A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty

A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty At an early age, authors Abhijit and Esther knew already that poverty existed. Through stories and observation, they were aware about the situation yet these did not satisfied them instead it motivated them to study, to enhance their knowledge and understand why poverty is such a problem that eliminating it is very difficult. The two authors have lots of question and because of that they made this book Poor Economic: A radical rethinking of the way to fight global poverty. Affected by outstanding generalization with the undisclosed frontline solutions about poverty and economics, the authors plead to several opinions and investigation to check on how poor managed to fight poverty. They were very concerned about the situation and wishes to let us see the other side of eliminating poverty. In addition to that, why does poor people cannot entirely get away with the problem despite the full efforts of the government of technologically advanced countries and private organization? There ar e a lot of solutions but it is not completely effective or not the answer that the people really need. Spanning five continents to find solution, authors engaged in research for 15 years to investigate about global poverty and illuminate many practical and cost effective ways on fighting it. Through the years, I have always known that poverty is not a secret and is very rampant all over the world. Up to the present time and with everyone helping, why is it still there? Covering many valuable issues, this book is a great way to understand and discover the problems that many countries experience that may or may not contribute to poverty. This is a must-read book for all those people who cares about poverty, its nature and the people who is suffering from it. There are a lot of factors to consider when we tackle about poverty. A lot of issues that needs to be uncovered and solutions that needs to be evaluated over and over again to ensure its effectivity. In this book review, I am hoping that I can give justice to what these author is trying to say and giving my own opinion on the things they have discovered. My teacher told me that economics is a positive change in the fall of the production of goods and services of a certain country. I believe that it means equity, equali ty, in equilibrium with the supply and demand. Although there is a positive rise and fall in one country, it doesn’t mean that everyone or every nation are able to experience that. One country may have all the resources while others don’t have even just a clean water to drink. How can one place have an equilibrium when it actually has a little resources that affects the supply for every demand? It is in that manner that poverty really becomes a problem. The book helps us to understand why poor needs to borrow in order to save, although their children go to school they often do not learn, they miss out on free life-saving immunizations as well as paying drugs that they do not need and living on 99 cents a day. Battling poverty needs patience, careful thinking and willingness to learn. In the book, poverty trap was mentioned. As an example, poor countries are poor because they are hot, infertile, malaria infested and often land locked making it hard for the people to be productive without an initial large investment to help them deal with these endemic problems thus lack of modern technologies to help them progress. Coupled with having no possible resources for funding and payment for the ventures, these contribute in worsening poverty. I believe it is true because how can you start saving when you even can’t find a way to find income sources. A person can’t plant in an infertile soil so he has no products to sell and no investors that will finance a business providing loads of work for the local helping them earn a living. No access to good education is also stated in this book. In reality, education is a vital requirement find a decent job and make a living for yourself and for the family. As a solution foreign aid was mentioned to be the key. Billions of aid funds are being used to fight poverty, yet very small amount of work had been completed in analyzing their outcomes. Does foreign aid really help the poor countries? Is it enou gh? Based on what I have seen in the past years, there are people who really strive in working for a better life but the resources are really not enough making difficult for them to really earn enough to sustain their daily needs and wants. Indeed, some poor people managed to have their own stories of success in starting businesses but sadly it never went high enough to provide jobs to other individuals. Some have businesses but does not make much money. Although, they have monthly income but there are also a lot of deductions such as rent, daily expenses for food and other needs of the family which make it hard for them to really save. These results to unavailability of purchasing stocks for their store leading to bankruptcy. So a portion of the cause why businesses of the poor don’t grow is the nature of the businesses they operate and how they handle their profit. For the past years, foreign aid helped a lot of people all over the world making it one of the important solut ions in fighting poverty. Undoubtedly, the most significant goal why nations seek out and agree to take foreign aid is for the purpose of economic progress. Developed Countries are considered to have a moral obligation to help and to assist the poorer countries to have a sustainable progressive lives. Other advantage of foreign aid is the improvement of health through delivery of health teachings, medicines and equipment. Receiving money for investment from developed countries supports to produce more jobs for the people, improved infrastructure, and stabilize their economy. Foreign aid has other advantages, such as fighting hunger, saving lives and providing civilians with shelters, clean water and medicine. Although it is quite easy to believe that, some people argue the capability of foreign aid to really help combat the insufficiency in food, shelter, job and other resources needed by the poor individuals. Foreign aid’s usefulness is usually unassessed or even though it is being assessed, the approached may sometimes not convincing at all. Some also argue that it prevents people to search for their own solution. It makes sense that because of foreign aid, some people tend to wait for rich countries to help without even trying to search for possible solutions. It builds a culture of dependency that is keeping poverty difficult to fight and as a result poor remains poor. Aside from that, anti-aid people does not believe about the presence of poverty trap which I do not agree. Indeed, there is a presence of different views which I think both have point to share. An inconvenience of foreign aid is a higher percentage of dependency from the rich nations. The leaders of poor countrie s that accept aid gains reliance on a secured movement where they can support the people of their nation, they can also put money to other areas of the country which require funding. Foreign help can also be used to situate poor nations in political or economic pressure leading to being in debt with the supporting country. What could be really the effective way to abolish poverty? Moreover, solutions come with problem like for example, the reluctance to take risk and difficulty in trusting a possible investor, the poor wasted an opportunity. As mentioned in this book, poor nations usually have a very large family size. Absence of family planning and access to contraception methods in overpopulated families makes fighting poverty difficult. As a result, many experienced increase financial burden leading to low education rates and medical care. Politicians all over the world, private citizen, economists and every people who are trying to help, fail to recognize the exceptional reasons that lead to poverty for example attempting to erase it that usually attempts to eradicate it are usually foolish. Contrary to what we think, poor individuals need more of something than just food or money. In reality, the poor need programs that allows them to have a chance to succeed and fight poverty. To support that statement, I strongly agree to give these individuals the necessary opportunities, lots of them, yet they still need to work for it. In addition to that, I consider poverty a weakness but not a disability that will weaken your spirit in doing something for yourself. For example, if your land is infertile, sight other resources that you may use aside from that useless land. I strongly believe that all problems have their own sets of solutions, it’s a matter of discovery and resourcefulness. Besides many people are trying their best to help and give support to each individual who are suffering. The book is designed to answer questions and help us understand why fighting poverty is not easy. It tackled a lot of solutions not being used or understand properly. Helping through funding is good as long as choosing the right kind of project will be prioritize. For example food for the indigent, pensions for the elderly and clinics for the diseased infected areas where everyone making sure figuring how best to run it. Deciding on helping the less fortunate when we can will make a difference, understanding that poverty is merely not just having money but not really having enough capability in realizing their full potential as a human being are just some realization I have learned from this book. I believe there are a lot of things to be considered and properly planned to ensure that what we think poor people needs is really what they are needing. Aside from that, both public and private actions should be done. In addition, proper planning for more accessible pathways should really be considered for every poverty causing factors. For education, the government should have encouragement programs to ensure parents compliance in making their children go to school. Roadways should be accessible and safe for everyone especially for the students. Free education is really a big help and should be instilled its importance to the poor. Funding health teachings through seminars, conference, and house to house visit about family planning is a must also. Everyone has the right to progress and poverty is just an obstacle. Although it is very hard but I believe everything has solution that still needs to be discovered in the near future that will really eradicate poverty completely. As long as everyone will help one another genuinely and the presence of the people who takes time to study and search for an answer, it will never be that far. In correlation, I believe that poor people in poor nations should also do something for themselves and merely not accept the fact that th ey are poor, they must not just wait for us to give something or help them to achieve something for themselves. They must acquire valuing their own strength and actions in order to realize that absence of action there is no development. Development needs skills and cleverness, when inhabitants feel safe and assured adequately, they will invest in their kids and let them leave home to get new occupations in the metropolis. These possibilities might be wrong but trying to do these will develop the lives of the deprived and merely not waiting for economic evolution which remains unbearable. To the degree that we distinguish how to get rid of poverty, there is no purpose to endure the waste of lives and ability that poverty passes with it. As this book presented, even though we have no charmed potions to wipe out poverty, we do recognize a number of things about how to develop the poor people’s lives.

King Henry IV :: essays research papers

Henry IV was born in April 1367 and was the only son of John of Gaunt, the son of Edward III, and Blanche, the daughter of Henry Grismond, Duke of Lancaster. Known as Henry of Bolingbroke after his birthplace in Lincolnshire, he was made a knight of the Garter in 1377. In 1380, at the age of 13, he married Mary de Bohun, the youngest daughter and coheiress of Humphrey, the last Earl of Hereford. They had four sons and two daughters before her death at the age of 24, in 1394. As the Earl of Darby, Henry entered the House of Lords in 1385. In 1387 he supported his uncle Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, in his opposition to Richard II. (Gloucester was also Richard’s uncle, and Henry was the King’s First cousin.) While taking part in the "Merciless" Parliament of 1388, Henry regained the favor of the King and in 1390 departed on the Crusade to Lithuania and then to Jerusalem. Visiting the kings of Bohemia and Hungary and the Archduke of Austria and then Venice in 1392-1393, he went only as far as Rhodes and then returned to England as a popular hero. He soon entered the government; he served on the Council while Richard was absent in Ireland in 1395 and for his efforts was made Duke of Hereford in 1397. Henry soon quarreled with the Duke of Norfolk, each accusing the other of arranging the murder of the Duke of Gloucester and calling for a trial by battle. Both men were banished from the realm. Norfolk for life and Henry for 10 years with a proviso that he would be allowed to inherit from his father. But on the death of John of Gaunt in 1399, the Lancastrian estates were confiscated by the King, and Henry decided to return, seemingly to claim his promised inheritance. Taking advantage of the King’s absence in Ireland, Henry landed on July 4, 1399, at Ravenspur, near Bridington, where he was soon joined by the northern nobles who were unhappy with the policies of the monarchy. By the end of the month Henry and his followers had raised an army and marched to Bristol. When Richard returned in August, the royal army started to desert; Henry claimed the throne for himself, and on August 19 he captured Richard near Conway. He then went with his prisoner to London and there, on September 29, Richard abdicated the throne.

Loss of Identity in the Techno-Culture Essay -- Clubbing Partying Tech

I began my inquiry into the "techno-sublime" by keying the term "techno-sublime" into Googe to see if the term had been coined before. Whilst there was no exact match, the first site that opened was http://www.sublime.net.au/chillout.html, 'The Chillout . clubbing is a planetary experience'. I had long been interested in the event of the techno-dance party, that total awesome experience where there is a collapse of individuality and a loss of individual boundaries as "I" become part of the collective techno-experience. It was uncanny to find myself at this site in search of the "techno-sublime" and yet it was precisely this exstasis or loss of identity in the face of the awesomeness of the techno-experience that was central to my understanding of the experience of the techno-sublime.[1] Ben Malbon's (1999) study, Clubbing: Dancing, Ecstacy and Vitality, has proved invaluable in providing support for my elaboration of the techno-sublime. Whilst Malbon's thesis is different from my own, the responses of some of his respondents as well as his own diary entries have become very important in supporting my thesis that there is a loss of identity or estasis within the particular experience of techno-culture that is clubbing. Thus in a diary entry, titled '4 a.m. - lost for words, lost in time and space, just lost.', Malbon writes: We all seemed to want the music to take us over; to become us in some way.. Clubbers were losing it all over the place ... people are just so close to each other; proximately and emotionally.. The intensity of this fusion of motions and emotions was almost overwhelming. (Malbon 1999:xii) This diary entry, in particular, speaks of an experience in which his sense of identity and rationality is subsum... ...nd vitality, London: Routledge. Newman, Barnett (1948) 'The Sublime is now' in Harrison, C. Wood, P. (ed) (1994) Art in theory 1900 - 1990: an anthology of changing ideas, Oxford, Blackwell: 572-574. Nye, D.E. (1994) American Technological Sublime, Cambridge Mass: MIT Press. Storr, A. (1992) Music and the Mind, London: Harper Collins. Notes [1]I had begun my inquiry into the techno-sublime by arguing that in creative practice there occurs a particular flux that I have termed "working hot". When one is working hot, I have argued, the performance produces a dynamical relation where the work of art performs rather than represents. In this space, or state, I argued there is exstasis, or a loss of identity. [2] My elaboration of the techno-sublime has been informed by Christine Battersby's and Barbara Freeman's theorization of the feminine sublime. Loss of Identity in the Techno-Culture Essay -- Clubbing Partying Tech I began my inquiry into the "techno-sublime" by keying the term "techno-sublime" into Googe to see if the term had been coined before. Whilst there was no exact match, the first site that opened was http://www.sublime.net.au/chillout.html, 'The Chillout . clubbing is a planetary experience'. I had long been interested in the event of the techno-dance party, that total awesome experience where there is a collapse of individuality and a loss of individual boundaries as "I" become part of the collective techno-experience. It was uncanny to find myself at this site in search of the "techno-sublime" and yet it was precisely this exstasis or loss of identity in the face of the awesomeness of the techno-experience that was central to my understanding of the experience of the techno-sublime.[1] Ben Malbon's (1999) study, Clubbing: Dancing, Ecstacy and Vitality, has proved invaluable in providing support for my elaboration of the techno-sublime. Whilst Malbon's thesis is different from my own, the responses of some of his respondents as well as his own diary entries have become very important in supporting my thesis that there is a loss of identity or estasis within the particular experience of techno-culture that is clubbing. Thus in a diary entry, titled '4 a.m. - lost for words, lost in time and space, just lost.', Malbon writes: We all seemed to want the music to take us over; to become us in some way.. Clubbers were losing it all over the place ... people are just so close to each other; proximately and emotionally.. The intensity of this fusion of motions and emotions was almost overwhelming. (Malbon 1999:xii) This diary entry, in particular, speaks of an experience in which his sense of identity and rationality is subsum... ...nd vitality, London: Routledge. Newman, Barnett (1948) 'The Sublime is now' in Harrison, C. Wood, P. (ed) (1994) Art in theory 1900 - 1990: an anthology of changing ideas, Oxford, Blackwell: 572-574. Nye, D.E. (1994) American Technological Sublime, Cambridge Mass: MIT Press. Storr, A. (1992) Music and the Mind, London: Harper Collins. Notes [1]I had begun my inquiry into the techno-sublime by arguing that in creative practice there occurs a particular flux that I have termed "working hot". When one is working hot, I have argued, the performance produces a dynamical relation where the work of art performs rather than represents. In this space, or state, I argued there is exstasis, or a loss of identity. [2] My elaboration of the techno-sublime has been informed by Christine Battersby's and Barbara Freeman's theorization of the feminine sublime.

Catch a Fire Essay

The book â€Å"Catch a Fire† is a beautiful description of the Jamaican culture, the Rastafarian faith, the growth and development of reggae music and how it all added up to make Bob Marley’s life. All of those elements of what made Bob Marley â€Å"human† will be talked about and explained in this paper. The best artists are the ones who have passed but there work still lives on and Bob Marley left an unforgettable mark on modern music, both as a reggae creator and as a cultural icon. His beliefs and values helped him become a part of the Rastafarian faith and grow into a great musician whose music is still listened to today. The author, Timothy White, did an amazing job describing Bob’s background giving his readers a much greater appreciation for Marley and his music. Jamaicans are often stereotyped as carefree and fun loving. While most Jamaicans do value a sense of humor, as well as music and dance, they also have a tradition of hard work and a strong respect for education. Bob Marley, the son of a black teenage mother and much older white father, was born in Jamaica in the village known as Nine Miles. Born early in 1945, Bob was raised by his mother and relatives and was always surrounded by tales of mysticism and spiritual beings of the Jamaican culture that influenced his daily life. Around the time Bob was born, in 1944, Jamaicans gained the right to vote because of the new constitution. (1) During this time the population grew and there weren’t much job opportunities, leading to an expanding slum population. Class, color, and ethnicity were a big deal in Jamaica and would play a huge role of where you would fit in, work, or even shop. Bob once said, â€Å"I don’t stand for black man’s side, I don’t stand for white man’s side, I stand for God’s side. †(2) The Jamaican history has not been a peaceful one, but its struggles have created one of the strongest cultures. The Rastafarian faith was one of the biggest influences of why Bob’s music and the way he lived was the way it was. It all started with Marcus Garvey, who was responsible for bringing Rastafarianism to the islands. Garvey was famous for the saying â€Å"Look to Africa†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (â€Å"Catch a Fire† pg. 8) This statement set the stage for what will be the making of Rastafarianism. Rastafarianism got so popular that when Haile Selassie came to Jamaica in 1966 over 100,000 Rastas surrounded his plane. The late 1960’s is when Bob truly began to find himself and accept his religion and put its beliefs into his songs like â€Å"Rastaman Vibration† and â€Å"Jah Live. † Not only did the Rastafarian faith help Bob with his music, it helped him find who he really was and grow as a person. He finally started to see the beauty in life. Marley started making music in ska and Rock Steady then eventually moved towards reggae as his music evolved. Much of Marley’s early work was produced by Coxsone Dodd at Studio One then he signed to Chris Blackwell’s Island Records label in 1971. Marley’s music was one of the main reasons reggae was accepted outside of Jamaica. Although Bob couldn’t escape all the troubles of the ghetto, without music, he would have been right there in Kingston with those rude boys and bad men causing trouble. Music brought out the best in Bob and showed him the true values of life. The â€Å"King of Reggae†, Bob Marley made such an impact on the music industry with his creativity and passion he put into his music and performances. As you can see, Bob would have never made it happen without his Jamaican cultural background, his Rastafarian faith or his love for music. His thinking and beliefs were always voiced in his songs speaking of love, peace, equality and his spirituality. And, after almost three decades since his death, his music is still listened to by millions of people around the world.

Levels of the Managerial Communication Process Essay

Becoming a first time manager is an excellent goal and a great marker in a successful career. However it can also be a daunting task without a few tips to ease you into you new responsibilities. With careful observation, planning and a few pieces of advice, a good manager can become great manager. An important trait many great leaders have is being able to successfully communicate any message to a wide variety of people. They also have the ability to transcend work groups, culture, situations and subject.. Being able to relate to different direct reports is key to opening a two way channel of communication with a group. One of the first layers in successful communication is establishing an environment and culture that encourages it. Allowing open communication amongst each other fosters a cohesive and united environment. A good way a manager can reinforce that notion, would be to serve as the example. Walk around and meet with everyone in the group. This allows the manager to be accessible to everyone and in turn the manager can get to know the members of his or her group. Another suggestion would be to establish an open door policy. This will allow the flexibility to hold short meetings informally and encourage the flow of communication with each other. A good way to get to know the group better would be to setup a meeting with each individual. This allows a manager to get a back story on each group member, establish preferences in communication and find out if any cultural differences exist. This can also establish trust between a manager and an employee. Scheduling this meeting either bi-weekly or monthly allows the channel of communication between manager and subordinate to remain open. If at all possible, an important element in establishing an open environment is to physically setup the office in a way that allows for easy communication with each other. Having conference rooms available allows for group meetings and also provides private areas if discussions are of a confidential nature. If allowed, take into consideration the furniture used in the group’s space. Tailor the furniture and office designs to your group’s needs. If possible, equip rooms with teleconference equipment which allows for a virtual face-to-face with others in remote office either across the street or across the country. A second layer of successful communication is the interaction of sender to receiver. When speaking to groups or individuals, a manager should always maintain a steady emotion. Employees can easily misinterpret the mood or  content of the message if a manager is either too happy or too sad. A good sense of humor can bring comfort or levity to a group or situation, however caution should be used. A joke or comment can be misinterpreted easily depending on the audience. A good rule of thumb would be to err on the side of caution until the manager gets to know the group thoroughly. Allowing for questions during or at the end of your message encourages two way communication. This allows the audience the freedom to ask for clarification if something isn’t understood and also provides a venue for discussion. Possible issues can be resolved when more than one point of view are presented. A manager should also make themselves available after a meeting in case any questions comes up that did not want to be asked in a group setting or is of a confidential nature. The third layer of successful communication involves four elements that affect each other. Content (what is said), Channel (How it’s said), Environment (Where it’s said) and Time (When it’s said). It is important to tailor the content of your message to your audience. The following are short questions that a manager can ask themselves about each element: Content What is the message about? Who is the audience? What is the tone of the message? Do you thoroughly know the subject matter? What level of detail should the message include? Channel What channels are available? (ex. voicemail, email, public or private meeting)? Will the contents of the message be fully understood using the channel chosen? Will the channel help or hurt if the message has a deadline? Is the channel chosen appropriate for the urgency level of the message? Is the channel chosen appropriate for the tone of the message? Environment What locations or venues are available? Is the venue/location chosen appropriate for the message given? (ex. Technically capable) What setting is fitting for your message (ex. Formal or informal)? Who is the audience? How large is the audience? What is the confidentiality of the message? Time How urgent is the message? When is the best time to deliver this message? Does the message follow a timeline or deadline? How long should the message take? Along with these factors to follow, there are some errors to avoid. Focus your message strictly on facts to stay true to the message at hand and avoid â€Å"spinning† a message with opinions. Opinions are fine to state when and if asked by the audience, however a message spun on opinion will be evident quickly and can easily lose or disrupt an audience. Do not present the message in a manner that is not subject to change. Messages, like situations, can change at any given moment and may require some clarification. Always prepare with a contingency plan to follow-up with changes if needed. Having prior knowledge of the subject matter will minimize any confusion when presenting the message and will better equip the manager in the event of any questions asked. The intent of the message can be greatly lost if the presenter looks uncomfortable or lost during the presentation. If at all possible, have someone with knowledge of the subject matter review any notes that will be used, or have them available for any follow-up questions afterwards. When it comes to communicating effectively, there is no â€Å"one size, fits all† approach to any message. Each communication instance requires a thorough analysis of all the factors provided and presented accordingly to the audience. Mastering these tips will help on the road to managerial success. Works Cited Hynes, Geraldine. Managerial Communication. New York: McGraw Hill, 2011. Myatt, Mike. â€Å"10 Communication Secrets of Great Leaders.† Forbes (2012): 12/6/2012 http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/04/04/10-communication-secrets-of-great-leaders/.

A clockwork orange: chapter One Essay

One gets an initial impression of Alex and his friends from the first page: Alex says, â€Å"There was me†¦ and my three droogs†. Immediately this suggests that he and his friends are close, like a gang, and this leads on to the idea of conflict. The closeness of Alex and his friends is elaborated upon throughout the chapter. He frequently uses the phrase â€Å"The four of us† and, when speaking to Pete, Georgie and Dim, he says, â€Å"Oh my brothers†. Their close camaraderie is summed up on page six, where Alex describes it as being â€Å"usually one for all and all for one†. Then he begins to describe three â€Å"devotchkas†, whom one presumes to be members of a rival gang (the reader is told that Alex and his friends are â€Å"malchicks†). There is no brevity in Alex’s description, and he goes into detail when describing the clothes and make-up. It is likely here that Alex has a certain respect for these gang members, indicated by his lengthy description of their bright uniforms, and by the fact that he speculates on the large cost of these uniforms. But there is also a clear element of mockery. This is especially apparent in the sentence â€Å"These were supposed to be†¦ â€Å", with an emphasis on the word â€Å"suppose†. He is putting the credulity of the gang into doubt, debunking their claims. This is quite childish in some respects, and reminds the reader of his tender age. Alex and his â€Å"droogs† also wear uniforms, and Burgess describes them in a way that makes them unique to those four – by telling the reader what design each of the four had for their â€Å"jelly mould†, he is putting them apart from the rest of the world, giving them a uniqueness and style that no one else possesses. The uniforms are also a barrier between them and the rest of the world. This is also true of the â€Å"maskies† that the four often wear. As well as the more practical use of hiding their face from recognition, the masks separate the boys from the rest of society, making them stand out, and perhaps feel superior. Also, the outrageous costumes, to choose a better word, are a clear symbol of rebellion. It is ironic, therefore, that the boys wear them, as uniforms have always been associated with conformity. The language of the boys is the most successful at suggesting conflict with the outside. To begin with, the words are very harsh. Hard sounds, especially obvious with the many Ks, make the words infinitely more savage. The language used to describe other people is degrading: old women are â€Å"ptitsas† and men are â€Å"vecks†. The boys do not use this language when speaking to people who are not involved in gang warfare. To the man coming out of the library, Alex is polite and uses mostly understandable language. It is obviously because he is mocking the man, but it is also possibly because he would not understand (since it seems that he speaks normally). So this is their language, something they use to each other. This is a straightforward example of their conflict with the â€Å"outside†. But the language not only acts as a barrier between the four boys and the older members of society: it also acts as a barrier between the boys and the readers. For anyone starting the book for the first time, the words used are baffling, and it takes a lot of getting used to. What is more, Alex feels the need to explain what some of the words mean: â€Å"†¦ a rooker (a hand, that is)†. It is at this point that the readers become, in effect, a part of the society that Alex is rebelling against. We are on the outside. Finally, the language is used in such an extraordinary way, that it alienates us even further. It is in some instances quite chilling. Words like â€Å"poogly† are very childish; the best example is â€Å"appy polly loggies†, which is some corrupted baby version of the word â€Å"apologies†. It contrasts the stark violence of the book, giving it an even more savage tone. It is a strange mixture for Alex to use, reminding the reader that he is young. Plus, not only does it make the reader aware of the conflict Alex has with society, but also the deep struggle that is going on in Alex’s mind. 1. What impressions are we given of the society and the environment presented in chapter one? Use examples. (10 marks) The first impression one gets when reading about Alex’s world is what an absolutely seedy place it must be. The â€Å"Korova Milkbar† sounds very entertaining but rather run down, and one is informed that it is one of many â€Å"mestos†. Obviously it sells milk, but reading further on, one is told that this milk is â€Å"plus something else†, that something else being hallucinogenic drugs of some sort. It is then that one gets an idea of the depravity of the society in which Alex lives. Alex then mentions what he and his friends do to obtain money: either they can beat someone up in an alley and empty his pockets, or they can â€Å"do the ultra violent† on an elderly woman in a shop and steal the money from the till. One realises that, fairly obviously, something has gone wrong with the world in Alex’s time. Various violent and criminal topics follow, such as gang warfare and the description of a drug-induced â€Å"high†. It paints a morbid picture of a world in which violence reigns supreme, where there are no rules any more and society has disintegrated. This is backed up by the fact that any kind of law enforcement is not mentioned until later in the chapter. These â€Å"millicents† are obviously not important and Alex and his friends can easily outsmart them. So, in effect, there is no law enforcement. Early on, the only indication that some sort of legal system exists is the fact that â€Å"mestos† were not licensed to sell liquor (which does not seem to stop them any way). Another aspect of society that is not missing, but seems unpopular, is that of literature. Alex reports that â€Å"newspapers {are not} read much† – whether this is because of illiteracy or just lack of interest, one is unsure. The Public Biblio, which is the derelict-sounding municipal library, was something that â€Å"not many lewdies used those days†. Again, the reason why is not clear. Owing to the other â€Å"past-times† of the day, namely ultra-violent criminal activities, it is likely that nobody is interested in literature any more. This certainly fits in with the way in which Alex and his friends persecute a man just because they saw him coming out of the library with books in his hand. However, there are references to institutions that seem very active in the Alex’s world. The first is the health service. A â€Å"rozz† informs the gang that there have been â€Å"two hospitalizations†. The fact that the hospitals in Alex’s world are busy is blatantly obvious, due to the height of criminal activity. One is unsure of how efficient these hospitals are. In a State-run society such as this, one would imagine they were very inefficient indeed. The other institution that is still up and running is school. Alex himself tells us that he must go to school the following morning, and we later learn that this is a corrective school. Overall, the world in Alex’s day seems extremely bleak. Wherever Alex is, it is clearly a police state, where individual rights and freedoms do not stand for much. The older, and in some ways, unnecessary institutions, such as the library system and newspapers, seem to have lost appeal completely, presumably replaced by â€Å"worldcasts† and â€Å"Milkbars†. It does not sound like somewhere anybody would actually want to live.

My Personal Experience with Religion

I have considered myself a religious person for most of my life.   I was saved at ten years old, but I have been in church since I was two years old.   I know that many people say that religion and Christianity are not the same, but I am one of those few people who do believe that religion is important to.   I think that you cannot have one without the other.   They are both vital to the spiritual makeup of a person. If it had not been for my acceptance of Christ and the Holy Spirit that dwells in me, I don’t know what would have happened to me.   I definitely would not be the person that I am today.   I have always prayed about everything.   I believe that God is my spiritual father, and just like I talk with my biological father and converse with him everyday, I talk with my heavenly about everything. I believe that it is very hard to talk freely with a stranger.   Before you open up and bare your soul to someone, there is an established relationship.   It is the same with God.   It is extremely hard to take everything to him if a person does not know him.   I cannot remember a time when I have not had a relationship with him. It has made a huge difference in my life to be able to talk to him about everything.   I have actually had many prayers answered.   There is no way that I could remember all of them since they have happened every day of my life.   Therefore, my spiritualism has grown and changed over time.   When I was much younger, I saw God as one who had to be obeyed, but I have now grown to the point where I actually do have a relationship with him.   I used to worry so much about how I would handle everything in my life. Now I know that it is all in God’s hands.   I have learned that I have to completely trust him, and that all of my plans and worrying is not going to help.  Ã‚   It sounds on paper like I have just given up, but nothing can be further from the truth.   I have actually gotten stronger, and the time I used to spend on worrying, I now spend on talking to God. I do think that my religion has helped to strengthen my relationship with God.   It is through my religion that I have a church family of people who I can depend upon for my strength.   It is a wonderful sense of well being when I know that I have a whole host of people behind me that love and care about me because of our common beliefs through Jesus Christ.   I also believe that a religion is easier to understand when you are a part of it because you have access to others to teach you.   I have always had mentors and ministers to help me in my understanding of the faith that I have chosen. They not only tell me what they believe about it, but they have encouraged me to seek the scriptures to find my answers, and since they are more experienced than I am, they can steer me in the right direction to find those scriptures.   The faith that I am associated with encourages its members to seek answers from the scripture.   It is not encouraged to accept something just because a person tells us that is the way that it is.   I have many friends from other faiths, and it is nearly impossible for them to overcome the stereotypes that they have heard about my religion.   I find that I have the same problem when it comes to theirs as well. As I stated earlier, my religion encourages its members to try our beliefs with what the scriptures says.   Because of that I do think that I can remain objective.   I have learned that when I challenge something that someone of my faith says is right or wrong, I can go to the scriptures and if it is not there, I can choose to disregard the opinion.   In fact I believe that everyone has challenged at least one thing that their religion upholds.   I think that is only human and it is perfectly natural. If one cannot be objective and at least listen to both sides of a religious topic, then the person must look closely at whether he/she is brainwashed.   Questioning and objectivity is a good thing.   One cannot grow and accept other if he/she does not remain objective.   The only thing that cannot be changed what the Bible says about an issue. My life has been a full one and it has been steeped in religion.   I have enjoyed it immensely.   I am proud of the way that I have grown in my religion and my faith.   I would have to say that my religious experience has been a totally positive experience. Works Cited Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Life. 2003. Nashville: Zonderman Press. The Sacred Ritual There have been many sacred rituals that I have participated in during the course of my life.   The one that I enjoy the most and that has had the most impact on me is communion.   It is something that started with the night of Jesus’ arrest before his crucifixion.   I believe that the ritual is so beautiful and meaningful that I get emotional every time I take it. When I was a little child, I could not understand why all of the adults got to eat and drink from those cute cups and I could not have it.   Therefore, I suppose I hated the ritual at first.   I especially couldn’t understand how my own mother, who share everything with her children, could eat and drink in front of us and not even give us a taste.   I remember that her attempts at explaining it to us were feeble at best, so I would get angry every communion.   I cannot help but get a little tickled even today when I hear the small children at my church when communion is served.   Most of them are questioning their parents and grandparents and I automatically go back to my youth in my mind and remember all of my frustrations. Once I was saved and was able to take communion, I was just so glad that I was one of the big people, that I still did not realize the significance of what I was doing.   It was not until I was in my late teens that I realized what it was really all about.   At my church, a sermon on communion is always preached.   It might seem repetitive to some, but like a favorite bedtime story, or favorite movie, it is a joy to revisit the seen of the last supper.   I love the part where Jesus explains to the disciples what each part of the ritual means, and I enjoy what the Apostle Paul explains that it is not just a fellowship supper, but a meaningful link between Jesus and the Christian people. I find it refreshing during the part where all of the Christians in the church take time to reflect on the sins in their lives.   Sometimes it is painful when they are remembered, but after I have asked forgiveness, I feel as fresh as a newborn baby.   I am ready to start over.   There is also a time to ask forgiveness of others that we might have wronged.   This is also a special time.   I love it when I am reunited with someone that I have been at odds with. Then there is the sacred time of sharing the bread and the cup with our Lord Jesus.   The bread is the symbol of the body of Christ.   When we break it to eat it, it symbolizes what cruelties were done to his body.   I was not in Jerusalem the day of the crucifixion, but by taking part in communion I can be.   He died as much for me as he did the ones living at the time.   Therefore, when I break the bread, I am actually symbolizing that I did break his body so that he could die for my sins.   Then I drink from the cup that is supposed to represent the blood of Christ.   Without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin.   When I drink from the cup, I symbolize that his blood was spilled, and only through the spilling of the Savior’s blood could I be saved. When I ponder these things, I get chilled just knowing what Jesus has done for me and every other person.   He did not have to, but he willingly went to the cross for us.   Communion is one of the ways that I get to be reminded of the tremendous gift that Christ gave to all mankind. Works Cited The Holy Bible. King James Version. New York: Thomas Nelson Press. My Understanding Since I have taken this class, I have had a little better understanding of evil in the world.   I say a little because I have thought about this so much that my feelings on the matter have progressed over a long period of time. I feel that there are many reasons that God allows evil to exist in the world.   I believe that man has a great deal to do with it.   Yes, God is all powerful, but he allows us to live with the mess that we have made.   I will use the example of the horrible Hurricane Katrina.   There were many good people who lost everything that they had and many even lost their lives.   The same can be said of those who had not lived good lives.   There were babies who died, many elderly, and many in the prime of their lives. Some might question why God would allow this to happen.   Instead they should question man.   It was man who built so many houses and cleared so many forest and wetlands that the water had no where to go.   It was man who built underneath Lake Pontchartrain, and it was man who did not do adequate upkeep on the levies.   It could be argued that man helped create the hurricane itself with his utter disregard to the environment which is leading to global warming.   It is man who has to live with the decisions he and others before him have made.   God designed the earth to be perfect.   It was man who messed things up and brought sin into the earth.   If he had stopped man, then he would have taken away personal choice. My ability to understand what is right and wrong has changed over the years.   First I accepted what my parents told me was right and wrong.   When I became a teen, I judged what was right and wrong with what I wanted to do and think.   Now I search the scriptures.   I read the Bible as much as I can, and I have a pretty good feel for the obvious things that are right and wrong.   I will argue an opinion, but when it comes to the Word of God, I feel that if it is in the Bible, then that is the way that it is. I pray about situations that I have a difficult time determining what is right and wrong, and God never fails to send me a sign.   Sometimes it is not the one that I wanted, but he still delivers.   I also rely on what many people call a conscious, but I feel is the Holy Spirit.   I believe if I listen to the still small voice within me, then it is usually more right than what society tells me is right and wrong. Socrates` question: `Is something right because God commands it or does he command it because it is right?`   I feel that there are times that people think too much and this is an example.   Words are powerful and they can also have the power to confuse us.   I feel that God only commands what is right and he is omnipotent therefore he is right.   If he is the creator of all things, and I believe that he is, then he created right and wrong.   At the same time he commands things to be right because he determined it.   God is right. Works Cited Stearns, Bill. Fine Lines: Knowing God's Right/Wrongs for Your Life. San Bernardino: Here’s Life Publishers. 1987.