Free Essays on Genesis

Genesis Structure The first book of the Old Testament, and subsequently the Bible, is Genesis and appropriately starts with the sentence, â€Å"This is the.† This is part of the â€Å"Toledoth† formula. In Hebrew this phrase is â€Å"elleh tole dot† and it occurs eleven times in the Old Testament. This phrase also can be translated to mean: â€Å"these are the generations†, â€Å"this is the family history†, and â€Å"this is the account.† The â€Å"Toledoth† formula sets up an interesting structure for the book of Genesis. It gives the book a prologue and then subdivides the book into ten subsequent sections; Adam, Noah, Noah’s Sons, Shem, Terah, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, and Jacob; ending at the deaths of the aforementioned men. The next approach to structure of Genesis is done in two parts the Medieval History, Creation through Tower of Babel, and the account of Abraham and his family for four generations. The chapters of Abraham and his generations are referred to as the Patriarchal Narratives. Both of these divisions begin with a creation by the word of God. Still another division can be made between the Patriarchal Narratives and the story of Joseph. This distinction is made because it tells how one man, Joseph, brought the whole of Abraham’s’ descendents to the land of Egypt. Genre The genre of Genesis is pretty straightforward. It comes across a historical record of the distant past. However, many traditional non-Christian scholars believe it to be fictional. It is interesting that the narrative of Genesis carries the reader in an easy to read order from the creation to the sojourn to Egypt. It is interesting to note that there are no dramatic genre shifts from Genesis through the rest of the Pentateuch. The style of the book leaves to no doubt as to the intent of the author to provide a detailed, historical account of the beginning of the world to the displacement of God’s chosen people to Egypt. Furthermore, ... Free Essays on Genesis Free Essays on Genesis Exegesis Genesis 3: 1-7 Exegesis-Genesis 3:1-7 Translation 1-The New International Version Rainbow Study Bible. The serpent’s deceit leads to the fall of Adam and Eve. 3. (1)Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, â€Å"Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?†(2)The woman said to the serpent, â€Å"We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, (3)but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’† (4)†You will not surely die,† the serpent said to the woman, (5)†For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.† (6)When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband , who was with her, and he ate it. (7)Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Translation 2-New King James Version 3. (1)Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, â€Å"Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?† (2)And the woman said to the serpent, â€Å"We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; (3)†but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’† (4)Then the serpent said to the woman, â€Å"You will not surely die. (5)†For God knows that in the day you eat of it you eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.† (6)So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to th e eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she... Free Essays on Genesis Genesis Structure The first book of the Old Testament, and subsequently the Bible, is Genesis and appropriately starts with the sentence, â€Å"This is the.† This is part of the â€Å"Toledoth† formula. In Hebrew this phrase is â€Å"elleh tole dot† and it occurs eleven times in the Old Testament. This phrase also can be translated to mean: â€Å"these are the generations†, â€Å"this is the family history†, and â€Å"this is the account.† The â€Å"Toledoth† formula sets up an interesting structure for the book of Genesis. It gives the book a prologue and then subdivides the book into ten subsequent sections; Adam, Noah, Noah’s Sons, Shem, Terah, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, and Jacob; ending at the deaths of the aforementioned men. The next approach to structure of Genesis is done in two parts the Medieval History, Creation through Tower of Babel, and the account of Abraham and his family for four generations. The chapters of Abraham and his generations are referred to as the Patriarchal Narratives. Both of these divisions begin with a creation by the word of God. Still another division can be made between the Patriarchal Narratives and the story of Joseph. This distinction is made because it tells how one man, Joseph, brought the whole of Abraham’s’ descendents to the land of Egypt. Genre The genre of Genesis is pretty straightforward. It comes across a historical record of the distant past. However, many traditional non-Christian scholars believe it to be fictional. It is interesting that the narrative of Genesis carries the reader in an easy to read order from the creation to the sojourn to Egypt. It is interesting to note that there are no dramatic genre shifts from Genesis through the rest of the Pentateuch. The style of the book leaves to no doubt as to the intent of the author to provide a detailed, historical account of the beginning of the world to the displacement of God’s chosen people to Egypt. Furthermore, ...

George H. W. Bush Biography

George H. W. Bush Biography George Herbert Walker Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Massachusetts. He was an oil businessman and politician, serving as Texas congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, CIA director, vice president, and as the 41st president of the United States. He died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94. Fast Facts: George H.W. Bush Born: June 12, 1924Died: November 30, 2018Term in Office: January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993Education: Graduated from Yale University with a degree in economicsSpouse: Barbara Bush (nee Pierce)Children: George W. Bush,  43rd President of the U.S., Pauline Robinson (Robin) who died at age three, John F. Jeb Bush - Governor of Florida (1999-2007),  Neil M. Bush, Marvin P. Bush, and Dorothy W. Doro BushKey Accomplishments: 41st president of the U.S. Enlisted in World War II at the age of 18 and became the youngest aviator at the time. Founded his own oil company in Texas and became a millionaire by the age of 40. U.S. congressman from Texas’ 7th District from 1967-1971. Ambassador to the United Nations and director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Family Ties and Marriage George H. W. Bush was born to Prescott S. Bush, a wealthy businessman and Senator, and Dorothy Walker Bush. He had three brothers, Prescott Bush, Jonathan Bush, and William Buck Bush, and one sister, Nancy Ellis. On January 6, 1945, Bush married  Barbara Pierce. They had been engaged before he went off to serve in World War II. When he returned from the war in late 1944, Barbara dropped out of Smith College. They were married two weeks after his return. Together they had four sons and two daughters: George W. (43rd President of the U.S.), Pauline Robinson (who died at age three), John F. Jeb Bush (former governor of Florida),  Neil M. Bush, Marvin P. Bush, and Dorothy W. Doro Bush. At time of Barbara’s death on April 17, 2018, she and George H.W. had been married for 73 years, making them the longest-married presidential couple in U.S. history. Of his beloved Barbara, Bush once wrote, â€Å"I have climbed perhaps the highest mountain in the world, but even that cannot hold a candle to being Barbaras husband.† George Bushs Military Service Before going to college, Bush signed up to join the navy and fight in World War II. He rose to the level of lieutenant. He was a navy pilot flying 58 combat missions in the Pacific. He was injured bailing out of his burning aircraft during a mission and was rescued by a submarine. Life and Career Before the Presidency Bush came from a wealthy family and attended private schools. After high school, he joined the Navy to fight in World War II before going to Yale University. He graduated from Yale with honors in 1948, earning a degree in economics. Bush began his career right out of college working in the oil industry in Texas and created a lucrative career for himself. He became active in the Republican Party. In 1967, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1971, he was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973-74). He was the chief liaison to China under Ford. From 1976-77, he served as the director of the CIA. From 1981-89, he served as vice president under Reagan. Becoming the President Bush gained the nomination in 1988 to run for president and chose Dan Quayle to run as vice president. He was opposed by democrat Michael Dukakis. The campaign was extremely negative and centered around attacks instead of plans for the future. Bush won with 54% of the popular vote and 426 out of 537 electoral votes. Events and Accomplishments of George Bush’s Presidency Much of George Bushs attention was focused  on foreign policies. Invasion of Panama (1989) - Codenamed Operation Just Cause, the invasion was the result of continuing dissatisfaction with the actions of general and dictator Manuel Noriega. His side lost the election but refused to step down. Because of United States interests in the canal zone and Noriega’s shifting allegiance to the Soviet Union, in December 1989, Bush sent troops into Panama to depose General Manuel Noriega. Noriega was heavily involved in drug trafficking. The attack was a success with Noriega removed from power.Persian Gulf War (1990-91) -   Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces invaded and occupied Kuwait in August of 1990. Other Middle Eastern states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia became alarmed and called on the US and other allies to assist. From January to February 1991, a US led coalition fought and defeated the Iraqi forces in Kuwait.  This action was given the name Desert Storm. When the Iraqi forces were removed from Kuwait, Bush stopped all military activi ty and did not pursue deposing Saddam Hussein. Bush’s handling of the invasion in Kuwait is often considered to have been his greatest presidential success. From 1990-91, the Soviet Union began breaking up as the Communist Party let go of its stranglehold on the country. The Berlin Wall came down in 1990.Economically, Bush had boxed himself into a corner with his campaign promise, Read my lips: No new taxes. However, he was required to sign  a bill into law  to raise taxes to try and reduce the deficit.Savings and Loan bailout (1989) -   At the time considered to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Bush signed into law a  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹bailout plan paid for by taxpayers.Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska (1989) - The oil tanker hit Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound on March 23rd and subsequently lost 10.8 million gallons of oil. The disaster was further compounded by a slow emergency response and impacted over 1300 miles of coastline.Clean Air Act (1990) - President Bush officially added his support to the Clean Air Act, hastening its long-delayed passage in Congress.Daily Point of Light Award (1990) - Bush crea ted the Daily Point of Light Award to recognize ordinary Americans for taking voluntary action to solve serious social problems in the communities. Over the course of his presidency, Bush recognized 1,020 Daily Points of Light award recipients representing all 50 states who had worked to address problems ranging from childhood AIDS to adult illiteracy and from gang violence to homelessness. Today, the Points of Light organization continues to award Daily Point of Light recognition annually. The 5,000th Daily Point of Light Award was awarded by President Barack Obama on July 15, 2013. Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) - A  civil rights law designed to grant similar protections as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to people with disabilities. Life After the Presidency After losing the 1992 election to Bill Clinton, Bush largely retired from public service. When his eldest son, George W. Bush won the presidency in 2000, Bush Sr. made frequent public appearances in support of his son and many political and social causes. In 2005, he joined with former president Clinton to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast region in 2005. In a matter of months, the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund raised more than $100 million in donations. In 2011, President Barack Obama honored Bush by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.   Death Suffering from Parkinsons disease since 2012, Bush died at his home in Houston, Texas on November 30, 2018, at age 94. In a statement issued from the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, President Donald Trump praised Bush’s leadership and accomplishments. â€Å"Through his essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family and country, President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service- to be, in his words, ‘a thousand points of light,’† the statement read in part.Former President George H.W. Bush will be buried on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, next to Barbara and their long-lost daughter, Robin, who died at age three. Historical Significance Bush was president when the Berlin Wall fell, and the Soviet Union fell apart. He sent troops into Kuwait to help fight Iraq and Saddam Hussein in the First Persian Gulf War. In 1989, he also ordered the removal of General Noriega from power in Panama by sending troops in.   George H W Bush Quotes Appeasement does not work. As was the case in the 1930s, we see in  Saddam Hussein  an aggressive dictator threatening his neighbors.â€Å"I think the 24-hour news cycle has helped exaggerate the differences between the parties. You can always find someone on TV somewhere carping about something. That didnt happen 20 years ago.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"I do not like broccoli. And I havent liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And Im President of the United States and Im not going to eat any more broccoli.† Updated by Robert Longley

Social Learning Theory - A. Bandura Research Paper

Social Learning Theory - A. Bandura - Research Paper Example There involves a wide rage of technical aspects that need to be focused and incorporated to achieve the very educational goals of the overall education system. According to Bandura, school must do more than just imparting knowledge in the same old traditional ways, which according to him do not have a thorough influence over the long-term learning of the students. Let the paper first analyze the key points that the Social Learning theory (Ormrod, 2007) revolves around and subsequently, will move towards specific aspects of educational systems that one should incorporate, in order to achieve the highest rate of development in the light of this theory. Social Learning Theory (Ormrod, 2007) primarily advocates the idea that the learning capability of people is because of their observations. When people observe some one practicing something and achieving any kind of results, they like imitating the person’s behavior after a sequence of cognitive processes. This means that imitatin g makes people learn and thus observation is the key element. Moreover, since behaviorist theory and other learning theories like cognitive learning theory also emphasize upon people’s learning due to their abilities of memorizing and retention; social learning theory can play a vital role as a bridge between these theories since this element is mutually found in the mentioned three theories. In addition, the factor of motivation has to be present to make the individual move forward in adopting a behavior and evolving his personality (Learning-Theories, 2008). Furthermore, there are three significant variables, Bandura has put his theory upon and integrated them with proper reasoning. As discussed earlier, firstly behavior is the key element of learning (Ormrod, 2007). The second most important feature is personal variable. The preferences of an individual play a significant part in making them distinguish between what they want to learn and what they should and what they do not want to learn and they should not. Every individual has their own area of interest with a set boundary of ethical values and mores. Imitation and observations are greatly influenced by the values that the individuals hold previously. Third important variable is the environmental events that take place. This incorporates the answers to questions like what kind of an event is taking place, how frequently and how much the recipient is involved. Thus, according to Bandura, all these factors have a collective effect over the personality development of the individuals (Frick, 1991). Educators play a significant role in making the students realize that all of them can learn anything at any point in time and in any stage of their lives. Since, every individual possesses different qualities and even each one of them has their particular bent of mind to learn according to their own capacities, the focus should be on the factor of motivation. Thus, educators should primarily try to bring a bout the motivation factor in their students at first because if motivation were not present, individual learning process would hinder a lot (Books, 2010). Secondly, educators must try knowing about the specific learning trends of every student. This connotes that some students are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and some learn through simulations and not by any other means. Once, the educators have a grip on these aspects, they can move on while focusing over

Exploring an Object Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Exploring an Object - Essay Example Description: My grandfather’s weapon is a doubled barreled, semi-automatic CZ-USA Sporting Shotgun, which uses â€Å"ammunition of 12 or 20 gauges† and best suited for hunting, which is one of his most favorite hobbies (CZ-USA Shotguns 17). It is capable of firing both lead as well as steel pellets. With walnut wood gunstock and fore end, and â€Å"checkering† on its â€Å"gripping surfaces, it acquires a sleek outlook. The components of the â€Å"barreled action† are prepared in â€Å"construction steel† with the protection of â€Å"alkaline oxidation† on the surface (17). Its comfortable grip enables it to be balanced in both hands and it is easy to aim and shoot. Besides, the weapon facilitates best results even on the occasions of instinctive firing. Similarly, its trigger pull weight is low, and it possesses a high accuracy of fire, apart from having a â€Å"long service life and â€Å"high reliability† (17). The brown wood with a silver patch and the metallic steel barrels offer it an elegant look and render it a remarkable grace. (Image Source: CZ USA Shotguns 17) Formal Analysis: While normally people perceive a gun as merely a weapon, the fact remains that it connotes to concepts far beyond notions of an object of destruction. It represents class and power as well as emulates the emotion of pride in the person who possesses the equipment. Therefore, makers of gun pay meticulous attention in its design and visual appeal. The design of my grandfather’s shotgun illustrates these concepts and much beyond. Its whole structure and design inspires awe in the beholders’ eyes and the elongated barrel offers an impression of its muzzle power. The firearm’s heel is broader, which tapers down to its toe to a slightly pointed shape. Similarly, the stock is designed with a sharp slant upwards to the grip, while the grip is shaped to offer maximum comfort to the shooter when firing from the weapo n. In addition, the checkered design on the grip offers it great charm in close up besides providing extra firmness to the hold while gripping the weapon. The fore-end is also made in brown walnut wood, with the same checkered texture as in the case of the grip, to offer better hold on the weapon while firing from it. The magazine loading port is rendered in silver color, thus providing a contrast with the brown stock and base of the magazine tube. Similarly, the barrel done in metallic steel also compliments the color and appearance in full alignment with the stock and fore-end. The upper barrel is lined with steel grids, which give its design a three dimensional effect apart from providing it more sleekness. Further the elongated and rather narrow barrel best fits the athletic appeal of a sporting gun as well as renders it uniqueness from similar weapons. This object falls in the category of functional art, which envisages the concept that a piece of functional art is beautiful be cause of its â€Å"exquisite functionality† (Cairo xx). Thus, it can be construed that since the weapon serves a purpose and has functionality as a firearm, it needs to be categorized as functional art. Similarly, Cairo (2013) further clarifies that the ability to visualize is a tool and, therefore, functional art is a device, the aim of which is to â€Å"help an audience complete certain tasks† (23). Thus, it transpires that an object that serves a purpose falls in the cate

Mule Killers Essay Example for Free

Mule Killers Essay â€Å"Mule Killers†, 2004 by Lydia Peele is the gripping story of love and the difficulties around it. It deals with issues such as fatherhood, friendship and marriage, including the conflicts surrounding these. Lydia Peele presents the story of a father telling his son, who is the narrator, an anecdote from his early life. The anecdote is an unhappy love story of the narrator’s father’s love life, and the relationship to the narrator’s grandfather. In a story with its roots in rural America, a much deeper story appears. This is a story of love, hope and the decisions of life. It is the story of the struggles and difficulties that are a part of life. The story, set in the countryside of the USA, presents a group of interesting characters with strong personalities, that each have their way of participating to the story. It is especially the father and the grandfather that have great significance to the Lydia Peele’s short story. The grandfather is presented as a man who is afraid of letting go of his usual surroundings and habits. This is seen on line 77-78, page 4. The grandfather tells the father: †You’re gonna see a future I can’t even stretch my mind around. Not any of it. I can’t even begin to imagine†. The fact that he has such difficulties imagining the future, points towards the conclusion that he would rather live in the present. He would rather live his old fashioned life and not worry about the future. The grandfather’s way of thinking seems old fashioned and generally conservative. When his son explains how he accidentally impregnated a young woman, without having any intentions of marrying her, the conservatism shines through. The grandfather replies on line 86-87, page 4â€Å"This is wrong†¦You got no choice but to take care of it. This is wrong†. The two different worlds of son and father clash, and the true differences are shown. Even though father and son look upon the world with different points of view, the son still has massive respect for his old man. His father is actually his role model, which is also shown throughout the text: â€Å"My father has his father’s height, and he carries it apologetically†(line 7, page 2). The word â€Å"apolegitacally† points towards the fact that the son is aware of the superiority that his father possesses. The son has difficulties living up to his father and his way of life. He wants to possess his father’s ability to show no emotion and how to be â€Å"a real man†. He hides the feelings that strong men traditionally do not feel: He is trying hard to keep certain things inside his chest: things like fear, sadness, and uncertainty†. (line 7-9, page2). This could very likely be a typical trend of the time and environment that the story takes place in. The final main character in the anecdote is the narrator, who is the son to the young man with love problems in the short story. The son is a first person narrator, so the point of view is limited to him. His main function is to tell the story. An actual presentation of his personality is not included. As stated earlier, the setting has great importance for the personalities of the main characters in the story. The setting is in Nashville, just before industrialization modernized the farming life with tractors. The father in the story carries typical traits of a farmer dedicated to old norms, such as no illegitimate children. A possible explanation of this could be that the state of Tennessee is located in the Bible belt, which is known as a highly religious area. There are also other elements of the setting that point out the religious beliefs that the two main characters have: â€Å"At church she always sits with the same girl† (line 14), page 2. The use of the adverb â€Å"always† proves that the son and father attend church on a regular basis. Whilst reading â€Å"Mule Killers† several obvious themes jump out on the page. The main theme seen in the short story is the generational difference between father and son. As stated earlier, the father tries to hold on to his old norms and principals, whereas the son believes in a modern way of life. The difference is illustrated when the son decides not to marry the girl whom he impregnated. The father regards this as uncaring and irresponsible. The views of the son seem to relate to the modern world of today. It becomes more and more ordinary to have a baby outside of marriage without the intentions of helping the mother nurture the child. A specific example is seen in MTV’s â€Å"Teenage Mom† television program where several teenage girls give birth. The program also shows the way the father typically tends to leave the mother after birth. If this had happened in the time where the â€Å"Mule Killers† takes place or prior to it, it would have had major consequences for the father of the child. One can therefore conclude that the times constantly change and some people will always be â€Å"caught† in the past, which in this case is the father. This could also be a possible message of the story. The message could be that norms change throughout history, but not all people follow the change. Regardless of this, it is still important to respect the people who have a hard time dealing with the future. Lydia Peele manages to take the reader on a journey of love and the relationship between the narrator’s father and grandfather. She also shows the reader the different norms and beliefs that the two generations have, and the clashes than can rise to the surface due to this. She also presents the stereotypical religious middle class farmer at this time. This is done by using a small farmer town located in the Bible belt as a setting. The short story is a touching and mind bobbling tale portraying the relationship between two sets of father and son. It tells the tale of the relationship between the narrator’s father and grandfather. The relationship between the narrator’s father and grandfather is presented as a relationship built on a general respect for the elderly. The narrator’s father respects the grandfather since he listens to what he says, and obeys the rules that the grandfather upholds. It is also the tale of how the setting, which is the farmer community in the US during the industrialization, has a major importance for the outcome of the story. The highly religious setting is represented in the Narrator’s grandfather’s point of view regarding childbirth. All in all the short story shows the difficulties surrounding love and how to deal with it in a sensible matter.

Parental Control vs. Guidance in Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club :: Joy Luck Club Essays

Parental Control vs. Guidance in Joy Luck Club      Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel, "Joy Luck Club," by Amy Tan describes the struggle between a dominate mother who tries to protect her daughter, Ni kan, from the devastating losses that she suffered by convincing her that she might become anyone she wants to be. Ni kan resents her mother's control and wishes only to be herself. The author clearly illustrates in this novel that parents cannot control their children's lives; they can only guide them in the right direction and let them make their own decisions.    First of all, Amy Tan shows that Ni kan's mother attempted to dominate and control her daughter's life. The mother does this by telling Ni kan that "'. . . you can be prodigy, too'" (Tan 491) and insisting that she work toward this goal. Ni kan is then sent down a path of endless tests and lessons. These include tests on capitals of the states; multiplying numbers in her head; finding the queen of hearts in a deck of cards; trying to stand on her head without using her hands; predicting the daily temperatures in Los Angeles, New York, and London; and looking at a page from the Bible for three minutes and reporting everything that she remembers (Tan 492).    Although Ni kan quickly loses interest of her mother's dream of being a prodigy, her mother persists. She arranges for Ni kan to take piano lessons. Her mother does not ask her if she wants to play the piano or to explore another art form. She arranges a complete schedule of lessons and practices that take over not only her daughter's physical existence but also dominate Ni kan's thoughts for most of her free time. Her mother wants to control not only her actions but also her dreams and aspirations, and she will not tolerate disobedience. She clearly says that "Only one kind of daughter can live in this house. Obedient daughter" (Tan 497).    Amy Tan shows that Ni kan resents her mother's decisions and resists her control. After many failed tests in knowledge and skills, Ni kan asserts to herself, "I won't let her change me. . ." (Tan 492). This clearly shows a child resisting parental domination and control. The piano lessons evokes a response of "...I felt like I was being sent to hell" (Tan 493).

Judging on Apperance

Justin Tipton What is the first thing we do when meeting a first. We judge! Judging someone based on their appearance is an inherent human instinct. Many times when people judge a person, people end up making wrong decisions. We create mental images in our minds that categories people based upon their appearance. When you see a man in a suit, tie, and a briefcase you figure is a lawyer, professor, or a businessman. In reality the guy that you see could have been out for a special event and could be no more than a car mechanic. We base our opinions on perceptions on people based upon what we can biologically see with our eyes.In her article how the eye works Ker Than explain how we use our eyes to visually see things. â€Å"Vision begin when lights rays are reflected off an object and enter the eyes through the cornea, The transparent outer covering of the eyes. The cornea refracts the rays that pass through a round hole, called the pupil. The Irish is the colored portion of the eye that surrounds the pupil, and then become larger or smaller to regulate the amount of light passing through. The rays then travel through the lenses to the retina at the back of the eye. The retina conducts light into electrical impulses.The optic nerve sends impulses to the brain where a visual image or perception is produced. † We use our eye to visually see people, and to make an array of judgment about that person based on what we see. While it’s true we can come times tell certain thing about people by looking at their external appearance, it is not the best of measurements. I believe people should not judge people by their external appearance, and should at least speak with a person before making a judgment. You can’t judge a person character base on appearance and that why many of us make unfair and bias assumption of others.People sometimes change their appearance to fit different situations. According to a Washington post article, Joshua bell one of the world greatest violinists set out to do an experiment to test people’s perception on appearance. By most, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt and Washington National baseball cap. He positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket, from a case; he moved his violin and began to play. It was a Friday and the middle of morning rush hour. The violinist played for nearly an hour, and performed six classical pieces.Nearly 1,100 people passed by, many of them on their way to work. No one knew it, but the fiddler standing against a bare wall outside was one of the finest classical musicians in the world, playing some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made. In the hour that Joshua Bell played, seven people stooped what they were doing to hang around and take in the performance, at least for minute. Twenty-seven gave money, for a total of thirty-two dollars and seventeen cents. That means over 1 ,070 people passed on by, with few even turning to look.Three days before conducting this experiment on a street corner in Washington, Joshua bell filled the house at Boston’s stately symphony Hall, where the average seat went for one-hundred dollars. the appearance of a guy in plain clothes playing a violin at the street corner, made many people ignore his sound before ever even taking the time to listen. Many times people judge what they see, and ignore the beauty that right in front of their face. To begin with, someone external appearance is not mirror of one’s inner self. I can relate to from examples in my own life.Being a young African-American male, growing up near Memphis one of Americas most dangerous cities. I came from a poorer family, I been working full time since attending college. In the day time I was a college student, but at work I was a normal sweaty and dirty factory worker. When people saw me at work, they assumed I was uneducated and not very int elligent. In reality, I was a good academic student, has a good reputation among my fellow students and professors. My co-workers couldn’t see the college side of me, and many of my fellow students couldn’t see working in a factory which was known for harsh working conditions.Since leaving the factory, I know have a security job just outside of downtown Nashville. TRICOR is the name of the corporation is profits in the million, by utilizing inmates for production and paying their cheap labor wages. This cooperation is ran by your typical CEO, a short old white man, that dresses in suits and ties and owns many expenses vehicles. For many months while working there, he passed by me every day and never once he even acknowledging my presence. One day I was reading a book about written from a famous entrepreneur, and the boom caught the eye of the CEO.He walked up to me and asked why I reading a book like that, I told I was a college student that was a business major, and t hat it has beneficial information in this nook, and that I read many book from this author. He then brought to my attention that he has read the same book and he too was a fan of the author books. After conversation for a few minutes he then brought to my attention that he too grew up from a poor family, and that he also work at a factory and once at a security job while too attending college. I am a business management major and he too has a degree in business management .Ever since that day of our conversation he speak to me daily, and we hold brief but interesting conversation often. Prior to that conversation we had never spoken to another, once we looked past the external appearance, we realized we two men who shared many things in common. You may not realize it, but perception based on appearance happen all the time. Studies show that fifty-five percent of opinion of a person is based upon physical appearance, and that it takes around fifteen second for a person to realize if he or she like your or not, or want to do business with you.Do honestly we feel like we get accurate of someone inner self with over half of what we perceive come from appearance, and while only judging them for one-fourth of a minute? Many people believe that judging people on the appearance is beneficial and effective. Mangers often use appearance as a asset while evaluating a candidate for a job. You could have two good candidates with impressive resume, but choosing a candidate based on race, or which dressed too me is ineffective. In reality just because one candidate is dressed better, doesn’t make him any smarter or better qualified than the other.When it comes to judging a lover or friend, external appearance shouldn’t be a factor on your judgment about that person. Much time we see that a man or women date someone because she is beautiful and he is handsome. In high school and college you see on many occasions when someone hangs around a certain person because it will increase his/her popularity. In a poem I once read it state â€Å"we see best when we look for the less†. In just a few words, that poem speaks a lot, we see the best when look past the artificial obvious, and see the beauty that deep within a person.Beauty and the Beast just a fairy tale and a kid’s story but moral of this tale has such a deeper meaning. The story about a beautiful women falling in love with an ugly beast, passed artificial obvious and see the beauty that lied deep within him. Making a judgment on some based only external appearance is an unfair and accurate judgment of someone. It is not accurate to judge someone based on we biologically see wit our eyes. A appearance can adjust and change their appearance to fit many different situation where there true selves do not show, but a person cannot change his/her character.For these reason, it is important to get to know someone before making a judgment. â€Å"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched†. â€Å"But must be felt by the heart†. The best and most beautiful things in people cannot be seen by the eyes. Judging someone on external appearance is an inherent and instinct that happen almost instantaneously. We as people have the ability to control our judgment, we have the ability to use our minds to see more within people than what we see with our eyes.Stero-typing is something we do without even noticing, but placing people into different categories based on external appearance limits our ability to meet new people. Sometimes the people that we expect knot to have anything in common with, could be a totally false assumption. If we allow ourselves to judge and meet people of different culture, many would be surprised to know they share many things in common with people they would have never suspected. As long as people allow ourselves to be blinded by external appearance then we will fully see the inner beauty within so m any people.

Enforcing Racial Discrimination Essay

The series of photographs documented by the Farm Security Administration of the Office of War Information photographers were taken between 1937 and 1943, presumably during the years the unit was in operation. These photographers were tasked to document various manifestations of change and continuity in the prevalent American life, and this resulted in a vivid collection of images that particularly focused on the practice of racial segregation. Curiously, while the photographers were not officially acknowledged to have been directed to document specific scenes, the prints produced exhibited a skew toward signs that indicate racial discrimination and segregation (LOC 2004). Among the thirty-one photos included in the series, all depict signs situated in a number of locations such as bus and train stations, restaurants, cafes, bars, movie theaters, stores, and billiard halls. These signs also collectively show the use of words such as â€Å"colored† and â€Å"white’, which clearly validate the existence of segregation between Caucasian Americans and individuals of ethnic origins such as blacks and Indians. True to the era during which they were photographed, the environment and people incidentally present in each picture appear in authentic manners of architecture and fashion. II. Racial Segregation in America The issue on race and discrimination in America can be famously traced centuries back, with the history of Africans being brought into the country as slaves. Though this deplorable condition had been corrected by the gains of the Civil War, thus granting freedom to blacks. However, the occurrence of the Great Depression in the 1920s brought back situations identical to those experienced by African-Americans previously, as the country was beset by the chaos produced by the lack of jobs and sources of income. In 1932, most blacks found themselves without work, and there was increasing pressure from whites to have blacks fired from any job that they believed should be assigned to unemployed whites. Numerous forms of racial violence again ensued, particularly in the South, during the 1930s (LOC 2002). The legal foundation of racial segregation was the Jim Crow laws, which were imposed in the 1860s mainly in railroad cars, and continued to be enforced throughout the decades until the 1960s (McElrath 2008). The effects of segregation on typical American life and society were apparently significant enough to create scenes extraordinary enough to tell their own stories through photographs, which were precisely what the Farm Security collection achieved. III. Beyond the Signs: Marking the Lines of Race The objective of the Farm Security photographs had been to depict regular American life, yet it is clear how the typicality of the images at the time does not lend itself in the same nature today. There is a point of discussion in the deliberate move to show not just groups of whites and ethnic people, but the centering on the signs that limit freedom, that erase the function of choice. The study of signs, known as semiotics, provides the connection between the audience, interpreter, and the sign itself (Littlejohn 2008). The photos, with their studied involvement of the actual sign, venue, and individuals, already form the three-part process; the blacks are the audience and the photographer is the interpreter, within the space covered by the sign. This shows how the photographers aimed to convey a reality, a system that used semiotics as a way to impose discrimination. This they had done with not just a bit of participation on their end, quite like the way Coles (1997) appropriated documentary work with the linking of lives with the subject. The same logic is utilized by Gripsrud (in Gillespie and Toynbee 2006), when he classified a photographer’s work as indexical—the identifying of a specific aspect of a subject—and therefore lends to much subjectivity. IV. Showing Signs of Racial Conflict to an Audience While the audience of the signs were the blacks—and whites, depending on the sign and situation—the photos’ audience are people who would benefit from knowledge of a different period, as was the arguable objective of the Farm Security photographers in documenting change and continuity in American life. Mainly, the photos were for research and evaluation, whether or not the audience would find them appalling or give them their approval. It may be possible that some of those who comprise the audience are people who have lived through the same era, making them mere confirmations of what they already know; but the more relevant audience would be the uninformed, who would find new insight into American society and its management of racial issues in the late 1930s and early 40s. V. Appropriation of Technique and Style in Communicating Racism The black-and-white photography is already significant on its own, referring to the subjects as well; seeing words on the signs captured in the photographs deals a double blow—‘black’, or ‘colored’, and ‘white’ signs in black-and-white photos. The photographers simply captured the signs as they were, specially for those in venues without people milling around, but there were also photos that provided degrees of humanity and emotion. One of the most striking is a photo of a bar showing whites having beer, a sign on the wall above them that says â€Å"Positively no beer sold to Indians†. Though Indians are known for their penchant for alcohol, it is disturbing one clear sign can show how this ethnic group is singled out and discriminated against—an error of generalization. The white people in the photo appear serious and quite professional, which indicates how the sign should not be misconstrued as a joke. Other photos in the collection, though showing signs and places rather than people as subjects, reveal the increasing culture of urbanization—shown by the railroads, buses, and stores where the signs are found. Urbanization, being common ground for both blacks and whites, necessitates signs; these indicate white control over society and economy, and the intent to keep ‘colored’ people away from this power. Works Cited Primary Source: Library of Congress. â€Å"Photographs of Signs Enforcing Racial Discrimination: Documentation by Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photographers†. Prints & Photographs Reading Room. April 30, 2004. Secondary Sources: Coles, Robert. â€Å"The Tradition: Fact and Fiction†. Doing Documentary Work. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Gripsrud, Jostein. â€Å"Semiotics: signs, codes and cultures†. In Gillespie, Marie and Jason Toynbee. Analysing Media Texts. Berkshire: Open University Press, 2006. Library of Congress. â€Å"Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945: Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s†. 2002. McElrath, Jessica. â€Å"Creation of Jim Crow South: Segregation in the South†. About. com. 2008.

Gigantopithecus - Facts and Figures

Gigantopithecus - Facts and Figures Name: Gigantopithecus (Greek for giant ape); prounced jie-GAN-toe-pith-ECK-us Habitat: Woodlands of Asia Historical Epoch: Miocene-Pleistocene (six million to 200,000 years ago) Size and Weight: Up to nine feet tall and 1,000 pounds Diet: Probably omnivorous Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; large, flat molars; four-footed posture About Gigantopithecus The literal 1,000-pound gorilla sitting in the corner of a natural history museum, the appropriately named Gigantopithecus was the largest ape that ever lived, not quite King Kong-sized but, at up to half a ton or so, much bigger than your average lowland gorilla. Or, at least, thats the way this prehistoric primate has been reconstructed; frustratingly, practically everything we know about Gigantopithecus is based on its scattered, fossilized teeth and jaws, which first came to the worlds attention when they were sold in Chinese apothecary shops in the first half of the 20th century. Paleontologists arent even sure how this colossus moved; the consensus is that it must have been a ponderous knuckle-walker, like modern gorillas, but a minority opinion holds that Gigantopithecus may have been capable of walking on its two hind feet. Another mysterious thing about Gigantopithecus is when, exactly, it lived. Most experts date this ape from Miocene to mid-Pleistocene eastern and southeastern Asia, about six million to one million years B.C., and it may have survived in small populations until as late as 200,000 or 300,000 years ago. Predictably, a small community of cryptozoologists insists that Gigantopithecus never went extinct, and persists in the present day, high up in the Himalayan Mountains, as the mythical Yeti, better known in the west as the Abominable Snowman! (Rest assured that no reputable scientists subscribe to this theory, which is supported by absolutely no compelling material or eyewitness evidence.) As fearsome as it must have looked, Gigantopithecus seems to have been mostly herbivorouswe can infer from its teeth and jaws that this primate subsisted on fruits, nuts, shoots and, just possibly, the occasional small, quivering mammal or lizard. (The presence of an unusual number of cavities in Gigantopithecus teeth also points to a possible diet of bamboo, much like that of a modern Panda Bear.) Given its size when fully grown, an adult Gigantopithecus would not have been an active target of predation, though the same cant be said for sick, juvenile or aged individuals, which figured on the lunch menu of various tigers, crocodiles and hyenas. Gigantopithecus comprises three separate species. The first and largest, G. blacki, lived in southeastern Asia starting in the middle Pleistocene epoch and shared its territory, toward the end of its existence, with various populations of Homo erectus, the immediate precursor of Homo sapiens. The second, G. bilaspurensis, dates to six million years ago, during the Miocene epoch, about the same early time frame as the oddly named G. giganteus, which was only about half the size of its G. blacki cousin.

Geography of Arizona & Facts About the 48th State

Geography of Arizona & Facts About the 48th State Population: 6,595,778 (2009 estimate)Capital: PhoenixBordering States: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New MexicoLand Area: 113,998 square miles (295,254 sq km)Highest Point: Humphreys Peak at 12,637 feet (3,851 m)Lowest Point: Colorado River at 70 feet (22 m)Arizona is a state located in the southwestern United States. It became a part of the U.S. as the 48th state (the last of the contiguous states) to be admitted into the Union on February 14, 1912. Today Arizona is known for its varied landscape, national parks, desert climate and the Grand Canyon. Arizona has recently been in the news due to its stringent and controversial policies on illegal immigration. 10 Geographic Facts About Arizona The first Europeans to explore the Arizona region were the Spanish in 1539. In the 1690s and early 1700s, several Spanish missions were established in the state and Spain established Tubac in 1752 and Tucson in 1775 as presidios. In 1812, when Mexico achieved its independence from Spain, Arizona became a part of Alta California. However with the Mexican-American War in 1847, the area of present-day Arizona was given up and it eventually became a part of the Territory of New Mexico.In 1863, Arizona became territory after New Mexico seceded from the Union two years earlier. The new Arizona Territory consisted of the western part of New Mexico.Throughout the rest of the 1800s and into the 1900s, Arizona began to grow as people moved into the area, including Mormon settlers who founded the cities of Mesa, Snowflake, Heber and Stafford. In 1912, Arizona became the 48th state to enter the Union.Following its entry into the Union, Arizona continued to grow and cotton farming and copper mini ng became the states two largest industries. After World War II, the state grew even more with the development of air conditioning and tourism to the states national parks also increased. In addition, retirement communities began to develop and today, the state is one of the most popular for people of retirement age on the West Coast. Today, Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. and the Phoenix area alone has over four million residents. The total population of Arizona is hard to determine however because of its large number of illegal immigrants. Some estimates claim that illegal immigrants make up 7.9% of the states population.Arizona is considered one of the Four Corner states and it is best known for its desert landscape and highly varied topography. High mountains and plateaus cover more than half of the state and the Grand Canyon, which was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, is a popular tourist destinations.Like its topography, Arizona also has a varied climate, though much of the state is considered desert with mild winters and very hot summers. Phoenix for instance has an average July high of 106.6ËšF (49.4ËšC) and a January average low of 44.8ËšF (7.1ËšC). By contrast, Arizonas higher elevations often have milder summers and very cold winters. Flagstaff for ex ample has a January average low of 15.3ËšF (-9.28ËšC) and a July average high of 97ËšF (36ËšC). Thunderstorms are also common throughout much of the state. Because of its desert landscape, Arizona mainly has vegetation that can be classified as xerophytes - these are plants like cactus that use little water. The mountain ranges however have forested areas and Arizona is home to the larges stand of Ponderosa pine trees in the world.In addition to the Grand Canyon and its desert landscape, Arizona is known as having one of the best preserved meteorite impact sites in the world. The Barringer Meteorite Crater is about 25 miles (40 km) west of Winslow, Az. and is almost one mile (1.6 km) wide and 570 feet (170 m) deep.Arizona is one state in the U.S. (along with Hawaii) that does not observe Daylight Saving Time.To learn more about Arizona, visit the states official website. SourceInfoplease.com. (n.d.). Arizona: History, Geography, Population and State Facts- Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0108181.htmlWikipedia.com. (24 July 2010). Arizona - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona

Toni Morrison Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Toni Morrison - Research Paper Example Most of the blacks in America came in as slaves and lacked education. The last 3 centuries have been dominated by whites in the literature industry. When Toni was born in 1930, she experienced racism and decided to create an impact in black society in America (Fultz 78). This paper is going to make an inquiry about Toni Morrison’s life and how she had influenced American culture especially for the Blacks. The paper seek to find out her early life and the challenges she had go through to end up as a well-recognized icon in the field of literature in the US and her impact on black culture. Toni fought the notion that the Negros is not intellectual and for this she was awarded with Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts on human rights activism. Morrison was born in Ohio in 1931. She became a catholic at age 12 and she adapted her writing skills from the story telling character that she acquired from his father who told many stories about the black community. This is where Toni found her point her career for fighting for the Negros human rights. As a catholic she acquired the name Anthony which was later nicknamed Toni a name she is famously known for. She graduated from Howard University in 1953 with an Bachelor of Art in English. Her interest in writing career made her pursue her second degree which she acquired in 1955 from Cornell University. According to Toni, only education and knowledge would break the chains of racism and discrimination the blacks suffered in America hence her reasons for further studies. 3 years from her Masters graduation Toni was married to Harold Morrison whom they both gave birth to 2 children. Their marriage only lasted 6 years after which Toni divorced her architectural husband she met in Howard University. After this divorce, Toni was forced to move to New York where she landed a job as a book editor. This job inspired Toni to be a good writer and her efforts led to the exposure of black literature works into the