Monday, May 25, 2020

Analysis of M.I.A.s Paper Planes Music Video - 1505 Words

There is one universal language: the language of music. Music has a special quality and ability to bridge both social and cultural divides. A proposed theory by Dr. Gray, Founder and Director of National Musical Arts’ BioMusic Program; describes music has been around longer than human-beings have. Music is the one thing human beings from various backgrounds can relate to. Every living creature would agree. Music is heard everywhere not just among humans, but in nature as well, through the twitting of birds, winds blowing, the soft sound of raindrops against a windowpane, the ocean waves moving back and forth and the hum of the ocean rushing in a sea shell. There is no escaping it; music lives in and surrounds us steadily. While there are†¦show more content†¦1). According to Richard Harrington, â€Å"the Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students (EROS) was one of the first Tamil political organizations -- Tamil Hindus being the ethnic minority in Sinhalese Buddh ist dominated Sri Lanka†, their purpose was to form Tamil as an independent state (Ibid). As a result of M.I.A’s exposure to EROS most of her songs lyrics portray a mocking sarcastic depiction of goonish behavior and the mentalities of institutionalized organizations. For instance, â€Å"Paper Planes† offers subtle yet commanding and politically cynical hints of â€Å"dominance† and race to maintain commodities such as oil, no matter the consequences. In other words, if it takes sending soldiers to fight in a senseless war in order to maintain the power of producing oil then so be it. â€Å"Paper Planes† declares: â€Å"All I wanna do is (BANG BANG BANG BANG!) And (KKKAAAA CHING!) And take your money† (â€Å"Paper Planes†, M.I.A.). The BANG! BANG and gunshots heard on track are there to dismantle ‘capitalistic ideologies’ within countries like the U.S. Cherie Moraga writes â€Å"The United States is the only country in the world that feels entitled not to suffer the consequences of its actions† (WOC Reader, from Inside the First World, pg 46). Certainly, the non-industrial, unconventional and anti institution political perspective is

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Media, Oppression, And The Islam - 915 Words

What do most people imagine when they hear the terms â€Å"Islam† or â€Å"Muslim†? Is it a flattering picture? Perhaps it is the image of a dirty, turban wearing, dark skinned man. Or a culture that is often described as psychopathic, radical, and only consisting of terrorists. This cruel image has affected the treatment of Arabic people and religion by forcing Muslims to endure stereotypes that cause discrimination and hostility. The main source that upholds the harsh view of Islamic culture is the strong media bias. However, the media would not hold such a strong influence over the general population if people took time to consider the source of this partiality. In the process of understanding the media, oppression, and the Islam religion, as well as how the elements are intertwined, the simple solution of education presented itself; a result that allows for a better understanding and recognition of discrimination in mass media. Education is the solution to prejudice d westernized media that has projected Islamophobia for years; triggering hatred, discrimination, oppression, and pure racism- especially in the United States after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001- to an entire culture. The basic purpose of mass media is to provide the public with easy access to reliable and accurate information, yet there is a shift in priorities, as coverage focuses more on what the audience wants to hear rather than actual facts. This focus can become dangerous when biased westernizedShow MoreRelatedEvelyn Alsultany Takes A Different Approach To The Oppression1585 Words   |  7 Pagesthe oppression of Muslim women that the U.S. portrayed in the media to fuel the War on Terror and analyses that the U.S. portrayed Islam as backwards and an uncivilized culture. Alsultany analyzes published stories and news shows on CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox after the 9/11 attacks and concludes that these news stations used women’s oppression and linked it with terrorist attacks because they conveyed that Muslim men hated the West’s cultural ideals of women being free and wanted to impose Islam on theRead MoreReligion For Some Is A Pathway To Heaven. Following Any1134 Words   |  5 Pa gesReligion for some is a pathway to Heaven. Following any religion is a personal choice of living a life with faith in a divine and supreme power. As any other major religion, Islam promotes peace, love and equality for all mankind . People who follow Islam are Muslims which is defined as â€Å"one who surrenders† in front of God. Islam has given both rights and responsibilities to men and women, but it has also handed extra responsibility to men to look after their families, to provide for them, and toRead MoreMuslim Women Are Oppressed By Their Religion Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pagesoppressed by their religion. Oppression is the use of power and control to treat people in an unjust and cruel manner (Merriam Webster 2016). According to the Quran 2016, Islam is a religion of peace, submission, purity and obedience to the wording of Allah (God), which is an Abrahamic, monotheistic faith. Islam is the second largest religion in the world founded in the seventh century and was revealed through Prophet Mohammad. However, in contempory Australian society, Islam is seen as a violent andRead MoreThe Gender Roles1630 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion Islam. These days we hear so many negative things regarding women in Islam. The only time we hear those words together on the news anymore is when some Islamic country is terribly mis-treating its women. The media just loves a juicy story of some barbaric Islamist controlled country mistreating their women. They write their stories in a way that implies all Muslim countries are like this. I truly believe one the biggest problems today (at least in western culture) is the media. Media outletsRead MoreCulture Within The Islamic Religion1290 Words   |  6 Pagesprone to stereotyping. Islam is practiced all over the world by people from different ethnic backgrounds. As long as cultural traditions don’t contradict the teaching of the Holy Quran, anyone from any culture can be a Muslim. The primary difference between culture and religions is that it is localized. Islam is one of the major religions in the world, and it is preached and practiced by hundred millions of believers (Omotosho n.p) In comparison to Christianity, Islam is usually stereotypedRead MoreMedia Portrayal of Islam Essay760 Words   |  4 PagesIslam: suppressor of women, enemy of Western nations, and breeder of terrorists. The West has many stereotypes and misconceptions about Islam that are due to the media, prejudice, and ignorance. Islam is often seen as an extremist or terrorist religion. Often, the medias reports about Islam are incorrect due to ignorance or not wanting to acknowledge its true teachings. This is one of the reasons why Westerners are often wary of Muslims. In contrast to what the media portrays, Islam is a peacefulRead MoreUnveiling The Hijab : Oppression Versus Self Determination1719 Words   |  7 Pages Unveiling the hijab: oppression versus self-determination in modern Islam The hijab is a traditional headdress worn by Muslim women, and to a lesser extent, Muslim men, based on Qur anic interpretations relating to modesty. Since religious mandates are rarely enforced in modern society, especially in Western nations, the persistent practice of wearing veils by Muslim women has received increasing scrutiny from government agencies and certain feminist groups . A common misconception stems fromRead MoreFemale Equality and the Quran1771 Words   |  7 Pagesimportantly, it’s not about assigning blame. There is not a freed woman on one side and an imprisoned on the other.’ Muslim women: the Western view of these ladies is one of abuse, terror and oppression. The burka has become a symbol of male control and domination, warping the truth about Islam, and turning it into a violent regime focused on terrorism and ruling by fear. For example, if one were to do a â€Å"Google search† on the words Muslim women, the preponderance of images are of burka-cladRead MoreThe Misconceptions About Women in Islam Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesThe Misconceptions About Women in Islam While people in the west think that women in Islam are oppressed, they do not know that Islam liberated women from oppression. There are many people who have opinions about the religion of Islam, but mostly about the women who follow it. Westerners have this idea that women in Islam are disrespected, mistreated and oppressed. In actuality, these allegations are incorrect. Women in Islam have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstoodRead MoreReligious Mosaic Of Contemporary America983 Words   |  4 Pagesreadings, I believe it was a constant theme. Lastly, I will be addressing a â€Å"persona† I felt that was throughout the in-class discussions, and readings about â€Å"US† (Americans) vs â€Å"THEM† (Muslims). Islamophobia is a hatred or fear of the religion of Islam, Muslims, and of their politics or culture. â€Å"Muslims struggle for recognition of their beliefs and practices within the religious mosaic of contemporary America† (3, Shari’ a ...U.S.).America was founded on Christian principles, though many of our

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Killer Whale s Current Population Range - 1546 Words

Killer whale is known as the Orca or their scientific name, Orcunus Orca. Killer whale is the largest of the dolphin family and also the strongest and powerful predators. The Orca has the name killer whale because they can take down any large creature such as seals, sea lion or even white shark. The killer whale’s current population range is about 50,000 and they are the most distributed marine mammals. Their territory extends from the Artic to the Antarctic but they mostly can be found in the cold-water upwelling areas such as the Pacific Northwest, the Southern Ocean that has high latitude. Not only they can be found in the cold ocean, many data has also shown that they have been seen in the warmer area such as Florida or Hawaii. They are predators, so they eat marine animals such as seals, sea lions, fish, sea turtles, birds or even the great white shark. The difference between the female and the male killer whale is the male Orca is 32 feet long; weight 22,000 pounds wit h 6 feet tall dorsal fin while the female Orca is 28 feet long; weight 16,500 pounds with a little curve dorsal fin on the back. Their color is black on the upper body and white color on the lower body with gray saddle on their back or behind their dorsal fin. They have two white spot on the side of their face called eyespot. Even though the eyespots look like the eyes, the Orca’s eyes and ears are actually located below the eyespots. They depend on their sound and vocal to communicating, navigating,Show MoreRelatedWhale s Negative Interaction With Mankind1229 Words   |  5 PagesNatasha Clements October 17th, 2017 Marine Biology Ms. Brown p4 Honors Essay: Whale’s Negative Interaction With Mankind How Are Killer Whales Being Killed? Have you met Shamu? He (or she) is the star orca whale of the 2017 One Ocean Shamu Show at SeaWorld. The showcase begins with the propaganda display about saving the oceans, â€Å"The ocean is the heart of our natural world. Our legacy is tied to its future, in our hands to cherish and protect. We are one world, united by one ocean.† AccordingRead MoreAnimal Cruelty And The Marine Amusement Parks Around The World1585 Words   |  7 PagesThere are currently 57 captive orca whales being used as entertainment for profit at marine amusement parks around the world. Orca confinement is inhumane and is a disservice to such a socially complex, intelligent, self aware species. This is not only an animal cruelty issue. There have been many incidents of human injury and even deaths caused by whales as a result of the physical and mental stress they endure. Whales are by far the largest animals held in captivity, and after over 50 years ofRead MoreThe Out Of The Enclosures, Into The Wild : Compromising Animal Rights Essay1911 Words   |  8 PagesOut of the Enclosures, Into the Wild: Compromising Animal Rights Recently SeaWorld has come under a significant amount of scrutiny in regards to their orca whale program. Their whales have become increasingly aggressive over the years, hurting and even killing their trainers. SeaWorld and other facilities like it claim that they have these programs in order to conserve species and save them from extinction, but is the damage to the mental and physical well-being of these animals worth it? OrcasRead MoreThe Pacific Bluefin Tuna Is An Valuable Valued Specie1616 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The Pacific Bluefin Tuna is an incredibly valued specie who has been doomed for decades. Although the IUCN has listed this specie as vulnerable, they are far becoming more endangered to the point of extinction. Their population remains at 4% of what they were before commercial fishers began capturing them by the thousands (The IUCN Red List, 2014). The Pacific Bluefin Tuna is one of the largest and fastest fishes in the ocean. Their are three distinctions of the Bluefin Tuna; the SouthernRead More A Look at Todays Whaling Essay3413 Words   |  14 PagesA Look at Todays Whaling â€Å" The story of the whale is so remarkable, that were there not so many witnesses, I would not venture to tell it, lest I be accused of exaggeration.† -J.D.B Stillman, aboard the ship Plymouth, November 1850 (Stewart, 1995) There is no doubt that humans have always been intrigued with the majestic beauty of the large giants found in all of the world’s oceans. Whales and people have had a long history together, marked by many turns of events. Long ago, nativeRead MorePrinciples of Natural Selection Under Darwin and Wallace are Variation, Heritability, and Reproduction2343 Words   |  9 Pagesdiversity among a population such as genetic variation, some species are multi-colored. An example for genetic variation would be the genus delphinidae. Dolphins, pilot whales, and killer whales are all a part of the same family, however they range in colors, shapes, and names making people think they are of a different species when they are all related and have evolved into a large variety. Competition for resources such as food or water must be a factor as well. In any population of organisms, thereRead MoreA Case Of Nuturant Care : Adoption Of A Presumed Delphinus Calf By Bottlenose Dolphin3289 Words   |  14 Pagesdirected towards young) or succorant (supportive, care-giving behaviour by an adult in response to distress of another adult) (Cadwell Cadwell, 1966). Nurturant behaviour has been documented in a variety of species including sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), killer whales (Orcinus orca), and common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) (Caldwell Caldwell, 1966; Riedman, 1982). This behaviour has also been described frequently in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), both in the wild and in captivity, particularlyRead MoreSience23554 Words   |  95 Pagescarbon cycle and human-induced climate change is that the latter is  rapid. This means that ecosystems have less chance of adapting to the changes that will result and so the effects felt will be worse and more dramatic it things continue along the current trajectory. The Climate Has Always Varied In The Past. How Is This Any Different? Throughout Earth’s history the climate has varied, sometimes considerably. Past warming does not automatically mean that today’s warming is therefore also naturalRead MoreMargaret Fishero. Sarah Owens. English 12 Honors Dual Credit.4648 Words   |  19 PagesMargaret Fishero Sarah Owens English 12 Honors Dual Credit 16 March, 2017 Term Paper Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting nearly 100 million people. Pollution comes in many different forms and affects the world and the environment in many different ways. Along with the best known pollutants such as water, air, and land, there are other pollutants that many people do not know much about. These include light, noise, thermal, and household pollution and are all just as damagingRead MoreSouthwest Airlines6851 Words   |  28 PagesI. Current Situation Following the Deregulation in 1978, a competitive price war ensued among the airline industry as a direct result of the new freedom for airlines to set their own fares as well as route entry and exits. This gave rise to the operating structure of the airlines as it exists today, consisting of the point-to-point system and the hub and spoke system. With this came the change of focus for major airlines to non-stop, cross-country routes in densely populated cities, which, in

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Was the Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand That Important free essay sample

Two bullets fired in a Sarajevo back-street on the morning of the 28th June in 1914 set in motion a series of events that have shaped the world we live in today: World War One, World War Two, the Cold War and their conclusions all trace their causes to the gunshots that shook that summer day. But why was this so important? Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife were the victims, the heirs to the Austro-Hungarian throne. Tensions had been building up in the years before hand, but were their deaths really that important as an individual event? To begin with, one would have to look at the various factors that led to souring in relations between countries, for example, â€Å"Weltpolitik†. Germany was a new country, and had industrialized pretty quickly. Its nationalism was growing which led its imperialistic attitude. Thus it had ditched â€Å"realpolitik† and cast its eyes on the rest of the world. Germany did not â€Å"want to place anyone in the shadow,† but still have â€Å"a place under the sun. Britain and other leading powers did not want Germany to have an empire, because they were scared it would make Germany even more powerful. Germany accused them of double standards and led to it feeling resentful to the other countries. In order to achieve Weltpolitik, Germany had to develop a formidable navy. Britain had the strongest navy since the Battle of Trafalgar, and needed one in order to maintain its empire and import vital supplies. Thus, it saw Germany’s naval ambitions as a threat. When Britain built the first Dreadnought, it brought the naval race to a new level. The Germans developed the â€Å"Risk Theory†: that Britain would stay in port, rather than risk severely damaging its navy in a battle. On the other hand, Britain developed the â€Å"Two Power Standard†: that Britain should have a navy stronger than the other two leading navies put together. Eventually Britain won the race. This caused tensions between both countries to be extremely high, meaning any infraction could be used as a trigger for war. Distrust was at its highest in a long time, thus any chances of cooperation or negotiation were slim, leading to a worse bond between the two countries. The military plans increased the likelihood of a war taking place because each country had made the assumption there would be a war, for various different reasons, like imperial gains (Austria over the Balkans and France reclaiming Alsace and Lorraine) or diplomatic superiority (Germany, who was surrounded by enemies). Most of the countries were vying to have the best militaries, which had led to arms races (Britain and Germany’s naval race). The nationalist â€Å"vox populis† in certain countries led to faster development of armies and navies, a famous slogan in Lloyd George’s Britain was â€Å"we want eight [dreadnoughts] and we won’t wait! The first Moroccan crisis happened in 1905, when France wanted to make Morocco one of its colonies. Germany hadn’t been consulted, unlike the other countries of Europe; therefore the Kaiser pretended to be upset. He decided to go personally to Tangiers and deliver a message to the Sultan of Morocco, stating th at he would stop France from taking over. The Kaiser actually had no real interest in helping Morocco, although it is possible that he wanted it for himself due to Germany’s imperialistic desires; instead he set up this fiasco in order to test Britain and France’s newly formed â€Å"Entente Cordiale†. France and Britain anxiously negotiated, but eventually decided against war. Instead, they held a conference at Algeciras. The results disappointed the Kaiser; France could not have possession of Morocco, but still had â€Å"special rights† in it. But the Kaiser found out what he wanted to know; that Britain and France would stand together at the conference table, but would not join forces to fight Germany. In the second crisis, a rebellion happened in the town of Fez. The French decided to crush the rebellion by sending 20,000 troops. Germany accused France of invading Morocco and deployed the â€Å"Panther, a warship, to the port of Agadir on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The British were extremely alarmed. They were paranoid that Agadir might be used as a rival navy base to Britain’s base in Gibraltar, so Britain ordered its navy to prepare for war. At the last moment, when war seemed imminent, the Kaiser ordered his ships to give way and leave Agadir to avoid a confrontation with Britain’s superior navy. The consequences of the Agadir crisis were that it left Britain and Germany even more terrified of each other, which led to a more frantic race to build Dreadnoughts for their next confrontation. In addition, the crises welded the Entente powers, raised a new spirit of national defiance in France and led them to believe that Germany could no longer be trusted, as it had tried dictating the world by force in various occasions like the Tangiers and Bosnian crises. Therefore, from 1912 onwards, the Entente shared all its military details and coordinated strategies in the event of a war with Germany. On the other hand, the diplomatic defeats in both crises had a profound effect on Germany. German nationalism was at a high and from then on, German propaganda would often loudly proclaim that the Central powers were surrounded by the Entente powers, a union of jealous and troublesome powers, who were waiting for an opportunity to crush them. Fifty years before World War one, the political alignments of Europe were very different. It was a time when two new powers had formed: Italy and Germany. Britain had no ties with any European countries, and preferred to be in â€Å"splendid isolation†. The emperors of Eastern Europe were tied by an agreement called â€Å"the Three Emperors League†. France had few allies and was still nursing its wounds from its humiliating defeat in the Franco-Prussian war. But this is how Europe divided into two power blocs and edged closer to war. In 1879, Russia and Germany quarreled. Fearing an attack from Russia, Germany allied itself with Austria, making the Dual Alliance. Soon, Italy joined, making the Triple Alliance in 1882. This worried France and Russia, so they formed the Franco-Russian Alliance in1892. The countries were now temporarily at peace. Britain was now concerned. It had spent much of that time building up its empire, rather than getting involved in European affairs. But Germany had gotten itself involved in the Boer war, earning Britain’s mistrust. Now Britain needed to find an ally. In 1903, Edward VII paid a state visit to France, and the year after signed a treaty, the â€Å"Entente Cordiale†. Britain was no longer isolated. Three years later, due to the naval race and first Moroccan crisis, Britain signed an agreement with Russia. Since Russia and France were already allied, this agreement became the Triple Entente. Although in 1912, Italy had waged war on Turkey, winning easily and making the Ottoman Empire even weaker. This put cracks into the Triple Alliance as Turkey was allied with Germany, who had spent a great deal of money to help it. Italy also fell out with Austria, leading to Italy remaining neutral until 1915, when it joined the Entente. The alliance system didn’t make war less likely, in fact, it increased the likelihood. If one country attacked another, each one’s allies would be drawn in, who would then draw in their allies and so on. The Balkans were a heavily coveted area for several different reasons. For many centuries, the Ottoman Turks ruled over it. However, in the 1800’s their influence diminished as the native Slavs rebelled against Turkish rule. The Ottoman Empire was nicknamed the â€Å"sick man† of Europe, and other countries surrounding the area realized they could easily grab land from weak Turkey and increase their influence. Russia sought seaports on the Mediterranean. This would make trade easier, and in times of war, its ships wouldn’t be bottled up in the Black sea. Russia was also interested in the Balkans because it was a predominantly Slavic area, so it saw itself as the protector of Slavic nations, being one itself. Austria obviously wanted to increase its empire, but it had a much more important reason. Austria-Hungary was a â€Å"patchwork† empire, meaning it had many different nationalities under its rule. One of these was the Slav people, who wanted to break away and form new nations, and were particularly keen on doing so due to other independent Slavic nations, like Serbia who often stirred up trouble. Therefore, Austria wanted to take over Serbia before any rebellion could start and spread through out its empire, leading to its collapse. Germany was interested in the Balkans because it was allied with Austria and wanted to build a railway that would extend from Berlin to Baghdad, and would have to pass through the area. In 1908, the â€Å"Young Turks† staged a rebellion, causing chaos all over Turkey; Austria exploited the turmoil and annexed the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbia was outraged because it had wanted that area due to an ethnic majority of Serbs living there. Serbia also wanted to expand towards the sea, but was unable to do so without those territories. Russia also objected to this because it had promised to support Austria’s claims to those provinces, if Austria supported it in the ending of the 1841 convention that banned men-of-wars from using the Bosporus and Dardanelle’s, effectively trapping the Russian Navy in the Black Sea. Germany, however, got itself involved and backed Austria. Russia did not want to risk a war with both powers, especially since France wouldn’t support it on this matter, thus a conflict was avoided. As a result, Russia was determined not to back out In 1912, the Balkan nations declared war on Turkey, and effectively drove it out of the peninsula, except for the territory of East Thrace. Serbia gained the most territory, which fuelled Serbian nationalism and made the Serbians even more aggressive. This also made the Serbians in Bosnia restless and wanted to become part of Serbia more than ever. Bulgaria had been unfairly treated in the Balkan wars, thus he hated Serbia and was bent on getting revenge. Austria was also afraid of Serbia and was desperate to invade it. Eventually an extremist nationalist group called the â€Å"Black Hand† decided to take matters into their own hands and deal a devastating blow to Austria. On the 28th of June 1914, they assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This led to Austria’s ultimatum, which it had designed to be extremely hard to accept as an excuse to finally take over Serbia. In conclusion, the Archduke’s assassination was merely the spark that lit the bonfire; as it would have had no real significance as an isolated occurrence. Out of all possible causes, the Alliance system was the most significant one. This is because its failure to act properly made what should have been a local dispute between Austria and Serbia an international issue. Nationalism and militarism also contributed greatly to the beginning of World War 1 as it provided leaders with support for their campaigns. This could have been avoided had the countries not been so belligerent and hateful to each other; and maybe a peaceful agreement could have been made. Therefore diplomacy rather than military prowess could have been used to end their quarrel.