Religion and Prayer Must Not be Permitted in Public School Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Early American colonists anticipated a country full of freedoms and opportunities. As the new government was beginning to develop, the Founders took into consideration the restrictions placed on them and their fellow immigrants in their former home lands. One difficulty the colonists encountered back in Europe was the inability to practice a desired religion or not to practice one at all. Since the newly formed country was made up of people from more than one religious background, the government had to come up with a way to accommodate all of its citizens. Understanding the country's diversity, the writers of the Constitution of the United States of America included in the First Amendment the words, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise therof . . ." (Alley, 24). The two parts of the religious freedom declaration became known as the Free Exercise Clause, which allows for religious expres sion, and the Establishment Clause, which protects citizens from state-imposed religion. To ensure that the government could not interfere with religious establishments, the American government mandated a more precise interpretation of the religious clauses, which commonly became known as secularism, or complete separation of the church and the government.    Secularism is the foundation underlying the issue of the role of prayer in the public school system. Due to the Establishment Clause, which protects Americans from state imposed religion; the role of prayer in the public schools is considered unco nstitutional. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor professed, "In my view, however, the principle underlying the Establishment Clause is that go... ...Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books, 1994. Barker, Dan. "The Case Against School Prayer." Internet Infidels. Online. Internet. 21 October 2002. Available: http://www.infidels.org/org/ffrf/issues/pray.html Farmer, Rod. "The School Prayer Issue." Education 104 (1984): 248-49. Gaffney, Edward McGlynn. "A Church in Texas." Commonweal 124 (April 25, 1997): 9-10. O'Connor, Sandra. "Forward: the Establishment Clause and Endorsement of Religion." Journal of Law and Religion 8 (1990): 1-4. Sikorski, Robert. Prayer in Public Schools and the Constitution 1961-1992. New York: Garland Publishing Inc., 1993. Thomas, Oliver. "Prayer and Speech." Finding Common Ground 12 (1996): 29 pars. Online. Internetr. 1 October 2002. Whitehead, John W. The Rights of Religious Persons in Public Education. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1994: 33,49-50.   

Essay for the Sandpiper Essay

Tragedy, in multiple views leads to grief, misery and may even cause emotional desensitization. However this solely depends on the cause of such tragedy. A simple tragedy exists as a result of the irony of combining diverse religion and cultures and is especially expressed in the story â€Å"Sandpiper†. Here author Ahdaf Soueif expresses cultural differences through the breaking relationship of a European writer and her Egyptian husband. Acquiescent undermine passivity Being the protagonist, the narrator becomes the view point character in the story and this is where audience criticisms take place. From the beginning she seems to display a sort of weakness and compliance towards events; watching the waves swoop back into the sea; conforming to her lack of work and loss of identity ; â€Å"watching (her husband) vanish†, and watching her daughter â€Å"grow away† from herself. The sand image, as the story opens portrays her compliance-The way she did not wish to o bstruct nature`s pattern of â€Å"one grain of sand† because of her movement. Later as Um Sabir (her â€Å"husband`s old nanny†) prevents her from doing any work, her feminine independence also appears to be deplored yet she simply accepts this fact and though seeming solemn, does not take any action. The reader soon becomes critical about such fragility. Notice how the writer mentions -â€Å"watch† her husband vanish. Due to her foreignness, she seemed to slowly fade away from her and her husband`s relationship and displays severe grief. However it appears indeed so absurd for the reader, because this narrator does not develop any sort of resistance to her dilemma. Furthermore her despondency grows gradually, and it seems that her daughter is being torn away from her the same way as with her husband. She simply pines her heart and the narrator grows a sort of dissent for the protagonist. Sandpiper a coastal bird which cannot fly too high nor too far from the co astal region (due to its habitat and feeding habits) is a perfect name for this story it seems. The way the protagonist’s life appears limited and restricted is definitely the main cause. However the reader may wonder why the narrator does not rebel to this lifestyle. There may be numerous causes. Firstly notice the narrators patience as she sits by the beach observing the water`s â€Å"frilled white edge nibbling at the sand†. As she displays no qualms to her situations (for example being deprived of work as previously mentioned) it seems she still retains hope- of a happy lifestyle. This exaggerated patience she conforms, may perhaps be one of the reason she does not rebel. Another may be simply her love of and to sustain the happiness of her daughter. These causes all sum to the habitat and ability of a â€Å"Sandpiper†, its only restrictions. Therefore it seems that the protagonist subsists in a self imposed jail, like a sandpiper and indeed does not soar beyond the beach which could momentarily give access to another sort of freedom, mentally, from her own conscience. However if we pay attention to the situation the author rejects such criticisms-instead condemning the readers as absurd. Certainly following different cultures is not the protagonists fault. The consistent confusion and grief of the narrator’s situation is perhaps the cause of her helplessness. This way the author deems the protagonist as universal for humans; which either are NOT exceptions, to displaying similar responses, in such emotionally grim situations and though her image is portrayed as weak it is not held true to how we asses her. In some way the writer creates ambivalent views one portraying the theme of ‘fate’ and the other ‘free will’. A customary feature, to be noticed in this story is the authors unvarying image of the beach. Obviously this picture signifies the present and therefore, perhaps, alludes to the narrators ‘drifting’ thoughts. It also seems, the descriptions of the sand and the sea reflect her emotions. As the story opens, observe the serene albeit somewhat somber, descriptions (of the beach), in the past participle: â€Å"I used to see patterns†¦I did not want †¦. I used to sit†. Definitely the narrator is affectionately looking back at nostalgia, yet with regret. Her emotions drift in melancholy as a compliant stream of conscience guides her and suddenly we imagine a somber weak character, in passivity to not stir a single â€Å"grain of sand† from its ‘natural’ pattern. This is where the readers display an interest to this character`s matters. Slowly her emotions begin to frill as the descriptions become gradually violent –â€Å"the sea unceasingly shifts†¦surges forward with a low growl†¦ like thousand snakes† .By now the reader is absorbed into the persona`s feelings. The usage of the personal pronoun â€Å"I† becomes highly universal to the reader and definitely induces sympathy. Finally, as she â€Å"revert(s) to (the) dry grains that would easily brush away† the emotions are returned to the previous serenity however now there seems to be a hint of pain, a hint of helplessness. This way the writer skillfully attains the reader`s attention to the story, and somewhat forth shadows incidents in the story, pertaining to the emotions. Hereby the atmosphere seems so somber, so calm; slowly the reader drifts in with the thoughts of the writer. What the reader may also take notice, with hindsight, is that perhaps Soueif uses this initial beach image as an extended metaphor for the life of the narrator; as in the beginning her life was filled with bliss (in love with her husband), which suddenly changed to desperation and somewhat anger (as he slowly â€Å"slip away† from her) and finally grief (of the freedom she lost). Proactive pragmatic The next imagery of the beach occurs after she mentions the second summer at the â€Å"beach house west of Alexandria†. Here the narrator utilizes the sand and the sea as symbols for her husband and herself, the way these two entities seemed to â€Å"meet and flirt and touch† and establishes the theme of love . However, reading between the lines, perhaps the writer forth shadows a sort of obscurity in the relationship. Notice how the sand and the sea simply â€Å"meet† metaphorically indicating love; although away from this â€Å"edge† such love does not seem to prevail as the sea and the sand form a tight boundary. Also the sea consistently â€Å"drifts† and the sand itself shifts, especially with the pressure of the waves: perhaps the author accentuates fluid emotions which flow and â€Å"shift† with due time and therefore depicts this couple to slowly â€Å"drift† apart from each other. This way another theme, of relativity of time and emotion is established here. The ending of the story also prevails with this beach image. It seems the narrator is back to the present and this picture plays the greatest significance as she sees â€Å"different things from those 6 years ago†. Now she appears calmer yet more melancholic. The reader can effective ly perceive such emotion; especially in the lines â€Å"the last of the foam is swallowed bubbling into the sand† and â€Å"with each ebb of green water the sand looses part of itself to the sea†. This definitely feels somber; as if love is being persistently broken down by the force of nature. Realistically, it seems such force subsists as cultural pressure. Where the couple belonging to 2 different cultures altogether formed such a relationship, the narrators â€Å"foreignness†¦began to irritate him (her husband)†. Cultural pressure and foreign tensions arise as a conflict due to the ignorance of each other`s culture and perhaps a development in this slowly weakened their relationships. Not only does the husband feel irate yet this deplored the protagonist`s freedom- â€Å"I tried at first at least to help, but she would†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ease the duster or the vacuum cleaner from my hand†. Coming back to the coastal descriptions, note how the author mentions â€Å"the†¦foam is swallowed bubbling into the sand† and how these two bodies meet but never ‘mix’. Probably the author, here portrays the theme of immiscibility. As sea and sand are immiscible it appears the foreignness and its resultant family tensions never intended a strong relationship; the love of both the narrator and her husband was immiscible, which would interact, yet as easily drift away. Perhaps this way the author undermines the system of religion. Indeed such a trivial matter, as exemplified is the commencement of weak relations and eventually such tragedies; for certainly, every being strays ethnocentric and this simple arrogance leads to major conflicts. This is later supported as the narrator finally questions-â€Å"But what do the waves know of the massed, hot, still sands of the desert? And what does the beach know of the depths, the cold currents†¦where the water turns a deeper blue.† .Duplicity is heavily prevalent due to ignorance of other religion, and like the sand and the sea it extends massively. What the writer Ahdaf Soueif is attempting to accentuate is that this concept of worldly cultures actually constructs a sort of mistrust amongst others and its great irony is exhibited in the form of this story Another image which we can relate to this theme is the difficulty, even dislike the wife shows towards adapting to a different culture. During the second summer at the beach house the narrator mentions her nostalgia of her hometown (Europe as Georgian sq uare is mentioned) and â€Å"misses† her time spent there. The moment this is mentioned suspicion rises in the readers mind; of her happiness following the new culture. She does display a sort of irritation as she is not allowed to work at home. Finally (later) she appears to complain- â€Å"my foreignness†¦my inability to remember name†¦struggles with his (her husband’s) language†, etc. Definitely the author is attempting to depict another cultural pressure here; despite the passage of time, evidently she depicts, that the wife has problems shifting to the new culture. Ironically, though, this foreignness actually appealed her husband yet now repelled him. LorDhRUv

Comparative Analysis of La Belle Dame Sans Merci and...

Michelle Kfoury Professor Butterworth ENG 201 4/30/2013 Comparative Analysis of â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† and â€Å"The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock† It comes as no surprise that love poems are not a rare commodity. Whether they’re about a lovesick man pining for his soul mate or a general reflection about how one perceives love, these poems offer an analysis of one of the most innate desires of our human nature. Despite inevitable differences in writing style and point of view, there can be times where love poems employ similar strategies to tackle such an analysis. John Keats’ â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† and T. S. Eliot’s â€Å"The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock† are no exception to this occurrence. Both poems use two different and†¦show more content†¦13, 25-26). Because of how the knight describes the meadow, it can be inferred that it is springtime. This is a significant contrast to the bleak, wintry hillside that he described previously. With the contrast in this setting comes a contrast in how the knight characterizes love. In the meadow, the knight meets a beautiful woman with long hair and wild eyes. The knight describes her as having an almost fairy-like presence (Ln. 14-16). He makes her a garland for her head and bracelets from the flowers in the meadow (Ln. 17-20). The woman eventually takes the knight back to her â€Å"elfin grot†, or, cave, where he kisses her. By establishing a different setting where the knight appears to experience love, the second setting in â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci† serves to resolve the knight’s alienation and abandonment from love. T.S. Eliot’s â€Å"The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock† similarly offers a second setting where Prufrock tries to recall love to resolve his alienation from it. The dirty, urban, insidious streets laced with an ominous yellow fog suggest that Prufrock is alienated from love. He fears not being able to find a woman that will be able to look p ast his physical inadequacies. However, Prufrock attempts to resolve his alienation by shifting the setting from the insidious streets of a city to the beach. The mermaids

Case Study Ted Bundy - 1221 Words

Case Study: Ted Bundy Ted Bundy was born in Burlington, Vermont on November 24, 1946. He became his mother’s shame due to the fact he was conceived while she was unmarried and young. Eleanor Cowell, the mother of Ted Bundy had strict religious parents which put more pressure to the situation. Although there is not any information regarding the whereabouts of Ted’s father, Eleanor Cowell managed to deliver the child at a home for unmarried mothers. Eventually, she brought the child to her parents. Therefore, not to cause any more religion problems, Ted’s grandparents adopted him as their son and raised him believing his mother was his sister. Through time, the nuclear family moved to Tacoma, Washington, and formed a family after†¦show more content†¦Several women around the area of Seattle started going missing and spectators described him as a young, dark-haired man known as Ted without any further details nor information. In the fall of 1974, Ted Bundy moved to Utah, and women starting disappearing as well. Through the following year, Ted was pulled over by a cop, without information on why, the cup found out mask, handcuffs and other items which lead to his arrest. Afterwards, he started getting linked to several crimes. In 1975, he was arrested for kidnapping a young woman. Fortunately, she achieved to escape from Ted and got him arrested. Ted B. received a sentence of 15 years for kidnapping. Two years later, he decided to be his own lawyer for his case. Taking in countability, Ted never finishes law school due to skipping classes and moving from place to place. However, he was talented enough to act, speak and behave like one when it came to his case which made some people believe he knew what he was doing. Ted B. was good at pretending and being charming. One of the days driving toward the courthouse, Ted jumped out of the window to escape. Despite his attend of scape, Ted was captured eight days later. After a few years went by, in December of 1977, Ted managed to escape from his cell by making a hole through the ceiling. This gave him a head start since police didn’t notice he was gone for fifteenShow MoreRelatedTed Bundy Case Study2485 Words   |  10 PagesTheodore â€Å"TED† BUNDY CASE Theodore â€Å"Ted† Bundy, the serial killer that was born as Theodore Robert Cowell, on November 24, 1946 killed between 1973 and 1978. He escaped from county jail two times before his last apprehension in February 1978. After so many years of so many denials, he eventually confessed to over thirty murders. Even though the actual number of murder victims is not known. It is estimated that the range of victims is from twenty-six to hundred. The wide-ranging estimate is thirty-fiveRead MoreCase Case Study : Ted Bundy1873 Words   |  8 PagesI decided to conduct my case study on Ted Bundy because his story and crimes always fascinated me and I wanted to attain a comprehensive understanding of what motivated him commit such horrific acts. Ted spent his early childhood growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his mother and maternal grandparents where Bundy was raised to believe his mother was his sibling and his grandparents were his parents. When Ted discovered Louise de ceived him about his parentage, he developed a strained relationshipRead MoreCase Study Analysis of Ted Bundy1041 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿A Case Study Analysis of Ted Bundy Introduction A personality disorder can be described as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that is extremely inflexible, deviates markedly from the expectations of a persons culture, and causes personal distress or behavioral impairment (Bernstein, Nietzel, McCauley Foust, 1997). Such patterns of problems in the personality of an individual can be traced to adolescence or even childhood. People who have been diagnosed with personalityRead MoreCase Study: Ted Bundy Essay2279 Words   |  10 Pages Theodore Robert Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell on November 24, 1949.His mother, Louise Cowell was unmarried at the time, and the name of his biological father has never been determined with certainty, however Lloyd Marshall was named on his birth certificate. Louise moved into her parent’s home shortly after Ted’s birth and allowed him to be raised as her ‘brother’ for quite some time. When Ted’s mother married Johnnie Culpepper Bundy in May 1 951 in Tacoma, Washington, when Theodore was fourRead MoreThe Case Study of Ted Bundy1365 Words   |  6 PagesTed Bundy Introduction Ted Bundy was one of the most vicious and notorious serial killers in United States history. His success in finding and slaughtering his prey was often due to his meticulous planning and preparation. In other moments he simply seized upon the opportunity to charm a woman he met without any prior planning and lured her to a place where he could kill her. He killed as many as 36 women, although authorities suggest that there may have been more victims than that. Was Bundy aRead MoreTed Bundy : The Most Notorious Criminals Of The 20th Century1716 Words   |  7 Pages Ted Bundy Ted Bundy is considered as one of the America’s most notorious criminals of the 20th century. He confessed to around 28 murders, but thought to be responsible for hundreds of deaths. He escaped custody killing at least three people, two college students and a twelve year old, before he was caught again and executed. While Ted Bundy is known for his charm, and many people believe he is a striking and intelligent man, he has a very troubled past; Bundy is remembered as a notorious serialRead MoreTed Bundy: Unlikely Serial Killer1415 Words   |  6 PagesTed Bundy: Unlikely Serial Killer Americans were shocked in the 1970s when authorities began reporting a string of disappearances of young women from Washington, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Florida and Oregon. The man behind these crimes was Theodore (Ted) Bundy. Many people still consider him to be one of the most notorious serial killers of all time and was once one of the FBI’s most wanted. He was officially tied to 36 murders, however he is believed to have committed more than one hundred. TheRead MorePsychology of Serial Killers1430 Words   |  6 PagesWe serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow. Theodore Robert Bundy In the past decade, Americans and researchers have given more and more of their attention to serial killers. The United States alone has contributed about 85% of the worlds serial killers. It has been said that they come in many different forms. Society has many words for serial killers. Holmes and DeBurger define serial murders as consistingRead MoreTed Bundy s Influence On The Family1591 Words   |  7 PagesTed Bundy was born on November 24, 1946 in Burlington, Vermont, bringing much disgrace to his mother and family. Bundy was born out of wed lock, his mother Eleanor Louis Cowell was twenty-two and was raised in an overly religious household. Cowell moved back home to Philadelphia with her parents to raise her new son. 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What is a Homosexual - 1018 Words

Andrew Sullivan, author of, What is a Homosexual, portrays his experience growing up; trapped in his own identity. He paints a detailed portrait of the hardships caused by being homosexual. He explains the struggle of self-concealment, and how doing so is vital for social acceptation. The ability to hide one’s true feelings make it easier to be â€Å"invisible† as Sullivan puts it. â€Å"The experience of growing up profoundly different in emotional and psychological makeup inevitably alters a person’s self-perception.†(Sullivan)This statement marks one of the many reasons for this concealment. The main idea of this passage is to reflect on those hardships, and too understand true self-conscious difference. Being different can cause identity†¦show more content†¦This term is based on the assumption that we as a whole understand differences in color, race, and sexuality. However, this portrays the idea that we truly understand homosexuality; in rea lity we have not. The more this term is analyzed the more society will stamp homosexuals for being â€Å"diverse†. Which they would like to few equal. Sullivan explains, â€Å"But as obsession with diversity intensifies, the possibility of real difference alarms and terrifies all the more. They are marginalized as â€Å"stereotypes†Ã¢â‚¬ . This fact demonstrates how homosexuality will be considered different no matter what day in age. Sullivan speaks of a homosexuals’ desire to cover-up. His own personal feel of emotional rejection fuels his attempts to do things that gave the perception of what he was not. â€Å"So I decided, consciously or subconsciously, to construct a trajectory of my life that would remove me from their company; give me an excuse, provide a dignified way out† (Sullivan). His â€Å"dignified way out† included creative writing, and theatre. He also goes into detail of how some of his fellow classmates would cover up by joi ning sport teams, attempting to make themselves fit the norm. This way he gained respect while still being self-consciously different. More examples of this kind of stereotyped discrimination is thought out in Brent Staples â€Å"Black Men and Public Space†. He starts off with a story of the typical discomforting energy he feels when trailing a whiteShow MoreRelatedâ€Å"the Sodomite Had Been a Temporary Aberration; the Homosexual Was Now Species.† Explain What Foucault Means by This Remark with Reference to the Nineteenth Century Process He Calls â€Å"the Medicalisation of the Sexually Peculiar†.2171 Words   |  9 Pagestemporary aberration; the homosexual was now species.† Explain what Foucault means by this remark with reference to the nineteenth century process he calls â€Å"the medicalisation of the sexually peculiar†. At the heart of the statement and references contained in the title are illustrations of how power is expressed through normative discourse in Western capitalist society. The process of how an act once termed ‘sodomy’ became transformed into the term ‘homosexual’ is fundamental to the natureRead More Gay Marriage Essay1308 Words   |  6 Pagesequal rights for homosexuals. They will all agree that homosexuals should have the same rights in housing, jobs, public accommodations, and should have equal access to government benefits, equal protection of the law, and other rights granted to US citizens. However, when the topic of marriage arises, all the talk of equality ceases. Over fifty percent of all people in the United States oppose homosexual marriage, despite the fact that most are otherwise supportive of homosexual rights. This meansRead MoreThe Rise Of Adolf Hitler And The National Socialist German Workers Party1511 Words   |  7 PagesSocialist German Workers Party (the Nazi Party) in Germany, homosexuals, were one of the various groups targeted by the Nazis and were ultimately among the Holocaust victims. Commencing in the early rule of Hitler, homosexual organizations were expelled, scholarly books about homosexuality, and sexuality in general, were destroyed, and homosexuals within the Nazi Party itself were detained or executed. The Gestapo assembled lists of homosexuals in Germany, who were obliged to sexually obey or conformRead MoreThe Issue Of The Homosexual Movement966 Words   |  4 Pagesor the redefinition of marriage, homosexual interests have come to characterize America. That’s an indication of the success of the homosexual agenda. And some Christians, including some national church leaders, have wavered on the issue even recently. But sadly, when people refuse to acknowledge the sinfulness of homosexuality—calling evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20)—they do so at the expense of many souls. How should you respond to the success of the homosexual movement? Should you accept theRead MoreGay Couples Adopting1042 Words   |  5 PagesHomosexuals must be allowed to adopt children just like any other couple who want to do the same thing. A child needs love, respect and a home in which they can assure themselves that there will be someone there to care for them. As in the example, there is no need for a dad and a mom who will always be arguing about the shared custody. Just because their parents are homosexuals does not mean that the child will grow up to be the same. Everyone is different and will grow up to be what they want toRead MoreArguments for Legalizing Gay Marriages Essays719 Words   |  3 PagesHomosexual Marriage Since 1971 when the first same sex couple Richard John Baker and James Michael McConnell applied for a marriage license and were denied in the Baker vs. Nelson ruling, America has been forced to debate whether homosexuals should be allowed to be married even though they are not the classical definition of a couple. 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Homosexuality is a topic that causes a lot of conflict and discussion, due to opposing views on whether is it ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. This article will discuss the various views surrounding homosexuals, the stereotypes they face and how these views have been constructed and how the representation of homosexuals has changed from the past to the

Critique of the Cultural Imperialism Theory free essay sample

?Abstract This paper stands to critique the Cultural Imperialism Theory. The paper further looks at both the negative and the positive effects of Cultural Imperialism. The cultural imperialism theory sets to shape the concept of cultural imperialism itself. It concludes that, though the western world is eroding the culture of developing countries and Nigeria as a study, Nigeria as a Nation should put on some safety belt in safeguarding our heritage. Keywords: culture, imperialism, media imperialism, cultural imperialism Introduction A man’s pride lies in his confidence and his personality is greatly nurtured by his culture. Culture is the characteristic of a particular group of people, defined by things such as language, religion, social habits, music and arts that are passed from one generation to the other; it can also be the tradition of the people (Zimmermann, 2012). According to the New Oxford Dictionary, culture is the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concept of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquire by a group of people in the course of generations through individual land group striving. Imperialism as defined by the Dictionary of Human Geography, is the creation and maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination. According to Downing, Mohammadi, and Sreberny-Mohammadi (1995), Imperialism is the conquest and control of one country by a more powerful one. According to Boyd-Barrett (1977 p. 117): Media imperialism is the process whereby the ownership, structure, distribution, or content of the media in any country are singly or together subject to substantial external pressures from the media interests of any other country or countries, without proportionate reciprocation of influence by the country so affected Ogan (1988) also states that, Media imperialism is often described as a process whereby the United States and Western Europe produce most of the media products, make the first profits from domestic sales, and then market the products in Third World countries at costs considerably lower than those the countries would have to bear to produce similar products at home. Cultural imperialism is the cultural aspects of imperialism. It can be seen as the cultural legacy of colonialism, or forms of social action contributing to the continuation of western culture. Cultural imperialism theory gained prominence in the 1970s. It explains the media situation as it existed at that time. The nature of media (electronic and print media), at that time, promoted a one-way, top-down transmission system from dominant country to dominated country that theoretically gave rise to a passive audience and a powerful media (Senupta and Frith, 1997 cited in White, 2001 and Ekeanyanwu 2012, p. 38). Therefore, cultural imperialism is the subjugation of a local culture and the imposition of an alien culture on the local culture (Ekeanyanwu, 2005:29). According to Schiller (1976): The concept of cultural imperialism today best describes the sum of the processes by which a society is brought into the modern world system and how its dominating stratum is attracted, pressured, forced, and sometimes bribed into shaping social institutions to correspond to, or even promote, the values and structures of the dominating center of the system. The public media are the foremost example of operating enterprises that are used in the penetrative process. For penetration on a significant scale the media themselves must be captured by the dominating/penetrating power. This occurs largely through the commercialization of broadcasting. (The press invariably is commercial at the outset). Positive and negative Influences of Cultural Imperialism on the Third World Nations Human beings learn new things through their five senses, and prominent among them are sight and hearing. Hence, people learn new things from the television and radio, especially from news reports and stories. They imitate what they read in books, magazines and newspapers about other countries that they think are more developed than them. It is important to note that no person or group of people or even a country can live alone without others. The mass media, as a major carrier of culture, help in so many ways in supplying the cultural shapes and vice versa in all developing countries. In the real sense of it, Cultural Imperialism has influenced the third world nations both positively and negatively. Cultural imperialism has led to the increase the pace of development in Nigeria and other less developed countries. Many good ideas and methods copied from developed countries like England, France and the USA have helped in no small measure to improve Nigeria in areas like education, health, housing, style of living, agriculture, trade and industries, systems of government and technology (Chrissey, 2008). These are the positive effects of cultural imperialism or interaction between Nigeria and the western countries but let’s not get carried away because it did more harm than good. Just as we are quick in copying the good things in foreign and developed countries, we are also tend, to be quick in picking up some habits which have led to a shift in our cultural orientation. Over-exposure to foreign culture has led to a shift in the cultural and religious organizations of Nigeria. Many programmes aired in Nigeria are foreign and their impact on the youth is that it has bred anti-social behaviors and negative values on the Nigerian youth. As a result of this influence, many Nigerians, mostly the youths, now dress, talk, eat and even behave like foreigners. Some adult females try to look like the whites by bleaching their skins. The way and manner in which foreign films, materials, and media contents influence our modes of dressing, behavior, dancing and general physical appearance is alarming, which if left unchecked could result to turning our nation into a cultureless society (Chrissey 2008). Limitations of cultural imperialism Theory This is evident in the countless definitions that have been offered by different critical theorists. The theory lacks precise definitions. The lack of conceptual precision or consensus has been a major obstacle to the development of a precise theory to inform research on cultural imperialism (Fejes, 1981; Lee, 1988). Sui-Nam Lee (1988) analyzed various terms relating to cultural imperialism, criticizing the theory for not being specific. But he did not help in making it any more specific as he proposes the use of yet another term communication imperialism complicating the notion of cultural imperialism. Uche (1996) draws clear and distinct lines between cultural imperialism, cultural synchronization and cultural juxtaposition. He argues that what most person call cultural imperialism may actually be regarded as cultural synchronization. According to him, cultural imperialism means external culture that is imposed upon another culture against their will. Cultural synchronization means an external culture that is welcomed and imitated by another culture which the external eventually supersedes in an evolutionary fashion. Cultural juxtaposition means the placing together of locally produced cultural elements with the externally produced (or as the opposition and coexistence) of distinct types of cultural productivity within late capitalism. This cultural imperialism theory totally goes against the uses and gratification model, which righty presumes an active media audience that are able to process and interpret media messages or stimuli from their individual socio-cultural experiences and backgrounds. It also builds on mass society and the magic bullet submissions which have long been discredited in media practice and scholarship (Ekeanyanwu 2001, p 41- 42). James Ettema, D. Charles Whitney, also suggested in their studies of the media that audiences make conscious choices concerning what they listen to, read, and watch. Defense for the Cultural Imperialism Theory One cannot merely degrade cultural imperialism because of a lack of definitive precision. One must recognize and accept cultural imperialism for what it is a critical theory; and as Litttlejohn (1999) argues critical theories consist of a loose confederation of ideas held together by a common interest in the quality of communication and human life (p. 15). Critical theories therefore operate at a macro-level, although less specific, rather than at the micro-level. Cultural imperialism focuses on broader, less explicit issues of culture, transnational media and political economy while active audience theory focuses on the individual audience members. One will note that this is one of the basic premises of the argument that cultural imperialists have used in defending the theory. Schiller, in response to active audience proponents, has contended that these researchers are basically trying to apply cultural imperialism to the micro-level or individual audience members and the theory does not attempt to explain this. Instead, the theory is designed for application to macro-level situations such as the flow of information between countries. A Reflection on the Cultural Imperialism Theory The author of this paper is of the opinion that cultural imperialism no longer exist. Cultural imperialism, according to Ekeanyanwu (2005), is the subjugation of a local culture and the imposition of an alien culture on the local culture. Initially, this could have been the order of the day but now it is more of cultural synchronization. According to Uche (1996), cultural synchronization means an external culture that is welcomed and imitated by another culture which the external eventually supersedes. From general observation we willingly accepted the Western way of life. Although, it took over our own culture because of our negligence, it still does not change the fact that we have imbibed it into our own culture. Furthermore, the author is also of the opinion that if developing countries like Nigeria, were still under the rule of the Westerners, it would be more developed than the stage it is now. It might not be called a developed nation but would be striving to get to that stage of development. Conclusion The very awareness of the presence of cultural imperialism serves to diminish its impact. Since we are aware of the negative influence and effects of cultural imperialism amongst us, our minds should be at alert in order to diminish its impact on us. The solution lies in the acceptance of our own culture. Let us learn to be proud of our own culture as we have no other place to call our own, but Africa.

Roles and Responsibilities of Employee-Free-Samples for Students

Questions: 1.In examining a performance management process, student provides a thorough and detailed explanation of employee's role and responsibilities are in working collaboratively with his/her direct supervisor to develop short- and long-term objectives in the plan. Explanation is supported by at least one relevant, scholarly source from course articles or updated research and at least one experiential example from current events or own experience. 2.Student provides a thorough and detailed explanation of who should be responsible for ensuring objectives are met and who has accountability for ensuring that measurable objectives are developed and met. Explanation is supported by at least one relevant, scholarly source from course articles or updated research and at least one experiential example from current events or own experience. Answers: 1.In the organizations, employees have some specific roles and responsibilities in collaboratively working with the supervisors for the development of short-term as well long-term objectives in the plan. It needs to be mentioned that it is the responsibility of employees in actively involving in various initiatives taken by the direct supervisor (Aguinis, 2013). It can be seen that the supervisors organize sessions of eliciting the success stories of the organizations. In this process, when asked, it is required for the employees to state any situation where they felt their best in the work and full of life. In this process, the employees are required to be very specific while describing the incidents so that it becomes easy for the supervisors to develop short as well as long-term objectives for them (Shields et al., 2015). After that, the supervisors of the companies organize sessions to know the facts contribute to the success of the employees. Thus, it is the responsibility of th e employees to take active part in this session by stating their major areas of strengths and weaknesses so that the supervisors can develop strategy accordingly. With the active contribution to this program by the employees, the supervisors become aware about the factors led to the success of the employees along with the organizations (Aguinis, 2013). Thus, from the above discussion, it can be observed that the it is required for the employees to continuously interact with their direct supervisors. In this context, it needs to be mentioned that it is also the responsibility of the supervisors to support the employees so that they become able to express themselves in an effective manner (Anitha, 2014). 2.The above discussion sheds light on the roles and responsibilities of the employees in the development of long-term as well short-term objectives in the objectives. After that, it is required to achieve these objectives. In this process, it is the responsibility of both the employees and the supervisors to meet the objectives for the development of plan as both the employees and the supervisors have almost equal contribution towards this (Decramer, Smolders Vanderstraeten, 2013). It is the responsibility of the supervisors to develop different kinds of strategies for the achievements of the developed objectives. At the same time, it is required for the supervisors to motivate the employees towards achieving the objectives. At the same time, it is also required for the employees to respond to their supervisors for the effective achievement of the objectives (Aguinis, 2013). It is needed for the employees to follow the developed strategies by the supervisors. Thus, it can be seen th at the contribution from both the employees and the supervisors is required to meet the objectives. However, it needs to be mentioned that the supervisors are solely responsible for measuring whether the objectives are met or not. In this process, the supervisors implement different types of strategies like 360 Degree Feedback and many others (Cascio, 2018). Thus, it can be seen that the supervisors are responsible for the evaluation of the objectives References Aguinis, H. (2013). Performance management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Chapter 8, Performance Management and Employee Development Anitha, J. (2014). Determinants of employee engagement and their impact on employee performance.International journal of productivity and performance management,63(3), 308. Cascio, W. (2018).Managing human resources. McGraw-Hill Education. Decramer, A., Smolders, C., Vanderstraeten, A. (2013). Employee performance management culture and system features in higher education: relationship with employee performance management satisfaction.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,24(2), 352-371. Shields, J., Brown, M., Kaine, S., Dolle-Samuel, C., North-Samardzic, A., McLean, P., ... Plimmer, G. (2015).Managing Employee Performance Reward: Concepts, Practices, Strategies. Cambridge University Press.