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Black Lives Matter Movement

Black Lives Matter Movement

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Institutional Affiliation

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Black Lives Matter Movement

Introduction

African Americans have suffered racial discrimination and brutality for centuries due to white supremacy. Systemic racism has persisted despite the activists’ efforts to overcome the problem in the USA. The U.S. police officers arrest and show brutality against African Americans more than people from other races because society has stereotyped black people as criminals. Recently, the USA police officers have been involved in the brutal killing of African Americans despite them being unarmed. The persistent African Americans’ brutal killings sparked activists to form Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to fight for the rights of the black people.

After decades of fighting discrimination against black people through policies, laws, and the civil rights movements, black lives still don’t matter. White supremacists continue to dominate the United States, denying equal rights and representation of blacks despite their massive achievement and respectability in various fields including dressing, acting, and even serving in the military (Francis, 2019). Since black people were taken to America as slaves, they have always been considered as inferior people, whose religion, culture, opinions do not matter. As a result, black people have continued to be treated as second-class citizens, and are not accorded similar rights and privileges as whites despite being Americans by birth, and contributing to great lengths to the economy of the country. The United States is a country that stands for equality for all and this is rooted both in the Constitution and the American Dream which is a set of ideals that guarantees anyone, regardless of where they were born or class they were born into, can achieve their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible through hard work (Griffen, 2019). However, the achievement of the American Dream has been difficult to achieve, especially in minority races in America, as they are not accorded the same opportunity as Whites to attain success. There are many barriers that have continued to hinder blacks to achieve success, but all these are rooted in racism and white privilege.

One of the barriers to blacks’ success is that black lives are physically in danger, and this has been a trend since the founding of the United States (Crusto, 2020). Africans were sourced from Africa to serve as slaves. During then, slave masters were accorded the right of ownership to slaves and could do with their slaves whatever they wished including rape and murder without consequences. Currently, black people have not found a safe haven as they continue to be threatened by the police brutality that has left thousands of black people dead. Based on this, blacks are treated as second-class citizens as their citizenship has been regularly questioned and belittled. There have been several instances where top politicians have been reported to talk about the deportation of Blacks to Africa, an indication of how black people are perceived in the United States. President Donald Trump has not only mentioned about deportation but also commented on how black people have destroyed the country as they are lazy and constantly rely on the government for help (Bobo, 2017). As a result of this belittling, Black people are not accorded equal protection under the law, which has led to mistreatments, mass incarceration, high numbers of death punishment, discriminatory housing policies, and few job opportunities compared to whites. Achieving justice as a black person is rare in the United States, and this explains why there has never been justice for Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls despite being renowned hip-hop artists and public figures in the United States.

Black people have been subjected to epistemic violence, in which Whites were involved in the purposeful destruction of African history (Larson-Schulze, 2019). Based on this, there is less about Black history in the United States, and it is thought as if Blacks made little or no contributions to the United States and/or world history. Due to racism and the state of Blacks as slaves, whites have been accredited with most of the success that Black people worked hard to attain. For example, Blacks made various great innovations but were denied rights to a patent. For example, Ned, a Black innovator invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. Since he was a slave, he had no right to apply for a patent. His master, Oscar Stewart tried to apply for a patent but was rejected as he was not the actual inventor (Wills, 2019). Despite the rejection, Stewart sold the cotton scrappers, gaining financial benefit while Ned gained nothing. Also, Henry Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard, and since he could not apply for a patent, he partnered with a white craftsman and had him apply for a patent. Also, Katherine Goble Johnson, a great black mathematician who worked in NASA had her great mathematical inventions being credited to his boss Paul Stafford, just because she was a black woman (Hanson, 2020).

Black Lives Matter

Establishment and Mission

Black Lives Matter protests against black people’s racial discrimination and violence. BLM is a decentralized social and political movement that condemns racially propagated violence and police brutality incidents against black people (Tikkanen, 2021). The movement started in 2013 and has grown to fight for black people’s rights internationally, but it mainly operates from the USA (Tikkanen, 2021). The BLM movement raises concerns about various ways that society treats black people unfairly. The movement adds that policies, laws, and institutions have helped to perpetuate injustices against black people (Tikkanen, 2021). Moreover, the movement has fought racism against black people through non-violent protests, political actions, and letter-writing campaigns. Similarly, BLM has tried to stop violence against Africa Americans by advocating for better police training and greater responsibility for the police officers’ misconduct. BLM supporters have proposed to the federal government to reduce the police funding and redirect such funds to community social services’ development (Tikkanen, 2021). Therefore, the BLM movement focuses on reducing discrimination against black people by condemning police brutality and racism.

Support

The BLM’s support is along ethnic or racial lines and political affiliation. For instance, the African Americans and other minority ethnic groups in the USA had great support for the movement while the white race demonstrated the least support. However, most Democrats supported BLM while the Republicans showed low support for the movement. Further, BLM critics argued that BLM promoted violence against police and supported law enforcement against crime suspects. The movement’s critics do not believe in systemic racism’s existence and argue that all people have equal opportunities in the USA (Campbell, 2021). Therefore, black people and the Democrats support BLM while the Republicans and white people in the USA mostly oppose it.

Achievements

BLM has achieved in mobilizing society about the injustices against the black people. For instance, cities across the USA are reducing funds that they provide to police departments and reallocate them to other areas. The Los Angeles budget committees reduced its police department budget by US$ 133 million and reallocated the funds to municipal jobs to overcome COVID-19 related furloughs (Menjivar, 2020). Additionally, police departments in cities like Charlotte, Dallas, Buffalo, and Detroit have enacted and strengthened ‘duty-to-intervene’ policies that allow police officers to prevent their colleagues from using excessive power (Menjivar, 2020). Moreover, states like Virginia and Kentucky have removed several monuments that commemorate colonizers, enslavers, and confederate leaders since the BLM protests started (Clingham-David, 2020). To this end, BLM has made states remove monuments that reminded people about past African Americans’ discriminations and fund reduction in some police departments.

Past Impact and Relevance of Black Lives Matter

BLM started to fight for the African Americans’ rights that American society had overlooked. The movement was vital in addressing the past police brutalities that occurred in the USA. Before the movement started, the police force exercised excessive brutality against African Americans. The incidents were lower among other races depicting discrimination against the black people. The movement formed in 2013 after a United States court acquitted George Zimmerman, a White person from charges after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager in 2012 (Clingham-David, 2020). BLM claimed that the US justice system overlooked African Americans and criminalized race. Moreover, BLM voiced its concerns in 2014 after police officers killed two unarmed African Americans, Michael Brown and Eric Garner (Clingham-David, 2020). BLM led protests against the killings that brought attention to the national and international scenes. Indeed, BLM became relevant following the police brutality against unarmed black Americans.

BLM was important in changing the societal view of African Americans as criminals. The movement demonstrated how the U.S. policies, laws, and institutions violated black people’s rights. Moreover, BLM has grown internationally to reduce the white supremacy that undermined other races, particularly the African people (Clingham-David, 2020). The movement is a continuation of the 1960s civil rights movements that fought for the rights of African Americans (Clingham-David, 2020). Additionally, BLM helped people to change their perception of black people and embrace them. Similarly, the movement helped the U.S. authorities to be more vigilant on the police brutality and held accountable officers involved in excessive brutality against African Americans. For example, the U.S. authorities arrested and charged officials involved in George Floyd’s killing in 2020 following mass protests that the BLM movement organized (Menjivar, 2020). Therefore, BLM has fought for African American rights and has promoted awareness of the police brutality against black people.

Modern-day Implications of Black Lives Matter

The Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement supports BLM for its mission to fight for the rights of African Americans. The institute laments the lives of the black people that the police brutally killed. The Diopian institute believes that terrorizing and killing unarmed African Americans demonstrates white supremacy in America over the centuries. The institution strongly supports BLM in its mission to fight systemic racism that undermines black people’s rights. The learning institution supports BLM to stay determined to over cultural aggression by showing the truth that can promote social progress in the USA (DISA, 2021). To this end, the Diopian Institute supports BLM’s actions to fight for the rights of the African Americans who have unjustly suffered due to racial discrimination.

Mitt Romney, Utah’s Senator demonstrated his support for BLM to end racism in the United States. Romney tweeted that Americans should end racism by stopping brutal killings. The Senator joined BLM protests to the Whitehouse after police officers brutally killed George Floyd by choking him in 2020 (Smith et al., 2020). Romney stated that Americans should support the BLM’s mission to fight racism in the USA. The senator argued that black people were equally important as Americans from other races. Romney urged the U.S. government to look at the root of the problems that contributed to the African Americans’ discrimination to completely overcome the problem (Smith et al., 2020). To this end, Mitt Romney supported BLM’s fight against systemic racism and violence against African Americans.

However, former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized BLM because he believed that it supported violence. Trump ordered local officials in different states to crack down on BLM protestors. The former president called BLM protestors terrorists and thugs despite knowing their true intentions to stop racism in the USA (Beer, 2021). Besides, Trump argued that BLM promoted toxic political propaganda to destroy the United States’ sense of self. The former president defended his position to protect the country’s immortal principles against activists (Niedzwiadek, 2020). Indeed, Trump opposed BLM and argued that it spread toxic propaganda to the Americans.

Personal Experiences with BLM

I support BLM’s actions to overcome systemic racism and police brutality against black people. I felt that police officers were targeting African Americans and criminalizing them after George Floyd’s unjust killing. After seeing how police officers brutally killed Floyd, I felt that the administration was promoting white supremacy. I decided to join BLM protests in my hometown to support the fight against African American rights. I wore red and black to show my solidarity with black people struggling to fight against police brutality. I shared my protest experience with my family and friends to encourage them to support the BLM’s mission. I believed that mass protests promoted awareness about the African Americans’ plight to fight for their rights. BLM activists who led mass protests encouraged us to take a knee to show our opposition to police brutality in the United States. Indeed, I showed my support for BLM by joining the movement’s organized protests against police brutality towards black people.

Conclusion

There is little known about Black history, and this has been greatly due to racism. Whites have tried to discredit Black innovations by taking credit or using them for monetary gains in cases that patents have been denied. As a Mexican, I have learned little about Blacks’ contributions in the United States, with the available information depicting Blacks as intellectual dwarfs, who needed to be colonized to civilize their culture and believes. Also, Blacks are perceived to be criminals and that is why they are subjected to mass incarcerations. It is because of this that Blacks have continued to be treated as second-class citizens, with no significant contribution to the country despite having lots of massive innovations and contributions. BLM has been fighting for the rights of African Americans since it started. Since 2013, the movement has raised awareness of police brutality towards black people in the USA. African Americans, Democrats, and other minority groups in the USA supported BLM while most white people and Republicans opposed it. BLM exposed brutal African American killings, but the U.S. administration overlooked the issue. Moreover, the movement triggered actions to end police brutality and discrimination against African Americans. The Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement and Mitt Romney showed their BLM support while Donald Trump criticized the movement. I participated in protests following Floyd’s killing to show solidarity to BLM. Indeed, BLM has played a crucial role in fighting against police brutality and systemic racism against African Americans.

References

Beer, T. (2020). Trump called BLM Protesters ‘thugs’ but Capitol-storming supporters ‘very special’. Forbes. HYPERLINK “https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/01/06/trump-called-blm-protesters-thugs-but-capitol-storming-supporters-very-special/?sh=3029c08a3465” https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2021/01/06/trump-called-blm-protesters-thugs-but-capitol-storming-supporters-very-special/?sh=3029c08a3465

Bobo, L. D. (2017). Racism in Trump’s America: reflections on culture, sociology, and the 2016 US presidential election. The British journal of sociology, 68, S85-S104.

Campbell, A. (2021). What is Black Lives Matter and what are the aims? BBC. HYPERLINK “https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-53337780” https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-53337780

Clingham-David, J. (2020). 5 Key Achievements of Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020, So Far. One Green Planet. HYPERLINK “https://www.onegreenplanet.org/human-interest/5-key-achievements-of-black-lives-matter-movement-in-2020-so-far/” https://www.onegreenplanet.org/human-interest/5-key-achievements-of-black-lives-matter-movement-in-2020-so-far/

Crusto, M. F. (2020). Black Lives Matter: Banning Police Lynchings. Hastings Const. LQ, 48, 3.

Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement. (2021). DISA’s commitment to African people globally. DISA. HYPERLINK “https://diopianinstitute.org/index.php/component/acymailing/listid-3/mailid-95-disa-commitment-to-africans” https://diopianinstitute.org/index.php/component/acymailing/listid-3/mailid-95-disa-commitment-to-africans

Francis, M. M. (2019). The price of civil rights: Black lives, white funding, and movement capture. Law & Society Review, 53(1), 275-309.

Griffen, A. J. (2019). When Black Rights Do Not Matter: A Historical Analysis of Civil Litigation and’Equal Protections Under Law’. Journal of Pan African Studies, 12(9).

Hanson, J. (2020). The power of artistic activism. Pepperdine University.

Larson-Schulze, E. (2019). Hate Speech and Epistemic Violence: A Prioritization Problem for the Atrocity Paradigm (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas at San Antonio).

Menjivar, J. (2020). Black Lives Matter protests: what’s been achieved so far. Dosomething. HYPERLINK “https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/black-lives-matter-protests-whats-been-achieved-so-far” https://www.dosomething.org/us/articles/black-lives-matter-protests-whats-been-achieved-so-far

Niedzwiadek, N. (2020). Trump goes after Black Lives Matter, ‘toxic propaganda’ in schools. Politico. HYPERLINK “https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/17/trump-black-lives-matter-1619-project-417162” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/17/trump-black-lives-matter-1619-project-417162

Smith, A., Talbot, H., & Vitali, A. (2020). Mitt Romney takes part in protest supporting Black Lives Matter near White House. NBC. HYPERLINK “https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitt-romney-takes-part-protest-supporting-black-lives-matter-near-n1227086” https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mitt-romney-takes-part-protest-supporting-black-lives-matter-near-n1227086

Tikkanen, A. (2021). Black Lives Matter. Britannica. HYPERLINK “https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-Lives-Matter” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Black-Lives-Matter

Wills, K. (2019). Patenting an Invention as a Free Black Man in the Nineteenth Century. JPTOS, Patenting in the 19th Century, 101(2).

Big Jim’s Campaign

Big Jim’s Campaign

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Big Jim’s Campaign

Introduction

Politics in Texas is one area that many people take seriously, and the contenders for the political seats in that area are chosen based on political ideologies, economic ideas as well as Midas touch or affinity with the electorates.

“Texas is just a logical place to live. A logical place takes sensible approaches to issues like gun rights. We treat our citizens like adults in this state. Too knackered Washington does not take that approach.”(www.time.com)

The candidate

Ben is a highly educated man ailing from Austin, a former Texas Ranger he has contributed in terms of resources and efforts to the general wellbeing of the people in Texas. Jim knows about the problems facing people in Texas. He knows about Federal Health Care Reform pitfalls, transportation, budget shortfall and other minority problems. Jim identifies with the people of Texas more than he identifies with any other contenders for the hot seat. However, the main advantage that Jim has in the Texas region is his ability to integrate with the people and help them determine the problems based on his Midas touch and connection with the grassroots people. John has an elaborate political background after having led a number of special interest groups in the areas. He helped push for the legislation of the reforms geared at helping the people from Texas. Jim is a strong supporter of democracy

Cultural and regional support

Currently Big Jim has an exceptionally high support from, from a recent survey, 85% of the respondents indicated that they will support Jim. Jim also has a high support from the youth. His upbringing g in Texas puts him in an advantageous position because he can identify with all the ethnic groups. He Hispanic background will make him the most likely candidate to win the election because most of the electorates living in Texas are Hispanics or Latinos. However, the other minority groups are much dependent on the whites. The deciding vote is the whites. Jim can use the opportunity to defeat his competitors .

RACE    

Total population 25,145,561 100.0

One Race 24,466,560 97.3

White 17,701,552 70.4

Black or African American 2,979,598 11.8

American Indian and Alaska Native 170,972 0.7

Asian 964,596 3.8

Asian Indian 245,981 1.0

Chinese 156,820 0.6

Filipino 103,074 0.4

Japanese 18,360 0.1

Korean 67,750 0.3

Vietnamese 210,913 0.8

Other Asian [1] 161,698 0.6

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 21,656 0.1

Native Hawaiian 4,794 0.0

Guamanian or Chamorro 6,591 0.0

Samoan 2,918 0.0

Other Pacific Islander [2] 7,353 0.0

Some Other Race 2,628,186 10.5

Two or More Races 679,001 2.7

White; American Indian and Alaska Native [3] 92,305 0.4

White; Asian [3] 91,963 0.4

White; Black or African American [3] 109,713 0.4

White; Some Other Race [3] 240,679 1.0

Most of the regions in Texas are multiracial, in the western part of Texas, he has the full support, him native home ground, in the eastern part, there are not hopes, as they are the strong holds of his main opponent. However, in the northern part as well as the southern part of Texas, he can split the votes in varying proportions, but the pointers are extremely positive.

Jim will garner the support of the business community because of his background as a business man and economic background. Jim has singularly promising economic policies and strategies that can help the business community in Texas prosper. This is the main premise he has for the community. Additionally, Jim is non partisan in the regional, cultural and religious wars making him acceptable to everyone irrespective of their religion. Both the dominant Christian community and the Muslim support him.

    People Quick Facts Texas USA

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_PST045211.htm” Population, 2011 estimate 25,674,681 311,591,917

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_POP010210.htm” Population, 2010 25,145,561 308,745,538

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_POP050210.htm” Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010 20.6 (%) 9.7 (%)

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_POP010200.htm” Population, 2000 20,851,820 281,421,906

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_AGE115210.htm” Persons under 5 years, percent, 2010 7.7 (%) 6.5 (%)

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_AGE275210.htm” Persons under 18 years, percent, 2010 27.3 (%) 24.0 (%)

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_AGE765210.htm” Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2010 10.3 (%) 13.0 (%)

HYPERLINK “http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_SEX205210.htm” Female persons, percent, 2010 50.4 (%) 50.8 (%)

Demographic Support

Texas is a cosmopolitan county in which there are various people of ethnic background. Big Jim can use the population characteristics of the people in Texas to leverage his campaign strategy, for example, the number of people living in Texas is 25,674,681 (2011estimate). Out of this group, 50% of them are eligible women voters; the populations have increased by 20% since 2000; this means that the number of voters in that country in the next two years will be 24, 000, give or take. Only 7.7% of the population is below 5 years, and the percentage of male voters in the country is only 20%. This means that there are a lot of potential in the women voters. If big Jim can appeal to women by offering gender specific promises, and establishing projects that appeal to women. He can also empower women a head of the coming elections. On the other hand, the main economic activity in the area in business, big Jim can easily exploit then business potential of Texas, organize trade fairs and establish contacts for the Texas people with potential customers and markets.

Win or Lose?

If Texas people want a champion for values, a fighter for the right of women, an economic supporter and a father to all children, then they want Jim. Jim is a father, a real son of Texas and the only contender with the values Texans need. Texas is the richest state and a real small state, but the endowments of the state do not help the residents because of the poor ideologies of the former governors. Most Texans are anti Washington and Jim is the only person who can sound the clarion call for the anti Washington campaign. Jim, might not be the first person to have casted the race as a negation of Washington, other people who have repudiated Washington and have always succeeded in their campaign. To Jim, this is a pure revivification of the hard right.

There are many Jim supporters in the Texas region than in any other area. Jim can speak Spanish fluently, and this will endear him to the Spanish community as well (bluest part of the state). The Spanish mainly dominate the southern Texas, and they hold Jim dear to them. Though none financially endowed to finance his campaign, he has support from the business society and many people. In Texas, financial goodies do not impress the electorates in that state. The support from the democratic governors association will also come in handy during his campaign trip. While history report that Texas is a red state in the country, it is imperative to note that there is a sudden paradigm shift, any scandal can affect the race and the latest scandal about the opponent contender fighting her spouse are a sign of poor leadership. This sends the Texas women a picture of a man known to condone wife battering.

Conclusion

In the hot race, the only virtues that are bound to help Jim attain the slot are focus and discipline. Jim is also a champion of Texas values. Most of Jims opponents are arrogant are only cronies for a revolving door lobbyists, who might strong-arm his appointees. He can steer the country, as the country is yet to weather a terrifically critical financial storm. Jim has a leadership skill that can easily help him adhere to regimen of big government and low taxes.

References

Hylton, H, (2010). Does a Democrat have a Chance of Becoming Governor of Texas? Austin. Times

HYPERLINK “http://www.time.com/time/letters/email_letter.html” Damina H, (2010). How Rick Perry Turned Around the Battle for Texas. Austin. Times

HYPERLINK “http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2010-general-election/2010-texas-governors-race-maps/” http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2010-general-election/2010-texas-governors-race-maps/

HYPERLINK “http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20100302-Bill-White-Rick-Perry-win-” http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20100302-Bill-White-Rick-Perry-win-5582.ece

Oedipus’ tragic flaw

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Oedipus’ tragic flaw

Oedipus is the story of a tragic hero by the same name who tries to run away from his fate but fails miserably. At birth, a prophecy regarding Oedipus was made, that he would kill his parents. His father was King Laius of Thebes and his mother, Queen Jocasta. Upon hearing the fatal prophecy, his mother abandoned him by the roadside where he was picked by a shepherd who took him to Corinth where he was raised by King Polybus and his wife Queen Merope as their son. Oedipus heard rumors that he was not their true son and consulted the oracle which informed him that he was destined to kill his father and afterward marry his mother. Shocked, Oedipus fled to Thebes where, unbeknownst to him, the prophecy would be fulfilled. Oedipus tried to do the right thing throughout the story, but in the end, he realizes that he cannot run from his fate (Knox). Oedipus’ tragic flaw is his desire to escape from his fate which ultimately led him to his downfall.

Oedipus is the protagonist in “Oedipus Rex.” The audience of the play forms a strong connection to him. He is seen as a wise and virtuous leader who leads his people in the right way. In Corinth, Oedipus was very uncomfortable with the thought that he may not be the real son to King Polybus. To allay his fears, he decided to consult the oracle at Delphi. The oracle did not give him a direct answer on his parentage, but instead gave him the more distressing news that his father would die by his hand and that he would go on to marry his mother ((Feng). Oedipus assumed that Polybus and Merope must be his parents. To avert the tragedy, he ran away from Corinth and made his way to Thebes. While on his way there, he met a band of travelers who tried to run him off the road. He killed them in self-defense except for one.

Thebes was taken hostage by a Sphinx and Oedipus is the only one who could solve her riddle. For freeing the kingdom, he was crowned king after the death of King Laius. A plague struck the country, and he sent Creon to consult the oracle at Delphi. The oracle explained that the death of King Laius caused the epidemic and it would be eliminated by getting justice for the murdered king. Oedipus embarked on this task, asking Prophet Tiresias to identify the murderer. Tiresias says that Oedipus is the killer and that he is both brother and father to his children. Stunned, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of colluding with Creon to dethrone him (Knox).

Jocasta describes the death of Laius to Oedipus, who realizes that the events sound familiar. Jocasta asks Oedipus to stop looking into the matter, but Oedipus would not stop. Soon after this, a messenger arrived from Corinth to inform Oedipus of King Polybus’ death. The messenger was the shepherd who received Oedipus from Laius’ herdsman and took him to Polybus. Oedipus summoned the herdsman who corroborates the messenger’s story and confirms that King Laius was indeed Oedipus’ father.

The prophecy about Oedipus had come true; he is the one that killed his father while trying to escape the prophecy. He had married his mother, Jocasta. Jocasta hanged herself on learning the truth and Oedipus stabbed his eyes with pins from her dress. Oedipus had left Corinth since he wanted to avoid killing his parents whom he thought to be Polybus and Merope. However, his efforts to escape his fate were what led him to fulfill the prophecy in the end.

Works Cited

Knox, Bernard. Oedipus at Thebes: Sophocles’ tragic hero and his time. Yale University Press, 1998.

Feng, Chunfen. “Oedipus–A Victim of Human Free Will.” (2017).

Obama Presidency Policies

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Obama Presidency Policies

President Barack Obama won the 2018 election for many reasons, including failures and issues from the Bush presidency before him. President Bush’s presidency was marked by several occurrences, the most prominent being the war with Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States declared war on these countries in the Middle East in 2001 after the September 11th attacks on the country by terrorists. Retaliation was swift and brutal with the US sending military troops to counter the terror threat masterminds in Iraq and Afghanistan. From the onset, Obama had been against launching a full-on war with the Middle Eastern countries. He declared that the war would be a dumb one and would result in more problems than solutions. As one of his campaign pledges, Obama promised to withdraw American troops from Iraq within six months. In addition to this, he vowed to close down the Guantanamo Bay prison that was used for torture of terror suspects (White). Many Americans believed that the war on Iraq had cost the country a lot in the period leading up to the 2008 election, and Obama appealed to them.

The issue from the Bush presidency that helped Obama win the 2008 presidential election was healthcare. For a long time, the United States had been the only industrialized first world country without comprehensive public health insurance for its citizens. As of 2008, more than 48 million Americans had no health insurance (White), and this was a significant policy area during the presidential campaign. President Obama offered a new healthcare plan famously referred to as Obama care that would ensure that all Americans had access to health insurance. For this reason, President Obama won over many American voters.

Works Cited

White, Deborah. “5 Reasons Why Obama Won the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election.” ThoughtCo. 25 May 2019. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/why-obama-won-2008-3325497

Nursing Care of Pediatric Cranioplasty Patients after Traumatic Brain Injury

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Nursing Care of Pediatric Cranioplasty Patients after Traumatic Brain Injury

Hospitals are associated with pain, illness, and death. Patients, as well as families, go through so much pain both emotionally and physically as they seek treatment for their sickness, some of which are life-altering. Children also suffer through this pain and have to be cared for more closely as they do not understand what is happening to them. Traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the name suggests, involves trauma to the head that causes swelling of the brain. When the brain swells, it is necessary to intervene medically to give the brain more space for it to expand. Rachel McCormick delves into the matter of nursing care of pediatric patients after surgical intervention due to TBI. The article makes for an informative and insightful read, both for medical practitioners as well as lay people.

The author begins with an explaining the meanings of the terms what cranioplasty and craniectomy. This is an important starting point as many people do not understand what this means. The background section gives the statistics of pediatric patients that suffered from traumatic brain injury. The accompanying table enables the reader to see the causes of TBI by percentages (McCormick 216). The analysis by table allows the reader to understand the gravity of the matter and understand that the author’s opinion is backed by facts. Logos has been employed in this section by citing facts and figures.

When discussing the importance of craniectomy and cranioplasty, the author’s tone is direct and succinct. She gives details on the measures that are taken to minimize secondary brain injury including “elevating the head of the bed to promote drainage of cerebral spinal fluid, intravenous hypertonic saline or manitol to shift fluid from the intracranial space into the intravascular space, sedation to decrease the oxygen demands of the brain…” (McCormick 215)The author is unbiased and also goes ahead to outline the risks associated with cranioplasties, including that children had a higher success rate as compared to adults. All through the article, the author backs up the information with research that has been carried out previously by other researchers. Such fact-checking ensures that the reader gets an unprejudiced view of the facts relating to pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury. This is an application of ethos where the author convinces the author of her credibility. She goes out of her way to ensure that her information is factual.

The grouping of the paper into sections helps the reader to understand the subject matter without getting mixed up. The author of the article is quite elaborative and gives explanations for each section clearly and directly. While most of the terms used are medical, a layperson reading the report will have an interest in learning the new terminologies and also be curious to learn more about the subject matter. The use of tables and figures breaks the monotony of reading and enables the reader to quickly skim through the statistics and get a sense of the statistics before they finish reading the article. Visual representation piques the reader’s interest even more, and the delivery of the desired information is more straightforward.

The author discusses the care that pediatric patients have to receive in detail and employs pathos to present a more accurate picture. It is evident that traumatic brain injury is a painful and dangerous occurrence that must be dealt with quickly. The surgical interventions are already quite delicate and operating on children makes it even more so. The author gives an example of a 28-year-old patient who had undergone cranioplasty and the significant improvements to her health throughout months (219). This is under the monitoring of benefits in which nurses are tasked with closely monitoring and examining the patients to observe their improvements after a cranioplasty.

On the side of the complications, the author retains her neutral tone. She gives some of the symptoms that are a sign of complications following surgery (McCormick 219). Precautions towards avoiding some of the complications such as hematoma and hydrocephalus. To conclude her article, the author emphasizes the `critical role that nurses have to play in the pediatric care of patients who have undergone cranioplasty. She author says that “Nurses are highly skilled in monitoring benefits and complications in children recovering from cranioplasty in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation settings, and outpatient clinics, and are essential members of the interdisciplinary team.” (McCormick 220)

The article is generally very informative, and the reader is left with far more knowledge of cranioplasties and craniectomies than they had before reading it. The information given about the causes of traumatic brain injury can help those caring for children avoid such occurrences that are preventable. The conclusion of the article is a fitting end to a well-written piece with the author asserting that there still needs to be more research into the subject of both the benefits and complications of a cranioplasty. Research also needs to be done in the area of nursing care. “Comprehensive data on cranioplasty procedures and outcomes can help guide future research.” Even with this conclusion, the publishing of this article is a step in the right direction for the future of research in cranioplasties as well as craniectomies.

Work Cited

McCormick, Rachel. “Nursing Care of Pediatric Cranioplasty Patients after Traumatic Brain Injury: Monitoring Benefits and Complications.” Pediatric Nursing 44.5 (2018): 215-221.

Negative Impact of Technology on American Society

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Negative Impact of Technology on American Society

There is no doubt that technology has completely taken over our lives. At home, we have Alexa, Google Home, and other devices whom we can ask any question that pops into our minds. We have our phones and computers that we stare at almost permanently, and we have cars that can drive themselves on autopilot. We can shop online and order food without leaving the comfort of our homes. All these forms of technology have made our lives easier and more efficient, and we use minimal effort for any activity. Communication is almost effortless as we can send texts, make phone calls and video calls in real-time. Many of us would not know what to do without our gadgets and other forms of technology. Technology has brought many positive changes to our lives, but there are also a lot of negative effects. Comparing the benefits and advantages leads to the conclusion that technology has an overall negative effect on American society.

One significant negative effect of technology is its impact on physical health. People spend hours on their tablets, computers, and phones, which affects their bodies in several ways. The American Optometric Association reports that long hours spent on tech devices lead to eyestrain. Some of the symptoms of eyestrain include headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck pain. Bad lighting, screen glare, and improper viewing distance are some of the factors that lead to eyestrain. Using smartphones and other gadgets also affects posture and could lead to pain in the fingers, wrists, neck, shoulders, and back. This is due to the bad positions people use when using their gadgets. For children, technology gadgets present additional risks to their physical wellbeing. If left unsupervised, children can spend hours watching videos, playing video games, and browsing through social media. Children need physical activity for proper growth and development. Technology reduces the time they spend on physical activity such as running and playing, leading to problems such as obesity. Obesity creates the risk for other physical illnesses such as diabetes, which are avoidable.

Technology has also changed the way human beings interact. Dr. Azadeh Aalai, an assistant professor at Queensborough Community College in New York, details the negative effect that technology has had on her students. While she was walking to her office, she noticed her students seated on a bench on campus. All of the students were engrossed in their smartphones; none of them raised their heads to talk to one another. Dr. Azadeh explains that she missed the days before smartphones took over the world when her students would have been busy chatting with each other instead of their phones (Aalai 1). This situation is not unique to the college; it happens everywhere. In homes, schools, and public spaces. It seems that people have forgotten how to talk to each other. At times, a person feels like striking up a conversation with a stranger or even a family member at home. Sadly, the person they want to talk to is most likely too busy with their phones. Technology has robbed our society of social skills and interaction.

Another adverse effect of technology is the spread of misinformation. Although this is a problem in many countries, the United States has a particular problem with misinformation campaigns. Technology allows people to interact with thousands of others, and some people use this opportunity to spread misinformation (Akram & Kumar 351). People tend to believe things that they see on the internet without proof. A perfect example of this is conspiracy theories about QAnon. Although people dismissed this conspiracy as mere idle talk at first, the group has grown to influence thousands of Americans who now believe in all manner of false information regarding the inner workings of the government. Another misinformation problem is the anti-vaccination movement. There is a lot of false information on the internet about vaccines causing serious problems in children such as autism, myths that have been debunked by professional organizations such as the CDC. Unfortunately, these misinformation campaigns cause a lot of harm, especially among gullible individuals.

Technology has also affected the mental wellbeing of so many people, leading to mental health challenges. Social media has become a big part of how people connect today. Social media allows individuals to share their thoughts, what they are doing, and keep up with their families and friends. Although all these seem positive, it becomes a problem when people concentrate on social media and create a false narrative about their lives. Social media has created the need for constant attention from others and decreased empathy among people. Vaguebooking is a term described by Berryman and colleagues who conducted a study into social media effects on the mental health of young adults. The study involved 467 young adults who were interviewed about the importance of social media in their lives and its effects on their mental wellbeing. Vaguebooking involves posting vague but alarming information in an attempt to get attention from other people (Berryman et al. 309). When people feel that they do not get approval from social media, they feel lonely, inferior and may even develop depression.

Cyberbullying is another serious issue exacerbated by technology. Many people use false information to create social media accounts so that they can bully others anonymously. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to cyberbullying as they may not be mature enough to ignore false, hurtful narratives spread about them on social media. The Pew Research Center reports that 59% of American teens have experienced bullying on social media. Examples of cyberbullying include name-calling, spreading false rumors, physical threats, and receiving unwanted explicit images and information (Anderson 2). Some teens have even committed suicide due to cyberbullying, meaning that it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Most of the teens involved in the research project revealed that they feel their schools, social media companies, and the legislature have failed to address the problem.

Technology has also affected the attention span of people, mainly at school or at work. Because people spend a lot of time on social media and other forms of technology, they find it hard to concentrate on other tasks at work or school. They feel the constant need to check on their accounts and keep up with new happenings on social media platforms. Short attention spans affect the person’s output and efficiency. A task that might have taken two hours two complete could take six as the person cannot concentrate long enough to complete it. Students may put off completing their schoolwork as they are too engrossed in social media, and they perform lower than they should.

In summary, technology has had an overall negative effect on American society. Although our lives have become much more manageable, the negatives of technology are more subtle, yet they affect our lives significantly. Over time, individuals will see a deterioration in their physical and mental health, interaction with others, and productivity. People have to be more careful with how they use technology to minimize the negative effects and maximize the positives. Society must not allow technology to completely take away our humanity but use it to promote positive interaction between people and improve lives.

Works Cited

Aalai, Azadeh. “Time to Rethink Our Relationship to Technology.” Psychology Today. 5 February 2018. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-first-impression/201802/time-rethink-our-relationship-technologyAkram, Waseem, and Rekesh Kumar. “A study on positive and negative effects of social media on society.” International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering 5.10 (2017): 347-354.

Anderson, Monica. “A Majority of Teens Have Experienced Some Form of Cyberbullying.” Pew Research Center. 10 April 2018. www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/09/27/a-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying/Berryman, Chloe, Christopher J. Ferguson, and Charles Negy. “Social media use and mental health among young adults.” Psychiatric quarterly 89.2 (2018): 307-314.

Narrative Essay

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Narrative Essay

The Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite movies of all time. I also enjoy watching a variety of other films of all genres, but this particular one stands out for me. I first watched it as a part of a class assignment, but it struck a chord within me. It taught me many valuable life lessons that have been vital in my life.

The film is set in a prison, and the main characters are Andy Dufresne and Red. Andy was in jail for the murder of his wife and her lover. When I first watched the film, Andy’s trial fascinated me. He maintained his innocence despite the prosecutor’s compelling evidence against him. He was however found guilty and sent to Shawshank where he met Red, an inmate at the prison. The movie opens with Red up for a probation hearing which he fails as prisoners always do.

Andy had a hard time adjusting to prison life and remained quiet, but after a while, he opened up to Red. He asked Red to get him a small hammer. Red wonders what Andy could do with a small hammer, a question which I also asked myself. What I like d about Andy in the film was his sense of purpose. When he set his mind on a particular task, he would stop at nothing to achieve it. One such mission was when he dug a tunnel through which he escaped using the tiny hammer Red had gotten him. Andy also expanded the library in prison by writing numerous letters to the state board for donations. It took years, but it finally paid off. I learnt from Andy the meaning of resilience and keeping at a task even when it seems insurmountable.

I have always been curious about prisons, what inmates do. Do they just sit in their cells all day and meditate upon their crimes? Watching the film helped me to understand how prisons work. I felt sad at the treatment that they had to endure in there, but it helped to remember that they had committed crimes that warranted their imprisonment. One of the most challenging parts of the movie for me was watching the warden engage in corrupt activities such as s money laundering. Andy who had been a banker helped the warden keep his tracks clean. Andy seemingly has no choice but to go along with the warden’s activities. At the end of the movie, however, I was quite shocked when Andy escaped and took all the money he had hidden for the warden in various banks. This showed that Andy was a brilliant man who was quite cunning, all along I had believed him to be a helpless prisoner but he trained out to be a sly and shrewd schemer.

Red is one of my favourite people in the film. He is the one on whom all inmates can count to get them anything they wished for a price. He could smuggle all forms of contraband into the prison. I wonder how he did it, considering the prison was quite isolated and guarded. He also gives many of the inmates good advice. The Shawshank Redemption is an excellent film with credible characters and events, and I was left quite affected at the end of it. I have watched it severally just to see how Andy endured the harsh prison conditions for years with a goal of escaping to a far off island in mind. He eventually succeeded in his plan, and I was happy that he did, he had spent so much on preparing for the escape.

Legislators play the critical role of representing their constituents’ opinions in the state senate.

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Millie Gonzalez

Legislators play the critical role of representing their constituents’ opinions in the state senate. They also make laws that are necessary to ensure the welfare of the citizens of the state. Many times, the members of the House of Representatives in each state go on to serve for many years. One such representative is Senator Millie Gonzalez representing the 3rd District in Hartford, Connecticut. She has been a member of the house since 1997 and recently in 2017; she was elected as the Deputy Majority Leader. During her long term in office, she has brought and supported many bills before the house that have contributed to the welfare of the residents of the state of Connecticut.

Millie Gonzalez was born in Puerto Rico on the fourth of August, 1950 in the town of Adjuntas. She has seven siblings and lived in the town where she attended Adjuntas High School. After her education, she moved to the United States in 1981 and began working as a Deputy Sherriff in the superior court in West Hartford. She was also an Assistant Registrar of Voters in the same district. She has three children; two boys and a girl, with her husband, Ramon Arroyo.

Millie’s political career began in 1986 in the Hartford Town Committee. She held the position for ten years after which she was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. She represented the 3rd District of made up of several Hartford neighborhoods including Behind the Rocks, Parkville and Frog Hollow. Between 2003 and 2004, she was the Assistant Majority Leader in the house. In the following year between 2005 and 2006, she held the position of Assistant Majority Whip. She continued her streak with a seven-year position as the Deputy Majority Whip-at-Large from 2007 to 2014. After that she was promoted to Chief Majority Whip for a year and eventually, in 2017, she was made the Deputy Majority Leader of the house. She is also a member of the house committees for Public Safety, Appropriations, Security and Housing.

Throughout her political career, Millie Gonzalez has expressed strong views concerning several areas of life including education, law enforcement, healthcare, the minimum wage among many others. To begin, she wants more technical high schools in the state to improve the levels of skill among workers. In addition to this, she has proposed free community colleges in Connecticut which have many advantages. These include easing the financial burden of college tuition as well as the reduction of student debts. Free college would also allow more people to attend college as they work or bring up a family. Free education would be a huge benefit to the residents of the state of Connecticut.

For many years, Millie Gonzalez has expressed her support for reforms in family court. In connection to this, she sponsored a piece of legislation proposing that the best form of parenting for children whose parents are divorced is hare parenting. The only exception should be in cases of child neglect or abuse by a parent. Another bill she sponsored in connection with family court reforms proposes that parental alienation should be defined as a form of child abuse and to recommend children with their alienated parents. Also under Millie’s belt is the 2014 law that sought to limit the use of costly guardian ad litem’s. Following this, in 2019, she sponsored a bill mandating that the ad litems are only employed when deemed necessary in extreme cases approved by the Department of Children and Families. To further add credence to her position on family court, she and fellow hose members prevented the reconfirmation of Judge Jane Emons in 2018. Judge Emons is a controversial family court, and she failed to be reconfirmed although the committee passed a positive vote. To increase public awareness on family court, she organized a public hearing in 2019 on the subject o parental alienation as well as necessary reforms in family court.

On the matter of healthcare, she objected to the cutting of Medicaid for single people. Governor Dennel Malloy brought the proposition. Gonzalez argued that it would be improper to fix the state budget by disadvantaging and discriminating against poor people. In 2015, Gonzalez partnered with fellow representative Jason Rojas to sponsor a bill on housing. The bill stipulated that three-quarters of all affordable housing projects should be built in affluent neighborhoods. The main reason for the proposal was to reverse the trend of constructing low-income housing subsidized by the federal government in the most impoverished areas. The bill was a radical one that would have been transformative and visionary. It garnered a lot of o interest throughout the country, with an article on the proposal appearing on the New York Times. Despite this, the bill never received a vote, and it died.

On the matter of law enforcement, Millie Gonzalez is a strong supporter of body cameras on police to ensure objective evidence on police activities. Body cameras have gained widespread popularity for many reasons. In the same area o law enforcement, she achieved a considerable measure of success in ensuring that family court judge Jane Emons was not reconfirmed to her position. The minimum wage is another area in which Gonzalez expressed her support for an increment. In a bill sponsored by the representative in 2019, it was proposed that the minimum wage be increased until it got to $15. This began with an increase of 90 cents to $11 in 2019, then annual increments of $1 until 2023 when the wage will be $15.

Legalization of marijuana has been the center of debates all over the country, and Millie Gonzalez has not been left behind. In 2019, she sponsored a piece of legislation proposing that the sale and taxation of marijuana be made legal for adults over the age of 21. The proceeds from the taxations would be used to combat some of the effects of opioid use in the state of Connecticut including addiction, depression and other mental and physical illnesses. It is clear that the fight against drugs has failed miserably and the legalization of drugs for adults is one argument that has gained popularity. It is meant to ensure that the profits made by black market trade in drugs are made legal so that the government can collect revenues. Legalization will also ensure a reduction in crimes and convictions related to sale and use of drugs, resources which would have been diverted to more useful areas.

It is evident that the state legislature deals with important issues concerning their constituents’ welfare including housing, health, minimum wage, law enforcement, and education. The House of Representatives in Connecticut has done an excellent job in fulfilling its mandate. Some of the challenges the house faces include budget gaps that prevent efficient delivery of services to the people, the rising costs of healthcare and reform, high cost of education, the challenge of clean energy alternatives and unemployment. The underlying issue in all these problems is inadequate money to meet the state budgets which has led to rising taxes in an attempt to cover the deficits. The bills sponsored by representatives including Millie Gonzalez will be instrumental towards addressing the challenges faced by the state of Connecticut.

Bibliography

Caulkins, Jonathan P., Beau Kilmer, and Mark AR Kleiman. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know®. Oxford University Press, 2016.

Page, Lindsay C., and Judith Scott-Clayton. “Improving college access in the United States: Barriers and policy responses.” Economics of Education Review 51 (2016): 4-22.

State Representative MINNIE GONZALEZ, Deputy Majority Leader – Proudly Serving Hartford. Connecticut House Democrat. http://www.housedems.ct.gov/Gonzalez/BiographyTompkins, Al. “Top Nine Issues Facing State Legislatures” Poynter. 11 Jan 2009. https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2009/top-nine-issues-facing-state-legislatures/

Manhood in ‘Gran Torino’

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Manhood in ‘Gran Torino’

The film ‘Gran Torino’ is one of Clint Eastwood’s renowned films released in 2018. The famous and acclaimed actor directed and starred in the film. Eastwood plays the character Walt Kowalski, a racist old man uncomfortable with the influx of Asian residents in his formerly all-white neighborhood. ‘Gran Torino’ explores several themes such as racism, gang violence, masculinity, and sacrifice. Although Walt starts out as a bitter, angry old man mourning the death of his wife, the film ends with him having reformed and sacrificing his life to end gang activity in his neighborhood. Some people have criticized the toxic masculinity traits depicted in the movie, but the evolution of characters shows how people can learn from their mistakes and learn to be better. Some of the traits that characterize manhood in the film include the love of cars, vulgar language, love of guns, assertiveness, gang activities, and self-reliance.

The title of ‘Gran Torino’ comes from Walt’s 1972 vintage car, a Gran Torino. Walt kept his car in pristine condition, showing that it was one of his most prized possession. Walt’s relationship with Thao is based on this car. Thao’s cousins, who were in a gang, forced him to steal Walt’s car. Thao’s efforts were foiled by Walt himself and eventually led to a positive relationship between the two, as well as improved relations between Walt and his neighbors. The men in the film share a love for cars. Walt kept his car in perfect condition over the years he owned it, and his granddaughter was surprised that her grandfather owned such a fancy car. The area gang also wanted to steal the car as part of Thao’s initiation due to its high value. A lot of people assume that men love cars, and this is idea is widely used in the film.

Assertiveness is yet another masculine trait shown in the film. Walt is known for his assertiveness which makes everyone, including his own children, fear him a little. Walt would never back down from any challenge or show weakness in any situation (Redding 13). This trait is negative when Walt’s wife dies. During the events around her funeral, Walt remained stoic and did not show any emotion. For example, when his son offered to help him with the chairs, he refused and carried them up from the basement by himself. Additionally, Walt was never afraid of the gang members. He knew them to be armed and dangerous yet never flinched in his interactions with them. One night when the gang harasses Thao and Sue, Walt emerges from his house, menacingly pointing a gun and telling the gang to get off his lawn. Spider, one of the gang members, tried to threaten Walt, but he never backs off, threatening to kill the gang members. Walt remained assertive and never caved in to threats in all his interactions.

Gang activity is one of the ways that some men in the film use to prove their manhood. For people who are part of gangs, members must participate in some violent activity to show that they are masculine enough. The Spider gang in Walt’s neighborhood shared this toxic belief and tried to initiate Thao into their gang to make him a man. Thao never wanted to be in a gang, although he wondered if it was the only way to prove his manhood (Sierra & Martín-Alonso 5). His sister Sue warned him against engaging in gang activity. The gang terrorized the neighborhood and enjoyed making other people feel powerless. When the gang wanted to recruit Thao, they told him, “Is you a boy or is you a girl man, I can’t tell” (Gran Torino, 28:51). This scene shows that since Thao was not in the gang, he was considered a girl, a sign of weakness and femininity. Men had to show some traits of violence to be considered masculine.

Vulgar language is another common trait that the male characters in ‘Gran Torino’ share. There is the use of explicit violent language in many scenes during the film. For example, during the gang recruitment scene, the gangs attack Thao with obscene language when he refused to join them or talk to them. Walt uses vulgar language in the film as well. When he takes Thao to the barber to teach him how guys talk, there is a lot of vulgar language in the scene. For example, Walt begins with, “How are you doing Martin you crazy old Italian prick?” To which Martin replies, “Well you bastard I should’ve known you’d come in, I was having such a pleasant day” (Gran Torino 1:17:02). Their conversation goes on in the same tone, all so that Thao can learn how to talk like a guy. Vulgar language is associated with manhood.

In summary, most of the characters in ‘Gran Torino’ are male, which is why the film has a lot of male stereotypes. Some of these characteristics include the use of vulgar language, a love of cars and guns, assertiveness, and gang activity. All of these are traits that define manhood. Any male who does not conform to this is convinced to do so so that they can become manly. That is a perfect example of a male who is seen as not manly enough, and the other male characters try to initiate him into violence and vulgar language. ‘Gran Torino’ has a tragic ending when Walt dies to save Thao and his family. He also ended up getting along with his Asian neighbor despite his earlier racist tendencies. Showing his evolution as a person.

Works Cited

Gran Torino. Directed by Clint Eastwood, Performances by Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carely, Ahney Her, Warner Brother, 2008.

Redding, Art. “A Finish Worthy of the Start: The Poetics of Age and Masculinity in Clint Eastwood’s” Gran Torino”.” Film Criticism 38.3 (2014): 2-23.

Sierra, Eduardo, and Diego Martín-Alonso. “Intergenerational relationships and construction of masculinities. Thinking with” Gran Torino” and” Million Dollar Baby”.” Géneros: Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies 8.2 (2019).