Critical Analysis: Death and Justice by Edward Kotch Essay

In his essay with regard to capital punishment entitled â€Å"Death and Justice†, which first appeared in The New Republic on April 15, 1985, Edward I. Koch aggressively refutes the claims of individuals who are opposed to the subject matter with seven firm and satisfying points. A native of New York, born 1924, Koch was an American lawyer, politician, political commentator and a reality television arbitrator. He earned his law degree in 1948 from New York University and practiced law in New York City for some two decades thereafter. He was a member of the U. S House of Representatives, serving from 1969 to 1977 and in the later year, he was then elected as New York mayor, holding the post until 1990. With such a strong and wide variety in terms of line of work, it is my belief that his views communicated in this essay by way of his, logical, ethical and rational appeal are well-thought out and unbiased. Unbiased or impartial, if you will, due to the fact that with the rebuttal style in which the argument was written, the opposing claims would first have to be identified and evaluated before generating an objecting response. The piece of work in my opinion achieves its purpose and is well organized by use of logos, pathos and ethos, thus influencing a successful but indeed controversial essay. As mentioned in my introductory paragraph, the essay is carefully structured into seven sturdy points in which each, Koch identifies the claims of his opponents followed by his rebuttal arguments. This makes the piece much easier to follow and interpret, hence making his arguments extremely clear and concise. This also influences the readers to grasp a better knowledge of his position hence increasing the probability of reader agreement. In this logical system of ideas, each argument is further justified by the use of analogies, if, then†¦ statements, statistics, stories and the use of credible sources (experts, scholars). Some throughout the text take place as follows: in his first refutation in which he rejects the statement that the death penalty is barbaric and draws and analogy between cancer and murder. It is my view that this was an extremely effective strategy used by Koch as analogies encourage participation and increases understanding of an unfamiliar topic by comparing it to something that is quite familiar; in his third refutation where Koch refutes the opinion of the opponent that an innocent person might be executed by mistake. By way of statistics he proved that this was never the case. He cited a study of 7,000 executions in the USA from 1893 to 1971, and concludes that the records fail to show that such cases occur. Statistics ultimately speak for themselves, needing no further clarification hence why their use is extremely influential and in this case, utterly persuasive. This was a great execution in the area of logos which totally disregarded the opposing claim without a doubt. Remarkably Koch does not end that particular argument there but rather continues by establishing truth and developing such truth by examples. He says â€Å"Human life deserves special protection and one of the best ways to guarantee that protection is to assure that convicted murderers do not kill again†. He then proceeds by providing an example, and in this case, of an unexecuted recidivist murderer named Lemuel Smith who was sentenced to about six years life sentence. This was immaculate! Why you may ask? This same murderer then killed a woman corrections officer. Additional life sentences for Smith, according to Koch are â€Å"meaningless†. It is my view that examples reiterate and re-enforce a concept or thought, in this case the earlier provided statistic. This example provided also provoked one’s rational thinking and critical reasoning hence increasing the probability that readers are inclined to agree with Koch and his position; in his fourth refutation where he refuted that capital punishment cheapens the value of human life. In his immaculate use of if, then†¦ statements, Koch says â€Å"if we lower the penalty for rape, we lower our view or regard for the victims’ suffering, humiliation and personal integrity. In the same instance, by exacting the highest penalty for murder, we then affirm the highest value of human life†, which influences logical reasoning and critical thinking, both forms and arts of rhetoric used to persuade intellectually (logos). To conclude my first point, it is my view that the essay did in fact follow a logical system of ideas by way of seven clear points. Each point was further justified by use of rhetorical strategies to make the argument much more understandable as well as believable. It is safe to say that Koch’s essay was particularly powerful where logos is concerned. Throughout the text, despite not in abundance, there is in fact some sense of emotional appeal (pathos). Although Koch’s primary tone throughout the piece is aggressive, he distinctively manages to appeal to our emotions in some contexts. For example, once more, take his fourth refutation where he refuted that capital punishment cheapens the value of human life. He uses rape, a very emotional and touchy topic for any individual within our society, and basically goes on further to state that if we lower the penalty for rape, we lower our view or regard for the victims’ suffering, humiliation and personal integrity. His use of connotation with words such as â€Å"victims’ suffering, horrible experience, humiliation and increased danger† invoked a feeling sympathy for the victim and the situation by the way it appealed to the heart and to one’s emotion. Rape is in fact a terrible occurrence for which sympathy is usually given to the victim. It is my belief that Koch deliberately seized the opportunity to demand the readers’ emotional attention by evoking a sense of pity or sympathy in his efforts for us to conceptualize and agree with his point. Very good move! Given the background information provided in my initial paragraph, it is implied that Koch is a credible source. This was an underlying establishment of ethos. Throughout the text, his tone suggests authority as well as credibility. He was a lawyer, a TV judge, a politician and a mayor. He was a well-rounded scholar with a diverse work history. It is of my opinion that he has dealt with a variety of different cases on a wide spectrum of practice. The area of ethos is therefore implied. Although for the most part, the ethos is in fact underlying by way of his background information, throughout the text you can still witness hints of his authority. Take for example, in his fourth refutation; he ridicules his critics, one in particular, Jimmy Breslin by calling his statement regarding capital punishment sophistic nonsense. Not only is this satire but establishment of authority by way of discrediting another’s opinion. This in fact was effective as it shows that Koch has in fact done his research regarding what his critics have said thus establishing him as a trusted and unbiased source. Another example can be found in his sixth refutation, where he makes reference to the bible, he establishes credibility by introducing us to the greatest thinkers of the 19th century – Kant, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Mill who all agreed that natural law properly authorized the sovereign to take life in order to vindicate justice. According to philpapers. org, an online research philosophy engine it can be said they were all well-known philosophers who are considered to be central figures of modern philosophy. â€Å"Name-dropping† is one of the easiest ways to persuade an audience as the majority of us human beings tend to follow the way in which famous people ranging from celebrities to scholars, think. This then influences the way society thinks hence my belief that the use of credible sources in this instance was impeccable. Within the same argument (the sixth refutation), I also noticed that it was not biased or unfair as he includes that Jeremy Bentham, another great philosopher, was ambivalent to the claims of the others. He does not leave out any information hence making the argument fair and believable, which in turn establishes his credibility and believability. He then goes on to establish additional credibility by revealing names of other scholars (Washington, Jefferson and Franklin) who endorsed the claim. This was effective in persuading us as the readers to understand and accept his point of view. Death and Justice† is an effectively-written essay which judiciously rebuts the claims of individuals opposed to the capital punishment. Each paragraph within the essay is well-thought out and organized effectively. With the use of logos, pathos and subliminal forms of ethos, Koch immaculately achieves his purpose of persuading the readers to conceptualize, understand and agree with his claims and opinions regarding the death penalty. Although Koch ridicules the opponent throughout some exerts of the text, the readers are still able to grasp his aggressive and almost certainly serious tone. It is my opinion that the argument presented was unbiased and impartial, taking into the consideration the rebuttal style in which it was written. This piece of writing has not, and will definitely not be limited to the time in which it was written as the argument presented is very controversial, and in continued debate.

The Effect of Organisational Structure and Culture on Information Security Risk Processes

Risk assessment is regarded as an integral part of any information security management framework. This is because an information security management framework exists to enable an organisation to maximise the use of its information within a level of risk that is acceptable to the organisation. In information security management literature risk assessment processes are presented as pivotal to the success of the information security management framework. Risk assessment is used to establish the ISMS, determine the information security risks that an organisation faces, and identify the security countermeasures necessary to reduce the risks to an appropriate level. The emphasis is on an â€Å"appropriate response† to the measure of risk where appropriate is considered in the overall context of the organisation. Risk assessment is enmeshed with additional organisational processes that construct what is termed an Information Security Management System (ISMS). An information security management system is primarily described in the information security management standard ISO 27001 [9, clauses 4-8]. It is an abstracted organisational model found in information security management literature which articulates a systematised view of the information security management functions and processes described in much of the information security management literature. The role of an Information Security Management System (ISMS) is to ensure that adequate controls are â€Å"established, implemented, monitored, reviewed and improved, where necessary, to ensure that the specific security and business objectives of an organisation are met. † [8, p. viii]. In this regard, an ISMS is comprised of logical management functions and management processes. The relationship between risk assessment and the other information security management processes is described in Figure One which shows that the processes interact in a continuous loop, termed the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (PDCA) or Deming Wheel in security management literature. The dominating decision making processes are risk based and constitute some form of risk assessment or evaluation. However the extent to which the process is a â€Å"technical†, standardised one, is highly dependent on the organisational context, as this paper discusses.

Business Strategy in a Global Environment Case Study - 1

Business Strategy in a Global Environment - Case Study Example As the discussion stresses  Samsung Mobile falls under the IT and Mobile Communications division. Currently, Samsung Mobile holds the leading position in the smart phone industry with a market share of 23.7 %.   The global smart phone industry grew by 27.2 % in the second quarter of 2014. The number of units shipped has increased from 218.8 million to 281.5 million in a year in 2014. Samsung Mobile caters to a wide range of customer base, from budget conscious to premium consumers. The company holds the 13th rank in the Fortune 500 list with revenue of $ 208.9 billion.  This paper highlights that  the political scenario of a region puts significant effect on the business operations of a company. The sudden change in overseas business regulations is likely to hamper the business of multinational companies like Samsung. Moreover, large multinational companies become easy target politicians in their power play. In 2005, politician Roh Hoe-Chan allegedly released evidences of ill egal fund channelling by Samsung’s chairman Lee Kun-Hee. Although the final verdict announced Samsung’s chair man to be innocent, but as a result of the long lasting law suit, the brand image of the company was hampered and it also broke the investor’s trust.  The hostility between North Korea and South Korea has also emerged as a growing concern for Samsung. The company’s massive production plant in Tangjeong, South Korea will be affected badly if North Korea attacks South Korea.

Discuss how you think we should approach globalization Essay

Discuss how you think we should approach globalization - Essay Example Additionally, this essay presents the role of that the government and international institutions should play in a globalized world. Finally this essay presents a conclusion of the findings from the discussion supported by critical readings of available sources and material from the textbook and lecture. International businesses have significant responsibilities in a global economy, such as, provision of fair business systems across the borders. In the present day, as companies struggle to reach the international market, they are faced with a number of challenges that rise above their ordinary goals. It is clear that international companies have a significant role to play in the social and environmental spheres, labour settings and human rights (Palmer 4). Primarily, these international companies set principles that help them conduct businesses across borders as responsible businesses of the society. Most of all, international companies ensure that they respect the legal obligations set by the countries they carry out their business activities (Palmer 4). According to Varia (2007), the responsibility of international businesses, not only lies within the original countries, but even across borders. It is clear that many international businesses have put emphasis on the utilization of available resources and workforce while leaving out the need to avert risks involved by going across the borders. In addition, a number of international companies abandon their local resources in search of international resources (Varia 5). It is, therefore, important for these international companies to focus on developing local capacities or business ties with local firms and industries. According to Palmer (2002), it is the role of international businesses to participate in societal building activities and initiatives when called upon. Many people are forced to work under unfair work circumstances in foreign

LEGAL THEORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

LEGAL THEORY - Essay Example From a legal and social perspective, the movement initiated the struggle of women to gain equality before the law, changing the structure of society as women ventured out into the workplace. This essay will set out to demonstrate how the notion of equality as mooted by feminist theories may not necessarily be adequate to advance the interests of women and the material inequalities that they may suffer from. Fighting for women to achieve equality with men may not necessarily redress the inequalities and advance their interests, since this equality approach to feminism is overly concerned with the personal issues surrounding identity. It does not address the root causes of inequality, which may be built into the framework of the law itself, hence without a change in the framework of the law, it may not be possible to advance the interests of women. This is the basic principle which must be addressed on the question of equal rights before the law for both men and women. Jurisprudence has remained a traditional male bastion with existing legal theories conditioned upon the premise of the â€Å"individual† as the philosophical basis for the legal system. Hence, the feminist movement itself and earlier struggles for equal rights by women were centered upon proving to the higher authorities that women deserved equal treatment, but this was still on the basis that they were individuals. The question that arises is – how relevant is such an approach in tackling the real issues women face and advancing their interests, when it is preoccupied with the subjective element associated with individual identity? For example, MacLaughlin points out that the liberal perspectives of law as a fair and just system that protects is rights of all individuals is based upon treating all persons indiscriminately and this system stresses individualism4 – but how can such a universal standard be defined in the context of differing constituencies and differing

Operations Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Operations Management - Research Paper Example Development of models attributed to numerous development cycle models exists and are developed to attain a range of goals. The process of choosing these models is immensely attributed to the eventual impact on the testing, which is done. In addition, it will define the techniques to be applied. Some of the software development models include RAD, Agile, Iterative and V models among others. In the case of regulation of the quality of assurance approaches, the software development cycle (SDLC) has distinctive features such as corrective measures, which defines the manner in which quality assurance should be implemented. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is attributed to the repeated and continuous improvement of the quality assurance. This cycle is also called the Deming circle. It is imperative to note that, the application of the PDCA has proved to be more convenient and effective when compared to the adoption and use of â€Å"the right first-time† approach. It is justifiable that, the use of the PDCA cycle implies a continuous search for better approaches to improvement. The cycle is effectual in performing any kind of work and in managing programs. This cycle offers both permanent and temporary corrective actions (ALAN, 2013). For instance, the temporary action practically tackles and fixes the problem with the aim of attaining results (IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT, ERSHI, JIANG, AND RUNLIANG, 2013).

Explain what the digital divide is; in your answer discuss the Research Paper

Explain what the digital divide is; in your answer discuss the advantages and disadvantages of improving the digital divide - Research Paper Example What does it mean? How did it happen? Does it have any positive or negative effect on our society? What benefits can be had from promoting a digital divide? Should the digital divide be promoted within our society as something that should be supported or not supported? These are but a few of the questions that I am looking forward to answering within the next few pages. I would like to start off this paper by presenting the readers with a basic discussion of the digital divide and its meaning. While the economic divide pertains the method by which the people of the world are separated by the amount of money that they have, the digital divide separates people in terms of their existing or non-existing access to the internet and other forms of communication technology. According to experts, the digital divide exists as a barrier between the urban and rural areas (Rouse, 2005). Upon closer inspection, one will come to the realization that the digital divide, also known as the digital split, refers not only to the people who have easy access to the internet and those who dont, but also among those who have or dont have access to information and communications technology. The term digital divide was then coined, in the 1990s in order to help explain the complex scenario. Due to the globalized market that exists between countries, the presence of the internet and other forms of telecommunication that can help ease the transfer of business information has become one of the utmost important business tools in our era. However, not all countries have state of the art information and communication technology infrastructures in place so the digital divide has already gone beyond borders, thus creating what is now known as the Global Digital Divide. Therefore, the digital divide is not limited to the social or economic statues of people alone. It also includes the members of society who use almost obsolete computers on infantile internet

Autism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Autism - Research Paper Example Autism is not one specific condition, but refers to a group of disorders with disparate underlying etiologies (Corbier, 2005). Hence, treatment for autism is multidimensional, including behavioral management, individualized education plan, medical treatment, psychoanalytic therapy, and rehabilitative therapeutic strategies, together with patience, faith and belief. Integrated treatment plans focus on preparing people with autism to live in their home community in the least restrictive environment (Hardman et al, 2007). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current treatments for children with autism, and determine their effectiveness. Behavioral Management as a Treatment Intervention in Autism Behavioral interventions aim to improve specific appropriate behaviors, or to lessen inappropriate behavior (Hardman et al, 2007). This approach is commonly considered to be the most effective in treating autism in children. A research study was conducted by Sallows and Graupner (2005) on twenty-four children with autism, aged between 24 to 42 months at the beginning of the study. They were randomly assigned to early intensive behavioral treatment, and to treatment involving intensive hours but less supervision by equally qualified supervisors. The results were similar for both groups, after four years of multidimensional treatment including cognitive, language, adaptive, social and academic measures. This indicates that supervision by trained staff is not an essential criterion for improved behavioral outcomes, when the same intensive treatment is given to both the study sample and the control group. By combining the two groups, it was found that the results were optimized, and by age seven the children could adapt themselves to mainstream classrooms. However, pretreatment skills played a significant part in determining the success of the interventions, particularly verbal imitation ability, language and social responsiveness. Lovaas (1993) di scovered that early identification of the environmental variables that controlled the extent of treatment gains, was essential. Effective treatment for severe behavioral disorders requires early intervention which is conducted throughout the child’s waking hours, while taking all significant behaviors in all the child’s environments into consideration, by all significant persons caring for the child, and for many years. Research on early intensive behavioral treatment for children with autism was conducted by Cohen et al (2006) in the community setting, to replicate earlier studies which had shown favorable results. The three-year prospective outcome study using a quasi-experimental design consisted of the sample group of 21 children which received early intensive behavioral therapy (EIBT) from a community agency, and the other control group of 21 children who of equal age and IQ as compared to the first group, and belonging to special education classes at local public schools. The results showed marked improvement in language, nonverbal skill, and adaptive behavior; hence early intensive behavioral therapy can be successfully undertaken in the community setting. Individualized Education Plan and Educational Interventions â€Å"Early intervention and a highly structured education program are currently regarded as the best treatment for chi

Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia Essay Example for Free

Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia Essay While researching information about women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, I found a few articles that confirm that the Saudi guardianship system continues to treat women as minors. These articles contain valuable information about the requirements for women in the conservative Kingdom. Under these requirements, girls and women are forbidden from studying, work, or even traveling without the permission from their male guardian. While many women are fighting for their rights, there is evidence that some women in Saudi Arabia do not want change because of the fear. My goal is to make a big impact in the world, in order to help these women, who deserve to be treated as human beings. In Saudi culture, the sharia is interpreted according to a strict Sunni form known as the way of the Salaf. The law is unwritten, leaving judges with significant discretionary power, which they usually exercise in favor of tribal customs. â€Å"It’s the culture, not the religion,† is a Saudi saying. Many Saudis do not see Islam as the main impediment to women’s rights. Said one female journalist, â€Å"If the Qur’an does not address the subject, then the clerics will err on the side of caution and make it haram. The driving ban for women is the best example.† Women in many other Islamic nations, have more political power than Saudi women. The 2009 Global Gender Gap Report that, Kyrgyzstan, Gambia, and Indonesia significantly higher than Saudi Arabia for women’s equality. In 2006, a government poll found that over 80 percent of Saudi women do not think women should drive or work with men and hold political office. I think this is due to the custom and the fear feel by these women. They don’t know what they are missing , for that reason I thin k they need a change in their life because women are not animals, we live now in the 21st and they can’t still live I the past. MALE GUARDIAN All females must have a male guardian, typically a father or husband. The guardian has rights over the woman in many aspects of civic life. Depending on the guardian, women may need their guardians permission for: marriage and divorce; travel, if under 45; education; employment; opening a bank account; elective surgery, particularly when sexual in nature. Guardianship requirements are not written law. They are applied according to the customs and understanding of particular officials and institutions as hospitals, police stations, banks, etc. In a 2010 interview with the New York Times, Noura Abdulrahman, a female employee of the Saudi Ministry of Education, defended male guardianship as providing protection and love. In Saudi culture, women have their integrity and a special life that is separate from men. As a Saudi woman, I demand to have a guardian. My work requires me to go to different regions of Saudi Arabia, and during my business trips I always bring my husband or my brother. They ask nothing in return—they only want to be with me. The image in the West is that we are dominated by men, but they always forget the aspect of love. People who aren’t familiar with Shariah often have the wrong idea. If you want stability and safety in your life, if you want a husband who takes care of you, you won’t find it except in Islam. In 2008, Rowdha Yousef and other Saudi women launched a petition â€Å"My Guardian Knows What’s Best for Me, which gathered over 5,000 signatures. The petition defended the status quo and requested punishment for activists demanding equality between men and women, mingling between men and women in mixed environments DRESS CODE I think it is too much that these women had a dress code. Why they cant use normal cloths? For me it’s all about to take control of the women. Traditionally, womens clothing must not reveal anything about her body. It is supposed to be thick, opaque, and loose. It is also required to be a dull color, unadorned, and generally not of interest to the male. It should not resemble the clothing of men. Although the dress code is often regarded in the West as a highly visible symbol of oppression, Saudi women place the dress code low on the list of priorities for reform or leave it off entirely.[46] Journalist Sabria Jawhar complains that Western readers of her Huffington Post blog are obsessed with her veil. She calls the niqab trivial: (People) lose sight of the bigger issues like jobs and education. That’s the issue of women’s rights, not the meaningless things like passing legislation in France or Quebec to ban the burqa Non-Saudis presume to know what’s best for Saudis, like Saudis should modernize and join the 21st century or that Saudi women need to be free of the veil and abaya And by freeing Saudi women, the West really means they want us to be just like them, running around in short skirts, nightclubbing and abandoning our religion and culture. A majority of women say they want to wear the veil. They cite Islamic piety, pride in family traditions, and less sexual harassment from male colleagues. For many women, the dress code is a part of the right to modesty that Islam guarantees women. Some also perceive attempts at reform as anti-Islamic intrusion by Westerners: They fear Islam, and we are the worlds foremost Islamic nation. SEX SEGREGATION Women and men must minimize social interaction. Most offices, banks, and universities have separate entrances for men and women. According to law, there should be physically and visually separate sections for the sexes at all meetings including weddings and funerals. Many Saudi homes have one entrance for men and another for women. Private space is associated with women while the public space, such as the living room, is reserved for men. Traditional house designs use high walls, compartmentalized inner rooms, and curtains to protect the family and particularly women from the public. As a practical matter, gender mixing is fairly common in parts of daily life. Women customarily take taxis driven by men. Many households have maids, who mix with the non-mahram men of the households. Maids, taxi drivers, and waiters tend to be foreigners, which are sometimes used as a reason to be less strict about segregation. EMPLOYMENT Girls are taught that their primary role is to raise children and take care of the household. According to Saudi culture, a womans place is at home and a mans place is at the workplace. Saudi sharia allows women to work, provided it does not lead to her neglecting her essential duties of homemaking. Women may also work if it is necessary for their support, such as a widow with children. Women are allowed to work as long as their husbands or their male guardians approve of the work. Her work must also be deemed suitable for the female physique and mentality. It is forbidden for women to be appointed as judges, and positions of high public office are also reserved for men. Teaching and nursing are common professions for women. EDUCATION Approximately 71% to 78% of females are literate, in comparison to 85% literacy rates in males. More women receive secondary- and tertiary-education than men. Fifty percent of working women have a college education, compared to 16 percent of working men. In contrast, in 1970, only 2% of women were literate. Now Saudi Arabia is planning to build a new city exclusively for women as it bids to combine strict Sharia law and career minded females, pursuing work. The plan coincides with the governments ambitions to get women to play a more active part in the development of the country. Among the stated objectives are to create jobs, particularly for younger women. Im sure that women can demonstrate their efficiency in many aspects and clarify the industries that best suits their interests, their nature and their ability, Modon’s deputy director-general, Saleh Al-Rasheed, told Saudi daily newspaper al-Eqtisadiah. CONCLUSION After researching all this information, I conclude that women in Saudi Arabia need to have right and be treat as equal as a men. This is going to make a big impact into their life because they need chance to express themselves, freedom of speech, and at the same time, they need to express their opinions without an appropriate manner. Remember, women are human and they had feelings, they are not an animal. Works Cited Ed Husain.† Why Womens Rights in Saudi Arabia Are Still So Bad.† The atlantic.Web.28Sep.2011. Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-saudi-arabia

The Origins Of English Figurative Idioms English Language Essay

The Origins Of English Figurative Idioms English Language Essay Idiom is the combination of lexical items and has its own meaning which is different from the particular individual lexical items and this figurative expression is usually understood by the native speakers because figurative idiom expression is likely to be named as the conventional scene in the their mind that serves in the speech community. Similarity, idioms are consisted as a special set of lexical items due not only to their structure elements, but also they specify a unique set of behavior when used in very language discourse. Fernando argues that the concreted phrases and the arrangement pairs in idiomatic are recognized by the usage and with its stabilized structure and limited variation. To expand the explanation, idioms can be formed a word such as nevertheless, a phrase such as in favor of, and also a sentence such as the coast is clear. According to Boers definition of figurative idiom, whose meaning is barely inferred by its literal meaning of its constituent elements. T herefore, from the semantic point of view, the expression of a figurative idiom cannot be understood from its individual parts. Structurally an idioms usually includes a series of words, any parts of its meanings cannot be replaced. Figurative idioms, it is a matter of extraordinary rather than ordinary languages. Base on Lakoff and Johnson explanation, idioms are also known as the metaphor that serves as a device of poetic imagination and the rhetorical flourish dedicates for most languages. Moreover, figurative expressions are not merely bundles of word combination; however it is a phrase that ordinarily invented to one situation that inferred to another, making an implicit comparison. Another scholar Tang explains figurative idioms unsurprisingly have been coined with the name of its meaning. Ultimately, the figurative interpretation of every idiom evokes the metaphorical expressions. As the manifestation of conceptual metaphor was introduced, Z. Kovecses conceptualizes metaphors are realized in other than linguistic ways. For example, literary works are constructed in their fully in term of conceptual metaphors such as Chaucers The Cantebury tales, Buyams The Pilgrim Progress or Frosts poem The Road not Take n are associated around the LIFE IS A JOURNEY metaphor. As result, although there is always a difference in every definition of figurative idiom, yet they all have the similar description to explain idioms have the obvious characteristics of semantic incorporated and structural stability. 2.1) Culture context Language structure is the most typical feature of cultural aspects that such relationship particularly found in the lexicon. As Wierzbicka lists out the best evidence for reality of cultures can associate the meanings of words that eventually provides ways of living, speaking, thinking, and feeling which are broadly shared in every particular society. In addition, the Polish anthropologist Malinnowsky is the first founder of the context theory thinks that discourse and context are mutually hanging closely together, the language environment is essential to understand language.(à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Meanwhile, Boers and Stengers declare the significant of cultural figurative expression has been emphasized much recent research. Gibbs study claims that idioms are established in all languages and several types of idioms are cultural elements. Wierzbicka states that most of figurative idioms are cultural artifacts, reflecting the aspects the creation of figurative idioms which are formed by cul tural elements. Inchaurralde mentions particular lexical units are linked with cultural lexical scripts, which are associated to a certain cultural background. Furthermore, Lennon points out language and culture are important to idioms because it could reflect the transformation in conceptualization of the universe and the relationship between the universe and the mankind. The Chinese Linguist Hu Zhunaglin has divided the cultural context into three types: linguistics context, situational context, and cultural context. Most importantly, the cultural context refers the involvement of social, economic, cultural, political background, and religions contexts occur in communities that would value the standard of a certain language. Dobrovolskij and Piirainen comes out with an idea to describe the different types of cultural phenomena are interrelated with conventional figurative units. This means that culturally marked lexis has focused on cross-cultural similarity and the variation across in the conceptualization of emotions. Another issue that Lakoff and Johnson discuss about whether all cultures have the same conceptual of the world. Base on Issac simplification, every figurative expression has a certain class of metaphors seems to be universal. However some cultural specifications also occur in conceptual metaphor, in other word, different culture have a different set of value systems that might result in different interaction to certain expression from others cultures. For example, in Shakespeares period, the food egg is to characterize people behavior or attitude, for instance, She is a good egg means that she is a nice person. In Chinese, there is record in the literature work egg transcript to mandarin Dan also symbolizes to a person behavior and attitude. The Mandarin word huai dan signifies as bad person. These two different cultural context has shared the same particular meaning of the phrase is directed and extended to describe people who seen to be decent person. Although English and Chinese utilize the food egg to imply the same target expression, on the other hand, the English expression good egg is to indicate a nice person, however the Chinese expression to indicate a nice person no longer utilizes egg to imply the meaning rather than change the whole word into hao ren instead of hao dan. 2.2) Idiom and culture Language has been always the carrier of culture and most important idioms that almost invariably to have their roots in a particular language. Another researcher Ronald Langacker argues that language is instrument and module of culture, speakers take part in a discourse situation, their cultural aspects are related to their acts of behavior and conversation. Moreover, Paul Friedrich calls the connection between language and culture as linguaculture. The conceptual of linguaculture is described as a domain of experience that fuses and intermingles the vocabulary, many semantic aspects of grammar, and the verbal aspects of culture; both grammar and culture have underlying structure while they are constantly being used and constructed by actual people on the ground. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) As an important part of language and culture, particular source domain of metaphorical expression may not be equally salient across cultures. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Meanwhile, few researches have been introduced on the cultural features in the present study that lead Boers and Stengers to investigate on the composition of idiom and culture. They explore weather domain that track most in English figurative idioms. The weather domain is commonly associated to English figurative idioms because talking about the weather is a very basic and frequently topic in Britain because it is notoriously variable and unpredictable. However, the weather lexical units can be implemented through meaning extension to other domains such as economy and feeling, for example, when a financial storm struck down Wall Street, traders sought shelter in the dollar and Alex feels the chill of economic downturn. As result, the sentence illustrates the weather domain to a situation and feeling to indicate the seriousness on how Englishmen see weather as well as the economic phenomena. Boers, Demecheleer, and Eyckmans suggest that there are two complementary methods to estimate the two linguistic communities differ with respect to relate salience of a source domain. One method is to investigate the comparison of both languages such as English and Dutch idioms, that English idioms has much broader selection of expressions converted from card games and gambling such as to over play ones hand, to play with stacked deck, the chips are downà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Another much more straight forward example is the domain of sports, popularity of certain sports may coin widely across cultural aspects. Baseball for instance, is much more popular in the United States than in European, for sure it is evidently that American produces more baseball figurative expression such as I had a date with Alice yesterday night, unfortunately I cant even get to first base with her; Three strike and youre out. Similarity, British English hold a source domain in cricket such as Bat on a sticky wick et, Hit someone for six. Besides, Englishmen also like to have horse racing eventually contributes to figurative expressions as well such as A dark horse, Hear it from the horse mouth. The another method is to detect cross-cultural variation done by researcher Alice Deignan results that the source domain of sailing is reflected more often in English than in French discourse. For examples, Running tight ship, Talking the wind out of someones sails, when you ship comes in, clear the decks, and many more. Boers and Demecheleer suggests that French figurative discourse is more likely flavoured by the source domain of food and cooking. Alice Deignan concludes that the cultural aspects and figurative idioms are considered indirect ones in the sense that cultures of the past and present reflect most of idioms and Boers sums up that even native speakers lack of awareness towards the origin of the idiom they use. 2.3) Origins of English Figurative Idioms According to Smith (1971), generally universal origins of idioms can be divided into four main cultural aspects. 2.3.1) From daily life Smith suggests that most idioms develop from daily life are linked with particular occupations such as many phrases that related to navy have been invented by the sailors as well as the athletes use phrases related to sports. Most of the idioms were invented and they are concise, oral dialect and vivid, and are closely associated to our life. Soon enough those idioms were used by the people in the daily life to indicate certain expressions. Such figurative expressions are useful and eventually it has been evolved from common dialogue to conventional language which those idioms are commonly use such as to share and woe, strike the iron whole it is hot, a pot of money, to take the bread out of someones mouth and many more. 2.3.2) From ancient myths, legends and fables Some English figurative idioms were influenced by the Ancient Greek and Roman civilization. From example, idioms such as Midas touch, the apple of discord, sour grape, pandoras box, trojon horse, etc are derived from Greek myths and legends which are widely used in writing. 2.3.3) From religion Religion stands an important role in contributing the source of idioms. In early western countries, traditionally, Christianity has always been the main religion, many sources of idioms are regularly used in verbal dialogue are mainly came from the bible such as judass kiss, olive branch, much cry and little wool, turn the other cheek, cast peals before swine, and writing on the wall. 2.3.4) From classical literature

Ku Klux Klan :: American History KKK

Ku Klux Klan During the nineteenth century, black people were treated as slaves. White governments introduced many laws to control their freedom. They could not vote. They were denied access to good jobs and to worthwhile education and well into the twentieth century they suffered great poverty. People from the USA wanted to prevent them from voting and holding office. They were called the Ku Klux Klan, it was organized in Pulaski, Tennesee, during the winter of 1865 to 1866 by six former confederate army officers who gave their society a name adapted from the Greek word Kuklos.The KKK used violence and intimidation to keep blacks segregated. They used parades, beatings, lynching, and other violent methods to intimidate blacks. The Ku Klux Klan, or KKK as known today, was started in the spring of 1866. Six Confederate veterans formed a social club in Pulaski, Tennessee. This KKK only lasted a short six years, but left tactics and rituals that later started in generations. (Ingalls, 9) The Klan was a small group very much in secrecy at first. The exact date of the beginning is unknown. Despite all of the secrecy the six KKK members initiated new members to join their social club. (Ingalls, 9) The Klan now started to spread across Tennessee. At first the Klan used tricks to keep blacks "in their place". At first, the Klan would ride around on horses, and with their white robes, and white pointed masks, try to scare blacks. They would try to act like ghost with their white uniforms. Unfortunately, the Klan quickly moved to more violent pranks. (Ingalls, 12) In 1869, General Forrest, the Grand Wizard of the KKK ordered Klansmen to restrict their activities. The Klan was getting out of control, and Congress passed a Ku Klux Klan Act in 1871. By the end of 1872, the federal crackdown had broken the back of the KKK. Because of the restriction and the Act passed violence was isolated but still continued. The KKK was dead, and Reconstruction lived on in southern legend . This would not be the last of the KKK. On the night of Thanksgiving in 1915, sixteen men from Atlanta, Georgia climbed to the top of Stone Mountain and built an altar of stones on which they placed an American flag. They then stood up a sixteen foot long cross and burned it. One week later, this group applied for a state charter making it "The Knights of the KKK, Inc.

Roman Allusions in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre :: Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre

Roman Allusions in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre The references to Roman figures in Jane Eyre are few but very effective. Charlotte Bronte uses allusions to Nero, Caligula, and Messalina that on the surface appear to be quite simple. However, with further investigation and analysis, it is very clear these simple references are anything but. The first Roman allusion occurs in chapter one in reference to John Reed. Comparing him to Nero and Caligula serves many functions. First, it illustrates just how cruel he is in the eyes of Jane. Second, it foreshadows numerous things about John Reed including his early demise, his frivolous spending, and his lascivious behavior. Another Roman reference occurs much later in the novel. When Rochester is describing the terrible time he went through in finding a wife, he makes a reference to Messalina. The reference alludes to the type of wife Bertha was, and insinuates she was promiscuous. The easily glanced over allusions tell a great deal about the characters they refer to. The first Roman allusion occurs in chapter one, during Jane’s confrontation with John Reed. After catching her reading a book, he reminds her that she is only a dependant and not of the same class as himself, and that she ought " . . . not live with gentlemen’s children . . ." (23; ch. 1). Then, he picks up the book and throws it against her head, causing her to fall, hit her head, and start bleeding. Young Jane shouts, "Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer – you are like a slave-driver – you are like the Roman emperors!" (23; ch. 1) Jane then tells the reader: "I had read Goldsmith’s ‘History of Rome,’ and had formed my opinion of Nero, Caligula, etc. Also, I had drawn parallels in silence, which I never thought thus to have declared aloud" (23; ch. 1). It is those "parallels" that are vital to understanding Bronte’s reference to Roman emperors, and specifically Nero and Caligula. Comparing John Reed to those figures is a shorthand way of saying a lot about his character, and more importantly, it is a clue to what is to become of him. Goldsmith’s account of Nero and Caligula is important in understanding why John Reed is likened to them. According to Goldsmith, Caligula was arrogant, greedy, and cruel (365). He had many vices and hurt everyone around him. Roman Allusions in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre :: Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre Roman Allusions in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre The references to Roman figures in Jane Eyre are few but very effective. Charlotte Bronte uses allusions to Nero, Caligula, and Messalina that on the surface appear to be quite simple. However, with further investigation and analysis, it is very clear these simple references are anything but. The first Roman allusion occurs in chapter one in reference to John Reed. Comparing him to Nero and Caligula serves many functions. First, it illustrates just how cruel he is in the eyes of Jane. Second, it foreshadows numerous things about John Reed including his early demise, his frivolous spending, and his lascivious behavior. Another Roman reference occurs much later in the novel. When Rochester is describing the terrible time he went through in finding a wife, he makes a reference to Messalina. The reference alludes to the type of wife Bertha was, and insinuates she was promiscuous. The easily glanced over allusions tell a great deal about the characters they refer to. The first Roman allusion occurs in chapter one, during Jane’s confrontation with John Reed. After catching her reading a book, he reminds her that she is only a dependant and not of the same class as himself, and that she ought " . . . not live with gentlemen’s children . . ." (23; ch. 1). Then, he picks up the book and throws it against her head, causing her to fall, hit her head, and start bleeding. Young Jane shouts, "Wicked and cruel boy! You are like a murderer – you are like a slave-driver – you are like the Roman emperors!" (23; ch. 1) Jane then tells the reader: "I had read Goldsmith’s ‘History of Rome,’ and had formed my opinion of Nero, Caligula, etc. Also, I had drawn parallels in silence, which I never thought thus to have declared aloud" (23; ch. 1). It is those "parallels" that are vital to understanding Bronte’s reference to Roman emperors, and specifically Nero and Caligula. Comparing John Reed to those figures is a shorthand way of saying a lot about his character, and more importantly, it is a clue to what is to become of him. Goldsmith’s account of Nero and Caligula is important in understanding why John Reed is likened to them. According to Goldsmith, Caligula was arrogant, greedy, and cruel (365). He had many vices and hurt everyone around him.

The Physics of CDs and DVDs :: Media Entertainment Movies Technology Essays

The Physics of CDs and DVDs Everywhere you look now days, you see or interact with CDs or DVDs; whether it is in the car, at work, or at home for pleasure, you deal with these modern marvels. Whatever the use, CD has become a reliable medium in which to distribute information, in a reliable way. The cost of a CD is very inexpensive, making it a popular choice by companies trying to advertise, or teach you about something. American On Line (AOL) is one example of companies who have chose this reliable source for communication. CD is the abbreviation for compact disk; DVD is the abbreviation for digital video disk or digital versatile disk. The difference between the two is the CD is audio, and the DVD is audio and visual. The objective of this paper is to help you to understand the physics surrounding the CD and DVD. The main focus of this paper is to inform the reader of all the things that take place when you watch a movie on a DVD player, starting with the CD itself. The laser reads the CD and converts i t to the final product of what we see and hear. Most CDs are made from polycarbonate plastic. This polycarbonate is a tough material that helps to prevent scratching. Scratching of a CD causes the laser, which reads the spiral data, to jump off track, allowing the CD to skip around and to distort whatever you are watching or listening to. According to How Things Work, A CD is a fairly simple piece of plastic, about four one-hundredths (4/100) of an inch (1.2 mm) thick. Most of a CD consists of an injection-molded piece of clear polycarbonate plastic. During manufacturing, this plastic is impressed with microscopic bumps arranged as a single, continuous, extremely long spiral track of data. Once the clear piece of polycarbonate is formed, a thin, reflective aluminum layer is sputtered onto the disc, covering the bumps. Then a thin acrylic layer is sprayed over the aluminum to protect it. (Brian 1) After that, you have a final product called a CD. Often, you will hear about bumps on a CD. These bumps are what the laser reads. They are also sometimes referred to as pits. Bumps and pits are the same thing; it just depends on what side of the CD you are looking at. The Physics of CDs and DVDs :: Media Entertainment Movies Technology Essays The Physics of CDs and DVDs Everywhere you look now days, you see or interact with CDs or DVDs; whether it is in the car, at work, or at home for pleasure, you deal with these modern marvels. Whatever the use, CD has become a reliable medium in which to distribute information, in a reliable way. The cost of a CD is very inexpensive, making it a popular choice by companies trying to advertise, or teach you about something. American On Line (AOL) is one example of companies who have chose this reliable source for communication. CD is the abbreviation for compact disk; DVD is the abbreviation for digital video disk or digital versatile disk. The difference between the two is the CD is audio, and the DVD is audio and visual. The objective of this paper is to help you to understand the physics surrounding the CD and DVD. The main focus of this paper is to inform the reader of all the things that take place when you watch a movie on a DVD player, starting with the CD itself. The laser reads the CD and converts i t to the final product of what we see and hear. Most CDs are made from polycarbonate plastic. This polycarbonate is a tough material that helps to prevent scratching. Scratching of a CD causes the laser, which reads the spiral data, to jump off track, allowing the CD to skip around and to distort whatever you are watching or listening to. According to How Things Work, A CD is a fairly simple piece of plastic, about four one-hundredths (4/100) of an inch (1.2 mm) thick. Most of a CD consists of an injection-molded piece of clear polycarbonate plastic. During manufacturing, this plastic is impressed with microscopic bumps arranged as a single, continuous, extremely long spiral track of data. Once the clear piece of polycarbonate is formed, a thin, reflective aluminum layer is sputtered onto the disc, covering the bumps. Then a thin acrylic layer is sprayed over the aluminum to protect it. (Brian 1) After that, you have a final product called a CD. Often, you will hear about bumps on a CD. These bumps are what the laser reads. They are also sometimes referred to as pits. Bumps and pits are the same thing; it just depends on what side of the CD you are looking at.

Junk Food in Schools Essay

The school bell rings, signaling the start of the lunch hour and the kids all head out to the same direction: the cafeteria. After hours of sitting through class after class, their minds get weary from having to cram all that information into their heads. Consequently, the need for sustenance is almost always overpowering. Lining up towards the food counter, the children load up their trays with goodies of their own pickings. A can of Coke, a cheeseburger or tater torts, a bag of Cheetos and a candy bar and they’re on their way to devouring their savory spread. Thousands of schools across the globe are now being seen to serve an array of food that is high in calories and have elevated salt and fat content, not to mention the amount of preservatives in them. Cheeseburgers, fries, pizza, chips, sodas and candy bars have become largely available in today’s cafeterias, providing an unhealthy alternative to the traditional cooked meals. â€Å"Junk food†, as is appropriately coined for food that has low nutritional value, has largely become a favorite on our average youngster’s menu. As such, profit-seeking companies have targeted schools to market such products. Not only are they being promoted in high schools but they have now infiltrated the middle schools as well, knowing that most of these children are probably eating the same amount of junk food in their homes too. Although major cola companies are denying several harmful effects of their products, colas are causing children to be caffeine dependent. Crisps and other snacks may be attractive to [Insert Last name 2] kids in that they taste good but the consumption of these â€Å"empty† calories is the leading cause of obesity in youngsters and obese children could end up having chronic heart problems. Thousands of parents have voiced out their concerns and a lot of people are aware of the threat that this issue poses on the children’s health. Some areas actually pass laws prohibiting schools from turning on vending machines during lunch hours. This measure has proven to be ineffective. Such failure is the culmination of years and years of neglect upon the dietary needs of the children. If adults were more vigilant in supervising such an integral part of their growth, this health issue would not be an issue at all. As a result, what adults can do is to wean these kids from this unhealthy inclination and provide them with a well-balanced, highly nutritious yet equally satisfying fare. Regulations in preparing meals should also be implemented with respect to the children’s vitamin and mineral requirements. Fried products should be kept at a minimum as they are high in fat content, having been fried in oil. Burgers, sausages and other types of â€Å"mechanically recovered meat† should be banned from the cafeteria as well as sweets like candy bars, toffees, mints, chewing gum and savory snacks such as crisps, salted nuts and tortilla chips. These food items contain large amounts of sugar, salt, food additives such as monosodium glutamate and polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats. The school is a place where the youth, who are to become tomorrow’s adults, go in order to gain knowledge of all the worldly things that they would need in the future. It is a place where they feed their minds but what they are feeding their bodies in a place of learning might someday lead to unseen health problems unless, the serving of highly nutritious and substantial meals can be strictly enforced in the educational system and that the adults who run the schools keep in mind that the children’s health should in no way be compromised. [Insert Last Name 3] Works Cited â€Å"Junk Food Banned in School Meals†. 19 May 2006. BBC News. 11 April 2008. â€Å"Junk Foods†. 2008. Ask the Dietician. 11 April 2008.

Examine and comment on Christian and Hindu beliefs about life after death Essay

Death is the most fateful experience of each individual’s life. Whether it is the end of one’s life, or the beginning of a new life, no one knows. Death for the Hindu is merely transition, simultaneously an end to a new beginning. Death for the Christian is destined and is a time of judgement that is made from their former performances in life. These are very different views from two major world religions that both question the different events that may take place after one’s death. The Christian faith believes that the body is resurrected at death and the soul of an individual is immortal and continues after death. The doctrines of the church teach Christians that after one dies, they will rise before God and be judged. They believe that Christians who have been faithful throughout their life by worshipping Christ and helping other who are less fortunate. A quotation from Matthew 25: 31-46, ‘One day we shall be called to account for the way we have used our gifts, our opportunities and our energies. Above all, we shall be required for the way we have behaved in relation to the poor, needy and the marginalised’, supports the belief of the Christian faith and continues to teach these beliefs to mankind. This judgement that is made by God determines whether a person’s soul will spend eternity in heaven or hell. Based on Jesus’ teachings and other sources of revelation, Christians believe that heaven is a place of eternal life, extravagance and luxury, ‘The best and sweetest flowers of Paradise God gives to his people when they are upon their knees. Prayer is the gate of heaven, a key to let us in to Paradise’, ‘There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’ (Revelation 21:4), these quotations show Christians believe that heaven is a place for those who have worshipped God and have followed the teachings of Jesus. The bible has portrayed heaven as the ‘kingdom of heaven’, where ‘kingdom’ refers to a place of monarchy and sovereignty, where people will be reunited with God. However, Christians can not just enter heaven when they die, but will have to show that they are worthy of entering heaven, ‘For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Matthew 5:17-20), this quotation alternatively states that a person who thinks of themselves as higher than God, will never enter heaven. The question that then arises is, where do the unworthy of entering heaven, go after death? The complete alternative of heaven is hell, where people who have carried out immoral acts, such as murder and rape which are forbidden according to the sacred doctrines of the bible, along with people who do not believe in God and have not followed the Christian faith will live eternally in the brutal conditions that hell facilitates, ‘The sword which shall pierce them with the greatest sorrow will be the thought of having lost God, and of having lost Him through their own fault’, this quotation gives us a small insight of what hell is portrayed as by Christians. St. Augustine says that in Hell, the damned will be forced to think of nothing but God and that will cause them terrible torment. Biblical quotations such as ‘†¦and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth’ (Matthew 13:42) and In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire’, show that Jesus talks about hel l as being a place of fire and where souls are burnt and tortured for eternity. Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon which was titled Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. This contained a passage with a quotation ‘There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery’, stating that if a person enters hell, there is no turning back, and they will suffer in the fiery flames of hell. The bible also describes hell as an endless torture scene, with angels and Jesus present either as observers or as officials who are directing the torture of the victims in hell. However, there are two different concepts about the duration of the torture, Annihilationism and traditionalism. Annihilationism is the belief that unsaved individuals will be punished in hell for only a period of time that is appropriate to pay for the nature and frequency of their sins which they were alive on earth. Annihilationists also believe that when a person’s punishment has finished, and they have paid the full penalty for their sins, they will be exterminated and their soul will cease to exist in any form. This mean that the soul will not be tortured for any longer, however, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven, which consequently means that at that point, their life has come to an end. In contrast, traditionalism is simply a belief that unsaved individuals will be punished in hell not only for a year, or a decade, but for eternity without any hope of relief, moderation or cessation of the pain. There are many passages and quotations that appear to describe punishment in hell as lasting forever such as ‘the fire that burns them will never be put out’ (Isaiah 66:24) and ‘And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt’ (Daniel 12.2). These quotations from the bible clearly support the view of traditionalism which shows that even though God’s wish is for all to be saved, the ones who are not will be punished forever. Although this is the view for many Christians, others including Skeptics, Humanists, Atheists, Agnostics generally believe that there is no afterlife and accept that after death, there is personal annihilation. Roman Catholic Christians also have alternative but similar views as they believe that in between heaven and hell, there is ‘purgatory’. This is where people who have sinned within their lifetime, but have not sinned to the extent that they must enter hell and be tortured for eternity, are punished for their bad deeds until all penalties have been paid. This enables them to be cleansed from sin and can potentially enter heaven where their soul will rest for eternity. Roman Catholics also believe that people who have family and friends to pray for them after they die will be released from purgatory sooner than those who don’t. This is why many Roman Catholics have an overwhelming fear of death as they feel they will certainly suffer, whether it is in hell or purgatory. Pope John Paul issued a piece entitled Incarnationis Mysterium which suggests that Roman Catholics visit certain holy sites to try and reduce the amount of time they will have to spend suffering after death. In this, there is was an appendix called Conditions for Gaining the Jobilee Indulgence which suggested ways for Roman Catholics to attempt to reduce the amount of time spent suffering after they die by carrying out good deeds during their lifetime such as visiting the elderly who live along, the sick, the handicapped etc. Some Roman Catholics carry out these deeds, but the question that has to be asked is, is this being done from the goodness of their heart, or for the goodness of themselves? It is clear that different Christians have different views on life after death, but are similar and can be linked together in some sense, for example, annihilationism is vaguely similar to purgatory in the way that people who have sinned are not punished eternally. However, can this be said for the views on life after death for Christianity and Hinduism? Certainly not, as Hindus have a completely different perspective of afterlife. For Hindus, death is referred to as ‘mahaprasthana’ which means ‘great journey’. Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is the cycle of death and rebirth after a while in spiritual spheres into a new physical body, this is where the soul, which is the true self, remains the same, while the â€Å"vehicle† of the soul to make the needed learning experience changes. Death means nothing else but the loss of a vehicle the soul was using during its many reincarnations, which is a physical body. Saint Tiruvalluvar wrote that ‘death is like falling asleep, and birth is like awakening from that sleep’, this quotation shows that no Hindu should really fear death, as an individual is not the body in which they live, but the immortal soul which inhabits many bodies in its evolutionary journey. ‘Samsara’ is the term referred to by Hindus and means ‘wandering’. They believe that the soul wanders from body to body in one lifetime to another. The Bhagavad Gita, which is the holy text for Hindus, teaches that death should not be feared and there is no reason to grieve, ‘For sure is the death of all that is born, sure is the birth of all that dies: so in a matter that no one can prevent, you have no cause to grieve (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 verse 27). This quotation states that all are born again so there is no point grieving over something that cannot be avoided. However, the reason why all living things are continually reborn is based on the Hindu belief in karma. Karma means ‘action’ and the law of karma is the law of cause and effect. Hindus believe that the life they are living may not be the first one, and they may have been born many more times before that. The law of karma states that any good or bad deeds than have been carried out in one’s life will give an impression and will be carried over to the next life, for example evil and selfish actions will consequently results in a life of suffering. Therefore, it is said to believe that ‘everything has a cause and purpose’, ‘What a man becomes in his next life will depend upon his karma’ (Brihad-aranyaka Upunishad. IV. 4.verse 3). For a Hindu, this belief could provide a strong incentive to live a good, moral life so the fear of suffering in their next life is overcome. The law of karma can also explain the differences in circumstances and in equalities between people around the world. Although many Hindus aspire to a good rebirth, the ultimate goal of any Hindu is for the atman (soul) to escape Samsara altogether and this is known as ‘Moksha’. Moksha can be described as perfect peace and happiness, or as the soul ‘losing itself in Brahman’. Brahman means God and moksha is a spiritual state of existence in which there is a union with God, ‘When all desires that rest in the heart are liberated shall a mortal man become immortal and attain Brahman’, which shows that when all thoughts are put to rest and when the atman is truly identified as the equivalent of the reality of Brahman, an individual will be able to make moksha their goal and achieve it. Yoga may be considered as a way of exercise to keep the body healthy and fit where as the true meaning of yoga is unity and integration, and is the means, methods and discipline that will enable an individual to bring union with a personal God, Brahman. There are three recognised ways of doing this and they are ‘karma yoga’, ‘bhakti yoga’ and jnana yoga’. By carrying out these, and using them as a guideline, moksha can be gained. Hindus see their religion as a way of life and many Hindus apply themselves and live their lives wanting to act to the best of their potential in hope that when they die, they will be released from samsara and gain moksha. Christianity and Hinduism are two major religions that are followed worldwide. They also have very contradistinctive views on life after death. However, both Christians and Hindus turn to their religion to find answers for existence along with death. They also hold tenaciously to the beliefs taught by their particular denominations as a way of comfort. One thing that Christians and Hindus have in common is that they both portray religion as a way of life and use scholarly teachings to influence them on which rightful path to follow in life. Death has been questioned for a very long time and no one has been able to answer the question ‘What happens after death?’, which means no one really knows what events will take place after we die, where we will go or what will happen to us. Although we try and answer all of these questions with religious beliefs, until one experiences death, the question that has caused distress to people for over 2 millennia still remains, is there an afterlife?

Native American Tribes in Virginia and Powhatan the Powhatan

The Powhatan (also spelled Powatan and Powhaten), is the name of a Virginia Indian[1] tribe. It is also the name of a powerful group of tribes which they dominated. It is estimated that there were about 14,000-21,000 of these native Powhatan people in eastern Virginia when the English settled Jamestown in 1607. [2] They were also known as Virginia Algonquians, as they spoke an eastern-Algonquian language known as Powhatan.In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a mamanatowick (paramount chief)[3] named Wahunsunacawh created a powerful organization by affiliating 30 tributary peoples, whose territory was much of eastern Virginia, called Tsenacommacah (â€Å"densely-inhabited Land†),[4] Wahunsunacawh came to be known by the English as â€Å"Chief Powhatan. † Each of the tribes within this organization had its own weroance (chief), but all paid tribute to Chief Powhatan. [5] After Chief Powhatan's death in 1618, hostilities with colonists escalated under the chiefdom of his brother, Opechancanough, who sought in vain to drive off the encroaching English.His large-scale attacks in 1622 and 1644 met strong reprisals by the English, resulting in the near elimination of the tribe. By 1646 what is called the Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom by modern historians had been largely destroyed. In addition to the ongoing conflicts with the ever-expanding English settlements and their inhabitants, the Powhatan suffered a high death rate due to infectious diseases, maladies introducted to North America by the Europeans to which the Native Americans of the United States had developed no natural immunities.By this time, the leaders of the colony were desperate for labor to develop the land. Almost half of the English and European immigrants arrived as indentured servants. As colonial expansion continued, the colonists imported growing numbers of enslaved Africans for labor. By 1700 the colonies had about 6,000 black slaves, one-twelfth of the population. It was commo n for black slaves to escape and join the surrounding Powhatan; white servants were also noted to have joined the Indians.Africans and whites worked and lived together; some natives also intermarried with them. After Bacon's Rebellion in 1676, the colony enslaved Indians for control. In 1691 the House of Burgesses abolished Indian slavery; however, many Powhatan were held in servitude well into the 18th century. [6] In the 21st century, eight Indian tribes are recognized by the state as having ties with the original Powhatan complex chiefdom. [7] The Pamunkey and Mattaponi are the only two peoples who have retained reservation lands from the 17th century. 5] The competing cultures of the Powhatan and English settlers were united temporarily through the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. Their son Thomas Rolfe was the ancestor of many Virginians; thus, many of the First Families of Virginia have both English and Virginia Indian[1] ancestry. History [edit] Naming and terminology T he name â€Å"Powhatan† is believed to have originated as the name of the village or town that Wahunsunacawh came from. The official title Chief Powhatan used by the English is believed to have been derived from the name of this location.Although the specific situs of his home village is unknown, in modern times, the Powhatan Hill neighborhood in the East End portion of the modern-day city of Richmond, Virginia is thought by many to be in the general vicinity of the original village. Tree Hill Farm, which is situated in nearby Henrico County a short distance to the east, is also considered as the possible site. â€Å"Powhatan† was also the name used by the natives to refer to the river where the town sat at the head of navigation. The English colonists chose to name it instead for their own leader, King James I.Many features in the early years of the Virginia Colony were named in honor of the king, as well as his three children, Elizabeth, Henry, and Charles. Although portions of Virginia's longest river upstream from Columbia were much later named for Queen Anne of Great Britain, in modern times, it is called the James River. It extends from Hampton Roads westerly to the confluence of the Jackson River and Cowpasture River near the town of Clifton Forge. (The Rivanna River, a tributary of the James River, and Fluvanna County, each survive as named in legacy to Queen Anne).However, the only water body in Virginia to retain a name which honors the Powhatan peoples is Powhatan Creek, located in James City County near Williamsburg. Powhatan County and its county seat at Powhatan, Virginia were honorific names established years later, in locations west of the area populated by the Powhatan peoples. The county was formed in may, 1777. [edit] Complex chiefdom Likewise, perhaps more significant misnomers are the terms â€Å"Powhatan Confederacy† and â€Å"Powhatan Confederation. This grouping of tribes is clearly not best-defined in modern terms as a confederacy. That word is generally thought of as a grouping of entities each with greater individual power than the group when united. In many uses, a confederacy is distinctly different in structure from a centralized greater power than the parts, such as the current federal structure of the United States. Many historians attribute to a minor level the failure of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War in part to the weakness of the central government in comparison to the Union. It is important for a reader to note that most historians do not consider this difference as one of the major weaknesses leading to the Southern loss. However, the term Confederacy has become associated with the principal of states' rights versus the central U. S. government). Using the word â€Å"confederacy† to define the Powhatan tribes extant in 1607 can therefore, be misleading when seeking to understand these people, their governments and their culture. It is true that the various tribes each held some individual powers locally.Each had a chief known as a weroance (male) or, more rarely, a weroansqua (female), meaning â€Å"commander,† [8]. As of 2010, we do not know to what degree most of the various tribes belonged to the group by choice or perhaps by coercion or even greater force. As early as the era of John Smith of Virginia, the individual tribes of this grouping were clearly recognized by the English as falling under the greater authority of the centralized power (whatever it is labeled) led by the chiefdom of Chief Powhatan (c. June 17, 1545 – c. 1618), whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh or (in 17th century English spelling) Wahunsunacock. 9]. At the time of the 1607 English Settlement at Jamestown, he ruled primarily from Werowocomoco, which was located on northern shore of the York River. This location of Werowocomoco, itself only rediscovered in the early 21st century, was very central to locations of the various tr ibes. The improvements discovered during archaeological research at Werowocomoco have reinforced the paramount chiefdom of Chief Powhatan over the other tribes in the power hierarchy. Such issues in other cultures and the definitions are covered at some length by author Robert L.Carneiro in his 1981 work on anthropology, The Chiefdom: Precursor of the State. The Transition to Statehood in the New World. The center of power held by Chief Powhatan (and his several successors) is much more concisely defined as a â€Å"complex chiefdom. † [10] To refer to this complex chiefdom, the term â€Å"Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom† has become favored. Over time, this and other revisions to the knowledge and information available about the Powhatan peoples native to Virginia will undoubtedly be made as research work at Werowocomoco and elsewhere continues in the 21st century. See also: Werowocomoco edit] Chief Powhatan builds his chiefdom Wahunsunacawh had inherited control over just six tribes, but dominated more than thirty by the time the English settlers established their Virginia Colony at Jamestown in 1607. The original six constituent tribes in Wahunsunacock's group were: the Powhatan (proper), the Arrohateck, the Appamattuck, the Pamunkey, the Mattaponi, and the Chiskiack. He added the Kecoughtan to his fold by 1598. Some other affiliated groups included the Youghtanund, Rappahannocks, Moraughtacund, Weyanoak, Paspahegh, Quiyoughcohannock, Warraskoyack, and Nansemond.Yet another closely related tribe in the midst of these others, all speaking the same language, was the Chickahominy, who managed to preserve their autonomy from the Powhatan Paramount Chiefdom. In his famous work Notes on the State of Virginia (1781–82), Thomas Jefferson estimated that the Powhatan Confederacy occupied about 8,000 square miles (20,000 km2) of territory, with a population of about 8,000 people, of whom 2400 were warriors. [11] Later scholars estimated the population o f the paramountcy[clarification needed] as 15,000. [edit] The English settlers in the land of the Powhatan John Smith taking the King of Pamunkey prisoner', a fanciful image of Opechancanough from Smith's General History of Virginia (1624). The image of Opechancanough is based on a 1585 painting of another native warrior by John White[1] The Powhatan Confederacy were the Indians among whom the English made their first permanent settlement in North America. This contributed to their downfall. Conflicts began immediately; the English colonists fired shots as soon as they arrived (due to a bad experience they had with the Spanish prior to their arrival). Within two weeks of the English arrival atJamestown, deaths had occurred. The settlers had hoped for friendly relations and had planned to trade with the Virginia Indians for food. Captain Christopher Newport led the first English exploration party up the James River in 1607, when he met Parahunt, weroance of the Powhatan proper. The E nglish initially mistook him for the paramount Powhatan (mamanatowick), who was in fact his father, Wahunsunacawh. On a hunting and trade mission on the Chickahominy River in December 1607, Captain John Smith, later president of the colony, was captured by Opechancanough, the younger brother of Wahunsunacawh.Smith became the first Englishman to meet the paramount chief, Powhatan. According to Smith's account, Pocahontas, Wahunsunacawh's daughter, prevented her father from executing Smith. Some researchers have asserted that a mock execution was a ritual intended to adopt Smith into the tribe, but other modern writers dispute this interpretation. They point out that nothing is known of 17th-century Powhatan adoption ceremonies. They note that an execution ritual is different from known rites of passage.Other historians, such as Helen Rountree, have questioned whether there was any risk of execution. They note that Smith failed to mention it in his 1608 and 1612 accounts, and only add ed it to his 1624 memoir, after Pocahontas had become famous. In 1608, Captain Newport realized that Powhatan's friendship was crucial to the survival of the small Jamestown colony. In the summer of that year, he tried to â€Å"crown† the paramount Chief, with a ceremonial crown, to make him an English â€Å"vassal. [12] They also gave Powhatan many European gifts, such as a pitcher, feather mattress, bed frame, and clothes. The coronation went badly because they asked Powhatan to kneel to receive the crown, which he refused to do. As a powerful leader, Powhatan followed two rules: â€Å"he who keeps his head higher than others ranks higher,† and â€Å"he who puts other people in a vulnerable position, without altering his own stance, ranks higher. † To finish the â€Å"coronation†, several English had to lean on Powhatan's shoulders to get him low enough to place the crown on his head, as he was a tall man.Afterwards, the English might have thought that Powhatan had submitted to King James, whereas Powhatan likely thought nothing of the sort. [13] In fact, only by being warned beforehand by a sympathizing servant, was an assassination plot led by braves averted (the British also refused to let the natives take their muskets for â€Å"safekeeping†). [citation needed] After John Smith became president of the colony, he sent a force under Captain Martin to occupy an island in Nansemond territory and drive the inhabitants away. At the same time, he sent another force with Francis West to build a fort at the James River falls.He purchased the nearby fortified Powhatan village (present site of Richmond, Virginia) from Parahunt for some copper and an English servant named Henry Spelman, who wrote a rare firsthand account of the Powhatan ways of life. Smith then renamed the village â€Å"Nonsuch†, and tried to get West's men to live in it. Both these attempts at settling beyond Jamestown soon failed, due to Powhatan resistan ce. Smith left Virginia for England in October 1609, never to return, because of an injury sustained in a gunpowder accident.Soon afterward, the English established a second fort, Fort Algernon, in Kecoughtan territory. The Coronation of Powhatan, oil on canvas, John Gadsby Chapman, 1835 In November 1609, Captain John Ratcliffe was invited to Orapakes, Powhatan's new capital. After he had sailed up the Pamunkey River to trade there, a fight broke out between the colonists and the Powhatan. All of the English ashore were killed, including Ratcliffe, who was tortured by the women of the tribe. Those aboard the pinnace escaped and told the tale at Jamestown. During that next year, the tribe attacked and killed many Jamestown residents.The residents fought back, but only killed twenty. However, arrival at Jamestown of a new Governor, Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, (Lord Delaware) in June of 1610 signalled the beginning of the First Anglo-Powhatan War. A brief period of peace came on ly after the capture of Pocahontas, her baptism, and her marriage to tobacco planter John Rolfe in 1614. Within a few years both Powhatan and Pocahontas were dead. The Chief died in Virginia, but Pocahontas died while in England. Meanwhile, the English settlers continued to encroach on Powhatan territory.After Wahunsunacawh's death, his younger brother, Opitchapam, briefly became chief, followed by their younger brother Opechancanough. In 1622 and 1644 he attacked the English to force them from Powhatan territories. Both these attempts were met with strong reprisals from the English, ultimately resulting in the near destruction of the tribe. The Second Anglo–Powhatan War that followed the 1644 incident ended in 1646, after Royal Governor of Virginia William Berkeley's forces captured Opechancanough, thought to be between 90 and 100 years old.While a prisoner, Opechancanough was killed, shot in the back by a soldier assigned to guard him. He was succeeded as Weroance by Necoto wance, and later by Totopotomoi and by his daughter Cockacoeske. The Treaty of 1646 marked the effective dissolution of the united confederacy, as white colonists were granted an exclusive enclave between the York and Blackwater Rivers. This physically separated the Nansemonds, Weyanokes and Appomattox, who retreated southward, from the other Powhatan tribes then occupying the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.While the southern frontier demarcated in 1646 was respected for the remainder of the 17th century, the House of Burgesses lifted the northern one on September 1, 1649. Waves of new immigrants quickly flooded the peninsular region, then known as Chickacoan, and restricted the dwindling tribes to lesser tracts of land that became some of the earliest Indian reservations. In 1665, the House of Burgesses passed stringent laws requiring the Powhatan to accept chiefs appointed by the governor. After the Treaty of Albany in 1684, the Powhatan Confederacy all but vanished.Red line s hows boundary between the Virginia Colony and Tributary Indian tribes, as established by the Treaty of 1646. Red dot on river shows Jamestown, capital of Virginia Colony. [edit] Capitals of the Powhatan people The capital village of â€Å"Powhatan† was believed to be in the present-day Powhatan Hill section of the eastern part of Richmond, Virginia, or perhaps nearby in a location which became part of Tree Hill Farm. Another major center of the confederacy about 75 miles (121 km) to the east was called Werowocomoco. It was located near the north bank of the York River in present-day Gloucester County.Werowocomoco was described by the English colonists as only 15 miles (24 km) as the crow flies from Jamestown, but also described as 25 miles (40 km) downstream from present-day West Point, measurements which conflict with each other. In 2003 archaeologists initiated excavations at a site in Gloucester County that have revealed an extensive indigenous settlement from about 1200 ( the late Woodland period) through the early Contact period. Work since then has added to their belief that this is the location of Werowocomoco. The site is on a farm bordering n Purtain Bay of the York River, about 12 nautical miles (22 km) from Jamestown. The more than 50 acres (200,000 m2) residential settlement extends up to 1,000 feet (300 m) back from the river. In 2004, researchers excavated two curving ditches of 200 feet (60 m) at the far edge, which were constructed about 1400 CE. In addition to extensive artifacts from hundreds of years of indigenous settlement, researchers have found a variety of trade goods related to the brief interaction of Native Americans and English in the early years of Jamestown.Around 1609, Wahunsunacock shifted his capital from Werowocomoco to Orapakes, located in a swamp at the head of the Chickahominy River, near the modern-day interchange of Interstate 64 and Interstate 295. Sometime between 1611 and 1614, he moved further north to Matchut, in present-day King William County on the north bank of the Pamunkey River, not far from where his brother Opechancanough ruled one of the member tribes at Youghtanund. [edit] Characteristics The Powhatan lived east of the fall line in Tidewater Virginia.They built their houses, called yehakins, by bending saplings and placing woven mats or bark over top of the saplings. They supported themselves primarily by growing crops, especially maize, but they also fished and hunted in the great forest in their area. Villages consisted of a number of related families organized in tribes led by a chief (weroance/werowance or weroansqua if female). They paid tribute to the paramount chief (mamanatowick), Powhatan. [3] According to research by the National Park Service, Powhatan â€Å"men were warriors and hunters, while women were gardeners and gatherers.The English described the men, who ran and walked extensively through the woods in pursuit of enemies or game, as tall and lean and possessed of handsome physiques. The women were shorter, and were strong because of the hours they spent tending crops, pounding corn into meal, gathering nuts, and performing other domestic chores. When the men undertook extended hunts, the women went ahead of them to construct hunting camps. The Powhatan domestic economy depended on the labor of both sexes. † [14] All of Virginia's natives practiced agriculture. They periodically moved their villages from site to site.Villagers cleared the fields by felling, girdling, or firing trees at the base and then using fire to reduce the slash and stumps. A village became unusable as soil productivity gradually declined and local fish and game were depleted. The inhabitants then moved on. With every change in location, the people used fire to clear new land. They left more cleared land behind. The natives also used fire to maintain extensive areas of open game habitat throughout the East, later called â€Å"barrens† by European colonis ts. The Powhatan also had rich fishing grounds.Bison had migrated to this area by the early 15th century. [15] [edit] The Powhatan people today [edit] State and federal recognition As of 2010, the state of Virginia has recognized eight Powhatan Indian-descended tribes in Virginia. Collectively, the tribes currently have 3,000-3,500 enrolled as tribal members. [16] It is estimated, however, that 3 to 4 times that number are eligible for tribal membership. [12] Two of these tribes, the Mattaponi and Pamunkey, still retain their reservations from the 17th century and are located in King William County, Virginia.Since the 1990s, the Powhatan Indian tribes which have state recognition, along with the other Virginia Indian tribe which has state recognition, have been seeking federal recognition. It has been a difficult process. They have been hampered by the lack of official records verifying heritage and by the historical misclassification of family members in the 1930s and 1940s, largel y a result of Virginia's state policy of race classification on official documents.After Virginia passed stringent segregation laws in the early 20th century and ultimately the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 which mandated every person who had any African heritage be deemed black, Walter Plecker, the head of Vital Statistics office, directed all state and local registration offices to use only the terms â€Å"white† or â€Å"colored† to denote race on official documents and thereby eliminated all traceable records of Virginia Indians. All state documents, including birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, tax forms and land deeds, thus bear no record of Virginia Indians.Plecker oversaw the Vital Statistics office in the state for several decades, beginning in the early 20th century, and took a personal interest in eliminating traces of Virginia Indians. As a follower of the eugenics movement and, by modern day standards, a white supremacist, Plecker fal sely surmised that there were no true Virginia Indians remaining as years of intermarriage has diluted the race. Over his years of service, he conducted a campaign to reclassify all bi-racial and multi-racial individuals as black, believing such persons were fraudulently attempting to claim their race to be Indian or white.The effect of his reclassification has been described by tribal members as â€Å"paper genocide†. Initially, the Virginia tribes' efforts to gain federal recognition encountered resistance due to federal legislators' concerns over whether gambling would be established on their lands if recognition were granted, as it would raise federal tax concerns and also casinos are illegal in Virginia. In March 2009, five of the state-recognized Powhatan Indian tribes and the one other state-recognized Virginia Indian tribe introduced a bill to gain federal recognition through an act of Congress. The bill, â€Å"The Thomasina E.Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act†, included a section forbidding the tribes from opening casinos, even if casinos became legal in Virginia. The House Committee on Natural Resources recommended the bill be considered by the US House of Representatives at the end of April, the House approved the bill on June 3, 2009. The bill was then sent to the Senate's Committee on Indian Affairs, who recommended it be heard by the Senate as a whole in October. On December 23, 2009, the bill was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under general orders, which is where the bill is currently.

Benito Cereno †Reader Response Criticism Essay

Most readers of Benito Cereno will be surprised when the African conspiracy is finally revealed. Although Melville begins the novella with ominous imagery, the text is designed to lead the reader away from the true events of the San Dominick. The point of view of Benito Cereno is the major tool Melville uses to trick the reader. The story is written in the third person, but expresses Delano’s thoughts and observations. Most readers will trust Delano’s judgement, and his observations of Don Benito and his crew set the reader up to be surprised. Firstly, Delano’s mistrust of Don Benito caused me to suspect the Spanish captain of taking part in a conspiracy against Delano. Benito asks him strange questions about The Bachelor’s Delight â€Å"with a guilty shuffle† (188). When Delano becomes nervous while watching Benito conversing privately with Babo, I was also alarmed. The image that I was most struck by was Benito Cereno standing with his face downcast, as Babo, who is kneeling down, looks upward at his master; Delano noted this contrast, and I interpreted the scene as symbolic of Cereno’s guilt. Secondly, I believed Babo to be a devoted and loyal servant. Delano was impressed by Babo’s concern for Don Benito, as was I. I never interpreted Babo’s constant service as anything but well-intentioned; in fact, all of the slaves on the ship appeared to be good-natured. Delano even reflected on the ability of the African race to mix work with pleasure after observing the â€Å"negroes† onboard performing what he thought were the orders of Cereno. He was completely unaware of the slaves’ true intentions. I, like most readers of Benito Cereno, was completely unaware of the mutiny of the slaves until Delano realized upon his departure that Don Benito had been terrified all along of Babo; however, upon rereading the text, there are many clues as to what was going on. In this new context, the image of Don Benito looking down while Babo looked up at him takes on an entirely new meaning. This clearly represents Babo’s power contrasted with Cereno’s helplessness. The same dynamic is shown when Babo is shaving Don Benito and cuts him. Delano notes that nothing â€Å"could have produced a more terrified aspect than was now presented by Don Benito† (215). During a second reading, I was also able to notice several other assertions of the Africans’ power. The two Africans who pushed aside the Spanish seaman, and the African boy who attacked the Spanish boy were demonstrating their control over the ship and its passengers. Also, when a Spanish seaman tries to answer Delano’s questions about the San Dominick’s troubles, the Africans take over: â€Å"as they became talkative, he by degrees became mute, and at length quite glum† (197). These are all important details that illustrate the underlying events of the ship, but the reader is not able to correctly interpret them during the first reading. These events are only significant to the reader once the conspiracy has been revealed. The text of Benito Cereno is designed to mislead the reader. Delano’s point of view caused me to misinterpret the events onboard the San Dominick. The typical reader is only able to uncover the hidden clues of the story once Delano himself becomes aware of the real conspiracy.