Monday, February 11, 2008
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
True Change = Power to the People
Dear Senator Obama,
Congratulations on your recent victory in Iowa you have made Americans and Africans in the Diaspora Proud. Your past credentials and victories over the years has brought hope for a positive change to the future politics in Washington and this great country at large and the hope for a better life for the middle class is destined in your hands and in the hands of other people like you that have a sincere agenda for the future of this great country. You all cannot afford to fail.
I will like to contribute some solutions to help build a better future for our children and this great country.
“True leadership is not based on experience alone but rather on genuine constitutional principles with a sense of direction and consistency based on commitment to serve”.
Economy:
In the days of early depression in this country’s history, the economic strength of America was not built solely on what we have has a nation nor was it based on what we get from other nations but rather what America can do for itself and the world at large. America is a producing nation that is blessed with the brightest of minds in innovative ideas, science and technology. The middle class has always been the backbone of any strong economy. Unfortunately, the present politicians/stethoscope has taken the economic power from the American people and vested it in the hands of Washington lobbyist.
There is a great need to revive the hope embedded in the constitutional principles of our founding fathers (Abraham Lincoln & Thomas Jefferson), the dreams of our dynamic past leaders (Martin Luther King Jr. & J.F Kennedy) and the unity of the American people that make us one nation amity difficult times such as "September 11, 2001". These are the recipes for true positive changes that the average American looks forward to in the future.
“A hungry man is an angry man; an angry man is an irrational thinker; an irrational thinker is a danger to himself and the society”. As such, the economy of this great country comes first followed by quality education of its people, coupled with better and affordable health coverage and peace with an end to war and a drastic change in foreign policy of this nation.
War on Terror and current invasion/occupation of Iraq:
Any country or political entity that harbor terrorist or support/promote terrorist ideas is certainly not a friend of Americans or the free world at large. However, many people have always resented the presence of American troops in any country over the past decades. It is an invasion of their sovereign right, an imposition of undemocratic and unpopular leadership sponsored by cooperate America to protect there greedy interest in these countries and it is viewed as the new face of economic and social colonization even thought it is tagged globalization in Washington.
The problem of present-day Iraq is simply a struggle for leadership and control of its vast oil and land resources between the Sunni and the Shiite. This problem is beyond this current generation, it has been with Iraqis for hundreds of years and the only solution is solely in the hands of Iraqis themselves not America or Americans. (I will offer my solution to help Iraqis with there problems in future blogs.)
The continuous occupation of these countries will always be a recipe for fueling terror/disaster and ultimately war both at home and abroad.
United States of America must withdraw from Iraq immediately; there is no need to shed a single American blood in a war that was based on false intelligence (WMD). The current politicians and the leadership in the American army are not fighting for the interest of the American people but rather, protecting the greedy interest of cooperate America (Halliburton, Exxon Mobil, Private Military Companies/ Security contractor -Black Hawk, Lockheed martin etc.) that currently rules this great country at the expense of the American tax payers.
Americans are likeable people all around the world because they have championed the course of Liberty for decades but the current global American politics is resented and hated by the least of the developing nations.
We must respect the people's liberty, their religious believes, their culture, their values and their choice of political leadership and institutions. It took America over two hundred years to get to its current political standard, we don’t have to shove America political values down other country’s throat within two years, it is wrong and will simple not last.
I believe there is an institution called "UNITED NATIONS" with an organization constitution which America and many other sovereign nations are signatory. The organization’s constitution is not the same with that of the United States of America and America does not need to impose its social political values on the rest of the world. That is the essence of the concept of a “Free World”.
The new face of terror is beyond the Middle East. However, the real enemies of America are those nations that are determined to secretly empower the terrorist. (Russia, China, France, North Korea). These nations resent the current American politics and economic colonization which they have enjoyed for centuries but now dominated by the current stethoscope that rules America and they are determined to rein this great nation indirectly via diplomacy.
Immigration:
I will like to state for the records that I am an immigrant in this country but I chosen not to come to this country illegally, this makes a lot of difference and it has been the secret to my success so far in this great land of opportunities.
For the safety of the America people and its economy to be strong, the nation need to review its out dated immigration policies and politician need to stop playing politics with the future of the middle class (tax payers) by ignoring its constitution and rewarding immigration crime through a program called amnesty.
Solutions:
The federal government can discourage illegal immigration with increase funding of security personnel and a secured boarder support for the boarder states.
Any immigrant (legal/illegal) that currently has an immediate family member enlisted in the U.S Military should be granted a presidential pardon and their residential statues legalized without delay.
Every illegal immigrant that has committed a crime in this country “MUST BE DEPORTED IMMEDIATELY” (over two millions).
Any company that violates the existing labor laws by hiring illegal immigrant workers is an enemy of the average American people and such company should be punished to the full lent of the law including publishing a public register of such company's name on a website so that Americans can know who their true enemies are at home; just like sex offenders.
All illegal immigrants currently in the country must step forward and be properly documented and apply for a “guest worker visa” from the closest boarder state of their country of origin.
This “guest worker visa” will allows immigrant to do certain jobs that are crucial the future of the economy of this country such as farming and construction. (Over three millions workers).
Any other illegal immigrants that fail to take advantage of this opportunity should be deported to their country of origin as they pose a source of constant treat to the internal security of this great nation and the well being of its people.
The law that makes a child an American citizen despite being born to illegal immigrants in an illegal circumstance is certainly not in favor of the future security of this country, it is a loophole that illegal immigrants have exploited for decades and this is also a perfect tool in the hands of terrorist.
Imposing a fine of $5,000 dollars, learning/speaking/writing English is not the right/moral solution, in-fact, most illegal immigrant pay as much as $10,000 to $20,000 dollars cash for illegal marriage to American citizens in other to legalize their stay in the United States of America.
The real issue is it is wrong and unfair to those that chooses to migrate the legal and right way. Two wrongs can never make a right.
Thank you and best of God’s favor in the challenges that lies ahead.
Yours Sincerely,
Ade Kukoyi
Aurora Colorado, USA
Congratulations on your recent victory in Iowa you have made Americans and Africans in the Diaspora Proud. Your past credentials and victories over the years has brought hope for a positive change to the future politics in Washington and this great country at large and the hope for a better life for the middle class is destined in your hands and in the hands of other people like you that have a sincere agenda for the future of this great country. You all cannot afford to fail.
I will like to contribute some solutions to help build a better future for our children and this great country.
“True leadership is not based on experience alone but rather on genuine constitutional principles with a sense of direction and consistency based on commitment to serve”.
Economy:
In the days of early depression in this country’s history, the economic strength of America was not built solely on what we have has a nation nor was it based on what we get from other nations but rather what America can do for itself and the world at large. America is a producing nation that is blessed with the brightest of minds in innovative ideas, science and technology. The middle class has always been the backbone of any strong economy. Unfortunately, the present politicians/stethoscope has taken the economic power from the American people and vested it in the hands of Washington lobbyist.
There is a great need to revive the hope embedded in the constitutional principles of our founding fathers (Abraham Lincoln & Thomas Jefferson), the dreams of our dynamic past leaders (Martin Luther King Jr. & J.F Kennedy) and the unity of the American people that make us one nation amity difficult times such as "September 11, 2001". These are the recipes for true positive changes that the average American looks forward to in the future.
“A hungry man is an angry man; an angry man is an irrational thinker; an irrational thinker is a danger to himself and the society”. As such, the economy of this great country comes first followed by quality education of its people, coupled with better and affordable health coverage and peace with an end to war and a drastic change in foreign policy of this nation.
War on Terror and current invasion/occupation of Iraq:
Any country or political entity that harbor terrorist or support/promote terrorist ideas is certainly not a friend of Americans or the free world at large. However, many people have always resented the presence of American troops in any country over the past decades. It is an invasion of their sovereign right, an imposition of undemocratic and unpopular leadership sponsored by cooperate America to protect there greedy interest in these countries and it is viewed as the new face of economic and social colonization even thought it is tagged globalization in Washington.
The problem of present-day Iraq is simply a struggle for leadership and control of its vast oil and land resources between the Sunni and the Shiite. This problem is beyond this current generation, it has been with Iraqis for hundreds of years and the only solution is solely in the hands of Iraqis themselves not America or Americans. (I will offer my solution to help Iraqis with there problems in future blogs.)
The continuous occupation of these countries will always be a recipe for fueling terror/disaster and ultimately war both at home and abroad.
United States of America must withdraw from Iraq immediately; there is no need to shed a single American blood in a war that was based on false intelligence (WMD). The current politicians and the leadership in the American army are not fighting for the interest of the American people but rather, protecting the greedy interest of cooperate America (Halliburton, Exxon Mobil, Private Military Companies/ Security contractor -Black Hawk, Lockheed martin etc.) that currently rules this great country at the expense of the American tax payers.
Americans are likeable people all around the world because they have championed the course of Liberty for decades but the current global American politics is resented and hated by the least of the developing nations.
We must respect the people's liberty, their religious believes, their culture, their values and their choice of political leadership and institutions. It took America over two hundred years to get to its current political standard, we don’t have to shove America political values down other country’s throat within two years, it is wrong and will simple not last.
I believe there is an institution called "UNITED NATIONS" with an organization constitution which America and many other sovereign nations are signatory. The organization’s constitution is not the same with that of the United States of America and America does not need to impose its social political values on the rest of the world. That is the essence of the concept of a “Free World”.
The new face of terror is beyond the Middle East. However, the real enemies of America are those nations that are determined to secretly empower the terrorist. (Russia, China, France, North Korea). These nations resent the current American politics and economic colonization which they have enjoyed for centuries but now dominated by the current stethoscope that rules America and they are determined to rein this great nation indirectly via diplomacy.
Immigration:
I will like to state for the records that I am an immigrant in this country but I chosen not to come to this country illegally, this makes a lot of difference and it has been the secret to my success so far in this great land of opportunities.
For the safety of the America people and its economy to be strong, the nation need to review its out dated immigration policies and politician need to stop playing politics with the future of the middle class (tax payers) by ignoring its constitution and rewarding immigration crime through a program called amnesty.
Solutions:
The federal government can discourage illegal immigration with increase funding of security personnel and a secured boarder support for the boarder states.
Any immigrant (legal/illegal) that currently has an immediate family member enlisted in the U.S Military should be granted a presidential pardon and their residential statues legalized without delay.
Every illegal immigrant that has committed a crime in this country “MUST BE DEPORTED IMMEDIATELY” (over two millions).
Any company that violates the existing labor laws by hiring illegal immigrant workers is an enemy of the average American people and such company should be punished to the full lent of the law including publishing a public register of such company's name on a website so that Americans can know who their true enemies are at home; just like sex offenders.
All illegal immigrants currently in the country must step forward and be properly documented and apply for a “guest worker visa” from the closest boarder state of their country of origin.
This “guest worker visa” will allows immigrant to do certain jobs that are crucial the future of the economy of this country such as farming and construction. (Over three millions workers).
Any other illegal immigrants that fail to take advantage of this opportunity should be deported to their country of origin as they pose a source of constant treat to the internal security of this great nation and the well being of its people.
The law that makes a child an American citizen despite being born to illegal immigrants in an illegal circumstance is certainly not in favor of the future security of this country, it is a loophole that illegal immigrants have exploited for decades and this is also a perfect tool in the hands of terrorist.
Imposing a fine of $5,000 dollars, learning/speaking/writing English is not the right/moral solution, in-fact, most illegal immigrant pay as much as $10,000 to $20,000 dollars cash for illegal marriage to American citizens in other to legalize their stay in the United States of America.
The real issue is it is wrong and unfair to those that chooses to migrate the legal and right way. Two wrongs can never make a right.
Thank you and best of God’s favor in the challenges that lies ahead.
Yours Sincerely,
Ade Kukoyi
Aurora Colorado, USA
Monday, July 02, 2007
The Flat World and my Chosen Career
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Harv Bishop
Introduction to Political Science
October 13, 2005
The Flat World and my Chosen Career
The concept of ‘the world is flat” by Thomas Friedman can best be understood with a proper understanding of the idea behind globalization, free trade and the power of computer technology in the twenty first century. This idea is made more clearly with the demise of the cold war era and other socio-political myth/ideas that impair free market economy, technology transfer and the integration of socio-political and economic ideas among nations across the globe. According to the author, “The triple convergence is not only going to affect how individuals prepare themselves for work, how companies compete, and how countries organize their economies and geopolitics. Over time, it is going to reshape political identities, recast political parties, and redefine who is a political actor.” (Pg.201).
Looking at the notion of a flat world in about fifty years ago might be perceived as a mirage if we take into consideration the socio-political might and economic achievements of the United States of America (economic/ political giant) compared with other nations over the past centuries, especially in the area of science and technological advancement. Consequently, this believe has been proven to be inaccurate especially with reference to the collapse of major economic and political blocks across the globe (e.g. Soviet Union Republic and Germany). Also the dynamic pursuit of technological advancement throughout the world especially in countries such as China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan, South Korea etc. has made it possible to break new grounds and explore new opportunities for doing business with remote part of the world at a the most low-cost efficient market and sell in the most lucrative market.
According to the author, “In some of those buildings, in fosys employers are writing specific software programs for Americans and European countries; in others they are running the back rooms of major American and European based multinationals. Everything from computer maintenance to specific research projects to answering customer calls routed there from all over the world” (pg.5).
As a multimedia major, I perceive a career in multimedia/web design is expected to play a vital role in the future of the world economy. Considering the fact stated by the author, “when Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, virtually no one outside of government and the academy had e-mail” (pg.10). In the year 2000, the world entered a new era dominated by rapid growth in Internet usage and e-commerce at the same time shrinking the world from a size small to a size tiny and flattening the playing field at the same time. It provides me the opportunity to compete globally and collaborate with other country, creating an opportunity for a bigger creative market in the advertising and media world. This is largely because multimedia is expected to be the vehicle through which creative and dynamic ideas will be conceived, communicated, shared and transported by great minds across the globe. This has been made possible and much easier due to the compatibility of most of the major computer software and operating system across the board.
According to the author, “the lever that is enabling individual and groups to go global so easily and so seamlessly is not horsepower, and not hardware, but software- all sorts of new applications- in conjunction with the creation of a global fiber-optic network that has made us all next-door neighbors” (pg.10).
Some of the anticipated problem to address in the future will be in the area of the value of the currency in different nations and how this various value will affect business transaction and inflation across the globe in world economy. But this issue has been receiving attention in some countries in Europe with the introduction of a single currency- Euro.
Another interesting issue is the fact that only Americans who are willing to diversify, migrate if necessary and integrate with other people from diverse cultural / geopolitical background will strive in an economy dictated by a flat world.
The challenges of the flat world demands major personal and corporate commitment of scientific and technical manpower, innovative ideas and personal human service skills to survive. According to the text, “When it comes to the challenges of the flat world there is no help line we can call. We have to dig into ourselves” (pg.278).
As a multimedia expert, the major advantage that the flat world offers me will be in the flexibility of time and accessibility to universal location at any given time. I can pretty much carry out business from any part of the world, at any time of the day and with any individual or corporate institution across the globe without much barrier, as long as I am creative, flexible, and dynamic with innovative ideas. It is important to note that globalization and free market in a flat world has increase the purchasing power of individuals, small businesses and also increasing the chances of a bigger market for the production of goods and services across the globe.
Another special feature that a flat world offers me as a multimedia artist is that the over-head cost and production turnover in multimedia production is not as high compared to some industries such as engineering and medicine. I believe this will ultimately lead to new potential market, horizontal collaboration, connection over vertical command and control and a more creative pool of ideas from diverse socio-geopolitical background around the world.
On the other hand, I strongly believe that Friedman’s compassionate flatism and other solutions can help sustain the American people and its economy from the fear and potential pitfall of the Flat World. This is because the great American spirit that encourages victory amidst adversity has always been the strength of the American society. The need to meet the challenges of flatism will require a comprehensive, energetic, and focused a response from individual and government institutions similar to the challenges of the communism. According to the author, “it requires our own version of the new frontier and great society adapted to the age of flatism” (pg.277).
In conclusion, I am of the strong opinion that the unfortunate event of September 11 was a by-product of “the flat world” which has made every country even the United States of America vulnerable to socio-political and economic attacks by any nation or group of individuals. However, one must not overlook the strength and unity of purpose of the American people, which was re-awakened after this unfortunate tragedy. This is very similar to the clarion call made by the late President J F Kennedy during the cold war era wherein he called for “urgent national needs”. In recent times most Americans are willing to compromise their personal freedom for the sake of the nation’s security, which is a welcome decision.
Harv Bishop
Introduction to Political Science
October 13, 2005
The Flat World and my Chosen Career
The concept of ‘the world is flat” by Thomas Friedman can best be understood with a proper understanding of the idea behind globalization, free trade and the power of computer technology in the twenty first century. This idea is made more clearly with the demise of the cold war era and other socio-political myth/ideas that impair free market economy, technology transfer and the integration of socio-political and economic ideas among nations across the globe. According to the author, “The triple convergence is not only going to affect how individuals prepare themselves for work, how companies compete, and how countries organize their economies and geopolitics. Over time, it is going to reshape political identities, recast political parties, and redefine who is a political actor.” (Pg.201).
Looking at the notion of a flat world in about fifty years ago might be perceived as a mirage if we take into consideration the socio-political might and economic achievements of the United States of America (economic/ political giant) compared with other nations over the past centuries, especially in the area of science and technological advancement. Consequently, this believe has been proven to be inaccurate especially with reference to the collapse of major economic and political blocks across the globe (e.g. Soviet Union Republic and Germany). Also the dynamic pursuit of technological advancement throughout the world especially in countries such as China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, Taiwan, South Korea etc. has made it possible to break new grounds and explore new opportunities for doing business with remote part of the world at a the most low-cost efficient market and sell in the most lucrative market.
According to the author, “In some of those buildings, in fosys employers are writing specific software programs for Americans and European countries; in others they are running the back rooms of major American and European based multinationals. Everything from computer maintenance to specific research projects to answering customer calls routed there from all over the world” (pg.5).
As a multimedia major, I perceive a career in multimedia/web design is expected to play a vital role in the future of the world economy. Considering the fact stated by the author, “when Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, virtually no one outside of government and the academy had e-mail” (pg.10). In the year 2000, the world entered a new era dominated by rapid growth in Internet usage and e-commerce at the same time shrinking the world from a size small to a size tiny and flattening the playing field at the same time. It provides me the opportunity to compete globally and collaborate with other country, creating an opportunity for a bigger creative market in the advertising and media world. This is largely because multimedia is expected to be the vehicle through which creative and dynamic ideas will be conceived, communicated, shared and transported by great minds across the globe. This has been made possible and much easier due to the compatibility of most of the major computer software and operating system across the board.
According to the author, “the lever that is enabling individual and groups to go global so easily and so seamlessly is not horsepower, and not hardware, but software- all sorts of new applications- in conjunction with the creation of a global fiber-optic network that has made us all next-door neighbors” (pg.10).
Some of the anticipated problem to address in the future will be in the area of the value of the currency in different nations and how this various value will affect business transaction and inflation across the globe in world economy. But this issue has been receiving attention in some countries in Europe with the introduction of a single currency- Euro.
Another interesting issue is the fact that only Americans who are willing to diversify, migrate if necessary and integrate with other people from diverse cultural / geopolitical background will strive in an economy dictated by a flat world.
The challenges of the flat world demands major personal and corporate commitment of scientific and technical manpower, innovative ideas and personal human service skills to survive. According to the text, “When it comes to the challenges of the flat world there is no help line we can call. We have to dig into ourselves” (pg.278).
As a multimedia expert, the major advantage that the flat world offers me will be in the flexibility of time and accessibility to universal location at any given time. I can pretty much carry out business from any part of the world, at any time of the day and with any individual or corporate institution across the globe without much barrier, as long as I am creative, flexible, and dynamic with innovative ideas. It is important to note that globalization and free market in a flat world has increase the purchasing power of individuals, small businesses and also increasing the chances of a bigger market for the production of goods and services across the globe.
Another special feature that a flat world offers me as a multimedia artist is that the over-head cost and production turnover in multimedia production is not as high compared to some industries such as engineering and medicine. I believe this will ultimately lead to new potential market, horizontal collaboration, connection over vertical command and control and a more creative pool of ideas from diverse socio-geopolitical background around the world.
On the other hand, I strongly believe that Friedman’s compassionate flatism and other solutions can help sustain the American people and its economy from the fear and potential pitfall of the Flat World. This is because the great American spirit that encourages victory amidst adversity has always been the strength of the American society. The need to meet the challenges of flatism will require a comprehensive, energetic, and focused a response from individual and government institutions similar to the challenges of the communism. According to the author, “it requires our own version of the new frontier and great society adapted to the age of flatism” (pg.277).
In conclusion, I am of the strong opinion that the unfortunate event of September 11 was a by-product of “the flat world” which has made every country even the United States of America vulnerable to socio-political and economic attacks by any nation or group of individuals. However, one must not overlook the strength and unity of purpose of the American people, which was re-awakened after this unfortunate tragedy. This is very similar to the clarion call made by the late President J F Kennedy during the cold war era wherein he called for “urgent national needs”. In recent times most Americans are willing to compromise their personal freedom for the sake of the nation’s security, which is a welcome decision.
Gender Role And Childhood Socialization
Childhood socialization can be defined as the process of children learning the shared meaning of the groups in which they are reared from birth to adolescence.
Thus, early childhood socialization can be said to be greatly responsible for shaping and reinforcing traditional gender roles in the lives of children within the society.
These gender roles are depicted in our society through historical, cultural and political activities and these development starts from the period of childbirth to adolescence. For example, in a typical African society, the expectations of a boy child are different from that of a girl child and these roles have been neatly woven into the culture, history and political lives of the people.
The boys are taught to be tough, strong, masculine and courageous and if possible go to farm and hunt for wild animals with their father; while girls are expected to be tender, gentle, feminine, caring, loving and supportive, these girls are expected to spend more time with their mother in the kitchen learn to cook and keeping home in good shape.
In considering development through childhood, it will be interesting to analysis the three primary agents of socialization: family, peers, school and how they help to reinforce traditional gender roles among children within the society.
Family:
The family is the first source of contact that a child has to interact with within the society and with the help of a well-developed sensory organ, (eyes, nose, ears, mouth and skin) a child can express their feelings and emotion to others within the same environment. According to the book- social psychology, by H. Andrew Michener, John D. Delamater, Daniel J. Myers “The adult learns how to care effectively for the infant, and the infant forms a strong emotional attachment to the caregiver” (pg. 55). However, in other to provide a solid foundation of the infant’s sense of self, it is crucial that an intimate emotional relationship between infant and caregiver (mostly father and mother) be established in other to encourage a healthy personal physical and emotional development. During this developmental stage, a child learns to trust the caregiver and response to touch and emotions. For example children are drawn more to their father when they need to play horse ride or rough-and-tumble play and they rely more on their mother for food when they are hungry.
Peers:
Having developed the first sense of self with the help of the family and immediate caregiver, a child begins to rely more on his or her peers as an important socializing agent in life. This second agent (peers) is viewed from a different perspective from the first (family). According to the book, “the family consists of persons who differ in status or power, whereas the peer group is composed of status equals” (pg. 59). The peer group offers a child the first experience in express authority over personal belongings such as toys and choice over others that they relate to. For example my little 2-year-old boy (Gideon) will like to tell his peers that certain toys belong to him by emphasizing the word “My Toy” and he is willing to share it with certain people he refers as “My friend”.
Peers are very important to childhood socialization because children always want to be recognized and accepted by their peer group. Thus boys play football (soccer) together and girls play with their dolls together. In this setting it is important that you follows the rules within your group otherwise you could be ridiculed and treated as outcast.
School:
The school setting as an agent of childhood socialization is intentionally designed to socialize children. In this setting there is a shape distinction difference between the teacher and the students. According to the book, “school is the child’s first experience with formal and public evaluation of performance” (pg. 61). In this setting each child’s work and behavior is evaluated by the teacher using the same standards with the judgment made public to the other members of the class and their respective parents alike thus, helping to socialize the students. Furthermore, each child can judge his or her performance relative to others, this socialization agent confirms what is right and what is wrong behavior for a child within the society. For example, student that fail to do their home work are tagged as lazy student while those that did their home works are rewarded with good grades.
Thus, early childhood socialization can be said to be greatly responsible for shaping and reinforcing traditional gender roles in the lives of children within the society.
These gender roles are depicted in our society through historical, cultural and political activities and these development starts from the period of childbirth to adolescence. For example, in a typical African society, the expectations of a boy child are different from that of a girl child and these roles have been neatly woven into the culture, history and political lives of the people.
The boys are taught to be tough, strong, masculine and courageous and if possible go to farm and hunt for wild animals with their father; while girls are expected to be tender, gentle, feminine, caring, loving and supportive, these girls are expected to spend more time with their mother in the kitchen learn to cook and keeping home in good shape.
In considering development through childhood, it will be interesting to analysis the three primary agents of socialization: family, peers, school and how they help to reinforce traditional gender roles among children within the society.
Family:
The family is the first source of contact that a child has to interact with within the society and with the help of a well-developed sensory organ, (eyes, nose, ears, mouth and skin) a child can express their feelings and emotion to others within the same environment. According to the book- social psychology, by H. Andrew Michener, John D. Delamater, Daniel J. Myers “The adult learns how to care effectively for the infant, and the infant forms a strong emotional attachment to the caregiver” (pg. 55). However, in other to provide a solid foundation of the infant’s sense of self, it is crucial that an intimate emotional relationship between infant and caregiver (mostly father and mother) be established in other to encourage a healthy personal physical and emotional development. During this developmental stage, a child learns to trust the caregiver and response to touch and emotions. For example children are drawn more to their father when they need to play horse ride or rough-and-tumble play and they rely more on their mother for food when they are hungry.
Peers:
Having developed the first sense of self with the help of the family and immediate caregiver, a child begins to rely more on his or her peers as an important socializing agent in life. This second agent (peers) is viewed from a different perspective from the first (family). According to the book, “the family consists of persons who differ in status or power, whereas the peer group is composed of status equals” (pg. 59). The peer group offers a child the first experience in express authority over personal belongings such as toys and choice over others that they relate to. For example my little 2-year-old boy (Gideon) will like to tell his peers that certain toys belong to him by emphasizing the word “My Toy” and he is willing to share it with certain people he refers as “My friend”.
Peers are very important to childhood socialization because children always want to be recognized and accepted by their peer group. Thus boys play football (soccer) together and girls play with their dolls together. In this setting it is important that you follows the rules within your group otherwise you could be ridiculed and treated as outcast.
School:
The school setting as an agent of childhood socialization is intentionally designed to socialize children. In this setting there is a shape distinction difference between the teacher and the students. According to the book, “school is the child’s first experience with formal and public evaluation of performance” (pg. 61). In this setting each child’s work and behavior is evaluated by the teacher using the same standards with the judgment made public to the other members of the class and their respective parents alike thus, helping to socialize the students. Furthermore, each child can judge his or her performance relative to others, this socialization agent confirms what is right and what is wrong behavior for a child within the society. For example, student that fail to do their home work are tagged as lazy student while those that did their home works are rewarded with good grades.
The Rwandan genocide
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
History 1382
Professor Sundberg
02-15-06
The Rwandan genocide
History has confirmed that the original inhabitant of the Rwanda lived in harmony amongst themselves before the arrival of the Europeans in 1894. According to the account of Linda Melvern - the author of the book “A People Betrayed, The Role of the West in Rwanda’s Genocide”, the kingdom of Rwanda had been entirely shut off from the world, and even the African world, until 4th May, 1894 when the first European, a German- Gustav Adolf von Gotzen, was received at court by a king called Rwabugiri, who claimed that his dynasty stretched back hundreds of years (pg. 7).
Since then the definition of "Hutu" and "Tutsi" has changed over time. Mostly it has rather been a term created to distinguish between those in commanding and subordinate social positions. However, the Belgian government continued to rely on the Tutsi power structure for administering the country and also consistently favored the Tutsis especially where education was concerned, leading to a situation where many Tutsis were literate, while the majority of Hutus were not. Belgians educated the Tutsis mainly in Catholic schools, which widened the ethnic rift between Hutu and Tutsi.
Some scholars argue that the Belgians did much to create the enmity between Hutu and Tutsi through their policies of indirect rule. As mentioned earlier, Hutus and Tutsis lived together as neighbors before the colonial period. However, Belgian rule solidified the racial divide. The Belgians then gave political power to the Tutsis. Due to the eugenics movement in Europe and the United States, the colonial government became concerned with the differences between Hutu and Tutsi. Scientists arrived to measure skull and thus, they believed, brain size.
Tutsi's skulls were bigger, they were taller, and their skin was lighter. As a result of this, Europeans came to believe that Tutsis had caucasian ancestry, and were thus "superior" to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial identification card, which defined one as legally Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status, and exploited their power over the Hutu majority. Current academic thought is that the European emphasis on racial division led to many of the difficulties between Hutu and Tutsi in the latter part of the 20th century.
However, there came a major change in the 1950s, when the Belgians grew uncomfortable observing the sad plight of the Hutus, and began to suppress and then eventually came to outlaw the Ubuhake and to redistribute cattle. Even though the majority of pastured lands remained under the control of the Tutsi, a situation arose where the Hutus began to feel yet a deeper sense of liberation from Tutsi rule; the Tutsis no longer seemed to be in control of cattle- the long-standing measure of a person's wealth and social position.
In addition, the Hutus began to develop a group consciousness as the Belgians instituted ethnic identity cards. Yet a further step was Belgium's system of electoral representation for Rwandans. At first, the Tutsis retained total control, and then Belgium decided to make the electoral process function by means of secret ballots. Therefore, Hutus made enormous gains within the country.
Also, the Catholic Church began to make changes. Suddenly they too were opposed to Tutsi mistreatment of Hutus, and began promoting Hutu equality. Tutsis were about to be removed from their traditional role as masters in Rwanda.
During the 1995 revolt and its aftermath, more than 160,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries. These Hutus knew that because of the small numbers of the Tutsi opposition, they had the advantage: both in terms of how the state would function if it adopted a purely democratic system, and in terms of the probable outcome of any violent conflict between the two unequally sized groups. This revolution of 1959 marked a major change in political life in Rwanda. Some 150,000 Tutsis were exiled to neighboring countries. What's more, those Tutsis that remained in Rwanda were excluded from having any political power in a state becoming more and more centralized under Hutu power.
Under President Kayibanda, a system of quotas was also established. Henceforth, the Tutsis would be allowed only ten percent of school and university seats. The quotas also extended to the civil service. In these posts too, the Tutsis would only be allotted a 10% take.
At the time, employment was bad, and competition for the available seats only exacerbated ethnic tensions. The Kayibanda government also continued the government policy of labeling people with ethnic identity cards, a practice first begun by the Belgian colonial government, and using this practice to attack mixed marriages.
Another bout of violence followed in 1964, and for years a system of inequality was instituted. In fact, a Hutu could freely murder a Tutsi and would never be prosecuted. The other political parties UNAR and RADER were banned and their Tutsi members executed. Tutsi were described as cockroaches. Hundreds of thousands fled as refugees into neighboring countries.
Although no one really knew the exact moment when the conspirators first conceived the genocide, it was noted that the Hutu power regime used every accounting trick in the book to get enough money to pay for weapons. In fact, an experts who studied the paper trail conclude that to arm and equip the people of Rwanda cost $112 million dollars.
On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying President Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the President of Burundi was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Both presidents were killed when the plane crashed. As though the shooting down was a signal, military and militia groups began rounding up and killing all Tutsis they could capture as well as political moderates irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds. Large numbers of opposition politicians were also murdered. Many nations evacuated all their nationals from Kigali and closed their embassies as violence escalated.
The prime minister and her ten Belgian bodyguards were among the first victims. The killing swiftly spread from Kigali to all corners of the country; between April 6 and the beginning of July, a genocide of unprecedented swiftness officially left 937,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead at the hands of organized bands of militia. Even ordinary citizens were called on by local officials and government-sponsored radio to kill their neighbors. This event accounted for the most horrible genocide ever recorded in the history of Africa.
History 1382
Professor Sundberg
02-15-06
The Rwandan genocide
History has confirmed that the original inhabitant of the Rwanda lived in harmony amongst themselves before the arrival of the Europeans in 1894. According to the account of Linda Melvern - the author of the book “A People Betrayed, The Role of the West in Rwanda’s Genocide”, the kingdom of Rwanda had been entirely shut off from the world, and even the African world, until 4th May, 1894 when the first European, a German- Gustav Adolf von Gotzen, was received at court by a king called Rwabugiri, who claimed that his dynasty stretched back hundreds of years (pg. 7).
Since then the definition of "Hutu" and "Tutsi" has changed over time. Mostly it has rather been a term created to distinguish between those in commanding and subordinate social positions. However, the Belgian government continued to rely on the Tutsi power structure for administering the country and also consistently favored the Tutsis especially where education was concerned, leading to a situation where many Tutsis were literate, while the majority of Hutus were not. Belgians educated the Tutsis mainly in Catholic schools, which widened the ethnic rift between Hutu and Tutsi.
Some scholars argue that the Belgians did much to create the enmity between Hutu and Tutsi through their policies of indirect rule. As mentioned earlier, Hutus and Tutsis lived together as neighbors before the colonial period. However, Belgian rule solidified the racial divide. The Belgians then gave political power to the Tutsis. Due to the eugenics movement in Europe and the United States, the colonial government became concerned with the differences between Hutu and Tutsi. Scientists arrived to measure skull and thus, they believed, brain size.
Tutsi's skulls were bigger, they were taller, and their skin was lighter. As a result of this, Europeans came to believe that Tutsis had caucasian ancestry, and were thus "superior" to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial identification card, which defined one as legally Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status, and exploited their power over the Hutu majority. Current academic thought is that the European emphasis on racial division led to many of the difficulties between Hutu and Tutsi in the latter part of the 20th century.
However, there came a major change in the 1950s, when the Belgians grew uncomfortable observing the sad plight of the Hutus, and began to suppress and then eventually came to outlaw the Ubuhake and to redistribute cattle. Even though the majority of pastured lands remained under the control of the Tutsi, a situation arose where the Hutus began to feel yet a deeper sense of liberation from Tutsi rule; the Tutsis no longer seemed to be in control of cattle- the long-standing measure of a person's wealth and social position.
In addition, the Hutus began to develop a group consciousness as the Belgians instituted ethnic identity cards. Yet a further step was Belgium's system of electoral representation for Rwandans. At first, the Tutsis retained total control, and then Belgium decided to make the electoral process function by means of secret ballots. Therefore, Hutus made enormous gains within the country.
Also, the Catholic Church began to make changes. Suddenly they too were opposed to Tutsi mistreatment of Hutus, and began promoting Hutu equality. Tutsis were about to be removed from their traditional role as masters in Rwanda.
During the 1995 revolt and its aftermath, more than 160,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries. These Hutus knew that because of the small numbers of the Tutsi opposition, they had the advantage: both in terms of how the state would function if it adopted a purely democratic system, and in terms of the probable outcome of any violent conflict between the two unequally sized groups. This revolution of 1959 marked a major change in political life in Rwanda. Some 150,000 Tutsis were exiled to neighboring countries. What's more, those Tutsis that remained in Rwanda were excluded from having any political power in a state becoming more and more centralized under Hutu power.
Under President Kayibanda, a system of quotas was also established. Henceforth, the Tutsis would be allowed only ten percent of school and university seats. The quotas also extended to the civil service. In these posts too, the Tutsis would only be allotted a 10% take.
At the time, employment was bad, and competition for the available seats only exacerbated ethnic tensions. The Kayibanda government also continued the government policy of labeling people with ethnic identity cards, a practice first begun by the Belgian colonial government, and using this practice to attack mixed marriages.
Another bout of violence followed in 1964, and for years a system of inequality was instituted. In fact, a Hutu could freely murder a Tutsi and would never be prosecuted. The other political parties UNAR and RADER were banned and their Tutsi members executed. Tutsi were described as cockroaches. Hundreds of thousands fled as refugees into neighboring countries.
Although no one really knew the exact moment when the conspirators first conceived the genocide, it was noted that the Hutu power regime used every accounting trick in the book to get enough money to pay for weapons. In fact, an experts who studied the paper trail conclude that to arm and equip the people of Rwanda cost $112 million dollars.
On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying President Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the President of Burundi was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Both presidents were killed when the plane crashed. As though the shooting down was a signal, military and militia groups began rounding up and killing all Tutsis they could capture as well as political moderates irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds. Large numbers of opposition politicians were also murdered. Many nations evacuated all their nationals from Kigali and closed their embassies as violence escalated.
The prime minister and her ten Belgian bodyguards were among the first victims. The killing swiftly spread from Kigali to all corners of the country; between April 6 and the beginning of July, a genocide of unprecedented swiftness officially left 937,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead at the hands of organized bands of militia. Even ordinary citizens were called on by local officials and government-sponsored radio to kill their neighbors. This event accounted for the most horrible genocide ever recorded in the history of Africa.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Shooting Strategies - Digital Video for Multimedia
Shooting Strategies - Digital Video for Multimedia
Moving Camera
A moving camera should be used as often as possible to create effect. Use pans, tilts and tracking to create varied shots. Try walking, running, jumping, sweeping and swinging the camera.
Pan- Move the camera horizontally from a stationary position
Tilt- Move the camera vertically from a stationary position
Zoom- increases or decreases your angle of view
Try moving while panning, tilting or zooming at the same time. Try not to zoom in and out and in and out.
Tracking- move the camera horizontally as you move around the subject
Crane shot- vertical track, you can use a seesaw, glass elevator or escalator
Try shooting a scene without looking through the viewfinder. You can be surprised what happens by accident. Try this strategy where you are reacting to the action without traditionally framing the scene. Hold the camera at waist level while walking. Point the camera straight down at the ground, Walk up to people with the camera pointing up at their face. Be creative.....
Camera Angle
Alter the position of the height of the camera. Shoot at eye level for only the most traditional of shots. By placing the camera below your subject and shooting up, creates the illusion of dominance. By placing the camera above your subject and shooting down, you create the illusion of submissiveness. Practice shots from waist level, ground level and from above. Remember you do not need to keep your camera level, you can use odd angles to create the feeling of chaos or anxiety.
Lighting
If you feel that your shots look boring and ordinary, alter your lighting. Go out and re-shoot your scenes at sunrise or sunset. Chose a cloudy day when the light is diffused. Diffused light enhances color. Bright sunlight washes out color. Use sunlight or lighting to capture shadows. Hose down
concrete or asphalt to create light reflections at night. Flashlights and candles can be used to create low light ambience.
Depth of Field
Depth of field on a video camera works just as it does on a 35mm SLR camera. The smaller the
aperture the greater the depth of field. Depth of field is the distance within your scene that is in focus. Remember that depth of field is affected by the focal length of the lens. When the camera lens is in its wide-angle position, the depth of field is greater. When the camera lens is in telephoto position the depth of field is reduced. To reduce camera shaking and increase the depth of field move closer to your subject instead of zooming the camera into subject.
Composition
Fill the frame. Be aware of every element that lies within the frame. All objects within the frame should have relevance. Be aware of the sides, top and bottom. Get up close, watch the movement and try to avoid centering everything. Use the rule of thirds.
Michelle Carpenter
Moving Camera
A moving camera should be used as often as possible to create effect. Use pans, tilts and tracking to create varied shots. Try walking, running, jumping, sweeping and swinging the camera.
Pan- Move the camera horizontally from a stationary position
Tilt- Move the camera vertically from a stationary position
Zoom- increases or decreases your angle of view
Try moving while panning, tilting or zooming at the same time. Try not to zoom in and out and in and out.
Tracking- move the camera horizontally as you move around the subject
Crane shot- vertical track, you can use a seesaw, glass elevator or escalator
Try shooting a scene without looking through the viewfinder. You can be surprised what happens by accident. Try this strategy where you are reacting to the action without traditionally framing the scene. Hold the camera at waist level while walking. Point the camera straight down at the ground, Walk up to people with the camera pointing up at their face. Be creative.....
Camera Angle
Alter the position of the height of the camera. Shoot at eye level for only the most traditional of shots. By placing the camera below your subject and shooting up, creates the illusion of dominance. By placing the camera above your subject and shooting down, you create the illusion of submissiveness. Practice shots from waist level, ground level and from above. Remember you do not need to keep your camera level, you can use odd angles to create the feeling of chaos or anxiety.
Lighting
If you feel that your shots look boring and ordinary, alter your lighting. Go out and re-shoot your scenes at sunrise or sunset. Chose a cloudy day when the light is diffused. Diffused light enhances color. Bright sunlight washes out color. Use sunlight or lighting to capture shadows. Hose down
concrete or asphalt to create light reflections at night. Flashlights and candles can be used to create low light ambience.
Depth of Field
Depth of field on a video camera works just as it does on a 35mm SLR camera. The smaller the
aperture the greater the depth of field. Depth of field is the distance within your scene that is in focus. Remember that depth of field is affected by the focal length of the lens. When the camera lens is in its wide-angle position, the depth of field is greater. When the camera lens is in telephoto position the depth of field is reduced. To reduce camera shaking and increase the depth of field move closer to your subject instead of zooming the camera into subject.
Composition
Fill the frame. Be aware of every element that lies within the frame. All objects within the frame should have relevance. Be aware of the sides, top and bottom. Get up close, watch the movement and try to avoid centering everything. Use the rule of thirds.
Michelle Carpenter
Thursday, August 10, 2006
REVIEW OF "THE WHALE RIDER"
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Terence Brennan
English 1601
23 June 2005
WHALE RIDER
The movie “Whale Rider” featuring dynamic actress Keisha Castle- Hughes is a classical narrative, that emphasizes on the celebration of female empowerment. A little girl, courageous enough to challenge the past believes, change the present predicament of her generation and determine to risk her life for the future of her people.
Theatrical trail:
For over 1000 years, the Maori people resided in a small New Zealand coastal village. It was strongly believed that their ancestors “Paikea” came to the settlement riding on the back of a Whale. Consequently, the tradition demands that the firstborn; son of the chief has to carried on his name “Paikea” and become the leader of their tribe.
Unfortunately, the tragic lose of Porourangi’s wife and son (Pai’s twin brother) at childbirth was interpreted as a bad omen that stricken his heart and most especially his father – Koro, the chief of the Maori people, leaving the only surviving girl child, Pai to be raised by her grandparents.
Pai’s grandfather refuse to acknowledge her right to successor as the next heir to the Paikea’s linage based on a traditional believe that the title is exclusively reserved to the first male child. Despite, all the ordeals, Pai’s grandmother, was able to see the greatness in the girl beyond the break in her husband’s linage; a little child that is desperate in need of love.
Although Koro’s affection towards his granddaughter later developed over the years, he could not deviate from the narrow vision of the traditions and customs he had known all his life. Pai grew up to be an intelligent, enchanting girl, only to be excluded from learning her people’s tradition based on gender disparity. However, blinded by prejudice, Koro was convinced that his tribe’s misfortune was deeply rooted in the birth of Pai and called for his people to bring forward their sons to be educate in the rituals of ancient chants, tribal rights and war techniques, essential for tribal leadership.
At Pai’s call, the Whales responded and came to the shores of the sea but were willing to die. The villagers did all they could to reverse the situation but Koro arrogantly refused pai’s offer to help. Ironically, the death of the Whales will signifies Koro’s failure and an end to his linage as the leader of his people. Pai was not willing to allow this to happen thus, she determined to reverse the tragic incidence and changed the destiny of her people forever.
Theme:
The theme centered on the major characters, Pai and her grandfather Koro. The main character, Pai represented in herself the symbol of change, courage and loyalty to the cause of her people. While, Koro displayed the frustration of individualism and his commitment to societal values and tradition, as against the need to listen to the voice of reason. The characters created some meaning which was easy for the audience to relate to in their daily lives. The movie created a theme that revolves around issues like pride, forgiveness, traditions and cultural taboos. These are provoking issue within the various cultural groups in our present world. This point of view was also dominant throughout the story, from the very beginning in the scenes where Koro visited the child at the hospital for the first time, to the concluding part of the story.
Plot:
The plot in this movie followed a traditional narrative pattern that unveils the sequence of event from the very beginning. The narrative sequence was constructed in a pattern that engaged the viewer’s emotion and reveals the logical relationship between one event and another. For example: the birth of Pai and the relationship that developed between the little girl and her grandparent over the years; the confrontation between Pai and her grandfather at the village meeting during the inauguration of the traditional school and finally; Koro’s rejection of Pai’s offer to help, which later reveal her approval by the Whale, as confirmed by the Whale ride.
Furthermore, the metaphoric use of a “twisted rope” to illustrate the history and strength of the Maori people in unity, Koro- “weave together the tread of Paikea so that our line remain strong”, “each one of those tread represent your ancestors. all join together and strong” and moments later condemning the same rope when it got broken, Koro- “useless bloody rope, I’ll get another one” was a twist that confirms the frustration and narrow mind of Koro.
The plot also established a conflict at the beginning, intensified throughout the middle, brought it to a climax towards the end and dissolved in a brief conclusion. The plot initiated a conflict by colliding two apparently opposite characters from the very beginning of the story. For example, koro’s statement- “Take the girl away”, the second and third part of the plot focused on developing the central conflict instituted in the first plot, by letting Pai’s popularity and success to dominate that of her grandfather. “Go to the back sit Pai or leave now” And in the forth section, resolving the central conflict through mutual understanding, acceptance of personal failure and forgiveness of one another thus, transforming the characters into a new light. For example, Koro’s statement- “forgive me. I am just a fledgling new to flight”
The scene of closure was characterized by a happy ending, which was an obvious part of the movie, in which Pai survived the Whale ride after risking her life. The grandfather apologizing to her by his sick bed and the final happy reunion of the entire community at the last scene. This conclusion gave the “Whale Rider” a universal appeal that justifies its being brought to the screen more often because of the positive way it gives its audience an idea about their society and its people at its best.
Characterization
The theme of the story was tailored around the main characters and some minor characters. With Pai, playing the role of the protagonist and the village chief – Koro, playing the role of the antagonist. Both characters were focused on their goals, but were able to reconsile with each other towards the end. Moreover, the characters were very realistic as revealed in there simply life style, dressing, standard of living and male dominance of the society, which is very typical of rural community setting. For example the leadership role of Koro, as the community leader; the various ritual observed during religious ceremonies and the societal expectation of the women within the community.
For example:
Pai- “Maori women has got to stop smoking, we’ve got to protect our childbearing properties”
Point of View:
Another very interesting element in the story was the psychological and cultural point of view, from which the narrator assuming the first person point of view. The story was narrated by the main character- Pai, using the first-person pronoun, “I” and relaying the events to the audience as if they were also involved in the story.
For example:
Pai- “Everyone was waiting for the first born boy to lead us… but he died… and I didn’t”.
Pai- “It was my father’s Waka but after I was born he didn’t want to carve it anymore. He went away. Everybody did.”
Also, we can notice the point of view of the camera in relationship to the characters at certain scene which helps to drive home some meaning and emotions that the movie wanted the audience to derive from the actions or characters. Such as the use of perspective, slow motion effects, close-up shots of Pai riding bicycle with her grandfather and Pai discussion with her father by the sea side.
Porourangi- “Koro is just - He’s just looking for something that doesn’t exist anymore”
Pai- “A new leader? They exist”
Porourangi- “yeah, they do, except I think its becoming more than that. In his head. Your Koro, he needs a prophet”.
Setting:
However, the setting of the story could probably be regarded as one of the most dynamic feature of the movie. The constant appearance of the sea, from the beginning to the end; the dark cloud that often depicted the tragedy of the Maori people; the green vegetation, the mountains; the community setting, costume and of course the sound effect, all added interesting meaning to the interpretation of theme.
In conclusion, it will be absolutely wrong to fully review the details of this epic story within the content of this paper. But I will rather like to conclude with a quote from one of the movie’s foremost critic – Chris Mitchell that describes the movie as “Touching” and “Wickedly Absorbing”
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Terence Brennan
English 1601
23 June 2005
WHALE RIDER
The movie “Whale Rider” featuring dynamic actress Keisha Castle- Hughes is a classical narrative, that emphasizes on the celebration of female empowerment. A little girl, courageous enough to challenge the past believes, change the present predicament of her generation and determine to risk her life for the future of her people.
Theatrical trail:
For over 1000 years, the Maori people resided in a small New Zealand coastal village. It was strongly believed that their ancestors “Paikea” came to the settlement riding on the back of a Whale. Consequently, the tradition demands that the firstborn; son of the chief has to carried on his name “Paikea” and become the leader of their tribe.
Unfortunately, the tragic lose of Porourangi’s wife and son (Pai’s twin brother) at childbirth was interpreted as a bad omen that stricken his heart and most especially his father – Koro, the chief of the Maori people, leaving the only surviving girl child, Pai to be raised by her grandparents.
Pai’s grandfather refuse to acknowledge her right to successor as the next heir to the Paikea’s linage based on a traditional believe that the title is exclusively reserved to the first male child. Despite, all the ordeals, Pai’s grandmother, was able to see the greatness in the girl beyond the break in her husband’s linage; a little child that is desperate in need of love.
Although Koro’s affection towards his granddaughter later developed over the years, he could not deviate from the narrow vision of the traditions and customs he had known all his life. Pai grew up to be an intelligent, enchanting girl, only to be excluded from learning her people’s tradition based on gender disparity. However, blinded by prejudice, Koro was convinced that his tribe’s misfortune was deeply rooted in the birth of Pai and called for his people to bring forward their sons to be educate in the rituals of ancient chants, tribal rights and war techniques, essential for tribal leadership.
At Pai’s call, the Whales responded and came to the shores of the sea but were willing to die. The villagers did all they could to reverse the situation but Koro arrogantly refused pai’s offer to help. Ironically, the death of the Whales will signifies Koro’s failure and an end to his linage as the leader of his people. Pai was not willing to allow this to happen thus, she determined to reverse the tragic incidence and changed the destiny of her people forever.
Theme:
The theme centered on the major characters, Pai and her grandfather Koro. The main character, Pai represented in herself the symbol of change, courage and loyalty to the cause of her people. While, Koro displayed the frustration of individualism and his commitment to societal values and tradition, as against the need to listen to the voice of reason. The characters created some meaning which was easy for the audience to relate to in their daily lives. The movie created a theme that revolves around issues like pride, forgiveness, traditions and cultural taboos. These are provoking issue within the various cultural groups in our present world. This point of view was also dominant throughout the story, from the very beginning in the scenes where Koro visited the child at the hospital for the first time, to the concluding part of the story.
Plot:
The plot in this movie followed a traditional narrative pattern that unveils the sequence of event from the very beginning. The narrative sequence was constructed in a pattern that engaged the viewer’s emotion and reveals the logical relationship between one event and another. For example: the birth of Pai and the relationship that developed between the little girl and her grandparent over the years; the confrontation between Pai and her grandfather at the village meeting during the inauguration of the traditional school and finally; Koro’s rejection of Pai’s offer to help, which later reveal her approval by the Whale, as confirmed by the Whale ride.
Furthermore, the metaphoric use of a “twisted rope” to illustrate the history and strength of the Maori people in unity, Koro- “weave together the tread of Paikea so that our line remain strong”, “each one of those tread represent your ancestors. all join together and strong” and moments later condemning the same rope when it got broken, Koro- “useless bloody rope, I’ll get another one” was a twist that confirms the frustration and narrow mind of Koro.
The plot also established a conflict at the beginning, intensified throughout the middle, brought it to a climax towards the end and dissolved in a brief conclusion. The plot initiated a conflict by colliding two apparently opposite characters from the very beginning of the story. For example, koro’s statement- “Take the girl away”, the second and third part of the plot focused on developing the central conflict instituted in the first plot, by letting Pai’s popularity and success to dominate that of her grandfather. “Go to the back sit Pai or leave now” And in the forth section, resolving the central conflict through mutual understanding, acceptance of personal failure and forgiveness of one another thus, transforming the characters into a new light. For example, Koro’s statement- “forgive me. I am just a fledgling new to flight”
The scene of closure was characterized by a happy ending, which was an obvious part of the movie, in which Pai survived the Whale ride after risking her life. The grandfather apologizing to her by his sick bed and the final happy reunion of the entire community at the last scene. This conclusion gave the “Whale Rider” a universal appeal that justifies its being brought to the screen more often because of the positive way it gives its audience an idea about their society and its people at its best.
Characterization
The theme of the story was tailored around the main characters and some minor characters. With Pai, playing the role of the protagonist and the village chief – Koro, playing the role of the antagonist. Both characters were focused on their goals, but were able to reconsile with each other towards the end. Moreover, the characters were very realistic as revealed in there simply life style, dressing, standard of living and male dominance of the society, which is very typical of rural community setting. For example the leadership role of Koro, as the community leader; the various ritual observed during religious ceremonies and the societal expectation of the women within the community.
For example:
Pai- “Maori women has got to stop smoking, we’ve got to protect our childbearing properties”
Point of View:
Another very interesting element in the story was the psychological and cultural point of view, from which the narrator assuming the first person point of view. The story was narrated by the main character- Pai, using the first-person pronoun, “I” and relaying the events to the audience as if they were also involved in the story.
For example:
Pai- “Everyone was waiting for the first born boy to lead us… but he died… and I didn’t”.
Pai- “It was my father’s Waka but after I was born he didn’t want to carve it anymore. He went away. Everybody did.”
Also, we can notice the point of view of the camera in relationship to the characters at certain scene which helps to drive home some meaning and emotions that the movie wanted the audience to derive from the actions or characters. Such as the use of perspective, slow motion effects, close-up shots of Pai riding bicycle with her grandfather and Pai discussion with her father by the sea side.
Porourangi- “Koro is just - He’s just looking for something that doesn’t exist anymore”
Pai- “A new leader? They exist”
Porourangi- “yeah, they do, except I think its becoming more than that. In his head. Your Koro, he needs a prophet”.
Setting:
However, the setting of the story could probably be regarded as one of the most dynamic feature of the movie. The constant appearance of the sea, from the beginning to the end; the dark cloud that often depicted the tragedy of the Maori people; the green vegetation, the mountains; the community setting, costume and of course the sound effect, all added interesting meaning to the interpretation of theme.
In conclusion, it will be absolutely wrong to fully review the details of this epic story within the content of this paper. But I will rather like to conclude with a quote from one of the movie’s foremost critic – Chris Mitchell that describes the movie as “Touching” and “Wickedly Absorbing”
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Contributions of Anthropology/Anthropologists in Society Biulding
Some other issues in the modern world to which anthropology/anthropologists might contribute include the following topic.
Firstly, It will be very interesting to examine the growing cultural trend of body piecing and tattoos in the present day America. Especially understanding the code in the language and its history from the past to the present day society
Moreover, there is need to ask questions such as, does it has a peculiar pattern in age, sex, race or statues amongst its followers?
Also, It will be interesting to know the similarities and differences that exist in this cultural trend, especially, when compared with similar tattoo culture from other part of the world.
Secondly, anthropology/anthropologists should look into is in the money-spending pattern within the American society. It will also be interesting to note what the spending pattern was like in the past and what it will look like in future. Most especially, the cultural influence of credit card usage, with various interest rates and the demographic distribution of wealth among credit card users with emphasis to their sex, race, age and geographic location within the country.
Lastly, I will wish anthropology/anthropologists would study the historic pattern in the political leadership in the United States. This should also explore the language, culture and history of the political class. Also, exploring the possibilities of a consistent pattern in such political trend or if there is any chance for drastic changes in the future.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Firstly, It will be very interesting to examine the growing cultural trend of body piecing and tattoos in the present day America. Especially understanding the code in the language and its history from the past to the present day society
Moreover, there is need to ask questions such as, does it has a peculiar pattern in age, sex, race or statues amongst its followers?
Also, It will be interesting to know the similarities and differences that exist in this cultural trend, especially, when compared with similar tattoo culture from other part of the world.
Secondly, anthropology/anthropologists should look into is in the money-spending pattern within the American society. It will also be interesting to note what the spending pattern was like in the past and what it will look like in future. Most especially, the cultural influence of credit card usage, with various interest rates and the demographic distribution of wealth among credit card users with emphasis to their sex, race, age and geographic location within the country.
Lastly, I will wish anthropology/anthropologists would study the historic pattern in the political leadership in the United States. This should also explore the language, culture and history of the political class. Also, exploring the possibilities of a consistent pattern in such political trend or if there is any chance for drastic changes in the future.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Point of Interest As a Social Psychology Student
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Social Psychology
09-29-05
As a social psychology student, I will be interested in studying the consequence of divorce on children, spouse, adults and the society at large. It is interesting to note that as a product of a divorced parent, I can not over emphasis the tremor and emotional distress that I went through living with three different women and calling each of them “mother” over a period of fourteen years and the detrimental influence on my life as an adult. Moreover, it is alarming to note that the rate of divorce has been on a steady increase in the past ten years in the United States. However, it will be interesting to investigate the following questions:
1. What are the contributing factors that encourage the growth of divorce rate as a social behavior within our society?
2. Who are the major victims in every divorce situation?
3. How has the society contributed to the growth of this ugly trend?
4. Why is it a social problem that needs to be addressed?
In conducting this research I hope to throw more light into the seriousness of the issue and make possible suggestions on how couples can survive the challenges of marriage together, over coming conflicts thus creating a happy family and a healthy society.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Social Psychology
09-29-05
As a social psychology student, I will be interested in studying the consequence of divorce on children, spouse, adults and the society at large. It is interesting to note that as a product of a divorced parent, I can not over emphasis the tremor and emotional distress that I went through living with three different women and calling each of them “mother” over a period of fourteen years and the detrimental influence on my life as an adult. Moreover, it is alarming to note that the rate of divorce has been on a steady increase in the past ten years in the United States. However, it will be interesting to investigate the following questions:
1. What are the contributing factors that encourage the growth of divorce rate as a social behavior within our society?
2. Who are the major victims in every divorce situation?
3. How has the society contributed to the growth of this ugly trend?
4. Why is it a social problem that needs to be addressed?
In conducting this research I hope to throw more light into the seriousness of the issue and make possible suggestions on how couples can survive the challenges of marriage together, over coming conflicts thus creating a happy family and a healthy society.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
How Self-Awareness Influence The Way We Think And The Emotion We Feel.
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Social Psychology
09-14-05
How Self-Awareness Influence The Way We Think And The Emotion We Feel.
The reflection of self starts from the very beginning, once a child can identify his or her name repeatedly, this allow them to gradually see them-self as a distinct and recurrent point of reference and this is later to be followed by awareness of independent status within the social group.
In the first instance, self is the individual viewed as both the source and the object of reflexive behavior (pg.81). However, the concept of self identity is represented both in active and passive aspects of our life in the form of ‘I’ and ‘me’ and it is created as a result of meanings attached to the self by one’s self and others. Thus, the minute we can distinguish our physical and intellectual features from that of others, we recognize that our perspective of viewing the world is different from that of others.
Furthermore, one of the factors that help to confirm self-awareness is self-evaluation; this involves the way others evaluate or judge our actions, which could lead to a positive self-concept or a negative self-concept. For example, a creative artist will pursue opportunities to exhibit his paintings in art galleries once he can sees himself as talented rather that if he consider himself as not good enough.
However, acceptance of membership within a social categories base on criteria such as nationality, gender, sexuality, race/ ethnicity helps to create within every human being what we define as social identities; these characteristics becomes standards for individual’s thoughts, feelings and actions. For example -real men don’t cry in public- once an individual can identify with the characteristics of this group (men), he manifest the qualities, traits and values of that group as part of his self-identity. According to the book “if your interaction with other group members confirms the importance of these attributes, they become part of the self you know” (pg.86).
In other to understand how self-awareness influence the way we think and the emotion we feel, it is important to note that “self-schema influences the speed and certainty with which we process information, how we interpret feedback from others and the storage in and retrieval from memory of information” (pg.94). For example, the way a military man will respond to a terrorist attack in an airplane will be different from the way a pastor will respond to the same situation. The military man is likely to respond more quickly, aggressive, confidently, risky manner, defensive, brave or violent; whereas the pastor might be more peaceful, compassionate, forgiving, gentle and slow to react to the situation. According to the book ”people are quicker and more certain when judging and interpreting information related to their important identities or qualities” (pg. 94).
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Social Psychology
09-14-05
How Self-Awareness Influence The Way We Think And The Emotion We Feel.
The reflection of self starts from the very beginning, once a child can identify his or her name repeatedly, this allow them to gradually see them-self as a distinct and recurrent point of reference and this is later to be followed by awareness of independent status within the social group.
In the first instance, self is the individual viewed as both the source and the object of reflexive behavior (pg.81). However, the concept of self identity is represented both in active and passive aspects of our life in the form of ‘I’ and ‘me’ and it is created as a result of meanings attached to the self by one’s self and others. Thus, the minute we can distinguish our physical and intellectual features from that of others, we recognize that our perspective of viewing the world is different from that of others.
Furthermore, one of the factors that help to confirm self-awareness is self-evaluation; this involves the way others evaluate or judge our actions, which could lead to a positive self-concept or a negative self-concept. For example, a creative artist will pursue opportunities to exhibit his paintings in art galleries once he can sees himself as talented rather that if he consider himself as not good enough.
However, acceptance of membership within a social categories base on criteria such as nationality, gender, sexuality, race/ ethnicity helps to create within every human being what we define as social identities; these characteristics becomes standards for individual’s thoughts, feelings and actions. For example -real men don’t cry in public- once an individual can identify with the characteristics of this group (men), he manifest the qualities, traits and values of that group as part of his self-identity. According to the book “if your interaction with other group members confirms the importance of these attributes, they become part of the self you know” (pg.86).
In other to understand how self-awareness influence the way we think and the emotion we feel, it is important to note that “self-schema influences the speed and certainty with which we process information, how we interpret feedback from others and the storage in and retrieval from memory of information” (pg.94). For example, the way a military man will respond to a terrorist attack in an airplane will be different from the way a pastor will respond to the same situation. The military man is likely to respond more quickly, aggressive, confidently, risky manner, defensive, brave or violent; whereas the pastor might be more peaceful, compassionate, forgiving, gentle and slow to react to the situation. According to the book ”people are quicker and more certain when judging and interpreting information related to their important identities or qualities” (pg. 94).
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
The Media Journey To Iraq: Weapons Of Mass Deception
Andrea Modica
English 2030-001
Research Essay Cover Letter
26 July 2005
Dear Reader,
The Media Journey To Iraq: Weapons Of Mass Deception is all about the manipulation, transformation and globalization of the media, and the effects on the perception of its viewing public in making crucial decisions. Furthermore, this research is intended to pave way for future inquiries that would probably go down in the twenty-first century as the most important and controversial issue to be unveiled in the history of America.
This is largely because the decision to go to war with Iraq on the 23rd of March 2003, was widely influenced by the collaboration between the media and the government’s propaganda, that Iraq government had direct link to the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001 and that the Iraq government had possession of weapons of mass destruction that could be used against any nation or provided to terrorist. Thus, ultimately posing a treat to the peace and security of the United States and the world at large.
Against this background, it is important to note that the purpose of journalistic objectivity was to help disseminate the truth to the public without taking sides on issues. It is this noble objective that earned the media it’s public’s trust as custodians of truth for centuries. Unfortunately, majority of the media houses failed the American public when it mattered most by acting as a collaborative agent to government’s “Weapons of Mass Deception”.
Almost two years after the official ending of the war on Iraq, majority of Americans are discovering the fact that not only was Iraq innocent of the September 11 attack on the United States, she did not posse any weapon of mass destruction as claimed by the U.S government and amplified by the media. Moreover, the idea that the battle with Iraq will involve minimal casualties on the side of the U.S army, or that the removal of Sadam Hussein from power was the first major victory in the war on terror, were all false fabrication of the U.S government. Rather the causality rate is on the increase and the numbers of insurgence are multiplying on a daily bases.
However, it is important to note that the majority of Americans are not blood tasty; contrary to popular believes, but rather were wrongly informed by the media they have learn to trust for centuries. Moreover, the growth of capitalism over the years has robed the media of its true identity in the bid of maximizing profit. Thus, the principles and objectives of “independent journalism” have given way to “patriotic journalism” through the merger of information and entertainment.
Furthermore, I will like to acknowledge the support and encouragement of my classmates and friends such as Brent, Francis Obi, officer Jackson Joseph of the American Army, Mercy Olaka, staff of the Aurora Public Library, staff of the Aurarian Library at the University of Colorado at Denver, my son Gideon Kukoyi and lovely wife Ola Kukoyi, the Bedford researcher web site and most especially my lecturer, Andrea Modica who has done all in her powers to ensure that this research had a critical scrutiny.
In conclusion, it is hoped that this research paper will awaken the American public to challenge the sources and motives of their information in the future; at the same time hold the media accountable for the immense atrocities that this monumental error has caused the image and people of this great nation and the consequences they are bound to live with in the future.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
English 2030-001
Research Essay Cover Letter
26 July 2005
Dear Reader,
The Media Journey To Iraq: Weapons Of Mass Deception is all about the manipulation, transformation and globalization of the media, and the effects on the perception of its viewing public in making crucial decisions. Furthermore, this research is intended to pave way for future inquiries that would probably go down in the twenty-first century as the most important and controversial issue to be unveiled in the history of America.
This is largely because the decision to go to war with Iraq on the 23rd of March 2003, was widely influenced by the collaboration between the media and the government’s propaganda, that Iraq government had direct link to the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001 and that the Iraq government had possession of weapons of mass destruction that could be used against any nation or provided to terrorist. Thus, ultimately posing a treat to the peace and security of the United States and the world at large.
Against this background, it is important to note that the purpose of journalistic objectivity was to help disseminate the truth to the public without taking sides on issues. It is this noble objective that earned the media it’s public’s trust as custodians of truth for centuries. Unfortunately, majority of the media houses failed the American public when it mattered most by acting as a collaborative agent to government’s “Weapons of Mass Deception”.
Almost two years after the official ending of the war on Iraq, majority of Americans are discovering the fact that not only was Iraq innocent of the September 11 attack on the United States, she did not posse any weapon of mass destruction as claimed by the U.S government and amplified by the media. Moreover, the idea that the battle with Iraq will involve minimal casualties on the side of the U.S army, or that the removal of Sadam Hussein from power was the first major victory in the war on terror, were all false fabrication of the U.S government. Rather the causality rate is on the increase and the numbers of insurgence are multiplying on a daily bases.
However, it is important to note that the majority of Americans are not blood tasty; contrary to popular believes, but rather were wrongly informed by the media they have learn to trust for centuries. Moreover, the growth of capitalism over the years has robed the media of its true identity in the bid of maximizing profit. Thus, the principles and objectives of “independent journalism” have given way to “patriotic journalism” through the merger of information and entertainment.
Furthermore, I will like to acknowledge the support and encouragement of my classmates and friends such as Brent, Francis Obi, officer Jackson Joseph of the American Army, Mercy Olaka, staff of the Aurora Public Library, staff of the Aurarian Library at the University of Colorado at Denver, my son Gideon Kukoyi and lovely wife Ola Kukoyi, the Bedford researcher web site and most especially my lecturer, Andrea Modica who has done all in her powers to ensure that this research had a critical scrutiny.
In conclusion, it is hoped that this research paper will awaken the American public to challenge the sources and motives of their information in the future; at the same time hold the media accountable for the immense atrocities that this monumental error has caused the image and people of this great nation and the consequences they are bound to live with in the future.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
POWER CORRUPTS, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
ENGL 2030
Responsible Propaganda Project
Andrea Modica
23 June 2005
POWER CORRUPTS, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.
The events of September 11 2002, have proven that terrorists can attack us, but they can’t take away what makes us Americans; our freedom, our liberty and our civil rights.
This simple believe unveil the basis on which America’s ideology is built upon which also include the following:
• Responsible Leadership
• Political and Economic Might
• Equality, Freedom and Justice
In the first instance, it is almost impossible to find the right words that adequately express the horror, the shock and the revulsion we all felt over what took place during September 11. As a nation, we must act conscientiously in order to ensuring that we set a lasting precedence for future generation. According to the British prime minister, Tony Blair, “Understand the causes of terror? Yes, we should try, but let there be no moral ambiguity about this: nothing could ever justify the events of September 11 and it is to turn justice on its head to pretend it could”
The pictures in figure 1 bellow were images of September 11terrorist attack on the United State of America
Figure 1: September 9/11 attack on the trade center and a devastated fire fighter
Secondly, acting responsibly does not necessarily imply that we go to war at every instinct of provocation, but simply meaning that we have to tamper justice with mercy. We must come to terms that peace cannot be kept by force, but can only be achieved by understanding. According to Albert Einstein, “I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war”- (Albert Einstein Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921)
Obviously, America is noted for its greatness, richly blessed with abundant human and material resources. We have the right and capability to protect the sovereignty of our people, but in doing so we must be cautious not to set wrong precedence for other nations. Ensuring that we do not inflict undue harm and injustice to innocent people that resides in a nation that has no record of violence against our country, America. According to John Emerich Edward Dalberg “History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but from the undue influence of our own, from the tyranny of environment and the pressures of the air we breathe”-(John Emerich Edward Dalberg English Historian, 1834-1902).
Furthermore, by attacking Iraq, we are equally justifying the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which was widely condemned by the entire world. We must comply with regulated rules as stipulated in the United Nation constitution, which we are signatory to. On the other hand, acting unilaterally was a bad precedence for bully nations to emulate and attack weaker countries.
The pictures in figure 2 bellow were images of Iraqi children and the United State Coalition force
Figure 2: Iraqi Children and the United State Army attack on Baghdad
Moreover, when human generations live on for decades without being shaken and stirred up by the powerful flood of events in history, then their customs and traditions can become too cozy and too comfortable. In the end these very human constructions take the place of God. According to Mahatma Gandhi “The true democrat is he who with purely nonviolent means defends his liberty and therefore, his country’s and ultimately that of the world of mankind”(Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Philosopher. 1869-1948)
Without any doubt, war on terror is the greatest challenge of the twenty first century. It is a war that every country needs to fight, not only for the sake of America but for the peace of the world at large.
In conclusion, the event of September 11, 2002 will forever be in the history of our great country. Let us as a nation help to rewrite history, not by inventing war but through dialogue and understanding, living at peace with one another and the world at large. As the saying goes, “Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm”.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
ENGL 2030
Responsible Propaganda Project
Andrea Modica
23 June 2005
POWER CORRUPTS, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.
The events of September 11 2002, have proven that terrorists can attack us, but they can’t take away what makes us Americans; our freedom, our liberty and our civil rights.
This simple believe unveil the basis on which America’s ideology is built upon which also include the following:
• Responsible Leadership
• Political and Economic Might
• Equality, Freedom and Justice
In the first instance, it is almost impossible to find the right words that adequately express the horror, the shock and the revulsion we all felt over what took place during September 11. As a nation, we must act conscientiously in order to ensuring that we set a lasting precedence for future generation. According to the British prime minister, Tony Blair, “Understand the causes of terror? Yes, we should try, but let there be no moral ambiguity about this: nothing could ever justify the events of September 11 and it is to turn justice on its head to pretend it could”
The pictures in figure 1 bellow were images of September 11terrorist attack on the United State of America
Figure 1: September 9/11 attack on the trade center and a devastated fire fighter
Secondly, acting responsibly does not necessarily imply that we go to war at every instinct of provocation, but simply meaning that we have to tamper justice with mercy. We must come to terms that peace cannot be kept by force, but can only be achieved by understanding. According to Albert Einstein, “I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war”- (Albert Einstein Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921)
Obviously, America is noted for its greatness, richly blessed with abundant human and material resources. We have the right and capability to protect the sovereignty of our people, but in doing so we must be cautious not to set wrong precedence for other nations. Ensuring that we do not inflict undue harm and injustice to innocent people that resides in a nation that has no record of violence against our country, America. According to John Emerich Edward Dalberg “History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but from the undue influence of our own, from the tyranny of environment and the pressures of the air we breathe”-(John Emerich Edward Dalberg English Historian, 1834-1902).
Furthermore, by attacking Iraq, we are equally justifying the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which was widely condemned by the entire world. We must comply with regulated rules as stipulated in the United Nation constitution, which we are signatory to. On the other hand, acting unilaterally was a bad precedence for bully nations to emulate and attack weaker countries.
The pictures in figure 2 bellow were images of Iraqi children and the United State Coalition force
Figure 2: Iraqi Children and the United State Army attack on Baghdad
Moreover, when human generations live on for decades without being shaken and stirred up by the powerful flood of events in history, then their customs and traditions can become too cozy and too comfortable. In the end these very human constructions take the place of God. According to Mahatma Gandhi “The true democrat is he who with purely nonviolent means defends his liberty and therefore, his country’s and ultimately that of the world of mankind”(Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Philosopher. 1869-1948)
Without any doubt, war on terror is the greatest challenge of the twenty first century. It is a war that every country needs to fight, not only for the sake of America but for the peace of the world at large.
In conclusion, the event of September 11, 2002 will forever be in the history of our great country. Let us as a nation help to rewrite history, not by inventing war but through dialogue and understanding, living at peace with one another and the world at large. As the saying goes, “Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm”.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
How is Narrative Derived?
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Designing For Human Experience
FA 3435
02-22-06
How is Narrative Derived?
Narrative is one of the fundamental means through which we understand, organize and explain our experiences. This core concept of narrative plays a vital role in our learning, our communication and our social interaction; which also include art and recreational activities. In fact, all form of communication involves a narrative pattern of storytelling.
By simple definition, the term narrative, regardless of its context (either philosophical, scientific or legal) could also refers to a form of story; a visual interpretation of some aspect of the world that is historically and culturally shaped by human personality. Furthermore, narration can also be describe as symbolic actions, words, and/or deeds that have sequence and meaning for those who live, create or interpret them.
The concept of narrative can be derived from simple semiotic, which involves individual building blocks of meaning called signs, while studying the way by which such signs are combined into codes in other to transmit messages. This can be regarded as part of a general communication system, which uses both verbal and nonverbal elements through which information is encoded for presentation to humans, i.e. the type of signs and to the status of reality ascribed to or claimed by a sign, text or genre.
Human beings seem to prefer to communicate or share information in form of a story line. Rather than organizing data as fact in logical sequence, in fact, most people
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Designing For Human Experience
FA 3435
02-22-06
How is Narrative Derived?
Narrative is one of the fundamental means through which we understand, organize and explain our experiences. This core concept of narrative plays a vital role in our learning, our communication and our social interaction; which also include art and recreational activities. In fact, all form of communication involves a narrative pattern of storytelling.
By simple definition, the term narrative, regardless of its context (either philosophical, scientific or legal) could also refers to a form of story; a visual interpretation of some aspect of the world that is historically and culturally shaped by human personality. Furthermore, narration can also be describe as symbolic actions, words, and/or deeds that have sequence and meaning for those who live, create or interpret them.
The concept of narrative can be derived from simple semiotic, which involves individual building blocks of meaning called signs, while studying the way by which such signs are combined into codes in other to transmit messages. This can be regarded as part of a general communication system, which uses both verbal and nonverbal elements through which information is encoded for presentation to humans, i.e. the type of signs and to the status of reality ascribed to or claimed by a sign, text or genre.
Human beings seem to prefer to communicate or share information in form of a story line. Rather than organizing data as fact in logical sequence, in fact, most people
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
The Act of Loneliness
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Social Psychology
11-04-05
Loneliness is a relative hash term that describes an individual without companions, it is a solitary life style that sometimes expresses the independent, isolation of ones mind or seclusion of an individual emotion from others within the same environment. However, the greatest reason that works in favor of loneliness is that, this idea creates a sense of independent and self-sustenance within a group. At the same time, encourage individual self-expression.
On the down side, this idea can be desolate thus, producing dejection, simply because life is full of ups and down and we all need somebody to lien on and share our thoughts and worries with in times of trouble.
Although, when compared with a romantic relationships, loneliness can also be experienced in a subtle manner, simply because, not everybody involved in a romantic relationship is actually happy or actively engaged in such relationship.
However, this is contrary to the general believes or myth that, romantic relationship is often characterized with joy, funfair and a ‘happily ever after’ kind of ending. This notion is not necessarily true in every relationship. For example, I was involved in a romantic relationship with a colleague of mine and everybody thought we were the best of couples, but the reality was that we were not happy with each other base on some ideological differences that we failed to address at the early stage of the relationship. I must confess that the day the relationship was finally dissolved was the happiest moment for me, because I felt a sense of relieve, longing to be alone just by myself.
On the other hand, romantic relationship or marriage could be very beneficial. It flows with the general believes that ‘two heads are better than one’. A major advantage in marriage of romantic relationship is that the couple can merge their intellectual resources together and achieve greater physical, emotional and financial results targeted towards a common goal.
On the down side, this can be a great challenge due to the fact that it is tough to reach a decision as a couple, whereas, individuals can make crucial decisions much faster.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Social Psychology
11-04-05
Loneliness is a relative hash term that describes an individual without companions, it is a solitary life style that sometimes expresses the independent, isolation of ones mind or seclusion of an individual emotion from others within the same environment. However, the greatest reason that works in favor of loneliness is that, this idea creates a sense of independent and self-sustenance within a group. At the same time, encourage individual self-expression.
On the down side, this idea can be desolate thus, producing dejection, simply because life is full of ups and down and we all need somebody to lien on and share our thoughts and worries with in times of trouble.
Although, when compared with a romantic relationships, loneliness can also be experienced in a subtle manner, simply because, not everybody involved in a romantic relationship is actually happy or actively engaged in such relationship.
However, this is contrary to the general believes or myth that, romantic relationship is often characterized with joy, funfair and a ‘happily ever after’ kind of ending. This notion is not necessarily true in every relationship. For example, I was involved in a romantic relationship with a colleague of mine and everybody thought we were the best of couples, but the reality was that we were not happy with each other base on some ideological differences that we failed to address at the early stage of the relationship. I must confess that the day the relationship was finally dissolved was the happiest moment for me, because I felt a sense of relieve, longing to be alone just by myself.
On the other hand, romantic relationship or marriage could be very beneficial. It flows with the general believes that ‘two heads are better than one’. A major advantage in marriage of romantic relationship is that the couple can merge their intellectual resources together and achieve greater physical, emotional and financial results targeted towards a common goal.
On the down side, this can be a great challenge due to the fact that it is tough to reach a decision as a couple, whereas, individuals can make crucial decisions much faster.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
What Have We Learned From Natural Disasters?
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Aurora Central High School
NCLB Writing Assessment
11-03- 05
What Have We Learned From Natural Disasters?
In as much as we all agree that there is little or nothing we can do to totally prevent natural disasters from happening. However, we must acknowledge the fact that we have the potentials and the resources to adequately prepare for these disasters long before they happen in other to help cushion its devastating effect on lives and properties in our society.
In the first instance, the word ‘natural disaster’, according to the Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English, simply refers to “any event or force of nature that has catastrophic consequences, such as avalanche, earthquake, fold forest fire, hurricane, lightning, tornado, tsunami and volcanic eruption”. The above definition explains a natural phenomenon that cuts across any geographic location on earth and has dated back to the history of mankind. Equally important, most people panic, especially if they are ill prepared for this tragic event or they are not able to get necessary help from appropriate government authorities. Consequently, this may result to a brake down of law and order within the society, leading to looting, fighting, raping or even killing of each other.
In the past years, the United States has had its fear share of natural disasters, among which are the Colorado wild fires of 2003, California earthquake of 2004 and the most recent hurricane Katrina, that destroyed lives and properties in three major states, namely Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
The greatest question that we need to ask ourselves after this long history of devastating catastrophes is that ‘what have we learned from these natural disasters’?
In the first instance, it is crucial to understand that both the people and government need to work together and plan ahead of time. Moreover, government must ensuring that the people are well informed of the nature of the disaster, its consequent to lives and properties and the best way of response in the event of such disaster. Consequently, this approach will greatly help to reduce panic amongst the people in a crisis situation. For example the ugly situation that was experienced during hurricane Katrina would have been avoided if the people and the government had planned ahead with adequate logistics and transportation for evacuating the people before the D-day.
Secondly, the past event has reveal the need for proper legislations and funding of government and private institutions that are responsible for coordinating and managing natural disasters in the country. In addition, the ugly situation whereby people were stranded for days without potable clean water, clothes, electricity or medical supplies could be effectively managed once the necessary institutions are well funded.
Thirdly, there is a need to mobilize all our resources at the federal, state and local level and act as a nation, simply because, the impact of a natural disaster can greatly affect and destroy anybody, any where, at any time, regardless of geographic location, race, ethnic, gender, or social statues of the people involved.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that if the society is proper informed, while government provide adequate funding for designated institutions and the general sense of unity of purpose at the federal, state and local level are all given proper attention; it will not only reduce the impact of such devastating experience in future but will also unite the entire nation and its people in the event of future natural disaster. According to a popular quote, “A nation that stands together can not be broken”.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Aurora Central High School
NCLB Writing Assessment
11-03- 05
What Have We Learned From Natural Disasters?
In as much as we all agree that there is little or nothing we can do to totally prevent natural disasters from happening. However, we must acknowledge the fact that we have the potentials and the resources to adequately prepare for these disasters long before they happen in other to help cushion its devastating effect on lives and properties in our society.
In the first instance, the word ‘natural disaster’, according to the Webster’s New Millennium Dictionary of English, simply refers to “any event or force of nature that has catastrophic consequences, such as avalanche, earthquake, fold forest fire, hurricane, lightning, tornado, tsunami and volcanic eruption”. The above definition explains a natural phenomenon that cuts across any geographic location on earth and has dated back to the history of mankind. Equally important, most people panic, especially if they are ill prepared for this tragic event or they are not able to get necessary help from appropriate government authorities. Consequently, this may result to a brake down of law and order within the society, leading to looting, fighting, raping or even killing of each other.
In the past years, the United States has had its fear share of natural disasters, among which are the Colorado wild fires of 2003, California earthquake of 2004 and the most recent hurricane Katrina, that destroyed lives and properties in three major states, namely Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
The greatest question that we need to ask ourselves after this long history of devastating catastrophes is that ‘what have we learned from these natural disasters’?
In the first instance, it is crucial to understand that both the people and government need to work together and plan ahead of time. Moreover, government must ensuring that the people are well informed of the nature of the disaster, its consequent to lives and properties and the best way of response in the event of such disaster. Consequently, this approach will greatly help to reduce panic amongst the people in a crisis situation. For example the ugly situation that was experienced during hurricane Katrina would have been avoided if the people and the government had planned ahead with adequate logistics and transportation for evacuating the people before the D-day.
Secondly, the past event has reveal the need for proper legislations and funding of government and private institutions that are responsible for coordinating and managing natural disasters in the country. In addition, the ugly situation whereby people were stranded for days without potable clean water, clothes, electricity or medical supplies could be effectively managed once the necessary institutions are well funded.
Thirdly, there is a need to mobilize all our resources at the federal, state and local level and act as a nation, simply because, the impact of a natural disaster can greatly affect and destroy anybody, any where, at any time, regardless of geographic location, race, ethnic, gender, or social statues of the people involved.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that if the society is proper informed, while government provide adequate funding for designated institutions and the general sense of unity of purpose at the federal, state and local level are all given proper attention; it will not only reduce the impact of such devastating experience in future but will also unite the entire nation and its people in the event of future natural disaster. According to a popular quote, “A nation that stands together can not be broken”.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
The concept of freedom, order, equality and power playing out in the Flat world discussed by Tom Friedman?
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Harv Bishop
Political Science
09-29-05
The concept of freedom, order, equality and power playing out in the Flat world discussed by Tom Friedman?
The notions of freedom, order, equality and power in a group are precisely defined in terms of individual exertions of influence or power. Freedom is discussed in the translation of freedom from influence rather than in the form of freedom to do what one wants. It is shown that at the ideal conceptual level, complete freedom implies equality. In the situation whereby certain privileges are ascribed to certain members of the same society and others are denied the same, it will be very wrong to think equality and order can rule in such society. For example “the conceal and carry law, passed on may 28, 2003, established that local sheriff had to issue permits for anyone- other than those with felony records or declared mental ill- who requested to carry concealed firearms to work (unless the person’s employer explicitly restrict that right)”(pg. 371) is a gross violation of the right of those excluded from this privilege.
This decision did not provide for the welfare of all the people that can be directly or indirectly affected by the consequences of such law. Furthermore, the law empowers certain members’ o f the community to conceal and carry firearms and restrained people with felony record despite the fact that they have done their time for such offence in the past. Recent views of the quality of political systems focus on different aspects or dimensions expressed by terms like freedom, equality, solidarity, human rights and welfare.
The book also mentions the great contrast between 11/9 versus 9/11. In the first instance the creative imagination of 11/9 and the destructive imagination of 9/11. A person cannot perform materially impossible actions, whether she wants to do so or not. Additional to this first restraint, free will to do is further narrowed down by other people’s influence making materially possible actions impossible. Under this viewpoint, if the domains of material possibility depend on the level of welfare then the level of materially possible freedom, i.e. freedom that would prevail in the presence of freedom from influence, is higher in states with a higher level of welfare.
However, this distinction does not seem to be fruitful for in reality the `material' level and the level of influence are heavily dependent on each other. For instance, a rise of the level of welfare usually is accompanied by increased suffering of exertions of power so that the overall freedom `to do' of a person does not increase (or even decreases) when welfare does. Moreover, freedom `to do' allows for ideal, individualistic realization of freedom- I simply cut down my wants in order to become completely free (as the Hegelian slave). This shows that freedom `to do' is not well suited for discussions of essentially social matters like the comparison of political systems, and that freedom `from' is the right notion to be used in such contexts.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Harv Bishop
Political Science
09-29-05
The concept of freedom, order, equality and power playing out in the Flat world discussed by Tom Friedman?
The notions of freedom, order, equality and power in a group are precisely defined in terms of individual exertions of influence or power. Freedom is discussed in the translation of freedom from influence rather than in the form of freedom to do what one wants. It is shown that at the ideal conceptual level, complete freedom implies equality. In the situation whereby certain privileges are ascribed to certain members of the same society and others are denied the same, it will be very wrong to think equality and order can rule in such society. For example “the conceal and carry law, passed on may 28, 2003, established that local sheriff had to issue permits for anyone- other than those with felony records or declared mental ill- who requested to carry concealed firearms to work (unless the person’s employer explicitly restrict that right)”(pg. 371) is a gross violation of the right of those excluded from this privilege.
This decision did not provide for the welfare of all the people that can be directly or indirectly affected by the consequences of such law. Furthermore, the law empowers certain members’ o f the community to conceal and carry firearms and restrained people with felony record despite the fact that they have done their time for such offence in the past. Recent views of the quality of political systems focus on different aspects or dimensions expressed by terms like freedom, equality, solidarity, human rights and welfare.
The book also mentions the great contrast between 11/9 versus 9/11. In the first instance the creative imagination of 11/9 and the destructive imagination of 9/11. A person cannot perform materially impossible actions, whether she wants to do so or not. Additional to this first restraint, free will to do is further narrowed down by other people’s influence making materially possible actions impossible. Under this viewpoint, if the domains of material possibility depend on the level of welfare then the level of materially possible freedom, i.e. freedom that would prevail in the presence of freedom from influence, is higher in states with a higher level of welfare.
However, this distinction does not seem to be fruitful for in reality the `material' level and the level of influence are heavily dependent on each other. For instance, a rise of the level of welfare usually is accompanied by increased suffering of exertions of power so that the overall freedom `to do' of a person does not increase (or even decreases) when welfare does. Moreover, freedom `to do' allows for ideal, individualistic realization of freedom- I simply cut down my wants in order to become completely free (as the Hegelian slave). This shows that freedom `to do' is not well suited for discussions of essentially social matters like the comparison of political systems, and that freedom `from' is the right notion to be used in such contexts.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Summer Internship: Lion Financial Corporation
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Summer Internship FA 3939
Moyo Okediji
06-22-06
Summer Internship with Lion Financial Corporation
Lion Financial Corporation, located at 7706 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Denver is a mortgage institution that specializes in providing various financial services to their prospective clients. As a company with Independent Business Owners (IBO), they help their client to achieve financial independence by teaching them how to utilize their mortgage as a financial tool–transforming it from their greatest liability to their strongest asset.
The company’s main marketing strategy is focused toward the use of information technology, which includes internet marketing, live web casting of a variety of business and finance presentations, seminars and training.
As an intern in the multimedia department, my primary duty is to design corporate images (logo), websites, flyers, complimentary cards and other public relations / marketing materials. Furthermore, I am expected to work through and for the various IBOs within the company, by creating ideas that appeal to their interest, needs and budget.
Also, as a designer, I am responsible for supervising the production of various graphic design projects, which is often subject to constant changes during the process of production. In most cases, these changes are not necessary due to the my choice, but might be objectively determined by such factors as production cost, availability of required materials or techniques, a change in client’s core requirements, or discovery of key problems that were not obvious in the early stages of the project.
Furthermore, I have to work with other people with whom I have a contractual relationship. This is with the hope of reconciling various professionals involved in the production process at various stages. Such coordination includes sorting, ordering, and relating information.
In conclusion, I must be able to evaluate problems or opportunities, in a dispassionate way on individual terms and to select, arrange and dispose these decisions accordingly. Also, I must be able to strive on constraint and turn every opportunity to good account, spending at least half of the time working with graphic media of one sort or another during the final stages of the design.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Summer Internship FA 3939
Moyo Okediji
06-22-06
Summer Internship with Lion Financial Corporation
Lion Financial Corporation, located at 7706 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Denver is a mortgage institution that specializes in providing various financial services to their prospective clients. As a company with Independent Business Owners (IBO), they help their client to achieve financial independence by teaching them how to utilize their mortgage as a financial tool–transforming it from their greatest liability to their strongest asset.
The company’s main marketing strategy is focused toward the use of information technology, which includes internet marketing, live web casting of a variety of business and finance presentations, seminars and training.
As an intern in the multimedia department, my primary duty is to design corporate images (logo), websites, flyers, complimentary cards and other public relations / marketing materials. Furthermore, I am expected to work through and for the various IBOs within the company, by creating ideas that appeal to their interest, needs and budget.
Also, as a designer, I am responsible for supervising the production of various graphic design projects, which is often subject to constant changes during the process of production. In most cases, these changes are not necessary due to the my choice, but might be objectively determined by such factors as production cost, availability of required materials or techniques, a change in client’s core requirements, or discovery of key problems that were not obvious in the early stages of the project.
Furthermore, I have to work with other people with whom I have a contractual relationship. This is with the hope of reconciling various professionals involved in the production process at various stages. Such coordination includes sorting, ordering, and relating information.
In conclusion, I must be able to evaluate problems or opportunities, in a dispassionate way on individual terms and to select, arrange and dispose these decisions accordingly. Also, I must be able to strive on constraint and turn every opportunity to good account, spending at least half of the time working with graphic media of one sort or another during the final stages of the design.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Specific Incident of Helping Behavior
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Social Psychology
10-29-05
Please share one specific incident of helping behavior you have engaged in that you consider to be altruistic helping. How might others see this incident as egoistic helping?
One specific incident of helping behavior in which I was involve in that could be considered altruistic, was an event that happened in 1989, while I was a college final year student, studying Fine Art.
I was invited for an interview with the occupational therapy department at the Lagos university teaching hospital and later introduced to Idowu Akinrolabu, a quadriplegic and asked if I could teach him how to paint with his mouth. I must confess that I was speechless, perplexed and disappointed, especially when I was informed that the patient could not pay the stipulated salary that I had previously requested.
However, I could not abandon the job simply on the ground of very poor salary, especially after listening to idowu's testimony, narrating the numbers of disappointment he had suffered from previous art teachers.
After all said and done, I accepted the job, not because I did not need the money but because my heart was filled with compassion and was touched by his predicament. I resolved within my heart to help him.
The relationship lasted for three years and he became more independent and influential within the country for his act of painting with his mouth.
Even though, I did not make money from Idowu immediately, Years later, I became famous within the country as the motivator and art teacher of the first mouth painting artist in the country and that really made me proud.
Although, many people might consider this act to have a hidden egoistic agenda, I totally disagree with such believes, It was simply out of a burden to help because it could happen to you or me.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Social Psychology
10-29-05
Please share one specific incident of helping behavior you have engaged in that you consider to be altruistic helping. How might others see this incident as egoistic helping?
One specific incident of helping behavior in which I was involve in that could be considered altruistic, was an event that happened in 1989, while I was a college final year student, studying Fine Art.
I was invited for an interview with the occupational therapy department at the Lagos university teaching hospital and later introduced to Idowu Akinrolabu, a quadriplegic and asked if I could teach him how to paint with his mouth. I must confess that I was speechless, perplexed and disappointed, especially when I was informed that the patient could not pay the stipulated salary that I had previously requested.
However, I could not abandon the job simply on the ground of very poor salary, especially after listening to idowu's testimony, narrating the numbers of disappointment he had suffered from previous art teachers.
After all said and done, I accepted the job, not because I did not need the money but because my heart was filled with compassion and was touched by his predicament. I resolved within my heart to help him.
The relationship lasted for three years and he became more independent and influential within the country for his act of painting with his mouth.
Even though, I did not make money from Idowu immediately, Years later, I became famous within the country as the motivator and art teacher of the first mouth painting artist in the country and that really made me proud.
Although, many people might consider this act to have a hidden egoistic agenda, I totally disagree with such believes, It was simply out of a burden to help because it could happen to you or me.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Where Does Human Interaction Begin?
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
Designing For Human Experience
FA 3435
01-20-06
Where Does Human Interaction Begin?
According to The American Heritage Dictionary, interaction can be defined as “the act or process of interacting, or the state of undergoing interaction”. As such, human interaction can be better understood as a mutual or reciprocal action between two or more individuals thus creating physical or mental interactivity.
However, resent studies have proven that babies in the womb are alert, aware, and attentive to activities involving voice, touch, and music. Thus confirming that human interaction actually begins from the worm. Also, medical researches has proven that babies benefit from these activities by forming stronger relationships with their parents and their parents with them making for better attachments and better birthing experiences. However, these babies tend to show intelligent development of speech, fine and gross motor activity, better emotional self-regulation, and better cognitive processing.
Until the turn of the last century, medical scientist did not think fetus could have any significant interaction. This is largely due to the fact that they did not believe fetus could have a working mind. In retrospect, this false beliefs about the brain veiled the fact that babies in the uterine world were indeed having experiences, establishing patterns of interaction, listening to music and conversation (and as tests ultimately proved) were remembering them. Numerous experiments have made it clear that fetus who have the opportunity to hear stories and music repeated to them in uterus can demonstrate recognition for this material later. Fetus have become familiar with and show a preference for specific lullabies, musical theme like "Mary had a little Lamb," and theme music from popular TV soap operas.
Research has shown that fetus memorize the voices of their mothers and fathers in the womb, while learning the basic features of their native language, especially the "mother’s tongue”. Analysis of voice and cry sounds as early as 26 weeks of gestation shows how far babies of this age have already progressed in adopting the voice individuality of the mother.
In some recent experiment, mothers repeated children rhyme daily for four weeks from week 33 to 37 in uterus. Tested at 37 weeks while still inside, the babies reacted with a change of heartbeat to the familiar rhyme, but not to the unfamiliar rhyme. In other researches, babies have demonstrated immediately after birth a preference for their mother's voice and their native language. The womb turns out to be a stimulating place and is, in many ways, a school. In the last fifteen years as these facts were gradually becoming known, many books, tapes, and exercises were created to help parents understand and communicate with babies in the womb. All are potentially valuable in helping parents to make a creative and loving attachment (rather than an insensitive or aggressive one), a connection, which respects the needs of the baby’s naturally curious and interactivity. Moreover, one of the biggest surprises about life in the womb is the extent of emotional involvement and expression, none of which was anticipated in early psychology or medicine. The impulsiveness and gracefulness of movement from about 10 weeks after conception is a vehicle for self-expression including early aspects of self-control, expression of needs and interests, and of protest against painful experiences. By 15 weeks, ultrasound reveals babies moving in reaction to something as simple as a mother's laugh or cough.
Consequently, with bright development of hearing and tasting before 16 weeks gestational age, the way is open for extensive interaction with mothers and fathers during pregnancy. For example, ultrasound imaging of twins’ reveals totally unexpected social relations and expressions of feeling manifested by repeated hitting, kicking, or playing together.
In conclusion, as it is with the establishment of physical settings in utero, the emotional system is also organizing itself in relation to the types of interactions encountered. A baby surrounded with anger, fear, and anxiety will adjust itself to that world in response to the interaction it received while in the mother’s womb and carry those settings into life.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
Designing For Human Experience
FA 3435
01-20-06
Where Does Human Interaction Begin?
According to The American Heritage Dictionary, interaction can be defined as “the act or process of interacting, or the state of undergoing interaction”. As such, human interaction can be better understood as a mutual or reciprocal action between two or more individuals thus creating physical or mental interactivity.
However, resent studies have proven that babies in the womb are alert, aware, and attentive to activities involving voice, touch, and music. Thus confirming that human interaction actually begins from the worm. Also, medical researches has proven that babies benefit from these activities by forming stronger relationships with their parents and their parents with them making for better attachments and better birthing experiences. However, these babies tend to show intelligent development of speech, fine and gross motor activity, better emotional self-regulation, and better cognitive processing.
Until the turn of the last century, medical scientist did not think fetus could have any significant interaction. This is largely due to the fact that they did not believe fetus could have a working mind. In retrospect, this false beliefs about the brain veiled the fact that babies in the uterine world were indeed having experiences, establishing patterns of interaction, listening to music and conversation (and as tests ultimately proved) were remembering them. Numerous experiments have made it clear that fetus who have the opportunity to hear stories and music repeated to them in uterus can demonstrate recognition for this material later. Fetus have become familiar with and show a preference for specific lullabies, musical theme like "Mary had a little Lamb," and theme music from popular TV soap operas.
Research has shown that fetus memorize the voices of their mothers and fathers in the womb, while learning the basic features of their native language, especially the "mother’s tongue”. Analysis of voice and cry sounds as early as 26 weeks of gestation shows how far babies of this age have already progressed in adopting the voice individuality of the mother.
In some recent experiment, mothers repeated children rhyme daily for four weeks from week 33 to 37 in uterus. Tested at 37 weeks while still inside, the babies reacted with a change of heartbeat to the familiar rhyme, but not to the unfamiliar rhyme. In other researches, babies have demonstrated immediately after birth a preference for their mother's voice and their native language. The womb turns out to be a stimulating place and is, in many ways, a school. In the last fifteen years as these facts were gradually becoming known, many books, tapes, and exercises were created to help parents understand and communicate with babies in the womb. All are potentially valuable in helping parents to make a creative and loving attachment (rather than an insensitive or aggressive one), a connection, which respects the needs of the baby’s naturally curious and interactivity. Moreover, one of the biggest surprises about life in the womb is the extent of emotional involvement and expression, none of which was anticipated in early psychology or medicine. The impulsiveness and gracefulness of movement from about 10 weeks after conception is a vehicle for self-expression including early aspects of self-control, expression of needs and interests, and of protest against painful experiences. By 15 weeks, ultrasound reveals babies moving in reaction to something as simple as a mother's laugh or cough.
Consequently, with bright development of hearing and tasting before 16 weeks gestational age, the way is open for extensive interaction with mothers and fathers during pregnancy. For example, ultrasound imaging of twins’ reveals totally unexpected social relations and expressions of feeling manifested by repeated hitting, kicking, or playing together.
In conclusion, as it is with the establishment of physical settings in utero, the emotional system is also organizing itself in relation to the types of interactions encountered. A baby surrounded with anger, fear, and anxiety will adjust itself to that world in response to the interaction it received while in the mother’s womb and carry those settings into life.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
The Rwandan Genocide
Mushafau Ade Kukoyi
History 1382
Professor Sundberg
02-15-06
The Rwandan genocide
History has confirmed that the original inhabitant of the Rwanda lived in harmony amongst themselves before the arrival of the Europeans in 1894. According to the account of Linda Melvern - the author of the book “A People Betrayed, The Role of the West in Rwanda’s Genocide”, the kingdom of Rwanda had been entirely shut off from the world, and even the African world, until 4 May 1894 when the first European, a German count, Gustav Adolf von Gotzen, was received at court by a king called Rwabugiri, who claimed that his dynasty stretched back hundreds of years (pg. 7).
Since then the definition of "Hutu" and "Tutsi" has changed over time. Mostly it has rather been a term created to distinguish between those in commanding and subordinate social positions. However, the Belgian government continued to rely on the Tutsi power structure for administering the country and also consistently favored the Tutsis where education was concerned, leading to a situation where many Tutsis were literate, while the majority of Hutus were not. Belgians educated the Tutsis mainly in Catholic schools, which widened the ethnic rift between Hutu and Tutsi.
Some scholars argue that the Belgians did much to create the enmity between Hutu and Tutsi through their policies of indirect rule. As mentioned above, Hutus and Tutsis lived together as neighbors before the colonial period. However, Belgian rule solidified the racial divide. The Belgians then gave political power to the Tutsis. Due to the eugenics movement in Europe and the United States, the colonial government became concerned with the differences between Hutu and Tutsi. Scientists arrived to measure skull and thus, they believed, brain size. Tutsi's skulls were bigger, they were taller, and their skin was lighter. As a result of this, Europeans came to believe that Tutsis had caucasian ancestry, and were thus "superior" to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial identification card, which defined one as legally Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status, and exploited their power over the Hutu majority. Current academic thought is that the European emphasis on racial division led to many of the difficulties between Hutu and Tutsi in the latter part of the 20th century.
However, there came a major change in the 1950s, when the Belgians grew uncomfortable observing the sad plight of the Hutus, and began to suppress and then eventually came to outlaw the Ubuhake and to redistribute cattle. Even though the majority of pasture lands remained under the control of the Tutsi, a situation arose where the Hutus began to feel yet a deeper sense of liberation from Tutsi rule; the Tutsis no longer seemed to be in control of cattle, the long-standing measure of a person's wealth and social position.
In addition, the Hutus began to develop a group consciousness as the Belgians instituted ethnic identity cards. Yet a further step was Belgium's system of electoral representation for Rwandans. At first, the Tutsis retained total control, and then Belgium decided to make the electoral process function by means of secret ballots. Therefore, Hutus made enormous gains within the country. The Catholic Church, too, began to make a change. Suddenly they too were opposed to Tutsi mistreatment of Hutus, and began promoting Hutu equality. Tutsis were about to be removed from their traditional role as masters in Rwanda.
During the 1995 revolt and its aftermath, more than 160,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries. These Hutus knew that because of the small numbers of the Tutsi opposition, they had the advantage: both in terms of how the state would function if it adopted a purely democratic system, and in terms of the probable outcome of any violent conflict between the two unequally sized groups. This revolution of 1959 marked a major change in political life in Rwanda. Some 150,000 Tutsis were exiled to neighboring countries. What's more, those Tutsis that remained in Rwanda were excluded from having any political power in a state becoming more and more centralized under Hutu power.
Under President Kayibanda, a system of quotas was also established. Henceforth, the Tutsis would be allowed only ten percent of school and university seats. The quotas also extended to the civil service. In these posts too, the Tutsis would only be allotted a 10% take.
At the time, employment was bad, and competition for the available seats only exacerbated ethnic tensions. The Kayibanda government also continued the government policy of labeling people with ethnic identity cards, a practice first begun by the Belgian colonial government, and using this practice to attack mixed marriages.
Another bout of violence followed in 1964, and for years a system of inequality was instituted. In fact, a Hutu could freely murder a Tutsi and would never be prosecuted. The other political parties UNAR and RADER were banned and their Tutsi members executed. Tutsi were described as cockroaches. Hundreds of thousands fled as refugees into neighboring countries.
Although no one really knew the exact moment when the conspirators first conceived the genocide, it was noted that the Hutu power regime used every accounting trick in the book to get enough money to pay for weapons. In fact, an experts who studied the paper trail conclude that to arm and equip the people of Rwanda cost $112 million dollars.
On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying President Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the President of Burundi was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Both presidents were killed when the plane crashed. As though the shooting down was a signal, military and militia groups began rounding up and killing all Tutsis they could capture as well as political moderates irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds. Large numbers of opposition politicians were also murdered. Many nations evacuated all their nationals from Kigali and closed their embassies as violence escalated.
The prime minister and her ten Belgian bodyguards were among the first victims. The killing swiftly spread from Kigali to all corners of the country; between April 6 and the beginning of July, a genocide of unprecedented swiftness officially left 937,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead at the hands of organized bands of militia- Interahamwe. Even ordinary citizens were called on by local officials and government sponsored radio to kill their neighbors. This event accounted for the most horrible genocide ever recorded in the history of Africa.
Author's Contact: http://kukisart.com
History 1382
Professor Sundberg
02-15-06
The Rwandan genocide
History has confirmed that the original inhabitant of the Rwanda lived in harmony amongst themselves before the arrival of the Europeans in 1894. According to the account of Linda Melvern - the author of the book “A People Betrayed, The Role of the West in Rwanda’s Genocide”, the kingdom of Rwanda had been entirely shut off from the world, and even the African world, until 4 May 1894 when the first European, a German count, Gustav Adolf von Gotzen, was received at court by a king called Rwabugiri, who claimed that his dynasty stretched back hundreds of years (pg. 7).
Since then the definition of "Hutu" and "Tutsi" has changed over time. Mostly it has rather been a term created to distinguish between those in commanding and subordinate social positions. However, the Belgian government continued to rely on the Tutsi power structure for administering the country and also consistently favored the Tutsis where education was concerned, leading to a situation where many Tutsis were literate, while the majority of Hutus were not. Belgians educated the Tutsis mainly in Catholic schools, which widened the ethnic rift between Hutu and Tutsi.
Some scholars argue that the Belgians did much to create the enmity between Hutu and Tutsi through their policies of indirect rule. As mentioned above, Hutus and Tutsis lived together as neighbors before the colonial period. However, Belgian rule solidified the racial divide. The Belgians then gave political power to the Tutsis. Due to the eugenics movement in Europe and the United States, the colonial government became concerned with the differences between Hutu and Tutsi. Scientists arrived to measure skull and thus, they believed, brain size. Tutsi's skulls were bigger, they were taller, and their skin was lighter. As a result of this, Europeans came to believe that Tutsis had caucasian ancestry, and were thus "superior" to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial identification card, which defined one as legally Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status, and exploited their power over the Hutu majority. Current academic thought is that the European emphasis on racial division led to many of the difficulties between Hutu and Tutsi in the latter part of the 20th century.
However, there came a major change in the 1950s, when the Belgians grew uncomfortable observing the sad plight of the Hutus, and began to suppress and then eventually came to outlaw the Ubuhake and to redistribute cattle. Even though the majority of pasture lands remained under the control of the Tutsi, a situation arose where the Hutus began to feel yet a deeper sense of liberation from Tutsi rule; the Tutsis no longer seemed to be in control of cattle, the long-standing measure of a person's wealth and social position.
In addition, the Hutus began to develop a group consciousness as the Belgians instituted ethnic identity cards. Yet a further step was Belgium's system of electoral representation for Rwandans. At first, the Tutsis retained total control, and then Belgium decided to make the electoral process function by means of secret ballots. Therefore, Hutus made enormous gains within the country. The Catholic Church, too, began to make a change. Suddenly they too were opposed to Tutsi mistreatment of Hutus, and began promoting Hutu equality. Tutsis were about to be removed from their traditional role as masters in Rwanda.
During the 1995 revolt and its aftermath, more than 160,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries. These Hutus knew that because of the small numbers of the Tutsi opposition, they had the advantage: both in terms of how the state would function if it adopted a purely democratic system, and in terms of the probable outcome of any violent conflict between the two unequally sized groups. This revolution of 1959 marked a major change in political life in Rwanda. Some 150,000 Tutsis were exiled to neighboring countries. What's more, those Tutsis that remained in Rwanda were excluded from having any political power in a state becoming more and more centralized under Hutu power.
Under President Kayibanda, a system of quotas was also established. Henceforth, the Tutsis would be allowed only ten percent of school and university seats. The quotas also extended to the civil service. In these posts too, the Tutsis would only be allotted a 10% take.
At the time, employment was bad, and competition for the available seats only exacerbated ethnic tensions. The Kayibanda government also continued the government policy of labeling people with ethnic identity cards, a practice first begun by the Belgian colonial government, and using this practice to attack mixed marriages.
Another bout of violence followed in 1964, and for years a system of inequality was instituted. In fact, a Hutu could freely murder a Tutsi and would never be prosecuted. The other political parties UNAR and RADER were banned and their Tutsi members executed. Tutsi were described as cockroaches. Hundreds of thousands fled as refugees into neighboring countries.
Although no one really knew the exact moment when the conspirators first conceived the genocide, it was noted that the Hutu power regime used every accounting trick in the book to get enough money to pay for weapons. In fact, an experts who studied the paper trail conclude that to arm and equip the people of Rwanda cost $112 million dollars.
On April 6, 1994, the airplane carrying President Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira, the President of Burundi was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Both presidents were killed when the plane crashed. As though the shooting down was a signal, military and militia groups began rounding up and killing all Tutsis they could capture as well as political moderates irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds. Large numbers of opposition politicians were also murdered. Many nations evacuated all their nationals from Kigali and closed their embassies as violence escalated.
The prime minister and her ten Belgian bodyguards were among the first victims. The killing swiftly spread from Kigali to all corners of the country; between April 6 and the beginning of July, a genocide of unprecedented swiftness officially left 937,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead at the hands of organized bands of militia- Interahamwe. Even ordinary citizens were called on by local officials and government sponsored radio to kill their neighbors. This event accounted for the most horrible genocide ever recorded in the history of Africa.
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