Machiavelli’s Pyschological Game in “The Prince” Free Essays

Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince†: By Any Means Necessary Part 15 of Machiavelli’s The Prince, entitled Of the Things for Which Men, and Especially Princes, Are Praised or Blamed, states that, in order for a man to maintain control of a government and better that territory, he must engage in certain actions that may be deemed immoral by the public he serves. Machiavelli argues a valid point, that the nature of man is twofold, encompassing good and evil, right and wrong. The effectiveness of his argument, however, relies on the fact that the person reading his essay is an objective observer of human nature. We will write a custom essay sample on Machiavelli’s Pyschological Game in â€Å"The Prince† or any similar topic only for you Order Now Not leaving this to chance, Machiavelli plays a psychological game with the reader in order to convince them of his argument. Machiavelli prefaces his thesis with commentary that attempts to place the reader in a subordinate state-of-mind. He confesses to the reader that he fears sounding presumptuous for writing about a subject covered many times before by others and differing from their opinion in the matter. This statement places the author at the mercy of the reader and prepares them to hear an idea that may not be popular. Having been asked forgiveness or the pride of the author, the reader drops barriers that he may have against arguments driven by ego and opens his mind to Machiavelli on a personal, sincere level. By placing himself at the feet of the reader, Machiavelli puts himself and his argument in a position of power. He wastes no time in using this power to gain more control over the reader. In the next sentence he states that his intention is to create an outline for behavior in public office † of use to those who understand†. This statement compels the reader to agree with the points that the trustworthy, orthright Machiavelli argues, or be relegated the ranks of those ignorant dullards that do not understand. Machiavelli then presents his thesis, that a ruler must use both good and evil in order to maintain his power over the state. The reader has almost no choice but to accept this idea before any proof has been given. With the reader in the palm of his hand, Machiavelli needs only to make a very general argument of his point to convince the reader of its validity. The author states that there are actions for which a prince is either praised or blamed. He lists many examples of good qualities and their opposing attitudes. Instead of labeling them good and evil, however, Machiavelli titles them imaginary and real. By calling the good traits and the leader who possesses them imaginary, he removes the bite that the mention of evil doing may have on the reader. Removing this emotional punch makes his thesis, that evil behavior is necessary to properly rule, obvious. Machiavelli applies the rules he sets out for successful management of a nation to his own writing. He is cautious not to offend the reader ith a statement that is too specific. He manipulates the mind of the reader in order to quell his emotions and make him more accepting of his opinion. He seems weak when he is most powerful and seems powerful when he has no legs to stand on. He is cautious and polite when his foe’s defenses are up and attacks with all of his resources at his foe’s weaknesses. Machiavelli writes a strongly convincing essay. The proof for his opinion lies not only in the words he speaks but in the flow and believability of the work itself through the utilization of the very techniques he exhorts. How to cite Machiavelli’s Pyschological Game in â€Å"The Prince†, Essay examples

Century Rap Music free essay sample

In the past, hip-hop had special meanings, like fighting for human sights, cheerful life experiences, testimonials Of rough childhoods, and stories common people can relate too; that is what made rap popular and appealing. Listening to experiences and feelings expressed in hip-hop had listeners saying Theses so true, or Theses exactly how I feel. That same appeal is used in the 21st century however in a totally different contest. Rap played on the radio in the 21 SST century is all about partying, doing drugs, and sex, while songs off the radio are even worse with themes that include violence, suicide, harder drugs, rape, and prison.One can argue that these themes are in fact real life experiences, however, the chances that any of these situations would actually happen to an average person is ridiculous. Another can argue that the themes of the present are the same as they were in the past, but to a much more explicit extent and this rationalization allows such content to become acceptable in 21 SST century society. ! This essay will investigate the absurdity of messages and content of contemporary rap and how they affect morals of listeners and future generations of musicians and listeners.For example, most contemporary rappers talk about al the girls in clubs that are dressed so shamelessly and provocatively and having an endless amount of sex with them while drinking an endless amount of alcohol and smoking an endless amount of marijuana. These behaviors have semantically transferred into the norms and socially acceptable behavior among youths. Starting as early as high school, teens and young adults go out to parties, drink, do drugs, and become sexually active at an early age because that is the message contemporary rap songs are portraying. The most absurd fact about the direction that music is heading is that there is thing anyone can do about it; under freedom of speech and creation in America, these artists are protected and are able to create and say whatever they want. The concept of a seven year old child listening to songs like Rack City by Toga where he is throwing hunnish, hunnish as one would do in a strip club is absurd. However because it has a catchy beat and is played on the radio regularly, parents are not aware of the songs message and allow their children to listen.This paper will also explore the acceptance of such profane lyrics and messages by 21st century youths and adults that allow heir children to be exposed to such topics. To answer these problems, will analyze a few popular 21st century rap lyrics based off Billboard. Comas Top 100 Hip Hop Songs over the past 12 years and other scholarly articles on similar topics. This composition will study five major themes in rap music and explore each them e in depth: substance abuse, social context, gender roles, and the extremities. ! .Substance Abuse! Substance abuse is one Of the most common themes in rap music today. Rappers today endorse excessive alcohol consumption and drug use. Over the past forty years, alcohol and primarily marijuana usage has been incorporated in more rap music. Some artists even have their names made from having a reputation of marijuana usage, like Snoop Dog and Wiz Kali. According to Denies Herds article, Changes In Drug Use Prevalence In Rap Music Songs, 1979-1997, drug usage has increases significantly as a major topic in rap music.Over the time span of 20 years, drug prevalence in rap songs has gone up from 11% in 1979 to 69% in 1997. This article also shows a change in attitudes towards drugs in actual songs; in 1 979, there was a 16% positive attitude toward drugs in songs and a 68% negative attitude awards them, in 1997, there was a 58% positive attitude toward drugs in songs and a 24% negative attitude towards them. There is enough research to show that this is a strong upward trending use of drugs in rap music. This change in attitudes towards drugs from a negative opinion to a positive one in music changes the public opinion.The positive opinion of drug use is making it more socially acceptable for recreational drug use; in the recent 201 2 elections, Washington and Colorado have legalized recreational marijuana use. Is there a connection between rap music and these states legalization? Has rap music influenced the public with their ideas that has made these activities acceptable? No research shows that there is but the prevalence of drugs in rap music definitely makes it clear that there is a growing socia l acceptance of partaking in drugs. Examples of drugs are all over the place in rap music. According to Billboards R/Hip-Hop Songs chart of most popular rap songs of the week, popular rapper 2 Chains has 3 songs in the top 20. His most popular song, No Lie (feat. Drake), highlights drug usage very frequently. The very first line of the song, l am smoking on that gas, and then every other line after has a drug preference. Chains references cocaine, heroine, and lean, better known as purple drink which is a mix of Codeine and soda.Another rapper with growing popularity and the number one rapper to look out for in 2012 according to About Entertainment, A$AP Rocky also has songs featuring heavy drug usage. Rocks most popular song on Youth with 16 million views and bestselling song on tunes, Purple Swag, opens with the line, This is for my n*gas getting high on the regular/ Purple drink, still sip, purple weed blunt still lit, where in the first lines he mentions purple drink and marijuana usage. The opening line is a hook to pull listeners who regularly partake in illicit drugs. This reflects most of A$Paps music themes and listeners who dont do drugs may be influenced to try them because A$AP would be dedicating his music to them. ! The transformation of messages in rap music from political activism, an exposure of black culture, and the hardships of African American life to living a life full of materialism, drugs, and sex is absurd. The roots of hip-hop come from black suppression, hate, and the need to better African American culture and that fueled listeners to do something; it fueled movements. Hempstead, Gangs Raps Heroic Substrata: A Survey Of The Evidence) Rap groups like Www-Tang Clan, N. W. A. , and Public Enemy produced music about black empowerment and giving power to the people, and now today we have rappers like 2 Chains and ASAP Rocky who primarily focus on substance abuse, materialism, and women. Just like in the past, rap music is very influential on its young listeners and instead of empowering young people to stand up for their rights and use rap music as an outlet to channel their emotions, today rap music pushes the idea that doing drugs is an O.K. , fun thing to do. There is enough research and evidence to show that doing illicit drugs is terrible for your physical and mental health, hence their illegality, but contemporary rap music is making it acceptable to do these drugs which is absurd.! II. Social Context! Rap and hip-hop today is very influential on most people but more influential young African Americans (Chem., Miller, Grebe, Influence Of Music On Youth Behaviors). Rap music contains messages of how to have a good time, party, act in public, and even influences how people talk.Because rappers are public figures, their actions are constantly in the spotlight, whether it be in the news, bloods, music magazines like Rolling Stone, or in music videos, making them role models. A role model, as defined by Dictionary-corn, is a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by younger people, (Dictionary. Com). Applying the concept that any public becomes a role model to rap music and this definition tells us that young people look up to these musicians as models of what is hip or cool.Chem., Miller and Grebe anonymously surveyed 1 ,056 students (62% non- white, 57% female) in California ranging from ages 15-25 (mean age 18. 9) and asked hem 5 questions: what music they listened to out of 15 genres, alcohol use and frequency, illicit drug use and type and frequency, aggressive behaviors like fighting, and preferences for sensation seeking. The research showed that rap music was the most popular and was consistently and positively associated with use of alcohol, malt-liquor, potential alcohol-use disorder, marijuana, club drugs, and aggressive behaviors.! A very popular rap song that is considered an anthem by Billboard. Com is The Motto (feat. Ill Wayne) by Drake. The song received the Greatest Gainer/ Airplay award with an increase of 3. Million audience impressions from its release in November 2011 to January 2012 (Billboard. Com). The message that became a phenomenon from this song is You Only Live Once, better known as YOLK, from the catchy and unforgettable chorus, Now she want a photo/ You already know though/ You only live once/ T hats the motto, n*gag, YOLK. This song does not explicitly give directions on how to party, however, its message greatly influenced American youth. YOLK, almost like a modern day carper diem, is used by teens as an excuse to either try something stupid or take a risk they normally would not take. It can be seen as a positive titivation, but in some cases it has been taken to far. Ervin Muckiness, a 21 year old aspiring rapper, died in a tragic car accident in September 2012 after tweeting, Drunk [as f*KC] going 1 20 drifting corners #F*skit YOLK, (Cockshies, The Huffing post).This event shows a tragedy fueled by the YOLK hype, and shows the extent of influence that rap music has on its listeners. ! Another example of rap songs that influence social behavior is French Montanas song Pop That (feat. Rick Ross, Drake, Ill Wayne). If, as shown in Chem., Miller, and Grebes research, rap music influences how teenagers and young adults act at parties or in other social contexts, then this song is a perfect example of influencing its listeners to act a certain way.Pop That peak at number 2 of Billboards Chart, and its main theme is telling women to dance by popping their butts, everyone at the party to get drunk, have sex, and smoke marijuana. If Chem. and co. s research is viable, then this song influences young adults to partake in these activities. ! ! The absurdity behind this is the effect of raps influences. If absurdity is something that is wildly unreasonable, then these effects fit perfectly as absurd. Why is it acceptable to use YOLK as an excuse to do something dangerous and stupid? Why do children look at these rap stars as role models?Why has it become acceptable for young adults to act shamelessly and do what rap songs tell them to do? It is absurd to thing that children as young as 15 who listen to rap music are more likely to partake in the use of alcohol, malt-liquor, potential alcohol-use disorder, marijuana, club drugs, and aggressive behaviors in todays world. The absurdity comes from the fact that people can be so influenced by what they hear at parties, on the radio, or n their own that actually causes them to act a certain way in social situations, because rap music depicts how you should act.Rappers make the music they feel and enjoy, but what they seem to forget is that because they are public figures; they are in fact role models that influence those who listen to the music. It is absurd to think that these adults would be making songs that tell children as young as 15 that drinking doing drugs, having sex, and being promiscuous is fun and acceptable, after all, YOLK. And what is also absurd is how rap has come to this; as Hempstead said in his essay, Gangs Raps Heroic Substrata: ASurvey Of The Evidence, rap used to be about black empowerment, fighting the powers that suppress those being suppressed, and personal hardships, and now rap is about Rick Ross telling girls to drop that p*sys, b*itch, (French Montana, Pop That (feat Rick Ross, Drake, Ill Wayne)). Rappers like Public Enemys frontal Chuck D rapped about themes like standing up for what you believe in, political activism, and fighting for freedom, What has happened to rappers like Chuck D and Public Enemy?Where are the musicians that believe in a cause that has a positive influence on their listeners? There are no rappers in todays most popular rap music that stand for something they strongly believe in with a positive message, instead rap is now heading in a direction that no longer carries the same positive influential meanings that it once has.! Ill. Gender Roles! Rap is notorious for its constant themes of female subordination.Rappers constantly talk about women as material and sexual objects; not even as human beings (Conrad, Dixon, Gang, Controversial Rap Themes, Gender Portrayals And Skin Tone Distortion: A Content Analysis Of Rap Music Videos). In rap videos, men are generally seen in a more positive light than he women in the videos; women are generally seen as subordinate to the men and are usually wearing provocative clothing. Women in rap lose their identity and become objects of sex to the rappers. The opinion of women is visible in both rap songs and videos.!In rap songs, rappers constantly talk about women as objects and put them down with demeaning terms. One of the most common words in rap music today is pitch, which is defined as a spiteful or unpleasant woman and is most commonly used a very insulting and demeaning term towards women (Schneider, Culture, Rap Music, Pitch, And The Development Of The Censorship Frame). Rappers use the term so liberally to euthanize the women they speak to, this makes the women become objects for the male rappers disposal. Billboards number one Heatings Song, ASAP Rocks F*kicking Problem (feat.Drake, 2 Chains Kindlier Lamar) main message is that these rappers, as 2 Chains puts it, Love bad hitches, thats [their] f*kicking problem/ And yeah [they] like to f*KC, [they] got a f*kicking problem. A Heatings Song is a song that is most popular across all formats of music outputs by new or developing acts. This hook that is repeated throughout the Eng demonstrates that these artists do not recognize women as anything other than objects for sex. These artists have so much sex that apparently it has actually become a problem, but they like sex and they love not the women, but the bad pitches. The absurdity arises from the fact that women still listen and enjoy this music. Approximately 42% Of raps audience are women according to Vociferate. Com; the fact that almost half of the listeners and implied supporters of this type of misogynistic music are women is ridiculous and absurd.! ! There is a larger effect of rap videos on female youth. Women in rap videos seen wearing promiscuous clothing and in submission to male rap stars. Studies show that teenage girls, age 14-18, who watch the videos tend to be more promiscuous, more subordinate to black males, and dress and talk the same way as portrayed in the videos.Also, teenage girls who watch more videos tend to partake in binge drinking, marijuana use, sexual activities with multiple partners, and have a negative body image (Davies, Images Of Sexual Stereotypes In Rap Videos And The Health Of African American Female Adolescents). It is absurd that teenage girls are more likely to act like this due o rap videos. The influences that rap music and videos have on female youth are evident through this research, and it is absurd that rap music influences these youth in such a way to push them to behave in such a way.! IV. Extremes!The final section of this paper discussed the extremities of popular rap music. One rap group I would like to focus on is the notorious Los Angels based Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or OFFSHOOT. The groups most popular member and leader, Tyler, The Creator, has gained much attention for his controversial lyrics, videos, mannerism, actions basically much attention has en focused on the controversy that is Tyler, The Creator. Tellers claim to fame is his debut album, Goblin, where it debuted at the number one position on Billboards Top RB/Hip-Hop Albums chart.Tyler in the same year won the MAT Video Music Award for Best New Artist and his most popular song, Yonkers, beating out fellow musicians: Big Sean, Wiz Kali, Foster the People, and Greenshank. There is no research done to prove this, but the reason why Tyler was so successful with his major label debut was due to the shock value that came with his style and themes, not because people actually agreed with what he said, hope. Tellers themes on his album include: rape, murder, suicide, drug abuse, misogyny, domestic violence, sexual activities, homophobia, blasphemy, and multiple personality disorder.It is unbelievable to see people buying this music and in a sense supporting what he does with his music; it is absurd. Everything Tyler says is figurative, and his fans still support this kind of imagination and thought. Even just the fact that he says fagged 213 times in his album is absurd; that word is a word derived purely from hate of homosexual people, yet Tyler claims that he is not homophobic or even hates homosexuals at all. In an interview with NAME, Tyler said, Im not homophobic. I just think fagged hits and hurts people. It hits. And gay just means youre stupid.I dont know, we dont think about it, were just kids. We dont think about that SSH*t. But I dont hate gay people. Dont want anyone to think Im homophobic. This statement and idea he has that using the word fagged is acceptable because he is not homophobic is completely absurd. It is even absurd and ironic that someone who says fagged 21 3 in one album would even go on to say he does not want people to think he is homophobic.! If anyone else was saying what Tyler says, they would probably be recommended for mental help, but instead Tyler is praised and respected for it.He was even given the award of Best New Artist. Saying that Tellers music with messages of murder and rape is the best new thing in 201 1 is ridiculous and absurd. Even other artists like Indies duo Texan and Sara are offended by what Tyler stands for. Sara said in a post, While an artist who can barely get a sentence fragment Out without using homophobic slurs is celebrated on the cover of every magazine, blob and newspaper, Im disheartened that any self- respecting human being could stand in support with a message so vile, (NAME).This phrase summarizes the absurdity with Tyler, The Creator and the success and fame he has achieved. Tellers recognition and praise for such extreme and grotesque rap music is beyond absurd.! However, does Tellers claim to fame and popularity foreshadow what is to come in rap? This type Of extreme rap has been out there with rappers like Immortal Technique and Tech Nine, but now it is receiving mainstream recognition and praise.

Women’s Literature Essay Example

Women’s Literature Essay In 1971, Ntozake Shange adapted her Zulu/African name that replaced her real name Paulette Williams as a rebellion and a rejection from her middle-class upbringing. Ntozale Shange, meaning â€Å"she who comes with her own things† and â€Å"who walks like a lion,† respectively is born in October 18, 1948.Shange lived the American dream only for a short period of time—for the wealth and cultural background can never protect her from experiencing racism at the age of eight. In St. Louis, she is integrated n the school system of the all-white school. She is not prepared for the kind of school who will mold her to a life full of alienation and frustration. Her gender became an obstacle since it limited her to lots of things just because she was a woman. The gender issues she felt during her formative years translated into having an anti-female aura later on.Five years after their stay in St. Louis, Missouri, the whole family returned to New Jersey. She continued honin g her craft as a writer—writing short stories and poems to express herself while divulging her feelings toward the whole world and the society she is into. Criticisms flowed like water since her works are dominated with a â€Å"black voice,† and eventually discouraged from pursuing her dream, her outlet of emotions, her only companion—the pen and paper. With her four suicide attempts, she managed to continue her life and devote her time to writing and performing arts.She stayed in California after being a graduate form the University of California. During her residence in California, Shange immediately discovered the cathartic effect of the fusion of writing and performing, while redefining her being as a woman determined to declare and disseminate the power and cultural heritage of black women throughout the community (Nelson 422).Ntozake Shane’s proved herself to the limelight in the late 1970s. Four of her best-known dramatic works became the start of her career being a playwright. Her most popular work, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Not Enuf, began as a cycle of seven poems in 1974, and by 1976 it had reached Broadway. Boogie Woogie Landscapes appeared as a one-woman show in 1978 and in play form in 1979. Spell # 7: Geechee Jibara Quik Magic Trance Manual For Technologically Stressed Third World People first appeared in 1979 (Olaniyan 172). It gave way for the mainstream theater to acknowledge the presence of black dramatists in the field of theater arts. The smash hit For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Not Enuf won an Obie award in 1977. This breakthrough inspired female playwrights and other scholarly publications to feature black theater arts in the late ‘70s. Her revolutionary pieces about racism and gender issues have been brought around the globe and translated in different languages. This breakthrough started the advocacy for black women in the socie ty.Social MilieuThe 1970s is a decade for the disintegration and decline of the civil rights movement. Court decisions combined with the laws, hoping to put an end to the segregation in the community of white Americans and black Americans did not materialize. As whites fled to the suburbs, businesses relocated outside the city, making it more difficult for African Americans to find work. At the same time the whole American economy is shifting from a manufacturing to a service base; blue-collar jobs are steadily decreasing as white-collar ones became more plentiful—with a requirement for technical skills and a high educational attainment. Most of the underprivileged African Americans are unable to qualify with these requirements. Thus, the black Americans are trapped in an unstable and fluctuating economic crisis bound with a deteriorating physical environment due to poverty (Olson 91).During the 1970s, African-American leaders turned attention to the issue of poverty and the prevalent institutional racism to be reformed by the civil rights movements and advocacies. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 had eliminated many forms of housing discrimination, but African-American leaders concluded that if school integration are to wait for integrated neighborhoods, it will probably never happen. They believed that â€Å"busing† children is the only way to overcome segregation in schools and second-class education for African-American children. However, opponents of the â€Å"busing† claimed that it will only â€Å"disrupt the lives of children and their families.† The Supreme Court, mediating with the two factions, decided to continue the â€Å"busing† since earlier plans of desegregation did not make any improvement in the educational opportunities of the black Americans (Olson 92).The issue on sexism, which is defined as the attitudes toward women because of their gender, became to be a social problem in the ‘70s. Since black famil ies are usually headed by women, the discrimination is much greater compared to a white female American woman. Discrimination varies from employment to bank loans and the administration of appropriate justice. Black women also experience disproportional levels of mental and physical abuse from black men because of more frequent institution barriers and frustrations experienced by black men compared to that of the white men (Hill 45).The civil rights movement joined other prominent groups since they constitute â€Å"only 12 percent of the American population,† hence the force to fight with the drive of equality with these white Americans is fair and influential. They included themselves in the Democratic Party, and labor union leaderships. They slowly won the loyalty of a large number of white Americans in this process. People with fair and just minds will have a natural feeling that â€Å"keeping an individual from the right to vote,† win a position from the public off ice, or go to any school or university on the basis of ethnic group association or race is deemed to be wrong and unjust (Olson 92).Analysis of For Colored GirlsTheatrical performances are not always based on the theoretical formulations of the dramatists. It becomes a process of capturing an identity and bringing it to life. The identity of the characters may reflect the real character of the dramatist, and in the process of conceptualizing the character, the African-American culture and nationalism emerges deep in the roots of Ntozake Shange.Shange’s literary works represent the tortured moment of becoming itself, the moment of emergence and discovery of the true meaning of living. The late 1970’s makes it clear that Shange’s work as a playwright, especially in for colored girls, represented a moment of crucial importance and truth in the black American history. The process of becoming is Shange’s subject, â€Å"our struggle to become all that is forbi dden by our environment, all that is forfeited by our gender, all that we have forgotten.†Much in the history of for colored girls is contributed to the discovery of open form, which Shange used in this collection of poems. One example in the poem for colored girls, she initially visualized the women as anonymous entities of all the cities in America. Women belonged to anyone, as how the society tells them to be. The African-American women are to be nameless, without their own voices for a very long time and now regained their selves as they saw one another living in a different cultural ideology and breaking the traditional stereotypes of women of color. They are beginning to compose themselves with hegemony, with a dictation in their own lives. The unpredictability of the poem for colored girls is evident from the beginning. The dialectic performance of two cultural tongues conjured in a single being is one of the unpredictabilities of the poem. The process of self-expressio n is another unpredictability of the poem. From the use of the art of dancing to the use of the whole poem itself is a transition from one form of art to another. Even the word â€Å"choreopoem,† meaning a piece that is part dance and part language, was coined to describe a kind of writing that â€Å"fits in between all† genres and does justice to â€Å"human beings’ first impulses,† which â€Å"are to move and to speak.†Shange’s use of the word colored represented the other cultural groups as well, not only the African American. Her focus in this selection is the relationship between a black male and a black female, and how oppression became a part of the black American history. There is a paradox about Shange’s poetry, in general. Her works are inscribed with the tensions of a very specific time and place, which is during the 1970s. Indeed, we can see that she also spoke for herself in this selection.This selection also contains a g reat deal of violent behavior with regard to the oppressive white American culture. The hostility can be seen with the attack on the white English such as:i cant count the number of time i have viscerally wanted to attack deform n maim the language that i waz taught to hate myself in†¦. The mess of my fortune to be born black English-speaking†¦(Schlueter 198).This created the verbal distortions that took place in the whole poem for colored girls.Shange’s drama decisively participates in the urgency for freedom and empowerment of women of color. She translated her madness in the poem for colored girls while taking into consideration the young adults and other cultural minorities to be affected with her dramatic composition. The use of two languages as a means of switching from one cultural perspective to another became suggestive to her audiences. The dialogic character is an engagement of the characters to the indefatigable space between the American culture and th e African culture (Olaniyan 121). In effect, this translates in the construction of gender-informed cultural identity, which Shange used as a point of departure for her written account.In the poem for colored girls, there is no one and concrete result to the process of becoming. The unity of the characters, as projected in their dance, established a connection between and among the characters but it does not necessarily mean that they will have the same endings. Therefore, there is no one unifying end. The process of freedom through self-empowerment is the process, in which all the characters are engaged.   What is more, communal expression may well be the only outlet for a certain range of feelings, according to Shange: â€Å"in addition to the obvious stress of racism in poverty/afro-american culture†¦has minimized its emotional vocabulary to the extent that admitting feelings of rage, defeat, frustration is virtually impossible outside a collective voice.† Shangeâ⠂¬â„¢s dramas wander through a maze of personal and collective experience, only to coalesce in a chant that unites the subjective and the inter-subjective (Olaniyan 136). The women of colored girls chant how they have found god in themselves and how they love one another, while dancing together, as a sign of unity for a common belief—freedom, power, and fulfillment, without the oppressive forces to stop them.Shange portrays black men as shallow, ominous beasts and accuse her of neglecting to dramatize the material reasons for oppression. This oppression came from frustrations and insecurities to white men. In retaliation, black men engage in maltreatment of their wives and passing on their personal burdens to the black women. With Shange’s use of dance, in conjunction with drama, it created something exclusively for women alone, with the control of their own pleasure and solidarity apart from the black men.None of these endings, including the discovery of â€Å"godâ⠂¬  and the journey towards spirituality within one’s self, the appreciation and happiness of being black, or the urge to be like a white American woman can dictate the future of the characters (Schlueter 199). It is only the beginning of another journey towards the self-discovery of their destinies and progressive futures. It is an escape for the emptiness and alienation as long as one realizes the potentials of individual effort driven by suffering and despair. It only became a meeting point for them to realize that there is another world in front of them, self-existent and revolutionary, in a way that they themselves can choose to be a part of it.

The Cost of Health Care

The Cost of Health Care Free Online Research Papers Health care finance has changed drastically over the last five decades. Initially, Medicare and Medicaid were established to help the elderly, lower income families, and the disabled, afford decent medical care. It has now grown into a multi-billion dollar industry and over the years it has changed to benefit not only the elderly and poor, but everyone. As medical technology grows, so do the costs of health care for everyone. In his health care reform, President Obama says our health care system is one of the biggest causes of our economic troubles, going so far as to name it a, â€Å"ticking time-bomb.† (Johnson, Linda A., 2010). Historical Trends in Healthcare According to National Health Statistics Reports, an estimated 44 million people in the United States lacked medical insurance for the year 2008. The National Health Institutes Survey or the NHIS, found that from the year 1959 through 1968, the percentage of people who had health insurance was steady at 79% but took a significant nose dive to 67% by 2007. The NHIS was started in 1957 and since that time there have been many changes in the way health care is financed. (Cohen, Robin A., Makuc, Diane M., Bernstein, Amy B., Bilheimer, Linda T., Powell-Griner, Eve.,2009). Medicare and Medicaid were brought into being by the Social Security Act of 1965. These two programs were brought about to help provide financing for the medical needs of low income families, the elderly, and disabled people. Only 8 years after they were formed, the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 was passed by Congress. The HMO Act provided grants and loans to start or expand HMO’s and for some HMO’s, it removed certain state restrictions. This act also required companies of a certain size to offer their employees the choice of an HMO or the more traditional health insurance. (Woolley, John T. Peters, Gerhard, 1973). In 1985, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), was passed, allowing employees who have been terminated or quit their jobs to continue coverage at their own expense for up to eighteen months. In addition to offering this option to former employees, COBRA also entitles children and spouses of employees who have passed away to continue their insurance coverage for up to 3 years. Almost ten years after this was enacted, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1986 was passed. The U.S. Department of Labor explains HIPPA as providing, â€Å"rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans.† (U.S. Department of Labor (UDL), no date given). HIPPA also limits exclusions for preexisting conditions and does not allow for discrimination based on an employee and his or her dependents based on their health. (UDL, no date given). These important acts, along with many other acts, laws, and events help us to see where health care finance has been and where it is heading. Our health care history and the costs of health care impact our access to care and the costs on the delivery of these services. Impact of Health Care Costs on Access Many people are facing gaps in their health insurance coverage because of rising health care cost in the American. According to Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance survey, between 2001 and 2003 the cost of health increased from 29% to 37%. Even with health insurance, almost 29% of the insured were not able to afford the care they needed. Higher health costs prevent people from seeking medical attention when needed as well as preventing them from filling prescription, skipping medical tests and foregoing treatments they need. (Collins, 2004). According to The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 16 % of those who are carry public insurance, 6 % with private insurance coverage, and 11% of those who have Medicare and a supplemental policy, have trouble getting in to see a specialist when one is needed. Another 5 percent with Medicare reported difficulty to seeing a specialist. (Carper, Kelly, Mashlin, Med Steve, MS. (2009). There are many other groups with limited access to quality health care due to the cost factor, two being, those with chronic illnesses and children. Impact of Health Care Cost on Service Delivery According to World Health organization (2010), â€Å"health services are the most visible part of any health system, both to users and the general public.† Health services rely on recourses, treatment, staff, drugs, and finance. Health services have influenced prevented treatment in home health care and community services. One way of improved quality of health services is providing organizational managed services to its providers. High rising cost of health care always affect the economics of financial security of patients. The rapid health care cost has increased due to the rise of diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. A key issue that threatens health services is the lack of management and consumers trust. Another key factor for increasing health cost is payment policies reimbursement rates of Medicare and Medicaid. These services can be reduced by improving efficiency of delivery of service, finance, and reduce the rate of spending growth. With data met decision makers establish goals to assure policies pricing are cost effective and overall improvement for low income patients. The continuous rise of health care cost is continuing to increase insurance premiums, consumers out of pocket cost, and employers. With this notion the rising cost of health care cost has burden consumers and employers. Government Attempts to Control Costs Recommendations for Improvement Providers work hard to provide care and save lives. Therefore, the successes that care provider provide is different across the country. The providers are paid by today’s payment center because of the quantity of care of work than working together for the outstanding care. The system â€Å"reformed† will give payments toward activities that the provider provides in a fashionable manner, this shapes the growth in spending. The United State spends more than 17% in health care. When 2017comes the health care will use up 20% of the gross domestic product. The spending is increasing and the nation ranks low-in places. The report shows no progress toward the quality of care containing the cost of patients and the provider. Because the spending is so high is invariable to the patients, business, state, and federal governments. In 2008 the wrong payment for Medicare was 3.6%. The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association calculated $60 billion per year. This protects the pro grams and cut abuse, fraud, and waste that compete in health care. Public schools and private schools are affected by the health care. Federal health programs for instance Medicare induce the wide changes in the system. Medicare flourishes higher quality, and more cost effective care throughout the health system. In conclusion, currently the quality of our health care programs and the rising costs are at their worst in decades. The government and our current generation needs to strive towards making the needed changes to improve our health care programs with a positive and secure future for the next generation. References Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2010). One in 13 U.S. Who Needed to See a Specialist Reported Access to Be a â€Å"Big Problem†. Retrieved from: ahrq.gov/news/nn/nn012010.htm Carper,Kelly, Mashlin, Med Steven MS. (2009). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Variations in Perceived Need and Access to Specialist Care among Adults in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2007. Retrieved from: meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st274/stat274.shtml Cohen, Robin A., Makuc, Diane M., Bernstein, Amy B., Bilheimer, Linda T., Powell-Griner, Eve. (2009). Health insurance coverage trends, 1959–2007: Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey. National health statistics reports; no 17. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr017.pdf. Collins, Sarah R. (2004). The Commonwealth Fund. Health Care Costs and Instability of Insurance: Impact on Patients’ Experiences with Care and Medical Bills. Retrieved from: commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Testimonies/2004/Jun/Health-Care-Costs-and-Instability-of-InsuranceImpact-on-Patients-Experiences-with-Care-and-Medical.aspx Johnson, Linda A. (2010). QA: Why health care’s economic impact matters. USA Today. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-06-19-health-economy_N.html. Tate, Angel. (2010). What Can Be Learned from the Historical Trends in Rising Health Care Costs? A Look at a Century of the Costs of Health Care. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from associatedcontent.com/article/2695537/health_care_reform.html?singlepage=true. U.S. Department of Labor. (no date given). Continuation of Coverage- COBRA. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm. U.S. Department of Labor. (no date given). Portability of Health Coverage- HIPPA. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm World Health Organization. (2010). Health Service Delivery. Retrieved from who.int/healthsystems/topics/delivery/en/index.html Woolley, John T. Peters, Gerhard. (1973). The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, CA. Retrieved February 15, 2010 from presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=4092. Research Papers on The Cost of Health CareTwilight of the UAWInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Effects of Illegal Immigration19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceLifes What IfsQuebec and CanadaPETSTEL analysis of India

A Midsummer Nights Dream by William Shakespeare

William  · Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream is unique as there is a drama during the play. Shakespeare uses the character 's funny nature to describe the drama. Characters can be divided into four groups: the Athens Court (Duke, Hippolyte, Eggers, Philippines), the young lover (Helmer, the responder, Helena, Demetrius), the fairytale kingdom (Oberon, Titania, pack and small fairy) ); And workers (bottom, quince, flute, nose, star level, and perfect). William  · Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream Author: Midsummer Night's Dream Depending on William Shakespeare, I was born in Stratfort-upon-Avon (Stratfort Upon Avon) in 1564. After he attended Stratford School, he married Anne Hathaway in November, 1582. Five years later, they got their first daughter. For some reason, he went to London and became an actor play writer. At the beginning of his career, he was both an actor and a writer ... - William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream as there is a drama in the play. Shakes peare uses the character 's funny nature to describe the drama. Characters can be divided into four groups: the Athens Court (Duke, Hippolyte, Eggers, Philippines), the young lover (Helmer, the responder, Helena, Demetrius), the fairytale kingdom (Oberon, Titania, pack and small fairy) ); And workers (bottom, quince, flute, nose, star level, and perfect). William  · Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream William  · Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream has an infinite image of water and moon. Both images give a sense of calming women's temperament and mind. In classical myths, the image of the water is often associated with the goddess of Aphrodite, passion and love. Aphrodite was born in the sea bubble and was honored as a loyal wife of her husband Hephaestus (Grant 36). This may directly affect the infidelity of the four lovers in the forest, Hermia, Helena, Lysander, Demetrius.

Addictions Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Addictions Theory - Essay Example They facilitate customer case administration and probation supervision for each case. They hold normal audit gatherings and regular court hearings to screen every guilty partys circumstance. They utilize graduated approvals and unmistakable prizes to spur guilty party consistence, and they check for violations by leading various irregular or unannounced medication tests Adult drug courts utilize a project intended to lessen medication utilization backslide and criminal recidivism around litigants and guilty parties through danger and needs appraisal, legal connection, following and supervision, graduated assents and impetuses, medicine and different recovery administrations. Juvenile drug courts apply a comparative system demonstrate that is customized to the needs of adolescent guilty parties. These projects give youth and their families with advising, instruction and different administrations to: push quick intercession, medicine and structure; enhance level of working; location issues that may help pill utilization; assemble abilities that build their capability to lead medication and wrongdoing free lives; fortify the familys ability to offer structure and direction; and advertise responsibility for all included. Family drug courts underline medicine for folks with substance use issue to support in the reunification and stabilization of families influenced by parental pill utilization. These projects apply the grown-up medication court model to cases entering the kid welfare framework that incorporate assertions of youngster ill-use or disregard in which substance misuse is distinguished as a helping element. Drug Court is simply voluntary and individuals alluded to Drug Court are viewed as addicts, not offenders. They are treated with respect and are relied upon to take part in the advancement of medication

Melting Points and Cooperative Identification of Organic Solids Lab Report

Melting Points and Cooperative Identification of Organic Solids - Lab Report Example This is by deriving mixed melting point by obtaining that of the two compounds having a ratio of 1:1. This was instrumental in ascertaining mixture melting point that helped in identifying these compounds. In addition, comparing the already obtained data solid with dissimilar appearance has high melting points in its both mixed (1350C) and pure states (1870C). Hence, indicating its strong covalent bond where by in former state weakened due to dissimilar forces with the other component. The purpose of this experiment entails the determination of the given compound’s melting point. In this experiment, the melting point measurements they are for four organic solids. Hence, the ascertainment process encompasses utilizing the scientific premise that diverse compounds differ significantly in terms of their melting points. This is because of their respective structural bonds that have varying attraction strengths. Scientifically, ionic compounds are stronger in comparison to their covalent counterparts, which are weaker besides having diminished bond strength. From the obtained data, it is quite evident respective melting points across the groups of mixed substances are a bit low compared to pure solids. Probably, this is because of mixed and unequal attraction bonds/ Van der Waals amid the involved substances. This is evident whereby their pure state The experiment is somewhat an attempt of solving a puzzle. This is because for scientific discoveries, most scientists have to cooperate with each other. Great teamwork is crucial especially in the modern science. In several occasions, it is possible for diverse scientists to make the same discovery, at the same time, in different parts of the world. For the scientist to prove that they are using the same substances, they have to exchange their biological specimens or chemical samples and data. The melting points for the