Cia Covert Operations: Panama And Nicaragua :: essays research papers fc

CIA Covert Operations: Panama and Nicaragua In the 1950's, the repression of domestic political dissent reached near hysteria. In the process the CIA's covert operations, already in progress in Europe, expanded worldwide. By 1953, according to the 1970's Senate investigation, there were major covert programs under way in 48 countries, consisting of propaganda, paramilitary, and political action operations. In 1949, the agency's covert action department had about 300 employees and 47 stations. In the same period, the budget for these activities grew from $4.7 million to $82 million. In this paper I will discuss the United States' use of covert actions using Panama and Nicaragua as examples. I had planned on writing my paper on Manuel Noriega and his connections with the CIA but the more I read into him I found the major topic outlying him was much more interesting. So with that I will continue on with this paper showing my findings on the CIA and thier covert operations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Covert operations have become a way of life and death for millions of people world wide who have lost their lives to these actions. By 1980, covert operations were costing billions of dollars. CIA Director William Casey was quoted as saying â€Å"covert actions were the keystone of U.S. policy in the Third World.†(Agee, 2) Throughout the CIA's 45 years, one president after another has used covert operations to intervene secretly, and sometimes not so secretly , in the domestic affairs of other countries, presuming their affairs were ours. Almost always, money was spent for activities to prop up political forces considered friendly to U.S. interests, or to weaken and destroy those considered unfriendly or threatening.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The friends were easy to define, they were those who believed and acted like us, took orders and cooperated. Until the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, enemies were also readily recognized: the Soviet Union and its allies, with China having ambiguous status since the 1970's. But there were other countries the CIA took actions against who were not associated with the Soviets. Iran in 1953, Guatemala in 1954, Indonesia in 1958, Cuba in 1959, Ecuador in 1963, Brazil in 1964, Chile in 1970, Nicaragua in 1979 and Grenada in 1983 to name a few.(Agee, 2) These governments, and others attacked by the U.S., were left, nationalist, reform-minded, populist or uncooperative and U.S. hostility drove some of them to seek arms and other support from the Soviet Union. Usually, the CIA mounted covert operations to weaken and destroy the programs supporting communism by leading and advertising anti-Communist solidarity. The local elites, whose privileged position was also threatened by movements for

Birth Control

It is a hormonal method of birth control. They increase estrogen and progestin to prevent the egg from leaving the ovaries and to increase the thickness of cervical mucus. The pill is very effective, over 99% effective, when taken as directed. It is safe for most women, but some women with health conditions or who take other medications should not take the pill. The pill may have some side effects. The benefits of birth control are it helps regulate and lighten periods, can help with menstrual cramps, acne, and prevent certain illness.It also improves many women's sex lives due to their ability to be spontaneous. The disadvantages to birth control pills are that few women get spotting between periods, nausea, and breast tenderness. However, that usually goes away within a few months. It can also change a woman's libido. It can also increase risk for some more serious illness. You need a prescription for the pill. You can go toa private clinic, community clinic, or free clinic for an evaluation and prescription. You can get the birth control from a pharmacy or a clinic.You may need an exam to get the prescription, which can cost between 35 and 250 dollars. The cost of the pill each month is between 15 and 50 ollars. Some planned parenthood will give you birth control for very low cost or for free depending on income. You take a pill at the same time during the day every day of the month. Condom A thin piece of plastic or latex that is shaped to fit a pen's. It is worn over the penis during sex. It is a barrier method, it prevents sperm from entering the woman's vagina, anus, or mouth. Condoms are 98% effective when used as directed.You can help their effectiveness by using spermicide and/or pulling out before ejaculation in addition to using a condom. Condoms are very safe unless a person is allergic to atex, in which case they need to purchase a plastic condom. The benefits of using condoms are their convenience, their protection against STD's, don't require a prescription, are cheap and easy to get, and they can help a man stay erect longer. The disadvantages of using condoms are that some partners may be allergic to latex. It also has been said to dull the sensation or interrupt foreplay to have to put on a condom.You can buy condoms at drugstores, community health centers and clinics, or at planned parenthood. Individual condoms cost about a dollar The condom is worn on the penis. You usually roll it on from the tip to the base of he pen's. Spermicide Spermicide is a chemical cream, gel, film, or suppository that stops sperm from moving. Spermicide is a chemical. It keeps sperm from moving or blocks the cervix. When you use spermicide correctly, it is 85% effective for women. The benefits of spermicide is that it can help protect against pregnancy if you are allergic to latex or cannot be on the pill.The disadvantage of spermicide is that it does not protect against S You can get spermicide at drugstores, clinics, or planned parenthood Spermicide costs about 8 dollars. You insert most spermicide deep into your vagina using an applicator or your fingers. Sponge It is made of plastic foam and is filled with spermicide. It covers the cervix to block sperm (barrier) and prevents sperm from moving. Women who use the sponge correctly get pregnant 9% of the time. Most women can use the sponge safely but you should not use it on your period. The benefits of the sponge are that it is safe and convenient.It can be carried in a purse or pocket. It can also not be felt by your partner. The negative effects of the sponge are it may be difficult for women to insert or remove. You can get the sponge at Planned Parenthood, drugstores, or clinics. It costs about 12 dollars for a pack of three. You wet the sponge with a little bit of water. Then you squeeze the sponge gently to activate the spermicide to get the whole thing wet. Then you fold the sponge and insert it as far as your fingers can reach. Feel around the sponge to make sure you can feel the loop and that it is covering the cervix.After intercourse you must leave it in for at least six hours and then pull it out by the loop. Patch The patch is a thin patch placed on the skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch releases hormones, progestin and estrogen It is very affective. Less than 1% of women get pregnant when using the patch as directed. The patch is very safe but cannot be used with some medications. The pros of using the patch is that it allows for a spontaneous sex life. It gives you shorter, lighter periods. It can also help with acne, cramps, and prevent some cancers.The cons of using the patch are that it does not prevent against STDs You can get it from a pharmacy. You need a prescription which you can get from a clinic or your doctor, and it costs about 15 to 80 dollars for one month. You apply the patch on to your skin and leave it for three weeks. Then you take it off for a week. Breastfeeding After giving birth breastfeeding releases hor mones to prevent pregnancy. It is a hormonal method. If a women practices continuous breastfeeding less than 1% get pregnant for six months. There are no side effects.The advantages of the method are the fact that it is very reliable and isn't difficult to use. It is also very safe. The disadvantages of using this method some women find it difficult to exclusively breastfeed their baby and it is only effective for six months after birth. You don't have to get anything, you Just breastfeed your baby. The method is free. You breastfeed your baby four hours during the day and six hours at night and your hormones will the prevent pregnancy. Birth Control Shot It is a shot you get in your arm. It releases progestin into your bloodstream and the hormones will prevent pregnancy.Less than 1% of women get pregnant on the shot. It can not be taken with some medication but for most women it is safe. The advantages of the shot is that it is safe, simple, and is long lasting. The disadvantages a re that there may be some irregular bleeding for the first 6 months. You can get the shot at a private health care provider or a clinic. It requires a prescription and can cost between 35 and 250 dollars. You use it by getting a shot from your doctor. Fertility Awareness Method Fertility Awareness Method works by tracking when the egg is released to prevent pregnancy.It keeps sperm out of the vagina during the periods where she is most fertile. 24% of couples who do not use the method effectively will become pregnant. The method is very safe and has no side effects. The benefits are that it is very safe and it is free. The disadvantages are that you must abstain from sex for ten days each month. You don't need to get anything. It is free and doesn't require a prescription. You keep track of the days you are ovulating and abstain from sex for those times to void pregnancy. Outercourse It is sex without penetration. It works by keeping sperm out of the vagina.It is practically 100% ef fective when used correctly. It is very safe and has no side effects. The benefits are that it decreases the probability of STD's, and can make sex play last longer and increase closeness and trust between partners. The disadvantages are that some people may find it difficult to abstain from vaginal sex. It cannot be obtained, you Just have sex differently. It is free, you don't need a prescription. The ways to have sex without penetration are oral sex, anal sex, masturbation, sex oys, kissing, manual stimulation, body-to-body rubbing, and fantasy.Diaphragm It is a shallow dome shaped cup you insert into your vagina. It is a barrier method. When used correctly, it is affective 94% of the time. It is more effective when used with spermicide. The advantages of this method are it is immediately effective, can be carried in a purse, doesn't affect hormones, and the sex partner can not usually feel it. The disadvantages are it may be difficult for some women to insert and can be moved ou t of place by aggressive sex or certain sex positions. You must see a health care provider to get a diaphragm.You must be fitted and given a prescription, then you can buy it at a drugstore. It can cost between 15 and 75 dollars (not counting the cost of the exam). You put spermicide in the cup. You fold the diaphragm in half and insert i t into the vagina, making sure it covers your cervix. Morning After Pill It is emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse. It keeps a woman's ovary from being released for longer so that it can not come in contact with sperm. Most are up to 89% effective when taken within three days of unprotected sex. It is very safe, there are no reports of any serious complications.The advantages to this method are that if you have unprotected sex, this can be a kind of last resort to protect yourself after. The disadvantages to the morning after pill are rare, but some side effects such as irregular periods, breast tenderness, or nausea. At 17 or old er you can buy a pill over the counter without a prescription. Under 17 you need a prescription. It can cost between 10 and 70 dollars. You take the pill as soon as you can after your unprotected sex. Abstinence Abstinence is abstaining from, or not having, sex. It works because you are not penetrating the vagina therefore cannot get pregnant.The method is 100% effective. The advantages to this method are it is free and there are no side effects. The disadvantage to abstinence is that it isn't any fun because you cant have sex. You don't need to purchase it. The method is free. You use it by exercising self control and not having sex. It costs about 295,560 dollars to raise a child until the age of 17 years old. It costs about 10,000 dollars for the babies first year of life. It costs about 550 dollars for diapers for one year. Formula will cost about 1,188 dollars. Other supplies will cost about 2,050 dollars for the first year. Birth Control The increasing world population is the most important problem that should be solved in order to solve big social problems such as bad economic situations and lack of resources. Birth control, although may lead to religious, cultural and spiritual objections, is the most effective way to decrease the population growth rate. Thus, governments should begin programs of compulsory birth control due to the fact that group survival is more important than personal freedom.Firstly, a high birth rate means an ever-growing population, needing more accommodation, education, and health care. When you fail to control high birth rates, this will bring about an increase in the population. The increasing needs of the expanding population cannot be supplied easily. Overpopulation will cause hunger, health problems and dissatisfaction among people. Additionally, with a high birth rate in a rapidly growing population, social problems will lead to social crises and explosion. Thus, high birth rate in a p opulation is a very serious problem that should be solved as fast as possible to avoid crises in the country in concern.Secondly, another negative aspect of high birth rate is the decrease of the natural resources of a country. The reduction of natural resources also brings about high inflation rates and negative economic conditions. When natural resources of a country fail to meet the growing domestic need, prices increase and living standards decline. Thus, in a developing country, the government should not let the population increase uncontrollably.Thirdly, birth control is the most effective and fastest solution to stop an increasing population. A common criticism of the practice of mandatory birth control is that it would not work properly, because it might be against people’s religious beliefs. However, a high birth rate is a real problem, which the government should actively control for a guaranteed solution. The government should launch a campaign to promote the neces sity of birth control and to increase awareness among people.To sum up, because awareness raising programs will take a long time, until then for a faster solution, the government, which has the power to enforce such programs, should start compulsory birth control programs while raising consciousness and conducting publicity campaigns.

My Writing On My Old App - 1355 Words

Before I start this application for the staff I would ask all the staff that read my old app to please forget about it and not deny me for play grazing on my old app. After that I learned my lesson. When I saw this https://gyazo.com/ebb87e602a2e0cdba20940010c3e5806 I started crying almost because if you actually ask Txtmsgs not much of the app is actually copied I am sorry. I truly lacked the vocabulary to describe myself when Txtmsg told me he caught me copying. I’m truly sorry for what happen. I feel like I’m still in the game and hopefully, you forgive me. I have been playing velt from the start. I haven’t left Velt yet. This is my 6th app I believe. I’m not giving up on it yet. I remember the good old times as staff on Carnage, VirtualHQ, and Lockedcraft. Seen savage moments and funny I hope you forgive me. So I am asking you to please forget the past. It s a new day starts a new dawn. IGN (Include Previous Names Also):DellCurry Age:14 Timezone:Eastern Standard Location:Canada Gender:Male How many hours can you play each day?4-6 hours Have you had any past experience? Yes, I was staff on these servers†¦ CarnageHCF Mod+ (HCF/Practice)100-500 Players VirtualHQ Admin (HCF/Practice)10-50 Players KPopOG Owner (HCF)0-15 Players Friend Server LockedCraft Helper (KitPvp) 200-500 Players HoloHCF Helper (HCF) 0-50 EbueHCF Mod (HCF) 10-50 Are you staff on any other servers currently? No, I am currently not staff on any other servers. Why should you be chosen as a staff member? IShow MoreRelatedIts An App For That Can Make Shopping More Convenient Or Ordering Food?1730 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"There’s an app for that†. I find myself pointing out this somewhat obvious fact on a regular basis. What is there not an app for? Honestly, every aspect of a person’s average day can be assisted in some way by an app. App for the alarm in the morning, for your Starbucks coffee, an app for the morning news, apps to track your weight and calorie intake, a pedometer app to count your steps, GPS to get you to an appointment, banking apps, calendar, grocery list, coupons, Safeway even has an app. Apps thatRead MoreThe Most Difficult One On One Meeting You Have Had With A Supervisor Or Professor1632 Words   |  7 Pagessuccessful closure? There was a time that I needed assistance from my professor on understanding some philosophical theory that was discussed in class, but my professor did not really explain the idea well enough for me to understand. I was required to write an essay that compared and contrast the different versions of Utilitarianism, but philosophical ideas were kind of hard for me to follow and understand clearly. I tried to help my professor explain the ideas to me by splitting the main ideas intoRead MorePersuasive Essay Questions952 Words   |  4 PagesLocally (I live near LA,which has one of the highest concentrations of homeless people in the nation), there are many homeless who have through suffer through their period without pads and tampons, which means they are forced to use substitutes such as old socks and paper towels to block the flow. This is unsanitary (using something dirty to block the flow of blood can easily cause infection) and dehumanizing, especially because periods are a biolo gical function that a person has no control over. TogetherRead MoreAre Smartphones Harming Younger Generations?938 Words   |  4 PagesIn my Unit 4 essay, I propose to argue that smartphones are harming the younger generations. Since the younger generation is born into a society where every data, learning, amusement, and everything else, is just one search away. They are certainly living in the information age with technology that is just a few years ago was unthinkable. Numerous individuals do not understand how this is an issue. For Unit 4 I choose option 2 because I am mainly focus on smartphones affecting the younger generationRead MoreGender Differences And Communication Technology877 Words   |  4 PagesThis research also showcases how technology played a large role in the early stages of romantic relationships. I agree that technology has completely changed how relationships begin and how they are maintained. Their findings are extremely useful for my argument on how technology is changing the way we date and interact with each other. Lee, Paul S. N., Louis Leung, Venhwei Lo, Chengyu Xiong, and Tingjun Wu. Internet Communication Versus Face-to-face Interaction in Quality of Life. Soc Indic ResRead MoreMy First Year of College Adventure783 Words   |  3 PagesLife as a young 19 year old college student may consist of many hours knowingly or unknowing on social networks. Social networks are a network of social interactions and personal relationships. They are a way for many individuals to stay connect to their friends and a way for people to entertain their self. Just recently I began to notice how much social media actually runs my life... It’s crazy how in the morning when I wake up and roll over and the first thing I reach for is my cell phone. After swipingRead MoreMobile Computing And The Creation Of The Internet1416 Words   |  6 Pagesthe grand scheme of technology. In comparison, education has always been a stickler for the removal of technology unless absolute need of it came about. To analyze th e impact of technology, and more specifically mobile computing, a letdown of a few old-fashioned rules has had to occur and still must occur for any true level of educational and technological efficiency to happen. Education of technology need to be integrated and having it become mobile could only help the educational process becauseRead MoreMobile Phones And Its Effects On Our Lives955 Words   |  4 Pages2013, more than 50 % of portable supporters in the US and more than 65 % of versatile endorsers in South Korea were utilizing cell phones, and the rate continues expanding. Mobile phones can now have internet access and many users can now download any apps they want in the application store. Yet, that is why many people would view mobile phones as handheld PCs instead of customary phones [1]. In spite of mobile phones given colossal comfort to our lives, neurotic utilization of mobile phones has madeRead MoreA Report On The Car1480 Words   |  6 Pagesa queue behind a four do or Pontiac which was behind a white U-Haul type moving truck that was obstructing the view of the first vehicle. The moving truck was the type with the high cargo hold that averages 12 feet from concrete to top of the truck. My car has a seat height that prevented me from being able to see the lights of the intersection until it had made its turn. I am unaware of the state of the light upon it making its turn, but I would find out later that another officer stopped it. TheRead MoreTechnology And Modern Technology1392 Words   |  6 Pageschildren as little as two using technology, I get worried. My niece Savanna loves having touch screens in her little hands, but it makes me wonder if her childhood could be wasted on the constantly developing technology of today. When I was a child, it was typical to go outside, get a little dirty, run around and have fun outside. Sadly, not all children are the same. How will these children feel? Will they be glad they were a part of the â€Å"app generation† or will they regret it later on? A child’s connection

Essay about Immortal Ideas In A Worn Path - 2029 Words

Upon a first reading of Eudora Welty’s, â€Å"A Worn Path†, it appears to be a simple story about an old woman going into town to procure medicine for her sick grandson, who has swallowed lye (Welty 3). After further readings and doing research, the deep meaning and depth of the story becomes apparent. The worn path is much more than a routine route regularly traversed into town and back to home. The protagonist Phoenix Jackson has many more layers than the way she is perceived as an apparent no account drifter, charity case, whose only reason to head into town is to see Santa Clause (Welty 2). There is significant meaning behind the interactions with people, places, and objects that Phoenix crosses paths with on her journey into town.†¦show more content†¦Welty uses imagery to link Phoenix to a bird (Welty 2). Her cane makes a sound â€Å"like the chirping of a solitary little bird (Welty 1)†. She stole a coin the same way she would have â€Å"li fted an egg from under a sitting hen (Welty 3). Her grandson, the future Phoenix, â€Å"Peeps out from his little patch quilt, holding his mouth out like a little bird† (Welty 6). Phillips describes Phoenix Jackson as not being aware of having â€Å"a mythic dimension† and the journey itself as having â€Å"archetypal depth† (419). The title â€Å"A worn Path† and not â€Å"The Worn Path† puts the meaning on a way of life as opposed to the directional way (Keys 354). The path in the story Is overgrown, which contradicts a trampled worn path like the one the title implies. Although on the surface Phoenix is just running errands out of â€Å"the deep-grained habit of love† (Welty), it is her experiences on the path that she and the future generations will learn to most from (Harris 492). After she dies, all of the knowledge and wisdom Phoenix has acquired will be reborn in the future generation of black America through her grandson. The name Phoenix symbolizes not only the knowledge and wisdom being reborn in the next generation but also the end and beginning of every journey Phoenix takes. After Phoenix accomplishes the task of getting the medicine from the doctor’s office, Welty says, â€Å"Her slow step began on the stairs, going down† symbolizing the start or rebirth of aShow MoreRelated Worn Path Essay685 Words   |  3 PagesWorn Path Knowing secret information can be a very enlightening thing. Knowing information that someone else does not helps make the reader feel more powerful. Such is the case when the reader knows of the mythical Phoenix and then reads â€Å"A Worn Path.† Eudora Welty’s â€Å"A Worn Path,† the story of an elderly grandmother’s journey to the doctor’s office for medication for her grandson, explores allusions to mythology, including the character Phoenix and her journey. â€Å"In an Egyptian taleRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle For Racial Equality Essay1522 Words   |  7 PagesA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality In A Worn Path, a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a worn path through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics haveRead MoreA Worn Path: Struggle for Racial Equality1550 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A Worn Path†: Struggle for Racial Equality In â€Å"A Worn Path†, a short story by Eudora Welty, the main character, an old colored woman named Phoenix, slowly but surely makes her way down a â€Å"worn path† through the woods. Throughout her journey, she runs into many obstacles such as a thorny bush and a hunter. She overcomes these obstacles and continues with her travels. She finally reaches her destination, the doctor’s office, where she gets medicine for her sick grandson back home. Many critics haveRead MoreA Worn Path By Eudora Welty1707 Words   |  7 PagesMichelle Andrews Dr. Goss ENGLISH 1102 9 February 2016 A Worn Path In the Eudora Welty’s ‘‘A Worn Path’’, there is a distinct description of characters that live in the era of segregation and the great depression. Because Welty is a native of the south, this story is based from the experiences during her life. Her struggles are relived in the characters of not just â€Å"A Worn Path† but also a lot of her other stories. She uses hidden messages in her stories and includes deep meaning in the simplestRead More Penelopes Recognition of Odysseus as a Beggar Essay example1549 Words   |  7 PagesPenelopes recognition of Odysseus as a beggar. Upon hearing of the travels of the beggar, Penelope is very interested to question him as to whether he has ever crossed paths with her husband Odysseus. The story that Odysseus tells her is for the most part untrue. However, he does give specific details as to what clothes he had worn, so that Penelope would believe that the story was truthful. The beggar then goes on to tell her that Odysseus is coming back to Ithaka in the very near future. It isRead MoreThe Battle Of Thermopylae During Western Civilization History1457 Words   |  6 Pagessoldiers on the fields at the pass of Thermopylae. Thermopylae was quickly becoming the massacre of the Medes. Xerxes then sent his next wave of men forward, he called them the â€Å"immortals†, but in reality they were called companions. The pass of Thermopylae confined the Persians because of their numbers, every death of an â€Å"immortal†, another one took their place in line. Spartans using their military tactic of r etreating actually helped them. When the Spartans fell back, the Persians followed, thenRead MoreThe Hero s Journeys Of Gilgamesh And J.k. Rowling1590 Words   |  7 Pagesare similar due to their use of the hero’s journey. INTRODUCTION The earliest version of The Epic of Gilgamesh dates back to 2000 B.C., long before J.K. Rowling ever thought up the idea of Harry Potter and his adventures. Despite the expansive amount of time between these two heroic epics, they follow the same path of the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey is sometimes referred to as the monomyth because it unifies all heroes through their development. The hero’s journey has evolved with literatureRead MoreEudora Welty a Worn Path12166 Words   |  49 PagesA Worn Path by Eudora Welty Copyright Notice  ©1998−2002;  ©2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design ® and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.  ©2007 eNotes.com LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution or information storageRead MoreEudora Welty a Worn Path12173 Words   |  49 PagesA Worn Path by Eudora Welty Copyright Notice  ©1998−2002;  ©2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design ® and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.  ©2007 eNotes.com LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution or information storageRead MoreDantes Inferno Essay1949 Words   |  8 PagesIn The Inferno - Dante#8217;s Immortal Drama of a Journey Through Hell, Dante allows the reader to experience his every move. His mastery of language, his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature, and his infinite store of knowledge allow him to capture and draw the reader into the realm of the terrestrial hell. In Canto 6, the Gluttons; Canto 13, the Violent Against Themselves; and Canto 23, the Hypocrites; Dante excels in his detailed por trayal of the supernatural world of hell. In each

Analysis Of The Poem Jurgis Rudkus - 1520 Words

Jurgis Rudkus, a burly young man from Lithuania, immigrants to America with his wife and extended family in hopes of a better future. Jurgis, hard-working and optimistic, quickly secures a job as a factory hand in the meatpacking district of Chicago, known as Packingtown. Initially, Jurgis knows little of the corruption and oppression which exist within Packingtown but soon experiences it first hand as poverty, hunger and loss weigh heavily on his family. Following the death of his wife and son, Jurgis leaves his remaining family and becomes involved in crime and political scandal. Eventually, Jurgis reconnects with his family and discovers socialism, a political ideology which rekindles his hopes for a future of equality and opportunity†¦show more content†¦Scully shows little concern for the well-being Chicago citizens and instead, favors the business interests of large companies. Phil Connor, an acquaintance of Mike Scully, is Ona’s boss. He sexually assaults Ona and forces her into prostitution. Jurgis, enraged by Connor’s actions, attacks him two times in the course of the novel and ends up in jail. Jack Duane is Jurgis’s cellmate during his first time in jail. He forms a friendship with Jurgis and later becomes his partner in crime. Jack is first to introduce Jurgis to the insider’s world of Chicago’s political corruption and scandal. Nicholas Schliemann is a former philosophy professor and socialist party member who Jurgis meets at a party hosted by a man named Fisher, a Chicago millionaire. Schliemann serves as a character through which Sinclair can explain socialist ideology in depth, and voice his personal political support of socialism. Key Events: Jurgis, Ona, and their families decide to move from Lithuania to the U.S. in pursuit of a better life. Although they arrive with great optimism, their immigration marks the beginning of a perilous quest for survival in Chicago s Packingtown. Jurgis, Marija, and Jurgis’s father, Dede Antanas, set out to find work in Packingtown. Jurgis and Marija quickly find jobs and although Dede Antanas eventually does as well, he faces more difficulty doing so because of his old age. The jobs

Buddhist Education in Vietnam Free Essays

Almost 85% of the entire population of Vietnam is Buddhist . The main reason for this vast acceptance of Buddhism is its very early entrance in Vietnam. Buddhism entered Vietnam in the beginning of second century. We will write a custom essay sample on Buddhist Education in Vietnam or any similar topic only for you Order Now This was the Common Era and can be called as the first phase of the Buddhist education in Vietnam . The very first Buddhist education was given by a Taoist named Meou-Po, who later converted to Buddhism . According to many historians, even before this Taoist, some form of Buddhist education could be seen when the Chinese missionaries came to Vietnam . The Chinese missionaries came in Vietnam during the rule of Si-Nhiep. Later, two Indian monks also came from India to Vietnam, in order to practice and preach Buddhism. Ma Ha Ky Vuc and Khau Da La stayed in Vietnam for some time, later Khau Da La left whereas Ma Ha Ky Vuc stayed. Ma Ha Ky Vuc was a very religious man and used to fast for several days. According to him this helped purify his body and soul. These two Buddhist monks first came to Northern Vietnam, which was called as Giao-Chi at that time. Mau-Bac, a Chinese Buddhist later came to Vietnam, in order to preach his religion. At that time China was the centre of a serious political conflict, hence many scholars in order to learn and preach at peace, came to Vietnam. This was a breakthrough for the Buddhism. These were the first people ever to bring in Buddhism in Vietnam. They were refugees from China and Pilgrims from India. As time passed by Buddhism became more accepted and most practiced religion in Vietnam. BEGINNING OF BUDDHIST EDUCATION A Hindu price, Gautama who did not like the idea of Hindu caste system, was the founder of Buddhism. Gautama did not believe that any man could be superior to the other and as Hinduism Brahmans are considered superior, he left this religion . Gautama had spent many years wandering and meditating. In the end he found answers to all his questions and hence found the path of enlightenment, â€Å"nirvana†. According to Buddhism, nirvana is the path to endless serenity. It is free from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Moreover, a person will achieve salvation if he believes in the four noble truths. These four noble truths are that a man suffers in all his consecutive lives; the reason for his sufferings is his wants for earthly things, when the person frees himself from all the wants of earthly things he then achieves deliverance. The last noble truth says that a person can achieve deliverance by following the eightfold noble path . So how did Buddhism actually spread? During the time Si-Nhiep ruled Giao-Chi, it was considered as a safe place. Mau-Bac came to Vietnam looking for peace and tranquility. After coming to Vietnam, he studied Buddhism from an Indian monk named Ksudra . Ma Ha Ky Vuc who also came to Vietnam got together with Mau-Bac and started preaching their religion. Ksudra also started helping them, hence people in Vietnam, who never knew what Buddhism was, started learning and accepting it. These were the very first people to start preaching and teaching Buddhism. Their teaching is the very early form of teachings found in Vietnam. After these, many Buddhist monks came to Vietnam. Khang Tang Hoi and Cuong Luong Lau were two monks who made a lot of difference. They translated many Buddhist books into Chinese. As Vietnamese culture at that time was influenced a lot by Chinese and Chinese was the official language used , hence translating these books made a lot of difference to people who could not read or write other languages . PHASES OF VIETNAMESE BUDDHISM The history of Buddhist education in Vietnam can be studied by dividing it into four separate phases or periods. – The formation of Buddhism in Vietnam. This started from the common era and lasted till the end of Chinese dominion – Climax of Buddhism. Buddhism was at its peak during the independence – The decadence after the Le Dynasty – Revival period. This started in the beginning of the 20th century and has not ended yet. The period before the Common Era lays the foundation for the beginning and development of Buddhist education in Vietnam. It was the time when Siddhartha Gautama, who will later attain enlightenment and will be called as ‘Buddha’ was born. As he was born in India, Indians were the first to learn Buddhism. Later when Buddhism came to China, many Chinese monks went to Vietnam in order to spread Buddhism. However, it believed that the Chinese and Indian merchants came to Vietnam for trading. They brought monks with them saying that the monks were the â€Å"calmer of the sea† These monks started preaching their religion in Vietnam. It was easy for them to teach their religion to many people at a time, as Luy-Lau, later known as Ha-Bac was the centre of all trading activities. All the merchants who came here to trade, and merchants who were travelling between India and China, stopped here to rest, therefore, monks were able to spread their religion very easily. Many missionary activities were started as a result. Monasteries were built and Buddhism became important. This was the first time ever in the history of Vietnam, that monasteries were built . The next period or phase proved to be best for Vietnamese Buddhism. In this period Buddhist studies were at their peak and many famous people and rulers converted to this religion. It was when King Dinh Tien Hoang came in to power. Buddhism has its own hierarchy of monks and priests who were accepted by the court. Buddhism was now supported by the royal court and this helped many positive changes to take place. Buddhists were now respected and were considered as learned people. They were asked advice by the royal court and the rulers before taking decisions. This helped them get involved in many political and religious decisions and hence providing many decisions to be taken according to them. This era truly proved to be the best for Buddhist studies and it became one of the most predominant religions. After this, many kings and emperors converted to Buddhism. Many laws came into practice in this era, which were influenced by Buddhism, and hence were in favor of the Buddhists. Van Hanh became a Buddhist in this period. He is known as the meditation master and has influenced many people to convert to Buddhism. Any ruler who was not Buddhists was at least the supporter of Buddhism and this was a very positive point for the Buddhists. In 1010 A. D, almost eight monasteries were built in Ha Bac. All other monasteries and Buddhist temples were also repaired. Tripitaka texts, which were in China initially, were brought in Vietnam. Thousands of Buddha statues and paintings were made and set up. Festivals were set up. Many new monasteries such as Sung Kharh monastery and monastery at Mount Ba were built. In 1086 A. d Dai Lam monastery was built in Ha Bac. Later in 1118 A. D Thien Phat was built which had almost 1,000 Buddha statues . BUDDHIST STUDIES The entire Buddhist education comes from the studies of Buddha, who is the supreme teacher. All of the studies root from saddha, which is the faith in triple Gem. Depdnding upon these studies the students are taught according to the five rules. The students should know the rules, their reason and their appliance in daily lives. Most importantly, they should appreciate all these rules and believe in them. The students should know what is generosity and self sacrifice. These are essential elements that help the students overcome their worldly desires, their selfishness and greed. These five moral rules are dependent on each other. A student can gain by suta, which is by extensive reading of Buddhism texts. According to Buddhist studies the knowledge of a person is dependent on his inside belief of truth i. e. Dhamma. Calm and insight are the two main elements of any Buddhist teaching. In Buddhist education tasks and wisdom are dependent on each other. A student can attain wisdom by deep investigation, discussion and intelligence. This wisdom was the basic instruments which lead Buddha to salvation. This wisdom is the crown of all educations of Buddhism. Without wisdom, education is incomplete. Before French, people were chosen based on their education. These were officials known as â€Å"mandarins†. Learning was very important in those times. It was not just education but it lead a person to intellectual understanding, social standing, wealth and power. Buddhism came directly from India, hence there are many words in Vietnamese Buddhism which are influenced or are taken directly from India. The word Buddha is also taken as it is. However, as the Vietnamese culture is influenced a lot from the Chinese, hence when Chinese monks came to Vietnam, the word Buddha was replaced by the word Phat. In those days, Buddhism in Vietnam was influenced by Theravada Buddhism. It was seen as religion which helped good people and punished the bad. It was very difficult to teach Buddhism at that time as very little literature was available. Vietnamese had no written script; hence a few translations were made in Chinese. The era between 544 and 602 was an independent era and was helpful in spreading Buddhism How to cite Buddhist Education in Vietnam, Papers

Psychology Abnormality free essay sample

This essay explores what is abnormality with respect to the different ways by which it can be defined such as statistical infrequency, deviation from social norms, failure to function adequately and deviating from ideal mental health and viewing their limitations and by using different models such as Psychodynamic, Cognitive, Behavioural and Medical model in identifying what is abnormal and their treatment. But the essay would focus more on the medical model and the different approaches used to define abnormality all have their focus point which is to distinguish between what is normal and abnormal. In order to understand abnormal psychology, it is essential to first understand what it meant by the term abnormal. The meaning seems obvious; abnormal indicates something that is outside of the norm. But am talking about the norms of a particular group, gender or age and many human behaviours can follow what is known as the normal  curve. Looking at this bell-shaped curve, the majority of individuals are clustered around the highest point of the curve, which is known as the average. People who fall very far at either end of the normal curve might be considered abnormal. One of the approaches used to define abnormality is statistical infrequency. This is when statistics is used to define the norm for any group of people. According to this approach abnormality is defined as deviating away from the mean which is represented on a normal distribution curve. Using statistical infrequency to define abnormality means that it is impossible to distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviours. For example according to this definition left-handed people would be regarded as abnormal. However in context this being left-handed cannot be classified as being either normal or abnormal. In the case of depression, any symptoms experienced by around 80% of the population are thought to be normal but those experienced by 20% would be defined as abnormal. However there should be a cut-off point which should be used to decide what a normal or abnormal symptom is. The cut-off point is important as it would be used to determine what sort of treatment an individual receives. Due to the difficulty experienced in choosing the cut-off point in relation to abnormality or normality, the statistical infrequency cannot be seen as a successful means to classify or identify desirable and undesirable behaviours. This therefore highlights that this may be difficult to use in defining abnormality. Although the statistical infrequency is a very precise and scientific method; the great failure of this approach is that the decision that someone is abnormal is very objective rather than being very subjective. The deviation from social norms is another approach used to define abnormality. In all societies there are standards of acceptable behaviour that are set by social groups. These social norms include morals and expectations of how one should behave or act. These norms are usually set for good reasons. One such example is politeness. In Japan, when greeting someone it is custom (normal) to lower your head as a sign of respect, but if you were not to do this you would be labelled abnormal or in this case, disrespectful. In other words, not doing what everyone else is doing is seen as abnormal. Another form of example is in some part of the world homosexuality is seen as been abnormal because everyone believes in heterosexuality which is the normal thing. Davison, et al [2004] believes homosexuality is abnormal but at the same time still thinks it is normal for people to practise homosexuality. Abnormal behaviour is seen as deviation from implicit rules about how one ought to behave. This approach takes into account the effect behaviour has on others as well. This means that to a certain extent this approach has been successful in defining abnormality. In India it is deemed normal for girls as young as 9 years of age to marry much older men. However this does not mean that it would be acceptable in other countries like the UK. In other words, the ‘norms’ from one social group cannot be used to classify another group’s behaviour. In some countries the norms that is the morals and beliefs, may be affected by some factors including religion, sexuality and gender. The deviation from social norm approach has been criticized as some say it is not always a bad thing to deviate from the norm. This is applicable in the case of people in Germany that resisted the Nazi occupation during the Second World War and also deviance and non conformism are sometimes confused in this model. These limitations suggest that the use of deviation from social norms as a means of defining abnormality is difficult over a long period of time and in particular contexts The third approach used to define abnormality is the deviation from ideal mental health. This approach defines what normal is and regards any deviation from this as abnormal. It states that a person is abnormal if they are not constantly striving towards or competent in self-attitudes, personal growth, integration, autonomy, perception of reality, environmental mastery. This definition focuses on the positive aspects of mental health instead of physical health. For example; doctors would say that a high temperature means a person is ill. This approach uses the same idea, but relates it to mental health instead of physical health. However, some of the criteria are vague and hard to define such as self-actualization. Hence this is makes this a limitation when using this approach because not everyone would be able to achieve the point about personal growth as stated by Rogers [1959] and Maslow [1954] who believed that abnormality is the result of a person not achieving their life goals. On the other hand Jahoda 1958 believed ‘abnormality’ and ‘normality’ concepts are useless because they are culturally dependant. Jahoda [1985] identified categories that clinicians typically relate to mental health. They are self-attitudes, self-esteem, identity, personal growth, integration autonomy which is how much a person is independent of social influences, perception of reality and environmental mastery that is success and addictiveness including the ability to love, work and play. The limitation to this definition is that it is impossible for an individual to achieve all their goals [ideal characteristic] at all time. The final approach used to define abnormality is failure to function adequately. This approach considers abnormality from the individual’s point of view. Most people aim to cope with day-to-day living, therefore using this approach abnormality can be defined in terms of not being able to cope. For example if one is depressed this is acceptable as long as they can still carry on doing day-to-day activities. Therefore failure to function adequately refers to an individual’s inability to cope with day-to-day living. This approach provides an opportunity to view mental disorder from the point of view of the person experiencing it. This approach uses the Rosenham and Seligman’s [1989] 7 abnormal characteristics theory to aid its definition of abnormality thereby enhancing the ability to label a person normal or abnormal. The 7 characteristics include suffering which is defined as the experience of personal distress of discomfort, maladaptiveness which is prevents good relationships and the achievement of life goals, vividness and unconventional behaviour, unpredictability and loss of control which leads to uncontrolled and inappropriate behaviour, irrationality/ ncomprehensibility, observer discomfort and violation of moral and ideal standards which is behaviour that is against the moral standards of society. The Rosenham and Seligman’s theory states that the fewer of these characteristics that a person shows, the closer to normal they are. However but if a person exhibited several of these characteristics, this means they are abnormal. One of the limitations to this approach is that most judgemen ts are subjective and some of the 7 characteristics are unreliable. For example personal distress is not a solid proof of abnormality as not all mental disorders are accompanied by a state of distress. Also an abnormal behaviour may actually be helpful because it contributes to an individual’s normal function and adaptive behaviour. For example, a person who has obsessive compulsive disorder of hand washing may find that the behaviour makes them cheerful, happy and better able to cope with their day to day activities. A clear evaluation of the approaches stated above proves that abnormality is hard to define as it is perceived differently in different cultures and from different perspectives. They all focus on a particular area without considering other areas. This is the reason why the different approaches have been used in an attempt to distinguish abnormality from normality. Another model of abnormality is known as the Medical approach or sometimes the biological approach. This approach uses physical illness as a model for psychological disorder, suggesting that mental illness has an underlying bodily cause. It proposes that genetic, organic or chemical factors cause mental illnesses which give rise to behavioural and psychological problems. Mental illness may be due to brain dysfunction {neurological}, biochemical imbalances, infections or genetics. The manifestation of these symptoms can be used to determine what medical/physical treatment would be available. On the other hand the cognitive approach focuses on an individual’s way of thinking and suggests that psychological problems or disorders {abnormality} are caused by repressed emotion and experiences from the past(usually childhood) and as a result of this repression, alternative behaviour or maladaptive behaviour replaces what is being repressed. Warren and Zgourides {1991} explain that it was the â€Å"must† thoughts of these individuals that create the disorder, for example â€Å"I must perform well otherwise it will be awful†. Kovacs and Beck [1978] point out some key ideas in defining abnormality through cognitive that â€Å"from commonplace processes such as faulty learning, making incorrect inferences on the basic of inadequate or incorrect information† The patient is believed to be cured by the use of altering the faulty thinking by reflecting back on their past while the medical model believes that treating any mental abnormality must be physical or biological Medical model view is that the individual’s behaviour is determined by factors outside his or her control, the cognitive model believes that the individual is in control. This is because individuals control their own thoughts and feelings. Medical model analyse that neurotransmitter, serotonin, which are major psychological illness such as bipolar disorder and anorexia are caused by the reduce level of serotonin in the brain. The medical model suggest that any psychological illness should be treated like any physical illness either caused by chemical imbalance or stress and should be treated either by surgery [electroconvulsive therapy],or drugs. Psychological illness could be treated under the medical model by the use of electroconvulsive therapy, drugs, psychosurgery [prefrontal lobotomy] which helps in treating some disorder and illness. At present, there are lots of drugs used in disorder treatment such as tranquillizers used to relieve anxiety; anti depressants help to relieve depression and anti psychotic to relieve hallucinations and mental confusion. Drug treatment is better than nothing as they don’t cure the problem but only reduce the symptoms and patients often prefer drug therapy, as it is quicker, easier and less threatening than talk therapy. The behavioural model sees abnormality as behaviour learnt through conditioning and it focus on reinforcing positive behaviours and not reinforcing maladaptive behaviours. Behaviours models seem to be successful but don’t focus on the underlying factor of the illness and so have more chances of reoccurrence. Medical model genetically believe that there are some link in causing psychological disorder, Example is when there are concordance studies to examine the role genetics play in disorder such as schizophrenia. In regard to the dopamine hypothesis that involves the exception of paranoid schizophrenia, and the direct cause of schizophrenic symptoms is an excess of the neurotransmitter dopamine, and by the use of anti-schizophrenic drugs such as chlorpromazine work by combining to opamine receptor sites, thus reducing dopamine activities while the cognitive approach do not see the treatment of abnormality in the same view as the medical approach but the behavioural and cognitive model use the same treatment methods but psychiatrists of the cognitive model use differing methods for treatment and the important one is the use of Rational Emotional Therapy. The medical model, Szasz [1962] criticise mental illness and believed that medical approach can also have consequences, whether biologic ally responsible or not, as drugs always have a chance of causing allergic reactions or addiction compare to other models . The prefrontal lobotomy which could have a nasty tendency to leave the patient vegetabilized or numb with a flat personality, shuffling movement. Electrotherapy which could cause unnecessary stress and the surgery can lead to death as well as dull the personality, as the area of the brain responsible for emotion (Hypothalamus) is often altered or even damaged that might lead to removal. In conclusion I would like to say that medical model is the most safes one by using drugs of different kinds to treat diseases in helping or alleviating human suffering, but this model also have its negative side to treatment and surgery because drugs can have have serious side effects and lead to drug dependence and surgery such as electroconvulsive shock therapy can make the lives of patients worse rather than better as compared to other models.