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This paper posits to present the life history and the identity formation of Jane, a lady in her late thirties who is diagnose

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Identity

Introduction

This paper posits to present the life history and the identity formation of Jane, a lady in her late thirties who is diagnosed with brain cancer. The results of this interview showed that Jane’s sense of self was seriously influenced by her upbringing experiences. Three central themes surfaced in the interview process: Jane’s esteem for her father, her enthusiasm to share insight, and her occupation as a beautician. Her story reveals that Jane has a brilliant disposition concerning life and, even if she was diagnosed with brain cancer, she does not perceive the condition as life threatening.

How Jane Perceives Herself Today, As a Lady Diagnosed With Brain Cancer. Throughout the interview, I noticed that Jane rarely talked in relation to her diagnosis of brain cancer or the syndrome process itself. Jane perceives herself to be in excellent health, but also as someone who has her personal ups and downs. When I inquired concerning her feelings on the process of gathering her life story, she said:

“I contemplated in relation to that the other day. I thought one way of doing your job is learning how individuals cope with diverse issues in their life. I desire to know how individuals live and do the things that make them cheerful. I get pleasure from talking to people and sharing what a fantastic life I had and still have.”

Jane did not mention any thing more concerning her prognosis, except the occasional remark that “this tiny brain cannot hold everything because from time to time it stops and at times it does not”, meaning that she perceives her memory as vague at times. Nevertheless, the interview process in itself granted me an insight to what Jane’s condition must be like.

Summary of the Interview. Jane never spoke concerning her illness or as an individual diagnosed with the syndrome. Yet, several times in the interview process the condition manifested itself. Often, Jane would reiterate the same stories concerning her childhood. One of Jane’s favorite narratives concerned her goals to become a beautician as well as her father’s indecision to support her line of business. I also noticed that Jane would inquire about me, only to come back to the query a few minutes later. These actions demonstrate the failure of short-range memory, but I suppose her childhood memories are fairly precise. Her stories concerning working in the confectionery shop and entering the beauty school continued as reasonably the same each time she narrated them. From the initial interview session, to the final, her stories remained the same, with the exception of minor deletions or expansions of detail in the narratives. Jane would repeatedly ask me my name and also my future professional plans. It was noticeable that she discerned that I had some relation to the university, but she could not grasp my name. She asked me to jot down my address and name after every interview session. I suppose that Jane wanted some kind of written documentation or explanation that she might use as a reminder, though I may not conclusively confirm this. Jane often asked how I came to know her, and I told her multiple times in each interview about how we worked together during the intergenerational activities.

Jane’s View of the World and Herself. As evident in the majority of literature, persons diagnosed with brain cancer perceive the disease process in different ways. Some individuals talk in relation to their experiences and emotions while others perceive it as their personal problem and are consequently uncomfortable sharing their problems with other people (Heywood 20). This is the case with Jane, because from the time when Jane was a youngster, she was engrained with the attitude: “Do not tell anyone your problems, since they have an adequate amount of their own problems.” Away from the syndrome process, Jane is amazingly optimistic with reference to life. She feels at harmony with herself, since she is contented with the manner in which things turned out in her career and she is happy with her father and the way he cares for her. Jane perceives that she has a fine perspective on life since she has done all that she desired to do.

General Societal Attitudes Surrounding Persons with Brain Cancer. There seems to be a variety of perceived societal attitudes surrounding persons with brain cancer which differ from person to person at diverse stages of life. The question of the psychological condition of the dying has received considerable attention in medical literature. The majority studies have focused on issues surrounding physician aided suicide, and in recent times, the rising awareness of existential and spiritual factors that may contribute to physical, and psychological well-being at the closing stages of life. Although surveys and questionnaires evaluating these factors have been authenticated in diverse palliative populations, they repeatedly fall short of capturing the subjective incidence of dying in the patients. Therefore, patient interviews may provide the superlative opportunity to investigate these sensitive concerns in a way that reveres the diversity of the disease experience (Heywood 26). Such a qualitative diagnostic approach may be employed to capture and understand the dynamic mental state of a dying patient.

Questions surrounding the benefits and costs of a variety of treatment options ought to be conferred in one-on-one consultations in order to acquire insight into the aspects considered significant in the lives of brain cancer patients. The outcomes of a cancer diagnosis are complex and far-reaching, affecting the patient as well as his/her group of caregivers. A number of studies have established the toll that cancer diagnosis bear on families of these patients, and the significance of communication within families as well as between health caregivers and health-care providers. Treatment decisions are often group assessments, made with the fundamental postulation that treatment for one patient may have repercussions for many. The significance of the caregiver’s point of view consequently becomes that much more essential, and to precisely estimate attitudes towards dying and treatment, these require being taken into account. Several studies in the literature consider caregiver perceptions and these have attached significant weight to construal of the decision making process in the terminally sick patients (Gardner 69).

Brain cancer is considered as unique amongst the malignant diseases, in that the organ that is affected is conventionally perceived as the seat of a person’s realistic sense of identity. Philosophical enquiries concerning the manifestation of conduct and the cognizance of a person’s existence all engage the brain. Consequently studying the responses as well as experiences of these patients with a sickness that threatens their survival is practically and conceptually appropriate. Although a small amount of studies have examined brain cancer populations in particular, a number of studies have investigated coping as well as the meaning of infirmity in patients with advanced cancer. For instance, in a number of mixed palliative populations investigated, desperation and yearning for death have been associated to physical distress as well as psychiatric depression. Measures have been devised measuring and assessing meaning and the determination to live, in addition to the yearning to die in these patients, on the other hand, investigators hardly ever, discuss cancer variety as an autonomous variable. Such studies endeavor to estimate attitudes towards fatality, but do not essentially scrutinize what these patients treasure in life (Heywood 32).

Cancer of the brain, although comparatively rare, is most commonly fatal. The overwhelming consequences of the syndrome for patients, caregivers and families, necessitate additional exploration in the sphere of subjective sickness experience as well as therapeutic decision making. It is as a result imperative that investigators as well as clinicians obtain an enhanced understanding of what is valuable and meaningful to persons living with terminal brain cancer.

Reflection on the Importance of Brain Cancer Diagnosis on Society. Caregivers were normally more reflective and forthcoming than patients. There appears to be a relative accord that when judged against other malignant sicknesses, that brain cancer is exceptional. More often than not, the society perceives the brain as a command center, and the center of the factual sense of identity, as well as concentration and memory. Over and above regarding brain cancer as unique, this is usually, but not at all times construed in a negative manner. For instance, the rapidity of the physical and intellectual decline, the absence of any long-lasting and effective treatments, as well as the bleakness of the diagnosis are cited as characteristic negative attributes of the disease. Some peoples, however, mention memory loss, cognitive decline, as well as the relative absence of pain as positive characteristics of the disease that, actually, spare their loved ones of the consciousness of suffering (Gardner 71).

A devastating symptom in one patient, may in reality be a redeeming characteristic for another patient, or offer some psychological or emotional comfort. Most people implicitly understand that maladies of the brain are in essential ways dissimilar than maladies of other organ systems. Often, the sentiment is echoed that every brain cancer is unique, while other cancers are basically alike. If a person has lung cancer, the symptoms are typically similar to the other person who also has lung cancer. One may get rid of a breast and still function, or one can still continue working with one lung. In regard to how brain cancer might be unlike other cancers, some people perceive that it is not merely a diagnosis, but almost like a sentence on every other aspect of life. Although a number of people regard brain cancer as unique (Bee 105).

Caregivers and patients usually regard it as requisite mainly when faced with an incurable illness of the brain, to put emphasis on the significance of mental functioning, cognition and orientation in their definition of value of life. The prospect of loss of memory as well as intellectual decline, in the majority of cases, bear out as the most universal reason that people opt for shortening life through declining further treatment. The emphasis on mental capacity draws attention to the exceptional experiences of patients with brain cancer, even amongst the other uncompromisingly malignant diseases. Families and patients understand that a disease that affects the brain, and essentially the mind, is qualitatively different from diseases that may affect other organs. Caregivers consistently comment that to losing one’s identity, awareness, and memory is tantamount to dying. The loss of vitality and independence in a previously high functioning person would be emotionally and psychologically traumatic (Gardner 75).

It is evident that in society, attitudes in regard to euthanasia vary in consistence with the controversial nature of this problem. However, although caregivers and patients may not be united in regard to the regulation or the means of the practice of euthanasia, there is general concurrence that the decision ought to eventually be the prerogative of the family and the patient.

Quality of life is essential and it would be reasonable that when an individual perceives that they have had enough suffering that opinion ought to be respected (Bee 110).

Works Cited

Bee, T. Lifespan Development, London, Routledge. 2010. Print.

Gardner, S. Extraordinary Minds, Paradigm Publishers, 2009. Print.

Heywood, B. Caring for Helen: An Experience of Effectively Coping with Brain Cancer, London: Thames & Hudson. 2011. Print.

The Central Intelligence Agency final

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Due to external attacks from enemy rival countries, and terrorist organization it has made it necessary for each and every country in the world to have its own intelligence organization to alert it of any potential national threat. The intelligence does not only concentrate on external attacks but other issues such as drug trafficking, proliferation of arms and any other illegal activity within the country. This paper will look at the functions of the CIA and if there is conflict of interest in their work.

The United States of America has not been left out in forming its own intelligence unit. The Central Intelligence Agency, or commonly known as the CIA was established in the year 1947. This was after the then President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act, the main reason for the establishment of the CIA was to give support to the president and above all the National Security Council and other security organs make the right decisions on National security (Couch, pg 230).

The Central Intelligence Agency has been given the mandate to feed all the relevant security apparatus and departments reliable, accurate, and most of all timely information regarding any national security threat. The CIA is also responsible for the collection of information, analyzing it and then submitting the report to 13 responsible intelligence community agencies such as the National Security Agency, Defense intelligence Agency among others. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorists attack the powers and mandate of the CIA was expanded more workers were also employed. “There’s a huge cultural and generational issue at stake here,” said Mark Lowenthal, a former senior C.I.A. Official. “A lot of the people hired since 9/11 have done nothing but tactical work for the past 12 years,” he said, “and intellectually it’s very difficult to go from a tactical approach to seeing things more strategically.” initially the work of the CIA was only to provide information but in the Afghanistan war the intelligence sends its own paramilitary unit (January, pg 220).

From time in memorial the Intelligence community of the United States of America has been expanding, after the World War II came to an end countries such as the U.S.S.R regularly adversaries who assisted in justifying the Intelligence community above all Covert Action. The Cold War played a major role in shaping the whole intelligence community. The fight against communism during the Cold War, mainly made use of Covert action however the benefits and even the legality of its continuous use should be considered compared to the heavy costs. Regrettably, the use of covert action still remains one the most guarded government activities (January, pg 220).

After the cold war came to an end, dwindling budgets and the changing of the international environment called for a review of the use of covert action so as to find out its significance and aptness in the face of the changing policies of foreign matters and the priorities in National Security. In spite of the ideological belief that the use of covert action requires a country that is democratic the modern day threats to the national security does not only justify the continuous use of covert action but also its suitability. In the modern world the use of covert action is viewed differently and some people are against its use. In the modern world covert action is used to control, manipulate, and even counter national security threats such as International organized crime, proliferation of nuclear weapons, and governments or countries that prove to be hostile to the United States of America. In that perspective of monitoring other states the Director of CIA recently during his confirmation noted the developments that were taking place in the Arab World he said “Recent events in the Arab world, however, indicate that C.I.A. Needs to improve its capabilities and its performance still further” (Weiner, pg 220).

Findings

The CIA main aim it to investigate other countries and organizations that are regarded as a potential threat or hide out of terrorist organizations. The CIA in not allowed to investigate any citizen of the United States of America unless the person is involved in terrorist activities in other parts in the world or even within the Country. Covert action is necessary but most of the time it is done without the country being investigated having any clue about it, in regard to the morality of the covert action Charles Beitz says the action “serve rather than subvert the aims of democratic government.” Practically, defining covert action is very difficult. In the diplomatic circles it is very normal for a country to try and convince the other on certain issues even though the truth behind such attempts or the intentions of the country involved may not be explained totally. This is because most of the time the reasons remain the secret of the government (January, pg 220).

Covert action entails certain activities, support, covert propaganda, paramilitary actions to help overthrow or support the regime in power, and economic operations. It should be noted that covert action should be differentiated from concealed collection efforts. Covert action is in place for the sole purpose of influencing some foreign conditions, whereas concealed operations are in place so as to provide the Intelligence Community of the United States of America with information (Daugherty, pg 240).

Propaganda

CIA at times uses propaganda to either prevent a regime from coming to power or to help it maintain the grip of power. In the year 1947 the CIA used propaganda in Italy to prevent the communists from winning in the election, an estimated 10 million dollars was used in the activity, even though the propaganda succeeded and the Christian- Democrat’s won the use of propaganda in the modern world is very limited. Ironically in the First World War propaganda was used against the American government by the British which finally managed tom convince the America to join the war even though they were at first neutral. Even though there were other reasons joined the Allied forces which included the attack on the Unites States shipping line, the war itself was as a result of a failed or ineffective propaganda that was aimed at the officials of the United States (Coll, pg 200).

There are instances where the CIA has been victims of propaganda and in such cases they were forced to counter the propaganda with propaganda as well. A good example is during the Carter regime when the Soviets started a massive propaganda campaign aimed at the United States. That was as a result of the United States use of a neutron bomb, to counter the claim and the propaganda of the Soviets the CIA likened the bomb to Soviets own SS-20 (Intelligence, pg 220).

Discussion

As a result of the historical success of the usage of propaganda as well as the dangers associated with not making use of it both prior to, and all through, the Cold War there has been calls to stop the use of propaganda. Unlike during the Cold War when there was not much usage of technology, the modern world has drastically changed as more and more people have the access to computers. Any Propaganda can spread all throughout the world in minute propaganda in Russia can even affect the Stock Exchange in America. In the modern world approximately 98 % of the propaganda can either be true, or has a basis of exaggerated truth (Callanan, pg 230).

This type of propaganda is very significant to the United States especially in countries that spread false information against the United States. Regrettably there are cases where the use of propaganda has proved vital; in the year 1954 the CIA used propaganda to remove the pro-communist leader by the name of Jacobo Arbenz exclusive of violence. The CIA spread propaganda that there was a revolution in the country and that there were army troops were moving towards the capital city. In anxiety and fear the pro-communist leader resigned in fear of the revolution. Such a trick might not work in the modern world but it is still practiced (Bauder, pg 210).

Conclusion

Every institution has the mandate or the work that has been allocated to them or it. The CIA has been given the responsibility of collecting intelligence information that can aid the government and the Security Council makes timely and accurate decisions on matters that relate to National security. Even though the fact that the CIA is also responsible for the implementation of avert action can be seen as a conflict of interest as they are still the same organization that collects the information it is not. Being the organization that collected the intelligence information they are better suited to implement the avert action as they are more conversant with the happenings.

Work cited

Bauder, Julia. The CIA. New York: Greenhaven Press, 2007. Print.

Callanan, James. Covert action in the Cold War US policy, intelligence, and CIA operations. London: I.B. Tauris :, 2010. Print.

Coll, Steve, and Steve Coll. Ghost Wars: the secret history of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet invasion to September 10, 2001. New York: Penguin Press, 2004. Print.

Couch, Dick. Covert action. New York: Pocket Books, 2005. Print.

Daugherty, William J.. Executive secrets: covert action and the presidency. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2004. Print.

Intelligence and Policy: The Evolving Relationship. New York: Defense Technical Information Center, 2004. Print.

January, Brendan. The CIA. New York: Franklin Watts, 2002. Print.

Weiner, Tim. Legacy of ashes: the history of the CIA. New York: Doubleday, 2007. Print.

Various issues affect different people in a certain way

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Communications questions

Various issues affect different people in a certain way, the manner of which different people resolve a certain problem is also very different. At times what seems usual to an individual may not be so to another person, in that respect it is very crucial for people to know how different people handle certain problems. To find out more about how different people view or react to different situations I decided to interview three different people on different issues. To do that effectively I wrote down four questions that I asked the four different people so as to hear their views. The people that I interviewed were John a truck driver, Mary who is a secretary, Joseph an accountant.

John was the first person I was able to interview, I asked him to give me a brief history of what his childhood was and how was it growing up. John was able to tell me that he was the first born in a family of five children; he was brought up in Michigan but was born in Ohio. According to his story his childhood was not a very easy one; his father was drunkard while his mother worked as a casual laborer. He was forced to drop out of school at the age 15 to go and look for casual jobs so as to help his mother pay for her ever increasing bills and also to be able to get money to buy food for his younger siblings. He even mentioned that because his father was so engrossed in drinking he did not have any time for his family, he at times went for months without seeing his father. He told me how despite all the difficulties he was able to defy the odds he managed to survive and eventually go to college and at last got married and was now a proud father of 3 children two boys and a girl.

Impact of current job

After the brief history I embarked on asking John the first question, which was if his current job is having any impact on his relationship with his family. He replied to the question by first stating that any job that every person does will always have some impact on the family whether positive or negative, he first stated the positive impacts, then followed with the negative impacts of his current job on his family.

Positive

As he was raised in a very poor family where even getting food was a nightmare, he was happy with his current job. He was able to feed his family, buy them cloths and even attend to his own needs. He has been able to save some of his money to ensure that his children do not lack anything that he can be able to afford as he did during his childhood.

Negative

Some of the negative impacts of the job that he was able to state included, he is at times forced to stay away from his family for a very long time at times a whole week. This is usually when he has to deliver goods to far away places. When that happens he feels very lonely and uneasy has he keeps wondering how his family is doing, he attributes this feeling to his childhood when his father would disappear for weeks on end and they had to fend for themselves.

Strengths

The second question that I asked John was what he thought his strengths and weaknesses were. To the question he answered “nobody is perfect”. He stated people do have their source of strengths and weakness, his strength was his judgment. I asked him how of which he said “when I encounter a problem I usually think it over and over again before deciding what to do, and when I get the solution it is always right”.

Another of his strengths and the answer he gave at first did not make sense, he told me his childhood. He explained that his experiences during his childhood always give him the motivation when he is faced with a problem, it was not still clear so he went further with his explanation. He said that if he was able to overcome the challenges that he had as a child and as a teenager and made it then nothing is impossible.

Weakness

His weakness was the most shocking; this is because it was related to something that was responsible for his childhood problems. John too like his father could not go a day without taking a beer. He admitted that he had tried all means possible to stay away from alcohol but he found it difficult, but he was quick to add that it was not preventing him from attending to his family.

Interpersonal needs

The final question that I asked John was if his personal needs were affecting his personal relationship. He laughed and answered “definitely”. He told me his wife likes shopping for new cloths for herself and the children, he stated that his wife can buy new cloths every day and at times her spending on new cloths has at times caused a problem between them. He is quick to point out that his spending on alcohol has also caused a problem between him and his wife who thinks that he is spending a lot of money in buying alcohol.

The second person that I managed to interview was Mary, who is a secretary by profession. She first gave me a brief history of her childhood. Mary’s childhood was not bad she was born in Boston and grew up there, her father was a firm manager and her mother was a secretary at the same firm as her father. She was the second born in a family of two children both of their parents ensured that they had a happy childhood; she is now married with one child. I was then able to ask her the questions I had written down.

Impact of current job

She was brief in her answers and could not talk much, she said that her job had enabled her pay for her bills and provide for her children. She also added that at times she arrived home very tired that she could not have time for her ten year old daughter.

Strengths and weakness

According to Mary her only strength is her ability to convince, she admits that she is really good at convincing and that is how she always has a way. However her weakness is her method of spending, Mary spends a lot of money shopping for shoes.

Effects of interpersonal needs

Mary’s husband loves betting especially on horse racing, he at times spends a lot of money on bets which Mary does not approve as necessary, on the other hand Mary admits that her husband does not approve how she spends a lot of money on buying shoes. Mary states that she at times spends a lot of money on shoes that she only wears once and gets bored so she has to look for another pair of shoes.

The last person who I was able to interview was Joseph the accountant; just like the others he first gave me a short history of his childhood. Joseph is an immigrant from Africa his mother and father moved to the United States when he was nine years old. He however can recall that life was very difficult back in Congo, he recounted the many times he had to flee with his parents from rebels, but since he moved to the United States he has had peace and even became a citizen. I was then able to ask him the questions that I had asked everybody else.

Impact of his job

To Joseph his work was a blessing as he is the one who is now taking care of his parents as well of some of his relatives back in Africa. On his strength and weakness he answers his job is his strength he however admits that his major weakness is helping out, he admits that he can never pass anybody who is in need especially the homeless he can even forego lunch and give the money to a homeless person. On his interpersonal spending he states that it has no impact on his relationship with his family members a he always attends to their needs first before attending to him.

Conclusion

Every person in the world has an own perspective on each and every issue however how similar they might look. The effect of the issues with different people is also very different, what one person considers good at times may not be the same to another person. Finally the way each person reacts to a situation is very unique and can not be compared to another person.

Steven Aschers the film maker’s handbook is credited for its contribution to the study of film

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Book review

Steven Ascher’s the film maker’s handbook is credited for its contribution to the study of film. Film is one of the most successful industries in the United States. The industry contributes significantly to the GDP of the country. Over the years, the industry has grown from a simple art to a thriving business. One of the factors responsible for this aspect is the dedication of books concerning film making. The film maker’s handbook is one of the books that have impacted effectively on upcoming filmmakers (Ascher, and Pincus, p. 141).

The focus of this paper is to provide an analysis of Steven Ascher’s “The film maker’s handbook”. The paper looks into the content of the book and its contribution to the film industry. The review looks at the book from the writer’s perspective and his take on film making as an art. The paper further provides a personal opinion on how Ascher’s book has impacted on me as a TV production student.

The film maker’s handbook has been in the market for more than twenty five years. This has earned it the name the Bible of film making due to its comprehensive report on all things film. The book is adequate for a novice who does not have adequate experience in the industry. It teaches the basics in terms of video production and film making. This ensures that the reader derives the basics required to take on the film making as a career. Ascher provides a detailed explanation of the history of the digital age and its role in the media. This forms the basis for the entire book which acts as a stepping stone for readers.

The film industry is an evolutionary industry in that it changes with regard to the change in society. The digital age constitutes of the use of technology to derive film and pictures in the media. The author guides the reader on interpreting a script and getting a visual insight. This is followed by transferring the thoughts and information into the film which is as a result viewed by the audience. The art of film making continues to develop due to the invention and innovation of new ideas. Ascher ensures that he updates the reader on the latest introduction to the industry. This helps learners identify with the latest forms of film thus keeping them up to date (Ascher, and Pincus, p. 321).

As a student, one of my responsibilities is to form an understanding of film making and production. The book thus plays a key role in my acquisition of a degree in TV production. The book has given me the confidence to face the obstacles that I face during my study. I have managed to learn about film making and production through the eyes of the author. This has helped me form my own opinion of my course and as a result increase on my creativity.

In conclusion, film industry has played a vital role in society. The making of film reflects on the social cultural aspects of the country. It is thus essential to take advantage of authors like Steven Ascher so as to improve my understanding of the subject. Film making continues to affect the growth of the economy. Taking part in this industry is thus ideal for my personal growth and my contribution in society.

Works Cited

Ascher, Steven, and Edward Pincus. The Filmmaker’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age. New York: Plume, 2007. Print.

To Room Nineteen

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“To Room Nineteen”

“To Room Nineteen,” among the unruffled stories in Doris Lessing’s has overtime been distinguished to be among her most excellent stories. It concentrates on a grown-up English female, whose existence in a London village centers around her spouse, children, in addition to, her home. Every person believes Susan and Matthew (her husband) are the ideal pair, who has made all the accurate options in life. In the event Susan packs her children to go to school, though, she starts to question her “clever” judgments. When she finds out that her partner has had unfaithful business with other women, she gets on a journey of self-finding that eventually becomes a fall into insanity (Lessing 17). This well-established story discovers the warring desires of intellect along with nature, mind as well as heart, in opposition to the setting of an untimely 1960s London. In this period, women were wedged in the past societal conservatism and incapable to see the prospectus assurance that would support choice, accomplishment, and individual freedom. Lessing’s heartbreaking story lights up the limits placed on women of this period and the destructive outcomes of those limits. “To Room Nineteen” was considered as being amid the century’s best short tales.

Plausible Questions

What is Susan’s internal shift in her matrimony? Why is she unable to live her individual life?

The reality that Susan resigns from her job is part of the intellectual plan in line with the whole intellectual, well-structured arrangement of their lives. At this point, she begins to encounter inner-disagreement: she has rationally chosen the position of a responsible mother as well as wife in the relationship, but simultaneously she desires to be a career lady. She feels bareness, although she never tells her partner or anybody about her sentiments because she believes it is not coherent or sensible. Intelligence prohibits each “illogical” feelings or conducts. Later on, as she realizes Matthew is playing her, her position as a wife could simply be alternated by another woman (Cahill 89). She experiences bitterness she is individually unruly, but she has to suppress her feelings again since she has to consider her bright partner. After that, as she employs a teenager to be the “house maid”, her position as a mother would be substituted. She keeps perplexing the worth of her position as a mother or companion, not forgetting her being a woman. Once more, she feels impatient. Consequently, she is miserable and cuts off herself from other persons. Lastly, her feelings cannot establish an opening, which made her kill herself. Conversely, her intelligence is slowly killing her.

How does Lessing articulate her perception of marriage along with midlife crisis in her narrative method?

Lessing portrays Susan’s defenselessness and meaninglessness of her matrimony life through her internal monologue. Even though, Susan realizes that her husband is not faithful to her, she pardons him. She rejects her individual sentiments, feels powerless of her matrimonial life, and this drives to her deeds at the concluding parts of the tale. From Susan and Matthew conversations, it could be perceived that there exists no communication amid them. Susan cuts off herself from her neighbors after her children had left to school (Cheung 56). It can be seen that her spirit could only be free when she is alone. Midlife crisis in a female is considered as the emotion of “empty nest” that makes women miserable and frightened. Nevertheless, for Susan, nothing is significant to her, not even her schooling children. At last, Susan is exhausted of her insanity and gives in to death. The expressions— “intelligent,” as well as “civilized” to her, are sarcastic. Moreover, her “intelligence” in some way drives her in murdering herself.

Summary

The story commences with a report of the olden times of Susan along with Matthew Rawlings’s matrimony that has been an exceptionally sensible union. They wedded after having dated for a long time following their encounters in other relationships. They, together with their allies, deem them to be “well harmonized.” Prior to giving birth, Susan was employed in an advertising company while her husband was a worked in a Newspaper firm as a subeditor. They started living together in an abode in Richmond, a village in London, and they, in time, possessed four children. Their existence together was joyful but somewhat flat. They confidentially started to speculate about the middle spot of all their endeavors. The husband was going to work while Susan became a housewife (Maunder 427). They did, though, adore each other, in addition to, being resolute to have a flourishing marriage. As a consequence then, they persuaded themselves that they were at ease with their matrimony. In conclusion, so as to get some moment alone, she leases a hotel room each day where she merely sits to think. Her partner supposes she is playing him and trails her down. Being familiar that his rational being will not distinguish her “illogical” sentiments she confers to him that she is certainly with another man. The following day, she goes to the hotel and commits suicide ((Black 564).

References

Black, Joseph L. The Broadview Anthology of British Literature. Peterborough, Ontario, 2008.

Print.

Cahill, Susan. Women and Fiction: Short Stories by and About Women. New York: New

American Library, 2000. Print.

Cheung, Agnes Ying-fun. The Theme of Escape in Doris Lessing’s Fiction. MA Thesis. The

Graduate Institute of English. Taipei: Fu Jen University, 2000.

Lessing, Doris. To Room Nineteen. London: Flamingo, 2002. Print.

Maunder, Andrew. The Facts on File Companion to the British Short Story. New York: Facts On

File, 2007. Internet resource.

oakland. The current chief of police in Oakland police department is Sean Whent

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1.The current chief of police in Oakland police department is Sean Whent. Sean is a former chief in the department of risk management. He was worked with auditing reforms that have been negotiating settlement agreement due to the instability of OPD to conform to court order. The main function of OPD law enforcement is to patrol within their respective areas, provide additional uniform police in parks, street fairs and markets. It is also their responsibility to assist in marathons, Pedestrian traffics and parades.

2. OPD was the third Police Academy to be awarded accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies on December 26, 2006.

3.

The number of sworn officers in OPD is approximately 637 officers. OPD also consist of civilian personnel and they are approximately 7000 civilians working for the OPD doing work such Psychologist, Auxiliary Police Volunteers etc.

4. As the year 2010 ended, the quantity of minorities in the force was 47% and they were officers on patrol. The percentile of detectives in the force was 43%. In the category of Sergeants only 39% were minorities with the difference been the majority. When it comes to Captains inside the force, the percentage of minorities was a staggering 18%. The percentage of lieutenants in the minority corner was 24% and last but not least the percentage of chiefs in the minority side had a percentage of 33%.

B. come the end of the year 2010 a tally was done and the following information was released to the public. The percentage of the whole staff that was considered white was 53%. Of all the officers on patrol on a day to day basis, 53% or 11,717 officers were black, Latino, or Asian, whereas 47% or 10,482 officers were non Hispanic Europeans. Of all the chiefs in the force, 7 were white while the remainder was mixed races. The number of detectives that were white was 2,953 out of a total of5, 177 while the remainder was a mixture of different races. Sergeants were 2,841 who were white coming to a percentage of 61% out of 4,639. Captains were 356 or 82% who were white out of a total of 432. Lastly the lieutenants who were white were 1, 323 or 76% out of a total of 1, 742.

5. The jurisdiction information of the force is as follows: – The size that the state troopers manage is 54, 556 square miles or 141, 300 km squared. The population of the whole state is 19. 4 million.6. The Okland police force began its community policing approach in the early 1990s and its main objective was to bring together the police and the community residents to work together so as to fight crime. In my opinion it takes up to around 67%. It has several policing initiatives as listed below:

Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect Campaign

Precinct Community Councils

Citizen’s police academy

Cultural Diversity workshops

Model Block Program

Clergy Liaison Program

7. OPD has numerous geographical beats and they are listed below as follows:

Manhattan

1st Precinct  16 Ericsson Place 5th Precinct  19 Elizabeth Street

6th Precinct  233 West 10 Street

7th Precinct  19 1/2 Pitt Street

9th Precinct  321 East 5 Street

10th Precinct  230 West 20th Street

13th Precinct  230 East 21st Street

Midtown So.Pct.357 West 35th Street 

17th Precinct  167 East 51st Street

Midtown HYPERLINK “http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_018.shtml”No.Pct.306 West 54th Street

19th Precinct  153 East 67th Street

20th Precinct  120 West 82nd Street

Central Park Pct.86th St & Transverse Road 

23rd Precinct  162 East 102nd Street

24th Precinct  151 West 100th Street

25th Precinct  120 East 119th Street

26th Precinct  520 West 126th Street

28th Precinct  2271-89 8th Avenue

30th Precinct  451 West 151st Street

32nd Precinct  250 West 135th Street

33rd Precinct  2207 Amsterdam Avenue

34th Precinct  4295 Broadway

40th Precinct  257 Alexander Avenue

41st Precinct  1035 Longwood Avenue

42nd Precinct  830 Washington Avenue

43rd Precinct  900 Freely Avenue

44th Precinct  2 East 169th Street

45th Precinct  2877 Barkley Avenue

46th Precinct  2120 Rye Avenue

47th Precinct  4111 Laconia Avenue

48th Precinct  450 Cross Bronx Expressway

49th Precinct  2121 Eastchester Road

50th Precinct  3450 Kingsbridge Avenue

52nd Precinct  3016 Webster Avenue

60th Precinct  2951 West 8th Street

61st Precinct  2575 Coney Island Avenue

62nd Precinct  1925 Bath Avenue

63rd Precinct  1844 Brooklyn Avenue

66th Precinct  5822 16th Avenue

67th Precinct  2820 Snyder Avenue

68th Precinct  333 65th Street

69th Precinct  9720 Foster Avenue

70th Precinct  154 Lawrence Avenue

71st Precinct  421 Empire Boulevard

72nd Precinct  830 4th Avenue

73rd Precinct  1470 East New York Avenue

75th Precinct  1000 Sutter Avenue

76th Precinct  191 Union Street

77th Precinct  127 Utica Avenue

78th Precinct  65 6th Avenue

79th Precinct  263 Tompkins Avenue

81st Precinct  30 Ralph Avenue

83rd Precinct  480 Knickerbockers Avenue

84th Precinct  301 Gold Street

88th Precinct  298 Classon Avenue

90th Precinct  211 Union Avenue

94th Precinct  100 Meserole Avenue

100th Precinct 92-24 Rockaway Beach Boulevard

101st Precinct  16-12 Mott Avenue

102nd Precinct  87-34 118th Street

103rd Precinct  168-02 P.O Edward Byrne Ave.

104th Precinct  64-2 Catalpa Avenue

105th Precinct  92-08 222nd Street

106th Precinct  103-53 101st Street

107th Precinct  71-01 Parsons Boulevard

108th Precinct  5-47 50th Avenue

109th Precinct  37-05 Union Street

110th Precinct  94-41 43rd Avenue

111th Precinct  42-06 215th Street

112th Precinct  68-40 Austin Street

113th Precinct  167-02 Baisley Boulevard

114th Precinct  34-16 Astoria Boulevard

115th Precinct  92-15 Northern Boulevard

120th Precinct  78 Richmond Terrace

122nd Precinct  2320 Hylan Boulevard

123rd Precinct  116 Main Street

8.Sworn patrol officers work four (9 hour) days in a row on a rotating schedule which includes working weekends and holidays. Officers are assigned to one of three watches:

>First watch

>Second watch

>Third watch

9. There are a number of employee and bargaining unions in the New York force. They are as follows: – Oakland and Hospitals corporation. This union operates the public hospitals and clinics in Oakland. It operates more than 10 hospitals, four nursing homes, six diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community-based care sites that cater for mainly for the poor and working class in the city.

The next agency is the Oakland office of emergency management that deals with the oversight and the development of the city’s emergency management plans. It regularly tests their plans by conducting a number of drills and exercises and responds to ensure that other agencies follow this plan and communicate among the other responding agencies.

Another agency in Oakland is the Oakland Landmarks Preservation commission that is responsible for the preservation of historically important buildings, structures, and other objects that make up the Oakland vista. The commission preserves not only historic buildings, but also the overall feel of neighborhoods that are designated as historic districts.

10.

A. A Patrol Officer in the OPD is usually assigned geographical areas for a period of not less than a week where they rotate to other areas overtime. They change shifts through use of shift bidding that allows the OPD police officers to bid for time that they want to work on patrol. Shift bidding in OPD is done monthly

11. Ranking structure in descending order:

12. The Hierarchy of personnel in the OPD is as follows in ascending order:

Police commissioner who is the person in charge of OPD

Chief of Department

Assistant chief

Deputy Chief

Captain

Lieutenant

Sergeant

Detective

Police Officer

Probationary Police officer

Recruit Officer

13.

Emergency service unit

The Emergency Service Unit is a constituent of the Special Operations Division. It offers dedicated support and highly developed equipment to supplementary OPD units and is cross trained in numerous disciplines for law enforcement and rescue effort. All ESU officers are trained in search and rescue, SCUBA diving, building collapse and heavy weapons and hazardous materials containment. They lift subway trains, remove roofs from car wrecks and counsel emotionally disturbed individuals out of dangerous situations.

Other specialized units are as follows:

K-9

Aviation unit

Harbor unit as well as scuba team

Mounted unit

Anti-terrorism unit

Criminal intelligence

Anti-gang Unit

Bomb disposal unit

Narcotics unit

Public transportation and Housing unit

14. All the employees are trained in incident command system. The incident command system is a systematic tool that is usually used to command, control and coordination of emergency response in Oakland. It normally deals in disaster management and humanitarian assistance. It improves emergency response operations of all types and complexities. For example the Okland air-sea rescue that is the coordinated search and rescue of survivors of water ways emergencies as well as citizens who have lost their vessels while at sea.

15. The issues facing Oakland police department are as follows: –

Use of Anti-Muslim Propaganda

The Jews for racial and economic justice condemned the OPD for showing an anti-Muslim film to approximately 1,500 police officers during part of their training. This was wrong of the OPD as it is considered unethical and unlawful.

Disregard of team values

In 2009 FBI and the OPD were mandated to work together in the investigation of terrorist NajibullahZazi. This project almost failed terribly as the OPD agents decided to work as lone wolves and ticked off the terrorist.

Racism

The daily news reported very disturbing news stating that some OPD senior officers of an elite unit within the department used racial slurs against Black people that refer to them as animals and should be treated as such.

16. The mission of the OPD is to augment the excellence of life in the city by working in partnership with the general public and in accordance with constitutional rights to implement the laws, safeguard the peace, decrease fear and present a safe setting.

17. To maintain officer law enforcement, the STATE mandates one refresher in-service training hours every five years

18.

OPD and FBI

The two law enforcement agencies teamed up to carry out terrorist investigations on NajibullahZazi.

OPD and Massachusetts State Police

They worked together to spy and monitor a group known as the Black Tea Society.OPD and numerous law enforcement agencies

The agencies with the help of the OPD were able to capture or kill the suspects of the Boston marathon bombing recently.

19.

A. There are no specified dates for hiring in the OPD, if and when an applicant completes the requirements to become an officer of the OPD successfully he or she will be hired immediately. The starting salary is $41,975 per month.

B. in order to apply for the position of law enforcement officer in the OPD the applicant has to have the following:

Sixty college credits with a 2.0 GPA from accredited college or university or two years of full-time, active military service in the United States Armed Forces with an Honorable Discharge and have a High School Diploma or its equivalent.

c. Hiring Process includes:

The applicant Processing Division.This is where the most qualified candidates to fill the position are identifiedPre-Hire Interview, applicant should have a brief medical exam and a character investigation is done on the applicant.

Medical Exam, an applicant undergoes a medical exam, have document 60 college credits and a 2.0 GPA or 2years military service, fingerprinting is also done on this stage.

Written Psychological, applicant should undertake a standardized written psychological test.

Job Standard Test, a physical test in the form of a continuousevent which must be completed in four minutes and twenty eight seconds.

Oral Psychological an applicant at this level undergoes an oral interview.

Character Investigation, applicant meets with investigator where they review the application booklet and address problems and discrepancies.

d. The eligibility is valid for 30days

20.

A. In order to apply and become eligible for promotion from a low level police officer to a sergeant in the OPD the applicant should possess the following requirements:

Should have worked in an investigative position for 18 months as a police officer and perform to basic standards

Should have 64 completed a minimum of 64 college credits.

Should undertake an exam.B. The promotion process from police officer to a detective is first he or she should take part in an analytical obligation for 18 months, whereby they will be promoted to detective investigator grade three. With time the applicant rises in ranks from grade 3 to grade 1 detective, where he or she will be eligible to take promotional civil service exams and if passed they are most likely to be promoted to supervisory ranks.

c. The hiring process of the directors of the OPD is as follows:

There should be a vacant position in the department

One should possess a bachelor’s degree

One should have worked in the police force for in specialized units for more than 18 months

The police commissioner conducts interviews with every single applicant

The police commissioner then employs the director after choosing the best of the applicants by analyzing their job skills and qualities.

The Birth of Tragedy, passage analysis

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The birth of tragedy

“What I managed to seize upon at that time, something fearful and dangerous, was a problem with horns, not necessarily a bull exactly, but in any event a new problem; today I would state that it was the problem of science itself—science for the first time grasped as problematic, as dubious. But that book, in which my youthful courage and suspicion then spoke, what an impossible book had to grow out of a task so contrary to the spirit of youth! Created out of merely premature, really immature personal experiences, which all lay close to the threshold of something communicable, built on the basis of art—for the problem of science cannot be understood on the basis of science—a book perhaps for artists with analytical tendencies and a capacity for retrospection (that means for exceptions, a type of artist whom it is necessary to seek out and whom one never wants to look for . . .),”

The birth of tragedy is a book inspired by the influence of philosophy in the society. The author offers his take on modern philosophical values that impact on society. The society is at the mercy of science which ranges from its discovery to the current innovations. Some of the factors that come with the trade pose as a threat of the dignity of the community. One of the themes of the passage is the unsafely of the community. This is the direct result of the constant emphasis placed on the need to evolve.

Science is a type of art reserved for the well meaning in the society. The need to discover new inventions and innovations creates situations where professionals over think ideas. This in turn gives rise to an unhealthy people who are concerned on the success as opposed to their health. The birth of tragedy is a direct interpretation of the result of ambition by the modern world. This puts a certain amount of pressure on the entire community which adheres to the societal norms. One of the factors to note is the emphasis the writer places in his dismay on the tragedy. Tragedy is a situation that cannot be avoided in any social arrangement. It can be enhanced by the occurrences that people experience on a day to day basis.

In conclusion, the birth of tragedy is representative of a new form of calamity. Some of these situations can be avoided if the society is to revaluate their stance on the need to industrialise. Despite the fact that the problem is a direct scientific problem, it cannot be fixed using science. This creates the provision for the use of philosophy as an avenue of problem solving. Tragedy can take several shapes and forms in life. It is thus essential to recognise the root of the tragedy so as to move forward as a society.

River Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, and longest in china.

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YANGTZE RIVER

Introduction

River Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, and longest in china. It is 6,300 kilometers long. Its source is on the western side of Geladandong Mountain, the main peak of the Tangula Mountains on the flat land of Geladandong southwest of china. The most attractive part of the river is the gorges. This include the Qutang, Xling, Wuxia gorges also known as the Sanxia.

Qutang Gorge

The gorge is eight kilometers long; it starts from Baidicheng in the county of Fengjie to Daxizhen in the county of Wushan. It is the shortest of the three gorges, and the most magnificent. Immediately the raging river gets into the gorge it comes together with the daunting Kuimen Gate. The Rocky Mountains stand straight on both sides of the river, narrowing the river to 100 to 200metres, with the narrowest section measuring a few meters in breadth as it gets to the gorge. The raging waters flowing into the gorge makes the most glorious scenes. There are numerous, attractive sites in the gorge. On top of the hill on the northern bank lies Baidicheng town. On the southern banks is the legendary Meng Liang’s Ladder.

Wuxia Gorge  

The gorge is approximately 45 kilometers long. It begins in Danning River in the county of Wushan to Guandukou situated the county of Badong, Hubei province. The deep and peaceful scenes make the gorge a main attraction. The most beautiful is the twelve peaks found on both sides of the river banks. There are numerous historical sites too. Zigui town receives many tourists as it is the homeland of the beautiful Wang Zhaojun and the famous poet Qu Yuan. On the western entrance, of the gorge is flanked by unusual peaks such as the Dicui, Bawu, and Longmen with some going up into the clouds presenting an extraordinary sight.

 Xling Gorge

It is the longest of the three gorges. It starts from the west all through to the east and is approximately 76 kilometers long. It starts from the Xiangxi River in Zigui, in the province of Hubei to Nanjing. The gorge is split in two sections; the western section is consists up of the military Book, Sword Gorge, Lung gorge, Kong ling gorge, and Bulls Liver gorge. The east section consists of the Shadow Play gorge, and the yellow Cat Gorge also called the Yinchuan in the Hubei Province. There are various ancient sites on the gorge which includes the Huangling Temple, Luyou Fountain, and the Visitors cave.

Pollution

In the recent past, the Yangtze River has been under threat due to pollution. It absorbs 40 percent of china’s waste water with 80 percent being untreated. The major culprits of polluting the river are industries, agricultural pollution, and waste from ships. It was found that most industries dumped untreated waste into the river. Chemicals being used by farmers are being washed into the river. Shipping vessels also dump untreated waste in the river. Some local people are also ignoring the damage to the river, most of them are still continuing with activities causing pollution like ship building, chemical making, and other harmful activities.

Conclusion

People living along the river should take the initiative of protecting the river themselves as it is their source of water. Local governments should take the necessary steps to deal with the people who are polluting the river, and put in place tough measures to discourage other people from polluting the river. The community living along the river should be educated on the importance of keeping the river clean.

Aloian, Molly. The Yangtze: China’s majestic river. New York: Crabtree Pub., 2010.

Jackie Hill the Pace Setter.

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Jackie Hill the Pace Setter.

Candid conversations fill the room together with lively laughter and smiles that show how content and excited Jackie Hill is as she narrates how she rose to prominence as a nurse. She works at East Bank Hospital as a registered Nurse a profession she has been working in for the past eight years. She takes me down through memory lane and remembers how she got to the nursing profession. It is evident that she understood what her purpose in life would be at a young age. Jackie Hill states that she believes God called her into service and to do something towards catering for the needs of individuals that are ailing, and to give hope to those that feel miserable and helpless. Fresh out of college, newly wedded and expecting her first child, she tenderly reflects on one of the most difficult yet exciting days she has experienced in the nursing profession over the period of close to 36years now. Having a loving and really young family to care for at that time, made it easier for her to care for other patients. The world has changed tremendously and so has the nursing profession and us certainly cannot run away from the change we got to embrace it, she states.

Jake Hills Personality can be evaluated using the Five Personality factors. The first is her openness towards her emotion, she has a big imagination and is quite inquisitive. Her confidence and professionalism is evident in the way she addresses everyone with respect and also follows the moral compass that guides her as a nurse and in this case a manager. The other directors and leaders in her institutions rely heavily on the vast knowledge and skills that Jackie Hill possess. She provides guidance, advocates for the needs of other staff members and most importantly, champions for the safety and well-being of the patients. From how she articulates issues, and responds to other leaders and colleagues in the institution it shows that she clearly loves and enjoys her job.

Her self-discipline and how she is able to do her work also portrays the second factor which is conscientiousness. With her nature of work, she is as orderly as possible and like to have her things neat. She is always full of energy and always wants to contribute in meetings bringing out her assertive nature. The position that Jackie Hill now holds is far from where she started right after graduating from nursing school. She could not get to the highest level of management during those early years as the management positions were dominated by men and most women did not get past the clerical jobs. Like most women from her generation show strived to advance her studies and to rise above the limitations that had been set by the society. This aspect of her life brings out her extroversion. She works really well with people a factor that contribute to her rising in various ranks. She loves taking on roles of group leader and leading her group through the challenges that present herself in her line of work. What motivated her the most, was the urge to break the inequalities in health witnessed and to also ensure she was competitive as her male counterparts who she felt the system favored them more than the women. Jackie Hill kept overcoming and breaking the barriers that were on her way and promised herself that she was going to be the best nurse and also show other women that they can also recreate their lives by carving out their niches and by being on top and being the best at whatever little assignment they undertake.

The fourth personality is her agreeable character. People seem to love her and she has a way with people most people liking her. She is very friendly to approach and most interns will agree that she is a nurse that people can easily approach her in case they get stuck or have any question about anything. Her dedication and diligence to the work she does is evident. Jackie Hill has studied far and wide and has acquired profound understanding and knowledge on key and critical issues. She understands that innovation is the future and for that particular reason she is the brains behind most technological trends in nursing. She advocates for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing as she strongly believes it will result in improved patient outcome as well it will improve how nurses practice. She is committed to her organization as well as the individuals she leads. “I strongly believe that, underneath the task of being a nurse is a wonderful commitment to make thigs better than they are today.” This is one of her best quotes which she always says with a lot of conviction being elaborated as she speaks. She says that what has kept her grounded is ambition and also the commitment to making things easier for everyone and hence she ensures that her colleagues and she work round the clock to make things easier because if left that way without any form of improvement a great deterioration will be witnessed.

On problem solving she really works well with people in case a problem comes up. One instance is when she worked as a nurse, a patient did come in complaining that her wound had gotten worse from an infection and she was laying blame to the hospital. She was really violent and did not want to listen to anyone. When Jackie came, she was able to calm her down by agreeing to what the patient was saying. According to her at times the patient may be wrong but at times it is important to give them a listening year so that a consensus is reached. Jackie had a talk with the patient, she helped clean her wound and gave her medication. Every single day she made time to call the patient on directions on how to clean up and take care of her wound thus avoiding the infection.

Slowly but surely, Jackie Hill has made way up her career ladder. From working as a clerk to now being a director at Mary’s Manger Hospital. She kept her vision and she took care of what she had to take care of for her to rise to that position of leadership. She shared what made her so stubborn and resilient with her goals is that she understands that she has a lot of learning to do as well as the fact that she saw the value in her entry level job. She also has not forgotten to thank the people that have played a critical role in supporting her as she grows in her career. Her patience has seen her obtain great mentors who guide her on the way she should go and how she will conduct herself and how to solve the problems as they arise. JH believes in the empowerment of women and young adults or the youth and in the course of her career she has gained and rallied dozens of women really powerful, influential and strong and intelligent women to work with her. She has changed the narrative that a field that was dominated by the men has gotten a chance and more and more women are taking up positions of leadership.

Jackie Hill legacy can be witnessed in everything that she touches. Both men and women, the young and the old hold a lot of respect and admiration for her 36years of service that has led to the creation of a wonderful professional status quo as well as influencing women to believe in themselves and be the best.

Critical Assessment of the Absolute Truth Claims Warning Sign in When Religion Becomes Evil

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Critical Assessment of the Absolute Truth Claims Warning Sign in “When Religion Becomes Evil

Introduction

This paper posits to provide a Critical Assessment of the Absolute Truth Claims Warning Sign in “When Religion Becomes Evil. Charles Kimball, in “When Religion Becomes Evil”, not only provides illustrations of corruption inside religion, but also provides warning signs that would indicate a religion’s rally toward corruption. The author also presents insights for diverse religions to embrace, in order to flourish in the contemporary pluralistic world. Regrettably, his munificent motives are loaded with logical discrepancies, exegetical myths, and theological delusions. A brief synopsis of his, the Absolute Truth Claims Warning Sign would be pursued by a rejoinder. Kimball cautions on the foremost warning indications of fraud in religion that customarily leads to violence as well as wickedness in the world (Kimball 186). Kimball’s conclusion is that religious communities require establishing what he refers as an all-encompassing faith anchored in tradition, through devising innovative paradigms, innovative ways of understanding in addition to, practicing their particularity in the center of pluralism, while at the same time maintaining their custom’s authentic sources.

THESIS STATEMENT

Humanity ought to be responsive when individuals or communities, demand that their understanding of a religious text must be regarded as the absolute truth.

A Concise Synopsis of the Absolute Truth Claims “Warning Sign”. According to Kimball, Absolute truth would refer to an inflexible approach to select truth claims that disregard or deny any verification of truth in any other traditions. Consequently, Kimball creates a dichotomy linking truth claims, and the absolute truth claims, the latter are considered as being hazardous (Kimball 44). Kimball does not conflict with the truth claims, although he advocates that when they develop into being dogmatic and rigid they transmute into “absolute” truth claims. Consequently, one ought to be aware of the intrinsic dangers of this variety of truth. Similar to the majority of pluralists, one may envisage that Kimball embraces a relativistic perception of truth; however, this is does not appear to be the case. Kimball does not hold that the truth claims in every religion are identical. In contrast, only the established religions that bear pragmatic value ought to be regarded as valid religions. Kimball is not a pure realist either, because he supposes that there are objective criterions for appraising value judgments inside religions, even though he does not provide any (25).

Kimball looks relatively at different religious causes that inspire violence. Kimball, reminiscent of Juergensmeyer, recognizes that religion is not the singular motivator or the irreproachable victim that triggers religious terrorism. Regardless of the innate human desire for religion, which Kimball affirms as essential to humanity’s sense of meaning, he nevertheless discerns that religion may become evil and inspire mankind into enacting evil (Juergensmeyer 62). Through a comparative approach, he identifies these fundamentals as underlying impetus for religious violence current in plural spiritual traditions. Kimball appends his argument of absolute truth claims to construal of scripture advocated by fundamentalist. Principally as apocalyptic literature is translated literally, it grants an appalling mandate for individuals to engage in contemporary violence (Hoffman 14).

Assessment of the Kimball’s Argument. It is regrettable, since the subject is too imperative to be handled so imprecisely. It is apparent that Kimball genuinely intends to examine and argue what it is in relation to religion that makes it susceptible to evil construal, but what makes his dignified aspiration a disappointment is his remorseful approach. Kimball, similar to numerous apologists earlier than him, is not capable to recognize that to confront the malevolence in religion, humanity must proclaim some spiritual “truths” as invalid. When, for instance, Christians declare that Jesus is the only Messiah is the single way for individuals to formulate atonement, they may either disagree with themselves or function in an unchristian manner, if they do not endeavor to plead their case other people in order that they may also have faith in Jesus. In any case, they would be rightfully accused of failing to take their own religion sincerely (Juergensmeyer 25).

So as to avoid malicious confrontations with other religions, Christians are required to be open to the likelihood that they are in the wrong, that individuals may function increasingly well exclusive of Jesus. However, that would be an unorthodox act for a genuine Christian. In the opinion of this paper, the reflection of Kimball on every one of the five warning signs is fundamentally superficial; hence, they are worth questioning. Similar to Kimball, it may be important to endeavor to find constructive alternatives to the warning precursors. Religion plays an essential part in a number of people’s lives, therefore that makes its threats the concern for everybody. It is patently obvious that religions may make declarations of absolute truth. At any rate, this is the scenario in the conventional traditions. Spiritual humanism is a comparatively new phenomenon that is only acknowledged in the Jewish society as a way for the Jewish community to uphold their identity while discarding the covenant among God and Abraham (32).

However, Kimball does not refute that every religion alleges to embrace the truths in relation to divinity. On the other hand, he emphasize that, it is not necessary to universalize these allegations, since a critical and moderate approach to truth is achievable. At the outset, it may appear as an appropriate concept, but following reflection on what it intended, it may be found to be illogical. There is some unconformity to the whole concept of truth-value, as Christians claim that Jesus is deity they make a declaration that is either factual or false. However, when relativists allege that Jesus is deity to some communities at times, they merely make an observation that communities have dissimilar opinions in relation to Jesus (Kimball 52). This may as well mean that, this solution to the impasse of absolute truth claims may not be sound, since it is not appropriate to offer a substitute answer to a question by reinstating the question.

CONCLUSION

It is uncomplicated to be in agreement with Kimball when he cautions on uncritical and selective reading of religious texts. This is the prevalent grounds for tension, since small discrepancies in understanding have frequently led to dramatic clashes in religious communities. The fact that the majority of individuals read religious texts, including the Bible, in translation it does not facilitate consistency on what is the true meaning of a certain paragraph. It follows that, religious texts are read in extremely different ways considering the deficient translations, the time span since the texts were documented, in addition to, the cultural context is entirely disparate. However, this paper concurs with Kimball in that he proposes that humanity ought to be aware when somebody demands that their understanding of a religious text must be regarded as the absolute truth. Notwithstanding several positive aspects found in the book, it is important to recognize the fundamental discrepancies between religions, in addition to, a perceptive of the nature of truth. Although his intentions are commendable, Kimball fails to offer a viable option for contemporary religious reflection.

Works Cited

Hoffman, B. Inside Terrorism. New York: Columbia U.P. 2000. Print.

Kimball, C. When Religion Becomes Evil: Five Warning Signs. New York: HarSan Francisco. 2002. Print.

Juergensmeyer, M. The Latest Cold War? Spiritual Nationalism Meets the Secular State. Berkeley: University of California Press. 2000. Print.