Chinese Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Chinese Culture - Research Paper Example If in case any individual in a group is having opinion mismatch with that of the group, then the individual is expected to suppress the thoughts without disturbing the group's activities. (Pratt, D. D.1991) Such a practice could also be viewed as forcing a common thought upon everybody. But this is their culture and they have been practicing it for quite long years. We have to say that they got used to it. Now, in the recent past a TV show called "Super girls" has been commenced and succeeded as well. It is a talent reality show which brings out the talents of an individual to the sight of everybody by giving them a suitable platform. Another interesting fact about this show is that, it is the public who judge the show. They vote for their favorite star of the show and thus the winner is selected. But it is been condemned by the commentators that the Super girls show is kindling the individualistic feeling amidst the collectivism practitioners. Many have started protesting against the show fearing that the show may disturb the Chinese culture. But on the other hand the public started enjoying the entertainment. They are glad to vote for their stars. (Ding, Y. 2008) China is a country which always value team success. Simply speaking, they follow collectivism. They give much importance to group thoughts than the individual opinion. This practice is strictly followed by them in the name of culture. Chinese people have not practiced direct election. But recently the situation has changed because of the Super Girl show in China. It is condemned by the analysts that this show has initiated amidst people individualism. Let us discuss whether the show is really spreading individualism among the Chinese youths. The Chinese culture -A History Change - has been the most prominent factor characterizing the world of today. Every second of our life is changed as discoveries and inventions galore the place we live on. This kind of transformation is not new to the least. It has been a constant factor; right from man finding fire to the scientific revolution, travelling from bullock-carts to modern cars, from eating anything to standardizing the meal we take, the world has almost seen everything. Each change in turn was diversified among several groups of people based on their idealistic values, the ethical principles they followed and their welfare corresponding to their geographical region. These diversified changes slowly developed as cultural behavior of that particular group. Then there came a point where all the diversifications attained saturation. In the end, instead of these changes governing the cultural behavior, it turned out the direct opposite way where cultural behavior dominates the changes. (Songhua, F, n. d) For now, the cycle has turned again. It's almost a revolutionizing act if a person does the direct opposite of what their culture intends them to do. Chinese culture gives the Chinese people their basic identity. They have certain core values which are exclusive and consistent, and these are fashioned by a tradition of four thousand years of history and maintained by the same language as well. Considered to be one of the oldest cultures, the Chinese culture has a vast and traditional history. Several groups of p

A poem in which the poet creates a picture Essay Example for Free

A poem in which the poet creates a picture Essay Task-Choose a poem in which the poet creates a picture of a heroic or corrupt figure. Discuss the means by which the personality is clearly depicted. A poem in which the poet creates a picture of a corrupt figure is Porphyria’s Lover by Robert Browning. The poem written in 1837 is in the form of a dramatic monologue which helps to show the true nature of the corrupt sociopath. Throughout the poem Browning uses a series of literacy devices to help convey this idea. The form of the poem, dramatic monologue, is significant as the reader only ever experiences the speaker’s feelings and recollections of events. This forces the reader to doubt the narrator at various points throughout the poem. This form also leaves the reader believing that the situation is less straightforward than that being described. It is clear from the outset of the poem that the speaker in the poem is troubled. Through Browning’s use of pathetic fallacy in the first four lines of the poem he does not only illustrate the extreme weather conditions but also the speaker’s mind set: â€Å"It tore the elm-tops down for spite† This effectively highlights the speakers’s bitterness due to Porphyria’s failure to appear for their arranged meeting. Browning deliberately compares the speaker’s emotional condition to the weather as these are all negative emotions. The words sullen, spite and vex are the first early clues that the reader sees about the speaker’s true nature; being that of violence and aggression. The fact that the narrator is so distraught at the idea of not seeing Porphyria is the first slight indication towards his obsession with her. Also, the fact that the speaker is waiting for Porphyria immediately suggests that she in is control of their relationship; something that would have been extremely unusual and possibly slightly shocking to the Victorian audiences that the poem was written for. This idea is also suggested by the title of the poem. The title Porphyria’s Lover suggests that the speaker is dissatisfied; he wants to be more than just her Lover and feel less emasculated by her strong character. Browning also drops a hint of the speaker’s corrupt nature through the rhythm and rhyme scheme in the poem. The rhythm of the poem is iambic tetrameter which in this poem serves to create a regular pattern. The point in using this rhythm is to make the speaker seem rational, calm and normal while effectively disguising his true nature. However the Rhyme in the poem follows the scheme of ABABB. Unlike the regular, naturalistic rhythm of the poem the rhyme scheme is asymmetrical and adds intensity to the speaker’s words. This is possibly a hint to the speaker’s unstable nature and the madness within his head. The speaker’s obsession with Porphyria is developed when she eventually enters the cottage. He describes her as having â€Å"glided† in which shows she moved elegantly and gracefully. This word choice captures the speaker’s passion for Porphyria. The reader learns from the poem that she is from a higher social class than the narrator, which in turn makes the reader suspect that their relationship is a forbidden affair. However, this is left ambiguous and for the reader to decide. â€Å"straight/She shut the cold out and the storm† The poet’s use of enjambment here emphasises the power of Porphyria’s arrival and this also helps to continue the idea that she holds the dominant role in their relationship. The poet uses transferred epithet to stress the immediacy of the change in atmosphere after Porphyria’s arrival. Her practical actions represent the change in the speaker’s mind set. This example of transferred epithet effectively represents the immediate effect that Porphyria’s entrance had on the speaker. At the beginning of the story his heart was cold and his mind was stormy whereas following her entrance he feels content and calmed by her presence as she has metaphorically shut the storm out of his mind. Another aspect of the poem which would have been somewhat shocking to a Victorian audience is the unusually sexual manner in which Porphyria next behaves. She removes her outdoor clothing, lets her hair hang lose, puts her arm around the narrator, positions his head on her bare shoulder then proceeds to declare her love for him. However the narrator’s reaction to this takes the reader by surprise. A dash is used to introduce a change in tone as the speaker begins to describe Porphyria in a negative light: â€Å"Too weak, for all her heart’s endeavour† Here, Browning writes in an almost contemptuous tone. The narrator is disapproving as he believes that- although Porphyria wants nothing more than to be with him- she is unable to leave behind other ties in her life which are preventing her from being with the speaker forever. The narrator’s resentment towards these complications out-with his control is portrayed as resentment towards Porphyria and this sudden change in mood offers the first slight indication that the narrator is not mentally stable. At this point in the poem the reader does not know whether to trust all that the speaker is saying. We are shocked by the speaker’s lack of interest and lack of love towards Porphyria. However, the speaker then experiences the sudden realisation later in the poem that Porphyria worshiped him. This is a very strong emotional word which goes past simple passion and suggests he believes that he is the only thing Porphyria really cares about. It also shows that the speaker thinks of himself as almost god-like in her eyes. He is vain and narcissistic. Any sane person would be content with the declaration of love however not the speaker. The reader being sane finds his next actions even more shocking. He is not sane, he is troubled and his corrupt nature is beginning to show. The poem reaches the shocking and disturbing turning point when becomes clear that the speaker is going to strangle Porphyria: â€Å"I found\ A thing to do†.

Unity And Diversity In The New Testament Religion Essay

Unity And Diversity In The New Testament Religion Essay The author of this article on Unity and Diversity in the New Testament, D. A. Carson, develops a reflection in defending the unity of the New Testament having in consideration the diversity of it. He starts his reflection by describing and then criticizing some works done by others scholars to be able to state his position on the matter. One of the works was the book Orthodoxy and Heresy in Earliest Christianity written by W. Bauer, which Carson strongly criticizes because of his abandonment of the New Testament based on disagreement of the existence of the first century church (66). According to Carson, this critical reconstruction of early church history, coupled with other developments that equally depreciate the truthfulness of the New Testament have generated a host of writings exploring the nature of New Testament theology (67). Carson proposes that systematic theology and biblical theology are necessary for the understanding of such unity in the New Testament even when there i s diversity. Contribution to the Idea of Doing Biblical Theology Carson defines biblical theology as the branch of theology whose concern it is to study each corpus of the Scripture in its own right, especially with respect to its place in history of Gods unfolding revelation (69). For him it is very important to his readers to know that biblical theology has played an important role in the development of the unity of the New Testament because of the historical facts that go with it. On the other hand, Carson defines systematic theology as the branch of theology that seeks to elaborate the whole and the parts of Scripture (69). In my analysis, I noticed that systematic theology has to do with logical instead of historical links. However, I also noticed that there is a connection between biblical theology and systematic theology. Carson asserted, biblical theology must be systematic; even if it focuses on the historical place and significance of each corpus; and systematic theology, if it turns on fair exegesis, must perforce rely on historical considerations (70). In my understanding, it seems that the author is emphasizing the need for unity in the New Testament to be able to apply either biblical or systematic theologies. In Carsons criticism, he cites the works of J.D.G. Dunn especially the kerigma of Jesus (72). Not only does Dunn develop the idea of the use of the kerigma but also the use of the Old Testament manuscripts, other worship concepts, and the study of the life of Christ. However, Dunn excludes the evidence in the Gospel of John. He eliminates the kerigma. He avoids discussing about this topic. On the other hand, Carson asserts that the factor that determines the unity of the New Testament is the person of Jesus as a man and Jesus as the glorified one and concludes that there was diversity among the Christians in the first century (72). He disagrees, as do I, about Dunns conclusion that Jesus was not, in His own teaching, the object of faith (74). No wonder Carson labels Dunns book as superficial (77). In spite of all of his criticism to Dunns works, the author switches viewpoints to discuss the importance of systematic theology in being coherent to the culture or context being studied. In this sense, he develops four positions to back up his statements. The first position is that the Scripture is faithful and historically testable (79). The second position is that the laws of logic help in the integration of knowledge and communication of the truth (80). The third position is that systematic theology requires documentation to deal with the Bible topics (81). The last position is that systematic theology needs to have biblical data including the sixty-six books of the canon (82). He also discusses the topic of diversity in the New Testament characterized by synthesizing the truth found in the Bible in contemporary terms (83), and the distinction of how a writer records and interpret that truth (84). In addition, the diversity also includes the own personal interests and ideologies of the writers, which means that two authors could be talking about the same topic but with different words and writing styles. Implications for My Ministry The author helped me to understand the differences between biblical and systematic theology and the importance in applying correct methodology when analyzing biblical texts. He showed me through this article that exegesis interacts with biblical theology; biblical theology interacts with historical theology; and historical theology interacts with systematic theology. All of them interact with each other. Another implication in my ministry is that I need to teach the Scripture and transmit to my congregation and youth group that it is trustworthy. In addition, I need to legitimize that there is harmony in both theologies, biblical and systematic theologies. This understanding will help me to have a better interpretation of biblical passages. Finally, something that I learned from D.A. Carson is to have a broad analysis and criticism about works of other authors in order to make the truth be revealed through the processes involved in systematic theology. This analysis will help me to think critically with the purpose of deciphering truth.

Gimpel :: Essays Papers

Gimpel In the short stories ‘Gimpel the Fool† and â€Å"Death of a Traveling Salesman† we meet two characters that are vastly different and yet very similar. One is Gimpel, a naà ¯ve Jew living in Russia that is the joke of the town, Frampol. The other is R.J. Bowman, a traveling salesman, who is judgmental and rather suspicious about most things. Bowman in the story is very sick and has had a car accident where he needs to retrieve his car from a ditch and receives help from a couple that lives in the area. The two are very similar in that they both change in personality, Bowman becomes less cynical and suspicious by being helped, while Gimpel becomes much less naà ¯ve by being neglected and mistreated. Gimpel is portrayed by Singer as a role model, while is sharp contrast Welty depicts Bowman as the opposite, who realizes his inequities too late. In the Gimpel story, Singer presents the main character in a fashion that the reader is very sympathetic for him. The stereo typical â€Å"nerd†, an outcast that is rejected society. Gimpel is troubled by the hecklers that antagonize him and often seeks help. â€Å"I went to the rabbi to get some advice. He said, â€Å"It is written, better to be a fool all your days than for one hour be evil.† (Singer 197) The rabbis are the only ones in the story who don’t deceive Gimpel. Gimpel is forced into a marriage to with Elka a sinful woman, with a nasty mouth. â€Å"They were afraid to start anything with Elka. Her mouth would open as if it were on a hinge, and she had a fierce tongue.† (Singer 197) Gimpel is quite aware of her notoriety. â€Å"I cried, â€Å"you’re wasting your time. I’ll never marry that whore.† Gimpel sees marriage as an escape in being the town’s joke so he weds Elka. He loves Elka though she neglects him and cheats on him his love stands. This is a possible allusion to the book of Hosea. His character is also evident in the fact that he loves children that he knows are not his. Though he is treated bad he is still thankful for his family, showing his humbleness. â€Å"†¦I am a man, the husband of a fine wife, the father of promising children.

Dynamics Of Globalization Essay

Liberalism usually refers to a wide range of associated ideologies, political traditions, philosophical views and doctrines which oftentimes emphasize individual rights and advocates individual liberty. Liberalism seeks a society distinguished by a freedom of thought for individuals. Embedding it globally of course would propose both advantages and disadvantages which definitely should be weighed first. A body thus is necessary, to weight these advantages and disadvantages, which is comprised of people who don’t â€Å"act† but rather implement for the benefit of a greater number of people if not all without disregarding their freedom. The proposed or depicted main drivers of the anti-globalization backlash should be taken into account before its implementation or execution and certain measures should be done to avoid them, if not totally remove them. The first backlash, the highly unequal distribution of benefits of globalization may be unfair to countries that cannot stand up on its own or is taken advantage of by larger or dominating countries. Globalization may be seen as a way to pursue self-interests and personal goals of one country to the other. It is the objective of the body to make sure that the benefit is received by a larger number of people, if not all. If the body performs poorly and does not overcome the first backlash, then the second backlash may arise and complications would start to pile up. The second backlash, which is activated by a growing imbalance in global rule making, places the implementation of globalization under the scrutiny of all involving countries. It is necessary to create a body that favors the needs of all involving countries and creates programs or projects that negates the first backlash of globalization. The policy or rule-making body or Union of selected countries which was created, must weigh all the needs and woes of the all the countries before creating a rule. Globalization places people at a stand where they are at greater vulnerability in terms of economic instability and social dislocation, sometimes at lightning speed, by unfamiliar and unpredictable forces. The policy or rule-making body or Union should be able to at least create precautionary measures or after measures regarding the unpredictable forces and be able to disseminate information regarding the globalization to the people in order for them to be less vulnerable if not totally invulnerable to economic instability and social dislocation. Globalization, would affect the veracity or integrity of cultures and power of states in one way or the other. Moreover, people would most-likely be confused whether who to turn for when they start to look for jobs or turn to when they need to be heard regarding their woes and needs. It is again the job of the Union to see to it that the people are taken care of and not taken for granted. It is their responsibility to give better and more jobs as globalization starts to be implemented and rise. For an effective globalization, there should be an effective or even distribution of power and benefit, fair global rule making, better information dissemination, greater employment rate, and less vulnerability to economic instability and culture disintegration. As such, a policy or rule-making body of selected countries or representative of all the countries should be created to ensure effective globalization. Kofi Annan’s Global Compact may be able to meet the challenges of globalization and serve as the body that might solve the problem of the backlashes stated. The Global Compact, announced by Kofi Annan in an address to The World Economic Forum on January 31, 1999, is a program to promote businesses globally to assume sustainable and publicly responsible and accountable policies or guidelines, and to account and report on them. Under the Global Compact, companies are conveyed together with labor groups, civil societies and United Nation agencies. The Global Compact, upon its initiation or opening consisted of more than 3,300 companies from all regions of the world and also includes a smaller number of international labor and civil society organizations. The Global Compact, though not a regulatory body, is a forum for dialogues and debates and a system for communication and a pool of messages including governments. It would seek to influence and persuade companies and stand for the stakeholders of civil society organizations. The Global Compact’s objectives are deliberately and purposely flexible and sometimes vague, but it distinguishes the subsequent channels through which it gives facilitation and promotes dialogue. Furthermore, Kofi Annan’s Global Compact has ten principles. These ten principles help in addressing 3 aspects namely, human rights, labor standards, environment and anti-corruption. Globalization’s negative effects or backlashes such as those with regards income, employment, identity and accountability, can be addressed and aided. An example of principle where liberalism is embedded is the principle regarding labor standards. Global Compact states that there is freedom or liberty of organization or union and the effective acknowledgment of the right to collective bargaining. Furthermore, there is the removal of all forms of forced and obligatory labor. Embedding liberalism indeed may help, but I believe that the Global Compact would be is needed and may serve as initiator of an effective Globalization. REFERENCE: Ruggie, John Gerard. â€Å"Taking Embedded Liberalism Global: The Corporate Connection. † (2003).

buy custom America’s Destiny essay

buy custom America’s Destiny essay America was still a very young country which had gone through war in 1812 and it had a strong sense of nationalism and boasted because it had no restraint of any kind and was not concerned with the consequences of its actions. This was an indication that the country was headed for conflict. In the mid 1800s America forged its way westward based on the popular Manifest Destiny which was a popular belief that it was Americas destiny to expand across Texas towards the pacific coast (SparkNotes, 2009). In the 1820s Americans occupied the Texas region which was a Mexican territory and by the 1830s about 7000 Americans lived in Texas outnumbering the Hispanic settlers in the ratio of two to one which was a high rate. This drew cold blood between the Mexican Government and the Americans and to make the affairs more constrained the Americans declared their independence from the Mexican dictatorship. People trailed to the west into the Oregon country (Sparknotes.Com, 2009). They were escaping the American rule they and part of the settlers were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in upstate New York, the Mormon Church attempted to revive the pure Christianity they believed had once existed in aboriginal America. Because of their unorthodox beliefs and practices the Mormons suffered persecution. Their prophet Joseph Smith was murdred and then they were sent even farther to the west and they were led by Brigham Young in a trek fr om Illinois to the great salt lake valley then to the land that they called Deseret had been absorbed by the United States at the conclusion of heir war and they regarded the continent their birthright. Aggression with Great Britain This is where the American conquest to expand to the west created a confrontation with Great Britain and A war with Mexico. In the book by Paul S. Boyer, et.al they say that the Americans expanded by use of force when the first president of Texas Sam Houston said that the Indians and the Mexicans had to give way to their Mighty March. It say the n after the election of President James K. Polks administration (1845- 1849) the United States increased its land area by 50 percent. The book says that it negotiated Britain out of the vast Oregon territory and fought a war only with Mexico. But in the further research we see that the Americans caused a stir when they chose John Tyler as vice president so as to get southern votes on the Whig ticket. But the Whig leaders never expected him to rise to full position of president in 1841. By 1944 Tyler had broken with the Whig party and his hopes for re election in 1844 were placed on a new finding and popular issue. He began pushing for the ann exation of Texas a topic very popular with the southern people, but the North was indifferent and was not supporting the idea of adding a new slave state. Tyler negotiated a treaty of annexation with Texas but it was failed by the senate. The Democratic decided to nominate James K. Polk of Tennessee, who was also in favor of annexing Texas. In order to win the Northern support, Polk promised to extend United States borders all over the country of Oregon. This resulted in his victory over the Whig candidate Henry Clay but narrowly. But this turn of events was interpreted by the congress and Polk as a go ahead to implement expansion. They annexed Texas before the inauguration of Polk as President (Paul S. Boyer, et.al 2008). The Oregon conquest The definite reason why America nearly went to war with Britain was the Oregon Question and Polk. The Ownership of Oregon as a country drew heated sides and Polk was willing to split the area wit h England. The demands by the American Public for the whole territory angered the British the more in the long run they refused to negotiate with him. In 1846 Polk notified Great Britain that the United States could not agree to share or to joint occupation and England prepared for war but also proposed the division of the area in a treaty that the senate approved. The North condemned Polk for having not persisted in his demand for Oregon. After the war of words Great Britain shared Oregon with Texas. Buy custom America’s Destiny essay