Africa Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Africa - Article Example In order to loot the wealth of Africa, politicians encouraged the internal wars in Africa. As a result of that no economic developments or infrastructure development took place in Africa. Even though globalization brought huge opportunities to the poor countries, because of internal agitation and poor infrastructure facilities, Africa failed to exploit it. African people knew only to fight irrespective of the age differences. In other words, wars were in their blood at the time of birth itself. Africa needs to learn from these mistakes and concentrate more on the development aspect of the continent rather than the military and political aspects. For the time being, internal wars were stopped up to certain extent and the killing of innocent people is only a rare incident now in Africa. It should be noted that more than seven million people were killed in the recent past in Africa due to internal wars. Countries like Angola, Congo, Sudan etc where internal wars were severe in the past, killing incidents are reported rarely now. Now, it is time to concentrate more on the rebuilding processes of Africa. The comfortable signs of peace are visible everywhere in Africa at present. The presence of foreign military armies to ensure peace is not necessary in Africa at present. African people realised the mistakes they committed in the past and they are slowly constructing a normal life as that of the people in the external world. They realised that wars are not answers to any of their basic problems and peace is necessary to solve all of their basic problems. It should be noted that peace processes are now developing internally even though it was developed because of the external pressure in the past. Moreover, African countries, which were engaged in fierce battle earlier, started to help each other in the peace building process now. Majority of the internal wars in Africa were caused by the external forces in order to

Food Safety: Management Report

Food Safety: Management Report Literature Review Food safety issues are as old as mankind and since time primeval humans have developed procedures to ensure that the food they eat does not harm them. To produce food with any new technology, there must be appropriate armament to protect human health. There exist few written records, but it is plausible to assume that, historically, the safety of new products of food was established by experiment. The foods consumed today are generally viewed as safe, based on their long history of such safe use. It is worth noting that this general acceptance of historical safety does not necessarily mean that some conventional foods may not cause detrimental health effects under some circumstances. â€Å"With the world’s growing population, the provision of a safe, nutritious and wholesome food supply for all has become a major challenge. â€Å" From the Encyclopedia of Food Safety Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to inform the Managing Director Quality Foods Co. LTD that after the last Safety and Health committee, there have been several complaints from the staffs regarding health and safety in the company. And also upon investigation it was concluded that there was the need for proper supervision and a safety measure for the health of the employees and consumers. This report will provide recommendations that need to be implemented and also it will also inform the Managing Director the importance of compliance with OSHA 2005. â€Å"We have to change our food management system culture†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Introduction Established in 1991, Food Quality Co. LTD is one of the leading traders of cheese making in Mauritius. Our industry processes, imports, refines and markets a wide range of home-ground and imported food ingredients especially cheese. We serve household consumers with packaged, branded, with high quality of cheese products and have over 100 employers. Objectives of our company: a. Serving Customers Improve contract performances Maximize customer service Improve food management system. Be the top leading industry in Mauritius for cheese making. b. Food Ingredients Our customers in the Mauritian food service industry are increasingly improving their products to address changing consumer preferences. Our ingredients’ portfolio includes: Cultures Mold Powders : Mesophilic, thermophilic, buttermilk, chevre, creme fraiche, flora danica, fresh, fromage blanc, fromagina, keifer, sour cream, propionic, yogurts. Rennets : Animal, vegetable, tablets, liquid and powder Additives : Salt, citric acid, tartaric acid, calcium chloride, lipase, herbs, ash, coloring Main concern Recently, it was found that during the final stage of cheese making, some milk products were already contaminated and it was found to be from cow to table. There were some cases of food allergy (poisoning) and the demand for this our cheese has been reduced. To come forward to this problem and its solution we must all understand the aspect of food safety and management system. Hazard associated with our food ingredients Our employers are exposed to several types of hazards during their 8-hr working period. Such hazards include: Ergonomics hazards Chemical hazards, and Physical hazards But the main risk was found to be microbial hazard since our milk was contaminated and in turn our cheese products were infected too. Storage and Transfer of Raw Milk: Any time the milk is transferred or stored; all equipment and containers must be sterile to prevent contamination. The storage temperature must be low enough (usually 4 degrees Celsius) to keep any bacteria remaining in the milk from growing. Sources can include: Food handlers Raw food and water Insects, rodents, animals and birds From the environment. Root of the problem: Processing and production of cheese a. Preparing the milk the problem was found during this stage, where the milk was already contaminated leading to microbial infections of the cheese products. b. Separating the curds from the whey in any common cheese-making operation, the first step is preparing the milk. Our industry do not import any pasteurized milk. Instead we prepare the milk from our farm cows and must add bacteria culture to produce the lactic acid. Curds must be separated from the whey, animal or vegetable rennet is added, and then the curds are agitated and cut using large knives. As the whey separates, it is drained. The curds are then pressed into molds, if necessary, to facilitate further moisture drainage, and aged for the proper amount of time from the whey, but they are more typically left alone. When separation is complete, the whey is drained. c. Pressing the curds – moisture must then be removed from the curds, although the amount removed depends on the type of cheese. Here, they are pressed to give the proper shape and size. d. Ageing the cheese – at this stage the cheese may be injected with a flavoring mold, bathed in brine, or wrapped in cloth or hay before being deposited in a place of the proper temperature and humidity to age. Some cheeses are aged for a month, some for up to years, followed by the wrapping stage of cheese. Controlling the hazards – simple ways for our food handlers. Solution and Recommendation Milk contamination may occur from: Cow feces coming into direct contact with the milk Cow diseases (e.g., bovine tuberculosis) Bacteria that live on the skin of cows Environment (e.g., feces, dirt, processing equipment) Insects, rodents, and other animal vectors Small numbers of bacteria might multiply and grow in the milk before someone drinks it if it is raw.Thus, our employees in the food handling department must be well aware of the dangers of bacterial contamination. Keep the workspace clean: Follow the simple strategy: ‘clean as you go policy’ Carry out a cleaning task of work surfaces and the surrounding work area as everything must be visually clean and trim. Return all unused raw materials to the correct storage area as soon as possible Return unused items to their initial storage area. b) Keep tools, utensils and equipment in good order, in a sterile state and stored correctly tools, utensils, and equipment require to be cleaned immediately after use, and MAINTAIN WORKPLACE FOOD SAFETY codes/ standards c) Keep ingredients and products separate and in their assigned places separate storage areas for raw and cooked foods. 2 Work in a way that keeps food safe a) Dispose of food waste and b) Avoid product contamination and cross-contamination at all stages of processing operations by maintaining good personal hygiene by using correct color-coded equipment by storing raw materials and finished products correctly at all stages of the process By keeping the floors in your work area clean By keeping work surfaces and equipment clean By preventing pest infestation General Precautions for our company Importing of food ingredients Understand requirements specifications material colors, packaging freight samples and quantites Select supplier identify suitable source check and confirm samples Client approval Samples Pricing Terms and conditions Sign order Place deposit The manufacturer Production control Inspect quality and packing Delivery Transport ( sea or air) Customs clearance Storing (employers dealing with food ingredients ) People taking care of the preparation department, must be aware of the temperature danger zone Take special care with high-risk foods Store food in the fridge Freeze food safely. Store cooked food safely. Store raw food separately from cooked food. Choose strong, innocuous food storage containers. If in doubt, throw it out: Throw out high-risk food left in the temperature danger zone for more than four hours – don’t put it in the fridge and don’t keep it for later. Check the use-by dates on food products and discard out-of-date food. If you are uncertain of the use-by date, throw it out. Personal hygiene This is an obligation that our food industry has to their clients and the general public. The most important things our food handlers need to know and understand are that they must: Do whatever is reasonable preventing their body; anything from their body or anything they are wearing, coming into contact with food. Do whatever is necessary to stop unnecessary contact with ready-to-eat food. Wear clean outer clothing, (depending on the type of work they do). Not eat over unprotected food or surfaces likely to come in contact with food. Not sneeze, blow or cough over unprotected food or surfaces likely to come into contact with food. Not to spit, smoke or use tobacco where food is handled and Not to urinate or to defecate except in a toilet If you injured yourself, make sure to control the wound. Clean it and put a water proof blue plaster and immediately use disposable gloves. Food safety law, requirements and its application Food safety – the beginning and the final stage Are our products that have been used from beginning to final stage, safe for human consumption? Our company kept growing since 1991. Just because of the contaminated milk, the demand for our cheese products is being reduced in market and this is going to be detrimental to our company’s future. Therefore, food safety regulations are applied to each stage in food production, from processing and manufacture to distribution. The Food Safety Act 1990 (as amended) provides the scheme for all food legislation –as applies in Mauritius too. The main responsibilities for all food businesses under the Act are: To ensure you do not include anything in food except necessary requirements. Remove anything from food or treat food in any way which means it would be damaging to the health of people eating it to ensure that the food you serve or sell is of the nature, substance or quality which consumers would expect to ensure that the food is labeled, advertised and presented in a way that is not false or misleading â€Å"Producing safe food is paramount to our business’s success†¦.† Food quality – requirements of the law Are the products produced, met with the requirements specified and designed by the law? Food qualityis the quality characteristics of food that is admissible to consumers. Food quality is an important food manufacturing requirement, because food consumers are vulnerable to any form of spoliation that may occur during themanufacturing process. Factors contributing towards quality of food: Appearance Color Taste Odor Nutritional value Contaminants (Physical, Chemical Microbiological) defilement HACCPis a management system in which food safety is superscribed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, acquisition and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product. A food safety program must be developed in our company to ensure safe sale of food products. The benefit of this food safety program would systematically identify the food safety hazards that are likely to occur in our food handling operations and also provide a systematic monitoring process based on our food business. Statistics Figure 1 This table shows food poisoning trend from 1990 to 2011 in Mauritius. Figure 2 This table shows the â€Å"reported cases† of food poisoning in Mauritius. Year Reported food poisoning 2001 23 2002 33 2003 60 2004 160 2005 29 2006 78 2007 766 2008 129 2009 718 2010 156 2011 445 2012 512 Training effectiveness For our company not to meet with failings with health and safety, the health and safety department must contribute to a lucrative business in the view of a better and healthy work ahead. The safety of our food depend largely our food handlers. However malpractices have been reported on numerous occasions resulting in food poisoning outbreaks. Therefore it is essential that food handlers are properly trained so that they take the necessary precautions to avoid such accidents. Training of managers, supervisors and all people who can influence the safety of food is essential to reduce the unacceptable high levels of food contamination. Improvement of food safety knowledge and practices of employee is through food safety training. Possible impacts Failing to comply with food safety control plan The promotion of food safety, including by assisting food premises to handle food safely, remains a key priority under theFood Act. To complement this educative approach, councils have a range of enforcement options, including the ability to issue infringement notices for certain food safety or hygiene offences. The infringement notices make it easier for councils to administer, investigate and enforce the Food Act. Councils also have the authority to focus enforcement efforts on food premises which pose a greater risk to public health because of non-compliance with the Food Act. Any employee may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards and as a result: Involvement – Ministry of Health and Quality of life. Consequence – Company closes and earns a bad reputation. End result – workers go unemployed and company locked. Conclusion Radical and beneficial changes occurred in the food industry in today’s world. Although consumers are increasingly aware of the connection between food and health, they tend to take the safety of the food they eat very much for granted. Food safety is best ensured by the shared responsibility of everybody involved with food from the professional to the consumer. All along the food chain, various procedures and good practices are implemented to ensure that the food which reaches the consumers table is fit for utilization. The risks of food contamination are minimized so that the population as a whole is healthier from the benefits of safe quality food. But responsibility for food safety should not only be the priority of professionals in the food industry. There are rules and conduct to guide the professionals and the consumer is coequally responsible in order to ensure the safety of food at home. The best way to practice food safety is to be well-informed about the basics of food: Natural processes and The hazards to food from bacteria – inside the premised or those coming from the environment. Consumers have a right to expect that the foods they purchase and consume will be safe and of high quality. They have a right to voice their notions about the food control strategies, standards and actions that governments and our industry use to establish that the food supply has these tendencies. Acknowledgments Mr. S. Jason Mrs. R. Roberta Mr. Canny Mr. Colet Max Miss Soogun Kawthur Quality foods Co. LTD Food safety journals References Quality foods Co. LTD – www.qualityfoods.com Ministry of Health and Quality of Life http://ncb.intnet.mu/moh/ Health Officers http://ncb.intnet.mu/moh/ Food safety journals – online websites Microbiology department of Victoria Hospital Health and Safety department of University of Mauritius – www.uom.mu MSB ( Mauritius Standard Bureau) Food Safety act 1990 Food Safety Regulations 1999 CSO (2000). Digest of agricultural statistics. Central Statistical office, Port-Louis, Mauritius FSA (2000). The Food Standards Agency.

Stereotypical Views Held About Women by Elizabethan Men in William Shak

Stereotypical Views Held About Women by Elizabethan Men in William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing Introduction ============ Much Ado About Nothing exemplifies a kind of deliberately puzzling title that seems to have been popular in the late 1590s. Indeed, the play is about nothing; it merely follows the relationships of Claudio and Hero, and in the end, the play culminates in the two other main characters falling in love, which, because it was an event that was quite predictable, proves to be much ado about nothing The pronunciation of the word "nothing" would, in the late 16th Century, have been "noting," and so the title also apparently suggests a pun on the word, "noting," and on the use of the word "note" as an expression of music. In II.3, Balthasar is encouraged to sing, but declines, saying, "note this before my notes; there's not a note of mine that's worth the noting." However, Don Pedro retorts, "à ¢? ¦Note notes, forsooth, and nothing," playing on Balthasar's words, and also demanding that he pay attention to his music and nothing else. In addition, much of the play is dedicated to people "noting" (or observing) the actions of others (such as the trick played on Beatrice and Benedick by Leonato, Hero and Claudio). They often observe and overhear one another, and consequently make a great deal out of very little. Furthermore, women were very oppressed and maltreated during the time, and their status in society was very low. Their names were tarnished with classes, such as "Goddess," "Adulterer," "whore/wife" and "Shrew", and each woman was classed under those headings. They were classed as "nothing" and ... ... in Britain has been exploding over the last 50 years. Majority of the top jobs are performed by men, even though the percentage is slowly sliding downwards, as more women demand equal rights. ===================================================================== Another Hierarchy is that of social class - people were split up into the top class, people like the king and people who were rich, the middle-class, people who were not rich, but not poor. Then, there was the poor class, who could not afford too much, and were very poor. In this play, not many people tell the truth. One of the only one's in the play who speaks the truth is Dogsberry - one of the poorest people in the play. He is adamant that the truth should prevail. This shows that even though he is a "commoner", he is still better than the upper-class.

The School Vouchers

Susie is a young girl who lives in Florida. Since kindergarten, she has attended a nearby private school. Her parents willingly pay her tuition, even though doing so forces them to cut other corners. They do not mind these sacrifices, since they know that their daughter is getting the best education they can give her. Jesse lives downtown, in the inner city. She attends the local public school and struggles through her classes. Her mother would like to send her to a private school, where there is less violence and a calmer atmosphere, but cannot afford it. Then, Jesse†s mother learns that a voucher system has put into place for the entire state of Florida. Jesse†s inner city, spray-painted elementary school received a failing status, so she can receive a voucher to attend the school of her choice. With the money she receives from the voucher, Jesse†s mother is able to send her daughter to the same private school that Susie attends. Is it fair that Susie†s parents pinch pennies while Jesse†s mother send her on the bus for free? While meaning well, does the voucher system inadvertently discriminate against children like Susie whose parents must work extra hours to put their children through private school? Is the voucher system really the answer to the problems with American education today, or a way to transfer them somewhere else? American public schools have always had their flaws. In the nineteenth century, colleges complained of under-prepared freshmen; students who could not write an essay or even spell. A main controversy was bilingual education for newly naturalized immigrants. As America entered the early 1900s, the debate turned to the use of entertainment in the classroom. Teachers felt that they must put on a show in order to keep the attention of their pupils. The abandonment of phonics in the 1920s and 30s was believed to be the reason why the job market consisted of those with inadequate educational preparation. Social promotion and the replacement of the â€Å"three R†s† with emotional stability and attitude courses were the causes of concern in the 1940s. The 1950s brought an awareness of low standards. It was found that American children were lagging behind the average standards of the rest of the world. Safety in schools also became an issue; incoming teachers were warned of the â€Å"phys! ical courage† necessary to teach. Illiteracy became the main focus on the 1960s and 70s. Phonics (or the lack thereof) was once again to blame (Rothstein 2). Now, at the beginning of a new century, what problems have been fixed? Illiteracy is still high, American standards are still low, and graduates are still unprepared. Each generation feels that schools are worse than the generation before. America has been attempting to solve the problems with its education system for 200 years, but nothing has changed. According to Rothstein: Schools are not up to the task of readying young people for the challenges of the next century. An apparently watered down curriculum ensures that all students, regardless of whether they have mastered necessary skills, can graduate. â€Å"Social promotion† without requirements to master grade-appropriate skills is now commonplace, so even elite colleges must run â€Å"remedial† courses for freshmen in basic math and literacy, and business executives complain that high school graduates are ill-prepared for even relatively unskilled jobs (2). Are these complaints not the same ones that appeared a century ago? Improvement is desperately needed, but where should it start? Cleveland, Milwaukee, and the state of Florida have suggested an answer: a school voucher system. Voucher proponents believe that the system which they support is a starting place. Voucher proponents across the nation believe that through this program, which places the burden of improvement upon schools, progress can be made. The voucher system recently implemented in Florida is built around competition. The public schools have standards which they must uphold. Each year the state gives each school a letter grade which rates that school†s ability to keep the given standards. If the school receives an â€Å"F,† it stands to lose a great deal of its student body because of vouchers. This failing grade qualifies the children enrolled in the school to participate in the voucher program, giving each student between $3000 and $4000 to attend a private school (Kaczor 1). In theory, the system appears to be a well-planned step in the right direction. By penalizing â€Å"failing† schools and providing for their students, it seems progress could be made. Voucher proponents believe that by giving schools grades, each one will strive to be the best, receive an â€Å"A,† and gain a higher enrollment. However, will it really make a large impact upon the innumerable problems which exist in today†s education system? This year, only two of Florida†s 2500 public schools received a failing grade. And, in these two schools, only 52 students chose to participate in the state†s voucher system (Kaczor 1). While 52 children may be having a better school year, what about the hundreds of others across the state suffering from a poor education? Certainly, those 52 students are not the only ones in the state of Florida who were receiving a less than adequate education. Yet, the state granted approximately $200,000 to support the voucher system. If that money had b! een given to the schools, they could improve themselves, so that they were no longer considered â€Å"failing.† Instead, they were penalized by a drop in enrollment. How then can a failing school be expected to improve? As soon as it receives such a stigma, its students leave and funding is terminated. Ralph Neas, president of People for the American Way, told the press, â€Å"The voucher program is costing millions of dollars that would be better spent on improving education for the majority of Milwaukee†s schoolchildren† (Whitmire 1). The voucher system implements a great amount of tax dollars to aid a relatively small number of students. While seeming to neutralize problems in American education, it simply creates more by denying failing schools the chance to improve. There is another major loophole in the voucher system: there is no way to calculate if any improvement has been made in the academic performance of students using vouchers. A comparison between public and private school students† achievements is prevented because each uses different tests. In Cleveland, where an inner-city voucher system, is in place, researchers have reached no clear conclusions about the program†s effectiveness (Whitmire 1). Without this information, there is no way to determine if giving children a voucher brings scholastic improvement. There are definite problems with the American education system; problems the nation has battled for more than a century. Reform is needed, but the school voucher system is not the answer. If the plan would go nation-wide, 50 million children would be dropped at the doorsteps of private schools. Currently, only 10 percent of families send their children to private schools (Tyack 2). This small number of elite schools could not possibly accommodate the boom in enrollment caused by student with vouchers. What then? It is very likely that private schools would spring up overnight in response to the sudden number of children seeking to use government money at private schools. Who can guarantee that these schools will be of a better quality than the public schools which came before them (Roberts, Glenn 22)? If the voucher system were implemented, public school, as they are currently known, would cease to exist. The tax dollars necessary to fund public school improvements and the voucher system simultaneously do not exist. Our public schools need immediate attention to the condition of their physical plants, the training of their teachers (many of whom teach in areas which they have no special expertise), the size of their classes and the equipment and supplies they need, and the quality of their hopes for the children entrusted to them. They need the money that vouchers would bleed away (Roberts, Glenn 23). Instead of taking this money away form the nation†s failing schools, it should be pumped into them and put to work. Education tax dollars should be put to work solving the problems in American schools. The voucher system is an escape out the back door. It simply transfers all of the issues out of the public schools, placing them in the hands of the private community.

Mind and Morality Essay

The external factors play a huge role in shaping one’s decisions. One may think that his genetic and background history has the most influence on his actions, but in reality, the intensity of a given situation has greater impact in the choices of the individual. The surroundings one lives in ultimately influences his perception, decision, and morality. In his essay, â€Å"The Power of Context,† Malcolm Gladwell states how it is the little things in life that makes the bigger difference and in many aspects this is true. In Daniel Gilbert’s essay, â€Å"Immune to Reality† he talks about how human perception about reality is not always accurate. In Oliver Sacks’s essay, â€Å"The Mind’s Eye† he shows how there are many different perceptions to view the world. So at the same time, is it possible to dictate what is right and wrong in one’s life if all the decisions are a result of his given situation and surroundings? Also the morality for each person varies depending on their circumstances and perception of their world. Ultimately, an absolute form of right and wrong does not exist because the context of the situation always changes, but still it is possible to achieve an applicable standard of morality in society. Each individual has his own way of looking at the world that is completely unique when compared to the way another person does. This is perception of reality and this form is always open to discussion because the person generates this viewpoint. Each individual makes his decisions based on his perception of the world. â€Å"The processes by which we generate positive views are many: we pay more attention to favorable information, we surround ourselves with those who provide it, and we accept it uncritically† (Gilbert 134). In many instance one creates his own perception to suit his way of thinking, so the individual could be in the center of his world. â€Å"He seemed to regard this loss of visual imagery as a prerequisite for the full development, the heightening, of his other senses† (Sacks 304). Most people see becoming blind as unfortunate event, but according to this person it helped him to improve his other senses. â€Å"The tabloids dubbed Goetz the subway vigilante and the death wish shooter† (Gladwell 153). Rather than seeing Goetz as a lunatic the newspapers depicted him as a hero. So this shows the difference in perception between people and how it varies from individuals. Importantly since each person’s perception varies it is hard to claim whose perception is right or wrong because ultimately is there a â€Å"right† perception of the world that everybody should be following? Even when viewing a painting everybody has their own interpretation of the art. No one claims there is only one â€Å"right† perception; rather the different perceptions are simply different approaches towards looking at the world. â€Å"It was simply inconceivable that someone could pull a gun on someone else on the subway and be called a hero for it. † (Gladwell 154) shows how different viewpoints affect the verdicts of a situation. A hero to some people might be a villain to others and it is hard to claim who is the â€Å"right† hero. The difference in subjectivity among people will always create a discrepancy of opinions among people. Since a variety of perception exists, then is it possible to have a perfect set and stone â€Å"right and wrong† rules in life? The context of a given matter plays a huge role in deciding the morality of the event. Morality is very much depended on the background information of the event. It is very hard to dictate the morality of an issue without seeing the bigger picture. Most people might see stealing as a wrong act, but what if someone stole a piece of bread in order to make sure he does not die from starvation, is that still a wrong act? In a situation like that one might feel sympathetic to that poor fellow and probably will see stealing as reasonable in that given situation. â€Å"We do not realize that our views will change† (Gilbert 135), the idea of morality varies on the situation because the context of the event directly affects morality. â€Å"Blindness now becomes for him a dark paradoxical gift. This is not just compensation, but a whole new order, a new mode of human being† (Sacks 305), in many aspects blind people do not see their condition as a curse or burden rather a different approach towards living and for most sighted people it might be hard to understand and accept this approach. â€Å"That there are instances where you can take normal people from good schools and happy families and good neighborhoods and powerfully affect their behavior merely by changing the immediate details of their situation† (Gladwell 162) this shows how the little details of an event plays huge role in the outcomes of an event. Essentially, context of a situation is what dictates morality and it is going to be almost impossible to label morality as set and stone as something like the Ten Commandments because the context always changes. Even though the standards of morality vary according to the situation there are some aspects of morality that one subconsciously accepts. Some ethics are universally considered wrong and one’s mind without even one knowing already knows that some choices are not right. That is why the mind tends to usually question the choices one makes. â€Å"When we cook facts, we are similarly unaware of why we are doing it, and this turns out to be a good thing, because deliberate attempts to generate positive views† (Gilbert 134), subconsciously to some extend individuals are aware of the morality behind an action and this will help individuals to make their decisions wisely. â€Å"To what extent are we our experiences, our reactions shaped, predetermined, by our brains, and to what extend do we shape our own brains† (Sacks 303), There are some emotions and judgments that are simply preinstalled in one’s mind which aids an individual in making choices that are difficult. â€Å"After a while the bad guys wised up and began to leave their weapons home and pay their fares† (Gladwell 157) this shows how there is a consciousness inside individuals that helps in guiding with decision making. When making a choice that might inflict pain to us or others one’s mind will usually try to suggest against that decision. That is why the idea of taking an innocent person’s life is universally seen as a wrongful act in societies. Therefore, there is a sense of unconscious morality that lies within the hearts of most individuals. Achieving a complete form of morality is a very idealistic thought because practically it’s not possible. There are infinitely many ways of perceiving morality and it would be impossible to set a standard that would suit all the time. â€Å"Too often people with sight don’t see anything† (Sacks 310). There are parts that even one’s eye sometimes cannot capture meaning that sometimes it’s simply not possible to account for all the possibilities. â€Å"The benefit of all this unconscious cookery is that it works, but the cost is that it makes us strangers to ourselves† (Gilbert 135). People sometime engage in activities without being aware of the magnitude of the situation. †They are both based on the premise that an epidemic can be reversed, can be tipped, by tinkering with the smallest details of the immediate environment† (Gladwell 157) the intensity of the situation has a huge influence on the decision of the individual. Due to all this, perceiving morality completely would be very difficult. Also having a perfect morality would require infinite knowledge which humans do not possess. As an individual one is limited at what he observes at a given time and there are limitations for each individual in this world. However, through the perceptions of many individuals, people will be able to come up with a better understanding of morality. Even with the limitations each individual has a small understanding of morality in the back of his head. Essentially, when all these understanding that are possessed by individuals are combined then a suitable set of standards will be formed that can accompany most situations. The collective effort of people will help to generate a better set of morality that will help in creating a peaceful environment for people to live in. That is why it is important to have many different perceptions of morality because they all eventually lead to creating appropriate rules that will be suitable for the well-being of a society. Despite not being able to have an absolute morality with infallible accuracy and with infinite knowledge, an applicable method of sensing morality is still practical. Individuals lack the ability to have a perfect morality because for one to acquire it in completion one needs to possess infinite amount of knowledge. Despite this back drop each individual innately has the ability to know morality in small parts and therefore combining the small parts of every individual will help to achieve a suitable set of codes. The differences in perception between people only aids to benefit humans in portraying a better understanding of morality. That is why it is important that there are different types of perceptions because if there was only one view then a very limited and narrow minded principle would be prevalent in the world. The different pathways of thinking done by people finally leads to achieving a suitable mode of morality. An absolute form of morality will never be possible in this imperfect world, however, that does not mean accomplishing a reasonable standard is impossible.

Pathetic Fallacy

Pathetic Fallacy Pathetic Fallacy Pathetic Fallacy By Mark Nichol Is a pathetic fallacy really all that pathetic? Although some literary critics condemn the technique, the person who coined the phrase was attacking not its use but its overuse. Pathetic fallacy is the association of feelings, sensations, or thoughts to inanimate objects, such as when a writer describes a cruel sea or a brooding cliff or an unyielding boulder. Nineteenth-century critic John Ruskin wasn’t being pejorative when he first described the concept; pathetic, in his usage indeed, in its original sense refers not to something pitiful, as the dominant modern connotation implies, but to something associated with feeling. (Pathos, the Greek word from which pathetic is derived, means â€Å"emotion, experience, or suffering.†) Pathetic fallacy also applies to scientific and technical contexts. For example, the widely misquoted and misunderstood statement â€Å"Information wants to be free† imputes a motive to information. (The entire comment by technology writer Stewart Brand has been manifested variously, including this version: â€Å"Information wants to be free. Information also wants to be expensive. . . . That tension will not go away.†) However, as the noted philosopher-warrior Yoda sagely observed, â€Å"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.† Strictly speaking, no inanimate object or phenomenon can attempt something; it can only accomplish or fail to accomplish it. But even scientific and technical writers often indulge in poetic license, describing how, for example, electricity tries to complete a circuit, as if the force were engaged in an endeavor prompted by a cognitive cue. That’s not too far removed from, for example, a novelist’s or a poet’s reference to icy fingers of gusting wind trying to penetrate a ramshackle cabin during a blizzard. So, don’t hesitate to employ pathetic fallacy ascribing emotion to phenomena (â€Å"Nature abhors a vacuum†) is a sensible analogy, and sensible and subtle literary use is likely to be effective and unobtrusive but put your critical faculties on full alert to recognize when overreaching produces purple prose or poesy. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About Talking30 Baseball IdiomsWhat is an Anagram?

All About Famous Memorials and Monuments of the U.S.

All About Famous Memorials and Monuments of the U.S. How do we remember important events? How can we best honor our dead? Should we pay tribute with realistic sculptures of our heroes? Or, will the monument be more meaningful and profound if we choose abstract forms? Sometimes the horror of events are too unreal to accurately represent. The design of a monument or memorial is often more symbolic than an accurate representation. Powerful Memorials in the U.S. National September 11 Memorial, New York, NYU.S.S. Arizona, Honolulu, HIVietnam Veterans Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MOMount Rushmore National Memorial, SD Often the most powerful memorials - the monuments that stir strong emotion - are surrounded with controversy. The memorials and monuments listed here show various ways architects and designers have chosen to honor heroes, respond to tragedies, or commemorate important events. The memorial is there to provide an experience, Michael Arad has said. That experience, no doubt, involves memory. It is no surprise that the word memorial comes from the Latin word memoria, meaning memory. Architecture is memory. Memorials and monuments tell a story. To Honor and Remember People and Events How many buildings have you lived in? Where did you make your home when you were a child? when you first went to school? first fell in love? Our memories are inextricably tied with place. Events in our lives are permanently entangled with where they happened. Even when all the details may be fuzzy, the sense of place is forever with us. Architecture can be powerful markers of memories, so commanding that we sometimes consciously create memorials to honor and remember people and events. We may make a crude twig cross to commemorate a childhood pet. The carved stone on a family members burial site is built to stand for centuries. Bronze plaques remind a nation of bravery in face of adversity. Concrete tombs can visually present the scope of tragedies. How do we use architecture to express loss and hope for renewal? Does it make sense to spend millions of dollars building September 11 memorials? How we spend our money is an ongoing debate for families, nations, and institutions. The First Monuments and Memorials The earliest creations built by man for purposes other than shelter were spiritual in nature  - monuments to higher powers and memorials to honor the dead. One thinks of the prehistoric Stonehenge in Britain and the Grecian Parthenon built in 432 B.C. for the goddess Athena. The first memorials may have been the great pyramids in Egypt, the tombs of the great kings and pharaohs. Historically, human beings remember events related to war. As tribal conflicts became wars between nation states, the victors have built monuments to their victories. Monuments designed as arches can be traced back to the triumphal arches of Rome, such as the Arch of Titus (A.D. 82) and the  Arch of Constantine (A.D. 315). These Roman arches influenced 19th and 20th century war memorials around the world, including one of the most famous triumphal arches, the 1836 Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. American War Memorials and Monuments The 1842 Bunker Hill Memorial near Boston, Massachusetts memorializes the American Revolution and the battle that took place on this sacred ground. In the United States, battlegrounds themselves are often considered the memorial. Throughout American history, memorial architecture has been built both locally and nationally. American Civil War: Monuments to Civil War heroes continue to divide the nation. Communities and groups who had erected monuments to Confederate war heroes of the 19th century found these memorials being removed in the 21st century  - remembering a culture of slavery and white supremacy became untolerable to a society struggling with inclusion.  Architecture can stir emotions and controversy. Less controversial is the 1866 Civil War Unknowns Monument, the first Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. It is a mass grave of over 2,000 soldiers, both Union and Confederate, whose bones and bodies were picked up after gruesome battles. The tomb is inscribed in stone: Beneath this stone repose the bones of two thousand one hundred and eleven unknown soldiers gathered after the war from the fields of Bull Run, and the route to the Rappahanock, their remains could not be identified. But their names and deaths are recorded in the archives of their country, and its grateful citizens honor them as of their noble army of martyrs. May they rest in peace! September. A. D. 1866. World War I: A National World War I Memorial called The Weight of Sacrifice officially marks the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI as it is dedicated on November 11, 2018. The memorial design competition was won by the Chicago-based architect Joseph Weishaar and New York City sculptor Sabin Howard. The memorial in Washington, DCs Pershing Park is the first national monument to this war event. The 1926 Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri had been considered a national memorial because of the number of soldiers who passed through the city on their way to war. The District of Columbia War Memorial in Washington, D.C. is considered a local monument. World War II:  Dedicated in 2004, the National World War II Memorial is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Friedrich St.Florian, the Austrian-born architect, won the competition with his highly symbolic design. Down the road from St.Florians memorial is the iconic Iwo Jima Memorial. Near Arlington National Cemetery, the statue replicates a dynamic photograph depicting an important event in WWII Pacific War history. The 1954 statue, however, is really called the United States Marine Corps War Memorial and is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since 1775. Similarly, the nearby 2006 United States Air Force Memorial  and the 1987 United States Navy Memorial honor those military branches. The horrors of WWII may best be depicted at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a 1962 museum built over the hull of a sunken battleship. Keeping the ruins of war has been a popular way to impress memories of war on future generations. In Hiroshima, Japan the Atomic Bomb Dome, the remains of a building from the 1945 atomic bomb attack, is central to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Korean War: The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated July 27, 1995, decades after the 1953 armistice. Unlike other memorials, the Korean War Veterans Memorial honors the nearly six million Americans who served during the three-year conflict and not just the men and women who gave their lives. Vietnam War: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall - the controversial design by architect Maya Lin - was dedicated in 1982 and remains one of the most visited sites in Washington, D.C. One of its most emotional appeals is the reflective nature of the engraved stone, where a viewers image can literally be reflected while reflecting on the names of the dead and missing. A bronze statue of three soldiers was added in 1964 and the  Vietnam Womens Memorial statue was added in 1993. Terrorism: A new type of war for the United States is undeclared, yet the horror of terrorism is everpresent. Michael Arads vision for a National September 11 Memorial in New York City reflects the absence of what once existed - both buildings and people are to be remembered. In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a 90-foot wind chime called the Tower of Voices houses 40 tonal tubes that sing together as the voices of the 40 passengers and crew of United Flight 93. September 11 memorials often use symbolism to honor place and people. The Tower of Voices in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images (cropped) Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The 1921 Tomb of the Unknowns, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, at Arlington National Cemetery is a simple white marble sarcophagus (coffin) that holds powerful symbolic meaning. Like the walls of the 1922 Lincoln Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknowns is constructed with bright white marble from the Yule Quarry in Colorado. Neoclassical pilasters, wreaths representing the major battles of World War I, and Grecian figures symbolizing Peace, Victory, and Valor decorate the marble panels. One panel is inscribed: HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD. Although the Tomb of the Unknowns holds the remains of only a few individuals, the site honors the many unidentified men and women who gave their lives in armed conflict. The Tomb of the Unknowns also underscores Americas commitment to account for all service members who are missing - an idea that gained prominence after the Civil War. Both the Tomb of the Unknowns and the earlier Civil War Unknowns Monument have been the focus of remembrance since the first Decoration Day, now called Memorial Day, when spring flowers are used to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers. Holocaust Memorials Millions of people were killed between 1933 and 1945 in what is known as the Holocaust or Shoah. Remembering the horror of the slaughter is an attempt to never allow its repeat. Two of the best-known memorials are museums by two well-known architects. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Germany, was designed by Peter Eisenman and the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem is by Moshe Safdie. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. opened inn 1993 as a living memorial to the Holocaust. In Europe, artist Gunter Demnig has created Stolpersteine or stumbling stones to memorialize the last known addresss of victims. Architect Daniel Libeskind has created a Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany and the Ohio Holocaust and Liberators Memorial in Columbus, Ohio. For some Holocaust survivors, remembering the horrors has been neither easy nor desireable. The history of the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach, Florida has its own story of objection and disapproval - yet the resulting sculpture garden is profound and moving. Monuments and Memorials to Leaders, Groups, and Movements Until the 21st century, United States Presidents have been revered. One thinks of the great heads carved in stone at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial are three of the most well-known architecture destinations created for the public in all of Washington, D.C. In 1997, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial was added to the presidential mix in the nations capital. The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial by Pritzker Laureate Philip Johnson is located in Dallas, Texas - the site of the presidential assassination. Consensus is never unanimous for which U.S. Presidents deserve to be remembered. Agreement is even less harmonious for other leaders, groups, and movements. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. is a case in point - bickering before and after it was dedicated in 2011. The Civil Right Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, designed by Maya Lin, was dedicated in 1989 to far less controversy. National memorials and monuments to the plight of disenfranchised Americans  - Native Americans, Black Americans, and LGBT Americans, for example - are few or nonexistant, except for museums. The design of monuments is often modelled after historic architecture of the past. For example, the iconic 1892 Washington Square Arch in New York Citys Greenwich Village looks strikingly similar to the triumphal stone arches built since the Roman Arch of Titus from the year 82. Likewise, the 1910 Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, Massachusetts was designed specifically after the 14th century Torre Del Mangia in Siena, Italy. Design is not materials, however, as the tower rising on Cape Cod is not Italian brick but made of granite from Maine  - the tallest all-granite structure in the U.S. Monuments to Ideals The St. Louis Gateway Arch is an homage to Westward Expansion. The Statue of Liberty National Monument is a monument to the ideals of freedom and opportunity. Nearby on Roosevelt Island in New York City, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, designed by modernist architect Louis I. Kahn,  is a memorial not only to FDR, but also to his vision of basic human rights. Sometimes we build memorials to remind us of whats important. Why We Need Monuments and Memorials Monuments and memorials ultimately tell stories, the tales important to their human creators. Architecture, including memorials and monuments, is an expressive tool. Design can show prosperity, whimsy, solemnity, or a combination of qualities. But architecture doesnt need to be big and expensive to ensure memory. When we build things, sometimes the purpose is an obvious marker of a life or an event to be remembered. But anything we build can kindle the flames of memory. In the words of John Ruskin (1819-1900): Therefore, when we build, let us think that we build for ever. Let it not be for present delight, nor for present use alone; let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, See! this our fathers did for us. - Section X, The Lamp of Memory, The Seven Lamps of Architecture, 1849 Sources Eva Hagberg, How Architecture Commemorates Tragedy, Metropolis, June 28, 2005, metropolismag.com/uncategorized/how-architecture-commemorates-tragedy/History of the Marine Corps War Memorial, National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/usmcwarmemorial.htm David A. Graham. The Stubborn Persistence of Confederate Monuments, The Atlantic, April 26, 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/the-stubborn-persistence-of-confederate-monuments/479751/Civil War Unknown Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Civil-War-Unknowns History of the Holocaust Memorial, Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, https://holocaustmemorialmiamibeach.org/about/history/Quick Facts, Pilgrim Monument, https://www.pilgrim-monument.org/pilgrim-monument/Additional Photo Credits: USS Arizona National Memorial, MPI/Getty Images (cropped); Atomic Bomb Dome, Craig Pershouse/Getty Images; Pilgrim Monument, haveseen/Getty Images; Torr e del Mangia, Nadya85/Getty Images (cropped)