Personal Identity and Its Effect on Pre-procedural Anxiety

Personal Identity and Its Effect on Pre-procedural Anxiety 1.0 Introduction In contemporary healthcare systems, one of the key ways of diagnosing and treating medical conditions is through invasive and minimally invasive procedures on patients. Some of these procedures are accessing the intravenuous system for treatment (venipunctures), blood collection for investigations (phlebotomy), lumbar punctures and biopsies. Regardless of age, sex or ethnicity, patients endure anxiety and pain associated with these invasive procedures (American Pain Society, 2001). In spite of minimal tissue damage in these procedures, anxiety about the procedure and associated pain, may cause considerable distress in patients. This may affect the coping mechanism, even in a well functioning individual. This has been studied by McCleane and Cooper (1990), Augustin and Haynes (1996) and Garbee (2000). A number of researches have been conducted to determine and control anxiety in patients who are subjected to such procedures. Based on these studies, patient education programs (McDonald and Green, 2002), alternative therapies (Noreed, 2000), pharmaceutical therapies (Smith and Pittaway, 2002) and musical therapies (Elliot, 2004) have been proposed to a varying extent. An important point to note is that musical therapies, education programs and patient educational programs may be time-consuming and may be of limited practicality in a busy hospital environment. On the other hand, pharmaceutical therapies may cause side-effects associated with drugs. Therefore, a simplistic approach, which could provide comfort and relieve the pre-procedural anxiety, is the need of this surgical era. No research has been found on invoking personal identity and its effect on pre-procedural anxiety. Therefore, this research aims to fulfill this gap. Hospitals and health care institutions are unpleasant environments with a general appearance of illness and death. It is an environment where one is separated by friends and family and is surrounded by strangers. A person who is being subjected to a procedure at a hospital may already contemplate on the potential illness that the person may be subjected to. This may lead to a temporary feeling of anxiety (Coyle, 1999). According to Spielberger et al (1970) anxiety is divided into two factors, state anxiety (also known as somatic anxiety) and trait anxiety. State anxiety is temporary or circumstantial arousal and trait anxiety is the permanent change of personality characteristics associated with anxiety. According to Kent (1998), state anxiety may cause physiological arousal, and activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. This is characterized by increased pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and increase cardiac output (Bally et al, 2003). Research by Hayes et al (2003), asserts that reducing the state anxiety is important before a diagnostic procedure to promote relaxation and to prevent possible complications; such as procedure becoming more painful, difficult, prolonged and increased probability of after effects. When a procedure becomes difficult to administer, doctors may also postpone or cancel the procedure, placing the patient at a dis advantage. Addressing patients’ emotions through an evidence-based management is important for nurses to increase the patient outcome. Psychosocial nursing interventions, emotional presence and establishment of trust between the nurses and the patient, has the potential to mitigate patient’s fear and anxiety or stress to a greater level. 1.1 Pain and Anxiety Associated with Invasive Procedures Studies have concluded that pain associated with a procedure may be severe than that actual illness that needs investigation (Finley and Scheter, 2003). The procedure itself may have an effect on the pain that is experienced by the patient, which is based on the patient’s perception, which in turn, can be influenced by factors including past experience, psychological state, hearsay knowledge and the patient’s level of understanding (Rawe et. al., 2009). According to Brennan, Carr and Cousins (2007), effects of pain can be short and long-term, which are not gender, age or ethnicity-specific. A number of studies have confirmed the psychological effects of pain, which include anxiety, anger and fear as well as physical effects, such as changes in metabolic functions, heart functions and functions related to blood (Ferrell, 2005; Gordon et al., 2005; Mertin, et.al., 2007). Most common long-term effects of pain are, insomnia and depression (Berenholtz, et. al., 2002). Several studies have noted that there is a positive relationship between anxiety and pain, in a clinical setting (Sternbach, 1968; Melzack, 1973). According to Kain et. al. (2001), severity levels of pain are directly proportionate to anxiety levels due to activities in the hippocampal network, which causes behavioural conflict in the brain. This is resolved by sending and amplification signal to the neural representation of the painful event, which causes anxiety in the pe rson. This was verified by Ploghaus et. al. (2001) using a series of event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) studies, which concluded that anxiety-induced hyperalgesia is associated with activation in the entorhinal cortex of the hippocampal formation. Van den Broek, Hejimans and Van Assen (2012) focused on the emotional distress caused by the procedure of implanting a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), an invasive procedure, in 343 patients.. All subjects demonstrated distress through anxiety and depression immediately after the procedure as well as during follow-up timelines. 1.2 Psychological Techniques used to Reduce Pre-procedural Anxiety Healthcare personnel have discovered a number of methods to reduce anxiety of patients through psychological intervention techniques. One of the methods employed by clinical nurses is through therapeutic touch. Cox and Hayes (1997) performed a quasi-experimental study based on patients at a district General Hospital in East London, which concluded that therapeutic touch aids in reducing anxiety of the patients. Another method which has been researched is, on the effect of music as an intervention for reducing the pre-procedural anxiety in hospitalized adult patients (Gillen, Billey Allen, 2008). This was performed through Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) of 832 adult patients The researchers concluded that psychological outcomes show anxiety was reduced to a greater extent as a result of music listening interventions, demonstrated by reduction of blood pressure, respiration rate and heart rate. A study performed by Hawley (2009), explored nurse strategies which were perceived as comforting by patients. The sample size was 14 patients in the emergency department of a hospital in New York. The study concluded that positive talk, vigilance and attending to physical discomforts were among the top five factors that reduced anxiety. Hawley (2009) concluded that the study â€Å"supports the provision of comfort as an integral part of emergency nursing practice and a critical aspect of care.† A research with 580 mentally alert adults were selected for a study by Whelchel (2004) to identify the effect of caring behaviour by nurses on ED patients. At the end of the study and data analysis, the researchers reported that treating the patients like an individual, was considered to be the most important trait in reducing the anxiety of emergency room patients, followed by knowing what they were doing, being kind and considerate, treating the patient with respect, giving the patient their full attention, knowing how to administer injections and insert intravenous catheters. 1.3 Self Esteem and Anxiety From the beginnings of scientific psychology, the idea that people wish to maintain high levels of self-esteem has been a central theme in many studies (Horney, 1937; James, 1890). The idea of self-esteem generally means one’s own evaluation of him or herself. Self-esteem is also seen as a critical function for social and mental well-being of a person. Self-esteem induces and maintains personal goals and motivations and according to a study by Mann et. al. (2001), conclusive evidence exists that self-esteem leads to better mental health. Mann et.al. (2001) assert that a series of psychological problems, both internalizing and externalizing can be caused by poor self-esteem. The researchers conclude that self-esteem acts as a protective factor and is a core element in the promotion of mental health. Greenberg, Pyszczynski and Solomon (1986) argue that self-esteem provides a buffer against anxiety, focusing primarily on the fear of human beings towards mortality. Through empirical evidence, the researchers have concluded high-level of self-esteem reduces anxiety and behaviour that relates to anxiety. Three studies were conducted by Greenberg, et. al. (1992:1, 1992:2, 1993) to identify the direct evidence for the effect of self-esteem on anxiety. In the first study (Greenberg et. al., 1992:1), participants received positive and negative feedback about their personality, which was false. Then one group was shown a video which threatens of death, whereas the second group was shown a neutral video. The dependent variable in this study was state anxiety and the hypothesis was that bolstering self-esteem would reduce anxiety in response to the threat. The study concluded that participants with low self-esteem had the highest anxiety. A second study was partaken with participants being given bogus feedback on an intelligence test (Greenberg el. Al. , 1992:2). Following the feedback, participants were told that they would receive an electric shock or a neutral stimulation. The dependent variable was physiological arousal and the hypothesis was that the participants with bolstered self-esteem would experience reduced physiological arousal in anticipating electric shocks. The conclusion of the study was that neutral self-esteem-threat the participants having highest anxiety. A third study by Greenberg et. al. (1993) was with participants, who were provided with either positive or neutral feedback regarding their personality and a emotionality scale test, where the dependent variable was emotionality and the hypothesis was high self-esteem would reduce the participants’ anticipation of a short life-expectancy. The study concluded that participants with negative feedback information led to low self-esteem. Based on these studies, researchers Greenberg et. al. (1992:1, 1992:2, 1993) developed anxiety-buffer hypothesis which led to the conclusion that self-esteem provides protection against anxiety and one who has an increased self-esteem becomes less-prone to anxiety when exposed to threatening situations later. 1.4 Personal Identity and Name Personal Identity deals with oneself and issues that arise by the virtue of being an individual and it has its own attributes that make a person unique and different from the rest. Personal identity has its own properties, such as name, appearance, preferences which make a person unique. At present, an estimated 120 million babies are born on earth in a year (Deluzain, 1996). Sooner or later, they undergo the process of receiving a name. Names are part of all cultures and they are equally important to the person who receives the name as well as the society which the person lives in. The most important part of a person’s identity is the name. It is of important for the individual and the society as a whole. Inspite of its importance, not many people know or interested in knowing the effect of name on us and our children in this world although we are considered as the â€Å"consumers of names†. Researches show that one of the reasons for couples to have children is to perpetuate the family name (Arnold and Kuo, 1984; Callan and Kee, 1981; Ramu and Tavuchis, 1986). A research by Howard et. al. (1997) concluded that students felt proud when professors in their university remembered them by the name. A century ago, anthropologists identified that there has never been an ancient civilization, which did not allocate first names to people, in the recorded history. Many ancient cultures believed that not having a name is equivalent to not having an identity or honour (Frommer, 1982). At present, in most countries, parents are required to register the birth of a child through the child’s name. This is a legal requirement, which is the first time a child is given a legal identity. The birth certificate received by the parents becomes an essential document for admitting a child to school, obtaining healthcare and other basic services from the society. The existence of a name of a person is not only important to the person psychologically, but it is also of religious, social and legal importance because our identities are associated intuitively through the name. When one’s name is mispronounced, it may sound resentful to the person. Most people, especially when communicating with persons of different cultures, take extreme care to ensure the names are not mispronounced. Studies have revealed that mispronunciation of the name amounts to distortion of one’s identity (Deluzain, 1996). Freud identified the psychological effects of distortion of one’s name, deliberately or accidentally. According to Freud’s observations, people of aristocratic class, who wielded economic and political power tended to mispronounce their doctors’ names (Deluzain, 1996). The explanation for this was the aristocrats’ psychological need to show their superiority over the doctors, who wielded the power of one’s life and death. A similar event is seen in Shakespeare’s play, King John, where the character Philip Faulconbridge was found to be the illegitimate son of Richard the Lionheart, which made him King John’s half-brother. In the aftermath, King John orders Philip Faulconbridge’s name to be changed to Richard Plantagenet and deliberately refers to Philip as Peter (Shakespeare, 1623). This is a clear example of how Shakespeare presented the idea that mis-representation of a person’s name amounts to mis-representation of the person. The psychological significance of names are so high, that two separate researches have concluded that people have a strong affiliation with letters of the alphabet in their own names than ones which are not in their names (Koole, Dijksterhuis, and van Knippenberg, 2001; Nuttin, 1985; Greenwald and Banaji, 1995). The research by Greenwald and Banaji (1995) concluded that people positively associate themselves with letters in their names, as they are considered to direct reflection of the person, although there doesn’t appear to be any pragmatic reason for this association. This positive association of one’s name and even the letters of the name with oneself has a general tendency to make a person feel good (Greenwald and Banaji, 1995; Hetts and Pelham, 2001). The connection between name and identity is also emphasized by research that portrays changing of one’s name leading to changing of one’s personal identity (Lawson, 1984; Kang, 1972). In certain villages in China, men are allocated an additional name based on the social transitions, such as marriage. On the contrary, women do not receive additional names, which imply that they never attain complete personhood (Watson, 1986). A research by Howard et. al. (1997) concluded that students felt proud when professors in their university remembered them by the name. A century ago, anthropologists identified that there has never been an ancient civilization, which did not allocate first names to people, in the recorded history. Many ancient cultures believed that not having a name is equivalent to not having an identity or honour (Frommer, 1982). 1.5 Self-Esteem and Personal Identity The idea that people strive to keep a high level of motivation maintain high-level of self-esteem is widely accepted and is considered as a postulate or an accepted fact. Theories suggest that behaviours such as aggression, love, deviance and even altruism are due to ultimate belief that humans wish to be seen as valuable (Heine et al, 1999). Studies have been done only recently to determine whether this is always true and whether it is universal (Baumeister, 1998; Heine et al, 1999). However, still, a significant majority of psychological theories consider the need of humans to maintain high-levels of self-esteem as a postulate. Coyle (1999), presented a concept called personal identity threat in healthcare settings which is one of the key concepts of patient dissatisfaction in healthcare. According to Coyle’s research, people who were generally unhappy with the overall healthcare experience they receive, is mainly due to them being treated as non-persons, which is also termed dehumanization. This study asserts that the person’s name has a significant effect on one’s own identity. According to Coyle’s research (1999), people who were generally unhappy with the overall healthcare experience they receive, is mainly due to them being treated as non-persons, which is also termed dehumanization. 40 out of 41 patients interviewed by Coyle stated that they were treated as, an ‘object’ and on deep exploration, Coyle identified that the patients were referred by numbers on a file (such as patient number 49) instead of the name, which gave the patient the notion of being dehuma nized. This study asserts that the person’s name has a significant effect on one’s own identity. The above studies indicate that self-esteem is connected with personal identity, where invoking personal identity increases one’s self-esteem. One of the most key attributes of personal identity of an individual is the name. A number of studies, particularly by Greenberg et. al. (1992:1, 1992:2, 1993, 1996) concluded that self-esteem acts as an anxiety buffer. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of addressing a patient by name on pre-procedural anxiety level of in-ward patients, who are undergoing basic blood investigations in a large private hospital in Colombo. The hypothesis tested in this research was, talking to patients by addressing them by name, before an invasive procedure, reduces the pre-procedural anxiety level of hospital patients, than talking to them without referring by name or not talking to them at all.

The Increasing Value of Information Technology

Information technology is any field that involves computer technology. This includes hardware maintenance, software development, networking solutions and technical support. Modern businesses all over the world rely on computers to function and maintain high standards of efficiency and customer service. Without IT professionals, companies would not have qualified professionals to help maintain the technological elements inherent to their daily business needs. Why does I. T needed on Business? Speed Nowadays what the businesses need is the sheer speed at which computers and related technologies can process information. Email is a perfect example, as it eliminates the need to wait several days for a packet of documents to reach a client or business associate. IT can speed up the time it takes new products to reach the market. Computer-assisted design and manufacturing software speed up decision making. From innovations in microprocessors to efficient drug delivery systems, information technology helps businesses respond quickly to changing customer requirements. Efficiency Increased speed often leads to increased efficiency. While eliminating the need to wait for packages or sensitive materials to arrive, businesses are able to receive and respond to changes instantly. This improved response time almost guarantees a higher chance at eliminating potential issues by allowing businesses to react quickly. * Multi-Tasking Another business advantage of information technologies is the ability of computers to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Provided the hardware is ble to support it, the operator may have several different programs functioning at the same time. For example you have a client and you are making conversation with him/ her but at the same time you need to complete the financial report of the company. With the help of I. T. you may chat with your client at the same time you use the excel for the fast computation. * Low Cost IT allows companies to reduce transaction and implementation costs. For example, the cost of a desktop computer today is a fraction of what it was in the early 1980s, and yet the computers are considerably more powerful. IT-based productivity solutions, from word processing to email, have allowed companies to save on the costs of duplication and postage, while maintaining and improving product quality and customer service. Uses of I. T in Business Online Advertising One of the main advantages of information technology is the ability for companies throughout many different industries to advertise their products and services via the Internet An example of this is Facebook advertising, as of now many sellers are using this social networking site to post their adds and some of them started their business in facebook . Money Transfer Online shopping, bill payments and funds transfers are also key examples of how businesses utilize information technology. By allowing consumers to access products and services from any computer, whether at work or at home, companies have made it easier than ever for people to move money. For example; nowadays in business transferring money is not a problem anymore because of I. T with just one click in Mozilla or in Google chrome you can search any online money transfer, unlike few centuries ago you still need to go to the nearest money gram. Communication One of the most powerful business tools that technology was provided is the ability to communicate worldwide almost without restrictions. E-mail and web cameras have greatly increased the efficiency of conference calls by allowing meetings to be conducted internationally. For example; cellular phones and laptops are the most useful things that were created by the I. T. with the help of cellular phones you can call any business partner you need to make an important conversation, anytime and aywhere. Portability The development of laptop computers and cellular phones have allowed anyone to work from anywhere. As technology enables us to make powerful computers smaller, we become free to travel or even exercise while still monitoring our businesses. Data Storage Every business had to maintain enormous stockpiles of paper documents, technology has enables the modern business to minimize the amount of files they must warehouse. The first rule of Information Technology management is that one copy of business data is never enough; you have to secure your business data by backing it up. An example of this is the portable flash drives. With just one click you have double copy of your file. Ihat t give us not just hard copy but also soft copies.

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Robert Louis Stevenson Influences - 1344 Words

External Influences on Stevenson’s Writings â€Å"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde† by Robert Louis Stevenson was a familiar title to me and prior to reading it I believed I was well versed about the story. I knew that Dr. Jekyll was an intelligent man who experimented with the idea of creating a more powerful version of him that would release his deepest inhibitions. In addition, I believed that the people of the town were not fully aware of Mr. Hyde, only that there was a monster running about the city creating havoc. The townspeople would not be directly affected by Mr. Hyde and I most certainly never thought that Mr. Hyde was capable of murder. Furthermore, it was my thought that when people referred to another†¦show more content†¦At this time in history, religion generally played an important role in people’s lives, for instance, the North American colonists broke apart from England on the basis of religious freedoms. Stevenson did not conform to these norms and at times would allude to his atheistic views and beliefs (Teuber). Not only was one’s upbringing important, but the era was vital toward the success and intrigue from the novel. This was a time in history before the invention of graphic moviesShow MoreRelated Robert Louis Stevensons Impact on British Literature 869 Words   |  4 PagesRobert Louis Stevenson ranks in the upper echelons of writers in British literature. He is one of the most popular writers of the nineteenth century. Stevenson had a great range of skill in producing works in the form of poetry, plays, short stories, essays and novels. A variety of aspects of his very own life and personal experiences were implemented into his literary works. The romance novel is that of which he is best became known for. His works are still studied and observed in today’sRead MoreIdeas Of Good And Evil Follow From The Earliest Of Days.847 Words   |  4 PagesIdeas of good and evil follow from the earliest of days. Robert Louis Stevenson’s parents lived devout in their C hristianity, but Stevenson did not follow their ideas. G.B. Stern suggests that â€Å"Although he had rejected the Calvinist doctrines his parents taught him, the focus of the interplay of good and evil continued to influence his imagination† (Stern). Stevenson forced his parents away, but their ideas stayed in his thoughts and even affected The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. HisRead MoreHow Good and Evil Are Portrayed in the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ( Not Finished Completely)852 Words   |  4 PagesThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde In the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ Robert Louis Stevenson explores humankinds conflicting forces of Good and Evil. Through the central characters and the key theme of the duplicity of mankind Robert Louis Stevenson successfully portrays the theme of Good and Evil in the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In the novel good is portrayed by Henry Jekyll and Gabriel Utterson. Mr. Utterson is a London lawyer and anRead MoreDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay800 Words   |  4 Pages Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay In Robert Louis Stevenson’s, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dr. Jekyll’s struggle between two personalities is the cause of tragedy and violence. Dr. Jekyll takes his friends loyalty and unknowingly abuses it. In this novella, Stevenson shows attributes of loyalty, how friendship contributes to loyalty, and how his own life affected his writing on loyalty. Stevenson expresses loyalty in many ways. For example, he establishes the friendship between Mr. Utterson, Dr. JekyllRead MoreAnalysis Of The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, By Robert Louis Stevenson1323 Words   |  6 Pagesthe literature of the time. An excellent example is, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, which gives a direct image of what Victorian era was like with his writing style as well as the story itself. Specifically, Stevenson portrays exactly how Victorian social life commenced as well as displays the main points of social standards of the time. Robert Louis Stevenson uses individual characters in the novella to accurately depict how people protected their social standingRead MoreThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde1200 Words   |  5 PagesBiography: Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson was born on November 13th, 1850 to (father) Thomas Stevenson and (mother) Margaret Isabella Balfour. Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh. At the age of 17, he enrolled at Edinburgh University where he planned on studying engineering. He instead took courses to study law, and passed all of them in 1875, but he later abandoned this because he wanted to be a writer. His first published work was an essay entitled â€Å"Roads.† Stevenson met his wifeRead MoreAn Analysis Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1729 Words   |  7 PagesTaking a Closer Look into the Story and Author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Nothing Mr. Stevenson has written as yet has so strongly impressed us with the versatility of his very original genius. An anonymous review in â€Å"The Times† noted Robert Louis Stevenson for his intelligence in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The review continued with saying that the story, be read as a finished study in the art of fantastic literature. Whoever was the anonymous person to state these things aboutRead MoreThe Strange Cause Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde1535 Words   |  7 PagesDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Louis Stevenson can be effectively analyzed through the effects of social masks, and what the characters symbolize in order to convey a way to understand ourselves and the world, bring consciousness about self perception and the negative effects of social pressure. To start with, in the novella the characters represent aspects of our society s ideologies that influence the way we behave and think. For example, Stevenson writes, â€Å"from both sides of my intelligenceRead More Repressed Personality and Sexual Subtleties in Robert Louis Stevenson Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1366 Words   |  6 Pagesrepression In the reference book Victorian Britain: An Encyclopedia Stevenson is noted for saying that fiction should render the truths that make life significant (760). We see this most closely in his Jekyll/Hyde experiment when Jekyll explains why he invented his infamous potion. Jekyll says: I concealed my pleasures; and when I reached years of reflection...I stood already committed to a profound duplicity of life (Stevenson, 42). Because of this feeling of being one thing in the publics eyeRead MoreStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde1580 Words   |  6 Pagesthe failure of evil, so we have to ask ourselves whether good can be separated from evil. â€Å"Great people are involved in bad things this is the fact of life, yet this does not make them evil† (Stevenson pp 28-75). Using the central characters and the key theme of the duplicity of mankind Robert Louis Stevenson strategically uncovers the broad theme of good and evil in the book. By the use of the character Dr. Jekyll, the author is able to symbolize â€Å"good†. Mr. Utterson who is a lawyer based in London

Essay on Racism, Racial Profiling and Segregation in America

--we are all complicit and we all carry a certain responsibility for Americas original sin: racism. -- David Bedrick As I walked into the State University Student Center one morning, a disturbing sight immediately struck me. The sight that lay before my eyes was not only very disturbing but also very common at State University. Although the Supreme Court in 1954 in Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education declared segregation illegal, our student center today probably looks the way diners looked sixty years ago. Blacks are sitting in a secluded section of the Student Center; while whites are sitting in their own self-designated section. The segregation between blacks and whites in the State University Student Center is simply a†¦show more content†¦White supremacy and black inferiority have been an epidemic in our nation since the founding of our country. Our country is said to be one of the greatest democratic countries of all time; nevertheless, we have faced great problems such as slavery and unfair distribution of wealth. Our Constitution has helped to shape one of the greatest democratic countries, but it can simultaneously be deprecated for its promotion of institutional racism. People such as Thomas Jefferson, who owned slaves, wrote the Constitution. As a result, our country was founded on white supremacist beliefs. Our founding fathers were supposed to be drafting one of the greatest democratic documents ever written, but at the same time they were taking away from blacks certain freedoms and unalienable rights, rights and freedoms that they themselves had fought for against the British. Our foundi ng fathers spoke of equality and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but at the same time, they owned slaves and viewed them as property. Because slave owners such as Thomas Jefferson were our founding fathers, our country was founded not only on the idea of democracy, but white supremacy. Unfortunately, our country has had to struggle since the writing of the Constitution to amend these ideas of white supremacy. Charles W.Show MoreRelatedRacial Profiling And The Civil Rights Movement1239 Words   |  5 PagesGiselle Cordero PSCI 246: Social Movements Outline Topic/Question: Have Black Lives Mattered? – Racial profiling in the justice system, increased incarceration of African Americans and the idea of â€Å"White Privilege† persists in the United States. 1. Introduction Even though America is the world dominating superpower and is known to intervene on behalf of the violation of human rights internationally, it fails to acknowledge and correct the flaws its legal and justice system present against itsRead MoreShould Racial Slurs Be Banned From Society?847 Words   |  4 PagesShould Racial Slurs be Banned from Society? Racial slurs have grown within American history as our society has developed into one of the greatest superpowers of the world. As a nation, America has fought several internal and external wars to advance into a free country and attain the rights it now holds. These rights, or moral principles, were established to protect the residents inhabiting each state. Countless rules of regulation against racism have been enforced by Congress beginning from theRead MoreRacism in America: From Jim Crow to Trayvon Martin1758 Words   |  7 PagesRacism in America: From Jim Crow to Trayvon Martin Racism in America: From Jim Crow to Trayvon Martin The recent case of Trayvon Martin has raised the issue of racism in America once again. Racism is an issue that has always troubled the United States since its beginning. From the time of slavery to the Jim Crow laws that followed the passing of the 13th Amendment; from the Civil Rights era to the Rodney King beating and subsequent riots in LA; from anger over apartheid in Africa to support ofRead MoreRacism : A Deeply Ingrained Problem1114 Words   |  5 PagesRacism is a deeply ingrained problem in our social systems. Even though we publicly denounce racism, it still continues to be an issue in our everyday lives. We choose to be ignorant of racism s influence until we see people affected by it on the news or in person. Even then, rarely do we choose to act upon what we see. The United States may have come a long way to completing Martin Luther King Jr s dream, but our biases are still a prominent issue today. In this country every race and everyRead MoreHow Racism Became A Problem Today1123 Words   |  5 PagesJae Xiong How Racism Became a Problem Today Racism is a deeply ingrained problem in our social systems. Even though we publicly denounce racism, it still continues to be an issue in our everyday lives. We choose to be ignorant of racism s influence until we see people affected by it on the news or in person. Even then, rarely do we choose to act upon what we see. The United States may have come a long way to completing Martin Luther King Jr s dream, but our biases are still a prominent issueRead MoreBlack Lives Matter Is An International Activist Movement1693 Words   |  7 Pagescommunity. The title Black Lives Matter is so broad that it correlates to many topics such as police brutality, racial profiling, racism, segregation, discrimination etc. â€Å"Racial Profiling† refers to the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials that targets individuals on suspicion of crime based on an individual s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin (â€Å"Racial Profiling: Definition†). Although this topic affects a wide array of communities it still pertains to citizens of colorRead MoreRacial Discrimination in the United States1042 Words   |  5 Pageshate; only love can do that.† After all of the history the world has with slavery, and racism, all that we’ve gone through, and have come from it’s about time that we put our differences aside, and accept each other for what we are, and aren’t. Racism is based on the belief that physical characteristics account for differences in character and ability, and that a particul ar race is superior to another. Racism has been going on since before anyone can remember whether it was owning a slave, killingRead MoreRacism : Racial Discrimination And Injustice1257 Words   |  6 Pagescreated what people now know of as racism. For centuries, racism has been a part of society, shaping the way humans view each other, but with the aid of Young Women s Christian Association (YWCA) - Stand Against Racism, racial discrimination and injustice can be eliminated. All across the United States, African Americans are faced with racial prejudice, a negative attitude towards a group of people based on race — not on direct knowledge or experience. This kind of racial prejudice began in the 17thRead MoreRacial Profiling by Police Essay1259 Words   |  6 Pages    There are many types of racism in America that cause people to make accusations against law enforcement for discrimination. One type of racism is racial profiling. It is a strategy that encourages police officers to stop and question minorities only because of their race. It takes place in a variety of routine police encounters. Unmotivated searches occur everyday among the minority groups. Could you imagine waking up and being scared to walk outside your house because of the color ofRead MoreEnding The Cycle Of Minority1585 Words   |  7 Pagestheir population based on religion, social status and language. The concept of Race and Racism has proven to be enduring, and has had underlying effects on our nation’s social and economic structure. Race has altered the fate of every one of us, causing vast socioeconomic disparities in America. In recent years, scholars, anthropologists and intellectuals have come to understand some of the devastating effects racism has had on North Americans and have recognized the need for widespread change. Race

Roles of Reality in Children’s Literature Free Essays

The Role of Reality in Children’s Literature Anna Scott The Role of Reality in Children’s Literature Historical Fiction Historical Realism attempts to recreate a reality of the past, to capture the milieu of a time gone by and must be set at least a generation before the writing of the book. It has the power to broaden our horizons, to learn more about the people and places of our world by reading about the past—where we all came from (Russell, 2009). One such powerful story, one of the inhumanity and sacrilege of World War II and a family’s journey through it all is Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars. We will write a custom essay sample on Roles of Reality in Children’s Literature or any similar topic only for you Order Now Family and Social Values Number the Stars is an excellent example of historical fiction which deals directly with the Nazi regime. Here and there is a bit of violence, suspense and fear of the soldiers, but it is mostly a story of bravery, courage, friendship and hope. A young girl named Annemarie Johanson grows up in occupied Denmark during the Second World War. She learns first-hand about the plight of the Jews in her country when she and her family help her best friend Ellen Rosen and her family escape to Sweden. A soldier appears when the Johanson’s take Ellen in for one night while Ellen’s mother and father are taken to a safe place. Annemarie helps Ellen by hiding her Star of David necklace so the soldiers do not see it. Ellen pretends to be Annemarie’s dead sister Lise and is hopeful that the soldiers do not find out. The next day Annemarie, her mother, Annemarie’s Uncle Henrik and Brother-in-law Peter help Ellen and her family flee to Sweden. During the most intense parts of the book, the two families (Johanson’s and Rosen’s) are often put face to face with the enemy. At one point, the family is gathered around a coffin along with other families in hopes to meet to discuss future events that will aid in their safe departure from the country. But when a soldier enters and demands the coffin be opened, the family must decide quickly a plan to fool the soldier and to convince him that they are truly mourning a death, and not conspiring against the soldiers. Uncle Henrik tells Annemarie: â€Å"It is much easier to be brave if you do not know everything†¦ e only know what we need to know† (Lowry, 1989) and Annemarie quickly discovers that it is better to know less than to know the truth, as the fear is so much more apparent when the truth is known. This story is filled with aspects of respect and unity as both families treat each other equally and protect each other, even though Ellen’s family is Jewish and Annemarie’s isn’t. Ellen and Annemarie’s friendship is a true testament to how far you will go to protect a friend. Almost every character exemplifies bravery in one way or another. Annemarie does not think she is brave even though she took her Uncle his forgotten â€Å"lunch† and takes on two German soldiers. When Uncle Henrik tells her, â€Å"That’s all that brave means, not thinking about the dangers. Just thinking about what you must do† (Lowry, 1989), Annemarie learns that being scared or frightened does not mean that one is not brave. Annemarie and her family push through the fears and the unknown to strive for what is right and what they believe in. Literary elements and structural devices Number the Stars is a serious yet hopeful story that provides details about wartime experience. Told in third person, Number the Stars reflects a child’s view of the Nazi occupation in Denmark. The characters main cultures are Danish, Jewish and German and it is assumed that the characters have traditional gender roles and behaviors. The story is set in the Protagonist against Society conflict where the protagonists are the main characters: Annemarie and her family and Ellen and her family and they are against the Nazis values and morals. Number the Stars is a coming of age story about family and close friends that entails the characters likes, dislikes, struggles and triumphs. Based in fact or History In Number the Stars, Lowry tells of the realistic story of life in Denmark during World War II through the lives of two young girls, but while reading there is not too much evidence that the story is not real. The book tells the true events of the Nazi soldiers in that time period as well as Jewish people becoming targeted by Nazi’s and other’s helping them hide. According to Lowry, Number the Stars is a novel that was inspired by a friend who had grown up in Denmark during World War II. It is based on hours of conversations with her friend and others who experienced the hardships of World War II and in much of her writing; Lowry tries to tell the big story by relating small details (â€Å"Study Guide for Number the Stars (pdf)†, n. d). Most of her explanation about where the story came from and where fact ends and fiction begins is at the end of the book in the Afterword. Here she explains that she had always been fascinated and moved by her friends descriptions not only of the personal deprivation and sacrifices that her family and neighbors suffered through but the courage and integrity of the Danish people and the leadership of the kind they loved, Christian X (â€Å"Study Guide for Number the Stars (pdf)†, n. d). Reading this afterword, adds an element to the story that you thought was already there. You can easily identify the time, place and discover the families while you are shown examples of honor, hope, friendship, bravery and courage all knowing that portions of the story have a small inkling of truth. Summary We read realism because we are interested in the lives of the characters—their loves, fears, likes, dislikes, struggles, and triumphs. What we learn is that human beings of different times and places have a great deal in common (Russell, 2009). In Number the Stars, there are lessons of friendship, honor, respect, unity, and bravery within the story. Lois Lowry gives us a moving story that shows us in the face of Nazi bigotry and hatred, honor and hope still prevail. We are told that we can learn from the past, that we can avoid the same mistakes however, covering it up does not erase it. Being ignorant only leaves us unprepared for the future so we should not only uncover the horrors of the past, but also show the glories as well. References EBOOK COLLECTION:  Russell, D. L. (2009). Literature for children: A short introduction (6th ed. ). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn Bacon. Lowry, L. (1989). Number the Stars. New York, New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Study Guide for Number the Stars (PDF). (n. d. ), Retrieved from http://www. glencoe. com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/number_the_stars. pdf How to cite Roles of Reality in Children’s Literature, Papers

Unfair Treatment of the Native Americans free essay sample

Unfair treatment of the Native Americans- the Cherokee Nation Throughout the 19th century Native Americans were treated far less then respectful by the United States government. This was the time when the United States wanted to expand and grow rapidly as a land, and to achieve this goal, the Native Americans were pushed westward. It was a memorable and tricky time in the Natives history. The US government made many treatments with the Native Americans, making big changes on the Indian nation.Native Americans wanted to live peacefully with the white men, but he result of treatments and agreements was not quite peaceful. In this essay will explain why and how the Native Americans Were treated by the United States government, in which way were the treaties broken and how the Native nation were affected by the 1 9th century happenings. I will focus mostly on the Cherokee Indians. During the asses and asses there were several conflicts between the British and French nations. This Great War of Empire or the Seven years War took place in the Carolinas and it was known as the Cherokee War between 1 756 and 1763. Europeans were struggling for North America in the 18th century, and each of them controlled a land in America: Florida was controlled by the Spanish, Canada and Louisiana was occupied by the French, and the British held the Atlantic seaboard. Europeans wanted to convince Indians to help them with the fight for North America, especially British and French competed for Cherokee allegiance. It turned out that Cherokees were helping the English at the beginning of the Seven Years War. In this way, the Cherokees were continually attacked by the French allies: the Choctaw and Iroquois.Because of these attacks, Cherokees asked the British to protect their families and homes by building forts. In 1756 Governor Glen of South Carolina agreed to build two forts for the Cherokees: the first one built on Savannah River is Fort Prince George, and the second one is Fort Loud built in eastern Tennessee. There was built a third fort in northern Tennessee by the Virginians and it is called the Virgin ia Fort. Virginia settlers attacked the Cherokees on their way to Coat, and killed some of them in brutal way. Then they took the scalps to Governor Denied.This attack was a mistake add by the Virginians, so Denied and the Virginians who had killed the Indians, apologized for their action. The Cherokee leader, Dad-Galatea also sent apologies to the governors because of the Virginia and North Carolina happenings. In this way, in November of 1 758 in Charleston party chiefs met with the governor and some officials, and peace was officially declared. After the Seven Years War hunger and disease decreased Cherokee population to one-half. Many treaties and agreements between Europeans and the Cherokees, the Indians has lost and sold the majority of their lands and they ere moved westward. Many Europeans married Cherokee women, and created mixed-blooded families. The French and Indian Wars conclusions led to the American Revolution, which began in 1763. In 1765 the British Parliament imposed direct taxes on the British American colonies. These taxes helped paying the troops in North America after the Seven Years War, but the colonists didnt sent representatives to the British Parliament, because they considered it a violation of their rights. This meant the beginning of the American Revolution. The Cherokees allied with the British in the American Revolution for several seasons.One reason was that the British stopped their colonists to settle beyond the Appalachian Mountains, and the Indians considered this as an attempt by the Crown to prevent mistreatment of native peoples. In 1776 the Cherokees took over the frontiers of Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas. The American soldiers didnt forget the thing that Cherokees were very close to win the Seven years War; so they wanted to revenge it. The Cherokees wanted to retake their land what was taken by white settlers through unfair treaties.The American Revolution has started in 1 776, and it Was a chance for he Cherokees to regain its land. While the Cherokees were uprising with the British, the commander of North Carolina troops, general Griffith Rutherford attacked the middle towns of the Cherokee nation. Soldiers killed every men and women on their way or they were taken as prisoners, and about 30 Cherokee towns were left without any supplies. This was known as the Cherokee Campaign. The American Revolution ended with peace agreements with the Cherokee Indians, and they gave up all the lands in the east of the Appalachians.Between 1776 and 1794 there were several treaties, managing, frontier battles of the Cherokees during and after the American Revolution against the American frontiersmen. This period was called the Chicagoan Wars which was a guerrilla-style war.. In November 1794 the Treaty of Telling Blockhouse was signed and this meant the end of the Chicagoan Wars. The blockhouse ran until 1 807 and its purpose was to keep the peace between the nearby Overfill Cherokee towns and the Euro- American settlers. In 1827 they proposed a written constitution which was adopted by the Cherokee National Council and it was the creation of the Cherokee republic. According to this Constitutional Convention the Cherokee tribe and the whites should adopt peace in terms of self government. The Cherokee republic had great effect on the US government putting it in crisis. The Cherokees created a state within a state which means violation of federal US law. Thus, they opened the Indian land to white settlers by letting the state governments to promote the removal of all Indian nations to the west of the Mississippi River. Throughout decades of treaties and negotiations, the Cherokees faced many challenges and disputes over land with the US government.After the civilization program, many Cherokees who opposed peaceful relations with the United States moved west into present-day Texas and Arkansas. Other Cherokees made peace with white Americans and started to live together. There were Cherokee traditionalists from the East who actively opposed assimilation with white people. In the late 1 8th and early 1 9th centuries the Cherokees were going through a time of rebirth and regeneration. After the American Revolution the Cherokees confronted with economic depression. They gave up their homes, villages, towns and hunting grounds to white Americans.Many Cherokees adopted customs, beliefs and lifestyles of white Americans; they profoundly assimilated White culture because in this way they hoped could survive as a nation in their homeland. In 181 9 Georgia appealed to the U. S. Government to remove the Cherokee from Georgia lands. When the appeal failed, attempts were made to purchase the territory. Meanwhile, in 1 820 the Cherokee established a governmental system modeled on that of the United States, with an elected principal chief, a senate, and a house of representatives. Because of this system, the Cherokee ere included as one of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes.The other four tribes Were the Chickasaws, Choctaw, Creek, and the Seminole. In 1832 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Georgia legislation was unconstitutional; federal authorities, following Jacksons policy of Native American removal, ignored the decision. About five hundred leading Cherokee agreed in 1 835 to cede the tribal territory in exchange for $5,700,000 and land in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Their action was repudiated by more than nine-tenths of the tribe, and several members of he group were later assassinated.In 1838 federal troops began forcible evicting the Cherokee. Approximately one thousand escaped to the North Carolina Mountains, purchased land, and incorporated in that state; they were the ancestors of the present-day Eastern Band. Most of the tribe, including the Western Band, was driven west about eight hundred miles in a forced march, known as the Trail of Tears. During the warfare of the 18th century and in the early 1 9th century beside the Cherokee culture and lifestyle, the Cherokee policy also has changed. Europeans wanted desperately to have Cherokee warriors in their military campaigns.To succeed this need, Europeans offered and gave gifts for the Cherokees: guns, ammunition, tools, textiles and other goods. Fighting together and sharing the goods with each other, the Europeans and the Cherokees formed mix-blooded families, making the first steps to change the Cherokee culture. Europeans recognized Cherokee leaders as chiefs, and step by step they started to exercise the European power along in the Cherokee society. In time the Cherokee Indians signed many treaties, fought in many ears along the British and other Europeans because they hoped to get protection in change.