The Maasai Age-Grade System essays

The Maasai Age-Grade System essays Without war, how shall we know the courageous from the cowardly? (Massek 1974: 7-8). This quote comes from a story in a book of Maasai wisdom and proverbs. It is the story of an elder man taking his son to the Mountain of God to tell him the ways of the people of the Maa. He professes to his son the changes taking place in Maasai culture and their loss of prominence throughout the land. He tells him how the Maasai used to rule from the Northern Mountain of Gikuyu to the very gates of Mombasa (Massek 1974: 7). The father says that the warriors of today are no better then women, that without war there is no way to distinguish who the brave and courageous are among the Maasai. The father says that in these times the present any boy may put the sign of the courageous on his shield and go unchallenged by his age-group, and that now the Maasai no longer fight other cultures for their rights and property but are passive compared to the times of war and fighting that he used to know. Concl uding his story, the father says I say, I shall die as a Maasai, but I have no certainty for my children (Massek 1974: 8). The preceding story is one example of prevalent change in Maasai culture, a change in age-grade importance and relevance that has had a negative effect on the Maasai people. The warriors (Ilmoran) are a vital part of Maasai survival, performing a variety of tasks from capturing a cow to be slaughtered for ceremony to subduing a crazed rhinoceros charging the kraal (Saitoti 1980: 109). The children, warriors, and elders all have tasks that they perform as an integral part of society. The Maasai idea of age is much different from our own; they reckon time by ages or periods of approximately seven and a half years (Hollis 1971: 261). The Maasai idea of age is how they distinguish people amongst their respective age grades. For example, children are not all circumcised to...

Literary Analysis Frankenstein Essays

Literary Analysis Frankenstein Essays Literary Analysis Frankenstein Essay Literary Analysis Frankenstein Essay Essay Topic: Frankenstein Foreshadowing is great literary device that catches, hooks, and captures the reader’s attention. In a novel using foreshadowing leaves the reader captivated about what series of events will occur next. Also, it allows the reader to formulate a conclusion about what will happen with the characters at the end of the novel. In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein was determined, curious, and extremely innovative. In the novel, Victor was very determined to put forth his scientific skills in order to make a creation. Victor is a mad scientist that dedicates the majority of his day on pure science and different projects. When you are very passionate about something you tend to make that your main concentration. Being determined means that you do not give up very easily and you preserve through whatever you are struggling with. Also, you continue to strive to achieve that goal or dream, set the bar high, and push the envelope. Sometimes things don’t always happen exactly the way you planned and it is the opposite of what you expected. After the monster came to life, Victor wasn’t exactly thrilled about its appearance. According to â€Å"Frankenstein† Victor was not pleasantly surprise with the outcome of the monster.† I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.† (Shelly 45). After realizes what he had created wasn’t what he hoped for, Victor decides to abandon the monster because of its monstrous appearance. Another characteristic Victor displays in the novel is curiosity. Curiosity causes Victor to devote his life to science. He works sleepless nights on different project hoping something great will come out of it. Curiosity can really drive a person insane because it leaves you wanting to know more and more. Sometimes curiosity can be detrimental because you may learn somethi

Preschool Has Vetter Foreign Language Learners Essay

Preschool Has Vetter Foreign Language Learners - Essay Example Thid study highlights that language learning is stipulated as a natural process when children are at their tender age.   As such, children are more likely to learn a foreign language through other activities that are directly related to leaning such as playing and  Ã‚   exploration. In light of this, children growing in environments that are well rounded are more likely to speak approximately2000 basic words when they are at the age of four years. Nevertheless, adults who have attempted to learn a foreign language have experienced notable challenges especially in remembering or reciting foreign verbs.   This is purely so because adult memory is less capable of handling new languages. The first three years of human life could be termed as fundamental since the foundations of thinking language, vision, attitude among other necessities in human beings are eventually built. In reference to this, it is advisable that children are given the opportunity to utilize their natural abilit y to learn and get exposure of another language other than the first.As the research stresses  numerous studies have demonstrated a higher probability of learning a foreign language more easily at this age as opposed to other human developmental stages. Notably, the first few years of life constitute approximately 50 percent of the general development of human beings, while the rest of the development constitutes 30 percent.  Learning especially in children could be through sound, sight, taste, smell, touch and action.

Risk and vulnerability Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk and vulnerability - Article Example At any rate, I try to change my passwords frequently, at least once a month. I try to use a unique password (a combination of numbers and letters, both uppercase and lowercase letters). It makes access difficult but not impossible against a determined hacker. I also keep duplicate files in separate storage just in case data is corrupted or infected with a virus. Buying the branded anti-virus software is also a good step towards protection (Gutwirth, 2009). If the data were compromised, I will try to retrieve my duplicate files stored somewhere else and avoid the same mistakes. 2. Assessing current vulnerabilities – any digital file or data is always subjected to risks no matter what one does to protect it. The best one can do is to mitigate or minimize these risks by doing some simple things like always backing up important data (to another on-line account or storing it in another device), changing my passwords often, being alert to possible intrusions, buying the latest updated data protection software, and always logging out properly whenever I use any of my digital computer accounts. Additionally, I take good care of my hardware devices such as not spilling liquids on them, shutting them down properly after each session, and try not using these devices for long periods to avoid over-heating. It is helpful to be alert to any phising attempts like MITM (or man-in-the-middle impersonators) and be security conscious

Critical Thinking - Discussion Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critical Thinking - Discussion Question - Essay Example reative thinking tries to create a list of something or ideas that are new whereas critical thinking tries to make choices by assessing the validity or worth in something. In addition, creative thinking is often carried on by violating accepted rules because it requires inventiveness. This, therefore, implies that, in creative thinking, the mind is at liberty to wander about in search of new, varied, and unique ideas. Critical thinking, on the other hand, is often carried on by applying the accepted principles because it involves making choices. It is a mental activity that is associated with using the mind. Creative thinking is a process that assists in or contributes to fostering creativity. It is associated with tools and techniques such as problem-solving, brainstorming and lateral thinking (Lau, 2013). Conversely critical thinking means using mental processes like categorization, attention, selection, and judgment. For instance, creative thinking has helped team members to come up with an out of the box solution regarding a particular issue, however, a critical thinking has helped an employee relations specialist to conduct workplace investigatio ns on whether to terminate or suspend an employee who is alleged to have engaged in sexual harassment. Therefore, a person who thinks creatively is able to come up with new ideas regarding a particular thing whereas, a person who thinks critically is able to use skepticism as well as doubt usefully in analyzing anything before them thereby making a better and a more informed decision (Lau, 2013).   It is very crucial to develop critical thinking skills because creative thinking has numerous benefits to an individual. First, critical thinking results in a more focused reading. Myself, critical reading has enabled me to look up for the information I need more carefully (Cottrell, 2011). For instance, I was able to select the most economical washing machine in terms of power consumption from a variety of models for my

Through dramatic methods In The Crucible Essay Example for Free

Through dramatic methods In The Crucible Essay Is truth reliable? Everybody has different perceptions of truth and what is represented by it. Truth is different where ever you go. Peoples version of truth is never fully correct. Miller uses The Crucible to express his own views on what was happening in America at the time-McCarthyism he uses John Proctor, as he is interested in the person who doesnt allow him to be caught up in hysteria but thinks for himself and stands up for his values against all odds. Miller uses the Salem witch-hunt to put forward his views on McCarthyism-the hunting down and prosecuting of any Americans who were thought to have taken part in anti-capitalism. Miller himself was brought before the committee led by Joseph McCarthy. Miller saw the public confessions required by the committee, as parallels with the naming of names at Salem in 1692. History is evidence from people views on past events; again this cannot be taken for pure truth. Does this mean the truth can never be found or be totally correct? Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible from evidence in history that he collected; elements of the truth have been changed. Arthur Miller uses five main methods to represent truth; these are Imagery, Dialogue, Dramatic Irony, Staging or Setting and Character profile. Dialogue is a main method that can be used to show how truth is represented as the play is written with very little in the way of movements and directors have the dialogue to base their plays around. Dialogue has many different ways of showing who has the highest status and most control of a conversation. When acted out these can include, accent, age, tone of voice and pitch for example. But in a play methods such as topic shift, conversation control, adjacency pairs, turn taking, silence or hesitation are used. In The Crucible Abagail controls a conversation between her and Betty about what happened. Abagail shouts Shut it! Now shut it! Abagail takes control of the conversation to stop Betty from saying what she is to change the topic of conversation, this is called topic shifts. This represents truth as Abagail and Betty are talking about the truth but Abagail wants to move away from it. This method give the audience a clear view of who is in the wrong and more information on the characters on stage. Betty represents the truth as she is trying to let it out and tell everyone what actually happened and Abagail is opposing the truth; this is how Abagail is portrayed throughout most of the play. Her control of conversation is a great method of dialogue that gives her power and is what eventually allows her to escape death. When the character is speaking the audience know if he or she is telling the truth as they may have seen previous scenes that told them more information. This way the dialogue used can be used to cover up the truth using the dialogue techniques. Another method used to convey truth via dialogue is adjacency pairs. Adjacency means next to A question suggests the next turn will be an answer, a greeting suggests the next turn will be a greeting. Many things people say could have several meanings; the next turn shows what the people take it to mean, for now. So if someone insults you, and you respond Thank you, you are taking the insult as a compliment. This is used a lot to dismiss an idea or statement given to a character. For instance Proctor says, We never touched, Abby Abagail follows with Aye, but we did. Proctor follows with Aye, but we did not. Proctors immediate dismissal is a shock for Abagail as it was not the expected response. The word Aye is a positive response that substitutes yes. At the end of the response the word not is used this is negative and quickly changes the conversation from agreeing ang positive to negative and dissagreening. This is used to shock the audience and Abagail on stage. It conveys truth as it does not agree with Abagail and so the audience know one of them is not telling the truth, they either did or they did not touch. From the previous scenes they realise Proc Imagery is used a lot in the play. It is used on natural and items with symbols like the church. Imagery is good as it allows the audience to get a view of the truth and more of an understanding of what is going on. The imagery used in The Crucible is mostly natural objects such as stone, light and fire, this could be because og the purtinsm and they belived in living naturaly. Hard as rock and Where I stone give images of a stone. Stone is linked to the truth because it is a natural strong material. It is tough on the outside and hard to break into. Truth can be hard to reach or get the exact truth and so is linked to rock. Another way rock is linked to truth is that they are made in a cycle. Truth is changed in a cycle or a ring of people as people give others their opinion of the truth and rocks are made in a cycle and are changed during it. Another image related to truth is a book once a book has been written and finished it cannot be tampered with. It can be written over like the lies made up by people hiding the truth. The book as it was meant to be written can never be changed just like the truth. The cover of a book is strong and holds the book together along with its spine. Again this is like the truth it is held together and made by what has happened. The light of God is in him, this shows he is pure not evil and the audience can imagine it. If God is in you, you cannot be evil. Wheel inside Wheel this is meant as an image of Salem, the people of Salem influence or move others inside Salem to do things they wouldnt normally do. This shows truth, as it is Salem as a whole pushing people on. Dramatic Irony is used in The Crucible. The audience see what is going on and then they see the characters lie about what the audience know is true. The audience see Paris praying next to Betty and the audience realise something is wrong, later on Paris denies any thing has happened and the audience know this is not true. Dramatic Irony represents truth and is used when the audience know some of the characters are lying to others. This makes the audience feel more powerful and raises the level of excitement and suspense. The audiences learn more about a character and their personality. They gain a personal view on whether to believe what they say later or not to. This shows truth very well as the audience know exactly who knows what information and who is truthful and who is not. Dramatic irony shows the truth on which characters trust which and who they are willing to tell the truth. When characters have information that others dont, they feel they have more power and so decide to different things with the power. Titubas lies reveal the truth, Tituba pretended to be possessed in a way to get back at Paris. Tituba says He says Mr Parris must be kill! Mr Parris no goodly man, Mr Parris mean man and no gentle man,Parris is the victim of dramatic irony. The audience are against Parris because of the character summary, it was heavily biased against Parris.

Jamaican Artists and Producers :: Essays Papers

Jamaican Artists and Producers Music has been a dominant source of change in our society, throughout the world, and spanning the generations. It is a source of change, expression, culture, symbolism, and in Jamaican music, particularly reggae, it can even be a silent, peaceful revolution. There are various ideas of what reggae is, or what it does, which will be a main concentration. The music of Jamaica is a changing structure as well, from mento to ska to rocksteady to reggae to dub. Dozens of people are responsible for the spread of the popular music of the Caribbean island known as Jamaica. There are the big producers, such as Dodd, Reid, Buster, and there are others like Perry, Blackwell, Higgs, and Gibbs. Without them the music of Jamaica would have been contained there, and never would the world have learned in quite the same personal way about the vast unhappiness and oppression of the majority of Jamaican society. Artists like Jimmy Cliff, Toots, U Roy, Winston Rodney, and especially Bob Marley have create d a significant part of the culture of Jamaica through their lyrics of angst and frustration at their political and economical situation. Because music is also an industry of ever-changing circumstance, the lineage has proven to be much harder to trace and follow than previously expected. A fitting statement was made by a reggae musician concerning the mystery of the island and it's music:"Jamaica: fragment of bomb-blast, catastrophe of geological history (volcano, middle passage, slavery, plantation, colony, neo-colony) has somehow miraculously-some say triumphantly-survived. How we did this is still a mystery and perhaps it should remain so. But at least we can say this: that the secret and expression of that survival lies glittering and vibrating in our music."(Edward Kamau Brathwaite, reggae artist) The music of Jamaica began five centuries ago, when Columbus colonized the land of the Arawak Indians. This dates the start of oppression in this small island in the Caribbean. After the Spanish came the English, both extremely ethnocentric groups when dealing with"inferiors", or"minorities". Blacks were brought in as slaves, and although Jamaica has had it's independence since 1963, the tension of authority and control still reigns menacingly. Jamaica is a story of injustice, international influence, ineffective governing, and unequal distribution of wealth; all of these elements provide a solid base for the theme of oppression and the need for a revolution and redemption in