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Film Based on Shakespeares Coriolanus Opens2/14 Never heard of William Shakespeares Coriolanus? Youre not alone. In Shakespeares day, it was never performed. Today it is rarely, if ever, staged or taught.   But soon, two of Hollywoods most respected actors, Ralph Fiennes and Vanessa Redgrave, will try to rectify that situation.   T. S. Eliot once called Coriolanus Shakespeares greatest tragic achievement, superior even, in his opinion, to Hamlet and Antony and Cleopatra. Coriolanus is set in Rome just after the fall of the Tarquin kings. The country is in turmoil; grain is being withheld from the people. In the rioting that follows, Cominius proves himself to be a courageous warrior. For his bravery, he is given the name Coriolanus. At the urging of his mother, Coriolanus runs for Roman Senate and handily wins. At first, it appears that he has won the hearts and loyalty of the commoners as well. However, two opponents of Coriolanuss rule manipulate the plebeians and start a new riot. Coriolanus reacts badly. He goes into to a tirade against majority rule, saying that allowing the masses a voice is the equivalent of allowing crows to peck at the crown. Coriolanus is subsequently banished from Rome. He begins to plot vengeance. However, a peace treaty is eventually negotiated. Coriolanus then returns to Rome, only to be murdered for his betrayal.   Ralph Fiennes, who also directed the film, calls Coriolanus a collision between leadership and people. Coriolanus opens in wide release on February 14, 2012. Here is the trailer. If you go see it, please leave us a note and tell us what you think of the film. Is Eliot right? Or has the story of Coriolanus been justifiably ignored?

Major General Edward O. Ord - American Civil War

Major General Edward O. Ord - American Civil War Edward O. Ord - Early Life Career: Born October 18, 1818 at Cumberland, MD, Edward Otho Cresap Ord was the son of James and Rebecca Ord.  His father briefly served in the US Navy as a midshipman but transferred to the US Army and saw action during the War of 1812.  A year after Edwards birth, the family moved to Washington, DC.  Educated in the nations capital, Ord quickly showed an aptitude for mathematics.  To further these skills, he obtained an appointment to the US Military Academy in 1835.  Arriving at West Point, Ords classmates included Henry Halleck, Henry J. Hunt, and Edward Canby.  Graduating in 1839, he ranked seventeenth in a class of thirty-one and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery. Edward O. Ord - To California: Ordered south, Ord immediate saw combat in the Second Seminole War.  Promoted to first lieutenant in 1841, he next moved to garrison duty at several forts along the Atlantic coast.  With the beginning of the Mexican-American War and swift capture of California in 1846, Ord was dispatched to the West Coast to aid in occupying the newly-captured territory.  Sailing in January 1847, he was accompanied by Halleck and Lieutenant William T. Sherman.  Arriving in Monterey, Ord took command of  Battery F, 3rd US Artillery with orders to complete the construction of Fort Mervine.  With Shermans assistance, this task was soon completed.  With the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848, prices for goods and living expenses began to outpace the officers salaries.  As a result, Ord and Sherman were permitted to take side jobs to make extra money.   This saw them conduct a survey of Sacramento for John Augustus Sutter, Jr. which established much of the layout for the citys central areas.  In 1849, Ord accepted a commission to survey Los Angeles.  Aided by William Rich Hutton, he completed this task and their work continues to provide insight in the citys earliest days.  A year later, Ord was ordered north to the Pacific Northwest where he commenced surveying the coast.  Promoted to captain that September, he returned to California in 1852.  While on garrison duty at Benicia, Ord married  Mary Mercer Thompson on October 14, 1854.  Over the next five years, he remained on the West Coast and took part in various expeditions against the Native American in the region. Edward O. Ord - The Civil War Begins: Returning east in 1859, Ord arrived at Fortress Monroe for service with the artillery school.  That fall, his men were directed to move north to aid in suppressing John Browns attack on Harpers Ferry but were not needed as Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee was able to deal with the situation.  Sent back to the West Coast the following year, Ord was there when the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter and opened the Civil War in April 1861.  Returning east, he received a commission as a brigadier general of volunteers on September 14 and assumed command of a brigade in the Pennsylvania Reserves.  On December 20, Ord led this force as it won a skirmish with Brigadier General J.E.B. Stuarts Confederate cavalry near Dranesville, VA.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On May 2, 1862, Ord received a promotion to major general.  Following brief service in the Department of the Rappahannock, he was transferred west to lead a division in Major General Ulysses S. Grants Army of the Tennessee.  That fall, Grant ordered Ord to direct part of the army against Confederate forces led by Major General Sterling Price.  This action was to be coordinated with Major General William S. Rosecrans Army of the Mississippi.  On September 19, Rosecrans engaged Price at the Battle of Iuka.  In the fighting, Rosecrans won a victory, but Ord, with Grant at his headquarters, failed to attack due to an apparent acoustic shadow.  A month later, Ord won a victory over Price and Major General Earl Van Dorn at Hatchies Bridge as the Confederates retreated after being repulsed at Corinth. Edward O. Ord - Vicksburg the Gulf: Wounded at Hatchies Bridge, Ord returned to active duty in November and held a series of administrative posts.  While Ord recovered, Grant embarked on a series of campaigns to capture Vicksburg, MS.  Laying siege to the city in May, the Union leader relieved the troublesome Major General John McClernand from command of XIII Corps the following month.  To replace him, Grant selected Ord.  Taking over on June 19, Ord led the corps for the remainder of the siege which ended on July 4.  In the weeks after the fall of Vicksburg, XIII Corps took part in Shermans march against Jackson.  Serving in Louisiana as part of the Department of Gulf for much of the latter part of 1863, Ord left XIII Corps in January 1864.  Returning east, he briefly held posts in the Shenandoah Valley. Edward O. Ord - Virginia:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On July 21, Grant, now leading all Union armies, directed Ord to assume command of XVIII Corps from the ill Major General William Baldy Smith.  Though part of Major General Benjamin Butlers Army of the James, XVIII Corps operated with Grant and the Army of the Potomac as they besieged Petersburg.  In later September, Ords men crossed the James River and took part in the Battle of Chaffins Farm.  After his men succeeded in capturing Fort Harrison, Ord fell badly wounded as he attempted to organize them to exploit the victory.  Out of action for the remainder of the fall, he saw his corps and the Army of the James completely reorganized in his absence.  Resuming active duty in January 1865, Ord found himself in temporary command of the Army of the James. In this post for the remainder of the conflict, Ord directed the armys operations during the latter stages of the Petersburg Campaign including the final assault on the city on April 2.  With Petersburgs fall, his troops were among the first to advance into the Confederate capital of Richmond.  As Lees Army of Northern Virginia retreated west, Ords troops joined in the pursuit and ultimately played a key role in blocking the Confederate escape from Appomattox Court House.  He was present at Lees surrender on April 9 and later purchased the table at which Lee had sat. Edward O. Ord - Later Career: Following President Abraham Lincolns assassination on April 14, Grant ordered Ord north to investigate and ascertain if the Confederate government had played a role.  His determination that John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators had acted alone helped calm demands that the newly-defeated South be punished.  That June, Ord assumed command of the Department of the Ohio.  Promoted to brigadier general in the regular army on July 26, 1866, he later oversaw the Department of Arkansas (1866-1867), Fourth Military District (Arkansas Mississippi, 1867-68), and Department of California (1868-1871).   Ord spent the first half of the 1870s commanding the Department of the Platte before moving south to lead the Department of Texas from 1875 to 1880.  Retiring from the US Army on December 6, 1880, he received a final promotion to major general a month later.  Accepting a civil engineering position with the Mexican Southern Railroad, Ord worked to build a line from Texas to Mexico City.  While in Mexico in 1883, he contracted yellow fever prior to departing on business for New York.  Falling severely ill while at sea, Ord was landed at Havana, Cuba where he died on July 22.  He remains were brought north and interred at Arlington National Cemetery.   Selected Sources Civil War Trust: Edward O. OrdTSHA: Edward O. OrdOhio Civil War Central: Edward O. Ord

Comment To Peer Response Dq1 AND dQ2jb Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comment To Peer Response Dq1 AND dQ2jb - Essay Example A branding strategy is build through the passage of times by investing in marketing and public relations initiatives. It takes time to build a brand value. Coca-Cola has tremendous brand value because it has been in existence for over 100 years. Two factors that help develop a brand strategy are effective communications with stakeholder groups and effective use of distribution channels (Williams, 2012). Diversifying is a great strategy to remain competitive during tough economic times. Companies with greater product variety will attract more customers. I agree with you that diversifying can help boost profits. Two types of diversification strategies are related and unrelated diversification (Scribd, 2012). A second strategy that you mentioned in your response was mergers and acquisitions. Mergers and acquisitions help companies increase their market share in an industry. Some of the benefits of mergers and acquisitions include access to new market segments, new innovation opportunities, access to new revenue streams, and maximization of return on investment (Frost). I also liked your idea of seeking expansion by taking advantage of the internet. Customers are purchasing more goods and services online than in the past. In 2011 the e-commerce sales in the United States reach $188.1 billion (Plunkettresearchonline, 2012). Some of the most successful online businesses are EBay, Amazon, and

Capital Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Capital Punishment - Essay Example However, it should be noted that crime rates in countries where capital punishment prevail, are almost similar to that other countries where capital punishment is illegal. â€Å"Capital punishment never allows a criminal to change his behaviour as in the case of other forms of punishments†(10 Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment, 2010). Correction is the ultimate objective of every punishment. Capital punishment provides no opportunity to the criminal for correcting his antisocial behaviour. In other words, capital punishment cannot be considered a punishment, but it is an act of killing. By providing capital punishment to a killer, criminal justice system is also doing the same mistake as committed by the criminal. In other words, the activities of the criminal justices system and that of the criminal may not be different while providing capital punishment. Both are doing the same act; taking the life of another person. American criminal justice system believes that â€Å"partisan advocacy of both sides on a case will promote the ultimate objective that the guilty be convicted and the innocent go free† (Ferdic et al, 2008, p.37). There are chances of wrongly punishing an innocent person because of the circumstantial evidences or the fabricated evidences. The ultimate aim of every criminal justice system is that no innocent should be punished even if thousands of criminals escaped. Capital punishment is an irreversible act and nobody can return the life of a person if that person found innocent later. â€Å"One of the studies has shown that capital punishment is around 70% expensive compared to non death penalty cases or life imprisonment cases† (Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty (Capital  Punishment), 2009). Compared to other types of punishment, capital punishment is an expensive act. Life terms are cheaper than capital punishment. Capital punishment

Necessity to study in Japan and future prospects Essay Example for Free

Necessity to study in Japan and future prospects Essay I am a sophomore student at the National University of Mongolia. I would like to study at the †¦. University as an exchange student for following reasons: I started learning Japanese from my second grade of elementary school. Afterwards, I had the great chance of visiting Japan twice, each for the duration of 3 months. It was a great experience for me as it broadened my views of the world and provided an opportunity to meet new people. I was also impressed by the kindness and honesty of the Japanese people and the magnificent development of the Japanese society. †¦. scholarship will give me opportunities to learn about Japanese university life, expand my eyes to campus intercultural diversity and increase my academic knowledge. After my return, I wish to build on my Japanese experience. Armed with both Japanese and Mongolian education and practice, I hope to excel in my field economics. First of all, in †¦. University I will study with International students; meet different people with different cultures, which mean I will expend my knowledge of other culture. I hope it may lead to future cooperation. †¦.. is a prestigious and well known world university. I am sure that my peers will be the most gifted students. So I think I should be hard working and work as a team with such excellent students. East Asian countries have high developed economics. In my opinion, there are many things to learn from Japanese economic system. So, it is very important for our students to study at highly developed country like Japan. I wm willing to take part in development of our country. 2. Study plan in Japan: If awarded this scholarship, I plan to take the following steps. During my time at †¦.. university, I plan to maximize my Japanese experience by taking several classes in Japanese and economics, both subjects which I am interested in. In my first semester I hope to take courses such as â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..† and Japan’s â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.† to create foundation. On that basis, in my second semester, I hope to take courses such as â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.† and â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..† to acquire a broader understanding of the subjects. Of course, I hope to contribute my knowledge of economics and novel experiences in class. When I return to Mongolia, I will be able to utilize my leanings and analyze local facts and economic phenomenon deepening my knowledge of economics. To balance my studies and personal experiences, I also plan to be active in social  activities in sports and culture. During my time at high school I started Kendo and enjoyed it very much. I hope to continue this sport and learn from the original masters. Through my active participation I will be able to make many friends who I will in turn invite to Mongolia one day. Such friendship may, in the future, lead to the basis of broader cooperation. Thank you for this opportunity.

The Individual versus Society in the Scarlet Letter Essay -- essays re

The Individual vs. Society in the Scarlet Letter The society we live in today grants us a variety of freedoms. No one tells us how to think or what to believe in. We decide what clothes to wear, what to do on Sundays and our religion – with no law to persuade us. These permissive decisions would not be looked highly upon in stern Puritan Society. There is no sense of individualism in 1600s Salem because laws envelop every bit of human society. With all these severe rules in place, there are bound to be rebellious actions. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne addresses the theme of an individual’s struggle against society by implementing three symbols: the wild roses, the scarlet letter and Pearl. In the beginning of the novel, Hawthorne describes a wild and saintly rose-bush next to the prison. This rose-bush, by some odd occurrence, has stood the test of time and all of man’s activities. Even with all of society’s hideous constructions, such as the ugly and rusty prison door, it is still blooming and well. â€Å"But on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hawthorne 35). A reference to Anne Hutchinson is another reason why this rose bush is a symbol of an individual’s struggle against society. Hawthorne recognizes Anne as one of the possible reasons why the rose-bush sprang up next to the prison. â€Å"†¦or whether, as there is far authority for believing, it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson as she entered t he prison-door, we shall not take upon us to determine† (Hawthorne 36). Hawthorne bestows Hutchinson becaus... ... temper. â€Å"Pearl felt the sentiment, and requited it with the bitterest hatred that can be supposed to rankle in a childish bosom† (Hawthorne 71). In addition to ridicule, society, suspecting Pearl is evil and of demon origins, tries to separate her and Hester but to no avail. The harshness of Puritan Society in The Scarlet Letter is opposed by the rose-bush, the letter â€Å"A† and Hester’s illegitimate child. By utilizing these three symbols, Hawthorne demonstrates the resistance of the individual opposing the society. Because as long as there’s society, people, in someway or another, will always attempt to rebel against it. These actions can either be welcomed or reviled but opposition to society’s conformity is essential to our individualism and our uniqueness. Without any type of resistance, we would cease to be distinct and our sole identity would be lost forever.

What are some of the stereotypic traits typically assigned to being feminine and to being masculine?

Men and women are being stereotyped as polygamous and polyandra. Transcending from animal to human behaviour, many would rather conclude that even man are not naturally inclined to be monogamous. Like the primates, two forms are readily observable in society. Of the two types of marriage systems, polygamy (plural marriage) has been found to be the most common throughout history than its opposite form of monogamy.Polygamy has taken two forms: polyandra, in which a wife has two or more husbands; and polygyny, in which a man has two or more wives. This second form of plural marriage has been much more common, historically, than the first, and still is, although polyandry still persisted towards the early 20th century in parts of India, on the high plateau of Tibet, and in other scattered localities. Primary reason for its practice mainly falls out of necessity.Sustenance depends from a limited number of farmland and the careful balancing of population against food reserves. Each family therefore, avoids dividing its meagre tillage in ever-diminishing lots among its progeny by having the younger sons share the wife of the eldest son. Not only does this practice reduce the number of children in each generation, and keep each property permanently within the family, it has some other curious results.Polyandry, for some reason not wholly accounted for by anthropologists, reduces the fertility of wives, and produces an abnormal ratio of male to female births. Custom obliges them to treat each husband with equal favour, but it often happens that a woman of many husbands may prefer one brother to all the others. Due to contacts with dwellers outside their village, women are feeling the stigma of polyandra. More women from this system then, are beginning to revolt and are asserting their own demands for monogamy.

Leopold Sedar

Leopold Sedar Senghor (9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) Leopold Sedar Senghor was born in Joal,  Afrique Occidentale Francaise  (French West Africa now Republic of Senegal), to a Serer (third largest ethnic group in Senegal) Father and Roman Catholic mother. In 1928 Senghor traveled to Paris to continue his studies on a partial scholarship. He became the first black African to become an  agrege, the top qualification for a teacher in the French education system, and became a professor of African languages and civilization at the  Ecole Nationale de la France d'Outre-Mer.When Senegal achieved independence in 1960, Senghor was elected its first president. He retired from the presidency on 31 December 1960. Senghor retired to France, became the first black African member of the French Academy in 1984, and published his memoir,  (‘That Which I Believe: Negritude, Frenchness, and Universal Civilization') in 1988. He died at Verson, France, on 20 December 2001. Phi losophy: Leopold Sedar Senghor believes that every African shares certain distinctive and innate characteristics, values and aesthetics.Negritude is the active rooting of an Black identity in this inescapable and natural African essence. (The major premise of Negritude is therefore that one’s biological make-up (race) defines one’s outer (skin color) as well as inner (spirit/essence) traits. It is a concept which holds that there is a ‘shared culture and subjectivity and spiritual essence’ among members of the same racial group. Instead of rejecting the (colonialist) theory that race defines one’s being; Negritude rejects the assumption that the African is inherently inferior to the â€Å"white man†.To Senghor, this makes Negritude a weapon against colonialism and an ‘instrument of liberation’. To Senghor, the African essence is externalized in a distinctive culture and philosophy. This claim is supported by Senghor’s asse rtion that Negritude – the rooting of identity in one’s natural essence – is ‘diametrically opposed to the traditional philosophy of Europe’ (the colonizer). To Senghor, European philosophy is ‘essentially static, objective†¦ It is founded on separation and opposition: on analysis and conflict’.In contrast, African philosophy is based on ‘unity’, balance, negotiation and an appreciation of ‘movement and rhythm’. Senghor’s idea of â€Å"Negritude† posits an essence for blacks who are intuitive, sensual, and creative. In other words, he argues that blacks have a unique essence, with out which the â€Å"civilization of the Universal† would be incomplete. (This is reminiscent of Du Bois’ belief that Blacks have a particular value to add to world history). This essence, according to Senghor, is opposite from the white essence, which is based in reason and objectivity.

Free Essays on Helping The Poor

Making the poor/oppressed wealthy is not the sole solution to their problem of poverty. Just having money is not merely enough. One of way helping them is by teaching them to maintain their wealth Proper learning will prevent them from becoming poor again. Another way is to teach tem to invest their money. Investments will make the money increase. The last way of helping the poor would be to give them a high paying job. This will keep the flow of their money. All of these should keep the poor wealthy and end their poverty. One way of teaching the poor to maintain their wealth is by teaching them to budget their money. By budgeting their money, they should only spend what they need to for necessities. Necessities meaning, rent, food, utilities, clothing, etc. These things need to be paid monthly, so they should always keep enough money to pay these. After fulfilling all of their necessities, this will probably leave them with a few extra dollars. With this extra money left, the poor/oppressed can then be taught to save their money. Having a savings account will not only put their money away, it will also make their money increase. Interest will be added on to their money so I just won’t sit there and get dusty. It will put the money to work. Another way of putting their money to work would be investments. Investing their money will also make their money increase. Moreover, money just can not be spent continuously. The last way of teaching the poor/oppressed to maintain their wealth is by giving them a high paying job or career. After splurging and buying new and expensive cars, houses, and clothes, which will most likely happen after they get a lot of money, they will need to make some money. They need a high paying job with continuous income so that all of their funds won’t be depleted. A high paying job might also give them power. The more money they make the more powerful they might become. Turning the poor/oppressed into wea... Free Essays on Helping The Poor Free Essays on Helping The Poor Making the poor/oppressed wealthy is not the sole solution to their problem of poverty. Just having money is not merely enough. One of way helping them is by teaching them to maintain their wealth Proper learning will prevent them from becoming poor again. Another way is to teach tem to invest their money. Investments will make the money increase. The last way of helping the poor would be to give them a high paying job. This will keep the flow of their money. All of these should keep the poor wealthy and end their poverty. One way of teaching the poor to maintain their wealth is by teaching them to budget their money. By budgeting their money, they should only spend what they need to for necessities. Necessities meaning, rent, food, utilities, clothing, etc. These things need to be paid monthly, so they should always keep enough money to pay these. After fulfilling all of their necessities, this will probably leave them with a few extra dollars. With this extra money left, the poor/oppressed can then be taught to save their money. Having a savings account will not only put their money away, it will also make their money increase. Interest will be added on to their money so I just won’t sit there and get dusty. It will put the money to work. Another way of putting their money to work would be investments. Investing their money will also make their money increase. Moreover, money just can not be spent continuously. The last way of teaching the poor/oppressed to maintain their wealth is by giving them a high paying job or career. After splurging and buying new and expensive cars, houses, and clothes, which will most likely happen after they get a lot of money, they will need to make some money. They need a high paying job with continuous income so that all of their funds won’t be depleted. A high paying job might also give them power. The more money they make the more powerful they might become. Turning the poor/oppressed into wea...

Dichotomies in Toni Morrisons Recitatif

Dichotomies in Toni Morrisons Recitatif The short story, Recitatif, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison appeared in 1983 in Confirmation: An Anthology of African American Women. It is Morrisons only published short story, though excerpts of her novels have sometimes been published as stand-alone pieces in magazines. For instance, Sweetness, was excerpted from her 2015 novel God Help the Child. The two main characters of the story, Twyla, and Roberta, come from different races. One is black, the other white. Morrison allows us to see the intermittent conflicts between them, from the time theyre children to the time theyre adults. Some of those conflicts seem to be influenced by their racial differences, but interestingly, Morrison never identifies which girl is black and which is white. It can be tempting, at first, to read this story as a sort of brain teaser challenging us to determine the secret of each girls race. But to do so is to miss the point and to reduce a complex and powerful story into nothing more than a gimmick. Because if we dont know each characters race, were forced to consider other sources of the conflict between the characters, including, for example, socioeconomic differences and each girls lack of familial support. And to the extent that the conflicts do seem to involve race, they raise questions about how people perceive differences rather than suggesting anything intrinsic about one race or another. A Whole Other Race When she first arrives at the shelter, Twyla is disturbed by being moving to a strange place, but she is more disturbed by being placed with a girl from a whole other race. Her mother has taught her racist ideas, and those ideas seem to loom larger for her than the more serious aspects of her abandonment. But she and Roberta, it turns out, has a lot in common. Neither does well in school. They respect each others privacy and dont pry. Unlike the other state kids in the shelter, they dont have beautiful dead parents in the sky. Instead, theyve been dumped Twyla because her mother dances all night and Roberta because her mother is sick. Because of this, they are ostracized by all the other children, regardless of race. Other Sources of Conflict When Twyla sees that her roommate is from a whole other race, she says, My mother wouldnt like you putting me in here. So when Robertas mother refuses to meet Twylas mother, its easy to imagine her reaction as a comment on race as well. But Robertas mother is wearing a cross and carrying a Bible. Twylas mother, in contrast, is wearing tight slacks and an old fur jacket. Robertas mother might very well recognize her as a woman who dances all night. Roberta hates the shelter food, and when we see the generous lunch her mother packs, we can imagine that shes accustomed to better food at home. Twyla, on the other hand, loves the shelter food because her mothers idea of supper was popcorn and a can of Yoo-Hoo. Her mother packs no lunch at all, so they eat jellybeans from Twylas basket. So, while the two mothers may differ in their racial background, we can also conclude that they differ in their religious values, their morals, and their philosophy on parenting. Struggling with an illness, Robertas mother may be particularly appalled that Twylas healthy mother would squander a chance to take care of her daughter. All of these differences are perhaps more salient because Morrison refuses to give the reader any certainty regarding race. As young adults, when Robert and Twyla encounter each other at the Howard Johnsons, Roberta is glamorous in her skimpy make-up, big earrings, and heavy make-up that makes the big girls look like nuns. Twyla, on the other hand, is the opposite in her opaque stockings and shapeless hairnet. Years later, Roberta tries to excuse her behavior by blaming it on race. Oh, Twyla, she says, you know how it was in those days: black-white. You know how everything was. But Twyla remembers blacks and whites mixing freely at the Howard Johnsons during that time period. The real conflict with Roberta seems to come from the contrast between a small-town country waitress and a free spirit on her way to see Hendrix and determined to appear sophisticated. Finally, the gentrification of Newburgh highlights the characters class conflict. Their meeting comes in a new grocery store designed to capitalize on the recent influx of wealthy residents. Twyla is shopping there just to see, but Roberta is clearly part of the stores intended demographic. No Clear Black and White When racial strife comes to Newburgh over proposed bussing, it drives the biggest wedge yet between Twyla and Roberta. Roberta watches, immovable, as the protestors rock Twylas car. Gone are the old days, when Roberta and Twyla would reach for each other, pull each other up, and defend each other from the gar girls in the orchard. But the personal and the political become hopelessly entwined when Twyla insists on making protest posters that depend entirely on Robertas. AND SO DO CHILDREN, she writes, which makes sense only in light of Robertas sign, MOTHERS HAVE RIGHTS TOO! Finally, Twylas protests become painfully cruel and directed solely at Roberta. IS YOUR MOTHER WELL? her sign asks one day. Its a terrible jab at a state kid whose mother never recovered from her illness. Yet its also a reminder of the way Roberta snubbed Twyla at the Howard Johnsons, where Twyla inquired sincerely about Robertas mother, and Roberta cavalierly lied that her mother was fine. Was desegregation about race? Well, obviously. And is this story about race? Id say yes. But with the racial identifiers purposely indeterminate, readers have to reject Robertas oversimplified excuse that thats how everything was and dig a little deeper to the causes of conflict.

Human Geography - Abstract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Geography - Abstract - Essay Example This is what shapes the social behavior for this ferocious animal in the Serengeti. Quammen further notes that for a lion to be found in a wrong social group could in itself mean death as is seen in the case of Hildur which was fleeing from a coalition of four lions known as ‘Killers’ (â€Å"Short Happy Life 7). Death is also illustrated when C-Boy is attacked and sound by the other three male lions-Killers. However, in most cases, the fights between lions are mainly due to the reason of wanting to gain controlling rights over a pride, which in this case belonged to C-Boy. Death for the cubs may result when their father is killed by the ‘Killers’ and their mother lion captured. They are then left for starvation, killed by the ‘Killers’ or left for the hyenas. However, mostly death for lions is as a result of jealousy against one another i.e. the lion is the enemy number one for its kind-lions. In this article, the theme clearly emerges that the reason why lions stay in prides is mainly to protect their offspring from attacks by other coalitions as well as to guard the premium territories they inhabit. In general, the article describes a life which affirms that the Serengeti is not a place for the impaired, the unlucky or the elderly. Quammen, David. "The Short Happy Life of a Serengeti Lion." National Geographic (2013). http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/serengeti-lions/quammen-text 2. Living with Lions Human relations with animals are one which is defined by various factors most of which are controversial. Controversial in the sense that choice is made between the domesticated animals and the wild ones. However, for communities who are living next to neighborhoods inhabited by wild animals, daily confrontations with the same is a general phenomenon. Since wild animals such as lions are predators of human beings, there is always a constant struggle for survival in the habitat. In this article, Living with Lions, Qu ammen documents on the relational existence between man and the ‘King of the Jungle’ (â€Å"Living with Lions 10†). First, the article describes the lions are complicated, fearsome animals, which have continually complicated the lives of human beings living among them. This is because the lions are incompatible with the pastoral and farming life of men around them. Therefore, continually man is forced to hunt and kill the lions as a safety precautionary measure. On the other hand, lions as predators are know to cause havoc by attacking and maiming the human beings. This scenario has seen the trend of lions dwindling downwards while that of men who seek for survival trends upwards. Second, the author has also documented on the past trend line of lions as having been that of staying with men since time immemorial. For instance, the Chauvet cave in southern France has Paleolithic painting that vividly show the co-existence between lions and men in Europe nearly 30 m illennia ago. However, this has changed and for a number of reasons such as loss of habitat, and poaching, fragmentation of the habitat, displacement by livestock, ritual killings among particular communities such as the Maasai in Kenya and the unsustainable hunting of lions by affluent Americans (â€Å"Living with Lio