When Disobedience is Acceptable essays

When Disobedience is Acceptable essays In the year 2000, one can go to most any high school football game and observe a ritual that is becoming more and more widespread and symbolic in meaning to its participants. Before the football game begins, the Star Spangled Banner is played and sung, the flag is raised, and each schools band plays their Alma Mater. But where in years past there would have been a stadium-wide prayer for the safety and happiness of players, students, and fans, there is naught but silence. During the few moments where a prayer would have been given, one can see small groups of high school students trickling down out of the bleachers and onto the track, where they come together in a circular huddle to make a statement. An array of groups is represented; one can see cheerleaders in their suits, band members in their uniforms, even students in their plainclothes melding together in this group to have their pre-game prayer. Although the law has made it known that prayers before high school football games are unacceptable, these students are taking a stand and making their opinions known through civil disobedience. The issue of prayer at high school football games is but one of many issues today that calls individuals to civil disobedience. But this concept of civil disobedience is not a solely modern one; as long as there have been governments and laws and systems for individuals to control themselves and one another, there has been civil disobedience. Both Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. were advocates of civil disobedience. In their writings, Civil Disobedience and Letter from Birmingham Jail they both approach civil disobedience as an honorable way of maintaining personal integrity, and as an incendiary device to ignite the flames of revolution and change. In Thoreaus time, the abolition of slavery was a contemporary and hugely important issue. Similarly, in Kings time, the battle raged again...

Act One Plot Summary of Pygmalion

Act One Plot Summary of Pygmalion George Bernard Shaw wrote over forty plays during the course long life of 94 years. Pygmalion, written in 1913, became his most famous work. Check out our article on Shaws biography to learn more about his life and literature. Quick Synopsis Its the tale of a conceited professor of linguistics, Henry Higgins, and the brash, incorrigible young woman named Eliza Doolittle. Higgins sees the cockney girl as a great challenge. Can she learn to speak like a refined English lady? Higgins endeavors to transform Eliza in his own image, and he gets much more than he ever bargained for. Pygmalion in Greek Mythology The title of the play is derived from ancient Greece. According to Greek Mythology, Pygmalion was a sculptor who created a beautiful statue of a woman. The gods grant the artist a wish by making the sculpture come to life. The main character in Shaws play is not a sculptor; however, he does become enamored with his own creation. Plot Summary of Act One Professor Henry Higgins wanders the streets of London, absorbing the local color and studying the various dialects those around him. A crowd of people huddle together, due to the sudden downpour of rain. A wealthy woman tells her adult son, Freddy to hail a taxi. He complains but obeys, bumping into a young woman selling flowers: Eliza Doolittle. She asks a man to buy flowers from her. He declines, but gives her spare change, for charitys sake. Another man warns Eliza that she should be careful; a stranger has been writing down every word she has been saying. The stranger is Prof. Henry Higgins who reveals his shorthand notes. She is distressed, thinking that she is in trouble. Henry rebukes her: HIGGINS: Dont be ridiculous. Whos hurting you, you silly girl? The crowd gives Higgins a hard time when they realize he is a gentleman instead of a policeman. At first, the citizens are quite concerned about the poor flower girl. Eliza expresses her distress (and reveals the nature of the crowd) in the following quote and subsequent stage direction: ELIZA: I aint done nothing wrong by speaking to the gentleman. Ive a right to sell flowers if I keep off the kerb. (Hysterically) Im a respectable girl: so help me, I never spoke to him except to ask him to buy a flower off me. (General hubbub, mostly sympathetic to the flower girl, but deprecating her excessive sensibility. Cries of Dont start hollerin. Whos hurting you? Nobodys going to touch you. Whats the good of fussing? Steady on. Easy, easy, etc., come from the elderly staid spectators, who pat her comfortingly. Less patient ones bid her shut her head, or ask her roughly what is wrong with her. (...) The flower girl, distraught and mobbed, breaks through them to the gentleman, crying mildly.) Oh, sir, dont let him charge me. You dunno what it means to me. Theyll take away my character and drive me on the streets for speaking to gentlemen. Prof. Higgins listens to peoples accents and cleverly recognizes where they are from and where they have been. The crowd is both impressed and perturbed at his uncanny abilities. The rain stops and the crowd disperses. Colonel Pickering, the man who gave Doolittle spare change, is intrigued by Higgins. The professor explains that he can identify a persons origins based solely on phonetics, the science of speech. Meanwhile, Eliza is still nearby, sulking and muttering to herself. Higgins complains that the flower girls speech is an insult to the majestic English language. Yet he also boasts that he is so skilled in phonetics that he could train her to speak like royalty. Pickering reveals his name, explaining that he has written a book on Indian dialects. By coincidence, Higgins had been hoping to meet the distinguished Colonel, just as Col. Pickering had been hoping to meet Higgins. Delighted by their chance encounter, Higgins insists that Pickering stay at his home. Before they leave, Eliza begs them to buy some of her flowers. Higgins drops a large amount of coins into her basket, amazing the young woman who very likely has never paid so much. She celebrates by taking a taxi cab home. Freddy, the wealthy young man who originally hailed the taxi says Well, Im dashed, in response to the flower girls confident attitude.

Zara Digital Strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Zara Digital Strategy - Assignment Example It is of the essence to note that there are various players when it comes to the clothing industry. These firms have also adapted rigorous strategies to ensure that they tap into the market potential and maintain the customers which they gain in the process. In the case of Zara, the first thing which should be embraced is to do with technology. The contemporary world is one which is marred with a lot of digital content. In this connection, the company ought to establish a significant presence on the internet. The website should be optimized for the purpose of ensuring it can be easily found and the information on it can be easily accessed. The company can also partner with search engine companies and include advertisements on the web pages that are searched. This will ensure that a significant number of web users are aware of the company and the activities it engages in. Still in the case of internet presence, the company should have a presence on popular social network sites such as Twitter and Facebook. This is because such sites have a significant number of users who may have an interest on the products which are on offer. The information on these sites relating to the company should be continually updated to reflect the happenings within the company especially with regards to the products. The main idea in the case of the marketing is to get as many people as possible to know about the products which Zara has to offer. At the same time, these people should also be shown that they can acquire the products which are on offer. The target market with regards to the products cuts across all age groups; ranging from the young even to people in their elderly years. Similarly, the prices of the commodities are mid range. This means that a significant number of individuals can own the clothes. The marketing activity is one which can take quite a lot of financial outlay. However, the most important thing is to ensure

Spatial City Park and Ride Transport Planning Essay

Spatial City Park and Ride Transport Planning - Essay Example The system is meant to have people park their cars, motorcycles and bicycles at a given place the take a ride in larger vehicle like a bus to complete their journey. The destinations include offices, market places, banks, schools, hospitals, residential areas, entertainment spots, leisure parks, airports, railway stations and city exit highways among others. The transport system must therefore be designed in a way that enables a smooth transition from a personal to a collective mode of transport (Rondanini, 1981, 42). It is important to note that buses used for this purpose are big and clumsy vehicles that need lots of space to turn, park and take off as the services they offer may demand. The main advantage of buses is that they are cheap to move in because they carry a lot of people at a go thus the passengers benefit from economies of scale. Moreover, despite their clumsiness, they are far more versatile than trams and trains which need more room and rails in order to run. They are therefore an integral part of city transport planning (Le Corbusier, 1985, 81). All the same due to their clumsiness, one of the things to avoid in planning is the idea of the Park and Ride buses moving everywhere in the town thus causing snarl ups and a general bad temper among motorists and pedestrians alike. Buses must have specific routes that they use so as to avoid this unpleasant eventuality. However, these routes will prove to be of little use if they do not get the passengers as close to where they wish to go as possible (Le Corbusier, 1985, 81). The London Park and Ride System Plan A close look at the London Plan reveals that all these factors were taken into consideration when the transport system was being designed. Though it is not a building, a road design still has to adhere to the three tenets of architecture identified by the Roman architect Vitruvius being firmitas, utilitas, venustas (durability, utility and beauty) (Rowland & Howe,1999, 2). For the transport system, durability depends on utility in that the roads must continue to serve their purposes without the need to change them. The system also needs to be well made overall for aesthetic value (Rowland & Howe,1999, 2). The London bus plan seen in Fig 1 below was actually set up to ensure that all the major areas were either served directly by bus and other light transit forms such as small goods trucks or the transport was available as close to them as possible. The main transit line cuts right across the city from Notting Hill in the west to Liverpool Street in the east across the river Thames. Links were created along this main line connecting other parts of the city northwards and southwards. The East London transit phase connected the transit lines in the east of the city while the several extensions that were made later connected other areas to the north and south. Tramlinks at The Bus Route System Fig. 1 London Bus Routes (Courtesy of Maps of the World, 2011, Croydon, Purley and Sutton to the south served a similar purpose of connecting the southern areas of t he city (The London Plan, 2011). As seen in Fig 1 above most of the bus routes are concentrated around the center of the city between the Marble Arch and Trafalgar Square. This is because the center of the city is naturally where most of the business and tour activities take place hence a high number of visitors. As stated earlier, the design of these transport system cannot fail to take into consideration the aesthetic value and general heritage of the city. The routes were strategically designed to pas as close as possible to the major landmarks of the city. The landmarks include the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, The London Bridge and the three parks of Regent’

Pre-Columbian History of the Caribbean Indigenous People Essay Example for Free

Pre-Columbian History of the Caribbean Indigenous People Essay Both indigenous groups, Tainos and Siboneys migrated to the Caribbean region. The first indigenous group to migrate to the Caribbean was the Siboneys. Although their origin has been debated, the common perception is that they came from either the southern top of modern day Florida or Mexico. It is estimated that around 500 B. C. they settled in the Greater Antilles region of the Caribbean. This region includes the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica. The Taino migration occurred approximately around the same time as the Siboneys. Their migration started from the South American mainland, most notably the area between Venezuela and Colombia to the area known as the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. This area included islands such as Trinidad and the Virgin Islands. The Taino utilized canoes to travel between each island during their migration. The canoes were made out of tree trunks and measured approximately 25 meters in length. Each canoe had a travel capacity of approximately 50 people. The main reason for the Taino migration was increased agitation and threats from the Carib indigenous people from the same region in South America. The Caribs were fierce in the their pursuit of the Taino and followed them up into the Lesser Antilles. Culturally, both the Taino and Siboney differed greatly. The Siboneys communed in small societies. Some would argue that they were culturally unsophisticated. They did not make any complex tools, just wood, stone and shells. The Siboney’s also settled by the riverside since they did not practice any form of agriculture. Their diet consisted of easily attainable animals such as fish and reptiles. They also ate wild fruits that were native to the islands. Conversely, the Taino were more advanced than their northern neighbor the Siboneys. The Taino had a complex society that consisted of settlements of as much as 500 inhabitants. They also contained a social structure for each settlement that consisted of a chief known as a cacique, a tier of elders who represented various families of each settlement, women and children. The Taino designated tasks to its members according to their position. Men cleared uninhabited areas of land and fished. Women were in charge of crop cultivation and child rearing. Unlike the Siboneys, the Taino mastered the art of farming. They farmed various crops such as yucca, guava and sweet potatoes. They also hunted various small game around the islands. The Taino also mastered clay pottery. Lastly, the Taino exercised their religious beliefs regularly. They believed in Gods that they called Zemis. The Caicique’s job was to carry out religious ceremonies by nasally ingesting a hallucinogenic mixture of tobacco and crushed sea shells through a long pipe called a cohoba. This snuff allowed the caciques to communicate with their Gods. Unlike the Siboneys, the Taino were a highly advanced society. They played a sophisticated team game called â€Å"Batey†. This game can be considered as the precursor to modern day soccer. Specially designed ball courts were created for Batey. In addition, The Taino also created jewelry and ornaments in which both men and women wore to Festivals and other celebratory events. In conclusion, the Taino and Siboney indigenous people both migrated to the Caribbean region. They both make up the genealogical and cultural starting point for all individuals who hail from the Caribbean region.

The Feminist Movement in A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen Essay -- Doll?

The Feminist Movement in A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen    In Henrik Ibsen's, A Doll's House, the character of Nora Helmer goes through the dramatic transformation of a kind and loving housewife, to a desperate and bewildered woman, whom will ultimately leave her husband and everything she has known. Ibsen uses both the characters of Torvald and Nora to represent the tones and beliefs of 19th century society. By doing this, Ibsen effectively creates a dramatic argument that continues to this day; that of feminism. We are introduced in Act I with Nora returning from Christmas shopping. Ibsen utilizes this time for dramatic purposes of the Christian holidays and to show the struggle between a middle class marriage. Nora plans on having a big holiday bash, while Torvald would rather refrain since there is a rather limited cash flow. "Nora: Oh yes, Torvald, we can squander a little now...piles of money" (Ibsen 1506). Torvald follows up with, "But then it is three full months till the raise comes through" (Ibsen , 1506). Nora at this point in the play is nothing more than a child, careless in her action and not thinking ahead of possible consequences. Nora sees nothing wrong in spending big on Christmas. Granted this is a righteous cause, since the holidays are about giving to others, but still a parent should know the limit of happiness they should bring. At this point Torvald begins to act as "society" and unknowingly begins to use condescending terms towards Nora. "Are you scatterbrains off again?" (Ibsen 1506), "...my dear little Nora." (Ibsen 1507), (You're an odd little one" (Ibsen 1507). Torvald sees nothing wrong in these little pet names he gives Nora. He is absolutely right there is nothing wrong with pet name... ...aged to awaken or give strength to the feminist movement. Works Cited and Consulted Durbach, Errol. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Longford, Elizabeth. Eminent Victorian Women. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1981. Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart. "The Angel Over the Right Shoulder." Solomon 1: 156-64. Solomon, Barbara H., ed. Rediscoveries: American Short Stories by Women, 1832-1916. New York: Penguin Group, 1994. Templeton, Joan. "Is A Doll House a Feminist Text?" (1989). Rpt. In Meyer. 1635-36. Templeton, Joan. "The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen." PMLA (January 1989): 28-40.

Should Drinking Age Be Increased to 21

Should drinking age be increased to 21. It is no secret, that people drink alcohol before they turn 21. Stories about drinking on college campuses and high school parties are very easy to find. That is why underage drinking can be stopped if the law were changed. The major reason that people drink at an early age is because they feel it is fun and exciting to do something they are not supposed to. However, if it would be lowered to 18, then the trill of doing something illegal would vanish. Besides that, 18 is the age of adulthood in the United States, and adults should have the right to make their own decisions about alcohol consumption.What is also very important, that other countries had demonstrated that young people, who are allowed to drink at the age of 18, don’t go wild. Although the legal alcohol purchase age is 21, a majority of college students under this age consume alcohol in an irresponsible manner. This is because drinking by these youth is seen as enticing â₠¬Å"forbidden fruit†, a â€Å"badge of rebellion against authority† and a symbol of adulthood. According to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism the major argument for lowering the drinking age is that prohibitions have always provoked over – indulgence.Those of us who have attended college over the last 25 years can certainly attest to the fact that the law has done nothing to diminish freshman and sophomore access to alcohol. It has only pushed underage consumption underground. The statistics show that many underage people drive home after a night of drinking in order to hide it from their parents. If the drinking age were lowered, young adults would feel less pressure to notify their parents that they have been drinking. Ultimately, the greatest threat to people’s safety comes, when young adults drive home under the influence.In addition, we say that 18 year olds are adult enough to kill and die in the armed forces, change the course of a n ation in the voting both, judge other adults on a jury, be prosecuted as an adult, enter into binding contracts, operate automobiles and heavy machinery, smoke tobacco, own and operate a business, have a bank account and credit card, own a house, be married and have a family of their own. As a Froma Harrop, nationally syndicated columnist wrote in her Feb. 9, 2010 article â€Å"Age Discrimination for the Young† â€Å"Being adult who cannot have a beer is highly, absurdly inconsistent. â€Å" According o her, in our imperfect world, the law has to draw lines, however arbitrary. But laws that only appear to address a problem by burdening young people aren’t wise, and they aren’t fair. For the past 20 years, the U. S. has maintained a Minimum Legal Drinking Age of 21, while in most other countries is 18, and in U. K. is as low as 16 in restaurants. According to John Cloud, writer for Time Magazine, all those countries with drinking age under 21 tend to have fewer alcohol – related problems, than we do in the U. S. In those countries, people learn how to drink from an early age and do so in the safe and supporting environment of the home.Alcohol statistics say that teens coming from homes that had no alcohol and were not taught how to drink responsibly had more issues with alcohol. The behavior in these teens was less risky if parents allowed them to drink at home. In today’s world alcohol is and always going to be a problem no matter what age we are. However, there is no evidence of massive brain impairment, alcohol dependency, or underage alcohol abuse, which the experts tell us, will be the inevitable result of lowering the drinking age in the United States.By lowering drinking age, young adults would be allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, taverns, pubs and official school and university functions. In these situations responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational prog rams. Mature and sensible drinking behavior would be expected. If the drinking age was lowered, it will help kids realize how important alcohol is, and how mature we must become when we are under the influence of alcohol.