Kite Runner Pomegranate Tree Essay

In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, the changing depiction of the pomegranate tree symbolizes the changes in Amir and Hassan’s relationship, and is woven into the novel’s central theme of sin and redemption. Throughout the novel Hosseini depicts Amir’s struggle to redeem himself ever since he witnessed the rape of Hassan and stood by as a silent bystander. Amir and Hassan shared a very close friendship doing everything together yet the loyalty between each other was lopsided. Amir could never match Hassan’s unconditional love and loyalty towards him and this sets up the internal struggle in Amir’s mind, because he was sensitive enough to realize the unfairness of the situation. Hosseini uses the pomegranate tree throughout the book as the backdrop for describing key events that influence Amir and Hassan’s relationship. The first depiction of the tree portrays a safe haven but subtle details in the passage point to the events that unfold later. As children, Amir and Hassan spent many hours under the shade of a pomegranate tree up on a hilltop where Amir would read stories to Hassan. Here the pomegranate tree is a symbol of comfort, a place where he and Hassan could be alone sharing the simple pleasure of storytelling. Amir’s description of the â€Å"shadows of pomegranate leaves dancing† on Hassan’s face depicts the protective aspect of the tree, a sanctuary for the two friends (28). The tree and hill are symbolic of Amir and Hassan’s friendship; the tree is rooted in the hill but as the seasons change both the hill and the tree change and so does their friendship. The mention of seasons foreshadows how over time Amir and Hassan’s friendship will be destroyed, in the same way that the rain had turned the â€Å"iron gate rusty† and caused the â€Å"white stone walls to decay† (27). When Amir and Hassan return to the pomegranate tree after the rape, Amir says to Hassan he will read him a new story as they walk up the hill and a sense of hopefulness is conveyed. Amir points out that the â€Å"grass was still green†. Here the green is symbolic of hope and renewal and it connotes Amir’s effort to fix his damaged relationship with Hassan (91). However, when Amir describes that the green grass atop the hill will soon be â€Å"scorched yellow† it also foreshadows Hassan and Ali’s abrupt departure from Kabul, and the devastating impact this has on Amir and Baba (91). Hosseini’s use of the word scorched connotes an event that happens suddenly and is a premonition of worse things to come. Amir is not able to deal with his memories of their happier days under the tree, and instead of storytelling he decides to provoke Hassan to reproach him for his own inaction when the rape occurred. Amir’s ulterior motives – to provoke Hassan and not tell stories – are revealed when he â€Å"picked up an overripe pomegranate† (92) and throws it at Hassan. The overripe, rotting pomegranate is symbolic of a wound that has been left alone too long, the guilt of Amir not helping Hassan when he was raped. The pomegranate fruit itself represents the complexity of their relationship; it is a fruit with a hard skin that is difficult to peel and inside there are beehive-like segments hiding hundreds of red pulpy seeds. Amir is not able to come to terms with his guilt and tries to avoid Hassan at first, but later when he tries to make amends he realizes that for Hassan it will never be the same. The pomegranate also alludes to the forbidden apple from the Bible, symbol of the original sin, and thus it serves to foreshadow the events that are just about to unfold. As Amir hurls pomegranates at Hassan, he repeatedly calls Hassan a coward, but in reality he is letting out his own frustration in the hopes that Hassan will retaliate. He is trying to cover up his guilt for not intervening when Hassan was raped, almost as if Amir is trying to justify that Hassan is the coward and not himself. Once Amir stops pelting the pomegranates he sees Hassan â€Å"smeared in red like he’d been shot by a firing squad† (93). The imagery here represents how deeply Amir’s actions and words had wounded Hassan. Ironically, it also foreshadows the eventual death of Hassan, later in the novel, when he is shot by a Taliban firing squad. When Amir returns to Afghanistan after receiving Rahim Khan’s letter, he finds Kabul under the Taliban regime totally changed. As Amir walks up the old â€Å"craggy hill† from his past he realizes that nothing is the same (264). The craggy hill now represents the destroyed Afghanistan. Amir describes that while walking up the hill every breath felt â€Å"†¦like inhaling fire† (264). This simile illustrates how much pain walking up the hill causes an lder Amir now, although it was something he did almost every day with Hassan when they were carefree children. When he reaches the pomegranate tree, he recalls Hassan’s letter saying â€Å"the pomegranate tree hadn’t borne fruit in years† (264). The barren tree is symbolic of how their friendship was ruined twenty years ago in the winter of 1975. But when Amir locates the faded carving of his and Hassan’s name on the tree, the fact that â€Å"it was still there† makes the pomegranate tree a symbol of hope once again and shows Amir a way to atone for his sin (264). After so many years and so many struggles their friendship was tattered but upon seeing it, Amir finally resolves to redeem himself for the guilt of betraying Hassan; a betrayal that became a heavy burden on his shoulders for twenty long years through his silence and inaction. The changes of the pomegranate tree depict the changes in Amir and Hassan’s relationship. We first see it as the lush shady tree from Amir’s childhood where he and spent countless hours reading stories. Next it appears as the scene where Amir destroys his friendship with Hassan. And finally, it is at the same but now barren pomegranate tree where Amir returns and locates the fading reminder of his long lost friend. Each conflict in Amir and Hassan’s friendship was always on Amir’s part. It was Amir who stayed silent when Hassan was assaulted, it was Amir who tried to provoke Hassan’s reproach by throwing pomegranates at him, but it was also Amir who made the effort at the end to rescue Hassan’s son and his nephew, Sohrab. Like the faded carving, Amir’s friendship with Hassan had faded but never completely disappeared. Amir made the worst mistake of his life but he still had an opportunity for redemption, and that was by rescuing Sohrab from the Taliban and acknowledging him as his own flesh and blood If he didn’t, he knew he would go to his grave with the guilt of the sin he committed in the winter of 1975. While atonement for one’s sin is the central theme of The Kite Runner, the pomegranate tree is one of the main symbols used by the author to show Amir’s journey for atonement and redemption in the book. Hosseini’s repeated use of the pomegranate tree serves as a useful symbol to understand the evolving relationship of Amir and Hassan.

African American Contributions to American History Essay

Many blacks contributed to the success of our country in every war that we as a people have ever fought. In order to properly thank them for their heroic effort, I as a Hispanic Caucasian must give credit where credit is due. In order to properly do so, I must begin with the contributions of â€Å"Black America† beginning with the American Revolution and continue up until the World War II. Make no mistake blacks made contributions well past World War II, but in the interest of time and accuracy I must stay within the confines of our earlier history. One main aspect that should be analyzed is the fact that no matter how hard the struggle, blacks have always overcome adversity no matter what the cost. Of course, contributions made by blacks are not limited to war alone, but include a wide spectrum of achievements that have advanced civilization as a whole. My personal respect and thanks go to all people who have served and continue to serve this country at any capacity. But we must never forget the contributions made by our black brothers and sisters who gave their lives fighting for a cause that so greatly affected their lives as well as our well being. Charles Dickens said it best in his book A Tale of Two Cities, â€Å"It was the best of times it was the worst of times†. The American Revolution was a time of great struggle for people of all races. But, Blacks in particular understood the literal meaning of patriot rhetoric, eagerly took up the cause of American freedom, fighting bravely in the early confrontations with the British. Though the revolution freed some blacks and set the country on a course toward the abolition of slavery, political accommodation to plantation owners forestalled emancipation for many blacks in the south for 90 more years. A black man was one of the first martyrs of the patriot cause. Crispus Attucks, apparently a slave who had run away from his owner 20 years before, died in the Boston Massacre in 1770. Though facts were disputed at trials then as now, witnesses said Attucks hit a British officer with a large piece of firewood, grabbed a bayonet and urged the crowd to attack just before the British fired. Attucks and two others were killed while eight were wounded, two mortally. Blacks served at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Peter Salem, a freed slave, stood on the green at Lexington facing the British when the first battle broke out with the shot that was heard around the world. One of the last men wounded in the battle as the British escaped to Boston was Prince Estabrook, a black man from West Lexington. At least 20 blacks, including Peter Salem, were in the ranks two months later when the British attacked an American position outside Boston in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Salem has been honored for firing the shot that killed Major John Pitcairn, the British officer who led the Redcoats when they had attacked his small unit at Lexington. Unable to venture outside Boston and then threatened with cannon surrounding the city, the British left Boston for New York. As the war changed from a Massachusetts endeavor to a broader conflict throughout the colonies, the politics of race changed dramatically. Blacks had been welcomed in the New England militia, but Congress initially decided against having them in the Continental army. Congress needed support from the South if all the colonies were to win their independence from England. Since southern plantation owners wanted to keep their slaves, they were afraid to give guns to blacks. Congress ordered all blacks removed from the army, but black veterans appealed directly to George Washington, who took up their cause with John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress. Blacks serving in the army were allowed to stay, but new enlistments were forbidden. Though the Declaration of Independence declared that â€Å"all men were created equal,† many blacks soon saw more opportunity on the British side. The British governor of Virginia promised immediate freedom and wages to any slave who would join the Kings army. Hundreds flocked to the standard of the governor, Lord Dunmore, but he was denied a base on the land by the American forces and many of the blacks who joined him died of smallpox on overcrowded ships. The loyalty of blacks was a serious issue for the American leaders because blacks made up one-fifth of the two million people in the colonies. With the British soldiers already outnumbering the American troops, and recruitment difficult for the patriots, the northern colonies soon again began to enlist blacks. Rhode Island made up a regiment almost entirely of blacks. As the war continued, colonies as far south as Maryland and Virginia were recruiting free blacks for the American cause. As the war spread into the South, Congress found it needed to recruit slaves. It offered to pay South Carolina slave owners $1,000 for able-bodied male slaves. The slaves would receive no pay, but would be given $50 and their freedom at the end of the war if they served â€Å"well and faithfully. † The South Carolina Assembly threatened to leave the war, dooming the plan in the southernmost colonies. Recruitment of blacks to the American cause continued further north, but the patriots had less success than the British. The offer of immediate freedom extended by Virginia’s unfortunate loyalist governor was eventually made by the British throughout the colonies. Slaves joined the British by the tens of thousands. The fate of the loyalist blacks varied considerably. Some were captured by Americans and either returned to their masters or treated as war loot and sold back into slavery. Approximately 20,000 were with the British at the end of the war, taken to Canada or the Caribbean. Some became the founders of the British colony of Sierra Leone in West Africa. Even though the British offered slaves a better deal, many blacks served on the American side. They made up a sizeable share of the men in the Continental navy, state navies and the large force of American privateers. Blacks had long been in the labor force on ships and at seaports. On the water, then as now, skill counted for more than politics. The precise role of blacks in the revolution is difficult to quantify. Blacks in those days generally did not write. The people who did write early histories of the revolution were whites and concentrated on the efforts of white men. Also, many participants in the revolution were not specifically identified by race in the documents of the time and historians now have no way of knowing whether they were black. When blacks were allowed to serve in the American military, they often did work as laborers, sometimes in addition to regular soldier duties. Usually they were privates, though a few rose to command small groups of men. The words of the Declaration of Independence were taken literally by blacks and some whites. In, 1780, Pennsylvania became the first colony to pass a law phasing out slavery. Children born to slaves after that date were granted their freedom when they reached 28. Other northern states followed. The Superior Court of Massachusetts held in 1783 that slavery violated the state constitution, and New Hampshire also ended slavery by a court ruling. Vermont outlawed slavery and Connecticut and Rhode Island passed gradual emancipation laws. New York outlawed slavery in 1799 and New Jersey followed in 1804. The international slave trade was outlawed in 1808. Progress then came to a stop. A boom in cotton production spread the slave economy into the lower Mississippi Valley. Slave states were careful to control at least half the political power in the federal government, blocking any national movement against slavery until the Civil War. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves in the rebelling territories of the confederacy and authorizing Black enlistment in the Union Army. Since the beginning of the Civil War, free Black people in general, and Black Bostonians in particular, were ready to gather arms on behalf of the Union, yet they were prevented from doing so. Popular racial stereotypes and institutional discrimination against Blacks in the military contributed to the prevailing myth that Black men lacked the intelligence and bravery necessary to serve their country. By the fall of 1862, however, the lack of White Union enlistment and confederate victories at Antietem forced the U. S. government to reconsider its racist policy. As Congress met in October to address the issue of Black enlistment, various troops of Black volunteers had already been organized, including the First South Carolina and the Kansas Colored Troops. It wasn’t until January 26, 1863; however, that secretary of war Edwin Stanton authorized the enlistment of Black troops. As a result, the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer infantry was founded, becoming the first all-Black Union regiment raised in the north. Training began for Black volunteers at Camp Meigs in Reedville, MA on February 21, 1863. Although some members of the community voiced opposition to the prevention of Black men from achieving the rank of colonel or officer, most community activists urged Black men to seize the opportunity to serve in the Union forces. The fear many Black volunteers had about the potential racism of White officers and colonels was calmed when Massachusetts Governor John Andrew assured Bostonians that White officers assigned to the 54th Regiment would be â€Å"young men of military experience, of firm anti-slavery principles, ambitious, superior to a vulgar contempt for color, and having faith in the capacity of colored men for military service. † Andrew held to his word, appointing 25-year-old Robert Gould Shaw as colonel and George P. Hallowell as Lieutenant. The son of wealthy abolitionists, Shaw had been educated in Europe and at Harvard before joining the seventh New York National Guard in 1861. In 1862, when Governor Andrew contacted Shaw’s father about the prospect of commissioning his son as colonel of the soon-to-be organized fifty-fourth, Shaw was an officer in the Second Massachusetts Infantry. Although reluctant to accept the commission, Shaw eventually became colonel. By the time training began at Camp Meigs, Shaw and his officers began work with the soldiers whose bravery would forever change public perception of Black military skill and valor. Black community leaders across the country such as Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown served as recruiting agents for the Union army. As a result, over 1000 volunteers enlisted in the 54th Regiment, a response so overwhelming that Massachusetts organized a second Black regiment, the fifty-fifth. Men of the fifty-fourth represented twenty-four states, the District of Columbia, the West Indies, and Africa. Approximately 25% of them had been slaves, over 50% were literate, and, although as civilians they had worked in forty-six different occupations, the overwhelming majorities (55%) were common laborers. Regardless of origin, occupation, or social class, the men of the 54th Regiment both inspired Boston’s Black community and provided a symbol of pride for abolitionists across the country. Activists such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass visited Camp Meigs to show their support. Although the organization of the 54th Regiment resolved the conflict over Black enlistment in the Union army, the struggle of Black soldiers to gain respect in the military was just beginning. Upon arrival in the south, the Black soldiers were often treated as common laborers and the potential for their valor on the battlefield was disregarded. Upon arriving in Georgia on June 11, they were ordered by Col. James Montgomery of the Department of the South to raid the town of Darien. Reports of Black soldiers burning buildings and ravaging the homes of townspeople confirmed stereotypes of Black soldiers as un-trainable brutes. Col. Shaw found the raid on Darien barbarous and distasteful, and sent a letter to Brigadier General George C. Strong, requesting that the men be used in the planned attack on Fort Wagner, South Carolina. On July 16, the 54th Regiment fought alongside White soldiers of the 10th Connecticut Infantry in a skirmish on James Island, SC. This battle redeemed the Black soldiers’ fighting ability in the eyes of White skeptics, including General Strong, who commanded the 54th Regiment to lead the assault on Fort Wagner, scheduled for July 18. Strategically, a successful attack on Fort Wagner would allow Union forces to seize control of Charleston Harbor. Located on Morris Island, Fort Wagner protected Battery Gregg overlooking Fort Sumter. Thus, seizure of Fort Wagner was valuable because it enabled the Union to shell Sumter and close the harbor to confederate blockade runners, thereby paving the way for further Union attack on Charleston. Fort Wagner was located at the northern tip of Morris Island, and was controlled by 1700 troops and 17 artillery guns. Depleted to just over 600 men by the skirmish two days previous, the men of the 54th Regiment were ordered to lead the assault on Fort Wagner with the backing of regiments from New York, Connecticut, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Before the charge commenced, Colonel Shaw ordered the regiment to â€Å"prove yourselves as men. † Within 200 feet of the Fort, the confederates began to attack as the brave men of the 54th Regiment struggled through darkness, four-foot deep water, and marshland. Colonel Shaw, accompanied by dwindling numbers of dying men, managed to reach the top of the parapet where a bitter hand-to-hand combat ensued, the Black Union soldiers with bayonets against the White Confederate soldiers with handspikes and gun rammers. Colonel Shaw was mortally wounded with a pierce through the heart, along with a dozen of his men. Meanwhile, members of the 54th Regiment – some wounded, some dying – began to retreat; those who refused to back down were taken prisoner. As the smoke cleared, evidence of Confederate victory was immediately apparent, with 174 Rebel casualties and 1515 Union soldiers dead or wounded. Of the eleven regiments who participated in the Union assault, the fifty-forth Regiment accrued the most casualties, with 256 of their 600 men dead or wounded. Despite the heavy losses, the assault on Fort Wagner proved to the nation and the world the valor of Black soldiers in general and the men of the 54th Regiment in particular. From the ranks of the fifty-forth came stories of unfailing patriotism and undying glory. The men of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, their White officers, colonel, and allies, not only struck a blow for American freedom and unity, they also proved to the nation and the world the valor, bravery, and devotion of African American soldiers. In the sacrifice made by Col. Shaw and his soldiers, Americans witnessed, for the first time, the supremacy of equality over racism, discrimination, and ignorance. Upon his death at Fort Wagner, the body of Col. Shaw was placed in a mass grave on Morris Island along with the bodies of his soldiers. The lack of proper military burial for a man who had distinguished himself as a soldier and as a leader was intended to insult the honor of Shaw and his family, who were deemed as race traitors by Confederates and White unionists alike. However, upon learning that his son had been buried with his black soldiers, Francis Shaw stated, with dignity, that â€Å"We hold that a soldier’s most appropriate burial place is on the field where he has fallen. † This statement and the honor displayed by the Shaw family and veterans of the fifty-fourth helped immortalize Shaw and his men as symbols of the Civil War battle for unity and equality. As a result of the 54th Regiment, over 180,000 Black men enlisted under the Union flag between 1863 and 1865. AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE from WWI through WWII. During the global conflicts of the first half of the 20th century, U. S. servicemen fought in Europe for the first time in the nation’s history. African Americans were among the troops committed to combat in World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII), even though they and other black Americans were denied the full blessings of the freedom for which the United States had pledged to fight. Traditional racist views about the use of black troops in combat initially excluded African Americans from the early recruiting efforts and much of the actual combat in both wars. Nonetheless, large numbers of African Americans still volunteered to fight for their country in 1917-18 and 1940-45. Once again, many black servicemen hoped their military contribution and sacrifice would prove to their white countrymen that African Americans desired and deserved a fully participatory role in U. S. society. Unfortunately, the deeply entrenched negative racial attitudes prevalent among much of the white American population, including many of the nation’s top military and civilian leaders, made it very difficult for blacks to serve in the military establishment of this period. African-American servicemen suffered numerous indignities and received little respect from white troops and civilians alike. The historic contributions by blacks to the defense of the United States were usually ignored or downplayed, while combat failures similar to those of whites and violent racial incidents often provoked by whites were exaggerated into a condemnation of all African Americans. In the â€Å"Jim Crow† world of pre-1945 America, black servicemen confronted not only the hostility of enemies abroad but that of enemies at home. African-American soldiers and sailors had two formidable obstacles to deal with: discrimination and segregation. Yet, black servicemen in both world wars repeatedly demonstrated their bravery, loyalty, and ability in combat or in support of frontline troops. Oftentimes, they accomplished these tasks without proper training or adequate equipment. Poor communications and a lack of rapport with their white officers were two additional burdens hampering the effectiveness and efficiency of African Americans in the military. Too frequently, there was little or no recognition or gratitude for their accomplishments. One of the worst slights of both wars was the willingness of the white establishment to allow racism to influence the award of the prestigious Medal of Honor. Although several exceptionally heroic African Americans performed deeds worthy of this honor, not one received at the time the award that their bravery and self-sacrifice deserved. It took over 70 years for the United States to rectify this error for WWI and over 50 years for WWII. Despite the hardships and second-class status, their participation in both wars helped to transform many African-American veterans as well as helped to eventually change the United States. Though still limited by discrimination and segregation at home, their sojourn in Europe during WWI and WWII made many black servicemen aware that the racial attitudes so common among white Americans did not prevail everywhere else. The knowledge that skin color did not preclude dignity and respect made many black veterans unwilling to submit quietly to continuing racial discrimination once they returned to the United States. In addition, the growing importance of black votes beginning in the 1930s and 1940s forced the nation’s political and military leaders to pay more attention to African Americans’ demands, particularly in regard to the military. Although it was a tedious and frustrating process, one too often marked by cosmetic changes rather than real reform, by the end of WWII, the U. S. military establishment slowly began to make some headway against racial discrimination and segregation within its ranks. The stage was set for President Harry S Truman’s landmark executive order of 26 July 1948. Another main contribution of note would be the trails and tribulations of the Tuskegee Airmen. In the 1940’s, it was still believed that Blacks were incapable of flying aircraft. This myth was dispelled with the help of the U. S. Congress. On June 27, 1939 – THE CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING ACT was passed. This solitary ACT helped to create a reserve of civilian pilots to be called in case of War. Young black pilots were given the opportunity to train with U. S. approved programs located at TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE. The SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT OF 1940 also increased the opportunity for a broader participation of Blacks in the military when it banned discrimination in the selection and training of all American citizens because of race and color. The success of the CIVILIAN PILOT TRAINING ACT helped put the 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON OF TUSKEGEE on the map. It was said that â€Å"the success of Negro youth in the Army Air Force would be predicated upon the success of the ‘Tuskegee Experiment. ‘† HBO’s docudrama, THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, is a good depiction of this era of Black Americans seeking acceptance as military pilots. Because of the opportunity provided by the Civilian Pilot Training Act, the number of Blacks in the ARMY AIR FORCE jumped from 2,250 in 1941 to over 145,000 by 1944. The two major groups to see combat as AAF men were the 99TH PURSUIT SQUADRON and the 332ND FIGHTER GROUP. Out of the 332nd Group came the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Squadrons under the command of Lieutenant Colonel BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, SR. , who became America’s FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL on October 25, 1940. By 1944, the 99th was added to the 332nd and participated in campaigns in Sicily, Rome, and Romania. The 99th and 332nd earned many DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS. These historical examples are but a small sample of the many great contributions and sacrifices made by black people in order to secure freedom and prosperity for this great nation. We owe them a debt than can never be fully repaid. If anything these great contributions should curtail any negative or racial thoughts toward such a magnanimous people. You would think that with all that has transpired throughout history, that we as a people could live and coexist together with peace and harmony. My only hope is that with time people will come to realize that we are all not that different from one another and that we can thrive together for a better future for all of us.

Jews during emigration to three jewish songs Essay

Jews during emigration to three jewish songs - Essay Example In the letter to the editor there are four themes which are expressed by the writer which can also be found in the four Yiddish songs: the value of studying Torah; the value of returning to one's roots; the loneliness when one loses his love whether it be spiritual or a loved one and the fear of getting old and not being able to study . It must be noted that each of the songs deal with only part of the themes. The purpose of this paper is to present the themes of the songs in terms of the letter of the man who wanted to return to Lithuania to study. As children studying at their school does not compare to a 30 year old man, what they learn from studying is the same. Losing one's wife is difficult for everyone. No song deals with the anger that this man has. He is looking for peace and comfort of his soul. He knows he is getting old without a wife and a job, he has to prospects. The first Yiddish song chosen is Oyfn Pripetshik (Go My child, to cheder). He is looking for comfort by goi ng back to study. Studying also means reawakening. The man is trying to get rid of the evil in his life in America, the time spent in prison, the four years spent by himself. He is burdened from his life from exile. "From reading the Gemara, this will shield you from all evil" He already knows this but it will be in his home country. What the children learn in cheder help them understand the tears they shed in life's experience and the knowledge will comfort them because they will have the all that is needed to get them through the most difficult times in life. As the editor said perhaps he should return home to study Gemara and the rabbi will tell him to come back to the New Word. The song, Gey Mayn kind in cheder, says that he studying is the best profession in the world, he will be nourished and his soul will become resourced. He will have the security and honor what he is missing in life. The most difficult task for this man is to forgive what he has gone through and rely on the knowledge of his childhood. When you are tired of exile, get comfort in studying. The second song explains two major thoughts of this letter. His desire to go back to his roots and his desire to study gemara. He came to America with so much hope to start a new life and make something of himself. He gave up all his roots and his origins. He gave up study and the Sabbath, he stopped being religious. His life fell to the worst state when he was accused of having burnt up his property. Four years after his prison term, Vos Geven Iz Un Nito, written in 1926 by the American Meyerowitz, talked about getting old. "I suffer from a disease†¦They call it old age". Our man is 30 years old. He does not have a family and considers it too late. It was most interesting in the last stanza where the lyrics "when I chance to pass by a school, I weep tears". He goes on to say that the young do not realize what a chance they have to study and when they do it is already too late. He feels this way on his own with no prospect for the future. In Frieling translated as Springtime, it is a man who has lost his love, and has no more purpose in his life. Kaczerginski wrote this song to memorialize his wife in 1943. Much of the song talks about walking thru the ghetto. Our man lived in a naive ghetto thinking his wife was good and kind. He sees his barricaded house, he sees how destroyed it has become. This was after the ghetto has been liquidated. It can also be a metaphor for how the poet felt after his wife was murdered. This song parallels the life of our man. He needs the spring light to come back into his life and to give him hope. If it is a metaphor for his life, he is looking for a solution to his sorrow; Springtime will give him a reason to see an answer to find a solution to what his wife did to him. Springtime brings the flowers out. He can possibly find a way of forgiving her with the change of seasons from the harsh winter to the optimism of the sunshine and the flower s. Though he will not forget, he can pardon. and plotted against him. When he writes the

Legal aspects of sounseling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Legal aspects of sounseling - Research Paper Example oks and principles of academic knowledge which are not adequate resources in assessing the developmental level at which their fellow colleagues operate (Bentler, 2008). Counseling is a dynamic process that generally deals with the wellness, career and personal growth of individuals in diverse and multicultural settings. In the end, the counseling program should empower the mental health and the overall wellness of the individual. State and national legislation is an essential part of information that they need to have, as it is primary to their daily operation. They are therefore legally responsible for civil and criminal offences if found to be in violation of client’s rights and or societal rules. Following ethical standards of professional organization that the counselor is affiliated to, and obtaining malpractice insurance will protect the counselors legally and give them a base to vindicate what they do (Tabutt, 2007). â€Å"The law can serve as an essential tool for great effectiveness, accountability and also provides support for local capacity building.† ( Poulisson, 2006) Sound policies that reflect legal requirements and considerations need enforcement by the counselors to act as preventative measures and as responsive measures too. A counselor to client relationship is a delicate relationship and therefore the counselor must provide a safe environment hence negligence accrues from a breach of this safety. The importance of the legal aspects of counseling is that the counselors have the guidelines to know how they should react in different situations and where feedback on handling difficult situations needs reiteration. In many situations, the need for ethics information has the highest ranking. There should be substantive due process where actions ought to have a relation to the institution’s interests in protecting and helping the client. In some cases, situations presented might not respect the substantive due process and hence has no

Independence in American Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Independence in American Cinema - Essay Example Its lavish concentration on its business marketing efforts has escalated the concern of film critics and artists that Hollywood films portray an identity very different from the Americans. This "identity loss" has been addressed only during the 1980's and early 1990's by the "independent directors" who revive American identity in US independent film industry. Wikipedia defines an independent movie as a 'film initially produced without financing or distribution from a major movie studio.' In the popular sense, any film that receives less than 50% of budgeting from major studios is already considered "independent." Its creative approach in movie production enabled them to garner as much as 15% of US domestic box office revenue within the period of January to March 2005. In order to further discuss the current status of American Independent Cinema, there should be a distinction between a "national" cinema and the mainstream Hollywood. There are four defining approaches where one can distinguish "national" cinema as presented by various studies on the subject (Shaw 2002). First of the approaches is the cinema's economic aspect, how the cinema producers provide financing. The movie's subject and style constitute the second approach. While the third and fourth pertains to the appeal of the movies to the public in terms of its popular and critical acceptance. It is the shift from the studio system of shooting movies in the 1950's to 1960's that paved the way for the birth of what we know today as modern American independent cinema. The consistent production of movies that are modestly sized in budget and features was preferred instead of larger yet fewer films. In the previous decades, 1930's to 1940's, cinema performers were tied with their contracts in a major Hollywood studio that they were employed in. Both the directors and actors had a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Columbia Pictures, and Warner Brothers, the major Hollywood studios in those days. Just to be temporarily employed, 'one studio will be "loaned" by one studio to another for a particular project with the expectation that such offers would be reimbursed in kind. (Yahnke n.d.)' This monopolistic approach in American cinema industry was only ended when television was introduced in 1950's, together with the improved capacity of directors to decide over their creations and the actors' capacity to become "free agents" ushered the death of studio system. (Chapter 2: Classic Films n.d.).

Evaluate the outcomes that are used to measure progress towards Assignment

Evaluate the outcomes that are used to measure progress towards meeting the Milenium health goals - Assignment Example The goals set should be SMART that is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Actually, Nursing’s role in helping achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development goals is theme for this year’s International Nurses Day. Since Nurses are the only professionals in the world who are available to several people in their lifetime thus they are the key to the achievement of the millennium development Goals. Additionally, Nurses are the largest health care profession in the world thus play a major role compared to other health professionals. Moreover, nurses are well placed and often the most innovative in reaching the disadvantaged and underserved populations. Nurses help in reducing child mortality, combating malaria, HIV/AIDs and other diseases, and improve maternal health. According reports from ICN, the global children mortality (five years and below) has reduced and the deaths that occur could be prevented via affordable and effective interventio ns (United Nations 2008). The number of women who die during pregnancy and child birth has been halved with regional variations. Nurses also help in issuing of anti-malarial treatments and treating the multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Since nurses interact with residents more Oftenly than not they are able to advice on how to prevent oneself from acquiring tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. Health settings in any community should have their intentions majorly as quality patient and resident service delivery during the phase of care. With maintained health data the health care personnel are in a position know that the outbreaks in the community. Occurrence of any outbreak means a campaign should be carried out and if need be vaccination administered. For example if there is an outbreak of polio children, children in a particular age range should be immunized against the polio (Geneva health 2013, April). Therefore, when the community receives quality services the economy of a nation rises since the costs that are incurred in ordering drugs are diverted and utilized in other areas for development. Professional in the health care setting inclusive of the nurses should ensure that they understand the patients and the customer service is improved to proactive. The essence of the system being proactive is to ensure that the patients’ history is not repeated in the event that they go back to the hospital for check-up. In the event the patient is unconscious and is taken to the hospital by strangers the nurses are in a position to retrieve the patient’s records easily thus ease in diagnosis. This also helps them in managing the data and with the same they are able to deduce when there is an outbreak. Otherwise, with no records it is may be difficult to tell which area is experiencing an outbreak and of which disease. It is part of offering quality services to help the patients when nurses help patients with prevention of diseases and advice on how to attain the same. This impacts to a nation since deadly outbreaks are eradicated as a result of the advice from nurses to patients. Therefore it is in order to say that â€Å"happy employees, happy patients hence happy residents† (Rebecca McNeil 2013, February 15). The nation may benefit directly or indirectly. Nurses educate the patients on the dangers of some of the unhealthy activities they are involved in such as smoking and the kind of diet they

Experiential Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Experiential Marketing - Essay Example Based on the two definitions and in relation to the concept of marketing it is correct to state that experience is an opportunity that enables the audience to get firsthand knowledge on the facts associated with a certain event, product, and or service.The integration of experience to marketing practice led to the emergence of experiential marketing, which is described by Addis and Holbrook as â€Å"a form of advertising that focuses on helping consumers experience a brand.† Experiential marketing is different from the traditional forms of advertising since it engages all the critical senses of a targeted consumer with a particular product or service, thereby giving the targeted consumer a firsthand ‘feel’ of the product or service.This present essay seeks to critically review the nature, role, and development of experiential marketing, evaluate its drawbacks, and discuss its potential contribution to theory and practice. Relationship between stimulus and reaction is a process that led to the notion of experience within the field of marketing, which acknowledges the marketing knowledge that consumers or the target audience already have. It is because of the marketing knowledge that consumers have, that it became necessary for marketers to engage their consumers in a manner that is memorable unlike the traditional forms of marketing. Grundey stated that through this memorable experiences, marketers are able to engage the audience from various fronts that include spirituality, socially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Through this engagement Grundey (2009 p137) stated that marketers are able to create sensual perception among the target audience, which guarantees them reliability on their observations and/or the facts that they have read. Therefore, it can be argued that because of the marketing knowledge that consumers currently have, it has been impossible to build a trustworthy relationship with them because of their rational behavio r and skepticism on adverts that are purely one-side i.e. mainly communicate about the benefits or advantages of a particular product and/ or service (Katona (1953, p 307-318). By providing an experience in order to communicate to the target audience about the benefits/ advantages of a particular product and/ or services, marketers enable the audience to have an independent view that is devoid of any forceful persuasion (Lee and Overby, 2004, 54-67). This result in the audiences building trust on the business organization and its associated products and/ or services, as it was not in a hurry to influence their purchasing decision but rather it focused more on providing a memorable experience to the audience that can be used to make a rational purchasing decision. Affirming the previously mentioned argument, Shmitt (1999, p 23-54) developed a framework that contained key elements of experiential marketing. One of the elements is sense of which Shmitt (1999 p 58) stated that sense, wh ich is offered through experience is important in differentiating a product/ service and consumers will develop a sense of value on the aforementioned product or service. The second element is ‘feel’ of which Shmitt (1999, p 34) stated that a clear and positive feeling on a particular service or product is capable of influencing its consumption. The third element is ‘think’ and Shmitt (1999, p 41) on this element stated that experiential marketing, accord the target audience an opportunity to conduct a critical and logical thinking on a company and its associated products/ services. The fourth element is ‘

Managing People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Managing People - Essay Example An organisation should therefore strive to reduce constant absenteeism that has direct and indirect negative impacts. Most companies are now focusing on the proactive ways of checking and reducing absenteeism by indentifying and dealing with causes of non-attendance rather than focusing on the absenteeism as a negative entity (Coughlan 2004, P.5). The moist common causes of absenteeism are related to sickness and other genuine reasons though in some cases employees may fail to show up at work place without a genuine reason due to lack of motivation, bullying, personal issues and stress. A company should therefore focus on addressing the cause of absenteeism rather than completely eliminating absenteeism. Keenly addressing workers absences will help to make a major variation to the absence intensity currently and in future. The proactive ways helps to reduce employee’s absence as well as creating conducive working conditions that helps to increase production and staff retention . This paper will critically analyse proactive approaches in reducing absenteeism. Approaches to reduce absenteeism Most companies are focusing on reducing absenteeism in their through proper proactive approaches that also helps to improve employees’ services delivery. ... The second step is the administration level that helps to allocate resources to implement the set rules, regulations and policies to achieve the organisational goals (Devanna at el 1981, P. 53). The require recourses may include time, employees, funds, information and other parameters stated in the strategic plan. And finally the implementation level that involves the day to day running of the organisation by the management that brings together all departments in the organisation to allow smooth learning of the organisation which is the overall goal of reducing absenteeism. To effectively reduce absenteeism the company must assess the current situation; come up with the desired situation and the plan to achieve the future situation. A company can adopt several proactive methods to anticipate reduce absenteeism in workplace as follows. Recruitment A company should lay a strongly highlighting of the significance of consistent turnout to work in the organisation from the recruitment sta ges. The interview should ask questions aimed at determining the applicants’ attitude towards chronic absenteeism depending on the organisational goals (Liste n.y.) and if possible the applicant can be asked to show his attendance record from the previous employer. The employer should seek to know personal traits that can increase chances of absenteeism without genuine reasons such as personal honesty, commitment to work, truthfulness and personal integrity (Salisbury 2010). According to Morgan (2012), some of the company may concentrate on a policing and implementing of principles set to ensure full attendance rather than developing a culture of consistence in attendance of employees. Developing a civilized and constructive attendance in an organisation starts

Public Relations Society of America's ethical standards Research Paper

Public Relations Society of America's ethical standards - Research Paper Example Therefore, members of PRSA focus on serving the public, thereby taking obligations that involve operating ethically. In this case, this paper focuses on presenting brief history of PRSA’s ethical standards, their functions and effects on public relation professionals and profession. Moreover, this paper seeks to determine ways through which PRSA has strengthened and weakened certain professionals and agencies. Reputation acquired through affiliation to PRSA is valuable to members; in fact, it is highly dependent upon their ethical conduct (PRSA, Member, 1). In addition, these members focus on setting examples among themselves and other professionals by achieving excellent standards of performance, professionalism and ethical behaviors. Nevertheless, there are situations when emphasis to enforce Public Relation Society of America’s ethical standards has been ignored. In this case, this has led to decision by PRSA board of Directors to expel or bar some parties in the soc iety from joining PRSA membership (PRSA, Member, 1). For instance, individuals who have been involved in sanctions from government agencies or convictions in courts due to issues concerning violating code of ethics become liable to expulsion from PRSA membership. Therefore, PRSA overview indicates that it focuses on prime obligation, which involves promotion of ethical practices among professions, organizations and professionals. History of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Public Relations Society of America commenced in 1950, whereby it was established through a desire to form student counterpart (Garcia, 3). After some time, this interest was diminished, though there were few professionals, who made efforts to rekindle PRSA. Besides, members of PRSA lost their interest on PRSA leading to a notion that discredited PRSA, through claims that it could not be taught. Nonetheless, the chairperson of PRSA’s Education Committee, who was called Howard Penn Hudson, decided to change people’s perception towards PRSA, in 1965 (Garcia, 3). In this case, he made effort to reestablishing initial affiliation with students through clubs, societies and fraternities. The process to rekindle PRSA began by invitation of six schools in 1965 by Ovid Davis, who was the president of PRSA (Garcia, 4). In fact, this invitation was aimed at gathering members together for that year’s National Conference in Denver. In 1967, the president of Division of the educators’ organization, Professor James Young decided to call Association for Education in Journalism (AEJ), thereby establishing his arguments that there was need for PRSA in processes of developing students with professional orientation (Garcia, 4). In fact, this effort was supported by groups of independent student, who did not have guidance to meet PRSA objectives. On the other hand, there where groups, which had a significant interest on the future of PRSA, and this led to establishment of Lo ng Range Planning Committee of PRSA in 1967 (Garcia, 4). Moreover, during the following year, there was an establishment of PRSA chapters in nine schools, which offered courses in public relations, and this has led to developments such as establishment of PRSA’s ethical standards in the present days. Functions of PRSA Ethical Standards One of the significant functions of PRSA’s ethical standards is to apply public relations in order to pivot ethics among its practitioners or members. In future of professionals, who

Describe, discuss and explain the significance of the Indian Removal Article

Describe, discuss and explain the significance of the Indian Removal Act - Article Example The Act resulted to Seminole War that lasted between 1835 to 1842, and cost Jackson administration almost 60 million dollars. The law made Cherokees develop their own written language, print newspapers and resist any forceful evictions. The Supreme Court decision asserted that Georgia had no authority over the Cherokees and their lands but the president ignored the court ruling. In 1836, Georgia Militia attacked several Creeks and forced about 15,000 Creeks to move to the West of Mississippi (Stewart, 2007). In 1835, the Treaty of New Echota was signed ceding all Cherokee land for $ 5.6 million and their free transportation to the West of Mississippi. This led to the trail of tears whereby more than 16,000 migrating Cherokees died. The Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creeks, Cherokees and Seminoles travel from their lands was marked with diseases such as Cholera, death from starvation and inadequate food supplies (Stewart, 2007). The Indian removal act gave European American farmers a claim on t he land that was initially occupied by the Five Civilized Tribes and opportunity for intense agricultural activity. Generally, the Indian removal act was oppressive and led to Seminole wars from 1835 to 1842 and trail of tears from 1838 to 1839. The US army troops forced the Indian troops to abandon their traditional lands (Stewart, 2007). The Indian removal act that was signed in to law by President Jackson led to massive federal spending on wars and relocation. Cherokees heavily resisted the law through a court decision by the president chose to ignore the ruling. The Act led to Seminole Wars and Trail of tears whereby many affected individual dies due to wars, disease and starvation (Stewart,

Natural Law and Sexual Ethics by Janet Smith Essay Example for Free

Natural Law and Sexual Ethics by Janet Smith Essay I am honored to be among the lecturers in this series on natural law. Many of the speakers are among my heroes and friends. One of my heroes, Alasdair MacIntyre, used one of his favorite terms in his talk: he spoke of plain persons and their grasp of morality and natural law in contradistinction to the experts and professional philosophers and their grasp of these matters. A few years ago in Dallas he gave a talk entitled Do plain persons need to be moral philosophers? When I was asked to give the response to his talk, I was most honored because I considered Prof. MacIntyre one of the foremost moral philosophers in the world and it was a thrill to comment on his work. I felt dreadfully underqualified — I felt like some high school kid going up against Larry Bird — until I realized that I need not respond as an expert, as a moral philosopher of his caliber, but that I could respond as the quintessential plain person — for that is what I am. After all, I am Janet Smith, daughter of John and Anne Smith; I grew up at 5 Hill Street and went to Home Street School — I could go on but it is all very plain. The point I am making here is not merely a flip one — designed to ease us into more serious matters through an attempt at humor. There is a serious point here — natural law, is the plain persons morality — in a sense it is simply plain old common sense. There are profound and sophisticated ways at explaining natural law, but the practiceof reasoning in accord with natural law principals, according to the theory itself, is natural to plain persons — that is, natural to all mankind for natural law holds that many of the most fundamental principles of moral reasoning are obvious, that is easily known by all. Yet, in spite of the plain commonsensicalness of natural law, it can seem shocking and provocative in many ways, for like natural law, plain old common sense does not command a lot of followers these days and can be shocking when juxtaposed to the values of our times. My talk is going to be very basic in several respects. It will review some of the basic principles that other speakers have covered, some in depth, some more in passing. It will also be very basic in being the one talk that attempts to make an application of natural law to concrete moral issues; issues in the realm of sexual ethics. My job is not to justify natural law ethics but to explain it and apply it. As did many of the earlier speakers I will largely be following the thought of Thomas Aquinas on these matters and of Aristotle from whom Aquinas learned many of the principles that informed his teaching on natural law. I shall also incorporate into my arguments the thought of another stellar natural law theorist, still alive and well: I shall make use of the work of Karol Wojtyla, now known as Pope John Paul II. I will refer to him as Wojtyla simply because I do not want to be thought to be invoking his authority as Holy Father; I cite him simply as a philosopher who has made great advances of our understanding of natural law, particularly in regard to sexual ethics. So let me begin with a review of the principles of natural law. As several other speakers have noted, Aquinas maintains that the first principle of natural law is do good, avoid evil. As he notes, that is a self-evident principle and obvious to all; if we want to be moral we should do good and avoid evil. No controversy here. The question is, of course, what is good and what is evil and how to we come to know which is which? Some think we cant know what is good and evil so the best we can do is live by the conventions of our times. Others think it best to let our passions be our guide to whatever we want to do. Others think only revealed religion can give us absolutes. These three positions capture the predominant views of our times. Aquinas holds none of these positions. He argues that reason should be our guide to morality. Not only does he hold that the first principle of natural law, do good, avoid evil is self-evident, he argues that there are other self-evident first principles, such as harm no man. These he says are imprinted in the minds of all by God; I believe other precepts such as provide responsibly for your offspring, give to each man his due and seek knowledge would qualify as precepts that Aquinas thinks all men know. Men (and I use the term generically here and throughout) may act against these precepts out of passion or because ignorance of some fact operative in a situation, but all would agree that such principles are moral truths. Aquinas goes on to say that what he calls primary precepts of natural law are naturally and immediately known by man; he cites the 10 commandments as examples of these types of precepts. These precepts are justified by the primary principles. From the most general principle give to each man his due, from an understanding of what one owes to ones mother and father, it is clear that one should honor ones father and mother. Now this is not to say that one discovers the moral law by discovering these precepts in a deductive manner moving from the most general to the more particular. Rather, it seems that often moral discovery, as the discovery of other general truths, moves from the particular to the universal. That is, an individual could witness or participate in a transaction and quite immediately make the moral judgment that the act is good or bad. That is, for instance, an individual could witness someone honoring or dishonoring his parents and judge the action to be good or bad; from this action and others of the same sort one may come to formulate the law that one should give each man his due. But it is because we already naturally know — in an unexpressed and unformulated way — that one should give each man his due, that we are able to see readily that honoring ones parents is good. Much in the same way that we, without musical training, can judge certain tones to be off pitch, we have moral perceptions that some actions are good and some bad, without having any explicit training about such kinds of actions. I speak of these as moral perceptions not because they are equivalent to sense perceptions, but because of their immediacy and their unformulated quality; indeed, I believe them to be rational in several important respects, not least because they are cognitive acts and they are in accord with reality. Let me speak now about rationality and the Thomistic claim that one should act rationally. Indeed, one could formulate the first principle of natural law not only in the most basic formula do good, avoid evil; in Thomistic terms, several formulas serve to express the same truth: for Aquinas, the following phrases are synonymous: act in accord with nature; act in accord with reason or act rationally; act in accord with virtue; act in accord with the dignity of the human person; act in accord with a well formed conscience; indeed, act in a loving way, properly understood, serves as well. While it would be of great profit to elaborate how each of these phrases is synonymous with the other, I want to devote most of my efforts here to explaining how act in accord with nature and act in accord with reason are synonymous and worthy guides to moral behavior. First we must try to get as clear as we can what it means to say act in accord with reason or act rationally. In our day, reason often gets a bum rap. This is a fault not of Aristotle or Aquinas but of Descartes and Kant and their followers. Since they retreated into the mind and abandoned the senses and emotions and nature as guides to truth, they made reason seem like something coldly logical, impersonal, abstract and completely devoid of experiential and emotional content. In their view, mathematics and geometry are seen as the quintessential rational acts; to be rational is to operate totally within ones mind and to be completely unemotional. Another view of rationality that dominates modern times is the view that only that which can be measured scientifically deserves any recognition as objective truth. No truths other than those substantiated by scientific proofs — truths that can be quantified largely in the laboratory — count as truth. No proof other than scientific proofs count as truth; only science and that which approximates to scientific truth is truly rational. Neither view is the view of reason and rationality held by the ancients and medievalists — those who defined the view of natural law I am defending here. The ancients and medievalists did not think rationality was possible without the senses and the emotions for both are tools to reading reality; they provide the intellect with the material needed to make a good judgment. The etymology of the word rational is rooted in the word ratio which means measure or proportion. One is being rational when ones thought and action are measured to, are proportionate with, or when ones thought and action correspond with reality (which itself is measured or governed by discernable laws; more about this momentarily). The thought that leads to acting in accord with reality is called rational. Now this thought need not be and perhaps only rarely will be the kind of abstract, cold, logical reasoning of a Descartes, Kant, or research scientist. This thought can be intuitive, creative, poetic, inductive, deductive, indeed, whatever human thought can be. It is all called rational thought not because it proceeds by syllogism or because it is subject to certain scientific tests; it is called rational because it corresponds with reality — and this includes all of reality, the spiritual and the transcendental as well as the logically provable and the scientifically measurable reality. Such thought cannot proceed without abundant data from our senses and our emotions. The intellect processes such data and orders it; it determines what values are important in the data and decides on the appropriate response. If one acts rationally, one then acts in accord with the ordering done by the intellect. While the intellect should govern the emotions, it is not a natural law teaching that all rational behavior will be devoid of emotion. Again, the emotions can provide essential data to the intellect. Emotions that are well-habituated may lead one quite spontaneously to respond correctly to situations. One may spontaneously get angry at witnessing some act of injustice and, if one knows ones emotions to be well-ordered, one could respond quite immediately and correctly to the situation — and even angrily to the situation. Indeed, at times it may be an appropriate response to reality to rant and rave. One doing so, is properly called rational, in spite of our common parlance. This talk of the mind and of rationality as something that is measured to reality suggests, as mentioned above, that reality is a thing that can be grasped. Natural law depends upon such. It rests upon the claim that things have natures and essences that we can know and correspond our actions to. There are many reasons for making this claim. One is the fact that things act in a predictable fashion; when we learn the properties of oil and water, for instance, we can predict certain things about their behavior. The fact that we build bridges which stand, that we make artificial hearts that work, that we put men on the moon, also indicates we are able to measure our thoughts to the external world and to act in accord with it. Moreover, natural law operates on the premise that nature is good; that is, that the way things naturally are is good for them to be; it holds that the operations of things and parts of things contribute to the good of the whole. The wings of different birds are shaped in certain fashions because of the sort of flying that they must do to survive; different digestive systems work in different ways because of what is being digested. Indeed, natural law holds that the natural instincts of natural things are good; they lead them to do what helps those things function well and helps them survive. Since natural things have an order there is said to be a ratio or order to them; not one of which they are conscious but one that is written into their functioning. Natural law holds that we live in a universe of things that have a ratio to them and that we shall get the best out of these things if we act in accord with the ratio or nature that is written into them. Now, man is a natural thing. He, too, has parts and operations and instincts that enable him to function well and to survive. Man differs from other creatures in that he has free will; that is, he can either cooperate with his nature or act against his nature, whereas other natural things have no such freedom. What enables man to be free is his reason, his rationality; he is able to weigh and measure different courses of action and to determine which actions are good or bad. According to natural law, those actions are good which accord with his nature and with the nature of other things. Since man is by nature a rational animal, it is good for him to act in accord with his reason. By acting rationally he is acting in accord with his own nature and with a reality that is also ordered. When he acts rationally, he acts in accord with his own nature and reality and in accord with the nature and reality of other things. Now, lets get concrete. Lets talk about acting in accord with the nature of a few specific things. Take tomato plants, for instance. Tomato plants have a certain nature. In order to have good tomato plants one must act towards these plants in accord with their nature; one must water them, give them sunlight and good soil if one wants to produce good tomato plants. Such is acting in accord with nature in respect to tomato plants, such is rational behavior in respect to tomato plants. If ones tomato plants fail to produce tomatoes, one knows that one is doing something wrong; if ones tomato plants produce good tomatoes, one knows one is doing something right. Prof. Charlie Rice, whose book Fifty Questions on Natural Law that I understand several of you are reading, speaks of the rationality of putting oil and not molasses in the engine of a car. One needs to act in accord with the nature of things if one wishes them to perform well. So now let us, moving quickly, move to human nature. If a human being wishes to function and perform well, what does his nature require of him? Let us begin with his physical nature. There is a considerable consensus about what makes for physical health and what is conducive to physical health. Those who dont get sick, who are able to function well in their daily activities, who are not overweight, we call healthy. We know how to produce such individuals. We are regularly and rightly advised to eat well, exercise regularly, and to get plenty of sleep. Those who do so generally flourish physically — because they are acting in accord with nature, with reason, and with reality. Psychological health is also understood to some extent; we know we need friends and rest and interests to sustain our psychological health; that is our nature; that is reality. Nor are we in the dark about what makes for moral health or moral goodness. We recognize the goodness of the various virtues such as self-discipline, reliability, justice and fairness, kindness, truthfulness, loyalty, etc. those who exhibit these qualities we generally recognize to be good — that is morally good — human beings. Parents who have children who display such qualities are rightly proud of them; their tomato plants turned out well. So, in regard to sexual behavior, to sexual moral health, so to speak, what qualifies as acting in accord with nature, with reason? How do we determine what it is? Now, for Aquinas, these are not difficult questions, though, apparently, they are extremely difficult questions for modern times. We are terribly confused about what proper sexual behavior is. College newspapers are filled with news of campuses that are devising codes of moral sexual behavior — codes that are designed primarily to stop or reduce the incidence of date rape on campus. These codes suggest, mandate, require — I am not certain what is the correct word — that in sexual activity neither individual proceed to the next level of sexual activity without obtaining the permission of the other individual. These codes reflect what has been the principle governing sexual behavior in modern times for sometime — whatever one feels comfortable with and whatever one agrees to is morally o. . This is basically what we are teaching to our young people and they are doing much what one would expect given that teaching. As long as it feels good, and they have consented to it, there is no reason for them not to do it. Is this working; is this principle leading to moral health or moral sickness? What can we say about the moral sexual health of our society? What does the fact that 68% of African-American babies are born out of wedlock suggest? The figure is now 22% in the white community and rapidly growing.

Reflection on the Concept of Therapeutic Presence

Reflection on the Concept of Therapeutic Presence Tony Fowler â€Å"I am inclined to think that in my writing I have stressed too much on the three basic conditions (congruence, unconditional positive regard and emphatic understanding). Perhaps it is something around the edges of those conditions that is really the most important element of therapy – when myself is very clearly obviously present’ (Rogers cited in Baldwin, 2013a p.28) It has been implied through quantum physics, that on a molecular level, everyone exists within a virtual sea of energy (Gribben, 1984; Pert, 1997), and that each individual contributes to that energy field, by both affecting and being affected by everything and everyone around them, simply by being present. In an interview with Michele Baldwin towards the end of his life, Carl Rogers stated that he had become more aware of his use of ‘self’ within the therapeutic environment and that when he was intensely focused on his client, his presence alone instigated the healing process (Baldwin, 2013a). It is widely accepted that Carl Rogers is considered to be one of the most influential cofounders of the humanistic psychotherapy movement with the development of his person centred approach to counselling clients, and I feel that this was a very bold and courageous statement to have made at this point in his career. When this statement is viewed in relation to his much publicised earlier work, where he wrote about the importance of the six therapeutic conditions, I feel that this statement, like many others humanistic practitioners, appeared to be a change of direction and philosophy for him. In his early career Rogers put particular emphasis on the three primary core conditions, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding stating that these were all that was required for a successful therapeutic outcome (Rogers, 1957), Presence has been considered to be a quality that arises when the therapist is present to what is happening in the right here and now. For myself, I am inclined to agree with the views of Martin Buber, from whom much of the Gestalt philosophy of therapy has stemmed from his ‘I-thou’ relationship, that presence is more than just being in the present (Greenberg and Geller, 2001). I am inclined to believe that this it was Rogers was referring to when he spoke of his simply ‘being present’ as the means to facilitating a healing outcome. Is it then that presence is more than the necessary conditions required for a successful therapeutic outcome to take place or that as Rogers suggested, something more around the edges of these conditions that is the primary element within the counselling relationship (Baldwin, 2013a)? Geller and Greenberg (2012 p.7) define therapeutic presence as â€Å"the state of having one’s whole self in the moment on a multiplicity of levels, physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually†. This statement shows much duplicity to the original ideas of another proponent of the importance of the relationship between client and therapist, Sandor Ferenczi. He advocated that therapists should possess both an interpersonal and emotional attitude of tenderness, an emotional ambiance where personal caring can create a healing environment decades before Rogers first introduced us to his person centred approach (Hoffman, 2003). It has been argued that in order for the effects of presence to be fully beneficial, preconceptions, judgements and even beliefs cannot co-exist within the present moment. Buber claims that the healing relationship between client and therapist is naturally unequal and one sided, as the client is always looking to the therapist for guidance (Baldwin, 2013b). Whilst I think this argument is true, I also believe that therapeutic presence is made up of both the unspoken and unseen connection between therapist and client that can occur within a therapeutic intervention. It involves the embracement of all core conditions, being empathetic, congruent and having unconditional positive regard for your client. It is about creating a connection with our clients, whilst maintaining one’s own boundaries and not taking on the client’s sense of frustration, anxiety, pain, or grief. Rogers maintained that how a client sees him, whether as a professional therapist, father figure or friend, it mattered not. What was important was to hear, accept and recognise the feelings that the client was experiencing (Baldwin, 2013a). Once again I am in agreement with these views, and feel that when we sense, feel and listen to our clients, as well as to ourselves, we will eventually become more in tune with what is arising between ourselves and the client, allowing for a greater potential for healing to take place. However, this change in Rogers’s beliefs appeared to be almost a reversal of where he had always stood, having had such a profoundly different viewpoint to that of the more traditional psychoanalysts of his time, in regards to the issue of transference. In fact it is true to say that throughout his professional career he denounced the psychoanalytical notion of transference and counter transference as sophisticated devices with the potential to inhibit any real exploration of feelings between therapist and the client (Thorne, 2012) and that there was no reason to make a big deal of it (Baldwin, 2013a). As a result, I do agree with some critics of Roger’s new position, especially in light of his new stance on the effects of presence. Rogers stated that when a certain level of presence is reached, an intense intimacy is achieved between the client and himself and this results in a flow of energy between himself and the client. These claims have been considered by many critics as Rogers describing an almost a spiritual effect, which I am in total agreement with and inclined to consider this as both arrogant and mystical in nature. I am once again drawn to the similarities between Rogers and that of the earlier work of Sandor Ferenczi. Ferenczi, who despite being labelled a psychoanalyst and someone who was once a close personal friend to Freud himself, became disenchanted with Freud’s perspective on the role of clients within the therapeutic session. As a result he went on to develop his own therapeutic approach on the importance of developing the relationship between client and therapist. It is this concept that influenced other significant cofounders of the humanistic psychological movement that followed, such as Abraham Maslow, Rollo May and James Bugental, and in turn Rogers himself with the development of his own Person Centred Approach (Hoffman, 2003). Throughout humanistic approaches such as within existential therapy, presence is seen as a fundamental principle of the therapeutic process, considered by many to be central at effecting change (May, 1958; Bugental, 1987; Yalom, 2002). Within existentialism, it is believed that presence plays a pivotal role in the development of both a safe environment and an intimate therapeutic relationship. Bugental and Yalom, believed the conception of being present with your client included but went beyond the experiencing of a deep connection with the self and the other. They claimed that each person is not only related to self, to other and to the physical world, but also to each person’s past and present in the here-and-now. (Bugental, 1999; Yalom, 1980, 2002) I find this viewpoint again almost spiritual in nature, yet subtly different to the implied spiritualistic nature of Rogers claims. I can almost sense an empiricalistic scientific desire to justify what presence actually is and how it can be achieved by the existentialists. Given Rogers theological beginnings before embarking on a more empirically based career path, I can almost understand his later life reflections on what presence was to him. However, I have to agree with other critics that his implied spiritualistic view and comments of energies that flow between therapist and client that may come from a higher transcendent place, as opinions of a more personal nature and not those that should be taken seriously by the more empirically minded practitioners of today (Thorne, 2012). In a qualitative study by Mick Cooper (2005), the relational depth, which was defined as a profound feeling of contact and engagement with another, was investigated through a series of interviews with person centred therapists. The results of his research found that relational depth can be conceptualised as a form of ‘co-presence’ or a co-experiencing of the person-centred ‘core conditions’. Is this empirical confirmation of Roger’s statement? He himself stated that he believed that a healing outcome resulted not from an emphasised use of the core conditions, but it was possibly something more encompassing, an amalgamation of all the core elements. As an acknowledgement of what presence is and what its effects are, I find compelling evidence within this study. Those therapists who participated in the study, Cooper (2005) interviewed, stated that they had experienced heightened feelings of empathy, acceptance and receptivity towards their clients along with a greater level of awareness, aliveness and satisfaction. He also claimed that when the therapists were having these feelings they also experienced their clients as being highly transparent, being able to articulate core concerns and being able to reciprocate the therapist’s acknowledgement of them. What makes these results so compelling is that they also support the findings and experiences that were described in Geller and Greenberg’s (2002) research on presence. Although it is debatable as to which therapeutic orientation the notion of presence belongs, there can be no doubt that the humanistic tradition has emphasised presence as crucial to therapeutic change. However, cultivating presence is an ongoing practice. It is seen by some as a factor of therapy more important than the acquisition of academic knowledge or the mastery of particular skills set. Yet I believe that through continued use of the core conditions as laid down by Rogers’s person centred approach, we as practitioners have the methods at hand, to invite more presence into the therapy room and therefore become more helpful to our clients. In conclusion I truly believe that having presence is attuning to what is. If one can achieve this then a resonance will occur between us and our clients, which will ultimately lead to the manifestation of trust within the therapeutic relationship. What will we get out of this sense of presence? Will we experience openness to what is? Or acquire the ability to listen to our clients more deeply? Maybe; and maybe as Sandor Ferenczi first suggested, there will naturally arises a greater emotional connection between ourselves and the client with an emphasis on empathetic presence within the therapeutic milieu. Reference List Baldwin, D. C., 2013b. Some philisophical and psychological contributions to the use of self in therapy. In: M. Baldwin, ed. The use of self in therapy. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge, pp. 64-80. Baldwin, M., 2013a. Interview with Carl Rogers on the use of self therapy. In: M. Baldwin, ed. The use of self in therapy. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge, pp. 28-35. Bugental, J. F. T., 1987. The art of the psychotherapist. New York: Norton. Bugental, J. F. T., 1999. Psychotherapy isnt what you think. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker Theisen. Cooper, M., 2005. Therapists experiences of relational depth: A qualitative interview. Counselling and Psychotherpay Research, 5(2), pp. 87-95. Geller, S. M. and Greenberg, L. S., 2002. Therapeutic presence: Therapists experience of presence in the psychotherapy encounter. Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, 1(12), pp. 71-86. Geller, S. M. and Greenberg, L. S., 2012. Therapeutic presence; a mindful approach to effective therapy. Washington DC: American Pysgological Association. Greenberg, L. S. and Geller, S. M., 2001. Congruence and therapeutic presence. In: G. Wyatt, ed. Rogers therapeutic conditions: Evolution, theory and practice Congruence. Ross on Wye: PCCS Books, pp. 131-148. Gribben, J., 1984. In search of schrodingers cat: Quantum physics and reality. New York: Bantam Books Inc. Hoffman, D., 2003. Sandor Ferenczi and the origins of humanistic psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Volume 43, pp. 59-86. May, R., 1958. Contributions of existential therapy. In: R. May, E. Angel H. Ellenberger, eds. Existance: A new dimension in psychiatry and psychology. New York: Basic Books, pp. 37-91. Pert, C., 1997. Molecules of emotion: Why you feel the way you feel. New York: Simon and Schuster Inc. Rogers, C. R., 1957. The necessary and sufficient condiitons of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Counsulting Psychology, Volume 21, pp. 95-103. Thorne, B., 2012. Counselling and spiritual accompaniment: Bridging faith and Person Centred Therapy. 1st ed. Chichester: John Wiley Sons Ltd. Yalom, I., 1980. Existential Therapy. New York: Basic Books. Yalom, I., 2002. The gift of therapy. New York: Harper Collins.

Without Designers, There is no Fashion

Without Designers, There is no Fashion Fashion can be defined in many ways: it is a form of nonverbal communication, a sign system, a barometer of cultural change. It can also be seen as a form of iconography that communicates messages without words, or a mode of self-expression that enables us to make ourselves understood. For centuries, human beings have used clothing and various types of adornment to communicate messages about gender, occupation, class, and wealth. ‘In contemporary culture, the body has become the site of identity. We experience our bodies as separate from others and increasingly we identify with our bodies as containers of our identities and places of personal expression’ (Entwistle 2000:138). The question one may ask here is: who decides what will be fashionable? It is not a democratic process: fashion dictates, and its followers do as bidden. But who dictates what forms fashion will take? This is the domain of the fashion designer. The role of the designer in the shaping of fashionable tastes is crucial. This is especially true of contemporary society. Today designers are frequently accorded celebrity status. Their names are not only status symbolsthey are often household words. The Role of the Fashion Designer: Background Although their names are synonymous with power and wealth, fashion designers did not always enjoy the high status that they do today. It was not always this way fashion designers were not always ‘in fashion’. For example, consider the history of fashion in Italy. Until the eighteenth century, clothes design was not allowed in Italy: ‘Tailors, always men, were regulated by strict laws, and severe punishments were given to those who tried to formulate new fashions’ (Terzian 2003:75). Fashion at that time was considered the sole provenance of the government. Still, despite government restrictions, fashion design thrived as a covert operation. â€Å"Designers† still managed to create new styles, and people managed to get them. In fact, during this period Venice managed to rival Paris in the latest fashions, despite the fact that they had to disobey government regulations to do so (Terzian 2003: 75). In later years, the evolution of technology came into play. New developments in technology had a huge impact on the clothing industry, and on the development of fashion trends as well. For example, in America, the introduction of the steam engine in 1763 facilitated communication between different parts of the country. In 1793, Eli Whitney’s cotton gin expedited the manufacture of materials, so that the process was not only less cumbersome but also much faster. These two advances improved communication, transportation, and manufacturing all of which contributed to the growth of the fashion industry. Another important breakthrough in the history of fashion was the perfection of the sewing machine. In the mid-1800s, I.M. Singer produced an improved and more efficient model of Elias Howe’s original sewing machine, which was severely flawed This more sophisticated model made sewing easier and faster. In addition, it paved the way for further improvements, such as pattern making, buttonhole makers, and pressing machines (Terzian 2003:78). Queen Victoria’s death in 1901 made the Victorian style of dress obsolete. The uncomfortable bodice she was known for was soon replaced by an oddly shaped garment that was called the â€Å"health corset.† The health corset was the invention of a Frenchwoman named Madame Gaches-Sarraute. It was designed by Gaches-Sarraute to be a less restrictive and therefore more healthful garment. She believed that freeing the waist and diaphragm from the uncomfortable pressure of the corseted Victorian style would promote freedom of movement, improve comfort, and be good for a woman’s overall health. However, whether the â€Å"health corset† was more comfortable, or more healthful, is debatable. It did not last long, perhaps because of the odd â€Å"S† shape that made the sight of it uncomfortable to look at (Terzian 2003:80). It is apparent that even at back then, the fashion had taken on a particular significance: it was not enough to be clothed, one had to be clothed in a pleasing manner. The â€Å"S† shape that Gaches-Sarraute introduced was made obsolete when Paul Poiret joined the fashion world. Terzian describes Poiret as ‘the leading fashion designer of the first decade of the century’ (2003:81). Born in Paris, Poiret grew up in a world of fabric. His father owned a fabric store, and as a boy, Poiret came to know the importance of dress. This led him to open his own shop as an adult Here he experimented with fabrics and styles, often using his wife as a model. According to Terzian, Poiret was one of the first designers to experiment with colours, particularly those used by the Impressionists. In fact, it does seem that Poiret brought fashion to life with his flair for design and love of colour. He was responsible for introducing fashions that were not only pleasing to the eye, but also comfortable. In addition, he created outfits that included the â€Å"walking skirt.† This gave women increased mobility since it did away with constricte d hemlines that inhibited movement (Terzian 81). It was not long before fashion and fashion design became flourishing industries. Fashion, by this time, had become a government-sanctioned enterprise, as well as a highly competitive enterprise. However, the true stars of the fashion world were not the wealthy women who could afford the latest fashions, but rather the designers who created and introduced them. The Fashion Designer of Today Today, the importance of the fashion designer in the shaping of fashionable tastes is undisputed. In addition, the relationship between fashion and social life has become increasingly complex. According to Entwistle, ‘dress is tied up to social life in more than one way: it is produced out of economic, political, technological conditions as well as shaped by social., cultural, aesthetic ideas’ (2000:111). To be fashionably dressed, then, is to make a statement to the world about one’s social and economic background. However, that is only one message that dress conveys. When considering the huge impact fashion has on everyday life, it is impossible to dismiss the role of the people who create and re-create it with each new season. Fashion designers not only design articles of clothing they create and sell coveted images. As one scholar has noted, ‘the right clothing can grant us access to the right places and the right people’ (Jones 2002:21). The primary role of the fashion designers to experiment with the concept of identity through dress. The clothing they design must appeal to the people who buy it; therefore, designers must not just ‘clothe’ the body, they must create items that allow the people who buy them to feel they are buying a particular image or way of life. This has become more and more challenging in recent years, making the task of the designer more and more complex. Ethnic and subcultural styles have become increasingly diverse, and traditional codes are not the same. As Jones has asserted, ‘fashion designers have borrowed from the semiotics of clothes and pushed the boundaries by intentionally destroying principles and harmonies of clothing’ (2002:22). Designers have risen to the occasion, responding to the more sophisticated tastes of contemporary society in bold and innovative ways. The use of clashing colours is one way they do this. Another is the juxtaposition of unusual fabrics. They also experiment with size and shape, as evidenced by the creation of shapeless clothes, such as oversized shirts. And to respond to the sexual androgyny of the day, they have begun to create clothing that is often sexually ambiguous. Entwistle asserts that ‘fashion, dress and consumption provide ways of dealing with the problems of the modern world, characterized by increasing fragmentation and a sense of chaos. Fashion opens up possibilities for framing the self, however temporarily (2000:139). Other scholars have gone further with the concept of fashion as a response to the chaos of the world. Jamie Brasset has even suggested that ‘fashion is at the very least complicit if not thoroughly responsible for the promotion of identitiesâ €™ (2005:202). In this light, the role of the fashion designer is one of power. However, that power also has a negative aspect. As Jones points out, ‘for the designer of fashion, the key difference between his or her product and that of the designer of almost any other product is shelf life. Fashion has built-in obsolescence’ (2002:28). Different seasons require different types of clothing. In addition, clothing itself has a limited life span. As a result of daily wear and tear, as well as repeated launderings, clothing must be continually replaced. The world of commerce has cashed in on clothing’s obsolescence, as well. Given the whirlwind pace of change in the fashion industry, as well as the vagaries of style, the ability to design clothing that meets the demands of an increasingly diverse customer base is quite a challenge. Designers must keep up with cultural and social developments. In addition, they must stay informed about developments in the scientific world. This is in addition to the creative ability they must constantly mine for new and innovative ideas. Today designers often employ a number of assistants to see to the many facets of the industry, because the design itself requires a tremendous amount of creative energy. Natural talent may have set them on the trajectory of success, but well-engineered teamwork is what keeps them on it. The act of design itself takes place in a series of stages. The preliminary step may vary from one designer to another. However, the most common starting point is usually the sketch. As a two-dimensional medium, sketching has its limitations. However, it gives free reign to the artistic impulse. Often a designer’s initial concept may turn out to be something very different at the end. Some designers prefer to use the draping method, which in many ways is more realistic when envisioning the final product. The way in which material is arranged allows the designer to have a clearer plan of execution. Christian Dior has written that ‘fabrics themselves often inspire garment design. For example, the softness and drapability of a jersey might inspire gathers in a dress. Many a dress of mine is born of the fabric alone’ (Terzian 13). As for computer design, it will doubtless become more and more prevalent as newer programs are developed. Conclusion Fashion is both an industry and art. It can be defined in a number of ways, but most would agree that it is more than just ‘clothing’fashion is a concept in itself. As a barometer of cultural change, it is a key to society. For centuries, human beings have used clothing and various types of adornment to communicate messages about gender, occupation, class, and wealth. In addition, the body today has become a site of self-expression, and dress is one way in which that is accomplished. The role of the designer in the shaping of fashionable tastes is crucial. This is especially true of contemporary society. Today designers are frequently accorded celebrity status. Their names are not only status symbols they are often household words. As Gilman has noted, ‘to become someone else or to become a better version of ourselves in the eyes of the world is something we all want . . we respond to the demand of seeing and being seen (1999:3). The role played by fashion designer s, then, is crucial; their creations help us to be seen in the best light. ReferencesAddressing the Century: 100 Years of Art and Fashion. 1998. London: Hayward Gallery Publishing.Brassett, J. 2005. ‘entropy (fashion) and emergence (fashioning)’. Pp. 197209 in Fashion and Modernity, eds. Breward, C. and Evans, C. New York: Berg.Breward, C., and Evans, C., eds. 2005. Fashion and Modernity. New York: Berg.Entwistle, J. 2000. The Fashioned Body: Fashion, Dress, and Modern SocialTheory. Cambridge: Polity Press.Gilman, Sander. 1999. Making the Body Beautiful: A Cultural History of AestheticSurgery Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Jones, S. 2002. Fashion Design. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.Langer, S. 1953. Feeling and Form. New York: Charles Scribner.Taylor, L Wilson, E, Through the Looking Glass: A History of Dress From 1860 to the Present Day BBC, London, 1989Terzian, Makrouhi. 2003. Understanding Fashion Design. Lexington, MA: The Lexington Press, Inc.

To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Parallels and Differences -- Kill Mockin

To Kill a Mockingbird:   Parallels and Differences  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jill McCorkle's Ferris Beach, a contemporary novel, shares numerous characteristics with Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel written in the 1960's. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, McCorkle's novel documents the life of a young girl in a small southern town. The two narrators, Kate Burns and Scout Finch, endure difficult encounters. A study of these main characters reveals the parallels and differences of the two novels. Jill McCorkle duplicates character similarities and rape from Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird to show the reader how young girls think and develop. People throughout the world consider America the supreme country in terms of freedom. As a result of this assumption, many countries attempt to model their culture after the United States. The idea of imitating a successful organization or product exists in literature as well. Many authors write pieces of literature that modify other works they have previously read. Jill McCorkle's Ferris Beach, a contemporary novel, shares numerous characteristics with Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel written in the 1960's. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, McCorkle's novel documents the life of a young girl in a small southern town. The two narrators, Kate Burns and Scout Finch, endure difficult encounters. A study of these main characters reveals the parallels and differences of the two novels. Jill McCorkle duplicates character similarities and rape from Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird to show the reader how young girls think and develop. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout Finch represents a young southern tomboy who strives to find her identity. The adults in her town of Maycomb... ... establish a critical view towards human eccentricities.       Ferris Beach accurately extends themes of To Kill a Mockingbird and develops them in interesting ways. The incorporation of the nicknames Scout and Kitty, as well as Boo and Mr. Radley, proves Lee imposes a significant influence on McCorkle's literature. However, the author gives her main character different characteristics and encourages her to react to situations in mature fashions. Kitty's description of Mr. Radley does not seem nearly as fantastic as Scout's evaluation of Boo Radley. Similarly, the two young girls react differently to their experiences with rape. The different weaknesses Scout and Kitty share increases their ability to handle more complex situations. Jill McCorkle extends Harper Lee's themes to explore various aspects of young females and their livelihood.