No Longer at Ease Essay -- Chinua Achebe No Longer at Ease Essays

No Longer at Ease The story explores the conflicts in Obi Okonkwo's life. He is a young man from Eastern Nigeria who has to develop his career in the midst of all his problems. He is pressurised by the men of his tribe, the Umuofia Progressive Union, not to forget his traditions and to pay his dues to they helped him to be educated. He is also faced with the conflict of adhering to the Christian principle his father Isaac Okonkwo, a staunch Christian, raised him with and the seduction of the so-called â€Å"evil Western influences† on the younger Nigeria generation. Moreover he falls in love with a woman, Clara, who is considered by tribe to be from a cursed family. His parents don't approve of his engagement to her and he has to choose between his love for her or pleasing his family and tribe. Loved it No Longer at Ease is beautifully written book about colonialism and the alienating influence it has on those Africans who lose touch with their roots as they try to adapt to the changing times. I enjoyed this rich, challenging and fascinating story. The Usurper and Other Stories, The Village of waiting, Disciples of Fortune, Anthills of the Savannah, Triple Agent Double Cross are some of the other African titles I enjoyed. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 star1 star1 star1 star1 star A Sensitive, Complex Novel The title of Chinua Achebe's No Longer at Ease suggests the possibility of a time when there was "ease." The struggles of the protagonist, Obi Okonkwo, a twenty-six year old Umuofian educated in the British Colonial system and at the university in Great Britain, are analogous to the struggles facing Nigerian society during the period at the end of ... ...ose and becomes one of many bribe-taking officials that he formerly despised, leading to a tragic end. In many ways, No Longer at Ease reflects upon the problems facing much of Africa today, corruption and tradition conflicting with progress. The western world may condemn their rampant corruption as Obi first did but it is at the bottom of a spiral of other problems. Chinua Achebe continues to use his characteristically simple style evident in Things Fall Apart for No Longer at Ease. He combines phrases in native languages and uses folk tales to illustrate examples. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the language does not serve to keep the reader's interest completely. At times it feels choppy and almost too simplistic, leaving out details that could serve to further the story. Nevertheless, No Longer at Ease is a remarakble parable of modern Africa. No Longer at Ease Essay -- Chinua Achebe No Longer at Ease Essays No Longer at Ease The story explores the conflicts in Obi Okonkwo's life. He is a young man from Eastern Nigeria who has to develop his career in the midst of all his problems. He is pressurised by the men of his tribe, the Umuofia Progressive Union, not to forget his traditions and to pay his dues to they helped him to be educated. He is also faced with the conflict of adhering to the Christian principle his father Isaac Okonkwo, a staunch Christian, raised him with and the seduction of the so-called â€Å"evil Western influences† on the younger Nigeria generation. Moreover he falls in love with a woman, Clara, who is considered by tribe to be from a cursed family. His parents don't approve of his engagement to her and he has to choose between his love for her or pleasing his family and tribe. Loved it No Longer at Ease is beautifully written book about colonialism and the alienating influence it has on those Africans who lose touch with their roots as they try to adapt to the changing times. I enjoyed this rich, challenging and fascinating story. The Usurper and Other Stories, The Village of waiting, Disciples of Fortune, Anthills of the Savannah, Triple Agent Double Cross are some of the other African titles I enjoyed. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 star1 star1 star1 star1 star A Sensitive, Complex Novel The title of Chinua Achebe's No Longer at Ease suggests the possibility of a time when there was "ease." The struggles of the protagonist, Obi Okonkwo, a twenty-six year old Umuofian educated in the British Colonial system and at the university in Great Britain, are analogous to the struggles facing Nigerian society during the period at the end of ... ...ose and becomes one of many bribe-taking officials that he formerly despised, leading to a tragic end. In many ways, No Longer at Ease reflects upon the problems facing much of Africa today, corruption and tradition conflicting with progress. The western world may condemn their rampant corruption as Obi first did but it is at the bottom of a spiral of other problems. Chinua Achebe continues to use his characteristically simple style evident in Things Fall Apart for No Longer at Ease. He combines phrases in native languages and uses folk tales to illustrate examples. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the language does not serve to keep the reader's interest completely. At times it feels choppy and almost too simplistic, leaving out details that could serve to further the story. Nevertheless, No Longer at Ease is a remarakble parable of modern Africa.

Found Objects

Carrington Lucas Spring 2013 Essay 1 Found Object Essay As I stumble my way through life, I found the one thing that the thing that is very important to me my family. Nothing compares how greatly family impacts people. I can’t imagine myself having a career that doesn’t involve helping my family or others’. I want family to be a part of my life, regardless if I am being an orthodontist for children or working in finance making sure that families are financially stable. There are many reasons why family is important to me.All of those reasons define who I am and who I will be in the future. My first reason why family is important to my life is because they have always been there for me. Many of my peers succeed at certain sports or even various classes like English or Calculus. Although, I did struggle with my other activities and curriculum classes, family has always been there. Throughout middle school and high school, I competed with my friend for captain of th e soccer team. I didn’t beat him until eighth grade when my hard work finally paid off.Because of this, I now realize how dedication and persistence can help someone achieve one’s goals. If I never decided to join the soccer team and compete for first captain, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to challenge myself and gain the skills and characteristics that would benefit me throughout the rest of my life, if it had not been for my family pushing me to excel. Another reason why family is important to my life is because of the knowledge I am exposed to.Nothing is more exhilarating to me than listening to wisdom or just encouraging words that seem to mean nothing to me at first glance then being able to apply them later in life. Lastly, my most important reason is because music has made my relationship with God closer than ever, because of everything I have gained through family, I am confident I’m going in the right direction with my life. I have finally found my passion for helping others and I never want to let go of it. Family helped me gain new friends, love, passion, drive, knowledge and a lot of other things. For that I will always be grateful.

Collective security during the interwar period Essay

The term ‘collective security’ can be defined as a security agreement in which all states cooperate directly, collectively, and and every state accepts that the security of one is in the concern of all. In other words, when one of the states part of this agreement violates the rights to freedom of other nations, all other member states will have to join forces to restore peace, penalizing the aggressor state. This model is based on participation and compulsoriness. An agressor state is about to meet a united opposition of the entire world community. The concept of collective security is based on the consent of all or the majority of states to act against any state that unlawfully violates peace. The main idea of collective security is the assumption that no state will want to change the power and order of world community, and if so, all other states will act together against the aggressor state in order to reestablish the global equilibrium. An ideal collective security organization assumes a very high degree of congruent interest among its members. 1 Interstate rivalry and power politics and effectively elliminated.2 As a legal form of states’ cooperation, a collective security system differs from any traditional alliance. The alliance is the way in which a state gets benefits in the event of a conflict after an agreement with another state or several states involved to a predetermined level to maintain their common interest. Alliances form because weak states band together against great powers in order to survive in an anarchic international system.3 The alliance pattern involves the decision to change or maintain the balance of power at local, regional or global level. In general, an alliance has on the other side another alliance with opposite purposes. It is, therefore, a structure of bloc against bloc. Arising from the need to find a way to avoid the outbreak of a new world war, collective security represented, in the interwar period, at least for some countries in Europe, almost the only option of foreign  policy that seemed viable to defend the national interests. The term ‘League of Nations’ (Society of Nations) existed since 1908, when Là ©on Bourgeois4 proposed a new system of organizing international relations. The idea was taken up and supported by groups and associations in France, Great Britain and United States of America, where presidents Roosevelt and Taft supported the formula of a security system in which aggressors automatically received economic and military sanctions from the international community. In June 1915, a League for strengthening peace, supported by Taft, was in favour for a Society of Nations based on collective security and strengthening international law. President Woodrow Wilson is the one who, on 27th of May 1916 marked for the first time, in concrete, institutional terms, the project of such an organization. In 1920, the League of Nations formally established, with the entry into force of the Covenant of the League of Nations, ratified by 42 states in 1919. The organization was meant to include all countries and to resist aggression in all parts of the globe.5 While all members participated in the General Assembly, the League Council was established to guide the operation of the organization. 6 The authority of the League was never seriously questioned, until the early 1930s, when a series of events proved its ineffectiveness. The League of Nations was concieved as a tool for maintaining international peace and security and for promoting interstate cooperation. The main mean by which the League was to ensure peacekeeping was a collective security system, at least in Europe, based on the principle ‘all for one’. According to this principle, all states should have been engaged in mutual guarantee of international peace and security. This concept was included in both League of Nations Covenant and peace treaties. The problem of creating a collective security system specifically concerned the small and medium states. With no ability of defending themselves in the face of possible aggression coming from great powers, the system of collective security was the only defending solution. Hence, the small and medium states were the most active in terms of supporting the Society of Nations’ efforts of peacekkeping. Their position towards this problem proved to be crucial both on the prospects of the forum in Geneva , as in peace prospects. The League of Nations represented a start in the process of democratization and evolution of international life, in the direction of establishing a new system in which  all states can find a place and role, a tribune for expressing their positions, under the aegis of general principles of international law. There were obtained achievements in different fields, of interstate cooperation, there were tested some mechanisms of peacekeeping, there were made efforts for promoting economic development in the spirit of interdependence, which was more and more obvious at an international level. Contrary to all these positive elements, the League of Nations was ultimately a failure and couldn’t fulfill its key objectives: prevent another war by creating a security system based on collective guarantees, resolving conflicts by peaceful means and eliminating economic crises by promoting openness in international trade relations, according to the requirements of globalization. The general crisis in 1929 – 1923 which had devastating effects on the economic, political and moral field and the rise of the totalitarian regimes opened the door for the World War II, which ended, at the same time, the attempt of a League of Nations in building a world of peace, security and prosperity. The League of Nations ceased to function with the beginning of World War II, although the formal decision to dissolve the League was adopted after the entry into force of the UN Charter on April 18, 1946. The United Nations, like the League, emerged in the wake of a devastating war.7 Romania in the League of Nations In order to better understand how the system of collective security works, I chose to talk about what meant to Romania the membership in the League of Nations and the benefits it enjoyed through this status. Romania, one of the 32 founding members of the League of Nations, contributed, under the aegis of this organization, at creating a general security system throughout Europe and especially in South Eastern Europe. Romania’s main purpose was keeping the territorial status-quo, which implicitly meant the integration of Greater Romania. Regarding the benefits of being part of the League, an advantage would be the prestige of being a member, as Nicolae Titulescu said: â€Å"Allow me to express my deep gratitude for the great honor you have done to my country and to me, personally, by handing, through your votes, the great dignity of being President of the 11th Assembly of League of  Nations†.8 The benefits arose from correlating the membership with the fact that Romani a had emerged victorious from the Great War, won enough territories to unite Romanians under one state and needed protection because these territories were an inportant target for the neighbours also. Aditionally, the League united the world’s most influential states and declared a forum for discussion in the spirit of arbitration, consensus and justice. Therefore, the member states were seen from the outside as being driven by the same values. Accepting Romania in the League of Nations meant the acknowledgement that it agreed with the principles of the organization. The League of Nation’s main goal was ensuring peace. From my point of view, all nations that were members of the League, believed in democracy and freedom, but the political leadership had not always reflected these ideals. When the political leadership tended to war, the only barriers were those related to methods and not to ideals. The benefit that Romania had being a member of League of Nations was one of prestige, because joining the organization meant a statement of principles that corresponded to those of the civilized world. Therefore, being a member of the League indicated that the state was inte grated in the world’s civilized nations and that’s what Romania wanted. Joining the League of Nations meant for the Romanian people the end of the period in which was threatened by the Great Powers and could not develop because of that. Once it joined the Society of Nations, Romania acceeded all the international organisms related to the League. Among these, the one that brought the most benefits to Romania was International Labour Organization. A very good study of that time’s ideas regarding the International Labour Organization was made by Grigore Trancu-IaÅŸi9, in a conference form, shown in ‘Romania’s foreign policy, 19 public lectures organized by the Romanian Social Institute’. The author identified the principles of this organization as needed to be urgently implemented by its members. The principles could be regarded as ‘left’, but were more like ideas that approached the society to social justice. The League recognized the idea that its supreme ideal was that peace cannot happen where there is no social justice. The International Labour Organization ensured bringing social justice through the prospect of working conditions. Romania, as a member of the Organization, registerd benefits in the social justice and had the right of decision over these measures. This paper aims to analyze what  collective security meant for the society in the inter-war period and, particularly, what meant to Romania and the effects of being in a collective security organization. Romania had multiple benefits generated by its membership in the League of Nations, even though this organization failed on its supreme mission. Romania’s benefits from being a member of the League related to international prestige, good relations with the neighbours, social justice and the most important, international power increase. Bibliography: MORGENTHAU, Hans J., International Affairs: The Ressurection of Neutrality in Europe†, The American Political Science Review, vol. 33, nr. 3; Politica ExternÄÆ' a Romà ¢niei – 19 prelegeri publice organizate de Institutul Social Romà ¢n, Institutul Social Romà ¢n, BucureÅŸti, 1926; SCUTARU, Ioan, Romà ¢nia ÅŸi Marile Puteri, editura FundaÃ… £iei „Romà ¢nia de Mà ¢ine†, Bucuresti, 1999; KUPCHAN, Charles A. and KUPCHAN Clifford A., Concerts, Collective Security and the Future of Europe, International Security, Vol. 16, No.1, Summer 1991; RISSE-KAPPEN, Thomas, Collective Identity in a Democratic Community: The case of NATO, 1996. MIROIU, Andrei, BalanÃ… £Ã„Æ' ÅŸi Hegemonie: Romà ¢nia à ®n politica mondialÄÆ', 1913 – 1989, Editura Tritonic, BucureÅŸti, 2005.

Ant and Grasshopper

Subject: Ant And Grasshoper (Must Read) The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer  building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs   dances plays the summer away. Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper  has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold. *Indian Version:**  The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer  building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ants a fool and laughs   dances plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press  conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm  and well fed while others are cold and starving. NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering  Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table  filled with food. The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be  that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ants house. * Medha Patkar goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppersdemanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter. Mayawati states this as `injustice done on Minorities. Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticize the IndianGovernment for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper. The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to theGrasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace  for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) . Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for  Bengal Bandh in West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry. CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from  working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and  Grasshoppers. Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway  Trains, aptly named as the Grasshopper Rath. Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the Prevention of Terrorism Against  Grasshoppers Act [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the winter. Arjun Singh makes Special Reservation for Grasshoppers in Educational  Institutions in Government Services. The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing leftto pay his retroactive taxes, its home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV. Arundhati Roy calls it A Triumph of Justice. Lalu calls it Socialistic Justice . CPM calls it the Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden Koffi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly. **   Many years later. **  The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company in Silicon Valley, 100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in India, AND As a result of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding  the grasshoppers,  India is still a developing country. |

For or Against the thesis of The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein Term Paper

For or Against the thesis of The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein - Term Paper Example This was supposed to be a boon to the mankind, but is slowly turning out to be a bane. Lately, many researchers and experts have raised doubts over the positive impact of these technologies. One such argument is raised by Mark Bauerlein (2009) in his book â€Å"The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Dont Trust Anyone Under 30)†. The main thesis of the book is clearly stated in its subtitle: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Dont Trust Anyone Under 30). Bauerlein (2009) argues that the Millennials (generation born in 1980’s and 1990’s: age group of 12 – 30 years) have access to more technology and information than any other generation in the past, but they fail miserably to use that technology and information. They have failed to use the advents of the digital age to expand their knowledge and skills. Instead, the digital age seems to have contracted their knowledge and skills. This paper is an agreement with the above thesis and is aimed at proving the thesis right. The paper argues for the thesis of the book: â€Å"The Dumbest Generation†. The argument is supported by the numerous peer-reviewed articles. One of the main reasons that Bauerlein points out which has resulted in the poor state of the millennials is the fact that the digital media is intrinsic in nature. Books have been one of the main tools of passing on knowledge through the generations. But today’s under 30’s generation do not read books at all. Veteran English teacher Kelly Gallagher has pointed out that there is a widespread lack of interest in reading among students. Students read very less and as a result have no ability to comprehend what they read. As a result of lesser reading, there is a gap in the prior background and knowledge that the students posses. Hence, they are able to read what’s on the page but fail to understand or comprehend what it is.

Cross cultural management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Cross cultural management - Case Study Example   SICLI is a well-known company in security segment that has its operations running from past 90 years. The company originally had its operations localized only in France but in later stage business operations were expanded into other geographical areas. All types of security-related products like fire extinguishers, gas detection, fire detection, security training services, etc., are manufactured by the company. SICLI has expanded its operations into global markets like USA, European, African markets, etc. French expats are utilized by the firm so as to enhance efficiency level of African operations. The firm encompasses large base of experienced employees and it is not possible for them to adapt to a completely new environment. Employees of SICLI feel that they are a part of an organization which ensures job security. This firm recruited individual from the diverse cultural background but most integral part was played by French employees. The company witnessed challenges when it was taken over by another group Williams Holdings Plc. The new CEO employed certain organizational changes which were not accepted by majority employees since its implications or importance was not conveyed appropriately. It is important that top management while expanding globally needs to be well aligned with core business culture and values. Multinational strategies or structures incorporated by MNCs are of various types like multi-domestic, global, international and transnational.   

Education Literature Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Education Literature Questions - Assignment Example A well planned and methodological teaching incorporates all the relevant information and beyond. It is also thought provoking and interactive to incite thinking and application aptitude in the students. In today's' scenario where an exponential rise in technology is mounting, freedom must be given to students to come up with their thoughts and views. Such a balance between structural framework and innovative thoughts, coming out of freedom or open discussion is important not only for local knowledge but also for public knowledge. A constant interaction with the students enhances teaching skill of the teacher as well (as in the case of Crouse). 2) How was the knowledge created or generated? According to Crouse, students and teacher work together in a manner to formulate a curriculum. It is a phase of learning for both, the teacher as well as the student, where the teacher understands how to enhance skills in order to generate better understanding in students while the children enrich their understanding towards the subject. Teacher could improve teaching by being thoughtful and by finding out ways where students grasp and learn well. Appropriate teaching methodology, clear, coherent and lucid explanation generates understanding for the subject. However, in order to impart appropriate knowledge to the students it is essential that the teacher must recognize their level of understanding and awareness of students. Moreover, a psychological implication is also essential. One parameter of classroom research cannot be implemented in diverse cultural environments, as culture of the geographical region also plays an imperative role in classroom studies. Some of the developing nations do not promote interactive studies which hampers the cognitive development of the students and potential and skills of the students remain underdeveloped. The cultural background of some nations of Asia do not promote female education. Thus, females in these nations remain underprivileged a nd contribute little to the growth and progress of their children and hence the nation. Generating understanding, awareness and knowledge therefore, directly relates and depicts cultural predisposition which plays pivotal role in knowledge creation and generation. 3) Was it shared with other practitioners? How? Crouse appears to consider knowledge generation as both the rationale of education and theme of her own research and shared these ideas with various researchers including Marilyn Cochran-Smith (2010). With the technological advances and availability of resources, internet accessibility, awareness is generated at a rapid pace. Findings in education, research and technology could be easily shared across the world. The world is now connected and sharing information is just a click away. B. Topic:- Classroom Studies: Why it should be counted as research? Ref. Lytle, S.L., Cochran-Smith, M. (1992). Teacher research as a Way of Knowing. Harvard Educational Review,62(4), 447- 474. C lassroom teaching involves direct interaction between teacher and the students, a face-to-face interaction. During this interaction the expression and explanation of the teacher is of paramount significance. The depth of knowledge of the teacher and explicit explanation needs constant