The Moral Equality Of Animals Vs Humans - 1428 Words

The Moral Equality of Animals vs Humans The discretion between animal versus human equality has been a controversial subject for many years. Philosophers and activists have pushed this matter into debate among the general society in our culture. What exactly is moral equality for animals? Some say it is equal rights to animals, and others say it is equal consideration of the animal. To understand the scope of equality based on rights, one must unfold the determination of a right in itself. Carl Cohen argues that animals have no rights, because they do not have the ability to know what a right is, but should never be treated inhumanely (Cohen 339). I will argue that Cohen’s view on animal rights is valid and sound, because animals are of instinct nature and do not perceive in according to human perception. Also, the opposite view would have detrimental effects on our population, economy, and natural habitat. Nevertheless, animals have the ability to feel pain and that aspect, certainly, for the sake of our morality, cannot be ignored. Carl Cohen is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Michigan. In philosophy, his main interests focus on matters of practical importance including the moral status of animals and the uses of animals in biological science a.k.a animal experimentation. Cohen claims that animals have no rights because they cannot understand what a right is (Cohen 340). A right, according to Cohen, is a claim that someone may exercise against another.Show MoreRelatedFeral Cats1467 Words   |  6 Pagesthe nation. Feral Cats should be Trapped, Neutered, and Released instead of being Trapped and Killed. The Cats should only be euthanized in the case of irreparable diseases. These cats deserve animal liberation in the sense that they feel pain just as we as humans do, and we as humans possess the moral duty to prevent that pain. With a non-egalitarian view of Biocentric Individualism view on things we can determine the solution to the outbreak of feral cats. There were two different videos onRead MoreThe Between Humans And Animals1461 Words   |  6 Pagesves to kill of the unhealthy or weak members. When unnatural predation forced by humans makes way into the picture to simply hang the head of a beautiful, large mammal, it takes the important figures ability away to keep a population strong and protected. Another substantial issue caused by game hunts is when animals approached to be haunted escape, they pose a large threat on the native wildlife in natural ecosystems (Why Sport Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary, n.d.). Overall, this â€Å"exotic† pastimeRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debate1427 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Parents who discipline their child by discussing the consequences of their actions produce children who have better moral development, compared to children whose parents use authoritarian methods and punishment.† The nature Vs nurture debate has been around since 1690 created by the philosopher John Locke w ho believed we as humans do not have natural, inborn ideas; that our minds are a blank page, upon which experience shall write. Nurture is everything and nature is simply nothing. â€Å"Nature isRead MoreSociology: Understanding Different Terms1493 Words   |  6 PagesQ1. Equality vs. Hierarchy The term equality has a deep and meaningful perceptive connotation associated with it. Some people may argue that equality exists in terms of finances and distribution of wealth, but some may associate this term with power. There are individuals who associate it with behavior with individuals based on their race and ethnicity. Every individual has his own meaning for this term. However, no matter how much individuals try to stimulate this term the reality is that theRead MorePolitical Theory: Comparing Locke, Rousseau and Plato Essay3770 Words   |  16 Pagesstandards for determining who should rule †¢ Man is not a political animal, the general will is the foundation of all legitimate authority †¢ All standards of justice and right have the origin in the unique human property of the will or free agency †¢ Liberation of the will from the usual sources that is the true center of gravity of Roussau’s philosophy. †¢ Primacy of the will †¢ Given rousseau’s libertarian conception of human nature. †¢ The fundamental problem is how to find a form of associationRead MoreA human induced global ecological crisis is occurring, threatening the stability of this earth and1900 Words   |  8 PagesA human induced global ecological crisis is occurring, threatening the stability of this earth and its inhabitants. The best path to address environmental issues both effectively and morally is a dilemma that raises concerns over which political values are needed to stop the deterioration of the natural environment. Climate change; depletion of resources; overpopulation; rising sea levels; pollution; extinction of species is just to mention a few of the damages that are occurring. The variety ofRead MoreEthnocentrism1047 Words   |  5 Pages(Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism) As a Sociologist, should we practice Cultural Ethnocentrism or Cultural Relativism? We must first understand the two distinct theories regarding perception of outside cultures: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values and standards of ones own culture.[1] The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with concernRead MoreArgument For Promotion Of Core Csr1635 Words   |  7 PagesI am a Must/Must/Can and through this paper, I will argue my middle must against my opponent (Milton Friedman’s) â€Å"must not† argument for promotion of core CSR. WE MUST PROMOTE CORE CSR vs WE MUST NOT PROMOTE CORE CSR Milton Friedman, in his work titled, â€Å" The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits†, emphasizes the role of business in society is to maximize shareholder wealth, and likens any activity misaligned with regard to that mission as â€Å"stealing†. In my argument againstRead MoreConfederate Flag : History Or Hate1688 Words   |  7 Pagesquestioned. This mistaken idea often causes problems between the races of this state. Slavery was wrong. I would never try to justify it, because it can not be justified. It was simply wrong, God made us all equal. A human being was never intended to be treated like an animal, animals even were not meant to be treated like slaves. Slavery is a sensitive area, but the flag does not reflect this. The war was about the South s right to make it s own laws, and to be free from the Union. There were manyRead More Order vs. Freedom in Political Systems 1963 Words   |  8 PagesOrder vs. Freedom in Political Systems Order and freedom are both necessary and beneficial towards the citizens and society with the aim to promote harmony, yet they both contradict each other. This contradiction has existed throughout many years and it is still hard to decide which one is ideal for the society. This essay will discuss and analyze if order or freedom is more important for political systems. Many believe that order should be applied by the government; though it should be allowed

What Is Breaking The Love Into Two Essay - 1159 Words

Spreading The Love Into Two Doesn’t parent separation sound like such a bad thing? When parents get divorced, doesn’t it feel like the end of the world? When parents get a divorce they are not the only ones breaking up, it’s the whole family, right? Wrong. In most cases everyone would agree parent separation is a tragic time for a family. Although, not all scenarios makes parent separation seem so bad. In cases where a child might experience a lot of pain and suffering from their parents being together, they can see parent separation as an open door to a life of freedom. Parent separation, at first, creates a lot of pain and trauma, but once a child gets through the rough patches, there seems to be an open door to a new chapter in life†¦show more content†¦As time has passed through the years, people’s views and opinions on certain details in life have changed, as well as the role taking of an individual has changed overtime. The roles between men and women have changed. Wom en have become more of an important figure in the household besides doing, laundry and chores, women in the late 1900’s began to make a finance for the house. As women make their additions to helping out with the payments, the relationships between husband and wives have changed. â€Å"In the early 2000’s the pressure to find a perfect partner is even stronger. Women earn their own money and no longer feel so dependent on men.† Keeping that last idea in mind of how women have become to feel less dependent on their husband’s, it has caused the rate for divorce to increase over more recent years. Although children do not have an impact on that aspect it is said that â€Å"divorce rate among couples with children is 40% lower than couples without children† (England, Hermsen, Cotter). Parents are staying together, because of their children and staying unhappy in their relationship for their children. People might ask well how is that good for kids to see their parents together and unhappy? It’s not good at all, in fact it’s unhealthy for the children to witness that. Children need role models, people they look up to with love, they need to be shown what love is. Parents who argue all the time is not showing love or givingShow MoreRelatedMy Fathers Kidnapping By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies And The Money By Junot Diaz881 Words   |  4 PagesIn the essays, â€Å"My Fathers Kidnappingâ €  by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies and â€Å"The Money† by Junot Diaz one can infer that the author of both stories hold a similar message which is the power of loyalty and family will sometimes overcome the power of money. This is a very interesting point that is clearly seen in both works because it is unusual that love wins over money. The love of money is known as the root of all evil and both of these essays contradict that well know statement. Although, both storiesRead MoreKipnis What Is Love?1520 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Love? Does anyone really know the meaning of the word? Does it have a different meaning to different people? In Kipnis’s essay â€Å"Love Labors†, Laura Kipnis touches on many different aspects of love. This is a touchy subject simply because love brings out many different opinions and beliefs. Kipnis argues over the fact that in order to have a good relationship and love someone people have to be able to meet certain requirements, which are mutuality, communication, and advanced intimacy. LoveRead More Love and what is needed for it exist as seen in two works Essay1331 Words   |  6 Pages Love and what is needed for it exist as seen in two works Love is a deep emotional feeling toward a person. Love comes in many forms, each being expressed in slightly different ways. There is the mothers love which she has for her child; a love of self, which aids in self preservation and self worth; there is love shared abroad to friends and family members; and love between a couple. Everyday we pass by people expressing affection and love, and partake in loving experiences with the people weRead More Joyas Voladoras Essay1097 Words   |  5 PagesBrian Doyles Joyas Voladoras first appeared in The American Scholar in 2004 and was later selected for Best American Essays in 2005. Doyle’s intended audience is the general population, though his writing style attracts both the logical reader and the hopeless romantics who seek metaphors pointing to love in any way. The beginning of the essay provides insight to general information about the hummingbird, which holds the smallest, capable, and fragile heart in the world. He then explains the significanceRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale Essay925 Words   |  4 PagesChen Mr. Blythe Eng 406-3 April 27th 2015 the handmaid s tale essay Can human live without love? The answer is evidently no. Love can be defined as: the most spectacular, indescribable, deep euphoric feeling for someone. Margaret Atwood, the author of the outstanding dystopian fiction the handmaid s tale (1985) had once in her book said: nobody dies from lack of sex. It s lack of love we die from.† In this novel, Atwood specifically depicts a society where relationshipsRead MoreRacial Tension Between Black And White Americans1063 Words   |  5 PagesJenifer Coderko History 7B Professor Matthews November 11 2014 Essay 4 The term â€Å"The Negro Problem was used throughout the 1950 s and 60 s as a slang description of the racial tension between black and white Americans. The two essays in The Fire Next Time talk about the problem that the African American community faced, but from different perspectives. The author is writing to his nephew and is trying to make him understand that the situation is intolerable and not likely to change. He suggestsRead MoreForbidden Love in The God of Small Things written by Arundhati Roy888 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay focuses on the theme of forbidden love, The God of Small Things written by Arundhati Roy. This novel explores love and how love can’t be ignored when confronted with social boundaries. The novel examines how conventional society seeks to destroy true love as this novel is constantly connected to loss, death and sadness. This essay will explore the theme of forbidden love, by discussing and analysing Ammu and Veluthas love that is forbidden b ecause of the ‘Love Laws’ in relation to theRead MoreWhat Is Love Essay796 Words   |  4 PagesMonday Oct. 19th What is Love? According to Webster’s dictionary the word love is described as a strong, positive emotion of regard and affection. But in society today it seems as if we throw the word love around in such a loose manner it really has lost its meaning. Ranging from â€Å"I love Coach purses†, to actually telling a person â€Å"I love you† is now a common thing. Throughout this essay I’ll be taking a philosophical approach to help give a better understanding of what love is according to theRead MoreComparing Quickdraw with in Paris with You Essay842 Words   |  4 PagesCarol Ann Duffy Present the Pain of Love in their Poems ‘In Paris with You’ and ‘Quickdraw’? James Fenton and Carol Ann Duffy are both contemporary poets. Their poems ‘In Paris with You’ and ‘Quickdraw’ both include the themes of the pain of love. This essay compares how the two poets present the pain of love in their poems, exploring things such as imagery, vocabulary and form and structure. One way in which the poets present their ideas about the pain of love is through their use of imagery withRead MoreEssay about Tom Stoppards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead1471 Words   |  6 Pagesso well in Stoppards play that it reads like the love child of a play and a compelling critical essay. The play is academic yet conversationally phrased and it deepens our understanding of the original play but also criticizes it. The aspect of self-reflexive theater is used to comment on theater itself but also as a presentation of ideas and analysis that had previously had no place on the plot-centric set-up of stage and audience. The essay Rosencrantz and Guildensternare Dead: Theater of Criticism

Mayan Culture Free Essays

Modern Mayan culture has its roots in a very ancient culture. Ancient Mayan civilization spanned more than 3000 years and featured a written language, agriculture, a well-ordered social class system, a well-developed religious system, development of a calendar and trade. Much of the ancient tradition and culture has survived and been incorporated into the modern Mayan culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Mayan Culture or any similar topic only for you Order Now Religion Mayan religion is a hybrid of Christianity and ancient Mayan beliefs and rituals. The sixteenth century church, a central institution in the process of conquest, set the tone of the future relationship by working to replace Mayan religion with Spanish Christianity and to Hispanicize Mayan culture in general. (Stoll, 2003) Although many of their Gods have been replaced with statues of Christianity, the stories barely resemble the Christian versions. Today, devout Maya worship at mountain and cave shrines, making offerings of chickens, candles and incense with a ritual alcoholic drink. The Maya are a very superstitious people and have countless superstitions regarding events in mature which forewarn the observer of sickness, disaster, and death. Shaman/ daykeepers keep count of the 260 day ritual calendar and provide healing by identifying curses and offended ancestors, counting seeds and crystals in their divinations, and performing curando rituals. Marriage Mayan marriage is not prearranged by the family, although in ancient times it was accepted practice. In the more traditional villages, the young man must still ask the father for his daughters hand in marriage and certain rituals are followed. There is a traditional engagement and wedding  ritual dance that many Maya use in their wedding ceremonies. Most young married couples will live with either set of parents until they can begin a household on their own. The average marriage age of Maya people is 16 for females and 19 for males. Very few Maya remain unmarried as family and children are very important to the Maya. Family Family is a very important part of Maya culture. The average Maya family will have 6-8 children and most newlyweds have their first child within a year of marriage. In the domestic life of the Maya, family ties are strong, although outward displays of affection, such as kissing and embracing, are rare. Couples are considered affectionate if they carry out their respective duties faithfully. To their babies, however, the Maya are demonstrative and fondle and caress them, using baby talk as white parents do. It is evident that most parents are very fond of their children. Very rarely do fathers chastise their children physically and the mothers resort to harsh punishment only occasionally.  Ã‚   (Steggerda, 1941, p. 49) Food Production Strategies Many of the Mayan still live much the way they did when the Europeans came, weaving, cultivating corn and beans and collecting firewood to cook and heat their adobe houses. Electricity and road access have not changed the local traditions. Corn, which was cultivated by the ancient Mayans, remains the main crop. Most farmers still use the slash and burn method of farming used by their ancestors. Other strategies are share cropping and renting land to grow corn crops. The Maya form groups of up to twenty men, usually kin, rent a large piece of land, and divide it among themselves. Although this arrangement is much preferred to wage labor on the plantations, it   requires a minimum amount of capital for transportation, food, tools, seed, and so on, and expertise in dealing with the Ladino world. Many lack these resources and are forced into the largest of the temporary migratory streams. (Early, 1982, p. 88) Outside Contact The Maya, like most people who live in small and homogeneous groups where strong social controls operate, are conservative and unprogressive. Slow to take up new ideas, their attitudes and their material culture have been very little changed by modern trends and technological developments. Their pottery, weaving, and cross-stitch work have remained very much the same during the entire history of Yucatan. In general, they have not adopted the Spanish language but rather the Spaniards have adopted the Maya language. Their mode of dress has not changed appreciably for hundreds of years, and it is my belief that their daily life is very similar to that which their ancestors led. Only in the large Yucatan towns and cities, where social contacts are freer and where social controls cannot be maintained as strongly as in the smaller communities, are there signs of change. In such towns the European mode of dress is gradually being adopted, especially by the women, and cosmetics are commonly used. The people petition the government for radios, electric lights, and corn-grinding machines, and the idea of progress is gaining a hold in their minds. The cooperative movement and similar modern methods of economic organization are being tried. (Steggerda, 1941, p. 37) In Belize, the founding of the Maya Village Indigenous Experience is attempting to change the limited outside contact of the Maya culture by exposing it to tourism. They hope to bring money to the communities and improve the quality of life in the villages. (Steinberg, 2004) Many other Mayan communities are following this example in an effort to become more modern but they maintain the ancient rituals and beliefs, much like modern day New Orleans. These five concepts show the history and persevering culture of the Mayan people. Traditions with religion and family provide a rich background to pass on to the next generation. While they are struggling to enter the modern age, many of the more traditional Maya see no problem with the lifestyle they currently possess. Living in the United States, technology is readily available and most people are adept at using it. Things we take for granted such as telephones, computers, television, and automobiles are slow to make their way into the more rural areas of the Maya culture but they live full lives without these things. This is a huge culture difference because most Americans do not believe they can live without technology. The family tradition is also vastly different. Americans live a much faster paced life and many things must be balanced: work, children, marriage. Mayan women are traditional homemakers and Mayan men do the heavy labor. American women do many of the heavy labor jobs and not many people can afford to stay home with the children full time. Both cultures have pro’s and con’s to their lifestyle and culture but both are ever changing and adapting to the world around them. Both realize the importance of religion within a culture and continuing the race through children. The United States, however, is not one culture but hundreds and this gives it a unique background. It is much more varied than the ancient Mayan history the modern Maya still cultivate. References Early, J. D. (1982). The Demographic Structure and Evolution of a Peasant System: The Guatemalan Population. Boca Raton, FL: University Presses of Florida. Steggerda, M. (1941). Maya Indians of Yucatan. Washington, DC: Carnegie Institution of Washington. Steinberg, M. K. (1994, Summer). Tourism Development and Indigenous People: The Maya Experience in Southern Belize. Focus, 44, 17+. Retrieved June 08, 2007, from Questia database: https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-19897117/tourism-development-and-indigenous-people-the-maya Stoll, D. (2003). Dow, James W. Alan R. Sandstorm (Eds). Holy Saints and Fiery Preachers: The Anthropology of Protestantism in Mexico and Central America. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 9(3), 595+. Retrieved June 09, 2007 How to cite Mayan Culture, Essay examples

History Of Hippies free essay sample

The range, scope, potential and significance of this anti-establishment would only be realized as the sass drew on and the intensity of social movement escalated. The sixties was an era of great cultural and social upheaval by mass manipulation on the basis Of many social issues the causes and consequences of this era however remain contested.According to Melisa Kidder, among other, the most prominent causes of the entire anti-establishment movement may be attributed more to social and political than economic factors, and include the demographics of the baby boomers, disassociation of the youth, anti-war sentiment, the Cold War Atmosphere televisions coming of age and the media, and the US Civil Rights Movement 1 . The growth of psychology as well as the experimentation with he arts and psychedelic drugs also affected the counterculture movement as well as the course of the anti-establishment movement in an unexpected manner.Rosa argued that the science-based, rational society of the twentieth century alienated individuals, especially the youth who were born into a society with an existential crisis after World War 11. 2 According to the interview conducted with , the hippie or counterculture movement was characterized by a certain lifestyle. Explains that in the counterculture movement, the goal was to bring about a change in society according to the arms practiced by the hippies as advocated, such as free love for all, the use of drugs for a different mind-set, ecological values.For her, there was never a time of greater change, as it seemed that reality was speeding up and reaching a climax. Social factors of the Counterculture Movement Post-World War II Period The causes of the Baby Boom of the sasss is described by historians as a desire for normalcy after 16 years of depression and war, while others ascribe it to an anti-communistic strategy to outnumber the communistic world. Nevertheless, as the baby boomers reached young adulthood and became socially conscious, they became a notable factor in American society as such a large generation in social cohesion is a force great change, according to Terry Anderson.A decade after the end of World War II, many young Americans had come to despise the identity of their country. This group of people is known as the Beat Generation, or the Beatniks, they completely rejected the materialistic society advertised and institutionalized by public and media industries as well as the far reaching hand of institution. The beats, along with prominent figures such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, advocated an alternative way of thinking and many other values embraced by the hippies such as a lifestyle advocating the use of drugs.The beats directly influenced the counterculture movement, as most values pursued by hippies were originally the values of beats. While the beats of the sasss were a restrictive group of mostly idealist writers, the counterculture movement spread to thousands of youths, most notably from the middle class, to shake the USA as no other youth movement before. There is however a widespread interpretation of historians of the counterculture movement as the reaction f spoilt youths seeking fun to distract from their boring over-confident lives in apprehension of the viewpoint of the counterculture movement as an alternative consciousness.In the 1 9605. The United States economy was prosperous, and purchasing power of the middle class youth increased alongside entertainment ind ustries. The youth believed that the US government should not overextend their influence, and that a democratic state should be left alone, albeit communistic. The view of a hypocritical nature of the United Stated government came to stifle the youth, as they have come disillusioned by the aggressive actions of the US around the world by the sass.The foreign policy of the US in dropping atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, the oppression of Cuba by the US, and finally the Vietnam War solidified the oppressive, traitorous and hypocritical nature of the US government in the eyes of the youth. The older generations continued to trust government, while the youth felt disillusioned, leading to deeper questions about the very basis of American values, which would lead to many social movements, including the US Civil Rights Movement. Political Factors of the Counterculture MovementThe Civil Rights Movement Although almost two hundred years have passed since the abolition of slavery in the LIST, yet racial discrimination remained a daily theme in the US in the sass. White racist aggressors were protected by the state and justice departments and FBI offi cials stood watch as demonstrators were brutally handled and jailed. Although the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had been active since 1 909, and other influential civil rights movements existed before the sass, the protest for African-American rights and against segregation reached a turning point in this era.Students were a very important factor in this movement, with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SYNC). In a single demonstration gaining national attention in 1 960, a student initiative whereby four black students refused to leave a whites only cafeteria was taken, resulting in the desegregation Of many areas. In the sass civil rights supporters saw the emergence of a strong charismatic leader; Martin Luther King Jar. He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, promoting the same non-violent philosophy, giving rise to mass manipulation in the form of sit-ins, boycotts and other peaceful ministrations in the 1 9605.After many attempts by the government to destroy Martin Luther King Jar. , he was finally assassinated by a white segregationist, causing riots throughout the country. Continuous violence against black people in the US along with the death of Martin Luther King Jar. , angered black Americans. Malcolm X criticized King for his peaceful methods, encouraging radical and violent protest. The Black Panther Party for Self- Defense was created in the sass to defend against racial violence and white injustice, yet unfortunately the leader of the Black Panthers Fred Hampton ND Malcolm x were both assassinated.Despite the large white resistance to segregation, the Civil Rights movement of the sass did achieve much. A major demand of African-Americans is their right to vote given to them by the 15th Amendment in 1 870, yet many states continued to restrict African Americans to vote by use of a comprehension or literary test. In 1 965, these practices were forbidden by congress Voting Rights ACTA. As proven by the killing of black militants however, the resistance to reforms of equality remain strong within the nation, despite considerable ground made.Throughout the sass, traditional means of battling government legislature decisions saw a great change, as peaceful mass manipulation led to violent uprising. National Politics, a New Left One of the most famous and influential New Left organization was The Students for a Democratic Society (SD), created as the youth became dissatisfied with American imperialist enterprise in foreign policy, while locally there was inequalities between Black and white people. The SD was rejected by the League of Industrial Democracy (LID), as being accused of having communistic allegiance.Thus the SD became independent, freeing itself room the anti-communistic and liberal left. This shift causes the emergence Of a new left, easily distinguishable from the Old Left, as unionism and anti- communist hysteria is what characterized most American organizations striving for democracy according to Doug Rossini. This New left focused primarily on social equality, democracy and peace, declaring that America should focus on its real social priorities, such as the abolition of squalor and neglect, and to create an atmosphere of creativity and dignity.Radical socialis t C Wright Mills and political theorist H Marcus were the main influences of students, advocating ideas such as that the close link between economic and political power being the cause of social inequalities in the US. Although in large part due to the draft obligating young Americans to join the war effort in Vietnam, the commitment of students protesting against military recruitment offices in campuses played a crucial role in ending the war. After a march on the pentagon in October 21 1967 which followed five days Of anti-war demonstration, the anti-war movement was national. Despite the opinion of most Americans that hippies are a laughable young lot, public pinion was swayed from 39% of the populace agreeing with American involvement in Vietnam in 1965, to 61 % in 1971 10. In this era, many different groups of people united under the same banner, and although the separation between these groups increased as the 1 sass went on, civil rights and anti war sentiments were embedded aspirations of the American youth.These middle class youths turned to their own domestic society to solve problems manifested and overlooked for centuries. To solve these issues, the New Left targeted government, yet more and more young people went another erection, many turned to the spiritual lure of Buddhism applying their ideals directly. The tools of the New Left was mostly cultural, as they excluded themselves from mainstream society, adopt ing lifestyles of fun, peace, love and freedom. Revolution, a Beetles song accurately illustrates the break that occurred supporters and opposition of the 1 sass New Left. Political activism and new consciousness is what characterized the counterculture 1. Economic Factors of the Counterculture Stuart hall in Encoding and Decoding in Television Discourse, explains a hegemony as defining possible meaning, and carrying the Stamp of legitimacy thin its mental horizon. It is coterminous with the natural order and what is taken for granted or inevitable about the social order.Thus the counterculture movement saw the American way of life as a restrictive version of reality, insisting that happiness is gained by possessing goods. The end of World War II brought tremendous wealth to the country, empowering the middle class, however it also meant that women would abandon their posts in jobs traditionally reserved for men. The role of women in society became very clearly defined, along with behavioral and fashion codes, as the Nuclear Family added to the massive production and consumption culture, creating the stereotype of the definition of a good American.The consequence of the perception that a housewife and bureaucratic husband as advertised by public and private institutions was perfect happiness, was that American Middle class youth did not miss a comfortable material life, as they striver towards predetermined roles 2. Americas youth came to realize that physical comfort while possessing no liberty did not satisfy them as people. The Beat generation along with writers such as Jack Kerouac, had by he sass already introduced questions on personal freedom, when the American way of life combusted the brewing tension.Young middle class Americans came to sympathize with oppressed Vietnamese, as the war in Vietnam and the draft succeeded in gathering and binding people to a mutual goal 3. The government and private institutions eagerly defended their cultural model based on the nuclear family, and viciously opposed reformation. The Gay Liberation Front in the sass provided an explanation for this in stating that gay liberation and other reforms would cause a revolutionary change in the entire society of the US.Thus any change of the culture of the nuclear family would threaten the (financial) interests of public and private institutions. It was revealed to the New Left that the materialistic status quo w as a manipulation of the people, aiming to keep industry going with the aid of workers and buyers, as well as preventing people to fully comprehend the capitalist system, as it would lead to massive rebellion as seen in the sass. As protest came in most part from the young middle class, the youth realized that the only interest in any US foreign and domestic policy is finance.People thus came to realize that politicians would not stop killing ND causing pain as long as their interest lies within these actions. In order to stop the supporting of these leaders, the youth spread its values across the country with the aid of different forms of mass media. The counterculture movement was based on the belief that political behavior would change alongside cultural change. This movement aimed to achieve the infinite, banning would not be tolerated from anyone and they would intend to expand their mindset.Culture of the Counterculture The social and political forces driving the counterculture movement were forged from a conservative society, however the New Left proves that a break n in points Of views from the youths and adult population existed whether or not the they were part of the counterculture movement. Accor ding to Young elation that sprouted the counterculture movement was clearly born from domestic and political excess in the US. The post-World War II era, the US Civil Rights Movement, the war in Vietnam and the Cold War environment launched an inevitable time of change in America as argued by Greg Hairless 5.It seemed that the apprehension of the world in the mass consciousness was inevitable despite conservative youths being numerous. Thus the many youths including the New Left activists encouraged an alternative form of consciousness, based on the values of peace, love and equality, striving to better institutions within the capitalist system. The counterculture however to aimed to end institutions of the time, as seen in their goal of a new consciousness. Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll Sex, drugs and rock n roll is more than a famous slogan.This slogan represents the ideals and culture of the counterculture. Sex refers to sexual liberation which experienced at a total revolution in the 1 sass across the action as well as internationally. Although much of the hippie and counterculture movement was simply a means for fun and the use and experimentation of drugs and especially music was simply a way to obtain a good time, the usage of certain drugs, especially LSI was based on a strong spiritual message within the counterculture movements 6. Sexual liberation As well as in the broad society, sexism was an issue in the counterculture.Although many historians argue that women did not achieve liberation throughout the 1 asss, due to centuries of western paternalism, the fact that organizations were created to keep women from having premarital sex insinuates more sexual freedom experienced by women, although some women complained that the sexual liberation was about male access to women instead of actual liberation. The abandonment of Christian principles has led women to find a moderate balance for their sexual lives, as usually happens when an extreme is experienced.Although most hippies could not emancipate themselves f rom gender roles as portrayed by society, the counterculture movement launched a path towards equality of gender, and began with freedom of sexual intercourse 7. The Use of Drugs Experimentation in the sasss was rife, especially with drugs as LSI seen in context of freeing the minds of the youth from the narrow vision, while opening ones mind to new realities. Aloud Huxley and Timothy Leary tested and paved the way for drug use to be taken up in the counterculture. The consumption of this and many other hallucinogens made many youths passive, also contributing to the idea that change should be focused culturally instead of politically. Like the Beats before them, the hippies saw the use of LSI as a means of achieving spiritual enlightenment and artistic creativity. Psychedelic forms of art was caused by the consumption of LSI as well, finding expression in music along with psychedelic rock. The achievements of the counterculture in the realm of culture Were vast, and most visibly and everlasting was its effect on music 18.Although the counterculture is often described as a movement of love and peace, many disagreed on the ideals and means of obtaining peace and love. The Woodstock festival originally named 3 days of peace and music, gathering 500 000 people and being a current point of reference of the climax of the counterculture era. Psychedelic Rock was used by the same people using L SD, becoming a transcendental experience conveying the id eals of the counterculture. The self-described alternative consciousness promoted by the counterculture did not mean a rejection of western society, but intended to complete it and improve society as a whole.Although the counterculture included rebellion, the goal was to achieve harmony and understanding Of wholeness as praised by Eastern Philosophy 9. Legacy The Counterculture movement of 1 960 caused a radical shift in the implementation and instrument of US reason and supremacist liberal ideology as explained by this displacement of values was achieved despite immense counter subversive thinking that was purposely aimed at distorting the image of the youth generation of the sasss to public imagination.Due to this rhetoric propagated by the elite in whose interest it was, the hippies were seen as a dirty, misguided, irresponsible and frivolous group of spoilt middle class white children, looking for more than their comfortable lives and attempting to change the values of American Family and Community.Althoug h the hippie movement did eventually die out due to many reasons such as the end of the US Civil Rights movement, the Deaths of important counterculture leaders, and especially the media and initialization Of the advent of consumerism and the initialization of the economic marketplace, it is a turning point in the history of oppositional politics in the United States. Despite or rather because of the allegations of the transcendental nature of the counterculture movement, the perceived future was for many a unpredictable utopia.These unexpected, unrealistic expectations and invocations of the hippie movement opened new, alternative paths of radical assent, circumventing the dead end of contemporary cultural politics. The aggressive questioning of the conformed American identity caused a struggle for social and cultural justice, allowing the demotion of the assimilations liberal mentality. Conclusion The reviewing of American values allowed the inclusion of Native, African and Hispanic Americans into American society.Literature about the sass demonstrates conversation and conflict as having irreversibly undermined the prevailing norms of national representation. The impact of the counterculture movement caused a cultural schism to form between the western world and he US, as the west gradually changed into unfaithful Americanizes. According to Deride and Routines, loyalty to legacy involves a sort of infidelity, recasting the legacy of the sasss and keeping it alive. In order to keep this legacy alive, it may not be repeated, but must be made present.

Life of Langston Hughes free essay sample

A paper looking at the leader of the Harlem Renaissance. This is a term paper on Langston Hughes. It includes some basic biographical background, an analysis of his work, and the role he played in the Harlem Renaissance. The author analyzes each of Hughes different types of works to illustrate the variety of which he was capable. Langston Hughes is one of Americas most well-known and influential black writers. Perhaps, the reason he is so well known is because his works influenced so many people. Langston Hughes made a large and unique contribution not only to American literature, but to black American culture and to American humor as well. (Haskins: ix) Hughes was a leader and had a key role in the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout his forty-five year career, Hughes was a novelist, a reporter, a translator, a playwright, and a short-story writer, although he is mainly recognized as a poet. We will write a custom essay sample on Life of Langston Hughes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hughes began his career because of his unique style. Hughes used speech patterns of a stereotyped black culture along with a jazz/blues rhythm. Hughes style and political views are mainly related to his experiences growing up.

Medieval Methods for Making Fabric From Wool

Medieval Methods for Making Fabric From Wool In the Middle Ages, wool was turned into cloth in the thriving wool production trade, in home-based cottage industry, and in private households for family use. Methods could vary depending on the wherewithal of the producer, but the basic processes of spinning, weaving, and finishing cloth were essentially the same. Wool is usually sheared from sheep all at once, resulting in a large fleece. Occasionally, the skin of a slaughtered sheep was utilized for its wool; but the product obtained, which was called pulled wool, was an inferior grade to that shorn from live sheep. If the wool was intended for trade (as opposed to local use), it was bound up with similar fleeces and sold or traded off until it reached its final destination in a cloth-manufacturing town. It was there that processing began. Sorting The first thing done to a fleece was to separate its wool into its various grades by coarseness because different types of wool were destined for different end products and required specialized methods of processing. Also, some types of wool had specific uses in the manufacturing process itself. The wool in the outer layer of fleece was ordinarily longer, thicker and coarser than the wool from the inner layers. These fibers would be spun into worsted yarn. The inner layers had softer wool of varying lengths that would be spun into woolen yarn. Shorter fibers would be further sorted by grade into heavier and finer wools; the heavier ones would be used to make thicker yarn for the warp threads in the loom, and the lighter ones would be used for the wefts. Cleansing Next, the wool was washed; soap and water would usually do for worsteds. For the fibers that would be used to make woolens, the cleansing process was particularly stringent and could include hot alkaline water, lye, and even stale urine. The aim was to remove the wool grease (from which lanolin is extracted) and other oils and greases as well as dirt and foreign matter. The use of urine was frowned upon and even outlawed at various points in the Middle Ages, but it was still common in home industries throughout the era. Following cleansing, the wools were rinsed several times. Beating After rinsing, the wools were set out in the sun on wooden slats to dry and were beaten, or broken, with sticks. Willow branches were often used, and thus the process was called willeying in England, brisage de laines in France and wullebreken in Flanders. Beating the wool helped remove any remaining foreign matter, and it separated entangled or matted fibers. Preliminary Dyeing Sometimes, dye would be applied to fiber before it was used in manufacturing. If so, this is the point at which the dyeing would occur. It was fairly common to soak fibers in a preliminary dye with the expectation that the color would combine with a different shade in a later dye bath. Fabric that was dyed at this stage was known as dyed-in-the-wool. Dyes usually required a mordant to keep the color from fading, and mordants often left a crystalline residue that made working with fibers extremely difficult. Therefore, the most common dye used in this early stage was woad, which did not require a mordant. Woad was a blue dye made from an herb indigenous to Europe, and it took about three days to use it to dye fiber and make the color fast. In later medieval Europe, such a large percentage of wool cloths were dyed with woad that cloth workers were often known as blue nails.1 Greasing Before the wools could be subjected to the harsh processing treatment that lay ahead, they would be greased with butter or olive oil to protect them. Those who produced their own cloth at home were likely to skip the more rigorous cleansing, allowing some of the natural lanolin to remain as a lubricant instead of adding grease. Although this step was done primarily to the fibers intended for woolen yarn, there is evidence that the longer, thicker fibers used to make worsteds were also lightly greased. Combing The next step in preparing wool for spinning varied depending on the type of wool, the instruments available and, oddly enough, whether certain tools had been outlawed. For worsted yarn, simple wool combs were used to separate and straighten the fibers. The teeth of the combs might be wooden or, as the Middle Ages progressed, iron. A pair of combs was used, and the wool would be transferred from one comb to the other and back again until it had been straightened and aligned. Combs were usually constructed with several rows of teeth and had a handle, which made them look a little like a modern-day dog brush. Combs were also used for woolen fibers, but in the central Middle Ages cards were introduced. These were flat boards with many rows of short, sharp metal hooks. By placing a handful of wool on one card and combing it until it had been transferred to the other, and then repeating the process several times, a light, airy fiber would result. Carding separated wools more effectively than combing, and it did so without losing the shorter fibers. It was also a good way to blend together different types of wool. For reasons that remain unclear, cards were outlawed in portions of Europe for several centuries. John H. Munroe posits that the reasoning behind the ban could be a fear that the sharp metal hooks would damage the wool, or that carding made it too easy to fraudulently blend inferior wools into superior ones. Instead of carding or combing, some woolens were subjected to a process known as bowing. The bow was an arched wooden frame, the two ends of which were attached with a taut cord. The bow would be suspended from the ceiling, the cord would be placed in a pile of wool fibers, and the wooden frame would be struck with a mallet in order to get the cord to vibrate. The vibrating cord would separate the fibers. Just how effective or common bowing was is debatable, but at least it was legal. Spinning Once the fibers were combed (or carded or bowed), they were wound on a distaff a short, forked stick - in preparation for spinning. Spinning was chiefly the province of women. The spinster would draw a few fibers from the distaff, twisting them between thumb and forefinger as she did so, and attach them to a drop-spindle. The weight of the spindle would pull the fibers down, stretching them out as it spun. The spinning action of the spindle, with the help of the spinsters fingers, twisted the fibers together into yarn. The spinster would add more wool from the distaff until the spindle reached the floor; shed then wind the yarn around the spindle and repeat the process. Spinsters stood as they  spun  so that the drop-spindle could spin out as long a yarn as possible before it had to be wound up. Spinning wheels were probably invented in India sometime after 500 CE.; their earliest recorded use in Europe is in the 13th century. Initially, they werent the convenient sit-down models of later centuries, powered by a foot pedal; rather, they were  hand-powered  and large enough so that the spinster would need to stand to use it. It may not have been any easier on the spinsters feet, but much more yarn could be produced on a spinning wheel than with a drop-spindle. However, spinning with a drop-spindle was common throughout the Middle Ages until the 15th century. Once the yarn was spun, it might be dyed. Whether it was dyed in the wool or in the yarn, color had to be added  by  this stage if a multi-colored cloth was to be produced. Knitting While knitting wasnt wholly unknown in the Middle Ages, scant evidence of hand-knitted garments survives. The relative ease of the craft of knitting and the ready availability of materials and tools for making knitting needles makes it hard to believe that peasants didnt knit themselves warm clothing from wool they got from their own sheep. The lack of surviving garments isnt at all surprising, considering the fragility of all cloth and the amount of time that has passed since the medieval era. Peasants could have worn their knitted garments to pieces, or they may have reclaimed the yarn for alternate uses when the garment grew too old or threadbare to wear any longer. Far more common than knitting in the Middle Ages was weaving. Weaving Weaving cloth was practiced in households as well as in professional cloth-making establishments. In homes where people produced cloth for their own use, spinning was often the province of women, but weaving was usually done by men. Professional weavers in manufacturing locations like Flanders and Florence were also usually men, though women weavers were not unknown. The essence of weaving is, simply, to draw one yarn or thread (the weft) through a set of perpendicular yarns (the warp), threading the weft alternately behind and in front of each individual warp thread. Warp threads were usually stronger and heavier than weft  threads  and came from different grades of fiber. The variety of weights in warps and wefts could result in specific textures. The number of weft fibers drawn through the loom in one pass could vary, as could the number of warps the weft would travel in front of before passing behind; this deliberate variety was used to achieve different textured patterns. Sometimes, warp threads were dyed (usually blue) and weft threads remained undyed, producing colored patterns. Looms  were constructed to make this process go more smoothly. The earliest looms were vertical; the warp threads stretched from the top of the loom to the floor and, later, to a bottom frame or roller. Weavers stood when they worked on vertical looms. The  horizontal loom  made its first appearance in Europe in the 11th century, and by the 12th century, mechanized versions were being used. The advent of the mechanized horizontal loom is generally considered the most important technological development in medieval textile production. A weaver would sit at a mechanized loom, and instead of threading the weft in front of and behind alternate warps by hand, hed merely have to press a foot pedal to raise up one set of alternate warps and draw the weft underneath it in one straight pass. Then hed press the other pedal, which would raise the other set of warps, and draw the weft underneath  that  in the other direction. To make this process easier, a shuttle was used a boat-shaped tool that contained yarn wound around a bobbin. The shuttle would glide easily over the bottom set of warps as the yarn unspooled. Fulling  or Felting Once the fabric had been woven and taken off the loom it would be subjected to a  fulling  process. (Fulling wasnt usually necessary if the fabric was made from worsted as opposed to woolen yarn.) Fulling thickened the fabric and made the natural hair fibers mat together through agitation and the application of  liquid. It was more effective if heat was part of the equation, as well. Initially,  fulling  was done by immersing the cloth in a vat of warm water and stomping on it or beating it with hammers. Sometimes additional chemicals were added, including soap or urine to help remove the natural lanolin of the wool or the grease that had been added to protect it in the earlier stages of processing. In Flanders, fullers earth was used in the process to absorb impurities; this was a type of soil containing a significant amount of clay, and it was naturally available in the region. Though originally done by hand (or foot), the  fulling  process gradually became automated through the use of fulling mills. These were often quite large and powered by water, although smaller, hand-cranked machines were also known. Foot-fulling was still done in household manufacturing, or when the cloth was particularly fine and wasnt to be subjected to the harsh treatment of hammers. In towns where cloth manufacture was a thriving household industry, weavers could take their cloth to a communal fulling mill. The term fulling is sometimes used interchangeably with felting. Although the process is essentially the same,  fulling  is done to cloth that has already been woven, whereas felting actually produces cloth from unwoven, separate fibers. Once cloth was fulled or felted, it could not easily unravel. After  fulling, the fabric would be thoroughly rinsed. Even worsteds that didnt need  fulling  would be washed to remove any oil or dirt that had accumulated during the weaving process. Because dyeing was a process that immersed the fabric in liquid, it may have been dyed at this point, especially in home industries. However, it was more common to wait until a later stage in production.  Cloth  that was dyed after it was woven was known as dyed-in-the-piece. Drying After it was rinsed, cloth was hung up to dry. Drying was done on specially-designed frames known as tenter frames, which used tenterhooks to hold the cloth. (This is where we get the phrase on tenterhooks to describe a state of suspense.) The sturdy frames stretched the fabric so that it wouldnt shrink too much; this process was carefully gauged, because fabric that was stretched too far, while large in square feet, would be thinner and weaker than fabric that was stretched to the proper dimensions. Drying was done in the open air; and in cloth-producing towns, this meant the fabric was always subject to inspection. Local regulations often dictated the specifics of drying cloth in order to ensure quality, thus maintaining the reputation of the town as a source of fine cloth, as well as that of the cloth manufacturers themselves. Shearing Fulled fabrics- especially those made from curly-haired woolen yarn were often very fuzzy and covered with nap. Once the fabric had been dried, it would be shaved or  sheared  to remove this extra material. Shearers would use a device that had remained pretty much unchanged since Roman times: shears, which consisted of two razor-sharp blades attached to a U-shaped bow spring. The spring, which was made of steel, also served as the handle of the device. A shearer would attach the cloth to a padded table that sloped downward and had hooks to keep the fabric in place. He would then press the bottom blade of his shears into the cloth at the top of the table and gently slide it down, clipping the fuzz and nap by bringing down the top blade as he went. Shearing a piece of fabric completely could take several passes, and would often alternate with the next step in the process, napping. Napping or Teaseling After (and before, and after) shearing, the next step was to raise the nap of the fabric enough to give it a soft, smooth finish. This was done by grooming the cloth with the head of a plant known as a teasel. A teasel was a member of the  Dipsacus  genus and had a dense, prickly flower, and it would be rubbed gently over the fabric. Of course, this could raise the nap so much that the cloth would be too fuzzy and had to be sheared again. The amount of shearing and teaseling necessary would depend on the quality and type of wool used and the result desired. Though metal and wood tools were tested for this step, they were considered potentially too damaging for fine cloth, so the teasel plant was used for this process throughout the Middle Ages. Dyeing Cloth might be dyed in the wool or in the yarn, but even so, it would usually be dyed in the piece as well, either to deepen the color or to combine with the previous dye for a different tint. Dyeing in the piece was a procedure that could realistically take place at almost any point in the manufacturing process, but most commonly it was done after the fabric had been sheared. Pressing When the teaseling and shearing (and, possibly, dyeing) was done, the fabric would be pressed to complete the smoothing process. This was done in a flat, wooden vise. Woven wool that had been fulled, dried, shorn, teaseled, dyed, and pressed could be luxuriously soft to the touch and made into the finest clothing and draperies. Unfinished Cloth Professional cloth manufacturers in wool production towns could, and did, produce cloth from the wool-sorting stage to the final pressing. However, it was quite common to sell fabric that wasnt completely finished. Producing undyed fabric was very common, allowing tailors and drapers to choose just the right hue. And it was not at all uncommon to leave out the shearing and teaseling steps, reducing the price of the fabric for consumers willing and able to perform this task themselves. Cloth Quality and Variety Every step along the manufacturing process was an opportunity for cloth-makers to excel or not. Spinners and weavers who had low-quality wool to work with could still turn out fairly decent cloth, but it was common for such wool to be worked with the least possible effort in order to turn out a product quickly. Such cloth would, of course, be cheaper; and it might be used for items other than garments. When manufacturers paid for better raw materials and took the extra time required for higher quality, they could charge more for their products. Their reputation for quality would attract the wealthier merchants, artisans, guildsmen and the nobility. Although sumptuary laws were enacted, usually in times of economic instability, to keep the lower classes from garbing themselves in finery ordinarily reserved for the upper classes, it was more often the extreme expense of the clothing worn by the nobility that kept other people from buying it. Thanks to the diverse kinds of cloth manufacturers and the many types of wool of different levels of quality they had to work with, a wide variety of wool cloth was produced in medieval times.

Agricultural Settlers and the Great Plains Essay

Agricultural Settlers and the Great Plains - Essay Example Those who remained in the region supplemented their farming income from railway construction and other economic activities. These settlers who remained exhibited their abilities to adapt to the local environment (Adamson, 1998 p39). The sustainability of grain farming was of the doubt due to the frequent droughts that were experienced in this region. Sometimes the areas received low crop yield that was not enough to support life. Farmers, therefore, recognized the need to let the land to lie fallow for some time. During this period, livestock farming became dominant activity on the land (Adamson, 1998 p63). Depending on the settlers’ activities on the land, they grouped themselves into Indians of the Great Plains; Wagon Trains, Railroads, and Ranchers; The Cattle Kingdom; Mythic West and Buffalo Bill; Homesteaders; and the Tribal Cultures such as Wounded Knees and the Ghost Dance (Adamson, 1998 p55). For example, the cattle Kingdom comprised of Cattle Towns and the Cowboys lifestyle was the culture in this region. In summary, Great Plains is a region that is dominated by agricultural activities, both crop and animal farming. Earlier settlers came into this region by the opportunity to acquire land, and to practice agriculture as a source of income. Settlers in this region are characterized by the type of economic activity they practice on the land. For example, there are ranchers, Indians, The Cattle Kingdom and Homesteaders. The Paris Peace Conference is the meeting that was held to sign peace deals with defeated nations after World War 1. It was held in Paris France in 1919 and attended by delegates from more than twenty-nine nations (Adamson, 1998 p105). The key leaders and Nations which led this meeting include; Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Great Britain, President Woodrow Wilson of the United States, George Clemenceau of France, and Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando of Italy  (Adamson, 1998 p106). Other countries in attendant include China, Canada, Ukraine, and Australia.