Europes Ethnic Minorities Essay Example

Europes Ethnic Minorities Essay â€Å"Europe’s Ethnic Minorities† Jessica Williams Instructor Amber Welch HIS 306 Twentieth-Century Europe March 1, 2011 Europe’s Ethnic Minorities Since the 1900s, European History has seen its lows and highs when it came to ethnic tolerance and prejudice. The European Union has been dealing with discrimination for a long period of time.This conflict stems from the principles of social, economic and political modernization, on the one hand, and promotion of ethnic diversity and ethno-cultural specify, on the other, was particularly perceptible in the Soviet model of multiculturalism, which might be defined as ethno-territorial federalism. (Hall, 1995). The Soviet project of social modernization was accompanied by the appearance, encouragement and establishment of reified cultural differences by the institutionalization of ethnicity through the implementation of the korenizatsiia (indigenization) projects in the 1920s. (Tishkov, 1997).The political and government al constitutions in the national autonomies were created in a means that mirrored the ethnic composition of the province or country. As a rule, the representatives of supposed nationalities prevailed amongst state or regional officials. The innovative political classes in the national autonomies were produced by enlisting new affiliates of the Communist Party mainly from the supposed ethnic groups. (Tishkov, 1997). As Tishkov states, in the Soviet Union, â€Å"[titular] nationality had taken on a new importance as an indicator of membership in the relevant social and cultural community†.Most of Europes indigenous peoples, or ethnic groups known to have the earliest known historical connection to a particular region, have gone extinct or been absorbed by (or, perhaps, contributed to) the dominant cultures. Those that survive are largely confined to remote areas. Groups that have been identified as indigenous include the Sami of northern Scandinavia, the Basques of northern Spa in and southern France, and a many of the western indigenous peoples of Russia.Groups in Russia include Finno-Ugric peoples such as the Komi and Mordvins of the western Ural Mountains, Samoyedic peoples such as the Nenets people of northern Russia. Europe is also where a multiplicity of cultures, nationalities and ethnic groups originated outside of Europe reside in, most of them are recently arrived immigrants in the 20th century and their country of origin are often a former colony of the British, French and Spanish empires. Amin, 2004). The ethnic self-identification of Soviet citizens was institutionalized through the organization of government and administration along ethno-territorial lines and by classifying the population by nationality (Beck, 2006). In the final days of the Soviet Union, the world witnessed ethno nationalism emerging from the legacy of Soviet ethno-federalism and the institutionalized personal ethnic identifications of Soviet citizens.In Beck’s words , â€Å"the Soviet institutions of territorial nationhood and personal nationality comprised a ready-made template for claims to sovereignty, when political space expanded under Gorbachev†. The Soviet nationalities policy and its institutional operational were used to a greater or lesser extent as a template in other socialist countries. The similarities are most evident in the cases of the former Yugoslavia and, to a lesser degree, in Czechoslovakia; both theses states were constituted as ethno-territorial federations and thus the principle of ethnic/national difference was ‘constitutionally enshrined†.In these countries, therefore, socialism might be said to have naturalized and reinforced ethnic differences although such differences had been present as a political issue in Central and South Eastern Europe since the growth of nationalism in the region in the nineteenth century. In (former) Yugoslavia, for example, the institutional of ethno-territorial federalis m resulted in the redefinition of religious identities as ethnic and national. Thus the ethnic category ‘Muslim’ was created for Serb-Croat speaking Muslims in the federative republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and some other areas of Yugoslavia.After the disintegration of the Yugoslav state this ethnic category has been transformed into that of Bosnia); a clear reference to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina (which is itself a multinational federation) but is used generally only in relation to citizens of Bosnia and that reflected the ethnic composition of the region or territory. The ethnic self-identification of Soviet citizens was institutionalized through the organization of government and administration along ethno-territorial lines and by classifying the population by nationality.In the final days of the Soviet Union, the world witnessed ethno nationalism emerging from the legacy of Soviet ethno-federalism and the institutionalized personal ethnic identifications of Soviet citizens. (Appiah, 2005) In Brubaker’s words, â€Å"the Soviet institutions of territorial nationhood and personal nationality comprised a ready-made template for claims to sovereignty, when political space expanded under Gorbachev†. (Amin, 2004). The Soviet nationalities policy and its institutional operational was used to a greater or lesser extent as a template in other socialist countries.The similarities are most evident in the cases of the former Yugoslavia and, to a lesser degree, in Czechoslovakia; both theses states were constituted as ethno-territorial federations and thus the principle of ethnic/national difference was ‘constitutionally enshrined’. In these countries, therefore, socialism might be said to have naturalized and reinforced ethnic differences although such differences had been present as a political issue in Central and South Eastern Europe since the growth of nationalism in the region in the nineteenth century.In (former) Yu goslavia, for example, the institutionalization of ethno-territorial federalism resulted in the redefinition of religious identities as ethnic and national. Thus the ethnic category ‘Muslim’ was created for Serbo-Croat speaking Muslims in the federative republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina and some other areas of Yugoslavia. After the disintegration of the Yugoslav state this ethnic category has been transformed into that of ‘Bosnia’; an ethnonyme that has clear reference to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but is used generally only in relation to citizens of Bosnia. Appiah, 2005). Europe’s vision of the division and relationship between ‘self’ and ‘other’. Indeed, we suggest that this multicultural vision not only positions certain Eastern and South Eastern European ‘others’ as displaying ‘dangerous’ primordial ethnic belonging but through its conscious promotion (not least as a key criterion for el igibility for membership of the European Union) may in fact engender such primordial ties as a politics of resistance. Tolerance is the appreciation of diversity and the ability to live and let others live.It is the ability to exercise a fair and objective attitude towards those whose opinions, practices, religion, nationality and so on differ from ones own. William Ury once said, tolerance is not just agreeing with one another or remaining indifferent in the face of injustice, but rather showing respect for the essential humanity in every person. Intolerance is the failure to appreciate and respect the practices, opinions and beliefs of another group.For instance, there is a high degree of intolerance between Israeli Jews and Palestinians who are at odds over issues of identity, security, self-determination, statehood, the right of return for refugees, the status of Jerusalem and many other issues. The result is continuing inter-group violence. (Appiah, 2005). At a post-9/11 confe rence on multiculturalism in the United States, participants asked, How can we be tolerant of those who are intolerant of us? For many, accepting intolerance is neither tolerable nor likely.In Europe, tolerance seemed like an impossible exercise because being tolerant nevertheless remains the solution to reducing hostile tensions among groups and helping nations move past obstinate differences. Tolerance is fundamental to diverse groups relating to one another in a deferential and accepting approach. In cases when nations in Europe were extremely ingrained in vicious quarrels, being tolerant helped the affected groups endure the pain of the past and resolve their differences.In Rwanda, the Hutus and the Tutsis have tolerated a reconciliation process, which has helped them to work through their anger and resentment towards one another. In situations where conditions are economically depressed and politically charged, groups and individuals may find it hard to tolerate those that are different from them or have caused them harm. In such cases, discrimination, dehumanization, repression, and violence have occurred.This can be seen in the context of Kosovo, where Kosovar Alabanians, struggling with scarcity and joblessness, needed a scapegoat, and supported an aggressive Serbian attack against neighboring Bosnian Muslim and Croatian neighbors. Intolerance drive groups apart, creating a sense of permanent separation between them. For example, though the laws of apartheid in South Africa were abolished years ago, there still exists a noticeable level of personal separation between black and white South Africans, as evidenced in studies on the levels of perceived social distance between the two groups.This continued racial division perpetuates the problems of inter-group resentment and hostility. (Appiah, 2005). Serbian communities believed that the western media portrayed a negative image of the Serbian people during the NATO bombing in Kosovo and Serbia. This de-h umanization may have contributed to the Wests willingness to bomb Serbia. To encourage tolerance, parties to a conflict and third parties must remind themselves and others that tolerating tolerance is preferable to tolerating intolerance. (Appiah, 2005).Conflict transformation NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and other actors in the field of peace building can offer mechanisms such as trainings to help parties to a conflict communicate with one another. For instance, several organizations have launched a series of projects in Macedonia that aim to reduce tensions between the countrys Albanian, Romania and Macedonian populations, including activities that promote democracy, ethnic tolerance, and respect for human rights. International organizations need to find ways to enshrine the principles of tolerance in policy.For instance, the United Nations has already created The Declaration of Moral Principles on Tolerance, adopted and signed in Paris by UNESCOs 185 member states on Nov . 16, 1995, which qualifies tolerance as a moral, political, and legal requirement for individuals, groups, and states. Governments also should aim to institutionalize policies of tolerance. (Gitelman, 1992). Although discrimination in general has decreased on the European continent in the past years, discrimination based on ethnic origin it is still perceived as widespread, with Roma in particular  facing high levels of prejudice, according to a new Euro barometer.Out of the six categories investigated (disability, age, gender, ethnic origin, religion and sexual orientation), discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin is perceived as the most widespread among Europeans and  is considered to be  an even bigger problem than it was five years ago. While discrimination based on age, disability, religion and gender is seen to have gone down, almost half of those surveyed (48%) say ethnic discrimination is getting worse. This is particularly the case in the Netherlands, where 7 1% of those surveyed said the situation had deteriorated.Now nearly four out of five people say ethnic discrimination is widespread and more than one in five has actually witnessed it on the ground. The situation is also perceived to have worsened in Denmark (69%), Hungary (61%), Italy (58%) and Belgium (56%), while citizens of Poland (17%), Lithuania (20%), Cyprus (23%) and Latvia (25%) were more optimistic regarding the situation in their country than they were five years ago. (Gitelman, 1992). Despite the usual Islamically-correct gloss of denial in reportage, a revolting pattern of bigoted violence is once again clearly on display in Western Europe.The status of Muslims in Europe is uncertain, for they are characterize as a group that is viewed as alien, unappreciated, or intimidating throughout the region. Racist tendencies fueled by paranoia regarding Islamic extremism have rendered Europe hostile, unresponsive to, and in violation of the human rights of Muslims. Certainly, th e problem is the historical baggage carried by Europe with reverence to the Middle East, dating back to the Crusades and the Inquisition. At that time, Muslims were uniformly stereotyped as infidels and violent barbarians.Unfortunately, time has not significantly altered these misperceptions. The human rights violations suffered by Muslims in Europe range from police brutality and right-wing extremist attacks that often result in murder to confinement to the role of second-class citizen. When expedient, the card of fears of Islamic fundamentalism is used to justify persecution and discrimination as Europe and her allies do not question such a characterization. Indeed, since Muslims themselves are erroneously portrayed has intolerant and uncivilized, they do not deserve the rights of a free people.While other religious groups are measured by the mainstream and not the extremists, Muslims are defined by the most extreme elements in their midst. The hatred of Muslims throughout Europe is well summarized in an article highlighting the findings of the Runnymede Commission in the United Kingdom which examined the growing phenomenon of Islam phobia-dread or hatred of Muslims-†¦ While focusing on Great Britain, the findings can be applied anywhere anti-Muslim prejudice is expressed.The key features of Islam phobia include the portrayal of Muslim cultures as monolithic, intolerant of pluralism and dispute, patriarchal and misogynistic, fundamentalist and potentially threatening to other cultures. A further and particularly disturbing feature of Islam phobia is its apparent acceptability as†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢the expression of anti Muslim ideas and sentiments is increasingly respectable. ’ The acceptability and tolerance for anti-Muslim prejudice and hatred is allowing gross human rights violations to occur unchecked.Other groups who have been similarly suppressed in the past accept that Islam is largely a negative force and therefore condone, through their own s ilence, these atrocities. (Gitelman, 1992). Clearly, the most significant tragedy in Europe since the Holocaust was the war in the former Yugoslavia where Bosnian Muslims were the victims of a widespread, government sponsored campaign of ethnic cleansing by Serbian armed forces and civilians.Neighboring European nations as well as the US justified their inaction and lack of involvement by claiming that the conflict was motivated along ethnic lines: yet Serbian leaders such as Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic used anti-Islamic rhetoric to fan the flames of hatred that allowed 200,000 Bosnian Muslims to be slaughtered, over 1 million expelled from their homes and communities, 20,000 women raped and countless more civilians, men, women and children to endure physical and psychological trauma.At the time when the international community chose not to act, many felt that if the victims had been Christian or Jewish then intervention would not have been delayed. Current focus on the persecution of Christians, receiving support in Congress for severe response to similar crimes lends credence to this view of a double standard for the protection of some religious minorities to the exclusion of others. This hypocrisy is further manifested by the lack of will on the part of the global community to take definitive action in bringing the indicted war criminals to justice. (Peterson, 2003).Through ancient, medieval and modern times the people of Europe have alternatively fought and co-operated with each other, to form or resist some of the worlds greatest known empires. It took the horrors of two world wars for Europeans to finally set aside their differences and to choose peacefully coexistence on a more permanent basis. (Peterson, 2003). As Yugoslavia and Kosovo show however this process is far from complete and prone to go into reverse in times of political or economic stress. The numerous ethnic groups that comprised Europe held historical animosities towards each other stretching back in some cases hundreds of years.Yet these animosities were put aside after World War Two and have managed to achieve internal peace. They were not however forgotten and when nationalist politicians needed to create a power base, they merely had to promote nationalist symbols and myths, and encourage the discussion and exaggeration of past atrocities. This created a deadly snowball affect that proved inevitable. (Peterson, 2003). The member states of the Council of Europe in 1995 signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.The broad aims of the Convention are to ensure that the signatory states respect the rights of national minorities, undertaking to combat discrimination, promote equality, preserve and develop the culture and identity of national minorities, guarantee certain freedoms in relation to access to the media, minority languages and education and encourage the participation of national minorities in public life. The Fram ework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities defines a national minority implicitly to include minorities possessing a territorial identity and a distinct cultural heritage.By 2008, 39 member states have signed and ratified the Convention, with the notable exception of France. (Lentin, 2004). Discrimination and violence against racial and ethnic minorities is a documented problem in Europe. Europeans in most countries surveyed, with the exception of Austria and several former socialist countries, feel their communities are good places for racial and ethnic minorities to live. We can all try to judge the discrimination taking place in Europe but the same can be said about our own country. Europe has went through a lot and has managed to rise from their past.

Dinosaur Intelligence, and How Its Measured

Dinosaur Intelligence, and How It's Measured Gary Larson framed the issue best in a famous Far Side cartoon. A Stegosaurus behind a podium addresses an audience of his fellow dinosaurs: The pictures pretty bleak, gentlemen. ..the worlds climates are changing, the mammals are taking over, and we all have a brain about the size of a walnut. (See a slideshow of the 10 smartest dinosaurs.) For over a century, that quote has pretty much summed up popular (and even professional) opinions about dinosaur intelligence. It didnt help that one of the earliest dinosaurs to be discovered and classified (the above-named Stegosaurus, in 1877) possessed an unusually small brain, about the size of, yes, a walnut (its brain was so small, in fact, that paleontologists once speculated that Stegosaurus had a supplementary brain in its butt). It also didnt help that dinosaurs are long extinct; wiped out by the famine and freezing temperatures in the wake of the K/T Extinction 65 million years ago. If only theyd been smarter, we like to think, some of them might have found a way to survive! One Measure of Dinosaur Intelligence: EQ Since theres no way to travel back in time and give an Iguanodon an IQ test, naturalists have developed an indirect means of evaluating the intelligence of extinct (as well as living) animals. The Encephalization Quotient, or EQ, measures the size of a creatures brain against the size of the rest of its body, and compares this ratio to that of other species of roughly the same size. Part of what makes us human beings smart is the enormous size of our brains compared to our bodies; our EQ measures a hefty 5. That may not seem like such a big number, so lets look at the EQs of some other mammals: on this scale, wildebeests weigh in at .68, African elephants at .63, and opossums at .39. As you might expect, monkeys have higher EQs: 1.5 for a red colobus, 2.5 for a capuchin. Dolphins are the only animals on the planet with EQs even close to those of humans; the bottlenose comes in at 3.6. (By the way, EQ scales vary considerably; some authorities set the average human EQ at about 8, with the EQ of other creatures scaled up proportionally.) As you might expect, the EQs of dinosaurs (based on the analysis of their fossil remains) are spread across the lower end of the spectrum. Triceratops weighs in at a scant .11 on the EQ scale, and it was the class valedictorian compared to lumbering sauropods like Brachiosaurus, which dont even come close to hitting the .1 mark. However, some of the swift, two-legged, feathered dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era posted relatively high EQ scores- not quite as smart as modern wildebeests, but not that much dumber, either. How Smart Were Carnivorous Dinosaurs? One of the trickiest aspects of animal intelligence is that, as a rule, a creature only has to be smart enough to prosper in its given ecosystem and avoid being eaten. Since plant-eating sauropods and titanosaurs were so massively dumb, the predators that fed on them only needed to be marginally smarter- and most of the relative increase in the brain size of these carnivores can be attributed to their need for better smell, vision and muscular coordination, their tools for the hunt. (For that matter, one can argue that the reason sauropods were so dumb is because they only had to be marginally smarter than the giant ferns they munched on!) However, its possible to swing the pendulum too far in the other direction and exaggerate the intelligence of carnivorous dinosaurs. For example, the doorknob-turning, pack-hunting Velociraptors of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World are a complete fantasy- if you met a live Velociraptor today, it would probably strike you as slightly dumber (though a lot more dangerous) than a chicken. You certainly wouldnt be able to teach it tricks, since its EQ would be an order of magnitude below that of a dog or cat. (This is part of the reason why dinosaurs, as a general rule, dont make very good pets.) Could Dinosaurs Have Evolved Intelligence? Its easy, from our present-day perspective, to poke fun at the walnut-brained dinosaurs that lived tens of millions of years ago. However, you should bear in mind that the proto-humans of five or six million years ago werent exactly Einsteins, either- even though, as stated above, they were significantly smarter than the other mammals in their savannah ecosystems. In other words, if you managed to time-transport a five-year-old Neanderthal into the present day, she probably wouldnt do very well in kindergarten! This raises the question: what if at least some dinosaurs had survived the K/T Extinction 65 million years ago? Dale Russell, the one-time curator of vertebrate fossils at the National Museum of Canada, once caused a stir with his speculation that Troodon - a human-sized theropod dinosaur about as smart as an opossum- might eventually have evolved a human-sized level of intelligence if it had been left to evolve for another few million years. It should be noted, however, that Russell didnt propose this as a serious theory, which will come as a disappointment to those who still believe intelligent reptoids live among us.

Corporate NGO Partnerships In Developing Countries Essay

Corporate NGO Partnerships In Developing Countries - Essay Example This number in India counts even more which is around 1-2 million and in Russia it is around 277000 (NGO, n.d.). With increasing globalization leading to cross border trade activities and with more and more organizations from one nation venturing in another country Corporate Social Responsibility has become very important for every organization to sustain in long run. Restructuring of the society with efforts being made for the welfare of the state has led to massive growth of NGO s in Western countries. Another reason which has enhanced the rapidity of the growth in NGOs is that the different international bodies in recent times including the World trade Organization were mainly focused on the enrichment of the capitalist society. So it has become utterly essential for the growth of organizations which focus on human causes and developmental issues relating to the general society at large with primary focus on humanitarian activities. One exclusive example focusing on humanitarian a ctivity is â€Å"World Social Forum† which directly opposes the â€Å"World Economic Forum† and mainly controls welfare of the poor and in one sense it is regarded as an aristocratic mode of politics. The paper analyzes whether corporate-NGO partnerships have helped in promoting sustainability in developing nations. History and Growth of NGO Rugendyke (2007), Clark (2003), Teegen (2003) observe that there was huge suport for the movement concerned with the growth of NGO campaign in the Western World in the past. All big personalities, students, model or people from any other profession had a great deal of support for a popular campaign named as â€Å"Make Poverty History†. There had been a great deal of publicity regarding the cause. As per the author in recent times when... This report stresses that all organizations are meant for creating something; for achieving some purpose. In a commercial organization the producers remain under direct manager’s control. In an organization the buyer receives ownership for the payment being made and thereby the relationship between organization and client ends. But the producer is entirely different from the client. This report makes a conclusion that thus from the above discussion on the corporate-NGO partnership it can be said that the NGOs should be given enough space to work. This is because the NGOs have their innovative work culture which is at variance with the traditional working methods. This helps the NGOs to develop policies as per the needs of the society and as per the problem at large afflicting a particular segment. The NGOs work hard and develop new policies meant for the welfare of the society. So it is highly important that the NGOs work out more solutions, go for tie ups with corporate and t hus using their expertise as well as generating the funds needed for the projects to be successful. Moreover they should avoid the words of the critic and work on their own set of standards and rules provided these rules are not against the society. This will help develop NGO activities in the long run and will help increase the number of NGO organizations across the globe which will bring about transformation especially in the less developing nations.

Project ManagementTo Build a Log Cabin as a Case Essay

Project ManagementTo Build a Log Cabin as a Case - Essay Example The goal of this project is to ensure that it remains within budget and that is completed within the stipulated time; most importantly, the project aims at ensuring that the customer is satisfied with the final product; beautifully built log cabin, just as the customer wants and expects it to be. This project report is made up of the following critical components and aspects. This project first analyses the projected project schedule and items, as well as the corresponding cost of each project activity; this I done by using two important project management tools, a network diagram, and a Gantt chart. Secondly, this report endeavours to analyse the main factors that may affect the progress and completion of the project. For instance, risk analysis is carried out, with the focus being on the main risk that might affect or impede on the success of this project; for this purpose, a project risk assessment form is used. The third part of this report looks at the project’s emergency plan; these entails the prediction of would be risks and proposing corresponding changes aimed at mitigating the identified risks. Additionally, this report discusses the quality aspect of the project; deals solely with the question of quality control. This entails factors such as project cost control and customer satisfaction, particularly, customer communication. Scheduling and time related issues are also addressed in this section with aim of ensuring that the timely completion of project activities as well as the entire project is guaranteed. Finally, this report reflects on the entire project and offers some conclusion regarding the project; this is with regards to the risk level and the overall quality of the project. This project enables us develop the ability to analyse and solve problems, and enables us to become more objective and rational thinkers. Project

Case Study in Applied Sport Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case Study in Applied Sport Psychology - Essay Example Somatic symptoms like muscular tension and butterflies in stomach have also been reported by Lucy during the interview. Lucy is an International netball player and plays goal attack. Though she performs well in club matches and training sessions, her performances in all the international matches remain bleak. Lucy is worried of the fact that if she continues to perform in the same way, she would probably have to lose her team’s confidence in her. This condition is leading Lucy to a deeper psychological syndrome. She is gradually losing self-belief and thinks that the coming international tournament due in just 8 months will be her last ever opportunity in the arena of international sports. Lucy finds it difficult to cope up with the pressure of performing well in International matches. She experiences weakness prior to the competition. For the treatment of Lucy, it is important to have a thorough understanding of all her symptoms. Anxiety manifests in many different ways. These symptoms can be broadly classified into Somatic, Behavioral, Emotional, Cognitive and Defensive mechanisms. The physical symptoms of anxiety include chest and muscular pain as reported by Lucy. Behavioral symptoms of anxiety experienced by Lucy include restlessness and pacing. Cognitive behavioral mechanisms like fear inducing thoughts; inability to concentrate and obsessive thinking of failures is leading Lucy to a confusing state of mind. The word ‘anxiety’ stems from the Latin word anxius. Anxiety is a response for a perception of threat, clearly distinguishable from fear, which is understood as a physiological response to a stimulus. The unpleasant sensations result from a stim ulus. John Raglin and Yuri Hanin points out that ‘similar’ stimulus may be ‘perceived as a beneficial challenge to one individual, threatening to another, and neutral to the third’. The cognitive state anxiety has usually a negative effect on the athletic

Language: Effect On Thought And Perception

Language: Effect On Thought And Perception Begley, Sharon. Whats in a Word: Why Language May Shape Our Thoughts. Newsweek. Harmon-Newsweek, 9 July 2009. Web. 7 October 2010. Begleys article investigates various points within psychologist Lera Boroditskys work on language and perception, raising such examples as whether a languages nouns are feminine or masculine have an effect on how speakers of that language view everyday objects and how separate words in other languages for different colors may even affect how we see those colors. Begley also points out that how each languages system of grammar can affect the way we describe similar events. Boroditsky, Lera. How Does Our Language Shape The Way We Think? Whats Next: Dispatches on the Future of Science. Ed. Max Brockman. New York: Vintage Books, 2009. 116-129. Print. In her essay How Does Language Shape the Way We Think, psychologist Boroditsky argues that language does indeed play a crucial role in how we humans think and how we perceive the world. Referencing her experiments results for the bulk of her essay, she maintains that language affects the way we think aboutand so describenot only the concrete but also the abstract like special relationships and time. Boroditsky, Lera. Linguistic Relativity. MIT. n.d. PDF File. In an experiment designed to test psychologist Benjamin Lee Whorfs 1956 suggestion that how one analyzes and responds to the world reflects differences in their languagea suggestion long-abandoned by the scientific community, Boroditsky asserts that language has a profound effect on thought and perception. While also describing how language influences perceptions of space and time, Boroditsky demonstrates how differences in grammar contribute to different ways of describing and perceiving amounts, shapes, and other characteristics of objects. Casasanto, Daniel, et al. How Deep are the Effects of Language on Thought? Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. n.d. PDF File. From experiments conducted to test whether language affects how speakers experience the world, Casasanto et al. suggest that, through on linguistic and two non-linguistic experiments in native speakers of various languages that our grammar does influence how we mentally envision abstract ideas and that language influences even the most basic of psychological processes. Deutscher, Guy. Does Language Shape How You Think? New York Times. The New York Times, 26 August 2010. Web. 10 October 2010. In his article Does Language Shape How You Think, Deutscher offers a general view of the controversy surrounding the question of languages influence of thought. Deutscher first describes the fallout from psychologist Whorfs proposal about language and its connection to the mind, and then references other noted experiments designed to test the suggestion. He then depicts the general outcome of these experiments as that individual languages do contribute to distinctions in perception toward objects and space. Harms, William, and Robert Sanders. UC Berkeley. 31 January 2006. Web. 7 October 2010. Harms and William begin their review by acknowledging the difficult scientists have in testing whether language plays a direct part in how we see the world. They promote a paper published in the monthly journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that suggests that language does affect perception, but only in the right half of our visual field; in other terms, what we see out of our right eye. Citing experiments based on color conducted at UC Berkeley, Harms and Sanders describe the papers argument that languagewhich is predominantly based in the left hemisphere of our brain, which processes the right visual fieldmay help us recognize colors more quickly in our right visual field but provide slower recognition in our left. Ramachandran, V.S. and E.M. Hubbard. SynesthesiaA Window into Perception, Thought, and Language. 2001. PDF File. In their paper, Ramachandran and Hubbard attempt to debunk certain myths about synesthesia and the people who experience it. Synesthesia is an interesting and strange phenomenon in which a synesthetic person may experience a combination of sensory activity at once, such as seeing the number 7 and viewing it as a dark blue-green or eating an egg and then hearing a high note. A phenomenon not under any serious experimentation for some time, Ramachandran and Hubbard conduct experiments to find links to their twelve overriding ideas and see how synesthesia connects to language and how and why sensory activity is perceived. Regier, Terry and Paul Kay. Language, Thought, and Color: Whorf was Half Right. 2009. PDF File. Through experiments conducted to test Whorfs theory of language and its effect on how we perceive and adapt to the world, Regier and Kays results suggest that Whorf had the correct idea, for the most part. Using color and placement to test how quickly participants recognized a different shade of blue among a circle of other blue squares enabled them to conclude that separate languages that have varying degrees of classification for colors influences color perception mainly in the right half of the visual field. They also suggest that the amount of distinction a language has between individual shades contributes to the speed of color perception. Stafford, Amy. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. Minnesota State U, n.d. Web. 10 October 2010. In her paper Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, Stafford describes the thought process behind psychologist Whorfs proposal that semantics impact our awareness of the world. She also provides different views on the idea, suggesting methods and studies that offer a more rounded opinion. Stafford then defines how she believes Whorfs hypothesis can affect our understanding of each other and of individual cultures across the world. Thierry, Gullame, et al. Unconscious Effects of Language-Specific Terminology on Pre-Attentive Color Perception. 2009. PDF File. In an attempt to discover whether languages effect on ones perception is driven by conscious, language-based evaluation of the environment or if the difference lies in the psychological processing of speakers of other languages, Thierry et al. conduct color experiments. Using the separate Greek words for light and dark blue (ghalazio and ble), and the English versions, Thierry et al. suggest that Greek speakers can distinguish between shades of blue more quickly than English speakers because of the distinct separate words for each color instead of adding light or dark to the main color of blue. Anne Seeley Professor Yerks Composition 106 11 October 2010 Language and its Effect on Thought and Perception Even with the incredible advances in technology and science, certain areas of the brain remain a mystery to scientists. As scholars endeavor to discover more connections and illuminate reasons for why we humans behave cognitively the way we do, hypotheses proposed in the past that may have fallen out of favor are being reexamined using todays technology. One such proposal, known as the Whorf Hypothesis, attempts to show the link between the uniquely human quality of spoken and written language and the effect it has on our thoughts and perceptions of the world (Stafford). This relatively recently revived proposition provides ample room for ground-breaking questions, and everyone from scientists to philosophers have argued for and against it, for nearly seventy years (Begley). Benjamin Lee Whorf, states Guy Deutscher, author of the New York Times article Does Language Shape How You Think, was the psychologist of disputable reputation that suggested in 1940 that language was not only the medium through which we communicate, but that it defines the way we think and consequently restricts what we are able to think. Deutscher explains that Whorf proposed that different languages have such a profound impact on the way we think that Native American languages impose on their speakers a picture of reality that is totally different from ours, and thus these speakers do not have the same grasp on some of our most basic concepts, like the flow of time or the distinction between objects and actions as speakers of other languages do. Though his theory entranced the scientific community and world at large for a time, gradually the idea that language constricts our ability to see reality faded and was eventually abandoned, especially when, Deutscher quips, it was shown t hat Whorf never actually [had] any evidence to support his fantastic claims. Recently, however, new studies have been conducted whose results suggest that language really does change the way we think and perceive the world. Lera Boroditsky, a noted Stanford psychologist, argues in her essay How Does Language Shape the Way We Think? that language does indeed form the way we think about abstract concepts like space and time as well as concrete objects. The results of her experiments on the connection between language and thought (known as linguistic relativity) are fascinating; for instance, in an experiment examining how speakers of different languages process the concept of time, English speakers (who talk about time in terms of horizontal spatial metaphorse.g., The best is ahead of us [or] The worst is behind us) will point in a horizontal direction (such as behind or next to them) when asked where yesterday would be on a three-dimensional timeline. Mandarin speakers, however, use a vertical metaphor for time e.g., the next month is the down month and the last month is the up month and will most often point vertically to describe the concept of yesterday. Boroditsky offers another thought-provoking ins ight: that the fluke of grammar in many languages where nouns are given genders actually changes the way speakers perceive those objects. In her experimental results, it was shown that while German and Spanish speakers both understood the concept of a key, they thought about and consequently described the key in completely different ways. The feminine Spanish word for keys is llaves, and were described as golden, intricate, little, [and] lovely whereas the German speakers described the masculine Schlssel as being hard, heavy, jagged, metal, [and] serrated This trend continues when describing abstract entities such as death, sin, victory, or time. Boroditsky urges us to look at famous artworks that personify these concepts, and states that it turns out that in 85 percent of such personifications, whether a male or female figure is chosen is predicted by the grammatical gender of the word in the artists native language. Though Boroditsky made no comment of it in her essay, these resul ts raise another question: how would English speakerswho give no gender to nounsdescribe an object like a key or a concept like time? Nevertheless, experiments like these are clearing the path for even more intriguing theories about language and thought, such as those conducted in the spirit of understanding a condition known as synesthesia. Synesthesia, according to V.S. Ramachandran and E.M. Hubbards paper SynesthesiaA Window into Perception, Thought, and Language is an intriguing phenomenon in which an otherwise normal person experiences sensations in one modality when a second modality is stimulated, like reading the word kindness and seeing it as a salmon-pink color or thinking of the concept of hope and tasting an egg. Though many may at first think that instances of synesthesia are in fact metaphors used every day, such as a loud color, Ramachandran and Hubbard propose that it is an actual condition that may [run] in families [and] creative people and is more common in females than males. They also suggest that a synesthetic person are more likely to have more than one form of synesthesia if they already have one, such as seeing words as having colors as well as seeing colors when hearing music. As a synesthetic person, I can attest that it is not an imaginary or imaginative event, but an actual phenomenon. Over y ears, I have encountered constant and various forms of synesthesia in myself, including the word-color association, a letter- and number-color association (as well as a gender association for letters and numbers), and, less prominently, a music-color association. This fascinating condition is an excellent breeding ground for continuing experiments to see how deeply language affects our cognitive behaviors and how we perceive the world. Using language is not something that we often think about during our lives, and yet recent experiments suggest that it has a fundamental influence on how we respond to our environments and view the world. Once an abandoned proposition, the connection between language and thought gains notoriety throughout the scientific community. As scientists strive to understand just how deeply it impacts our mental capacities, our ability to communicate through spoken and written language remains one of our most profound human characteristics.

Hamlet -- the Characterization Essay -- GCSE English Literature Course

Hamlet -- the Characterization      Ã‚  Ã‚   The beautifully developed characters within Shakespeare’s dramatic tragedy, Hamlet, are manifestations of genius. Let us in this essay tour the gallery of the Bard’s characters in this most famous play.    George Lyman Kittredge, in his book, Five Plays of Shakespeare, describes the Bard’s excellent characterization of Claudius:    King Claudius is a superb figure – almost as great a dramatic creation as Hamlet himself. His intellectual powers are of the highest order. He is eloquent – formal when formality is appropriate (as in the speech from the throne), graciously familiar when familiarity is in place (as is his treatment of the family of Polonius), persuasive to an almost superhuman degree (as in his manipulation of the insurgent Laertes) – always and everywhere a model of royal dignity. His courage is manifested, under the most terrifying circumstances, when the mob breaks into the palace. His self-control when the dumb show enacts his secret crime before his eyes is nothing less than marvelous. (xviii)    The genius of the Bard is revealed in his characterization. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt in Literature of the Western World examine the universal appeal of   Shakespeare resulting from his â€Å"sharply etched characters†:    Every age from Shakespeare’s time to the present has found something different in him to admire. All ages, however, have recognized his supreme skill in inventing sharply etched characters; it frequently happens that long after one has forgotten the exact story of a play one remembers its people with absolute vividness. It is true, paradoxically, that many of Shakespeare’s characters represent universal types.[. . .] Scores of them are fu... ...stitute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.    Wilson, John Dover. What happens in Hamlet. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1959.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p.: Pocket Books, 1958.         

Philosophy of Mind Essay

Since centuries, our philosophers have been trying to unravel mysteries of our memory, thought processes, different emotions, will power and imaginations culminating into what is known as different intellectual and conscious part of our personality.   Our mind, as our great literary figures have posited, is a stream of our consciousness and is a part of our brain’s inherent processes. Our mind is a place where our reasoning power gets the shape and takes the practical form. As also said in Indian Vedic philosophy, He who knows the receptacle (Ayatana) verily becomes the receptacle of his people. Mind is verily the receptacle (of all our knowledge).† – (Chhandogya Upanishad, V-i-5.) Different studies by our philosophers have been compounded into various theories each delving into the depth of various aspects of our mind processes. Its earliest studies have been found in the works of Zarathushtra, Mahatma Budha, Plato, Aristotle, Adi Shankara and many more ancient Greek and Indian Philosophers.   Many of the pre scientific philosophers based their theories on relationship between the mind and the soul, supernatural elements of faith, having a feeling of closeness with divinity or god, but on the other hand modern theorists based their theories on their research and scientific studies of the brain. These theories rely heavily on the fact that the mind is a phenomenon of the brain and is a tantamount of consciousness. The study of the relationship between the body and mind is the most central aspect to the philosophy of mind, despite of the fact that there are number of issues related to the nature of the mind which does not take into consideration its relationship to the physical body. The most crucial and complex differences of thoughts are arising among different theorists regarding the exact and most appropriate theory of mind. Though various theorists have developed their own different versions to make us understand our own functioning of mind yet as more and more theories are coming up, more and more it is getting difficult to come out with the best theory of all. As all theories are able to capture the intensity of readers to make us understand the core of our mind and thoughts, yet it is very challenging to understand â€Å"Which is the best?† Here I am trying to unravel the mystery to understand which theory-Dualism, mind-brain identity or functionalism is a correct theory to understand all about mind. Dualism is a most important school of thought that has tried to solve the most paradoxical and most important relationship of mind and body problems. It has tried to make several attempts to sure that mind and body in some way or the other detach from each other. Roots of Dualism dates far back to Plato, Aristotle and the Sankhya and Yoga schools of Hindu philosophy but in a most precise way it was understood by Rene Descartes only in the 17th century. His philosophical disposition is based on the fact that the mind is independent in itself and constitutes two different kinds of substances like â€Å"res extensa meaning extended things, physical things† and â€Å"res cogitans means thinking things†, (Descartes, Online Edition ). The thinking things are beyond the dimensions of time and space and are thus separate in itself whereas Property dualists thinks that there are several independent properties known to us. It is quite clear from his disposition that he is trying to explain the importance and concept of soul, giving religious discourse. But in this all, he has tried to explain that there is an interaction of mind in pineal gland, from where there is a control on bodily actions and receive sensory perceptions. But this approach of Dualism is not without criticism as its properties are more of dubious in nature. Their theory is based on religion and their ardent faith but no element of scientific fact is found in this. If we visualize and understands that if there is a soul in our physical body and the soul can have drastic effect then it is quite natural that it should be able to generate new energy to bring the bodies into moment.    It is argued that if the soul exists and it can affect the body then it must be able to create new energy to move the body, but this is sheer violation of the theory of the conservation principle.   Owen Flanagan, in his The Science of the Mind says,†If the mind according to Descartes is not a physical system therefore it also could not have any energy to prove herself but in-order to increase this physical energy, the need of the hour is to get it transferred from other physical system but it is not possibl†e. (Owen Flanagan, pp. 21, Mind creators.com). To overcome the limitations of the Dualism, several philosophers and psychologists began to ignore the very concept and existence of mind itself and by doing so their expectations to touch the cord of mind began to flow towards the realistic parts of our lives. Therefore in the beginning the new generation of philosophers came up with what is known as Type Identity Theory.  Ã‚   They posters the view that though the structure of every person’s brain is similar yet in the brain of every person there are certain differences therefore it is not possible to find oneself in a position of same neurological state. Therefore this theory soon took the shape of Token Taken theory implying that if there are two people having different neuropsychological states, then what is it that brings them into the same mental state? And to this they answered that it is due to the function of those two states only that had created them same. This leads to functionalism theory, which says that, â€Å"Two different brain-state tokens would be tokens of the same type of mental state if the two brain states had the same causal relations to the input stimulus that the organism receives, to its various other â€Å"mental† states, and to its output behavior†. (Functionalism, online edition). In simple words, he said that there were supposed to be two thoughts, which are same, and all of the inputs, internal and external, lead to the same output. With this statement, psychologists tried to bring all the conditions of the mind set in equilibrium. This leads to the functionalism theory. Though there are several problems to this approach too yet we can very say that if this theory of functionalism is adopted, it will take us into next major breakthrough, but all is not well with Functionalism too as it failed to explain in clear terms the fact that even if there are conditions of different physical states which gives different material phenomenon, then there is no possibility of different physical structures to regain equality.  Ã‚   . While there is a great controversy to come at the concrete conclusion about which one is correct â€Å"theory of mind,†, but it is a matter of fact that functionalism is the most popular theory among scientists as well as philosophers of today. According to this theory, all the aspects of mental state like beliefs, pains, hopes, fears, etc. depends and are divided on the bases of their activity and are characterized by the jobs they do, or in other words according to the functions that they perform. Just like computers understands the main idea behind our thoughts process in the same way our brains captures our thought processes from our mind and induces us to act accordingly. WORKS CITED Anderson, David. â€Å"Introduction to Functionalism† Consortium on Mind/Brain Science Instruction. Internet. (2006) Available: http://www.mind.ilstu.edu/curriculum/functionalism_intro/functionalism_intro.php?modGUI=44&compGUI=1403&itemGUI=2447, March 5, 2008   Cofer, David. â€Å"Dualism† MindCreators.Com Internet. (2002) Available:   http://www.mindcreators.com/Dualism.htm, March 5, 2008 Cofer, David. â€Å"Functionalism† MindCreators.Com Internet. (2002) Available: http://www.mindcreators.com/Functionalism.htm, March 5, 2008 McAdoo, Oliver. â€Å"Critically discuss the idea that mental states are identical to physical states† arrod.co.uk Internet. Available: http://www.arrod.co.uk/essays/mind-brain-identity.php, March 5, 2008 Chance, Tom. â€Å"Mind-brain identity theory† Internet. Available: http://tom.acrewoods.net/research/philosophy/mind/identitytheory, March 5, 2008 Swamy   Sivananda, â€Å"Mind – Its Mysteries & Control†, The Divine Life Trust Society, 1994, World Wide Web Edition, 1998, A Divine Life Society Publication, Internet Available, http://www.dlshq.org/download/mind.htm Flanagan, Owen (1991). The Science of the Mind, 2nd edition. MIT Press. pp. 21.

Hughes Surname Meaning and Origin

Hughes Surname Meaning and Origin 1) A patronymic surname meaning son of Hugh. The given name Hugh is a Germanic name meaning heart/mind, often after Saint Hugh. 2) Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name OHAY. Hughes is the 83rd most popular surname in the United States. Hughes is even more popular in England, coming in as the 18th most common surname. Surname Origin English Alternate Surname Spellings HUGH, HUGHE Genealogy Resources for the Surname Hughes 100 Most Common U.S. Surnames Their MeaningsSmith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown... Are you one of the millions of Americans sporting one of these top 100 common last names from the 2000 census? HUGHES Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Hughes surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Hughes query. FamilySearch - HUGHES GenealogyFind records, queries, and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Hughes surname and its variations. HUGHES Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Hughes surname. Cousin Connect - HUGHES Genealogy QueriesRead or post genealogy queries for the surname Hughes, and sign up for free notification when new Hughes queries are added. DistantCousin.com - HUGHES Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Hughes. Source Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005. Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

buy custom Interracial Relationships essay

buy custom Interracial Relationships essay In logic arguments, defining terms is necessary in the sense that readers are able to follow the argument from the word go. In this argument, there are technical terms such as interracial, relationships and bigots. The term interracial can be defined as anything happening between persons of different races, e.g. a white person and a black person, An Indian and an American. Relationship refers to a manner in which various people or issues are connected either by blood, work, situation or emotions. Bigot is a term used to refer to those people who regard their own faith as unquestionable and that any differing opinion is wicked as well as unreasonable. This paper will present an argument in relation to a married man named Abdul Kalam, who has two daughters. He is an Asian or Indian to be specific with a strong cultural belief. The man holds strong beliefs that interracial relationship is wrong both morally and religiously. His first daughter fell in love with a black boy and when she introduced him to her parents, there emerged a horrible drama. Her father told her right on the face that it was over his dead body that they would get married. The younger daughter after watching this closely realized that her relationship with a white guy, which had become intimate wouldnt work. She went ahead and broke up with her boyfriend, but her elder sister eloped with her black boyfriend. However, this was little to persuade their father to change his mind. Past history has adverse effects on peoples present life. This means that any past interracial conflict remains in the hearts and minds of people for ages. Mr. Abduls strong belief could have some logical roots and therefore, it would be wrong to pass judgment with no considerations. If history is consulted, it would present the racial as well as discrimination that existed between Americans and Indians. This racial discrimination led to Indians becoming slaves and being brutally killed by the white Americans. Painful scars were left among Indians, which left interracial relationships at stake. Enemity exists between the two parties and forgiving is easier than forgetting. If this is the reason behind Kalams rejection of interracial relationships, then he migt be justified. People are mindful on the future well-being of their children as well as grandchildren. In this regard, parents dedicate their efforts to make ends meet for their childrens future. This is the reason for parents working hard, investing and saving heavily with their childrens welfare in mind. Children born in an interracial family have identity problems. They have mixed colors and they resemble none of the parents. They are caught in a dilemma to choose on which side to identify them. They might decide to associate themselves with the race of one parent and obviously the other parent wont take that lightly. Such children would listen to their peers and if they find that the race of one parent is being intimidated, they automatically disown it and identify themselves with the other race. In cases where the White marries an Indian and they happen to live in an Asian country, the children will be discriminated because of their color and appearance. Abduls perspective might have been base d on this fact, which is logic and therefore, he might be correct in his stand on interracial relationships. Cultural and religious backgrounds have a role to play in interracial marriages. Spouse in interracial relationships may find themselves in problems while solving cultural views. Such cultural views sometimes involve family roles, financial management, children-rearing and emotional expressiveness. If one tries to understand where Abdul is coming from, it would be clear that he is worried of cultural confusion. When spouse from different cultural background move in together, they get confused on whose cultural values to uphold. With parents from both sides pressuring them, they find themselves persuading each other to follow one partys culture. Similarly, children from such families get confused on what cultural values to uphold. Mr. Kalam might have foreseen this when he opposed the relationship of his daughters with spouse of different racial backgrounds. In addition, the normal marriage procedures differ from race to race and Abdul might have been scared of confrontations with par ents of the other side. Marriage involves lifetime interaction between families of both sides. This means that cultural ddifferences will be experienced by the two families as long as the couple stays married. Cultural values such as naming, gender roles and marital behaviors will always differ as far as the interracial marriage is concerned. There would be limited satisfaction in the marriage not unless the couple decides to live their own life away from traditions. From this point of view, Abdul is justified and maybe his perspective was grounded on the fact that his daughters might adopt a foreign tradition or do away with it completely. Furthermore, customs, norms and believes might pose a challenge to a married couple. Indians like living together in one house regardless of the family numbers. This is their custom that has been withheld from their ancestors. Americans like independence and would prefer to live separately away from family ties. Some misfortune befalls families without knowing since thei r parents might curse them according to their tradition without their knowledge. Such curses might be effective as long as the parents still uphold their tradition and the couple will remain affected until they realize and do as required. Mr. Kalam might have been protecting the tradition of his culture by denying the marriage right to her daughters. Possible Rebuttals For an argument to be logic, it is important to recognize the provisions of those who think otherwise or contrary to ones argument. In the case of interracial relationships, there are those who argue that love should prevail in all circumstances no matter how hard the situation is. According to them, cultural and religious background should not stand between two love birds. They argue that love conquers everything and that endurance keeps hope alive. It is also argued that interracial couples are supposed to understand each other and come up with a stand on whose cultural values to uphold. This is because dealing with both cultures can be tricky especially in situations of total contrast. Solving family issues in such marriages is always through logic and not based on cultural background. This is none that Abdul Kalam could here as judged from his reaction. He seems to be a man who is loyal to his cultural tradition or someone with a painful interracial history. Buy custom Interracial Relationships essay

Detroit and Cleveland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Detroit and Cleveland - Essay Example Once upheld because of its transportation system, the cities are now considered hinterlands which thankfully, have awakened concerned parties to look into the issue and find solutions. The solution they found is to improve the transportation system, which politicians found to be a potential investment as examined what happened in the cities around the world which rapidly developed during the last decades. Detroit, which started its influence in the transportation system, first applied the Gallatin plan, making canals that linked the city to other cities and eventually to other states. This made transportation and economic transactions easier and consequently improving the city’s economy. Eventually, people moved in to the city with new businesses and creating jobs that made the city into a suburb that attracted more people. The growth of Detroit’s population continued with a steep density gradient as it looked towards improving roads for easier transportation, eyeing th e use of airlines to concentrate people in the city. Likewise, Cleveland had a similar experience that made it have a name that could be compared to the formerly mentioned city. It is then observed that transportation indeed have a great influence in the success of a city’s economy. ... Citizens cried for a better transportation system that would allow them faster and safer travels so they could perform well in their responsibilities. With the glory of the aforementioned cities lost, their populations decreased, affecting their economy and leaving them to seem provincial when compared to cities in Spain which a few decades ago were very far behind when it comes to their economic status. The comparisons with Spain and China became a challenge to the two cities and are now planning their course of action to attract back people to move into the lands, invest in the cities and have their residencies, with an economic based program concentrated on the railway system. Detroit’s plan to use state of the art technology in the transportation system would bring a great change in the travel experiences of people, as they move from place to place on comfortable, high speed rails. The cities envision railroads that allow fast-paced transportations comparable to highly imp roved transport systems of Spain and probably with the German autobahn. The cities look forward to a bright future as they plan to make transportation systems that are wired, using light emitting diodes to produce a dream come true for the nation. This plan is supported by the current president of America however, the financial assistance offered by the government is not sufficient enough to support the project. Despite such a problem, the nation is still hopeful that this will come to pass as the evidence of what high technology transportation has brought to other nations, has proven to be worth the sacrifices. Urban renewal is aimed with the improvement

Restore or Demolish Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Restore or Demolish - Research Paper Example page 6 Money matters †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. page 6 Restoration is not worth the cost, time and effort †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ page 8 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ page 9 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ page 10 Abstract There is much clamor between those who restore and preserve old homes and those who would rather reconstruct the home from scratch. Pro-restoration groups claim that historical homes are irreplaceable. The other side argues that restoration is painstaking and costly. The financial help from private and non-private organizations can alleviate expenses but the assistance may sometimes come with conditions that interfere with the homeowner’s plans. Historical houses can also be a vital part of the community that restoration may not only affect the property’s owner but also the entire neighborhood. As with all restoration projects money will be an issue. However, with careful planning and decision-making, refurbishing an old home can bring the owner a lot of advantages. First, old homes are built with wood, glass and other materials that have lasted through the years. Secondly, in the event that the restored home is sold, it will be worth more than its original market value. Lastly, the historical home is a unique property that not everyone can have. Introduction A dictionary defines a house as a â€Å"(n) a building that serves as living quarters for one or a few families.† (house, n. d.) A house is more than a mass of wood, concrete and glass. From conceptualizing to putting in that last door or brick, a lot of thought is put into creating this type of personal space. Houses are made to stand the test of time and weather. Architects, construction engineers and carpenters select only the best materials for each and every home they build. Aside from the aesthetic feature, these professionals also design homes to be sturdy. At times, the house is so resilient that it even lasts longer than the family it was built for. A person’s house will always be a part of the person’s family. The structure is witness to almost every event, if not all, that has happened inside its walls. Generation after generation passes through its doors. When the time comes to leave one’s home, there is an obvious hesitation and forlornness because of the many memories the building holds. This dilemma is one of several why people decide to repair old homes. Rather than de stroy it, families opt to salvage whatever they can of the antique structure in an effort to maintain the house’s character. The appreciation for old homes does not end with just the families. States and organizations have also been supportive of this venture. Local governments have introduced measures in order to encourage the refurbishing of old homes especially those they consider historic. Private corporations have also come up with financing for the homeowners and recognition for architects who help create and remodel these structures. There are magazines and websites devoted to giving pointers and resources to people who would rather restore than demolish and build. Sometimes, the restoration of old homes is not only a choice by the owner but also of the community. Background According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory (Koontz and Weihrich, 2008) shelter is one of