Ganga Project Essay Example for Free

Ganga Project Essay Born in the lap of the Himlayas, I have been flowing towards the sea for ages, through hills and valleys and planes by earning love and good wishes of all whom I meet on my long way. I am a river, a dancing maid, who knows not how to tarry for a while. When I was given this eternal flow I remember not, and when it will end is a mystery to me. This much I know that I was given my birth to serve the earth with her animate or inanimate creations. My life is a dedicated one, meant to purify the filth of the earth. I wash and carry away the polluted articles, such as the smelly corpses of men and beasts, the wastages of oils and chemicals of the mills, and the excretory refuse of the towns and villages-all sorts of dirty accumulations from my both the banks. Still with a gay heart, I run and jump and sing my murmuring song, as I pass through the green paddy fields, dense forests or thickly populated inhabitations. The sky overhead protects me with its endless roof; the sun gives me his brightest rays, while the moon plays with me the game of tides : ebb and flow; the passing clouds shower their secret treasures on my hidden heart to make me happy. I give shelter to the fishes and the aquatic animals; I give company to the innocent boatmen; I enjoy the music of the birds flying in the blue sky above, or settling on the flowing water-hyacinths on my broad bed . I welcome the soft rays of the setting sun that creates a beautiful glare on my little ripples, when the wind blows slowly. With sun rays I look different at day, and with moon rays mystic at night. I live and will live to continue my eternal journey with my ever youthful heart. River Ganges is a massive river in India, where Im from. So as a part of the Environment Contest, I write this piece Life as a river aint easy, especially when you start from an glacier which refuses to stop melting. Ganges here, River Ganges . . . I figure you might have heard of me sometime or the other. And yes, I am openly envied by all my other river-sisters. They’re pretty jealous actually, thinking of me as perennial, and never ending and all that rubbish. Well let’s get something straight like a strait, life as a river ain’t easy. I’m old, let me tell you that. So old that I forgot when I began, and I don’t forget. I remember when the President took a nice cruise over me in 2009. I can tell you that it was 29th August. Well enough of that, now where were we? Yeah, I’m old. I began when several glaciers started melting. I had fresh water, and a faint smell of lilies were all there was to me. All along my banks, civilization began, trees grew, houses were built, families were made, and myths about me were told to one and all. I was worshipped by almost everyone. And that’s when it got horrible. I began to get bathed in; they thought that by bathing in me, they’d get â€Å"pure† souls and â€Å"peaceful† courses to Heaven. All the good it did them, they could’ve just taken a bath with normal water. They sure were satisfied with themselves, but I, I was left to accept murky, sweaty, disgusting human bodies dousing themselves in me, and occasionally, defecating in me. But still, no one cared, and the other rivers, they only got more envious. They thought I was lucky that I got all the attention and said they’d trade places with me any  day. Yeah, like I wouldn’t kill for that. Eventually, I had several marine animals and plants wishing to reside in my waters. And I didn’t mind it much. I would love to have some sort of company in my waters. Then came another phase; humans began to wash clothes and their cattle in me. I mean yeah, I could handle them, they were hardly ever that dirty, but really, clothes and animals? I was just awestruck. When people washed their clothes, so much dirt was excreted. And the animals, they didn’t give a damn about the world! They’d poop all over the place. Rubbish absolutely! And don’t tell me I didn’t warn anyone, of course I tried to! If the fools are blind enough to mistake a hurricane as a sign of anger as a ‘natural disaster’, I say to Tartarus with them! And when a tourist would come by, they’d bathe in my waters too! What audacity. I bet they have plenty of fresh, clean  rivers in their country where they could bathe, why me? So I’d ask some of my water-bacteria to go and give them a prick to make them learn. And they’d go home green. And that glacier! It absolutely refuses to stop melting. Well nothing’s happening to it, but I’m getting flooded so quick that people fear living on my banks nowadays. Well I don’t mind that but . . . So I say, to everyone reading this, if you dare to come ‘purify’ your body in me, I’ll make sure that an eel wraps around your leg! Ha! So that’s that then, this is River Ganges signing off, and be sure to spread the message! I am a river. I like to give you an account of my life. You may laugh to think what is the value of the autobiography of a river. You may laugh if you like. Men write their autobiographies. They have importance in their own way. I have importance in my own way. Birth and early careerI was born long ago in an obscure place in a mountain. Several very small streams of water joined together to form one bigger stream. That is how I was born. I am that bigger stream. I am restless from my birth. I cannot stay at one place. So I flow down the mountain. I leap from one rock to another. I am full of life and vigor. As I flow down, I gather strength. My current is very strong here. I carry down with me broken rocks. At last I come down to the plains. My career in the upper plainsHere I begin to widen in my course. People begin to make use of my water. Here it is as pure as anything. In my upper course, people have built up towns of pilgrimage. They have built temples on my banks. Hundreds of people bathe in my sacred water. They worship the deities in those temples. They regard me as very sacred. There are also several health resorts in my upper course. People from many parts of the country come there for a change. They walk on my banks. They enjoy the natural beauty. They recover their lost health and return home with a happy heart. My career in the lower plainsI have said before that I am very restless. I am constantly on the move downwards. Leaving the upper plains behind I flow down through the lower plains. My water increases the fertility of the fields on either side of my banks. Abundant crops grow there. The country become prosperous. Towns on my banksPeople have built large towns on my banks. Some of these towns are centres of culture. Some have commercial importance. People carry on trade and commerce. They ply boats and steamers along my surface. These carry many important goods for trade. People travel from one place to another in boats and steamers. Hundreds of people bathe in water. They use my water for drinking and other purposes. Efforts to control meDuring the rainy season I carry large quantities of rain-water from the mountain. My surface rises. Sometimes I overflow the banks and cause flood. People suffer much. But am I to blame for this ? What can I do if huge quantities of rainwater flow down me from the mountain? Your Government has now tried to control my furious nature in the rainy season. In my upper course sometimes I fall down several hundred feet from a great height. Here your Government has built barriers across me to hold back my water. It has built dams to store up the surplus water to irrigate the land to help agriculture. Electricity is also generated here with the power of my water. This electricity is cheaper. It helps industry in towns and even in remote villages. Thus you may see how I help you. My career in the lowest courseIn this way I go on. I have no rest. Men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever. † Your Government has tried to control my furious nature. But it is a very difficult task to control me always. Sometimes I play the part of a destroyer. I wash away my banks. I destroy towns and villages. Again I play the part of a creator. I carry down sediments. These are deposited in some places where the current is not strong. New land is formed there. This land is very fertile. This is done near about the place where I join the sea. Ports at my mouthI flow on to join the sea. This is my goal. This portion of my course is called my mouth. People have built ports here. Factories have been built on my banks. This makes the country prosperous. But the factories do one great harm. In my upper course my water is very pure. But here the municipalities of the towns and the factories throw away all sorts of impurities into my water. This pollutes my water. I am not to blame for this. ConclusionThis is my life history. There is one great difference between men and me. I am constantly on the move to join the sea. Men are born and they die. I have no death. I will flow eternally. I will do great service to men. They should, therefore, remain grateful to me.

The Different Elements Of Identity

The Different Elements Of Identity At stake are questions about the linkages of different identity domains, how the various aspects of the self interconnect, and how various identities become active or inactive as people locate themselves in various social contexts (Narvà ¡ez et al 2009) Everyone needs to know who he or she is. This is a question about ones identity. Identity is a complicated and debatable termà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ It is a set of characteristics that belongs uniquely to somebody. It includes both changeable and stable aspects and is influenced by both outside and inside factors. Ones identity consists of three basic elements: personal identity, family identity and social identity. Each of these elements is determined by individual circumstances (Wetherell et al 2008). First of all, personal identity is about ones moral beliefs and self values. It is showed in the decisions one makes, the way they talk to themselves and the different goals they have achieved in their lives (Wetherell et al 2008). Most people have a standard for right and wrong. People doing the right things would grow honesty and integrity (St Louis 2009). On the other hand, if a person keeps on doing things that they believe to be wrong, they may start to believe they are not to be trusted. These choices will have huge effect on how people consider themselves; this is called sense of worth (Nolan and Rudenstein 2009). Communicating with themselves, people do self-talk (Narvà ¡ez et al 2009) most of the time. This self-talk is an important way to build up the sense of how people consider themselves and their self-identity. Each person has their own standards and values. Each person judges how they are doing according to these criteria (Dyrenfurth 2009). Moreover, ones successes and failures will also affect personal identity (Dyrenfurth 2009). When people achieve their goals they feel accomplished and fulfilled (Narvà ¡ez et al 2009). In contrast, if one fails there occurs a self-questioning (Nolan and Rudenstein 2009). Setting and fighting toward goals also makes people meet their limits, which helps find their abilities as well as limitations. This is important for ones self-identity (Narvà ¡ez et al 2009). Second element is family identity. It is made up of the characteristics a person has been given along with the role in their family they have been born into (Wetherell et al 2008). Family identity builds up the cultural environment in which people will grow their knowledge of who they are. Scientifically, this is about DNA, which is unique to each and everyone. As well, the inherited traits (Narvà ¡ez et al 2009) one receives through birth determines both their mental and physical attributes. Some children may be gifted with high intelligence while others may suffer with an emotional, mental, or physical handicap (Crenshaw 1996, cited in Narvà ¡ez et al 2009). Although these nature born characteristics may have less impact during life experience, they will always have fundamental effects. The bearing on (Wetherell et al 2008) identity or say the role people are born into in their families has been well explored by many psychiatrists. There are many researches exploring the personal characteristics different roles of the family will have. Commonalities of people within each group (Wetherell et al 2008) can be explained by analyzing childrens behaviors in their families. The Firstborns (Wetherell et al 2008) are known to feel they have the responsibility to be the one to set an example in their family (Zylinska 2005, cited in St Louis 2009). While the youngest child of the family are often considered spoiled and not have to fight for as many rights as their older siblings. (St Louis 2009). Though these generalizations may vary in different families, they still impact on ones identity throughout life. Culturally family leads to the way of life one will go. Women and men have always considered having different roles in life (St Louis 009). This is determined in both gender roles and ethnic groups. For example, men are often taught to be the ones to earn money and in contrast, women are to be the homemakers. Men are natural to be tough and unemotional while women are caring and sensitive (Wetherell et al 2008). On ethnic stage, education is one of the most significant aspects in some cultures, while athletic ability or beauty is more important for others (Duany 2003, cited in Nolan and Rubenstein 2009). These are all cultural influences one would receive to build up their sense of identity. . . . the question, and the theorization, of identity is a matter of considerable political significance, and is only likely to be advanced when both the necessity and the impossibility of identities, and the suturing of the psychic and the discursive in their constitution, are fully and unambiguously acknowledged'(Hall 1996, cited in St Louis 2009). Finally, social identity is about ones world around them. It includes what one believes others feel about them and how one believes they fit within their society (Wetherell et al 2008). It is largely influenced by factors such as ones working class, monetary value, education level, and popularity (Dyrenfurth 2009). Owning a company compared to working at the bottom floor of a company creates a different sense of power and security (Nolan and Rubenstein 2009). Positions in employment can impact on the community one lives in and the respect they receive. This is how it impacts on the power and respect one believes they have (Nolan and Rubenstein 2009). This also affected by monetary conditions, as people with wealth are often given the same power and respect in society. A well-dressed person will be more intently listened to in public than one who is poor and in broken clothes. This will transfer over to the sense of worth people feel they have (Dyrenfurth 2009). Moreover, the level of education one experiences effects the belief of ones ability. Society as a whole enforces the separation (Wetherell et al 2008). Many community and business positions require a formal education record without giving exploration to the experiential background of candidates. This may cause one to believe they are more or less equipped, brighter or slower depending on the level of education received (St Louis 2009). Last but not least, ones popularity in society is among the greatest influences upon social-identity. To be popular or not in determined by many aspects. One can hold or lose popularity by showing their charm, good will, humor, intelligence, power, social standing, wealth, beauty and so on. Being liked or not is based on these qualities, which may highly likely cause one to re-evaluate the qualities they believe they have and their elf value and self-identity (Narvà ¡ez et al 2009). Peoples feel of their self-identity will change during their social experiences. In conclusion, with such individuality and uniqueness, it is without a doubt to say identity is complex, but it is also simple to see aspects from where self-identity is gained. Self-identity shifts throughout life with influences of family, personal, and social factors. In the end, ones identity is built up of a set of characteristics that one finds are uniquely belong to oneself.

Irregularities in Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Irregularities in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains various irregularities of time and occurrence which cause the audience to scratch their head in wonder and doubt. Let us analyze some of these shortcomings in this essay.    In the Introduction to The Riverside Shakespeare Frank Kermode explains one of the difficulties in Othello:    Othello murders his wife on the second night in Cyprus. The difficulty, of which Shakespeare was clearly aware, arises from the fact that this leaves no time for her to have had â€Å"stol’n hours of lust,† certainly not to have enjoyed them repeatedly, as Iago alleges. In such allusions to frequent adultery as III.iii.340-43 and V.ii.211-12, Shakespeare slides over from Short to Long Time very successfully; the audience is not invited to consider that Othello is forgetting that Desdemona was not in the same ship as Cassio, and has had no chance since. We accept it as possible for her to have been unfaithful, though we know she was not. (1199)    Consider the basic plot and what a â€Å"house of cards† it is. Without extreme good luck, such a plot would not be possible. A. C. Bradley, in his book of literary criticism, Shakespearean Tragedy, describes the important â€Å"accidents† that befell the antagonist during his deception of the general:    The skill of Iago was extraordinary, but so was his good fortune. Again and again a chance word from Desdemona, a chance meeting of Othello and Cassio, a question which starts to our lips and which anyone but Othello would have asked, would have destroyed Iago’s plot and ended his life. In their stead, Desdemona drops her handkerchief at the moment most favourable to him, Cassio blunders into the presence of Othe... ...ally to be moving in the right direction. (329)          WORKS CITED    Bradley, A. C.. Shakespearean Tragedy. New York: Penguin, 1991.    Heilman, Robert B. â€Å"Wit and Witchcraft: an Approach to Othello.† Shakespeare: Modern Essays in Criticism. Ed. Leonard F. Dean. Rev. Ed. Rpt. from The Sewanee Review, LXIV, 1 (Winter 1956), 1-4, 8-10; and Arizona Quarterly (Spring 1956), pp.5-16.    Kermode, Frank. Introduction. The Riverside Shakespeare. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.    Mack, Maynard. Everybody’s Shakespeare: Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press, 1993.    Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. William Shakespeare: Othello. New York: Penguin Books, 1968.    Wilson, H. S. On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.         

history of the port of long beach :: essays research papers fc

History of the Port of Long Beach   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The San Pedro Bay breakwater began construction in 1899. This was to facilitate the building of the Port of Los Angeles. It served well as a breakwater for both ports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1909 the Los Angeles Dock and Terminal Company purchased about 800 acres of marshes and mudflats at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. On June 24, 1911, in a grant from the State of California, the City of Long Beach was given the tideland areas in trust for the people of the state. The theory behind the tidelands was that although they were mostly shallow water, they could be dredged to make deep water. This provided as much fill as the port needed to make additional land and piers. The Tidelands Trust restricted the use of the land. It also restricted what could be done with monies received from the different ventures allowed on the property. The money was only to be used for improving or maintaining harbor commerce and navigation, or for marine recreation or fisheries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By 1916 the Los Angeles Dock and Terminal Company declared bankruptcy and turned over all operations of the port to the City of Long Beach. The city then completed the dredging projects that were already underway including a channel and a turning basin. The following year a committee was formed to oversee harbor operations. It was the first Board of Harbor Commissioners.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1924 voters of Long Beach approved a five million dollar bond for use in improving the inner harbor area as well as beginning development of the outer harbor areas. The goal was to become a deep water port and by 1926, the Port of Long Beach did exactly that. The port handled eight hundred twenty-one ships and imported or exported a total of more that one million tons of cargo. Shortly thereafter, in 1928, construction began on new facilities to include new Piers A and B. At the same time, Pier 1 was reconstructed and a new transit building was completed on it. The port then renamed Pier 1, â€Å"Municipal Wharf.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Further construction of the San Pedro Bay breakwater began in 1932. The extension was to be three and one-half miles by authorization of the Federal River and Harbor Act of 1930. In 1936 oil was discovered in the harbor. The good thing about finding oil in the harbor was that the port then had a sizeable amount of capital to invest back into itself.

Critique of Kane and Abel :: Free Essay Writer

Critique of Kane and Abel Jeffrey Archer’s epic novel Kane And Abel could just as easily be two novels; one named Kane and the other Abel, such is the difference between the two characters. From the outset, we are aware of William Lowell Kane’s privilege and of Abel Rosnovski’s poverty. Both are born 15th April, 1905 as male members of the human race. These are the most obvious similarities shared by the two. Their contrasted births introduce us to two different personalities and two different histories, which fate is to overlap at critical moments. Abel is born in a forest in Poland. A young hunter, alert to the sound of screaming, rushes to the mother and child. Mother is dead and the hunter feels responsible for this child: â€Å"Suddenly the young hunter saw the woman, with her dress above her waist, her bare legs sprayed wide apart. He had never seen a woman like that before. He ran quickly to her side and stared down at her belly, quite frightened to touch. There, lying beneath the woman's legs, was the body of a small, damp, pink animal, attached only by something that looked like a rope......† Observe the difference of William’s birth: â€Å".....It never occurred to him, not even for a moment, that the baby might be a girl. He turned to the financial pages and checked the stock market: it had dropped a few points; that damned earthquake had taken $100,000 off the value of his own holdings at the bank, but as his personal fortune remained comfortably over $16 million, it was going to take more than a California earthquake to move him ..."Congratulations, Sir, you have a son, a fine-looking little boy." What silly remarks people make when a child is born, the father thought; how could it be anything but little? The news hadn't yet dawned on him - a son. He almost thanked God. The obstetrician ventured a question to break the silence. "Have you decided what you will name him?" The father answered without hesitation: "William Lowell Kane.....† Abel is born into a world which thereafter conspired to take his mother. William’s father is so unconcerned with the labour that it fails to stir him from his daily routine of studying the â€Å"financial pages†. The pressure for each baby is different. Abel is surrounded by the unconcealed despair and uncertainty which represent being poor.

Demonstrate the persistence of Wordsworthian ideal of country folk Essay

Demonstrate the persistence of Wordsworthian ideal of country folk, childhood and natural education in the two texts that you have chosen. Critical Essay by Rachel Gowland. Wordsworth, as a poet of the romantic era, had several themes, which contribute to this title. This essay will be looking at these themes and discovering whether they have any relevance in the texts studied. These are, the Secret Garden and Goodnight Mr Tom. The preference for rural life and its people was at the height of fashion at the time of Wordsworth. Social reformers such as Rousseau talked about the â€Å"noble savage† and the rustic idyll was an accepted theme for artistes and poets alike. While the social revolutions may have changed by the time the texts were written, the ideals are still continued to some degree. Wordsworth had many sympathies with the victims and vagrants that wandered in the cities and the countryside. Many of his short poems were portraits of simple rural people, intended to illustrate the nature of these folk and their basic wisdom. Poems such as Michael (1880) have the characters almost fused with their natural surroundings. In Michael, patience and tenderness are the key features of the old man’s character. There is strength and a â€Å"natural affinity to the hills and fields in which he lived and worked.† 1 The Secret garden is almost a glorification of rustic folk and their simple way of life. Mary Lennox first encounters Martha, who gives her glimpses of a simple life quite alien to her. â€Å"There’s twelve of us an’ my father only gets sixteen shilling a week. I can tell you my mothers put to it to get porridge for ’em all. They tumble about on th’ moor an’ play there all day an’ mother says th’ air of th’ moor fattens ’em.† (Page 32) 2 Through Martha, she begins to emerge from her egotistical former self. She starts to think about others rather than herself. â€Å"Thank you. She said it stiffly because she was not used to thanking people or noticing that they did things for her† (Page 71) 2 Martha appears a particularly content and dignified individual, who takes pride in her work and her family. She treats Mary as an equal in many ways and is amazed by Mary’s colonial pride. Martha’s plain good sense is treated with respect throughout the book and her dialogues with Mary often bring about great changes in her young charge’s attitudes. â€Å"It was not the custom that Mistress Mary should do anything but stand and allow herself to be dressed like a doll, but before she was ready for breakfast, she began to suspect that her life at Missthlewaite Manor would end by teaching her a number of things quite new to her.† (Page 32) 2 Martha’s is described as an â€Å"untrained Yorkshire rustic† who was not trained to be subservient and had no notion that she should be. In this way she becomes an emboldened character, who helps Mary to grow through her plain sense. Martha was obviously trained well by her mother who also is a rustic woman. She is almost the guiding hand in the background, helping Mary, and later Colin, to transform. Her wisdom shines through Martha and Dickon and all the principles held in family life. Hers is the good mother, the mother earth in Wordsworth’s poems. The respect for her and her kind shines through in the text as it does in the poems, through the voice of the narrator. She is again a considered equal in the narrator’s eyes to all who she comes into contact with. This makes it possible for her to contact Colin’s father and speak to him about his charges. † I sent for you today because Mrs Sowerby said I ought to see you. † (Page 112) 2 The idea of simple sense and country wisdom is proved right in the text. It is the uneducated, untrained folk in the text who can see through the external ugliness of Mary and Colin’s characters to the beauty that lies beneath. And it is the country folk who unlock these children from their past to an almost redemption. This celebration of rural life and the people can also be seen in Good night Mr Tom. The events that occur in Will’s life in the city are overcome by the calm everyday life of the country and its folk. The main character in Wills life is Tom who exudes this country wisdom and good sense. Will takes to heart Tom’s thoughts when persevering with a new task like learning to ride a bicycle. He could hear his Dad’s words over and over again in his head. † Takes yer time, everythin’ ‘as its own time†. (Page 291) 3 Tom guides Will through his life events, helping him to come to terms with all that life throws at him. This is in marked contrast to the ideas of the psychologist, Mr Stelton, whom they both encounter in the hospital when Will is rescued. Tom’s ideas of healing through fresh air, hard work and simple country life are in conflict with the ideas of analysis and treatment. Even the appearance of Tom as a gruff, solid but warm-hearted individual is different to the description of Mr Stelton. â€Å"Tom was well into his sixties, a healthy robust, stockily built man with a head of thick white hair.† (Page 10) 3 In contrast to â€Å"The man was going bald and the hair that remained was of a thin texture. His skin was as white and shiny as a cloistered nun. He gave Tom a bland smile.† (Page 217) 3 The psychologist’s educated ideas appear foolish in response to Tom’s good sense. As in The Secret Garden the figures of authority and city education are made to look ignorant in response to the wisdom of characters such as Mrs Sowerby and Tom. The characters in the village of Little Weirworld are full of warmth and sincerity, with a genuine sense of community that includes everyone in their midst. Their simple pleasures and way of life helps them maintain a sense of calm dignity and practical sense, even in time of crisis. When Mrs Hartridge received a telegram, it was with care and concern that the villagers arranged for someone to be there when she received it. This contrasts sharply with the lack of interest shown by the people in the district where Will originally came from. â€Å"She keeps herself to herself. Bit of a madam. Thinks she’s a bleedin’ saint if you’ll excooth me languid. She does night shifts so I don’t never see her. I live next door yer see. Mind you, I don’t arf hear some funny noises. Very funny.† (Page 203) 3 Tom is ridiculed by the city folk for his accent and intention, but they appear very flippant and foolish when the full story is uncovered. â€Å"I’d like to git my hands on that women†, the warden growled furiously. His pride had been shaken badly. It was embarrassing to have them think he didn’t know his job.† (Page 207) 3 Again, it is the simple country folk in the text who can see through the external ugliness and weakness to the beauty that lies beneath. And it is the country folk who unlock Will from his past. Wordsworth and his contemporaries, viewed childhood as a time of great innocence and joy. A time when new experiences are welcomed and emotions and senses are at there most responsive There was a time when meadow, grove and stream The earth and every common sight, To me did seem Apparelled in celestial light, The glory and freshness of a dream. (Line 1-5) 4 They viewed the child as a redeemer of the adult with their innocence and freedom of mind and spirit. In the Secret Garden, the children can be seen to hold the key to all wisdom. Martha plays an important part in helping Mary to grow into a whole human being. â€Å"He wouldn’t like me.† Said Mary in her stiff, cold little way. No-one does.† Marta looked reflective again. â€Å"How does tha’ like thyself?† (Page 61) 2 In the same way Mary then passes on her newfound wisdom to Colin and they both look to Dickon to expand their experience. It is Dickon who becomes the real redeemer. He exudes healthy childhood wholesomeness. â€Å"A boy was sitting under a tree, with his back against it. He was a funny looking boy about twelve. He looked very clean and his nose turned up and his cheeks were as red as poppies and never had Mistress Mary seen such round and such blue eyes in any boys face.† (Page 92) 2 He makes Colin believe that he can get well and walk. His positive calm attitude clears the gloom from Colin’s mind and he begins to believe in himself. â€Å"When tha’ stops bein’ afraid tha’lt stand on ’em,† Dickon said with renewed cheer. â€Å"An’ tha’lt stop bein’ afraid in a bit.† (Page 206) 2 Once Mary and Colin finally learn to become children again they can then redeem Colin’s father. He begins to wonder whether he can have a relationship with his son but has many doubts. Colin changes this by becoming a positive character that is not afraid of the future or his health any more. In this way he heals himself and also his father. â€Å"It seemed actually like the laughter of young things, the uncontrollable laughter of children who were trying not to be heard.† (Page 272) 2 And â€Å"He said it all so like a healthy boy-his face flushed, his words tumbling over each other in his eagerness- that Mr Craven’s shook with unbelieving joy.† (Page 274) 2 The child as a redeemer can also be seen as a theme in Good Night Mr Tom. Will looks at Tom through the eyes of a child and as such does not see the gruff exterior that the villagers have seen for the forty years since his wife died. Will brings memories of his wife flooding back but with them comes healing. â€Å"Tom stood behind him and stared over his head into the shop. He remembered how Rachel used to spin with delight in there.† (Page 57) 3 Tom learns how to socialise again through necessity and becomes a member of the village community once more. Mrs Fletcher looked steadily into his eyes. His forehead had lost its old furrowed look. The deep pitted wrinkles had softened outwards. Behind his scowling manner was a kindly old man and if it hadn’t been for the arrival of a rather insipid little boy, she might never have known, nor might anyone else for that matter.† (Page134) 3 He responds emotionally to Will in ways that have been closed off for a long time. â€Å"He called me Dad,† he whispered croakily into the darkness. † He called me Dad.† And although he felt overwhelmed with happiness, the tears ran silently down his face. † (Page 288) 3 In the same way, Will has his own redeemer in the shape of Zach, who teaches him to like himself and believe in his own abilities. As Martha and Dickon, Zach is a positive thinker who believes anything is possible. Will had lived all his life with criticism and blame, and Zach and Tom gave him back his self-esteem. â€Å"Willie almost dropped the clod of earth he was holding. No one had ever said they liked him. He’d always accepted that no one did. Even his mum said she only liked him when he was quiet and still. For her to like him he had to make himself invisible.† (Page 77) 3 In this way both Mary Lennox and Will are similar, in that they have to learn to love themselves before they can be loved in return or learn to respond to others around them. It seems clear that the theme of natural education is persistent in both texts. In the Secret Garden there is a distinct lack of formal education in all the children encountered. Mary had a series of governesses but learnt by her own volition, because she chose too. Her education almost begins again when she reaches Misstlethwaite Manor. Through Martha and Dickon she learns how to explore, imagine and play. She begins to discover the simple pleasures of play. â€Å"The skipping rope was a wonderful thing. She counted and skipped, and skipped and counted, until her cheeks were quite red, and she was more interested than she had ever been since she was born.† (Page 71) 2 At first alone and then with Colin she explores the garden and her curiosity and thirst for knowledge begins. The awakening of the garden itself mirrors her awakening. They learn through this almost holistic approach, that through the garden and nature they become physically, socially and emotionally aware. Again it is Dickon who inspires them with his positiveness and his knowledge. Dickon, has little formal education but has a wealth of knowledge which appears to be much more useful than the facts leant in a classroom. He is a pure Wordsworthian invention. â€Å"Do you understand everything birds say?† said Mary. â€Å"I think I do and they think I do,† he said. â€Å"I’ve lived on th’ moor with ’em so long. I’ve watched ’em break shell an’ come out an’ fledge an’ learn to fly ‘an begin to sing, till I think I’m one of ’em.† (Page 95) 2 His mind is unfettered and unspoilt by a formal education, especially one that almost encourages passive learning i.e., the vessels to be filled approach, over active exploration and discovery. Mary and later Colin learn to become independent and active thinkers. â€Å"Colin saw it all, watching each change as it took place. Every morning he was brought out and every hour of each day when it didn’t rain he spent in the garden. He would lie on the grass â€Å"watching things growing,† he said. â€Å"If you watched long enough you could see the buds unsheathe themselves.† (Page221) 2 This positive attitude to learning and education can also be seen in Goodnight Mr Tom. Will has a formal education, but has to grow in spirit to progress in the mind. Again it’s the positiveness of the people and surroundings that help him to a new confidence. â€Å"We’ll begin this evening,† he said sharply. â€Å"That do?† â€Å"Wot?† â€Å"Learnin’ to read and write. I’ll teach you to write yer own name for a beginnin’.† (Page 102) 3 His times of growth and change correspond to when he is with nature. He makes friends and begins to learn how to interact whilst picking blackberries. He becomes more relaxed and confident whilst on holiday by the sea. Again there is this almost holistic approach as Will improves physically, mentally and emotionally. He is able to express himself through art and then acting as his confidence grows. Finally through nature and physical expenditure he is able to come to terms with the grief and loss in his life. In both texts the children are changed by the country folk around them and the ideals and life that they uphold. These rustic folk become educators and healers through their wisdom and plain good sense. The children bloom through a newfound confidence and most importantly an acceptance of oneself. Once this happens they can then consciously and unconsciously redeem the adults around them. In these ways the Wordsworthian ideals are prevalent throughout the texts. Bibliography ENGLISH ROMANTIC VERSE;PENGUIN BOOKS;1986. FROM BLAKE TO BYRON; BORIS FORD; PENGUIN BOOKS; 1982. THE SECRET GARDEN; FRANCES HODGESON BURNETT; PENGUIN CLASSICS; 1995. GOODNIGHT MR TOM; MICHELLE MAGORIAN; PUFFIN BOOKS; 1981. ROMANTIC CRITICAL ESSAYS; DAVID BROMWICH; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS; 1987. BEYOND ROMANTICISM; ROUTLEDGE; 1992. LITERATURE, EDUCATION AND ROMANTICISM; ALLAN RICHARDSON; CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS; 1984.

Political Unrest in Lybia

Political Unrest in Libya Introduction For the past forty-two years Muammar Gaddafi has been in control of Libya. For the past few months the people of Libya has been involved in a civil war with hopes of Muammar Gaddafi stepping down as the Prime Minister. The civil war began with the arrest of human rights activist Fethi Tarbel; who works to free political prisoners. The arrest of Tarbel triggered a riot in the city of Benghazi. February 17, 2006 is a known date in Libya because that was the day that security forces killed protesters outside of the Italian consulate, so anti-Gaddafi activist choose February 17, 2011 as a day of rage. All over the city of Benghazi laws were being defied and law enforcement officers were being ignored by the people who were tired of forty-two years of Muammar Gaddafi’s reign. The Libyan civil war is an important social issue because Muammar Gaddafi is killing his own people in attempt to keep control of Libya. Any time a leader is killing his own people it is a matter of international affairs. As a leader he should not be killing his own people in attempt to keep control of his reign. As a nation we should be worried about the Libyan war because not only is innocent people being killed, Libya is an oil producing country. As an oil producing country Libya exports 1. 6 million barrels a day eighty percent of oil exported Libya is imported to Europe (petroleum-export). The United States imports one percent of Libyan oil but forty percent of European oil and when imported oil is disrupted in Europe it is felt in the United States. Libya is also surrounded by countries that are sometimes hostile. The United States depends on Libya to be able to project influence and power into those hostile countries if needed to be (NPR). General Background Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is a country in northern Africa that was previously controlled by the Italians until 1943 when they lost in World War II. Libya gained their independence in 1951 from the United Nations Trusteeship making Tripoli the capital. Libya is populated with about 6,597,960 people with a thirty percent unemployment rate (CIA). Majority of the people that make up Libya is from the Arabian descent. With majority of the people being Arab, the religion that is most practiced is Sunni Muslim (CIA). There are three languages that are widely spoken in Libya which are: English, Italian and Arabic being the official language of Libya. While some people might mistake Libya for being a communist country it is not. The belief of Libya is from the â€Å"green book† which rejects communism (CIA). Libya is actually considered an authoritarian country which is defined as; characterized by or favoring absolute obedience to authority, as against individual freedom (the free dictionary). Just like any other self-governing country Libya has its own military with all five branches. Muammar Gaddafi fights for power and gets it Muammar Gaddafi sometimes referred to as Colonel Gaddafi graduated from the University of Libya in 1963 (Britannica). Soon after that he began to come up with a plan to overthrow King Idris I. He decided to go to a military academy to achieve some rank. In 1965 Muammar Gaddafi graduated from the Libyan Military Academy (Britannica). After he graduated he began to rise within the ranks of the Libyan military. September 1, 1969 Colonel Gaddafi successfully overthrew the monarchy of King Idris I in a bloodless military coup (Britannica). Many high ranking officials thought his plan was a mastermind so at the age of twenty-seven colonel Gaddafi was named commander in chief of the armed forces and chairman of the revolutionary command council which was Libya’s new governing body. In 1970 he was appointed Prime Minister (Britannica). Once in power Gaddafi began making some radical changes in Libya by removing the United States and British military bases from Libyan soil (Britannica). He began to push his Islamic beliefs onto the people of Libya by banning alcoholic beverages and gambling. Gaddafi tried several times to unite Libya with other Arabian countries, but all of his attempts were unsuccessful. He formed the Arab Socialist Republics changing the official name of Libya to Republic Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (dnewsglobal). Not only did he change the name of Libya but he also changed the flag from its original red, black, and green with a star and crescent on the middle to a simple green colored flag. He changed the government landscape of Libya to be led into two main pillars (dnewsglobal). One of them is called the â€Å"revolutionary sector† while the other is called he â€Å"Jamahiriya Sector†. They are extremely different because the revolutionary sector consists of Gaddafi as the leader, The Revolutionary Committee, and the Revolutionary Command Council (dnewsglobal). The revolutionary sector is the core power in Libya. The people that are in the revolutionary sector are appointed so they have no term of office (dne wsglobal). On the other hand the â€Å"Jamahiriya sector†, is for the people it is the Libyan congress and is the legislative part of the two sectors. The people that serve the Jamahiriya sector are elected every four years (dnewsglobal). Along with everything else Muammar Gaddafi wrote a â€Å"green book† which outlines the three basic understanding of democracy on the basis of â€Å"people’s power†, â€Å"economic Socialism† and â€Å"third international theory. †(dnewsglobal) The book is a very controversial book because the green book promotes the system of direct democracy based on the formation of people’s committees. Although there are two committees that runs the core of Libya it always come down to one person which is Muammar Gaddafi and forty-two years of power is far from a democracy. Civil War Two weeks into February a human rights activist name Fathi Tarbel was arrested (CNN). The people of Libya were outraged and they began to protest outside of the police headquarters in Benghazi in attempt to free Tarbel. The protest started with 200 people but quickly rose to about 600 people. Things took a major turn when Libyan police came out dressed in civilian clothes to break up the protest. They dispensed tear gas, hot water and they hit the protesters with baton sticks. Gaddafi began to use his air force to calm things down. He ordered an helicopter to fire rapidly on the protesters in Benghazi. The protesters began to fight force wit force by packing a car with explosives with the hopes of breaking into a nearby military camp (CNN). The protest spread to other parts of Libya in Quryna African mercenaries opened fire on the civilians in Tajourea (CNN). In the countries capitol war planes and helicopters conducted air strikes. Even though there were some people against Gaddafi there were still some people for him. The people that wanted him gone began to fight with the people that wanted him to stay. All of the fighting going on eventually spread to Zamiya, Tajura and Misrata (cnn). In Zawiya seventeen people were killed and 150 were wounded (CNN). It was reported that mercenaries were shooting at unarmed civilians in Tajura(CNN). In Tripoli snipers and other security forces were firing at the crowd in an attempt to make them disperse (CNN). Once anti-Gaddafi people took over Zamiya they began to fight back against pro-government people. The anti-Gaddafi people were taking over Libya and Gaddafi had enough by stating â€Å"they play hard I also play hard. I will survive until the last drop of blood. † He ordered Libyan aircrafts to drop bombs were the rebels had took over. He ordered mortar and machine gun attacks. Muammar Gadaffi growing very upset began to bomb places just to make sure there were no rebels there. A CNN witness stated that â€Å"he is bombing his way into Misrata†¦he doesn’t care if all of the people there are dead by the end of the day (CNN). † The rebels managed to get their hands on anti-aircraft weapons in an attempt to fight back some of the air attacks ordered by Gaddafi (CNN). Since the united nations ordered a cease fire and a no-fly zone(CNN) Gaddafi took his attacks on more of an ground mission. Despite the international orders Libyan forces continued to fire mortars and heavy fire into the city of Misrata to try and take control back of lost land. The human watch has reported Gaddafi forces placed dozens of land mines outside the city of Ajdabiya (CNN). Everyone has their own view on the Libyan civil war even the media. The Medias perspective on the Libyan civil war is that it is unacceptable. They feel that Muammar Gaddafi’s tactics are completely out of line for killing his own people. They also feel that the rebels should stop and let international forces handle Muammar Gaddafi. A CNN reporter stated that â€Å"the rebel forces appear to be in disarray. It’s been a very chaotic effort on the part of opposition fighters from the beginning. They have no command-and-control structure and little discipline. † International Diplomacy Many surrounding countries began to take action to distance them from Libya. The Arab League suspended all Libyan delegates to attend their meetings (euronews). Since Libya is a country within the United Nations one of their responsibilities is to protect its population and with all of the killing of their citizens Libya is clearly not upholding that responsibility. The United Nations Security Council decided to put some sanctions against Libya by putting a travel ban and freezing the assets of Muammar Gaddafi’s family and other Libyan figure heads (euronews). Since Gaddafi could not comply with the reminder made earlier to protect its population, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously suspended Libya from the human rights council (foxnews). The United Nations Security Council international criminal court opened an investigation against Muammar Gaddafi, his sons, and his close political circle for crimes against humanity. Muammar Gaddafi and his family assets were frozen in certain countries (euronews). The United States response to the Libyan problem was that it was unacceptable. President Barack Obama said that â€Å"Muammar Gaddafi has lost the legitimacy to rule and need to do what is right by his country and leave now (cbsnews). † Twenty-seven leaders of the European Union countries put together a no-fly zone request with the support of the Arab league and the United Nations. The no-fly zone was passed unanimously. In an attempt to help the civilians of Libya American, French and British navies and air forces launched cruise missiles and airstrikes against Libyan military positions and their communication facilities (CNN). Conclusion After reviewing my information and observing it I came to the conclusion that Muammar Gaddafi needs to go. Forty-Two years has been long enough for Gaddafi there should be another leader for the country of Libya from the beginning he has been changing things in Libya and he now has to recognize that there needs to be a change in leadership for Libya. The people have clearly spoken and they are ready for a new leader. From my perspective of the situation in Libya I believe that it is unacceptable. No leader from any country should be allowed to kill his people and not expect to be checked about it. Since Libya is a part of the United Nations they should up hold the united nation laws one of them being â€Å"protect your population†. Muammar Gaddafi is clearly not upholding that law. I also believe that there should be more discipline to handle the situation in Libya. I don’t think that rebels should be the ones to take care of the work because they have no training and especially no discipline. For the rebels there is no sense of organization because they don’t have communication abilities the Gaddafi has. While I don’t believe that a country should go to war with Libya I do believe that troops from different countries put together should go in and try to deter the situation. Even though the United Nations put up sanctions like the no-fly zone and the countries that support the no-fly zone is helping by sending air strikes and other forms of attack the innocent people of Libya have suffered enough it has been going on since February and it needs to end now.