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The Curve in American Society

Social inequality is present in our society today and dates back through history. A social inequality

suggest that certain parts of society are valued higher than other parts. Social and economic classes

contribute most to social inequalities in America. Social classes are defined by three main

characteristics: wealth, power, and prestige. These defining characteristics shape and mold America

into unequal social standings, and are a huge concern in today's society. To eliminate these issues,

America needs to recognize and address the problems within social and economic classes.

The term power has many definitions and characteristics, but in the context of society the

meaning is the ability to have a high effect categorizing people's place in society. In America,

individuals that obtain a lot of power are generally involved with either business, political, or military

leaders. The select groups of people who are powerful can influence change and install restrictions

on other to make themselves superior to the majority of society. Through controlling the economy,

they have the ability to monopolize, or put restrictions on resources (Sowell). By doing this, they can

keep the wealthy in their upstanding positions and the poor in an inferior class. Military leaders have

the most control over society because they can reinforce inequalities by using weapons, and military

force (Sowell). They use their force to keep standing society maintained and ignorant to the

disadvantages some people face.

Prestige is defined "as your social standing in front of other people to do with wealth and job

occupation" (Webster). People who acquire jobs that require a higher level of education and training

are held in high regards in America's society. Individuals who have a large income are also held in

high standings. For instance, American presidents are of high prestige because they are the head of

our government, and have such a strong influence on our society. This gives them immeasurably

amounts of power which allows them to remain at the highest political position in our country (Hurst).

Wealth is a huge part of an individuals economic and social standing in America. Individuals with

a wealthy background are given more opportunities, and generally have a chance for higher

education to maintain their high standings. People who are of high financial standings are able to

stay wealthy because they can invest in valuable property, or things that will increase because they

do not have the financial stability. This ensures that the wealthy will remain so and the poor will not

have the ability to climb the social ladder. The statistics confirming this inequality are extensive. In

1999,over 34 million people in the United States were poor by government standards and almost forty

percent of these were children under eighteen years of age (Hurst). Hard work does not always lift

the poor out of poverty. Some five million poor children live in homes in which both parents work full

time. On the other hand, those at the very top grasping power have done well. Business Week

reported that in 1999 the average CEO compensation as a large company was 419 times that of the

average factory worker (Sowell). Wealth is one of the main reason for social inequalities in America. It

is not the issue with having money, but rather the opportunities that are given to the wealthy that

are not available to poor households.

Social inequalities are a major problem in today's society, and the main cause of these

inequalities is the division of separation of social classes. Inequality is present and affects everyone

at all stages of life. Power has a lot of influences on the separation of individuals, and unfair

treatment of people from different classes.Wealth keeps social classes and inequalities present in our

society by not allowing opportunities for people of all economic backgrounds. Prestige influences both

wealth and power by defining our social backgrounds. Prestige influences both wealth and power by

defining our social standing by the amount of income, and how we are perceived by other members

of society (Hurst). Social inequality almost becomes inevitable when America is surrounded in a

capitalist society that stresses competition and individual success (Sowell). As a result our society

that stresses competition and individual success (Sowell). As a result or society becomes divided into

sections of disparity and distinction.


WORKS CITED

Hurst, E. Charles: Social Inequality; Forms, Causes, and Consequences.
Publisher Allyn and Macon, Copyright May 12, 2006

Sowell, Thomas: Race, Culture and Equality in America
Publisher Russel Sage Foundation. Copyright July 2004

A Doll

I was a brand new little baby lying in my mother's hands nameless. My grandmother and my mother starting at

me with this blank look, like I was supposed to shout out a name. My mother looked at me and first said the name

Elisiana, I started crying. Maybe if I was in Mexico, I could see it fitting me a little bit better; however, I was in

California. Then my mom though of the most popular name among her dolls when she was little, and that was

Jennifer. So my mother said the name Jennifer, while she stared into my eyes. After she said that name I stopped

crying and a tiny smile appeared. So there it was, my name, Jennifer, imprinted onto my birth certificate, after my

mother's favorite name to call her dolls.

A name given to an individual right when born, with thought of no thought. The name that is chosen for a child will

fave a profound effect on his or her life; possibly even influence a child's popularity. There are many different

categories of names' such a classic names, family names, popular names, unisex names, and religious names.

The name Jennifer that I was given, certainly falls under the category of popular names. During the early seventies,

the name Jennifer was number one for a girl's name till about the late seventies-early eighties. Considering why my

mom probably name her dolls, Jennifer.

My mother picked out my first name, but my grandmother insisted on picking out my middle name, which was

Morgan because she simply adored that name. However, my middle name and my first name go together, without

even being planned, which is very neat. My first name, Jennifer, is a Welsh adopted and Frenchified to Guinevere

by the Normand meaning white wave. My middle name, Morgan, means by the sea, all together my name meaning

white wave by the sea. My name all came together at the end because right when my mother was nine months

pregnant she moved to San Diego with my grandmother because she really wanted to raise my in this city, so

her I am the white wave by the sea.

Growing up with my name, and meeting other people with the same name as me, I found "Jenifer" to be more

of a valley girl type. A valley girl means a spoiled, mindless San Fernando Valley girl who lives to shop and has a

meaningless life. This stereotype simply developed with the interaction among other girls I met, but I found out I am

definitely not one of those valley girls. Moreover, nineteen years with my name, there are many ways to chop, mix,

and scramble Jennifer. Most commonly over time my name has come down to, Jenny (with a 'Y' not a 'I'). Though

if someone wants to be proper, or my mom is mad at me, my name is Jennifer. As far as nicknames go, I get a lot

most commonly "Jennnaaay" from Forest Gump the movie. However, other people call me sometimes just call me by

my last name.

The name Jennifer seems hard to say if it defines and reflects me through everyone else eyes. I grew up with

this name since I was born, so having another name would seem very strange. However, I still wonder if 'Jennifer' is

the name that people would really see me as. When people think of Jennifers, do they think of people like me?

Thus, I cannot truly answer if I define the name Jennifer, because the Jennifers I have met are definitely nothing like

me. Nevertheless, that is what makes the world so creative, each characteristics brought by each name. Do not get

me wrong, I have though about changing my name a little more un-common, such as Sophia, or maybe I could

change my middle name to Nicole, because the name Jennifer has about a ninety-three percent popularity.

However, at this moment in time I would not want to change my name, because my name creates me as a unique

individual. At time I feel my name has sometimes drawn more beauty to me. Even though my name may not be

unique, there are a lot of beautiful actresses name Jennifer, which makes my name and the actresses all click to

memory at the same time.

The name Jennifer which I have been raised up with has created a whole entire different perspective on this

name, instead of my stereotypical image. My own definition of Jennifer has become a successful, striving,

independent woman. The definition may come off a little cocky, but I feel the name Jennifer, which I have created and

defined, has become a woman through many struggles, but soon will become a successful woman who has defeated

many obstacles. So in that sense of definition and reflection, I feel I truly do try to fulfill that meaning. "Jennifer" now

has created me as an individual, and I have learned ti love and adapt to the beautiful name my mother has given me.

To conclude, one can take the meaning of the name Jennifer, white wave valley girl who lies out on the beach by the

waves, or the powerful and thrusting wave itself, going through the cycle of crashing but re-born and roaring with

determination over and over again.

Eva Pater

The Not-So-Gentle Side of Dolphins

The mythical stereotype of dolphins as always good-natured, gentle, playful and kind has been present in various human cultures since ancient times. It is likely that it is the dolphins’ permanent “smile” that makes people perceive them in such a positive light. The myths and legends of their inquisitive and friendly attitude towards humans certainly contributed to the stereotype greatly. It is also additionally strengthened by stories of their altruistic actions to help other animals and humans as well. Recent scientific observations do not support that stereotype however. It turns out dolphins can be quite mean, devious and even brutal when dealing with other dolphins (Connor, p. 124).

It was the research carried out in the 1980s in Monkey Mia, near Shark Bay in Western Australia that gave scientists valuable insight into the dolphin society. Americans Rachel Smolker, Richard Connor and Andrew Richards, among others, spent several years in Monkey Mia observing bottlenose dolphins and recording their day to day activities, behavior and interactions both with each other and with humans. They discovered that dolphins form very unique social relationships: male bottlenose dolphins always travel in pairs or triplets and those alliances seem to be life-long, whereas females do not form such bonds and travel in groups that are more fluid (Smolker, p. 139).

The male alliances showed to be very useful to males when they tried to take advantage of females and when fighting with other dolphins. One example of herding an unwilling female was observed by Rachel and Richard on one of the usual, hot and sunny days in Monkey Mia. The researchers saw three male dolphins that they knew very well swim near the shore. They were Snubby, Sicle and Bibi who were often seen there together, but this time there were two other dolphins with them: a female with an infant. The males seemed to be escorting the female, always staying close to her. Suddenly, the female turned and started swimming fast, apparently trying to get away. The males followed immediately in what Richard Connor described as a “hot pursuit” (p.125). As they closed in on the female they began splashing and trashing and produced loud popping sounds. The female’s escape was unsuccessful because she was smaller and slower than the males, and she had an infant to worry about. She was quickly brought back to the shore by the males. A little while later she tried to escape again, and again the males chased after her with much aggression and brought her back to shore.

The researchers were confused having observed how tense and violent the males were. At that point, like most people, they thought the dolphins to be gentle and good-natured creatures. It was rather difficult for them to accept that the dolphins were not playing, that obviously they had a darker side. They continued their observations.

On August 19th, 1988, another event took place that gave the researchers another insight into dolphins’ not-so-gentle side. It was a clear and calm morning and Rachel, Richard and Andrew were planning to take a boat out into deeper waters. Before doing that they decided to take a walk to the beach and see what the dolphins in the shallows were up to that morning. They could see from the distance that there was a lot of commotion in the water. Something was up.

“Holeyfin is back, and the guys are pretty keen on her,” a park ranger they ran into close to the beach informed them. The “guys” were Snubby, Bibi and Sickle. They were swimming around Holeyfin with a lot of splashing and excitement. They were rubbing against her and showing off their tricks in front of her. It became clear to the researchers that she was being herded by the males.

Rachel, Richard and Andrew shared the dolphins’ excitement realizing that they were given another opportunity for observation of dolphins’ unique behavior. They got their equipment out and got busy recording what they were seeing. Rachel was using a hydrophone to record the dolphin vocalizations and Richard was speaking as fast as he could to the tape recorder.

For several minutes the triplet continued their display of power and agility keeping the researchers’ attention. It was not until the dolphin activity subsided for a moment, when the researchers noticed that there were other dolphins around. They were Trips and Bite, two males who normally traveled with another male Cetus. They were bobbing on the surface giving an impression of being at rest. Their heads, however, turned and bodies adjusted as they were clearly making note of what was going on. They tried not to show it, but they were quite interested in all the excited activity.

After about half an hour, Trips and Bite left and headed offshore. Richard had a feeling that they were up to something and decided to follow them in his boat. Rachel and Andrew stayed in the shallows and continued to watch Snubby, Sickle and Bibi harass Holeyfin.

Not much time passed when Richard announced over the radio: “Look out, here we come!” He was coming back towards the shore with five dolphins in front of his boat. And then, as Rachel Smolker put it “the hell broke loose” (p.157).

The shallows became a scene of true chaos. Through her hydrophone Rachel could hear what she described as nasty growling and grunting sounds. Dolphins were furiously charging around. Snubby, Sickle, Bibi and Holeyfin took off at great speed but the rest pursued after them very closely. Richard’s boat followed and several minutes later Richard gave the rest of the anxiously waiting researchers a report.

“This is like science-fucking-fiction!” he yelled excitedly over the radio. “Trips and Bite went out north and joined up with Cetus, and then the three of them joined with Realnotch and Hi, who are herding Munch. Then all of them together came steaming straight back in here and stole Holeyfin from Snubnose, Bibi and Sicklefin. She’s with them now” (Smolker, p.158).

Richard also saw that the defeated triplet charge the victorious group once again after they started swimming away from the shallows, but it was enough for the larger group to simply turn around and give them a stare and the three gave up. Snubby, Bibi and Sickle soon came back to the shallows and found consolation in being fed huge amounts of fish by the tourists.

Having witnessed the fight, Rachel, Richard and Andrew no longer had any doubt in their mind. Dolphins can be aggressive and unkind to each other. Later in their research, they observed more examples of dolphin aggression and witnessed appearance of new bite marks on some dolphins’ bodies after similar battles.

In addition to the observations recorded in Shark Bay, there also have been some reports of dolphins’ violent behavior towards humans when, for example, the animals strike boats as if with an intention of capsizing them. Moreover, in contrary to often cited stories of dolphins saving humans from sharks, Toni Frohoff, an expert in the study of swim-with-the-dolphin programs, says it happened that the dolphins she was observing abandoned her and actually left her in the company of sharks (Frohoff, p.67).

The fact that those always “smiling” and seemingly friendly animals have the dark side to them may be disturbing to some people, but they need to realize that dolphins are just like any other species on this planet. They are complex wild animals whose behavior, as far as we know, is governed both by their intelligence and their instincts. The fact that they may sometimes behave according to rules different than what humans consider politically correct should not affect our appreciation for them. The dolphin society rules are simply different than those of humans. Plus, nobody in this world is perfect anyway.


Works Cited

Connor, Richard C., and Dawn Micklethwaite Peterson. The Lives of Whales and Dolphins. 1st ed. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1996.

Frohoff, Toni, and Brenda Peterson, eds. Between Species. 1st ed. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 2003.

Smolker, Rachel. To Touch a Wild Dolphin. 1st ed. New York: Random House, 2001.

Eva Pater

Smigus Dyngus – The Wet Monday


Rooted in pagan ritual of purification and once forbidden by the Catholic Church, the tradition of Smigus Dyngus survived through centuries and keeps on thriving in modern Poland. The tradition is deeply associated with the Catholic holiday of Easter and is widely carried out on Easter Monday. The custom involves people soaking each other with water and it has two versions nowadays: one gentle and home-based, and the other rather unpleasant when full buckets and large water balloons are dumped on innocent people just trying to get from place to place on that day.

Although the origins of the custom are not certain, it is commonly believed that Smigus Dyngus is a pagan tradition handed down from the earliest settlers in Poland. It was “an ancient spring rite of cleansing, purification and fertility” (Krysa). Dousing with water and switching with pussy willow branches was practiced in order to cleanse oneself and make oneself pure and worthy of the coming year. In early Middle Ages, the Church discouraged the practices and in 1400s, during Wladyslaw Jagiello’s reign, they were even forbidden (Polish Parish Luton/Dunstable website). Despite that, the custom survived. It is likely that later on the Church simply adopted the holiday and that is why it is celebrated during Easter. Many celebrations around the world that were considered pagan were adopted by the Church in the past. The reason behind that was that it made it easier for the Church to convert people if its holidays were similar to what those prospective new members were familiar with (Thompson, p.5).

As first recorded writings on Smigus Dyngus from Middle Ages state, it was practiced universally, both among the common folk and the noblemen. The men would invade houses and rooms where women slept. They sometimes entered through chimneys or windows if the men living in the house did not let them in. Then they woke the women abruptly by soaking them with water. Not much was left dry in the surroundings. It is hard to imagine the experience would be pleasant for the women; they were happy to get drenched, however, as according to a common belief those who remained dry would not marry that year. The following day, on Tuesday, the women would pay the men back in kind (Garczynski).

Smigus Dyngus is still a very common and lively tradition in modern Poland. It is joyfully practiced probably in every home, and most certainly in every home where children live. Typically, at homes people use smaller amounts of water, less than cupfuls, or they employ small squirt guns being careful not to soak the pillows, comforters, carpets or furniture. At some homes, and it was the case with my grandparents’ home, perfume is used instead of water. My family often spent Christmas and Easter at my grandparents’ and I remember my grandmother graciously waking me up on Easter Monday morning by spraying some delicate perfume on me saying: “Smigus Dyngus!” She used the old-fashioned bottle with a rubber pump. It was quite nice to be woken up in that way.

The situation is very different outside during that day. A lot of people go to church and unfortunately are often drenched on the way by teenage boys running around and dumping bucketfuls of water on their victims. In general, they do seem to have some respect for the elderly and try to soak only the younger and the able. However, it also happens that no discretion applies when a water balloon or a plastic bag filled with water is thrown off a balcony or a roof of a building and soaks the unlucky passersby. In the recent decades, Smigus Dyngus seems to have become a rather significant problem in larger cities, because there are numerous angry and disrespectful hooligans out there with large amounts of water. They often keep together in large bands and do not care who their victims are. They have no respect for their age, health, clothes or other property. They will even dump large bucketfuls of water on people who are getting out of their cars, soaking both the people and the interior of their vehicles. There also have been reports of hooligans invading public transportation and dumping water on people inside, endangering the health and safety of many.

It is worth noting that usually it is rather cold in Poland during Easter. The holiday falls either in March or April and it is rare that the temperatures would get in the sixties at that time. It is also often cloudy, sometimes drizzly or raining. As anyone can imagine it must be a very unpleasant experience to get soaked with cold water when it is chilly outside and one is wearing warm clothes trying to stay warm.

It is unfortunate that anger and frustration of hooligans found their outlet in this innocent tradition. Generally though, people remain hopeful that the problem is only temporary and with proper law enforcement and economic growth, there will be fewer hooligans and those who remain will be out of the streets. Going to church on Easter Monday, they hope, will not be a cause of distress to anyone in near future. They continue to focus on the fun and more gentle aspect of the holiday and still enjoy it greatly.


Works Cited

“Dyngus Smigus” Polish Parish Luton/Dunstable 2007
http://www.ppld.co.uk/en/easter_dyngus.htm
Garczynski, Stan. “Smigus – Dyngus”, PGST News Spring 1994, Vol. XI No.1
http://pgsa.org/traditions.htm#10
Krysa, Czeslaw. ”The Origins of Dyngus Day”, Polish American Journal 2004
http://www.polamjournal.com/polka/dyngus.html
Thompson, Sue Ellen. Holiday Symbols. 2nd ed. Detroit, MI: Omniographics, 2000

Global Warning

Alex Bellus
April 22, 2007
English 101
Global Warning

The topic of global warming was created in 1896 by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius. The claim was that fossil fuel combustion, the burning and chemical change of things such as coal or oil for energy, could eventually lead to enhanced global warming. The idea was tucked away for later research and pretty much forgotten about until the second half of the 20th century. In 1955, Gilbert Plass concluded that “adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere would intercept infrared radiation that is otherwise lost to space, warming the earth” [Lenntech]. This theory has now become known as the greenhouse effect.

The debate between whether or not global warming actually exists did not become internationally popular until 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister of the UK [DALY]. In 1988, it was observed that the climate was warmer than any period since the late 19th century. In 2002, data proved that the ten warmest years on record all occurred before 1990 [Lenntech]. As the data gathered and popularity grew on the subject, more and more scientists began to research the topic. Many believe that all evidence leads to disaster within a century. Others believed that the climate change is completely normal and has occurred many times in the past. This leads to the other extreme of the debate, the people who believe that life best continue as is. Some of these people even believe that the warming created by the fossil fuel combustion would be beneficial. Whether or not the greenhouse effect is the cause of the recent temperature increase on Earth, there should be precautions taken in order to secure the safety of our future generations. If we continue to pollute the atmosphere around us at an exponentially increasing rate, there is no question that there will be very harmful effects sometime in the future.

"Global air temperatures as measured by land-based weather stations show an increase of about 0.45 degrees Celsius over the past century. This may be no more than normal climatic variation. Several biases in the data may be responsible for some of this increase" (Accuweather). One half of a degree may not seem very significant, but if the reason for this increase is in fact due to the greenhouse effect, this number will rise exponentially if we do not do something to stop the warming. In 2001, the National Academy of Sciences released a report that said, "Greenhouse gases are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing surface air temperatures and subsurface ocean temperatures to rise. Temperatures are, in fact rising. The changes observed over the last several decades are likely mostly due to human activities, but we cannot rule out that some significant part of these changes are also a reflection of natural variability" [Globalwarming.org]. The report also predicts that the Earth will warm approximately 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the 21st century. If this did happen, I believe everyone would be a little more concerned. However, the fact is that if we wait until the serious effects of possible global warming start, it will be too late. The destruction would be catastrophic. The report and its estimate of temperature change seem very extreme to me, as they do to most people. Nonetheless, most scientists seem pretty confident that global warming is at least beginning to occur. Whether or not global warming would have a serious effect on the Earth’s population in the immediate future, there are many precautions that everyone can take in order to reduce and even completely eliminate the risk.

Since global warming affects the entire Earth, as its name suggests, the entirety of the population must work together in order to fight possible serious effects of global warming and the greenhouse effect. Some examples are simple and could help enormously if everyone tried to make them work. The most obvious way to reduce emissions is using an effective system of public transportation. For now, in the United States, this is considered an unrealistic objective because public transportation is much less convenient than forms of private transportation. In order to work properly, public bus, train, trolley, airplane, and boat transportation would have to be improved immensely. This includes making much more regular timetables and making the form of public transportation more comfortable and pleasing. Unfortunately, the initial cost of this infrastructure would be enormous. As Americans, we are spoiled and must give up some pleasures in order to ensure the safety and security of the world’s population in the future. We must try to conserve energy as much as possible in order to make a large dent in fossil fuel use. This includes simple, yet inconvenient measures such as turning out lights when not in use, using as little hot water as possible, and turning to other forms of power.

The largest way we could make a difference in the fight against global warming lies in another form of power, also known as green power. “Examples of green power include wind and solar energy, hydropower and biomass energy” [LENNTECH]. Unlike electricity, green power comes from renewable energy sources. Once again, the initial cost of setting up the infrastructures that would allow green power to work effectively would be immense. However, once working, green power could save governments an amazing amount of money while providing efficient and never-ending energy. “Consumers pay for renewable energy, but government funds may prevent prices from becoming much higher than those of fossil fuel energy” [LENNTECH]. Another possible, more cost-effective way of preventing further global warming could be nuclear energy. Although considered very dangerous, it may bring the world out of its energy slump. “Nuclear scores high on its low CO2 emissions, but it loses out by leaving a nasty legacy: its high-level radioactive waste needs to be secured for tens of thousands of years. Despite 40 years of assurances from the nuclear industry that this is an engineering problem no one has solved it. And it scarcely makes sense to generate more waste when we cannot dispose of what we already have [TRUTHOUT]. The world must face the fact that no matter what road we take in order to fight global warming, there is no completely safe method that doesn’t have its risks. However, if global warming continues, the world as we know it may come to a halting stop.

The beginning effects of global warming has started. “News about melting glaciers and ice caps and endangered polar bears have had a huge impact on our psyche” [NEWSBLOGS]. It is very sad to think that things can only get worse from here. As of right now, we are at the stage where we are first noticing the major climate change associated with global warming. If this climatic change continues, there will be a major impact on human and other natural animal systems. Once this occurs, our socio-economic development will take a turn for the worst (www.lenntech.com/greenhouse-effect/IPCC-SRES-scenarios-consequences.htm). This doesn’t even take in account the huge sea-level changes that could occur imminently if we do not stop global warming. “The IPCC predicts that sea levels will rise by about 18 cm by 2040 and by about 48 cm by 2100 in the most extreme case. Sea level rise is stated to be caused by thermal expansion of seawater, storm surges and rising and falling of land in coastal regions. The sea level rise may seem small, but there are countries where the larger part of the population currently lives on land that will be flooded if these projections are correct. Moisture changes will occur fast compared to changes in the past, and consequentially ecosystems will be destabilized” [LENNTECH].

The time has come for everyone to step up as a whole and try to do something about this impending doom. While it is possible that some scientists and advocates who don’t believe the climate is changing because of burning fossil fuels could be correct, there is more and more evidence piling up against this view. There are measure that can be taken to secure the future of our entire population and completely get rid of the risk of major climate change due to global warming. While projections of future temperatures and sea levels are just estimates, computers are telling us that we are at risk right now. The questions being asked now are how fast the climate will change and how fast the seas will rise. Even though there is no sure answer to this question, there is one thing that is certain. Once the seas rise and our population begins to die out, it will be too late.

RESOURCES:
www.lenntech.com [LENNTECH]
www.globalwarming.org [GLOBAL WARMING]
www.accuweather.com [ACCUWEATHER]
www.truthout.org [TRUTHOUT]
www.john-daly.com [DALY]
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/ [NEWSBLOGS]

April Fools' Day- The Day That Never Existed

Alex Bellus
March 5, 2007
English 101

April Fools’ Day- The Day That Never Existed

The origin of April Fools’ Day, also known as All Fools’ Day, is much disputed. What is generally believed, however, is that the day marks the end of the celebrations of the vernal equinox. The vernal equinox began on the old New Years Day, March 25, and ended on April 1, the day the New Year was celebrated. The customs and traditions of April Fools’ Day have changed a good amount since the day first started, thanks to the French. In fact, April Fools’ Day is celebrated differently in countries around the world. In Great Britain, there were general festivals held on April 1 to celebrate April Fools’ Day since the end of the 16th century. However, the day did not become well-known until the beginning of the 18th century. In France, the person being fooled is known as the poisson d'avri. This explanation comes from the fact that the April sun quits the zodiacal sign of the fish. Sometimes, French schoolchildren will still tape a picture of a fish on their schoolmates’ backpacks to celebrate the holiday. In Scottland, the persons being fooled were actually cuckoos, a common European bird. For this reason, the day was known as “Hunting the gowk,” or “April-Gawks.” In the Netherlands, on April 1, 1572, the Geuzen took over the coastal town of Den Briel. This event started an uprising against the Spanish across the Netherlands. On April 1, 1572, as the story goes, the Spanish Duke of Alba lost his glasses. The Dutch people found this extremely hilarious and thus celebrate April 1 as April Fools’ Day. No matter where you live or how you celebrate April Fools’ Day, there is no way one can escape from the trickery that exists around the world on this day.
There are many possible explanations on the origin and reason for April 1 being April Fools’ day. As already stated, it is generally believed that the holiday started in France in the 1500’s. This is when New Year’s Day moved from March 25 to January 1 is France. It was said that those who continued to believe that April 1 was the proper day for celebrating New Years were the fools. Another theory of the origin of All Fools’ Day, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, is that the timing of the holiday marks the same time when nature fools mankind with wicked weather. One explanation of the day states that the day is “thought to commemorate the fruitless mission of the rook,” also known as the European crow, “who was sent out in search of land from Noah’s flood-encircled ark” (Wikipedia). Others think that the day ties in with Hilaria, the Romans’ end-of-winter celebration, and the end of the Celtic New Year festival. The Hindu calendar has Holi and the Jewish calendar has Purim. One last explanation of the origin of the day dates back to the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, apparently amused, allowed one jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict for foolishness and absurdity on that day.
In some places, at times, the events of the day cause mass chaos and what is known as the side effects of the day. On April 1, 1946, there was a huge earthquake in the pacific that killed 165 people in Hawaii and Alaska and resulted in the creation of the tsunami warning system. Known in Hawaii as the “April Fools’ Day tsunami,” many people drowned on this day believing that the warnings were simply an April Fools’ Day prank. In 2005, the death of American comedian Mitch Hedberg was originally dismissed as a joke because it was announced on April 1. A Powerpuff Girls movie that was announced in 2005 was also discredited as a joke until original poster art and clips were released in the following days (Snopes).
There are many well-known and ingenious hoaxes that have occurred due to April Fools’ celebration. The number pi, the comical show South Park, the famous television game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and NASA have all been involved in pranks around the United States. In April of 1998, a New Mexico newspaper contained an article that baffled many. The article stated that the Alabama Legislature had voted to change the value of the number pi from 3.14 to just 3. During a season of South Park, fans spent weeks speculating the identity Eric Cartman’s father. On the day that the identity was to be resolved, April 1, people around the country instead found themselves watching a half-hour full of “Terrance and Phillip” fart jokes. In 1997, “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak traded spots with “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek. In 2005, there was an article posted on the NASA website claiming to have pictures of water on Mars. The picture, in fact, was just a photograph of a glass of water on a Mars candy bar (InfoPlease).
Wherever and whenever April Fools’ Day is celebrated, people enjoy trying to come up with good pranks to amuse their peers with. Even though all jokes are started and played out in good faith, some can become very large and can cause people to suffer. However, that is just the fun of the day and the joy of coming up with the largest and most impressive pranks to identify one’s foolishness. From France, where the holiday originated to the United States of America, where some of the most harmful jokes are seen, April Fools’ Day is a day to remember. It is a day to observe the celebrations of the old New Year’s Day. It is a day to remember the history of the trickery and slyness that has been seen. It is a day to observe nature’s cruelty to mankind and a day to laugh and to be aware and to do everything humanly possible to avoid showing your foolishness.


Sources :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fool's_Day
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html

A Mouse Ears' Perspective

Alex Bellus
March 28, 2007
English 101
A MOUSE EARS’ PERSPECTIVE

The entire idea of the Disney Corporation started with just one man, Walter Elias Disney. Born in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, not only did Disney pioneer the fields of animation and find new ways to teach and educate, but he was also extremely fond of history. Walt was a man who was known for looking at the entire picture and for using ideas from the past to make the future better for everyone. In other words, he connected the present, past, and future to make life more enjoyable and fun (JustDisney). Walt Disney is especially known for not only shaping our world, but shaping the way we experience it. In fact, it was once said of Disney that he was “a quiet, pleasant man you might not look twice at on the street.” Behind the theme parks and clever animations, however, Walt was known to be that of “a less than cheerful soul” (TIME). This was hard to believe for the millions of people who just saw Walter Disney create the little, irresistible mouse off which the entire Disney enterprise thrived. One observant writer actually described Disney before his dream finally came true as "a tall, somber man who appeared to be under the lash of some private demon" (TIME).
Walt Disney was born into a world of dire poverty. This poverty struck Walt even more emotionally than it did economically. His dad wandered around day after day trying out new jobs that were supposed to lead the family to immediate success. However, all the family got every time was the sour, humiliating taste of defeat (TIME). It was at the very young age of sixteen that Walt decided to try to escape life by enlisting in the military. Luckily for him, he proved to be underage. However, this opened an option that began Walt’s road to success. He decided to travel overseas to France to drive ambulances around. It was here that Disney realized the perfect way to escape his dad’s sorrowful fate was to take drawing classes. It was at the Red Cross Ambulance Corps, during the middle of World War One in 1918, that he learned to do this best. The ambulance he drove was “covered from stem to stem, not with stock camouflage, but with drawings and cartoons” (FUV). On the beginning of the road to success, Walt was confined into a small studio room eating cold beans out of a can every night. It wasn’t until Disney moved to Los Angeles in 1923 that his animation career jumpstarted. With the help of his older brother Roy, Disney finally had the momentum to start building his dream (TIME).
Walt’s first concept at a company called “Laugh-o-grams” shortly failed in bankruptcy (JUSTDISNEY). Disney even had his first commercially viable creation stolen. The cartoon was to be called Oswald the Rabbit. This let down, however, did not cause the depressed man to give up his faith. He was determined to fulfill his dream. His constant failure is believed to be what pushed Walt to finally create the milestone for Disney, Mickey Mouse. “Cocky, and in his earliest incarnations sometimes cruelly mischievous but always an inventive problem solver, Mickey would become a symbol of the unconquerably chipper American spirit in the depths of the Depression” (TIME). The first color cartoon, Flowers and Trees, won Walt the first of his studio’s Academy Awards. In December 1937, the first full-length animated musical feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered. This movie is even today considered “one of the great feats and imperishable monuments of the motion picture industry.” (JUSTDISNEY). During the next five years, Disney created many other full-length animated classics such as Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi.

All of the famous full-length animation movies finally brought Walt enough profit to be able to attempt to build his dream, a clean and organized theme park. “Disneyland was another ‘bet-the-farm risk,’ and Disney threw himself obsessively into the park's design, which anticipated many of the best features of modern urban planning, and into the ‘imagineering’ by which the simulacrums of exotic, even dangerous creatures, places, [and] fantasies could be unthreateningly reproduced” (TIME). To Walter Elias Disney, the attractions were better than any of the movies. Each attraction offered three-dimensional thrilling experiences in a controlled environment. The park contained five uniquely different lands. Main Street, U.S.A., the very front of the park, was where Walt wanted to relive the typical turn of the century city, Main Street. Walt planned Adventureland as an "exotic tropical place" in a "far-off region of the world." Frontierland was simply made to relive the pioneer days of the American frontier. Fantasyland was created with the goal to "make dreams come true." Last, but not least, Tomorrowland was created as a look at the "marvels of the future." (JUSTDISNEY). “By Disneyland’s third decade, more than 250 million people were entertained, including presidents, kings and queens, and royalty from all over the globe” (FUV). Even after the massive success and the dream come true that Disneyland brought to Walt, he continued on to design more theme parks, mainly containing themes of finding the solution to life’s big problems.

It would be completely accurate to state that Walt Disney is the perfect example of a poor man finding the American dream. However, he would not want to look at it that way. Walt Disney simply wanted to spread his faith of the many important aspects of life he stood for: imagination, optimism, creation, and self-made success. While it is true that Mickey Mouse played a major roll in establishing the popularity of the Disney Company, it was just one sole man who created that marvelous figure. It was Walt who encouraged the drawings to get up and come to life and to entertain kids and adults of all ages. It was Walt who after every triumph and tribulation kept chipping away at his dream. Without a doubt, Walt put every single bit of his heart, his mind, his blood, and his soul in every piece of work he did just to make the world a happier place.

WORD COUNT: 1,028 WORDS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Disneyland’s History
http://www.justdisney.com/disneyland/history.html
Just Disney. COM
http://www.justdisney.com/

TIME Magazine Website, December 27, 1937, December 27, 1954, April 25, 1988, http://www.time.com/time/time100/builder/profile/disney.html

TIME Magazine Website,
http://www.time.com/time/time100/builder/profile/disney2.html

Walt Disney- FUV
http://fuv.hivolda.no/prosjekt/gunnargrodal/bio.htm

Why My Name Sucks and Why It's So Important To Me

Alex Bellus
February 12, 2007
English 101
Why My Name Sucks and Why It’s So Important To Me

My full name is Alexander Bernard Bellus. When I was little and first understood exactly what a name was and what it was used for, I came to have a strong dislike for my name. First of all, until I was about six or seven years of age, I did not know that there was such a thing as a “middle name.” For that reason, I thought my middle and last name were combined as one. Alexander Bernardbellus… I didn’t like it too much; it was way too long and even harder to pronounce for me at the time, being the small child that I was. I couldn’t help to think that my name was a joke. Why did other children and even adults have shorter, more normal names? I was used to the two or three syllable names, not the eight syllable names. It wasn’t until I was about six that my babysitter finally explained to me that I had three names. Alexander Bernard Bellus. I began to understand where my name actually fell into and connected with this world. But, that didn’t mean I liked my name.
Throughout childhood I still hated my name. I especially didn’t like Alexander. For this reason, with my parents permission, I casually shortened my name to Alex. From then on my teachers and friends alike called me Alex. My dad was the only exception; he called me Al, the same name as my dad’s uncle. My middle name I learned I could just completely forget about. Bellus, however, just annoyed me. It didn’t roll off the tongue right and it just didn’t sound right to me. Once I made my way into the upper years of elementary school, I began to realize there was a bigger problem about my name than how it rolled off the tongue. The thing that really got to me was how many parents had named their kids Alex. Every year, it seemed, there would be another Alex in my class, sometimes even two or three! I was living the part of my life where kids are supposed to become individuals and learn how everyone has their own special characteristics. However, all I could think about was how I was supposed to be an individual with all these Alexs running around. The name was so plain and was completely too numerous.
As my teen years began to roll in, I started to actually grow a liking for my original first name, Alexander. For one thing, it seemed a lot less kids went by the name Alexander. Second, it was a very famous name. Many great men had the name Alexander way before I was even born. It took me many years to learn how important and amazing this name was. However, I was already known as Alex. I was not about to change my name back to Alexander, so I learned to live with Alex. I will always be Alex and I am happy with this. My last name, Bellus, was one that I just had to deal with. Once I realized it was my family name I knew it was one that was never going to go away. Even once I learned the meaning behind my middle name, It still seemed to just float there. Bernard… I was given this name because my grandpa on my mom’s side was named Bernard. I always tried to leave it out when I could help it. I preferred Alex B. Bellus. Now that I think of it, I will probably always leave my middle name out when I can. Its just extra weight, it drags my name more than it has to.
I didn’t realize how special my last name was until just a couple of years ago. My dad, he explained, had never really liked the name either. He thought our original family name was the best. It was Bellusi, or something of the sort, from what I can remember. It was Italian, of course. However, this name was changed through immigration to America. As my dad explained this to me, history lessons from past school years began to come to life. I remembered learning about how many people had to change their family names when they came to America. This was absolutely amazing to me. Furthermore, I realized how new my last name actually was. I could be one of the first Bellus’ in my entire family. I learned that the importance of a last name is not how it sounds, but what is in the history of that name. My last name finally seemed so special to me.
So, there you have it. Now you know the story behind the name Alexander Bernard Bellus of San Diego, California. Since I don’t really know the far back history of my family, I can’t go into detail about what the name Bellus or the name “Bellusi” really means or where exactly the names originated. I don’t know what the name Alexander or Alex means and I sure don’t know or really care what the name Bernard means. Therefore, you, the reader, shouldn’t care, either. However, you know all the important things about my name. You know what it means to me and my family and you know how I finally came to terms with my name, Alexander Bernard Bellus.

Reason Why a Teenager Drinks

“My manner of living is plain... a glass of wine and a bit of mutton” (George Washington) “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants to see us happy” (Benjamin Franklin) “Wine is necessary for life” (Thomas Jefferson). If only these founding fathers knew the threat alcohol is to the youngsters of America, wine would not sound so good to these three men. Underage drinking in America is a common problem in the United States. Also, the use of alcohol in any society is a deadly thing. But as the years adapted to new problems, so do the young adults in America. Young individuals in America face many demands by the vast changes in a society. There are many reasons why a teenager drinks alcoholic beverages. Media, liquor ads, friends, stress and lack of parenting are some of the many reasons why a teenager drinks alcoholic

beverages in the United States.

Understanding teenage behaviors is the key answer to comprehending the reasons why they drink. Just like adults, teens are humans as well and go through anxieties and constant worries of life. Several different influences are capable of persuading a teenage to drink. Teenage peers, most of the time, have a powerful influence toward other teens in their group. As a result, peer pressure has a great impact on the lives of the teenagers. Teens often listen to the advice as well as disapproval from their peers. Kathiann Kowalski, Peer Pressure is an Important Influence on America’s Youth, addresses these points saying, “Peer pressure is the influence that people in your age group exert on you. Often, the pressure includes words of encouragement, criticism, or persuasion. Or it can be unspoken; because group members sport similar clothes or hairstyles. Either way, peer pressure can have a profound impact on your physical and emotional health” (Kowalski).

Most teenagers do not force other peers in their group to drink alcohol in a harsh or teasing way verbally, but instead physiological expressions forces the peers to follow and drink as well. This process is explained by Hayley Mitchell, Teen Alcoholism “Today’s teens may not be bullied or teased into drinking, but they are apt to follow their friend’s leads. Researchers have found that peer influence, a more subtle form of peer pressure; can be a powerful predictor of alcohol use among teens” (Mitchell). For example, teens start drinking alcohol because they want to fit and be accepted in the popular group of teens.

Stress is a widespread problem most teens always face in their daily lives and it is also a major reason why teenagers drink. It is important to understand the reasons behind the stress and exactly what are the situations that might cause a teenager to drink alcohol. Divorce of parent or loss of family member could be the reason why teenagers drink alcohol. There are many other reasons that teens drink alcohol, although some do it to relieve stress, anxiety, loneliness, rejection, depression, or any other of the strong emotions.

Alcohol becomes a habit for teenagers, and teens begin to enjoy the beverage that takes away the pain and anxieties and therefore enjoys getting drunk. Stewart Gail, Teen Alcoholics, the other America, talks about reasons why teens drink. “Many teens begin using alcohol because they enjoy being drunk” (Gail). Joe Mike, Alcohol Effects mentions, “The reason why people become dependent on alcohol is because they like the taste or they drink because they like the way it makes them feel. It relaxes them, making them feel more comfortable and less tense. This effect is what can lead to a dependence upon alcohol and its relaxing effect” (Mike). Teenagers often start drinking because they think it is cool or because it makes them feel more grown up. Gillian Keleher, of Teenage Drinking in America “According to MADD which stands for (Mother Against Drunk Driving); majority of young people 79%, say being drunk is appealing because it feels good. Among the other reasons given are relaxation and escape (Teenage Drinking in America).

The media, including advertisements, is a leading force that influences young adults to drink. Television sends advertisements of alcohol to the society pretending that the ads are being aimed towards adults only. Television is in fact advancing very rapidly in the United States, and undeniably, a positive message has always come out from television advertisings in the past and still continues to promote encouraging messages to the society such as the commercials and TV shows like “The Cosby Show”. But ads portraying liquor or any type of drug that is dangerous should not be sending messages that liquor of pleasure such as the Budweiser commercials. Antonia Novello, who is a surgeon general of the United States from 1990-1993, clarifies this point saying, “Concerns over alcohol advertising arise because most alcohol advertising goes beyond describing the specific qualities of the beverage. It creates a glamorous, pleasurable image that may mislead the youth” (Novello). For example, alcohol advertising does create a setting in which dangerous attitudes toward alcohol are presented as normal, appropriate, and innocuous. Advertising links alcohol with precisely those attributes qualities of happiness, wealth, prestige, success, maturity, athletic ability, creativity, and sexual satisfaction that the misuse of alcohol usually.

Most underage alcohol drinkers occur in college campuses where most eighteen and nineteen year olds college students easily obtain alcohol. Additionally, alcohol is found irresistible in college parties and brings amusements to the students. College is the perfect place for underage drinkers to drink as much as they wish since there is so much peer influence and parties with no parents around. For this reason, alcohol drinking very much takes place in college. In college, students express themselves more easily then they did in their parent home. In other words, students in college are most likely to do all the things their parent’s prohibited from them. Parents who have alcohol problems in their past have a great effect on the reasons why their children might drink as well. Alcohol can be passed along to the children both genetically by parents who drink at home often and are more accepting of alcohol.

Mitchell explains this, saying, the predisposition to alcoholism has two theoretical explanations. The first is genetic. Genetic studies of twins and adopted babies indicate that alcoholism is to some extent hereditary. There is greater evidence, experts agree, that parental alcohol use and parental attitudes toward alcohol play a larger role in influencing teen drinking behavior than genetics.

Their examples, behaviors, attitudes to certain things and actions are the models that children target from their parents. For this reason, it is crucial for a parent to watch every act performed front of the children. Because children do pick up those actions and will be affected by it. Chris Varley, the author of Life Issue Alcoholism, “Exposure to alcohol begins at early age, and parents are not aware of the fact that they carry a great deal of responsibilities for their children”.

Restrictions against underage drinking are improving. “Local liquor stores working with MADD teens raise awareness” (The Juneau Empire). Alcohol is becoming a serious issue in America; therefore, laws and preventions are being created in order to decrease alcohol availability to teenagers and to fight against underage drinking and driving. Alcohol use among any society is a deadly thing; however alcohol use among youth and children is even more deadly. Lawmakers need to make age policies stricter. Nevertheless, the government must raise alcohol taxes in order to reduce alcohol issues.

Parents must get involved in their children’s life especially in the teenager years. “Moreover, the biggest regulation that can be taken against underage drinking is parental discipline” (Mitchell). Alcohol is ruling and destroying the young adults of America. “There is not exactly one cause of underage drinking to blame; there are many reasons why teenagers drink” (Keleher). Alcohol is a large part of American society. Movies, television, and advertisements often glamorize drinking; no matter what the reason are the statistics prove that American teenagers are drinking, and that it is both dangerous and damaging to them. Overall, the society as a whole must create good strategies to improve the degree of underage drinking, and try their best to prevent future tragedies.





Citations

Gail, Stewart. Teen alcoholics, the other America. Rev Ed. Lucent Books. 2000

Juneau Empire. “Local Liquor stores working with MADD, teens to raise Awareness”. MSNBC news. 12. April. 2007.
http://www.underagedrinkingprevention.com

Keleher, Gillian. Teenage Drinking In America”. Bolton Central School
12. April. 2007. http://www.Drinking/teens.com

Kowalski, Kathiann M. “Peer Pressure is an Important Influence on America’s Youth
America’s Youth. Opposing viewpoints. Rev. Ed. Greenhaven Press, 2007.

Mike, Joe. Alcohol Effects. Rev. Ed. New York: Rages Books, 2000.

Mitchell, R. Hayley. Teen Alcoholism. Rev. Ed. Lucent Books. San Diego: 1998.

Novello C. Antonia. “Alcohol Advertisements Encourage Teens to Abuse Alcohol”.
Rev. Ed. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. 1994.

Varley, Chris. Alcoholism, Life Issues. Rev. Ed. New York: Marshall Cavendish. 1994.

Middle Eastern Women’s Wardrobe

What is the first thing a person notices about a woman walking down the street? The women outfit that she is wearing and her charms and beauty that are exposed are the first things both men and women observe about each other. As a result, from such observation, many judgments and assumptions are instantly made. It is more common to see women in hijab, loose clothing topped by a type of scarf worn around the head and under the chin. Women don't share a common style nor have the same reasons for wearing hijab. Quick judgments are shaped by how people dress. For example, dress to impress is a common attitude believed by many people. So, if we compare the dressing styles of women in the Middle East and women in America, we will find tremendous differences. One of these differences is that women in America wear clothing is usually attractive and erotic in public, but women in the Middle East wear clothing that is very loose fitting which covers most of the body. Women’s beauty in Middle East countries are strongly prohibited in public and the differences it poses for its American counterpart, furthermore fashion can demean the status of women.

Women in the Middle East dress very differently than women in America. They wear loosely fitted clothing in order to cover their breasts, hair, and other aspects that signify the beauty of women. The reason why women in the Middle East wear loosely fitted clothes is because there is a common belief that sexual images or sexual activities in the society will bring about rape, extramarital sex, adultery, and many other social problems. Therefore, excessive expression of women sexuality charms the clothing that reveals female’s skin or any sexual activities displayed in public is a disliked conduct in the Middle East or in the Islamic world. Sexual behavior is only allowed to be between husbands and wives. Even so, it is ostracized for husbands and wives to excessively kiss and touch each other in public. Although the image of husbands and wives showing affection in public may seem romantic in America, this is very inappropriate in the Middle East. Furthermore, the Muslim society in the Middle East believes that the only way for women not to be seen as a sex symbol is if they do not expose their beauty or the shape of their body. Therefore, the clothing they wear must not be tied to the body so it does not describe the shape of the woman’s body. For this reason, most Muslim women avoid wearing sexy outfits outside their home. The Muslim women must conduct herself in a self-effacing way in order for men not to look at her with lustful eyes and desires. She can only show her beauty to her family and husband in her home.

On the other hand, in America, most women wear clothing that is usually attractive and erotic in public. They express their attitude and sexuality through the way they dress. Fashion has become a way to express their outlook in life and their character. Whereas in the Middle East, women stay away from fashionable clothing that will draw attention from their surroundings. Nevertheless, in the Islamic countries, a Muslim woman will be admonished if her style of dressing looks striking and sexually tempting. However, dressing provocative and having an exotic look is the most typical appearance most women make in the mainstream of America. In 1999, Mathews Fashion and Sex in America, “Frequently, I see women poured into tight jeans and short mini-skirts. Others wear revealing blouses, tight sweaters and sheer pants. Women are wearing sexy fashions just about everywhere, to work, to school and even to church.” However, not all women in America dress with the intention of trying to appear as a sex figure. Some dress according to the way they are accustomed to, not thinking about making an impression or trying to arouse men’s desires. But fashion has become something that is taken very seriously and something that sometimes lowers or esteems the status of women in the West.

For example, sex and the woman’s body get so many endorsements by countless companies in the United States. Women’s sexuality and images of their body are widely advertised in every place you go. Almost everything you buy has a sexual image on it. One of the biggest businesses in America is plastic surgery. The desire to look younger and sexier drives many women to spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery. Jonathon A look into Contemporary Society: Women Now In 2001, “they idealize unrealistic body images such as enormous breasts, a tiny waist, and extremely long legs that many girls and women try to achieve through diets and cosmetic surgery”. Since the Islamic religion emphasizes modesty and expects women to expose their beauty to family only, plastic surgery has very little value to most Muslim women and is not performed in most Middle East countries. However, this attitude is not true for all Muslim women. Some Muslim women do get plastic surgery to try to seek the ideal body.

Even though both women dress dramatically different, they have similar attitudes about fashion. For instance, women in the Islamic countries shop and like to wear the latest styles. Second, although they display it differently, fashion is an important factor to both types of women. Middle Eastern women beautify themselves in the same ways American women do, which shows that they are not against looking beautiful and sexy, but oppose showing it to men who are strangers to them. Finally, going to the salon and getting their nails and hair done is very liked by women in the Middle East like it is in America.

Unfortunately, in America, many women are captivated by having a sexy body and looking beautiful, so dressing very fashionably is taken very seriously and some women even compete to look better then others. The society dictates women to have a sexy body, so this influences many young girls and adult women to wear alluring stylish clothes in order to look good. This phenomenon indicates that there is a lot of pressure on young girls to look good and appeal to others. Also, it signifies that women are sex objects and used as a powerful advertiser to promote business.

Lou, Girls in the Media of 1990 says, “Whether it is conscious or unconscious, if you present yourself in a way that is sexually revealing, even in the slightest of ways, many men will want your body for their own sexual pleasure without regard for you as a person. Dressing this way will cause people to think of you as sexually loose”.

As a result, women in the Muslim world and women in America express their perspective of beauty very differently through the ways they dress. The factor that shapes these different attitudes of dressing is the society and its values that both women live in. Since America is a secular and a very diverse country, people have many values and beliefs. So, one person’s values do not represent the values of the whole society. Each person dresses according to his or her own personal standards, whereas, in the Middle East, there is only one value that dominates all the rest and that are the Islamic teachings. And so, the Islamic government implements its set of laws very strictly to the society.

Because of the corruption of some Middle East governments and the wrong ways it treats women, many people think that Muslim women are not liberated and Islam is responsible. However, the Islamic teachings clearly preach peace and equality between men and women. But, rather, it is the culture of the society that twists rules to its own needs. Also, it is the authorities who dictate what they wish and are responsible for the mistreatment of women. Lewis Reasons Why we Dress in this Democratic Country in 2002, the authentic Islamic teachings says the reason why “Muslim women cover and wear loose clothing is because the Islamic religion strongly forbids all sexual behaviors before marriage and it also prohibits women from becoming sexual images but rather to be respected as women, to avoid harassments and to preserve her dignity”. Islam made the adherence to the Hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. The Islamic holy book, Koran (33:59) says, “O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies when outdoors. It is most fitting that they should be respected and not molested.” Moreover, the above statement implies that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her when she is in public.

Overall, women in the Muslim world and women in America express their perspective of beauty in distinctive ways. In the Islamic world women wear loosely fitted clothes mainly due to religious reasons. In America, women can express their attitude and sexuality through the way they dress, because of the great degree of freedom and individual rights. This is why women in America wear attractive clothing and show more skin. However, both women are similar in attitudes. In other words, they both like to shop and buy the latest fashion. The factors that shape their attitudes of dressing are the society and its values that both women live in. If the Middle East were a secular and more democratic country like America, we would see very similar dressing codes in women.







REFRENCES
Jonathon, S. F. (2001). A look into contemporary society: Women Now. (Volume 5, PP. 893-896). New York: Time Square Press.
Lewis, J. N. (2002). Reasons why we dress in this Democratic country. Boston: Kited Company.
Lou, W. G. (1990). Girls in the media. New Hampshire: Excess Time. (p.21).
Mohamed, A. S. (2001). The Understanding of the Holy book of Islam: Koran. (33:59)Mathews, A. W. (1999). Fashion and Sex in America. New York: Labara.

darwinism versus creationism

Darwinism Versus Creationism

According to a 2005 Pew Research poll, 70 percent of evangelical Christians believe that living beings have always existed in their present form (Shermer, 1). Most scientists consider Darwin’s theory fact. In this battle of fact versus faith, the stakes are high. If Darwinians are in the wrong then science in general becomes flawed. If Creationists are wrong then their morals and lifestyles are obliterated. If Creationists abandon their beliefs in favor of Darwinism and find out they were wrong to switch, then they are damned for eternity. How then, can these two “theories” be compromised? Is it possible to be a Christian Darwinian?
Darwin asserted that living species descended through the gradual genetic transformation of populations over thousands of millions of years. Creationism refers to the belief that some or all of the various forms of life on earth were brought into being by a creator (Pagel, 1). The bible states that God created the world in 144 hours 10,000 years ago. Evolution is apparent in fossils discovered, the existence of vestigial organs and pseudo genes, and biogeography to name just a few (Coyne, 7). Creationism is an inadequate alternative to Darwinism because it rejects much of modern science without sufficient justification or adequate alternatives. Since 1973, more than 100,000 peer-reviewed papers on neo-Darwinian evolution have been published. Creationism, on the other hand, is represented by just a single peer-reviewed paper (Coyne, 22). Creationists have tried to assert that Intelligent Design is a plausible scientific theory. This is not a realistic label for the idea because it cannot be tested or falsified. Every year, more and more proof of Darwin’s theory of Evolution is discovered while contradictory evidence is yet to be found. Some examples of such evidence are; the geological record formed incrementally over long periods of time, transitional forms appearing in sedimentary layers, and that DNA and RNA sequences are the core of inheritance (making evolutionary change both possible and physically inevitable, given limits to replication fidelity.) (Pagel, 2) Scientific support for macroevolution is now comparable in strength to that for the planets’ orbiting of the sun. Yet, creationists are quick to pick up on the smallest technical uncertainty to make their case. With so much evidence built up against their faith, Creationists have, at times, resorted to irrational explanations. One such instance was in 1972 when a prominent quick creationist, Henry Morris, asserted that the essence of evolution was transmitted by Satan to Adam in the Garden of Eden and that it is responsible for communism, racism, imperialism, militarism, pornography, promiscuity, and perversion.(Pagel, 3) In the end, denial of Evolution makes the Christian church look bad. If something as small as when the earth was created is called into question it leaves the door open for the religion as a whole to be called into question.
For rational, clear-headed Christians, however, there is a third option. Evolution and theology are more intertwined than most would think. Evolution sets the foundation for the core values shared by most Christians. Evolution explains original sin and the Christian model of human nature. As a social primate, we evolved within-group amity and between-group enmity. By nature, then, we are cooperative and competitive, altruistic and selfish, greedy and generous, peaceful and bellicose; in short, good and evil. Moral codes and a society based on the rule of law are necessary to accentuate the positive and attenuate the negative sides of our evolved nature.(Shermer, 1) Still another compromising view is that God was, and is, behind evolution. Without this “intelligentdesigner” how could the universe be so perfect? To fully accept both religion and Evolution though I agree with Stephen Jay Gould when he asserts that science and religion are two distinct realms of knowledge, with wisdom arising from combining science (the basis for effective action) and religion (the key source of values).
Regardless which of these theories is the answer, one thing is for certain: viewing the other side as the opponent or the enemy is only detrimental to both causes. Thinking in black and white terms has never solved anything. Such stiff-necked rigidity hinders us from moving toward both scientific and theological truth. Creationism is outdated and fails to answer today’s demands as a “scientific idea”. Evolution is a fact, as real as the insignificant appendix in your body. Creationism has clearly lost the battle butEvolution is a kind conqueror. It is able to sort through the remains and reform the concept of Creationism into a plausible and workable idea.

Marijuana, an Argument for its Legalization

Deborah Fulbright
English 101, Spring 2007
Mr. FitzGerald
Argument Essay


The controversy over medicinal marijuana has only just begun. Many states cannot decide if they will allow marijuana to be sold medicinally. People die from cigarettes and alcohol, yet no cases of death amongst marijuana smokers. The government decided in the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, that marijuana is not unsafe, and a tax is to be paid to the government after one sells or prescribes the drug. If a doctor prescribed marijuana, he would immediately inform the Federal Bureau of Narcotics with information on whom they prescribed it to, their address, and what ails them (Marihuana tax act of 1937). It seems the government’s real intention was to stop the promotion of hemp use because it was a much better textile product than cotton, which at the time was one of America’s cash crops. There are no written accounts of anyone overdosing from Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active ingredient in marijuana. I will show that all the positives of marijuana out weighing the cons, and should be legalized to use in the United States.

In order to understand the conflict surrounding marijuana usages, one must learn about its vast history. People in India and China were among the first to use marijuana. In China, hemp was readily available. China tamed the crops of hemp for food and used medicinally. Hemp had been discovered throughout China and in burial pits. Some of the crafts and clothing inside the burial pits were made with hemp. India used it as an intoxicant in religious ceremonies. Ancient Chinese texts describe its medical uses and potential nutrition. Warriors were known to make bhang from hemp and drink it to calm their nerves before a battle. The drug then spread through the Middle East and on into Africa (Marijuana).

In 1839, European interest in the drug was aided by two scientific reports. W. B. O’Shaughnessy released the first report and Queen Victoria’s physician, Russell Reynolds, released the second. Both men recommended its medical use for a variety of ailments and as a mild euphoriant. It was readily available with out a prescription. Even popular writers of the nineteenth century, Gautier and Baudelaire, made their feelings of the marijuana well known, even joining a club where they experiment with hash, a resin-like substance made from marijuana.

The United States can only speculate how the drug was first introduced. Some say it was the slave trade, others think it came through trades with the Asian market, but a majority believe the Spaniards brought it over. During the nineteenth century, hemp was readily available for its textile properties in addition to its medicinal uses (Marihuana). Early Americans grew hemp readily to enhance their “medical well being.”

Medicinal use of marijuana appears in ancient Chinese scripts, yet the debate has only come to the forefront of America recently. In the article, “The Adverse Effects of Cannabis”, W. Hall dispels the myths and rumors surrounding marijuana usage. He discusses how people feels it lowers your immunity levels, and that there are very few studies have ever even come to that conclusion and much more research would be needed to be done in order to prove such a claim. He also discusses how many people feel it distorts driving ability, Hall gives several references to studies in which people who drive while they are high are aware of their impairment, unlike intoxicated people, and thus they would be more careful while driving (Hall).

Another report by C.H. Ashton discusses the possible therapeutic affects of marijuana. Its uses were investigated for possible appetite stimulants, analgesics and antispasmodics for epilepsy, asthma and glaucoma. He feels that in small doses marijuana helps asthma. Also he found that it provides a pressure relief for patients who have glaucoma, which develops from massive pressure on the eye. However just like any other prescribed drug it does not work on all epileptic people, stating it only benefits approximately two-thirds of the users. Further investigation goes on to other uses including an antihypertensive agent, hypnotic agent or antidepressant (Ashton). Only eleven of the current fifty states allow medical marijuana, even with its proven medical benefits (NORML).

For the government to be so opposed to the use of marijuana; there must be some negative effects. In 1937, the government passed the Marihuana tax act. It contains:
“SEC. 2. (a) Every person who imports, manufactures, produces, compounds, sells, deals in, dispenses, prescribes, administers, or gives away marihuana shall (1) within fifteen days after the effective date of this Act, or (2) before engaging after the expiration of such fifteen-day period in any of the above mentioned activities, and (3) thereafter, on or before July 1 of each year, pay the following special taxes respectively: (Marihuana tax act of 1937).” It then continues on listing the amount of each tax to be paid to the government, with penalties resulting in five years incarceration or two-thousand dollars in fines. With nearly twenty-four million people in America having tried marijuana and with a remaining 3.4 million still using regularly (Marihuana), It was the first steps for the government took to control the use of marijuana. What is the government still protecting us from? Now, their best ideas to combat are small anti-drug campaigns aimed to discourage elementary age children from trying marijuana.

The overall effect after consuming cannabis is complete relaxation. Tension leaves the body, headaches, nausea, and fatigue quickly evaporate, an intense feeling of elation courses through the mind. In social settings deep, analytical and spiritual conversations make the slowed brain synapses reach all new level within one’s mind. This leads everyone within the group to be much more open-minded. Elation and relaxation, unfortunately, last only a few hours.

The lack of proper research on marijuana has led to great speculation and many lies about the long-term effects of marijuana use. Some often presumed that someone would kill their brain cells as they consume marijuana. Paul Hager’s article, “Marijuana Myths”, discusses two studies by the Journal of the American Medical Association and the American Medical Association that both feel with their research on marijuana does not contribute to brain damage. Further, the AMA even said they feel marijuana should be decriminalized. Many other people worried about the long-term effects marijuana has on reproductive systems. Dr. Gabriel Nahas began his claim that marijuana damages the reproductive system with experimenting on certain tissue cells in Petri dishes and giving near-fatal doses to monkeys. The scientific community rejected Dr. Nahas experiments with the Petri dishes as invalid, and the monkeys were back to normal within thirty days after the end of the experiment. Dr. Robert Heath used four rhesus monkey and massive doses of marijuana to show permanent short-term memory loss. The memory loss was disproved because the lack of controlled during testing and only using four monkeys. In addition, impairing of short-term memory in fact only happens while a person is under the influence. Another experiment tried to show a negative effect on the immune system. The experiments stating this result again used animals with incredibly high doses of marijuana, but the tests showed that it actually improved the immune system (Hager).

In 1995, Paul Hager, chair of the ICLU Drug Task Force, released a list of facts that exposed the many myths of marijuana use. He claims in order for someone to overdose on marijuana they would have to consume 40,000 times what it takes them to get high (Hager). In March of 1999, the Institute of Medicine released a report that concluded, “the combination of cannabinoid drug effects (anxiety reduction, appetite stimulation, nausea reduction and pain relief) suggests that cannabinoids would be moderately well-suited for certain conditions such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and AIDS wasting (Waiting).” Marijuana if smoked is able to cause ailments within the lungs over extended amounts of time. However, there are many ways to use marijuana. Marijuana can be consumed in food or there are even THC tablets for people to take instead of smoking the actual marijuana.

The government has decided that marijuana use, no matter the benefits, should not be legal in America. If the government decided to allow legal marijuana, the benefits would surpass all expectations. The government could easily be able to regulate sales, just as they do alcohol and cigarettes. Jail populations for non-violent criminals would decrease, government revenue would increase, and all those who use for religious, medicinal, or recreational reasons would be able to enjoy this healing plant, without persecution (Cannabis). In Holland, during the seventies, the Dutch legalized marijuana, since then hard drug use dropped off (Hager). People use marijuana to relax and it has found that it replaces other drugs people use for either relaxation or recreation. Marijuana can only be as useful as the government allows it and until the government understands its true effects and finds a way to regulate it commercially it will remain illegal.

The positive effects from individual marijuana use completely outweigh any slight negative effects that are quite rare throughout all research. The whole history of marijuana shows that we have used it for many types of applications; including medicine, clothing, and food. In 1937, the government tried to get revenue from marijuana. With no scientific proof of its mythical downfalls, Marijuana should be legalized.

Works Cited

Cannabis Culture magazine
http://www.mapinc.org/newscc/v05/n1385/a04.html

Hager, Paul. “Marijuana Myths.” 20 July 1993. 23 Nov. 2006
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_info14.shtml

Hall, W., Solowij N “Adverse effects of cannabis”, The Lancet, 1998 Nov 14; 352(9140):
1611-6. http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/references/journal/1998_hall_lancet_1/1998_hall_lancet_1.pdf
“Marijuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding.” The Report of the US National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse. (1972) 24 Nov. 2006. http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_culture3.shtml

Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. 24 Nov. 2006. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/mjtaxact.htm

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. 24 Nov. 2006. http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4516

Jordan McMullin “The History of Drugs: Marijuana” (2005) Pages 1-33

Alan Bock “Waiting to Inhale: The Politics of Medical Marijuana” (2000) page 110