his battle for full human rights of African Americans and other people of the nation. Since 1911 Randolph has led the movement for equal human rights within his political advances, was a role model who made something out of nothing and made a name for himself by using his struggle as motivation. He did not take no for an answer but took the initiative to change and make things better.

Lorna Dee Cervantes: Beneath the Shadow of the Freeway Essay

The form of the poem is not easy to determine. It consists of six stanzas of uneven length, which are, except for the first and fifth, again divided into sub-stanzas. The meter is irregular as well as the length of the verses and there is also no rhyme scheme. Cervantes plays very freely with the structure of poems. She does not use an established type of poem and ignores rhyme and meter, but she presents her words graphically in the form of stanzas, in separate but related sections. The six main parts are numbered. It can be assumed that the arrangement of the verses was done consciously and that it aims at a certain reception on the side of the reader. Each time a stanza or sub-stanza starts, a kind of pause emerges. This also allows the poem to have spatial and temporal leaps without transitions, but it also increases the difficulties concerning the understanding of the text. In addition to that, many things are only vaguely hinted or ambiguously presented. The inherent continuity of the poem is achieved by its themes and by its imagery. The first section deals with â€Å"the shadow of the freeway†, the image that is also in the title of the poem. It becomes obvious that the speaker lives next to a freeway; she can watch it right across the street from her porch. Every day she notices that the shadow of the freeway lengthens. This is interesting, because freeways usually do not cast shadows, they are flat. This seems to suggest that the freeway is actually a metaphor, so the speaker lives next to either a real or a metaphorical freeway. The family is introduced in the second part. It is an all-female family, consisting of three generations: grandmother, mother, and daughter. Grandmother is a â€Å"Queen†, mother is â€Å"Swift Knight, Fearless Warrior†, who wants to be a â€Å"Princess† instead. The speaker herself is conflicted by her role in the family. Because she cannot decide, she becomes a â€Å"Scribe†: a translator, someone who does â€Å"light man work†. These fairytale images contrast sharply with that of the freeway. They are a magic, mystic family that live next to a cold, plain freeway. In the third stanza the tense of the poem changes from past tense to present tense. Nature imagery is shown; it tells about seagulls and birds. Nature is again a contrast to the freeway. The last two lines of this part: Grandma â€Å"trusts only what she builds / with her own hands†, can be read as a hint that the freeway, not being built by oneself, is not to be trusted. This passage also contains accusations against men. The male mockingbirds are, in contrast to men, singing for their wives and â€Å"They don’t leave their families / borrachando†. This is said by grandma and it is very likely that she is speaking out of her own experience. In the poem the woman-family, left by their men, shows the difference between the imperfect human world and the idealized idea of nature: the mockingbirds’ family-structure is still intact. Men are to be made responsible for the destruction of the human family unit. This is made explicit in the next stanza. Grandma’s husband is described as â€Å"a man who tried to kill her†. Now if he indeed attempted to murder his wife or if he tried to kill her physically, would not make too much of a difference. It is shown that men are violent and the destroyers of the family. The tense is again past tense. The men of these women belong to the past; they are history. Grandma became a strong and self-reliant woman after being together with her husband. The family is shown as being happy by not having men, who could endanger their content lives. But the harmony of the female family is threatened. In the following stanza the speaker describes a man, entering the house during night, violent, drunk and spreading fear. It is not clear who he is; probable the man of the mother, but it could also be the grandmother’s husband. Most of this part is written in dialogic form, but it is uncertain who is speaking or who is addressed. It is also ambiguous what time this section refers to. Past tense is used, but conjunctive in the first line â€Å"in the night I would hear it† indicates that something similar happened (or happens?) more than once. The last section is finally harmonious and presents a positive outlook, also concerning men. Written in the present tense it tells about the present and the season is summer. It starts with a dialogue between one of the women and  her daughter. It is probable the mother talking to the speaker. She gives her pieces of advise, which are mainly warnings of men. She has had her experiences and does not have any illusions, but the daughter is more idealistic and trusts in a sort of natural law: â€Å"If you are good to them / they will be good to you back†. And it seems as if the speaker got confirmed in her opinion, because she is sleeping â€Å"with a gentle man / to the hymn of the mockingbirds†. This final stanza then also tells about the future. The things the daughter plans to do refer back to the grandmother. The three generations are thus linked together in cyclic harmony. A relationship with man can be achieved, if independence is preserved and confidence is only placed in oneself. The bond of the family, the unity between mother and daughter will always be stronger than any relationship between man and women. The mockingbird, which lives the ideal of a natural family including the male, is definitely a positive image and also a contrast to the freeway. The bird accompanies the grandmother’s patchwork and the speaker’s sleeping with her gentle man. The freeway is mentioned again in the last stanza, but this time without any negative connotations. It is just said that it is â€Å"across the street†. This is just a neutral statement, the freeway does not cast any shadows anymore. The natural, the mockingbird, and the unnatural, the freeway, have come to terms with each other. One could also argue that the mockingbird stands for the loving and caring female concept, involving instinct and nature, whereas the freeway expresses the male notion, being unnatural and without feeling and thinking, a â€Å"blind worm†. Just as nature and environment have to struggle with human progress, women have to struggle with men. A lot in this poems stays ambiguous and vague. Very often the voices of the three women are not to be identified; their identities merge and this increases the notion of continuity and connection among three generations of women, in which men will always be outsiders, even if they are â€Å"gentle†.

History of Real Madrid Cf

Martin Torrijos 12th Grade English November 21, 2012 Real Madrid FC Real Madrid Football Club is one of the oldest, most successful clubs in the world. Ever since its inception in 1902, the club has won countless titles, and has been a perennial contender for its entire existence. Many of the sport’s biggest, most notorious legends have worn the pure white uniforms that have become synonymous with the team. With a history of excellence, and a winning tradition that continues to this day, Real Madrid’s already unbelievable legacy looks to become even greater with the passage of time.This incredible club was founded on March 6th 1902 as â€Å"Sociedad de Madrid FC, and its first ever president was Mr. Juan Padros. In one of the first team meetings, the board agreed to the dress team white shirts, with matching shirts and socks, as a tribute to one of his favorite football clubs (Corinthia of London). This decision inadvertently led to the creation of one of football†™s most iconic looks, the pure white Real Madrid home kits. In the very same year that the club was founded, it won its first championship, the â€Å"Campeonato Regional Central† (Central Regional Championship).Two years later, On May 21, 1904; Madrid FC participated in the founding of FIFA (the international federation that, to this day, is still the central governing body of the sport), with the federations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (and their respective top clubs) all present. Decades later, on June 29, 1920; the club received a letter from the King Alfonso XIII of Spain granting them the title of a â€Å"royal†, a distinction that very few Spanish clubs can boast.Not even some of the country’s most successful clubs (Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, and Atletico de Madrid; for example) share the distinction of being â€Å"royal† clubs. Since then, the club has utilized its present name, Real Madrid Club de Fu tbol. In the same decade that they were declared football royalty, they participated in the inaugural league championship of Spain in 1929, where it finished in second place behind their soon-to-be lifelong rivals F. C. Barcelona. The following season the club began a tradition of spending made many signings, including goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora, for whom they paid 150,000 pesetas to Espanyol.Despite the large investment, Real Madrid had a discrete participation and came nowhere near winning the title. In 1931, with the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic, Real Madrid was stripped of the title of â€Å"Royal† and renamed to Madrid Football Club again. The club, however, further invested on players and obtained League 1931/32, the first in Madrid, undefeated. The success was repeated in the 1932/33 season, with Brazilian Olivares consecrated as the first big-name scorer of the team.The first era of Real Madrid-style success soon ensued, and the club won three consecuti ve leagues (1933-34, 1934-35 and 1935-36), and were also cup winners in 1934 and 1936 after beating Valencia C. F. and F. C. Barcelona respectively. With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War sports activities were suspended from 1936 to 1939. After the end of the political turmoil in Spain, the club regained its title of â€Å"Royal†. The war, however, left Real Madrid without several of their stars, so they decided to hire many players, including Sabino Barinaga, a world class midfielder who arrived from Southampton FC in England.On September 15, 1943 ex-player and former coach Santiago Bernabeu was unanimously named club president, ushering in a prosperous stage of the club’s history. This move allowed Real Madrid get the â€Å"bicampeonato†, winning both the league and domestic cup, in 1946 and1947. The club, however, suffered such poor results during the 1948-49 campaign that league winning coach Quincoces Jacinto, with just one year in office, resigned fro m his post midway through the season.In January 1948 Michael English relieved Quincoces, and managed to save the team from descending into the â€Å"Segunda Division†, the second tier league of Spanish football, which sends its top three teams into the first division while receiving the bottom three from the â€Å"Primera Division†. Although English had stars like the great Pahino at his disposal, the â€Å"Merengues† spent the next few years in mediocrity and finishing mid-table. On March 6, 1952, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding, the team hosted an international friendly tournament , where they lost the final ost to Club Deportivo Los Millonarios from Colombia. Despite the loss, the club spotted Argentine player Alfredo di Stefano and hired him from Millonarios in 1953, along and Spaniard Francisco Gento from Racing de Santander. This signing proved to be excellent, as Di Stefano would lead Madrid to an era of absolute success, and is still regarded as one of the top five players to ever play for Madrid. With â€Å"Pahino† Molowny, Di Stefano and Gento, the â€Å"Merengues† got the 1953-54 league title, after a 21 year dry spell. Di Stefano was crowned top scorer of the tournament, a feat that he would repeat four more times in Madrid.Under the direction of Spanish coach Jose Villalonga, and with a team of players like Juan Alonso, â€Å"Marquitos† Rafael Lesmes, Miguel Munoz, Jose Maria Zarraga, â€Å"Joseito† Alfredo di Stefano, Hector Rial and Francisco Gento, Real Madrid conquered 1954-55 and 1956-57 league. They also participated in the first two editions of the European Cup, which they won by beating Stade de Rennes in the French league in the Parc des Princes and ACF Fiorentina of Serie A D’Italia in the Santiago Bernabeu, respectively, in the 1955-56 and 1956-57 editions.Argentina’s Luis Carniglia relieved Villalonga, and, with the additions of Raymond Kopa, Jose Santam aria and Ferenc Puskas; the team won the 1957-58 European Cup, and beat AC Milan and Rennes in the finals of the â€Å"Coup d’Europe† in 1958 and 1959, respectively. Following years of Di Stefano-led success, the club began a new era in 1966. Madrid gave relief to the old idols of Madrid with a team of young Spanish people like Joseph Araquistain, â€Å"Pachin† Pedro de Felipe, Manuel Sanchis , â€Å"Pirri†, Ignacio Zoco Francisco Serena, Amancio Amaro, Ramon Grosso and Manuel Velazquez; and led by the veteran Francisco Gento.The rejuvenated tea won the European Cup, after years of futile performance. In the 1970? s, the now-veteran players won Real Madrid five Leagues and three Domestic Cups. The happy period of the club’s history would soon end. On June 2, 1978 Santiago Bernabeu died during the World Championships in Argentina. Soon after, in September, Luis Carlos became president of Madrid. During the reign of Luis Carlos (1978-1985), the team won 2 Leagues, 2 Cups and one UEFA Cup. In those years he was formed what came to be known as the â€Å"Quinta del Buitre† (The Vulture’s Five): Emilio Butragueno ( nicknamed the Vulture†), Michel, Manuel Sanchis, Rafael Martin Vazquez and Miguel Pardeza were all instrumental to the team’s success. In 1981, Real Madrid was defeated in the final of the Champions League for the first time, against Liverpool FC. La Quinta del Buitre was one of the best generations of home-grown Real Madrid players, starting with their win the Second Division title in 1984 with Real Madrid Castilla, the subsidiary of the Club. That generation won five consecutive league (1986-1990) , a Domestic Cup in 1989 and a second title of the UEFA Cup in 1986.In 1985, Luis Carlos retired from the presidency due to his advanced age and was succeeded by Ramon Mendoza (1985-1995). This new generation was led by Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez, bought from Atletico Madrid. They, like the Quinta del Buitre before them, achieved great success (although not as much as their predecessors). The era of victorious accomplishments was broken in 1991, when F. C. Barcelona (led by legend Johan Cruyff) managed to win four consecutive league titles and one European Cup in 1992. During those years, the Madrid only won a Copa del Rey (Domestic Cup) in 1993.At the end of that dark period, the last remnants of the Quinta del Buitre were dissolved with the departures of Butragueno and Michel Vasquez. However, another big player in history came from the Madrid youth academy, Raul Gonzalez Blanco. Commonly known by his first name only, Rauis believed by many to be the best Madrid homegrown player ever. In 1995, he returned Madrid to its winning ways, winning the league with the help of coach Jorge Valdano and signings new signings Michel Laudrup, Amavisca and Jose Redondo.The joy would prove to be short-lived, as the team failed to win any major titles in the 1995/1996 season, Valdano was f ired because of poor performances and the huge debt accumulated for Real Madrid. Real Madrid finished the season outside the European places, so it did not play in any European competition next season. After a radical restructuring of club, Madrid won the Liga 1996/1997 being directed by Fabio Capello, but he left the club due to their discussions and conflicts with then-president Lorenzo Sanz and was succeeded by Jupp Heynckes.The Madrid team led by Heynckes won the seventh European Cup (which has been renamed Champions League ) in 1998, winning the final against Juventus in Turin by a solitary goal he scored on 66 minutes of the meeting by Predrag Mijatovic, breaking 32 years of drought without winning it, but he was fired due to poor performance league. After a season without a title, Vicente del Bosque came to coach in November 1999, making a debut to promising young goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Del Bosque managed to conquer the Eighth European Cup in 2000 after defeating Valencia CF 3-0 in the final.Shortly after, Florentino Perez was elected president of Real Madrid, with a promise to end the club’s debt. On July 16, 2000 held new presidential elections. Sanz lost his re-election to Florentino Perez, who from this moment became the fourteenth president of Real Madrid. Immediately after, Perez bought Brazilian Flavio Conceicao fro Deportivo La Coruna, Frenchman Claude Makelele from Celta Vigo and Albert Celades of F. C. Barcelona. But no purchase had more impact than that of Portuguese winger Luis Figo, who was bought for 60 million from arch-rivals F.C. Barcelona. This moves started the â€Å"Galacticos† Era. This era was marked by great econoinc spending, and the purchase of many of the world’s biggest stars. Players like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Figo all ushered Madrid to great heights. In 2001, Madrid won the league again, and Raul was named top scorer. The team won two league titles (2000/2001 and 2002/2003) and the ninth European Cup in 2002 against Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a goal from Zidane right at the end of the first half.After that, the team spent 3 consecutive seasons without a title, one of the worst losing streaks in its history, prompting the resignation of Florentino on February 27, 2006. With Ramon Calderon as the new president, the club won two League titles: (2006/2007 and 2007/2008) and the Spanish SuperCup (2008) with two different coaches (Capello and Schuster), despite failures in the Champions League. In the 2008/2009 season, there was a scandal which forced the resignation of Calderon in January 2009, and he was succeeded by Vicente Boluda.He organized the transition to return to the presidency of Florentino Perez as the only candidate in the 2009 elections. With the return of Florentino Perez for the 2009/2010 season, the club bought Cristiano Ronaldo, had long sought by Calderon, and Kaka, breaking records for the most expensive players in history (C ristiano Ronaldo 96 million euros, Kaka 67. 2 million euros). Also, the club made other expensive such as Karim Benzema (35 million) and Xabi Alonso (34 million euros). As he signed to coach Manuel Pellegrini, Villarreal from the C.F. , thus beginning the Second Age of Galacticos . However, it was not enough and Real Madrid failed to win a title in 2010, despite having added 96 points in the league, a record surpassed only by the 99 champion. The good league season contraste with the early eliminations in the Doestic Cup and Champions League the sixth consecutive time falling eliminated in second round of the continental showpiece. Pellegrini ended up being removed and replaced by Jose Mourinho, who dismissed two emblematic players Raul and Guti.After 18 years of drought, Mourinho managed to win the Copa del Rey. This was the first title in the second stage of Florentino Perez as the first title from Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. The following year, Mourinho led Madrid to a league t itle, while breaking the record for most points (100), and most goals scored in a single season (121). Today, Mourinho is currently sitting at third in La Liga, and Madrid has just qualified for the next stage of both the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. The future of this club appears to be just as bright as its illustrious history.