Adolescence and Adulthood

Adolescence can be defined as a transional stage that encompasses changes in the mental and physical domains of human development which occur between childhood and adulthood. This transition is composed of social, biological and psychological changes.The psychological or biological changes are believed to be the most easiest to detect and to measure objectively. Adolescence is also believed to be a very crucial stage of life where adolescents are confronted by very highly changing situations.They become moody and ever stressed by the enormous changes occurring in their lives. Majority of these changes are observed in their sexual behavior following the commencement of puberty (Huston, Ripke, 2006, p.16). Changes also do occur at large in their social behavior with adolescents taking more time to spend with their peers as opposed to their parent something that was common in the previous stage.It is a period of crucial decision making about their lives. It is a time they get to know wh ich courses they take, which subjects to pursue, and which university join.According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory, adolescence is a stage of emotional up evils which stems from emotionally disturbed adolescents. According to him adolescents typically under go a period of identity diffusion which encompasses strong feelings of uncernity.At this period, adolescents desire to achieve a sense of identity.That is a state of being, feeling at home in one’s body and a sense of understanding where one is heading to with inward assuredness anticipated with a lot of recognition from others who count in their lives. However, adolescents find it hard to accomplish all this because of the on going rapid social and biological changes which are equally disturbing in the process of drawing decisions about life (Kroger, 2006, p.43).In this context adolescents are said to be typically undergoing identity crisis a period of mental confusion about who they are or where they are headin g to. According to Erickson it is important for adolescents to undergo this stage for it enables them to resolve their identity issues allowing them move on towards forming stable adult identities. The uncertainties or diffusions experienced by adolescents occur in four different patterns.First is the intimacy stage where adolescents become afraid of giving their commitments to others in fear of losing identity. The second stage is the diffusion of time a period that is filled with disbelief   with the possibility that time may come with different changes and yet violent and fearful.The third stage is the diffusion of industry which basically involves an inability to concentrate towards one activity or rather an enormous energy directed towards one single activity (Craig, 1992, p.28). The final stage in is the negative identity which is characterized by a snobbish or a scornful hostility towards the duties offered as proper and desirable by ones family and community.According to E rikson, these changes take different roots in both boys and girls. Boys develop a sense of identity a bit earlier than girls. This difference is attributed to the fact that girls’ identity is dependent on their social status (Craig, 1992, p.69).Eventual casual examinations explain that adults vary enormously from adolescents in the kind of paths taken in life. Majority of these differences occur as a result of changes in the levels of motivation, interest and personalities of individual or rather because of unexpected or unwanted life events.However, most adults initiate more close life friends than adolescents, have jobs to attend to, have children to care for and this explains that they have more common themes to share in life. Therefore, adulthood is a composition of several life themes that help describe the common developmental milestones in adulthood.In this view, Erikson also identified four levels that cover the childhood stage and further divided life during adolesce nce and adulthood into four other stages with each stage carrying its own developmental crisis (Zanden, 1978, p.51).  According to him, each stage brings forth a negative or positive outcome. Those who experience negative outcomes find it hard to resolve conflicts occurring in succeeding stages. At adolescent, majority of individuals strive to overcome role confusion and fight for a sense of identity. At this point attention is focused on peers. At early adulthood most adults begin to commit themselves to intimacy and love relationships while others develops a sense of isolation with social focus being focused on establishing friendship.At middle adulthood, adults begin to take up responsibility by propagating their own generation to care for and they also extend their concerns to caring for others in society at large (Kroger, 2006, p.103). Their focus at this stage is based on productivity and social work. Those who don’t achieve this become self –centred or stagnat ed.Erikson refers these two extremities as stagnation versus generativity.Generativity in this context is used to refer to those with interest in establishing and guiding the next generation. This stage is later followed by a stage of self evaluation to gauge how successful one was. It begins with the onset of old age and focus is on humankind. ReferenceCraig, G (1992). Human Development. New York: Prentice HallHuston, A & Ripke, M (2006). Developmental Contexts in middle childhood: Bridges to Adolescence and adulthood. New York: Cambridge University PressKroger, J. (2006). Identity Development: Adolescence through Adulthood. New York: SABEZanden, J (1978) Human Development. London: Knopf

Psychotropic Medication Essay

A psychotropic medication is a drug that can affect the mind, behavior and emotions.   It can be utilized to treat several mental disorders.   In recent years, with the advancement of mental sciences, there has been a sudden increase in use of psychotropic medications for the treatment of several mental disorders.   However, it is still not clearly understood whether these would be safe and efficient over the long run.   Some of the psychotropic medications, which are increasingly being utilized, recently include antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, antipsychotics, and antiepileptic drugs (Weller, 2007, Thompson, 2001 & Kohen, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A study was conducted by Freeman et al (1998), to study the efficacy and safety of multi-drug therapy in the treatment of resistant (refractory) bipolar disorder.   In the past, physicians and researchers have faced a lot of difficulties in the treatment of bipolar disorders.   The severity of the disease and the range of symptoms that can develop vary hugely from one individual to another.   The length of the illness, response to treatment, chances of recurrences, outcomes, etc, vary from one case to another and depends on several factors. However, during the last half a century, the use of medications has really helped to improve the outcome of bipolar disorders.   Several drugs have come into the picture in the treatment of bipolar disorders, which have been utilized during various periods.   Some of the drugs include lithium, chloropromazine, carbamazepine, haloperidol, calcium-channel blockers, clozapine, risperidol, lamotrigine, gabapentin, olanzapine, etc.   Although, a variety of drugs are currently available for the treatment of bipolar disorder, it remains a real challenge to manage.   The range of symptoms are so vast that it is often difficult to manage it with a single drug.   Hence, a combination of drugs has to be utilized for a short-term period. The author researched various drugs utilized in the treatment including lithium, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, valproate, verapamil, olanzapine, nimodipine, benzodiazepines, amlodipine, neuroleptics, gabapentin, clonazepam, clozapine, and risperidone.   Studies conducted in patients consuming lithium and sodium valproate have demonstrated that the chances of recurrences were much lesser.   The chances of adverse effects were also slightly higher.   But, weighing the disadvantages against the advantages demonstrated that valproate and lithium combination was efficient.   On the other hand lithium utilized along with carbamazepine demonstrated that only in certain cases this combination was effective and safe. However, in comorbid disease of the brain, the combination was best avoided.   Studies have shown that the valproate carbamazepine combination has a synergistic effect, but there are associated dangers of serious side effects.   Hence, it would be advisable from preliminary tests itself to avoid this combination.   To several extents, the data currently available seems to be inconsistent and there is an urgent need to conduct comprehensive drug trials.   The physician should be able to determine the risk of developing adverse effects and accordingly modify the treatment. The main issue of combination therapy is that there are greater chances of damage occurring due to associated drug interaction and individual actions of the drug.   However, as the drugs may have a synergistic effect, the potential for huge amount of benefits also exist.   Another adverse issue that exists with combination therapy is the potential for not complying with the treatment plan.   The patient may stop taking the drugs due to the several side effects (Freeman et al, 1998).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Studies have demonstrated that in spite of a dearth of long-term studies (to determine the safety and efficacy of the drug), many drugs are being utilized in children.   This is the most sensitive age group, and any negative reaction can have a life-long effect.   Currently the drugs utilized in children have been only assessed for their short-term and medium-term effect.   Many drugs, which seem to be safe, are seldom effective for long-periods of time.   However, many drugs that do seem effective may not in fact be safe. In a study conducted by Hussain on children suffering from ADHD, he found that about 25 % of the patients administered olanzapine and 30 % administered risperidone stopped the drug due to several reasons.   The main reasons for stopping the drug included poor response during the initial stages of drug therapy and the development of several side effects (such as sedation, confusion, agitation, nausea, vomiting, etc).   After a period of three months, there was an improvement in the symptoms and signs of ADHD. Another issues, which also need to be considered in adolescents, are the issue of drug compliance.   Children are more likely not to comply with treatment compared to adults.   Children may not comply with the doses when the side effects associated with the drug are high.   Many children would not be consuming the drug as they feel that it would not be beneficial in any way.   However, scientists do feel that with the advent of advanced studying techniques and the development of safer drug profiles, the chances of developing side effects have significantly dropped in children (Weller, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During the breast-feeding period, it is important for the physician to note that any drug consumed by the mother would not only have an adverse effect on her, but also on the baby.   This is because the drug or its metabolite may be expressed in the breast milk.   Previously, women in urgent need of psychotropic medications were advised to avoid breastfeeding the child.   However, nowadays, the physicians would have to give a judgment call depending on the nature of the drug consumed and the risk of potential side effects. The chances of ill effects developing in the child depend on the quantity of drug expressed in the breast milk.   Children having liver function defects or those born prematurely are at a greater risk of developing side effects.   Besides, the heart and the kidney function also play an important role.   During the nursing period, the physician should be able to determine the chances of developing risk, and accordingly advise the mother.   It is very important to study the extent of the mental health disorder, the support from the family members, women’s chances of complying and adhering to the treatment, etc. It is important to note that during the nursing period, a healthy mother would be in a better situation to take care of the baby, than an ill mother.   It is also important to note that any drug, which has a beneficial effect on the body, would also be having a side effect.   Thus it is found that a single drug utilized in low doses would be having minimal amount of side effects compared to other drugs.   However, the psychiatrist may want to choose a combination of two or more drug in order to improve the benefits. In such cases, the risk for side effects would be high, especially in the baby.   The psychiatrist should work in close coordination with the mother, family members and the pediatrician In all cases, the chances of benefits should outweigh that of the risks from occurring.   In cases, the health of the mother is at stake, and she requires a combination of drugs, it would be advisable to stop breastfeeding and return to this healthy practice only when the drug therapy is completely stopped (Kohen, 2005). Recently, newer antidepressants drugs are being available in the market.   These antidepressants have fewer side effects, are more effective and act very fast.   Although, the chances of developing minor side effects were small in number, the chances of developing the more serious ones occurred on fewer occasions.   However, the recent drug trials have been unable to determine the long-term side effects. In this regard, more number of drug trials need to be conducted.   Many researchers have suggested that as chances of serious side effects are also present, it would be advisable to follow certain precautions. These include closely monitoring the drug therapy, administering for short periods of time, using other treatment measures such as psychotherapy as first line, starting from a low dosage and slowly increasing it depending on the patient’s response, stoppage of alcohol and other drugs, etc.   Certain warning signs need to be looked into to determine the chances of side effects from developing.   Studies have shown that usually minor side effects occur more frequently than the major ones. Studies conducted through clinical trials have demonstrated that the chances of side effects were particularly higher in those who consumed the drug than the placebo.   However, it would also be interesting to note that patients receiving the placebo took longer time to recover from the disease than those who received the drug.   If a drug has only minor side effects are well tolerated in the body, then it should be preferred to one that causes major side effects.   Psychiatrists prefer to use psychotropic medications for short period of time, in order to avoid the chances of side effects from developing (Jureidini et al, 2005). Another approach that also seems to be beneficial includes combining the drug with other drugs in order to decrease the dosage.   In all cases, the patient’s treatment with drug therapy needs to be closely monitored in order to determine the chances of side effects and benefits from developing.   As the effects of several drugs on the developing baby are not known, its use should be restricted during pregnancy and lactation.   Further research needs to be conducted in this regard (Jureidini et al, 2005, Kohen, 2005, Gazley, 2004 & Freeman, 1998). Psychotropic medications have the potential of causing side effects and also helping to improve the outcome of the condition.   The risk of side effects may be difficult to manage and to predict.   However, if certain measures are followed, they could be kept to a minimal.   Some of the measures that are required include:- Conducting detailed drug trials to asses the potential side-effects and benefits Ensuring that the drug trials are conducted for determining the long term effects Monitoring the drug administration of the patient Making a thorough risk assessment (weighting the risks and the benefits) in each and very case. Making sure that the factors, which would result in the development of side effects, are discussed and addressed appropriately. Taking care whilst administering drugs to pregnant women and nursing mothers. Taking care whilst administering drugs to sensitive groups such as children, elders, etc. Taking care whilst administering combination drugs (as they could have a synergistic effect) Seeking patient’s compliance and adherence to the drug therapy. Modifying the other factors that alter the course of the disease. To ensure that the drug are administered in low doses for short period of time. Using psychotherapy as an adjuvant.    References: Freeman, M. P. & Stoll, A. L. (1998). â€Å"Mood Stabilizer Combinations: A Review of Safety and Efficacy.† Am J Psych, 155, 12-21. http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/155/1/12 Gazley, J. (2004). â€Å"Sample Email Answer 7 – Psychotropic Drugs. What are the side effects?† Retrieved on December 12, 2007, from Ask the internet Therapist Web site: http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com/counselingarchive_psychotropic_drugs.asp Jereidini, J. N., Doecke, C. J., Mansfield, P. R. (2004). â€Å"Efficacy and safety of antidepressants for children and adolescents.† BMJ, 328, 879-883. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7444/879 Kohen, D. (2005). â€Å"Psychotropic medication and breast-feeding.† Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 11, 371-379. http://apt.rcpsych.org/cgi/reprint/11/5/371.pdf Thompson, L. L. (2001). â€Å"Neuropsychological Testing.† In. Jacobson (Ed), Psychiatric Secrets, Philadelphia: Hanley & Belfus. Weller, E. B. (2007). â€Å"Issues in Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.† Medscape. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/420268

Automobiles in Short Fiction

Cars as symbols (freedom, false values, power) in stories by Louise Erdrich (Red Convertible), Flannery OConnor (Good Man Is Hard to Find) John Steinbeck (Chrysanthemums). The automobile is both a means of transportation and a symbol of American freedom, and it is used as a symbol of various aspects of American society by different authors. It becomes an explicit statement of freedom and a symbol of false American values in a story by Louise Erdrich, while its freedom is false in a story by Flannery OConnor. John Steinbeck makes use of the automobile as a metaphor for control and power in The Chrysanthemums. In The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich, the automobile of the title becomes a central symbol for the relationship between the two Chippewa brothers and for the relationship of the American Indian to the modern world. The story subtly evokes ideas and attitudes about the plight of the Native American without actually addressing these issues overtly. The narrator

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 22

Management - Essay Example Away days refer to the special kind of days that are set aside for socialization, bonding among other core targets (Smith 2007; Stark 2007; Macionis 2006). This has mainly been as a result of poor planning and inadequate analysis of the actual utilization of the days. Any attempt by the top level management to associate the event with the needs of the business organization is sometimes met with a great deal of resentment and discord from the employees. In an Information Technology department for instance, away days could play a crucial role in enhancing the employee and management efforts to achieve the organizational goals. According to Goldhagen (1996), most Information Technology (IT) employees, together with other groups of employees, have widely been known to lack the social skills needed to relate better with clients. Away days need to be used in enhancing team work and group development. There should be a well laid mechanism to ensure that the group gets to know one another be tter (Merianne, Sheila, Jeffrey 2003). The spirit of team work needs to be developed. Employees need to appreciate their differences and plan on the best way through which all employees’ strengths could fully be exploited to the benefit of the organization. It is fundamental that the members of the organization, while on away days, get to know and appreciate the various needs and challenges that they face (Merton, 1957, p. 106 -120). In addition to team development, problem solving and addressing of the various needs of the employees could be done on these days. The activities of the away-days should never bring the real business mood. Instead, this opportunity should be used for addressing the various business challenges. In an IT environment, it is possible for the employees to enhance other skills that could be shared. A software programmer in an IT department could as well be a guidance and counseling expert

Proposal Draft-Terence Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Proposal Draft-Terence - Coursework Example One demographic routinely passed over when it comes to the benefits conferred by technology: senior citizens. While senior citizens could easily benefit from technology in the sense of improved health care and social outcomes, they have trouble adjusting to it. The compelling evidence in the literature suggests technology is less of a cultural resistance and more of a fundamental lack of accessible training and literacy. The old generation is incapable of acquiring the computer skills. The elderly population, today, did not have computers taught in school (Wood, 2010). The modern world requires everyone to possess basic computer skills. When computer access is necessary to acquire information, senior citizens find difficulty when lacking computer skills (Wood, 2010). Computer technology services may include obtaining government services such as pay slips, banking services, and accessing the performance of their children in school (Suntanto, 2012). The elderly population should learn computers because computers are necessary for adapting to modern society. A cursory examination of the issue introduced above reveals a number of compelling studies provide a meaningful overview of the situation as it stands and its most significant social factors. An examination undertaken in 2011 carried out a survey of large random sampling of senior citizens in order to gauge their views towards interaction with information technology (McMurtrey, 2011). McMurtrey (2011) reveal an important point: even if senior citizens do want to learn how to interface with information technology the restriction of access to training or education. Resistance is an issue, which must consider other studies have chosen to look at the issue (Gilly, 2012). The primary obstacle to acceptance seemed to be the usage: lack of support stemming from a lack of available training and

Human resource planning and recruitment strategies Research Paper

Human resource planning and recruitment strategies - Research Paper Example Also, the flexibility changes that have been made have also been discussed. Lastly, the recruitment decisions and the changes that are made have also been included. An attempt to provide examples for each of these situations has also been made to gain a better perspective of the situation and to understand how recession has impacted the companies. Human resource planning is the process of ensuring that the right person is at the right job at the right time. According to Vetter, 1967, ‘the process by which management determines how the organization should move from its current manpower position to its desired position. Through planning, management strives to have the right number and the right kinds of people, at the right places, at the right time, doing things which result in both the organization and the individual receiving maximum long-run benefits’ (Jackson & Schuler, 1990). There have been several businesses in the current economic environment who have made several changes in the human resources being used within the company to ensure that there is no wastage of resources and better levels of cost cutting as well. In the current economic condition with the level of recession increasing steadily, there are two main view points, a) viewpoint of the employees, and their salaries, and b) viewpoint of the employers and ‘loaded’ labour costs. Two of the companies that have used the recession as a basis for lay off include, Citigroup, which has laid off a total of 52,175 people, and General Motors which lay off a total of 75,658 people (Kneale & Turchioe, 2009). The companies did so due to the increasing expenses and need for cost cutting. However in the long term the companies do not consider how much of these lay offs could cost them. In the hustle bustle of reducing the costs, the companies, i.e. Citigroup and General Motors have also laid off several good employees who bring the company a high level of profit. In the long run this could prove to

International Marketing Beverage Industry Case Study

International Marketing Beverage Industry - Case Study Example The competitive market in Australia is also change very fast with most international companies now trading in the country. This has affected the segmentation of the market and fierce competition is being witnessed currently. With the change completion in the market, most companies have been coming up with new juice product in order to suit the consumer preferences. Tao Ti has been a product that has been doing well in the Hong Kong market. However it is in the class of mixed juices which has been facing a stagnated growth in the Australian market. In order to introduce the product in the Hong Kong market, there have to be strategic approach to the market. To venture into the market there will be need to carry out marketing strategies to introduce the product in the competitive market. The entry strategy will determine how the product will perform. The market strategies will need to have a direct entry in the market rather than merging with other companies. It will also need to have a retail distribution chain to be close to customers and as per the trend in the market. The marketing strategies will also need to brand the product to identify with the health concerns of the customers. This means that it will have to pack the product in a new attractive package which will appeal to the consumer. The price of the product must be adapted to the local market. Price can be set lower than for other products in order to create price competitive edge. There will also be a number of promotions to accustom the product to the market. The marketing strategies will also be revised from time to time to access its effectiveness. Introduction This paper will discuss on the introduction of Telford International Co. Ltd Tao Ti Mandarin Lemon from Hong Kong to the Australian market. The paper will fist look at the Australian market and various marketing issue in the beverage industry. It will then at the various international factors that can affect the introduction of the new product. The paper will then discuss the marketing strategy that can be used in order to help the product to venture into the market. It will look at various components of the marketing strategies and how they will be used. Description of the product Tao Ti Mandarin Lemon is a product produced by Telford International Co. Ltd. It is a beverage product which has been retailing in the Hong Kong market for along time now. It is not produced by the company but rather it is a blend of various beverages that the company imports. It has been rated fourth in the Hong Kong market which means it has a large market share in the bevergage category. The product is packages in attractive packages and is sold on the point of its attractiveness to the consumers based on branding and also on the quality of the product. The product has been doing well in the market but introducing it in the Australian market may be a bit tricky since it is in the class of mixed juice which is not doing very well in the market. Therefore there has to be product adjustment to be made to introduce it in the market. (GMID, 2008b, p. 7; GMID, 2008c, p. 2) Environmental analysis Fruit/vegetable juice industry in Austria has been recording poor growth. In 2007, the industry recorded 1% growth. This has been contributed by many factors in the consumers. The consumers have started rejecting nectars in favour of pure juices. This has been the main

Air pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Air pollution - Essay Example Glass starts his article by stating that the common notion that pollution is a recent problem is completely mistaken. The author backs up his statement by citing research that indicates that air pollution can be traced back many thousands of years to the ancient Greeks and Romans. The author then goes ahead to give a short account of how scientific research shows that industrial activity of the Greeks, particularly silver coin minting, released high amount of lead into the atmosphere. This lead accumulated in lakes and continued to rise as the activities of the Greeks continued. The level of lead in lake sediments also was recorded to have increased with the rise of the Roman Empire but they decreased after the Empire fell. The trend of high levels of lead in lakes started again in 1000 A.D. at a time when Germans were mining silver and lead. By the 19th century, Glass states that lead pollution was 3 and a half times more than it was in the 19th century. At the end of the article, G lass says that air pollution is not a positive thing, but reinforces his initial assertion that the problem is nothing new. The article is quite simple and it does not contain contradictory statements. Glass has not used much in terms of references. He mentions results from research, but he does not specify what research he is referring to. If I was the author of this article, I would have included more information about the source of information. Vidal focuses on the fatal effects that air pollution has on people. He starts by stating that 50,000 people lose their lives prematurely every year due to air pollution. He gives results from the environmental audit committee that show that microscopic particle released after burning fossil fuels shortens lives by 7 to nine years depending on level of exposure. He also says that air pollution does exacerbate illnesses such as asthma, heart disease and respiratory

NSA Cyber Security Profile Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NSA Cyber Security Profile - Research Paper Example The assortment of the proper security controls for an information system is an essential duty that can have major ramifications on the functions and assets of an institution as well as the wellbeing of persons. Security controls are the organization, functional, and technical safeguard or counteractions prearranged for an information system to shield the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of the system and its data. Once implemented inside an information organism, security controls are examined to offer the data required to establish their general efficiency; that is, the degree to which the controls are carried out precisely, operating as intended, and creating the desired result with regard to meeting the security needs for the organism. Knowing the general productivity of the security controls carried out in the information system and its environs of operation is important in establishing the risk to the institution’s functions and assets, to persons, to other in stitutions, and the to the country resultant from the utilization of the system. The purpose of this paper is to offer guidelines for creating effectual security scrutiny plans and a comprehensive set of proceedings for examining the effectiveness of security controls implemented in the information systems (Gallagher & Locke, 2010) Security assessments can be effectively implemented at some phases in the organism development life cycle to expand the grounds for assurance that the security controls engaged inside or inherited by a data system are effective in their application. For instance, data system developers frequently carry security assessments and system integrators at the development and implementation stages of life cycle to assist make sure that the needed security controls for the organism, and/or system are appropriately intended and developed (Department of Defense, 2006). Assessment activities in the original system development life phase can be revolved more quickly m ode before proceeding to succeeding phases in the life cycle. Examiners receive the needed proof during the scrutiny process to permit the proper institutional officials to make objectivity establishment about the effectiveness

Implementing Strategy and Managing Change Essay - 1

Implementing Strategy and Managing Change - Essay Example In case it does not, then there is a need to undertake strategic thinking and action that could channels it into constructive and positive changes, designed for common good. Besides, â€Å"as the operating environment ways, over time, it is important that we take stock at regular intervals† (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service: Risk Management Plan: 2008-11, P.4). In the context of the UK Fire Force Department, it keeps confronting challenges, both big and small, seemingly insurmountable or mundane occurrences. Each day presents a new challenge- for life and survival for the safety and well being of the citizens of this country and to safeguard properties both public as well as private. There are, to be enforced, â€Å"additional responsibilities including fire safety enforcement, emergency planning and ensuring that the work of the fire and rescue service is efficient, effective and providing value for money† (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Performance Report and Ac tion Plan 2009 : incorporating Emergency Cover Review, P.3). There are two important aspects that underpin strategic management and change. These are accountability and performance. However, accountability needs to be assessed and modulated to address the current requirements and also needs to be a continuous process designed to ensure that all responsible personnel know their roles and responsibilities. According they must work towards achieving pre determined levels of performance. â€Å"Continual assessment of practice is at the forefront of developing policies and processes to assist the modernisation of public services. This unit seeks to identify the key stakeholders within organisations with regard to managing constant change. In addition, monitoring change and evaluating suitable training is also assessed. How such change influences the organisation is also developed† (Implementing Strategy & Managing Change: Module Handbook: University Centre at Blackburn College). N eed for Implementing Strategy and Managing Change There are many reasons why strategic change needs to be enforced - it could be due to changing market conditions, entry of newer and stronger competitors, internal and external management issues and also the need to evolve and adopt to changing business environments. Besides, there also exists the need to address challenges in performance and accountability at the micro and macro levels. However, all major challenges encountered by the organization have the support and leadership of top management and the Board of Directors, apart from stakeholder commitments. â€Å"The Corporate Management team (CMT) offers strong leadership and has the confidence and support of both staff and elected members. There is a real sense of ownership and pride amongst staff in driving forward service improvements† (Performance Report 2004-2007 and Integrated Risk Management Plan 2007-2010, P.28). Performance of London Fire Brigade: Coming to the as pects of the London Fire Brigade, it is indeed a strong and unified fire and disaster fighting unit and they are also empowered to seek novel strategies and articulate them to improve their performance in terms of containing fire accidents and lesser loss of lives over the years of their outstanding exemplary performance. Today, Fire fighting services could aptly boast of being a strong and efficient unit, fully equipped and

Pharmacy Essay Example for Free

Pharmacy Essay 1) School Organizations Describe any organizations or activities at school in which you have participated, and highlight any achievements for which you were recognized or leadership positions. During school, I spent much of my time involved in outside organizations – volunteering in pharmacies, working several jobs.   I worked these jobs in order to learn more about the U.S. culture.   I am originally from Iran (born in the U.S. but raised in Iran), and while I was studying there, I served as a T. A. for a high school chemistry class.   This was a strong role for me, in order to learn about helping people, and learn more about chemistry, two important ideas I will need for pharmacy school. 2)Community Service Describe any community service related activities for which you have volunteered, and highlight any accomplishments. My most recent volunteer experience is almost my most relevant one.   From October through December, 2007, I volunteered at the Care Plus pharmacy.   This enabled me to truly help people as well as learn more about my future career.   As a volunteer in the pharmacy, I helped people to learn about various health products, improving their quality of life.   After the first couple of months in this job, I was able to continue as paid staff because of the satisfactory job that I did.   I was proud to continue serving peoples’ health needs. 3)Outside Interests Describe hobbies, recreational interests or other personally rewarding activities in which you participate, and elaborate on their importance to you. Beyond my school and work, I had many other hobbies and interests.   Since I grew up in Iran, one area of major interest to me is American culture.   To study American culture, I have taken several different jobs, including at Starbucks, Nordstrom’s, and Macy’s.   These jobs helped me to learn English better, as well as to understand Americans in general.   I also worked for Caloptima Insurance company, which allowed me to understand the American medical system better, and to continue to help people. I feel that knowing the American culture is very important, since I am still fairly new to this country.   I find the culture fascinating.   In my job as a salesperson, I was able to become a top salesperson through communication and understanding people.   I really love to work with people and help them in all situations, so this was very exciting for me. 4)Intellectual Interests Sharing intellectual interest is an important aspect of professional life. Describe a book, class, or activity that you find intellectually exciting and specify your reasons. One of my favorite intellectual activities was being a TA.   I enjoyed assisting a professor (working with a professional colleague) as well as teaching students.   It was a way for me to look at information in a new light.   This is a skill I will need as a pharmacist, when I’ll be talking to patients who do not have any medical training, and who may be worried or scared by their recent diagnosis and newly prescribed medication.   I will need to be able to explain any relevant information to them on a level they can understand.   I feel that my experience as a TA for high school students has prepared me well for this aspect of my career. 5)Other Information (Optional) You may use the space below to tell us anything else you would like us to know about you. I was born in U.S., but due to my parents’ divorce, I moved to Iran at age three to live with my grandparents.   This gives me a very unique perspective on the world and the cultures in it.   In today’s America, being culturally aware and sensitive is a huge issue.   Coming from a background that is both Iranian and American, I feel that I am unusually aware of and sensitive to multicultural people and perspectives. Also, in living with both my grandparents and later, my father (who is an important professor in Iran), I was exposed to solid family values.   My father’s work also inspired me.   I feel very fortunate to have had these experiences, and I feel that it has helped me so much in becoming who I am and in helping me pursue pharmacy.   In fact, every step of the way, my family situation has strengthened my desire to study pharmacy so that I can help other people.

History 1920s Essay Example for Free

History 1920s Essay America went through many social changes with the American Revolution and industrial revolution. During the 1920’s, the face of America began to change more into an urban society. Many differences between the rural and urban sides of America emerged. Historians consider the tensions of the 1920s as a backlash against the rising urban America, which turns out true. Rural people believed that the city lacked morals. The urban city dwellers lashed back saying that rural residents did not understand the technology of modern times. In the 1920s, for the first time in American history, more people lived in cities rather than the countryside. People living in the more rural parts of America saw the urban lifestyle as a threat to traditionally shared value. The cities, a haven for political corruption and distraction, had much more alcohol and prostitution problems than their countryside counterparts did. With the rise of Hollywood and films, people found an escape from their routine life and went to see movies that portrayed what it really meant to live the American dream. However, the rural side of the country stuck to the old ways of agriculture life as the struggle between old and new still went on. With the rise in media also came an increase of cultural battles. The media brought about a revolution of morals since many urban Americas saw the changes in media and lifestyle as liberation from the old countryside Victorian past. Granted, the rural Americans did not see it this way. They felt that American had begun to change in sinful ways and that the ethicality of America had begun to decay. Many people in the countryside also resented the amount of immigrants coming into America. As a result, the Klu Klux Klan revived and revolted against the immigrants, Blacks, Catholics, Jews, and any modern or progressive movement. Located mostly in the rural parts of America, the Klu Klux Klan greatly showed their discontent with the modern American lifestyle. The South showed their animosity towards the foreigners and Blacks through discrimination and racism. However, none of this stopped the urban rise of America that the country would soon have to accept.

The Dominant Ideologies Shaping Educational Policies Politics Essay

The Dominant Ideologies Shaping Educational Policies Politics Essay An ideology that combines all and provides relevance to the developmental needs of the people; is an instrument of society development ideology that is appropriate and sensitive to the peculiar needs of the people, therefore these ideologies might resolve the imbalances in societies (Giroux and McLaren 1989). Ordinarily, the mention of ideology takes everyones mind to capitalism or socialism, with much of the British and European media and political agenda focused on migration and the removal of citizenship from the national curriculum, little attention has been given to multicultural education in comparison. For many in the United Kingdom (UK), multicultural and citizenship may seem unproblematic; it is rarely reported outside the educational sphere and recently attracts limited political attention. However, in this essay I will explore the increasing drive for the global capitalist market, incepted in western society but now common in the diaspora, which has at its core in the postcolonial notion of establishing western values. The ever increasing globalisation of education is leading to the homogenisation of cultural consumption across transnational boundaries. Despite the British empires historic links with the commonwealth, including America (super power) we are witnessing global tendencies from Asian nations (India and China) that are simultaneously complementary and contradictory as they become economic giants on their own grounds; It also erases the interconnections between the accumulation of wealth and the development of the former colonial powers and the impoverishment of the former colonies. In this essay I will consider some of the core ideology of ethnicity, identity, race in a cultural hybridity and will argue that the increasing globalisation of education has been furthered through a variety of complex processes, both local and global, that have been strategised by nationalism as a political ideology to control and maintain the labour market, through the context of community formation, multiculturalism, civil society, equal opportunities and social rights, I will explain how the ideology of language of the community, citizenship assumed to give ethic groups and the working class a voice, has been refashioned to appeal to nationalist through the inequalities in education, gender and the rhetoric of a global cultural identity and a sense of belonging which is becoming imperative to the second and third generation ethnic groups due to their experiences of marginalisation in British culture. I will show how different ideologies affect critical pedagogy in global and loca l education, how this in turn contributes to the limitations in the use of critical thinking skills within education. I will analyse the core principles of postmodernism by unravelling the factors that seem to shape educational policies. The theoretical cultural and social debate will be on the values, knowledge, belief systems across the capitalist local and global markets. The model citizenship as the legal concept of citizenship, can be contestable the need to demand rights are not yet embedded in the capitalist market structure. This essay is thus framed by resurgent British nationalisms nurtured by an antagonistic apathy towards histories and legacies of an empire and a sudden, sharper, more urgent focus within this multidisciplinary area on counterterrorism, criminalisation, institutional racism, and Black women as a political (all non-white are classified as black). Bell Hooks states: that we need a global political consciousness or awareness of the local economic, political, social and cultural conditions that shape the lives of women in different parts of the world (Hooks, B : 1990). When exploring multicultural ideologies and the strands of race, culture, gender, citizenship it is important to understand its concept and how it differs from ethnicity and the strands used within the global and local educational system. Ethnicity is often confused with the placement of ones origin, particularly by those in west; therefore it is important to provide a distinction at this stage. What the term multiculturalism or the ideology of mass culture are the collective forms of sociality which give rise to instrumental concepts, in particular the way society views and sees the world and how the dominant cultures are deemed to be socially necessary (Calhoun.et el 1999: Hill 2003). In these themes of racial and social class as well as the insidious themes of gender and language that already exist in multiculturalism are brought together in a new repressive conception of postmodernism, neo-liberal capitalism, nation state formation, education and the economic sector . These aspects are then combined together in a postmodernist narrative that attempts to create a re-structuring of education that has taken place under pressure from local and international capitalist organisations and compliant governments. A new world- space has commenced based on the politically effective conception of worldwide restructuring of education systems as part of the ideological and policy offensive by neo-liberal Capital (Hill 2003). Consequently, the privatisation of public and the introduction of private local and global agencies to services can be termed as authoritarian can lead to the destabilisation of non- conforming local authorities and governments (ibid), and for that reason they are also referred to as the armed cavalries of the USA or its allies and surrogates (ibid). This can be problematic for some. Dave Hill argues that it is inappropriate to create such competitiveness and power within social institution especially as they do not share all the universal attributes to the more capitalist economy of growth, selection, exclusion and inequalities (ibid). He further states that they would seem better described as expressions of social and national conflict, where the cultural and national identities are heavily informed by a Globally shared educational system or its portrayal of an institution that in fact serves the interests of a narrow class of people but appears to serve the interests of everyone (Hill p. 12). Therefore I would agree that with its ideas of identity, liberation, culture, community, language, citizenships, gender, nation and race, the pursuit of an immigration quota based on status and monetary asserts deemed as the points system to curtail the immigrant population, shows the need for reform on the illusion of the welfare, equal opportunity and free society we claim to be. Inequalities have increased which have an effect on the gendered, class and racial attitudes towards the working class, ethnic minorities and women. The global neo-liberalism has resulted in creating a two tier society of have and have nots as those with the cultural and economic capital have social mobility and good education which in turn creates an automatic climb up the hierarchy ladder. Furthermore, the eradication of the national curriculum has led to several political powers imposing their own ideologies in education. As Hicks explains neoliberal and neoconservative ideologies in western education has seen the onslaughts of failing schools, the terminology of bad teachers being vocalised in all arenas, nonetheless the undermining of teachers as educators to challenge thinking has also changed (Not known p4). There is less autonomy and more pupil dependence. However, for the purposes of this essay, I see the conflation of the terms of multicultural, intercultural, assimilation, integration and nationalism as models problematic within the education system, and therefore I might interchange how they are used. Ideologies can be classified as a set ideas produced by the dominant class of society to the all the members of society. Ideologies are mainly applied to matters in the public domain and as such are central to politics. Which implies the dominant factor is the political arena. Marx associated the term with class struggle and domination, Habermas viewed ideology as a space to share and communicate ideas at a grassroots. West and Hall talk about the institutional functioning of cultural politics of difference which can also be aligned with social integration. Ideologies can be implemented on a local or global scale, the basic instigator of political ideologies should be human affairs, which form a series of ideologies. Ideologies encompass the concept of an idea and the only way, this format is evident in political ideologies within the education domain (add example here from edu page). Ideology can also describe the shared beliefs of a nation, especially in Britain today as immigratio n, nationalism as a political ideology versus multiculturalism, are setting the discourse tone of debate. In social democratic countries the government takes the sole responsibility for regulating political and economic conditions. The political ideologies of social democracy are centre-left of the political spectrum based on progressive, social liberation and social democracy; it can also include democratic socialism, modern liberalism and green politics. Modern liberalism and social democracy are the dominant ideologies within a capitalist global market. A mixed economy encompasses both private enterprise and publicly owned programs of education, health and child care predominant in a welfare state were social rights based on the right to work and a basic standard of living is paramount for all citizens. Equal rights and opportunity are regulated by government bodies to protect the interest of the labour force and fair market competition, immigration and multiculturalism, I reiterate are dominant discourses. Trevor Philips opposed multiculturalism in British society and instead argued for interculturalism, due to the vast amount of parallel communities in Britain and he argued for inter-culturalism as a means to value polarity and understand other cultures that exist in Britain, because of the existing parallel communities. Philip stated that by ensuring no single identity was predominant, the loose of individual identity will be assimilated into the dominant culture (Baldwin and Rozenberg 2004). West and Hall, talk about cultural policies of difference, how race defines cultural theory, its reflection and how the role of culture can be challenged. But by de- essentialising and understanding the political potential; of British African Caribbean and Asian vernacular cultures can also challenge a national identity, which will further empower the far rights argument for exclusion (Hall 1996). Capitalism spread by social relations in culture and capitalism has ensured the privatisation of every day commodities are now under the private domain for instance water , the rail service and education being represented with the introduction of academies (educational institutions run by private organisations), building school for the future (BSF) based on private funding being matched by local authority monies. Critics of postcolonial theory of politics state how the representation under capitalist hybridity has become commodified, in the conformation hybridity reinforces the context of all cultures are separate then they mix as it deflects attention from real marginalisation of racialised groups, yet under market capitalism hybridity has become commodified and its resistance subsumed. Capitalism attempts to govern the counter narratives of racialised groups by coercing Bri tish African Caribbean and Asian cultural producers into producing problematic representations of difference (Hooks 1992). Within the political realm several parties claim to be progressive the Labour party and currently the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. The avocation of progressive education has been in the fore front of the coalition government. As in the political parties different educational models exist; the human capitalist, progressive, religious and indigenous. I will focus on the human capitalist model. Despite the homogenous ideologies developed under globalisation of education as mainly western culture politically involving only the most powerful nations, this culture production has meant the exclusive domain gives political powers the ability to code and un-code the commercial dimensions of the global market. The notion of numerous, bounded cultures, communities, nationalities and races reflected in Britain according to the political sphere has become normalised and naturalised. The first definition of culture did not concern itself with politics and the state. In the fifteenth c entury culture was associated with agriculture and horticulture. However, colonialism became a key point in its political history, a second meaning began to emerge in the sixteenth century as the European expansion went hand in hand with scientific concepts of race, reason and development. Many colonised nations threatened and insecure by the economical powerful western nations have continued to reflect the notion of underdevelopment, often with extreme views of West is best. Throughout, the centuries the definition of culture evolved, into the period of enlightenment roughly dated as the seventeenth to the late nineteenth century. Culture was redefined as social development, European society was positioned as the panicle of cultural development and its role was to develop or civilise the rest of the world. Hill (2003) cites McMurtry (1999) market model, the so-called free-market model is not a free market at all, like Calhoun et al stated (1992) the free market/free labour market does not exist. Instead we have a global corporate market this model is now predominant in the local and global educational sector. More recently, the market models political goals executed through the domination of neo-conservation and neo-liberalism have transformed the parameters in Britain and America and, significantly impacted on how global education in a civil society is organised worldwide. With its slogans of Education, Education, Education, the previous labour party won the election, yet their values under Tony Blair were rooted in neo-conservation as they introduced academies and building schools for the future which are private sector models. From 1970 the British Conservative government lead by Margaret Thatcher was opposed to the welfare state, its order was to explode the privatisation of national assets and deregulate the market to encourage business, which was followed by a the changing face of education (Kymlicka, (2003) Pg. 154 : Hicks 2003). Both Kymlicka and Hicks provided theoretical insights and made substantial contributions to the political economy in education and the political frameworks of education. Kymlicka dealt with the use of citizens to implement principles of the multicultural state away from the dominant national group, Hicks showed the contribution of neoliberal and neoconservative in bringing out the changes within the education sector. Hicks proposed an interrogation of these two ideologies in education and the effect on society whereas Kymlicka focused on the elimination of assimilation and exclusionary nation building policies with the introduction of multicultural reforms. Both authors brought out the political ideologies of the global economy as related to education and both authors used theoretical perspectives to highlight their individual insights. Hicks discussed how values and belief systems can be used to focus on the free market economics as the foundation for a vibrant economy rather than state controlled capitalism. Kymlicka also focused on cultural dimensions and politics of communication as the underlying factors for social change. Hicks highlighted the conflicts of interest that are seen in citizenship and education with the new conservative traditional curriculum. He provided different critical perspectives and arguments on various dimensions of politics, sociology and cultural anthropology within the context of preconceived ideologies and how they shape the nature of education according to the skills gained to reinforce the global market. Hicks looked at attempts to transform the enterprise culture with radical ideologies such futures and sustainability school, as he saw the contradiction in the political ideologies which essentially use the state to subdue valuable educational choices to the masses. (Hicks pp3-6). Both authors used a wide range of social and political dimensions in explaining their viewpoints and whereas Hicks analyses brings out the relationship between capitalism, globalisation and nationalism, Kymlicka focused on capital and global economy and its relationship with citizenship and multicultural societies. Both showed how strategies and politics are set up at the centre of profits and economic pursuits. Hicks and Kymlicka highlighted the economic impact of neo-liberal and neo-conservatism and offered substantial analysis of the role capitalist economies, market forces, past historical injustices, multiculturalism and politics in the global culture of education aimed at all citizens and not just the dominant group (Kymlicka, (2003) Pg. 154 : Hicks 2003). One of the key elements of critical thinking skills in education has been eradicated by the dominance of the prescribed national curriculum and the political pressure to achieve outstanding results. Hill (2003) states how Neo-liberal policies both in the UK and globally have resulted in a loss of Equity, Economic and Social Justice, of Democracy and democratic accountability, critical thought within a culture of performativity In this part of the essay I will focus on challenges faced by educators when introducing critical thinking skills. Although not the only factor in this essay critical theory represents a particular ideology of independent thinking that aims to give citizens the ability to function without being consistently herded like cattle by the political powers. Hill (2003) states, Hayek liberal theory was aimed to show that the labour market needs were inferior as opposed to the superiority of the ruling classes. This was facilitated through the age of neo-liberalism and Thatcherite polity an era where the rights of the workers were slowly being eroded, such as teachers pensions, as a more business like language is being implemented in education. As well as the needs of the economy dictating the principal aims of school education, the world of business is also to supply a model of how it is to be provided and managed. Suppression of oppositional critical thought and much autonomous thought and education. But education is not a commodity, to be bought and sold. One can buy the means to an education, but not the hard graft of autonomous learning itself (Hicks 2003). Little attention has been given to critical thinking within the state sector of education because of the political implications, however in the aftermath of all the global unrest and the medias concentration on Africa and Middle Eastern unrest, the British public most not fail to realise the power of this universal trend of political control. The critical thinkers and radical theorist did not have far to look to find a basis for their theories, in the writings of intellectuals such as Paulo Freire, Hicks and Hooks were the allusions to race and critical thinking merge, however, it was in the writings of McLaren and Baltodano that support the argument for critical thinking and was based primarily on reclaiming schools, teacher education and the advantages to reclaiming schools determined social transformation in conservative capitalist times and can be accomplished by parental, students and communities. This ideology of critical thinking can act as a foundation for an inclusive Britis h society and would foster social justice and pride in multicultural identity, but also shape the political culture of identity in Britain. As Hooks states identity constitution is always based on excluding something and establishing a hierarchy divide and rule. Therefore, the increasing appeal for social justice in pedagogical practices in a multicultural society can be understood through the use of reflection (blooms taxonomy targets only the more able) and questioning skills, it can be understood simply as a desire for many to challenge the local government and be informed about equality, economic, social justice and claim their rights which have been denied them. The use of citizenship in education was a good model, in the new Conservative government (coalition of liberals) this has been eradicated? However, it is clear that this authoritarian government have chosen to deny the British education system and general public a voice and an opportunity to think as individuals and by articulating (McLaren and Baltodano (2000). Conclusion It is relevant to look at the political ideologies, the local and global implications of control and the ethical issues that arise from the use of neo-conservative, neo-liberal ideologies and how it has reinforced pre conceived ideologies of the other. The use of critical thinking in a multicultural model can bring a new meaning to economic endeavours in an emergent new global economic order. The use of questioning can truly become the educational development from diverse voices under widely different educational contexts. The underdevelopment of culture and identity politics in a multicultural society can lead through the implementation of critical thinking skills aimed at social and economic development. As mentioned earlier, the notion of critical pedagogy can be achieved by changing the political ideologies of the western assumption of control over the labour market and the utilisation of education to drive the ideologies which reinforce international hierarchies of power in education, because the concepts of a critical cultural worker, with critical transformative intellectual and revolutionary pedagogy, can extend the resistance to economic, social injustice and oppression. This investment in education is paramount and will ensure both the sustainability as well as the longevity of the education system as an independent entity from political ideologies and policies. The institutions of higher education promote a strong and well trained workforce for the economic sector, yet students of British African Caribbean and Asian origin are still being marginalised as the ideology of equal opportunity, and reveal these institutions and agencies are implicated in reproducing ethnic labour at the lower rungs of the socio-economic formation ( Brah 1996). Current issues regarding the definition of a multicultural society encompass the debate on culture and community, histories of migration, immigration and the race relations paradigms, culture, ethnicity and cultural identities of community. However the historic problems addressing diversity in Britain, America, Europe Oceanic and postcolonial nations must take into account the existing post- colonial administrative structures, because this notions of the primitive are inseparable from the nation, the modern civilization, scientific ideas of racial difference and the grouping of people in the United Kingdom and the West have lead to further constraints for third and fourth generation ethnic minorities. The current policies need to take into account not only the national indigenous populations views but also individual cultural variations, for instance the medias portrayal of Africa as a starving continent the distinction of difference no country is defined in the commentary; similarly the predisposition, personal preferences, cultural and religious considerations are misappropriated yet all cultural values come into existence through discussion in the public and private domain. Alleyne thus argues that the use of this term community reproduces notions of race and importantly ideas of a relatively homogenous, white national community. The notion of community however has been used to create political solidarity amongst different minority collectivises. It was used in the social movements of the sixties and seventies to signify different political communities but has since re-emerged to signify communities bordered by cultural difference. The government subscribes to the notion of equal but distinct cultures and of a core national white community as an important means of governing the population. Unreflexive notions of community often serve to hide the constructedness of culture, and the culture of community construc tion (Alleyne 2002). Discussing multiculturalism and the philosophy of equality is a wide topic to cover in an educational political domain. Definitions of multiculturalism defer from country to country, especially with the different ethnic mixes and different religious beliefs as these can affect how a group is categorised. The educational background of the individual or the group plays a great part in participation and the access of fundamental rights, an illiterate or migrant parent with limited knowledge of the language of communication will have to be taught practical methods of the education, welfare and political systems as well as the way to demand rights and have political power. In todays world of daily conflicts the quality of life can be hugely enhanced if people fully understand their roles as citizens and challenged the postmodern thinking and the use of essentialism encouraged by postmodernist. In this world-weary period of pervasive cynicisms, nihilisms, terrorisms, and possible extermination, there is a longing for norms and values that can make a difference, a yearning for principled resistance and struggle that can change our desperate plight. Cornel West The American Evasion of Philosophy I reiterate the importance of critical thinking as the language of questioning the language of political challenge in order to share a common political identification as citizens we need to realign more with the social, environmental emotional, moral, cultural and ethical issues as they will balance the core of the capitalist economic market. Closer to home, citizenship was becoming the voice of the youth; with the anticipated reward that it might be the voice of the community as the citizenship test still exist. Then again I can be argumentative and challenge this ideology based on the rights of refugees classified as illegal immigrants and having no rights, especially in light of citizen advice bureau closures and the reduction of legal aid. Therefore for resistance to be effective we all need to be active citizens (activist) in the community and not just our own.

Color Blindness Essay examples -- Abnormal Color Vision Color Deficien

Color Blindness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people refer to problems with one’s ability to see color as color blindness, however, unless a person can’t see any color at all, color vision problems should be called by another term. Common terms are abnormal color vision, color deficiency and color vision confusion. Females maybe be effected by color blindness, but usually they are just carriers. Males are more often affected. About 8% of males and 0.5% of females are effected by color blindness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although color blindness may be a result of another eye disorder, the majority of color blind cases are hereditary and present at birth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The retina, is a complex nerve system which converts light energy into electrical energy that is then transmitted to the brain. This conversion is accomplished by two types of receptor cells in the retina called rods and cones do to their shape. The cones are responsible for converting the color. Each cone contains visual pigments that are sensitive to one of three wavelengths of light: red, green and blue. Normally, all colors of the spectrum are able to be matched by mixtures of only three color sensitivities. Therefore, the huge variety of colors we see are a response to different compositions of wavelengths of light. The rods are responsible for encoding white and black.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Color blindness results when one or more of the cone cells fail to function properly. One of the visual pigments may be functioning abnormally, or be absent altogether.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ...

Impact of European Expansion on the Environment :: Environment Environmental Pollution Preservation

Impact of European Expansion on the Environment Technology has facilitated the transportation of a mass of people from one part of the world to another. This massive human travel, either it be the exploration, colonization, or trade of the early European nations or the contemporary infrastructure of trade, tourism, or globalization, has impacted the environment and the humans involved. This paper focuses on the era of European expansion to examine the effect of human travel on the environment and humans. The Europeans were not only responsible for the actual exploitation of natural resources in the places they discovered, but they also took diseases, new technologies, and non-native plant and animal species which had a tremendous impact on the native human population as well as the environment. The hunger for more natural resources and the need to trade for exotic goods were the main causes for European exploration and colonization. Even though religion was used as a â€Å"pretext† for European expeditions, â€Å"gold† was the real motive (1). Cippola further explains that, â€Å"Through the idea of mission and crusade the conquistadores succeeded where the medieval merchants failed and were able to reconcile the antithesis between business and religion that had plagued the conscience of medieval Europe†(2). Cipolla also discards Malthusian pressure as a possible cause for European expansion. Devastating and recurrent epidemics were constantly keeping the population growth in check and â€Å"no population pressure of any relevance was felt in Europe till the second half of the eighteenth century† (3). By eliminating these two powerful driving forces as the motivation for expansion, Cipolla claims that European expansion was basically a commercial venture (4). This expansion, being a very aggressive commercial venture, has some effect on the environment. The Europeans exploited the natural resources of the places they ‘discovered’. Excessive mining for natural resources and deforestation for shipbuilding are examples of environmental damages caused by European expansion (5). As the expansion spread throughout the world and the European Empires grew bigger and stronger, so did the pressure put on the environment to sustain this expansion. In addition to the actual exploitation of the natural resources of discovered nations and the harm to the environment associated with it, the Europeans brought with them diseases and introduced non-native plant and animal species that had catastrophic effect on to the native human population and the ecosystem, respectively. Even though the Europeans ventured into all the continents, the Americas were the ones that were greatly affected by the diseases that traveled with the Europeans.

Essay --

In the The Forgotten Plague: Opium and Narcotics in Korea under Japanese Rule, 1910-1945, John M. Jennings argues that opium and narcotics trafficking played a significant part in Korea under Japanese colonial rule from 1910-1944, and that the subject of opium in Korea under Japanese colonial rule is not fully examined by historians. Jennings bases this connection between the opium and narcotics trade and the Japanese on three factors: the spread of drug addiction in Korea during Japanese colonial rule, Korea's rise in production and exportation of narcotics throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and the political immunity of Korean drug traffickers in China. In the first part of the article, Jennings emphasizes how Korea was forced to deal with a major domestic drug addiction problem under Japanese colonial rule. The article highlights how opium first arrived in Korea from China, and that opium smoking has long been a widespread habit in Korean society. By I905 there were so many opium addicts in Korea that the Japanese Residency General had to force the Korean Government to stop the problem. This resulted in harsh laws condemning opium smoking, the importation and sale, as well as opium paraphernalia (Jennings 797). The article does a good job of emphasizing to the reader that these new laws were ineffective because opium smoking endured throughout the early stages of the Japanese colonial period. Jennings references how in 1912 the Japanese government was required to enforce a new law in which Korean opium smokers were punished under the same level of severity as if under Japanese law to discourage the widespread usage of opium (Jen nings 797). According to Jennings, Korean addicts were only permitted to continue smoking if the end... ...elf states many times in the article that he wishes to shed much needed light on an ignored aspect of imperial Japan's actions in Korea. This article contributes to the wider literature because it introduces the reader to the effects of Japanese colonialism in Korea through the analysis of primary source documents, first hand experiences, and expert opinion. My experience has shown that little is mentioned in textbooks and resources to cover the topic of Korea under Japanese colonialism other than the dates of annexation and the date of emancipation. This is a very good article for readers and scholars to compare with Western imperialism material. Furthermore, the Japanese occupation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 went through several overlapping phases, this article touches on many of those political, social, and economic changes occurring in Korea during this period.

The Social Penetration Theory & the Uncertain Reduction Theory

Uncertainty reduction theory This theory comes to explain the uncertainty among people who communicate with each other and how different types of communication will help to reduce the uncertainty. As a starting point, the developers of this theory (Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese) stated that uncertainty is an unpleasant feeling, which people prefer to avoid as much as they can. Every person has been confronted with the feeling of uncertainty, rather if it was when arriving to new a destination or more commonly when meeting a new person.In order to reduce the unpleasant feeling, people tend to seek information about the uncertain and by that creating more comfortable feelings, and more predictable relationships in case of communication with other people. â€Å"Coping with uncertainty is a central issue in any face-to-face encounter, whether interactants are conscious of this fact or not† (Uncertainty Reduction Theory Then and Now. Charles R. Berger), but when the uncertai nty is reducing automatically the feeling of attraction (not only physically) start to emerge.In the heart of this theory, Berger and Calabrese connected uncertainty with seven concepts that are in the base of communication: verbal output, nonverbal warmth, information seeking, self-disclosure, reciprocity of disclosure, similarity, and liking. On top of that, they stated that communication reduces uncertainty, and motivation to come over the unpleasant feeling of uncertainty will occur in three situations, and in those situations people will be more likely to reduce their uncertainty level: †¢There are incentives to one of the sides (What this person can do for me? . †¢Expecting future interaction (New unfamiliar roommate). †¢Unexpected / unusual behavior from the other side There is also three basic ways in which people seeking information about another person: †¢Passive strategies – observing the other person, without him knowing he being watched. †¢Active strategies – usually will be done through asking third parties for information about the person you are interested in. †¢Interactive strategies – direct contact and connection with the other person.Sales & the Uncertainty reduction theory â€Å"There are at least two ways uncertainty is relevant to interpersonal communication processes. First, in the broad sense, uncertainty reduction is a vital concern for the conduct of almost any communicative transaction. Second, uncertainty reduction’s impact on interpersonal relationships can be looked at in a more narrow sense; that is, the role-played by uncertainty reduction in the prediction of specific relationship outcomes.The broader role of uncertainty reduction concerns the interaction process itself, whereas the narrow sense concerns the outcomes of the interaction† (Charles Berger). The interpersonal communication process is crucial for any sales person in any kind of industry no matter what kind of products / services he or she trying to promote or sell. The essence of building relationship is the uncertainty reduction theory as the two sides (more important for the sales person) trying to discover the person who stands in front of him.Definitely being able to help to the other person to know more about yourself (the salesperson point of view), will help in the purpose of reducing his uncertainty and uncomfortable feelings he deals with, while developing relationship with the salesperson. Assuming I am a salesperson, first thing in the process of building relationship (before the first contact with a customer) is to use the passive and active strategies in order to gather as much information I can about my customer.Form the moment the first meeting was conducted, I will use the interactive strategy as I wish my customer will know everything he want to know about me (or about the product / service I wish to promote),and by that making him feel more comfortable and not vulnerable. The purpose of using this theory expressed best in the course book â€Å"SELL†, It was mentioned that â€Å"The more the sales person knows, the easier it is to build trust and gain the confidence of the buyer. Buyers have certain expectations of the salesperson and the knowledge that he or she brings to the table†.This quote reflects best why a salesperson must use the uncertainty reduction theory in order to achieve his goals. As a salesperson, I should adjust my content and tactic toward my customer habits; this is another reason why it is important to use the three ways for gathering information according to the uncertainty reduction theory (Active, Passive and Interpersonal). The Social Penetration Theory This theory takes the theory of Berger and Calabrese one step deeper, as it xamines more deeply the interpersonal relationship / communication between two or more parties. The theory developed by Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor (1973), in which they st ated that as relationship develop, it become deeper and deeper, from non-intimate levels through to more personal levels. This method also called ‘Onion analogy’, as the intimacy grows and time pass by, more layers of the personality revealed to the other side, that is also the way social penetration is being made, through self disclosure.According to this theory, the disclosure goes through few stages: Orientation stage, exploratory affective stage, affective stage, stable stage and de-penetration stage. Each stage reflects the level of intimacy / level of familiarity with another person. Number of studies examined this theory, all agreed that development of relationship between people come together with development from knowing peripherals aspects of personality into deeper aspects. The theory of social penetration provides a framework for describing the development of interpersonal relationship. These behaviors include exchange of information, exchange of expressions of positive and negative affect, and mutual activities† (The development of interpersonal relationship: social penetration processes). The salesperson should be aware both to his personality, together with the customer personality, and to understand to which level of intimacy the customer is willing to reach / or to which level he want to get with the customer. Sales & The Social Penetration TheorySalespersons should understand the implications of the social penetration theory on the best side in order to create long term relationship between them (or the company they are represent) and their consumers. These days any business, no matter how big it is, wishes to create base of loyal customers who had good experience with the business directly or through the business sales force. From that reason, the business sales force has to be skilled in the aspect of interpersonal relationship. For example, a salesperson who skips the levels / stages of disclosure (according to theory) w ill fail in his purpose of ‘capturing the customer’.On top of that, his self-disclosure should be done precisely as well and he should not give to much information about himself or the product / service in the early stages of the relationship. â€Å"Most service marketers today recognize the importance of keeping customers and making them into better customers (Berry 1983). In marketing whole life insurance (and, perhaps, similar services), the sales-person's ability to affect the customer's commitment and dependency on the provider may be determined largely by the interpersonal relationship he or she establishes with the customer.Likewise, in service contexts characterized by continuous exchange activity and considerable purchase uncertainty, the long-term interests of the customer may be best served by initiating and maintaining enduring relationships with salespeople† (Relationship Quality in Services Selling: An Interpersonal Influence Perspective). As mentio ned in the quote above, establishing good interpersonal relationship between the salesperson and the customer is crucial for any business these days.Moreover, in order to create good brand name for the business, the salesperson must have the ability to answer all the expectations of the customer, and to be trustworthy while doing so. The key issue for salesperson when he implicate the social penetration theory is not to hurry thing too much, for instance he can’t be intimate with the customer at the early stages of the relationship. He should be peaceful, and should have the ability to give the customer the opportunity to disclose himself and not to push him into the corner and by that scare him away.

Organizing A Collection Of Cds And Dvds

The average CD and DVD collection grows continuously and hence it becomes an important and Herculean task to organize them in a proper manner. Such an arrangement should also result in easy retrieval of the CDs and DVDs when we need them. The first step to follow in organizing a large DVD and CD collection is to buy proper shelving. We need to buy CD notebooks or multiple CD racks and also shelves specifically for DVDs. Next is to decide on the criteria for categorizing the collection. The criteria options are alphabetical arrangement, arrangement based on genre, chronological arrangement etc.Next is to separate the CDs that are not of much concern. New CD cases are to be purchased for those CDs whose cases are damaged or missing. Using multiple levels of shelving can result in a much longer time for retrieval (Associated Content, 2005). Sort the CD and DVD collection according to the criteria chosen. If the collection is very large this sorting can be done in stages to avoid confusi on. We may also choose to sub-categorize the collection additionally. For example if we choose to categorize based on the artist then sub-categorizing may be based on the release date or alphabetically based on the title.If our taste in music and movies is very broad we can buy colored electrical tape and designate a particular color to each genre. We could also store all the CD’s in our computer before organizing them, if we have a large drive space and ensure we take regular backups (wikiHow, 2005). Plastic storage units with slots for individual CDs may be used but if we arrange them alphabetically then we need to move hundreds of CDs each time we need to insert a new CD into the collection. We May also choose to arrange less used CDs and DVDs in a notebook rather than putting them in display (eHow, 1999).This will save a considerable amount of storage space. Putting away previously used CDs and DVDs before taking a new one ensures that our collection remains organized. Th e following criteria could be used for organizing the CDs and DVDs. Alphabetically: We could arrange the CDs in the alphabetical order either by the artist’s name or the title. The movies could be arranged alphabetically based on the title, key actor or the director’s name. This is the most commonly used criteria for arranging the CDs. The downside of this option is the necessity to move all the CDs and DVDs when we buy an album or movie.This scheme can also be combined with other schemes of arrangement like alphabetical with genre etc. Chronologically: This arrangement is based on the order of release or purchase of the CDs and DVDs. We could choose chronological based on album release date, or chronologically by the purchase date or historical era or chronological based on the life stage that could be associated with each album or movie. The movies could be arranged based on the era the content of the movie is based on (Propeller, 2003). By Genre: This type of arrang ement is for who have a very large collection and a broad taste in music and movies.We could arrange folk followed by rock and then melody. Similarly in movies we could categorize the collection as horror, action, mystery, comedy, love or make it more specific like Documentary, Zombies etc. If the collection is very large an entire rack could be devoted to each genre (Expert Village, 2008). Most Frequently Used: The albums and movies which are played most are arranged at the front of the pile and those which are not frequently used are arranged behind them. This arrangement makes the most played ones very easier to find. This scheme is also self organizing. Randomly:This is the least used scheme where in the CDs and DVDs are arranged in a random manner (Brunchma, 1997). The other schemes of arrangement also include critical arrangement where the best ones are placed at the beginning and the worst at the end. Arrangements can also be done based on performer’s or composerâ€⠄¢s origin, album title, instrumentation, mood and the tempo of the CDs (Propeller, 2003). Bibliography: (2005) Associated Content Available: http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/272550/how_to_organize_a_large_dvd_ collection. html? page=2 Last Accessed: 28 May 2008 (1997) BrunchmaAvailable: http://www. brunchma. com/archives/Forum2/HTML/000270. html Last Accessed: 26 May 2008 (March 1999) eHow Available: http://www. ehow. com/how_2032270_organize-cd-collection. html Last Accessed: 26 May 2008 (2008) Expert Village Available: http://www. expertvillage. com/video/370_organize-cds. htm Last Accessed: 25 May 2008 (2003) Propeller Available: http://music. propeller. com/story/2006/11/09/17-ways-to-organize-your-cd-collection/ Last Accessed: 26 May 2008 (January 2005) wikiHow Available: http://www. wikihow. com/Organize-a-Large-CD-Collection Last Accessed: 25 May 2008

Assess the Extent to Which the Wilson Government Achieved

Assess the extent to which the Wilson Government achieved its objectives by 1970 To assess the Wilson Government which ran from the years 1964 to 1970 you have to look at what the Labour government promised to achieve if they won the election in 1964. You have to look at what the changes the Wilson government brought forward in their time in office and how the personalities of its politician’s effects decisions made. The election campaign in 1964 was a close run contest even though there was a low public approval of the current Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home.The labour party only won a majority of 3 seats. The reason for the decline in support for the Conservative party was because of events and scandals such as the Profumo affair in 1963. Looking at Labour in the run up to the General Election, they promoted themselves with a more modern youthful image that was more in tune with the times rather than the aristocratic feel of Home’s Conservative government, this lead the Labour party to create an increased lead when it came to looking at the opinion polls.Wilson then leader of the opposition went into his 1963 conference speech talking about how Britain was ready to fully exploit the â€Å"white heat of the technological revolution. † The labour party was trying to show itself as being the right force to progress Britain against the ineffective current political establishment. As Peter shore said â€Å"†¦ it was a case of smart Alec against dull Alec†¦ â€Å". The Labour party won the General Election in 1964 because of a skilful election campaign and certain errors in the Conservative party around the time of the election being called.The Labour party during the first years in Government between 1964-66 were successful in achieving its objectives, Labour wanted the tackle the problems in the Economy and the changing of Britain into a post industrial society. The Labour party therefore projected the image of following a  "third way† in which the economy would be managed with scientific planning. This lead to Wilson creating the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) with George Brown at its head, this department would be separate from the treasury and would allow Britain to plan its way out of the economic difficulties.It was created because the treasury was seen with being strongly conservative and the high ranks of the Labour Party considered this as key to Britain’s economic failure. The Idea seemed a successful resolution as France was working on a more planned economy also and had much higher GDP growth rate. However the reality showed that the government failed in its objectives. Ironically the problem of this â€Å"Super Department† was that it wasn’t planned prior to its introduction. As George Brown stated â€Å"I think it is a pity that we didn’t produce a ‘Blueprint’ setting out precisely what we wanted to achieve†.The treasury also went out of its own way to make the work of the new department fail, reports suggested that Brown’s phone was bugged to allow the Treasury to keep track of the dealings he made and the dealings of the office. Even though these difficulties Brown still produced the ‘National Plan’ which aimed at the economic targets set out in the General Election of 1964. It was an achievement to create this plan which aimed at stimulating industrial production and exports by encouraging cooperation between the government, employers and trade unions.It was a success that the plan was drafted however it was a failed attempt. The grand expansion targets set out in the plan were not met because at the time it was published the economy was in too bad of a way for cooperation alone to work. An emergency budget was released in July 1966, which aimed at cutting public spending and increasing taxes. This was seen as a turning point in the Wilson government in which the public had a growing d istrust about the government’s capability to fix the economy.In 1966 Wilson called a General Election in the aim of increasing his parliamentary majority, The Election was called for March 1966 and The Labour Party was victorious and increased their majority from 3 to 96. The Wilson Government had many difficulties in the period from 1966-70 with the difficulty with the trade unions due to economic problems leading to tension. Wilson believed that increasing inflation and Britain’s balance of payments deficit presents major treats to economic progress, wages and salary increases much be kept more in check.A prices and incomes board was established to regulate pay settlements. The trade unions hoped that the Wilson government would bring those benefits and they resented being lectures and told to be reasonable. This failure with the trade unions set back government objectives and the economy took heavy blows. The government was hit with a series of industrial strikes an d disputes which included the National seamen’s strike in 1966 and the Dockers’ strike of 1967. The Wilson government was running out of ideas on how to control the economy and in November 1967 devaluation of the Pound was introduced.This was because of the deficit being so large that Wilson had asked for another loan from the IMF, blaming the seamen’s strike. The loam was only seen as a stop gap. The Devaluation involved reducing the exchange rate of sterling from $2. 80 to $2. 40 for every ? 1. The aim was to make British goods easier to sell abroad. The delayed implication of the measures meant that the mere financial adjustment turned into a political and economic failure for Wilson and the Labour party. Showing that the government could not run the economy and had failed to deliver objectives set out in 1964 and 1966.Callaghan stood down as Chancellor in 1967 swapping places with Home sectary Roy Jenkins. The trade unions were angered that Wilson had tried to blame those for the government’s financial difficulties and many academics had concluded that Wilson overestimated the Balance of Payments deficit, leading to a failure in the majority of its economic objectives. However aside from the Political and Economic side the Wilson government did achieve some of its objectives in the social changes it set forth to create. The Wilson government can’t be criticised from its social reform.The Race Relations Acts, 1965 and 1968 prohibited racial discrimination in public places and in areas such as employment and housing and make Incitement to racial hatred an offence. More important social reforms such as the Abortions act of 1967 which permitted the legal termination of pregnancy and the abolition of the death penalty in 1969 which made permanent a measure that was passed in 1965 that had suspended the operation of the death penalty. These social changes and reforms may be said to mark an important stage in the modernising of Britains social attitudes. Many were the work of Roy Jenkins.He personified the tolerant, sophisticated attitudes that he wished to see become predominant in Britain. These were successful for the labour party and Wilson government. Showing objectives were achieved which cannot be said as much in industry and the economy. By the time of the general election in 1970 there was the feeling that the Labour government had failed to live up to expectations. The sense of disappointment was felt harsh by the young. Arguments stated that Wilson entered office claiming to be the head of a modernising and reforming government but really all that was changed was the style and not the content.In conclusion the Wilson government had some success in the social reforms it implicated but didn’t plan enough to address the economy and industry, it lost the support of the trade unions and was seen to be a failure from the public. In 1970 even through labour party optimism Edward heath walked int o 10 downing street as the Conservative prime minister with a 30 seat majority. This showed the ultimate fail of a clever but seemingly unorganised Labour party and government which didn’t successfully achieve enough of its objectives and therefore lost the 1970 election.

Three Day Road

Wandering Windigo of the Wemistikoshiw The novel Three Day Road can be viewed as an explicit indicator as to the importance of sustaining cultural identity, and the consequences associated with its absence from any aspect of human life. The tale provides a salient setting through which this spiritual malfeasance is brought about, with much of its content consisting of the supremacy of the wemistikoshiw, or white man, over the Aboriginals in World War 1. The novel’s European setting manifests the primary cause for the spiritual bankruptcy of Elijah Weesacheejak, one of the story’s central figures and the novel’s primary thematic microcosm. Influenced deeply by Western ideals, he is said to be a windigo which, as explained by the aboriginal bushmaster, Niska, is characterized by: â€Å"†¦sadness so pure that it [shrivels] the human heart and [lets] something else grow in its place† (Boyden 261). A polar opposite to Elijah, Niska recognizes the necessity of spirituality rooted in tradition, and is able to identify the Windigo as a logical product of wemistikoshiw influence. Her nephew, Xavier, is defiantly against European conformity in much the same way, sacrificing physical well-being for the sake of the Cree culture which he cherishes and to which he hopes to return in the wake of the war. It is clear that each of these three characters is negatively affected by the widespread influence of the whites, albeit to different degrees. Each character’s amount of exposure to wemistikoshiw culture corresponds proportionately to both their bodily state by the novel’s end, and their specific levels of windigo-ism. Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road illuminates the Windigo’s corruption of identity through the personalities of Xavier, Niska and Elijah via their cultural adherence, contrasting health, and dynamic relationships. Much like two sides of the same coin, Western and Aboriginal societies share a structural essence, but vary wildly in their fundamental ideals and respective emphases. Xavier is aware of this distinction between the two peoples, saying: â€Å"†¦I’m left wondering what connection there might be between their [the European] world and mine† (246), in a manner which would suggest that one must belong to one ‘world’ or another, but never both simultaneously. Xavier chooses to live by Aboriginal tradition, as exemplified through his frequent neglect of wemistikoshiw behaviours. A prevalent literary critic explains the significance of naming in this respect, exclaiming that the: â€Å"†¦various names ssumed by or assigned to Xavier and Elijah signify to what extent their identities are able to transcend or fall victim to [the influence of the West]†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å" (Gordon 7). The only Western name assigned to Xavier is ‘X’ in light of his extraordinary shooting precision (Boyden 109). Despite the name’s positive connotations, Bird discards it, keeping to his original alias, which is bestowed upon him by his cherished Aboriginal friends (360, 363). It is evident, then, that Xavier’s neglect of the wemistikoshiw ways runs deep, and even when facing external, culture-based adversity, becoming an outcast is always a preferable option to abandonment of his tradition. Unlike the other soldiers, Xavier never acquires even the slightest appetite for killing, believing it to be wasteful in the context of war, since there is nothing to be gained but fresh supplies of bloodshed (Bohr). Initially, Xavier is revolted by the sight of death soon after he witnesses it devastate a German, saying, â€Å"The image of the soldier’s head exploding makes may stomach churn† (Boyden 88). In order to remedy this spiritual deficit he associates with letting the lives of other be wasted, Bird turns to prayer, which keeps him centered and stable within the comfort of his cultural roots. Over the entire course of the novel, Xavier never once forgets the importance of his background in regards to his current situation, meaning that he remains metaphysically anchored in spite of his foreign surroundings. Supplementary to Xavier, in terms of spiritual independence, is Niska, whose understanding of the wemistikoshiw transcends that of every other character in the novel, and stems from both her experiential knowledge of Western culture and the windigo. An objectivist to the core, Niska represents an archetype of cultural wisdom, as described by Joseph Boyden: â€Å"I wanted her to be a strong woman who was doing this [being a woman of the bush] despite what everyone says about her and the toughness of her existence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wylie 229). Niska is exposed to the horrors of the world at an early age, witnessing events such as her father’s murder of one of her fellow Cree gone windigo (Boyden 45). This coupled with her being used sexually by the Frenchman, who claimed to have â€Å"†¦fucked ahcahk, [her] spirit† (174), out of lustful capitalism creates a perfect storm of familiarity with the human condition within her. Niska realizes that the man-made society of the whites further pronounces the flaws of the human spirit, thereby differentiating between her culture and that of the emistikoshiw. She explains this difference early on in the novel, by way of her epileptic visions: â€Å"No one is safe in such times, not even the Cree of the Mushkegowuk. War touches everyone, and windigos spring from the earth† (49). In order to prevent the mingling of Aboriginal and European lifestyles, she completely refuses to submit to the will of the wemistikoshiw, even when forced to live in one of their resi dential schools as a young girl. The bushmaster neglects even menial compulsories, such as hair-cutting, saying, â€Å"They were going to remove the black hair that reached my waist as a symbol of wemistikoshiw authority, of our [the Cree’s] defeat† (93). Coming from a long line of Cree chieftains, Niska not only seeks to avoid the company of windigos, but also is obligated to dispose of them in the best interest of her fellow aboriginals (48). Niska’s comprehension of selfishness’ presence in both the wemistikoshiw and the Windigo contribute to her consequent avoidance of the two, and in turn, her unwavering state of impeccable spiritual stagnancy throughout the novel. Contrarily, Elijah succumbs completely to the culture of the white man, becoming immersed in its ideals and pursuits to the point of morphing into a fully fledged windigo. The reason for Weesacheejak’s uprooted spiritual state can be traced back to his upbringing, which consisted of an intensely ambiguous cultural identity. Growing up in residential schools for much of his life, Elijah is brainwashed into thinking of the Aboriginals as a â€Å"†¦backwards people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (56) by the nuns who live with him. The seeds of European identity clash with those of the Aboriginal culture when he is adopted by Niska, and resultantly, a fragile concept of cultural integrity emerges within him. This identity crisis contributes significantly to his inevitable saturation into the violence of the West, as described by the author Vikki Visvis: â€Å"†¦ Elijah’s perverted determination is primarily the product of the wartime environment, which is an inherently Western endeavor† (273). Elijah learns, very much unhealthily, that identity is malleable, and depends entirely on circumstance rather than individual character. This lack of oneness can be examined easily through his acts in The Great War, which consist of both the impulsive murder and the desecration of his victims (Boyden 310). Elijah’s lack of cultural foundation is responsible for each of these atrocities, and he believes that by committing acts such as scalping those he kills, he is somehow able to absorb a portion of their spirit. Xavier describes Elijah’s carnage as a â€Å"†¦spark which fills his belly when it gnaws for food (200),† thereby pronouncing the young man’s profound emotional imbalances. Elijah’s reliance on the mastery he achieves by ‘owning’ the flesh of his victims is hauntingly reminiscent of the definition of the Windigo, and this is no accident made by Boyden. Despite his inferiority to Xavier in regards to his skills in marksmanship (78), it is he, not his Cree companion who yearns for the blood of his enemies. Such a skewed perspective which testifies to the irrelevant nature of morality can be attributed to the boy’s faithless and marred upbringing. Like a true Windigo, it is Elijah’s lack of cultural backbone which provokes the collapse of his soul, as he contains no trace of the fundamental axioms required in the construction of a spiritually healthy human being. Vividly reflecting the spiritual status of Xavier, Niska and Elijah, is their amount of mental and physical trauma, which is minimized when rooted in a fixed, adaptable personality. Xavier is the prime example of an individual whose disposition itself promotes a fragile psyche, which contains a dangerously low capacity for negative emotions. Caught in the thick of the Great War, there are many instances in the novel which expose Bird’s benevolent personality in order to provide a reason for the corporeal turmoil which he endures. Xavier’s forgiving soul is illustrated multitudinously throughout the novel, emerging most prominently in his taking of Elijah’s namesake after his death, despite the dark circumstances surrounding it (375). Not confined to sorrow based solely on human tragedy, Xavier takes pity on even the lesser forms of life, which are senselessly destroyed as a result of the war. This universal respect for entities is present when he refuses to sweep the swallow’s nest from his cabin window. This defiance initiates his explicit description of Elijah’s carrying out of the terrible deed: Two [birds] are lifeless, killed instantly by the fall. The third raises its featherless head, bewildered, its eyes large and round above its small yellow beak. Its tiny wings beat frantically on the floor, then more slowly. The mother bird cries out. The baby swallow’s lids sink and it ceases to move. I turn my head away from all of them. (Boyden 258) Inherently, Xavier is a character who easily becomes sick with depression due to his compassionate nature, hindering him in certain situations, yet proving to be essential to his maintained Aboriginal perspective as his time spent in the war increases. He deems the west to be a â€Å"strange place where the entire world’s trouble explodes† (22), and it is therefore inevitable that his extensive exposure to the war-torn battlefields of Europe instigates his severe mental strain. Discretely physical, alternatively, is his involuntary ingestion of morphine, which only serves to numb his senses into weakness, threatening his life when he enters withdrawal (289). Despite these eminent dangers to Xavier’s mental and physical state, however, it is his spiritual fortitude which enables both his mind and body to be salvaged by Niska via the matatosowin, or purification ceremony which customarily follows the three day voyage by which a Cree returns to his/her people after a long absence. As explained by Neta Gordon, the event marks a certain: â€Å"†¦constructive deconstruction, and a forward-looking inclination towards healing and hope† (2). Xavier’s symbolic journey represents not the death of his physical body, but the annihilation of the last wemistikoshiw remnant clouding his sanity – his addiction to morphine. In spite of the wide variety of factors hindering Xavier’s will to survive, he is able to outlive his anarchic environment by accessing his actively ethical and tempered personality. Niska is very similar to her nephew in this respect, withstanding an onslaught of traumatizing circumstances back in Canada which test her bodily and cranial stature. Unlike Xavier, however, she is adept in her esoteric self-sufficiency (35), being able to distract her corporeal self from pending danger by actualizing her love of anecdotes. The primary medium she accomplishes this through is her participation in speech craft, which she uses to listen to and project tribal stories as a means of satiating her spiritual hunger (Bohr). A consistent theme embedded within the novel is Niska’s own retelling of her life to Xavier, as embodied by a quote: â€Å"Words are all I have now. I’ve lived alone so long that I’m [Niska] starved to talk† (89). Even earlier in her life than Xavier, the Cree woman develops the aptitude for developing a thick skin via the harnessing emotions such as heartbreak for conversion to wisdom. Her exposure to the Frenchman is notable in this regard. It serves Niska as an impetus through which she begins to develop a mature, progressive outlook on life. Reminiscing about this boost to her spiritual immune system, she says, â€Å"I was young, and the emotions of the young are as strong a pull as the arctic tides that suck fishermen’s canoes out into the bay to be lost forever† (165). In this way, she is able to look back on the event of the European’s quick departure after their first sexual encounter, and understand its arrogant, chauvinistic connotations (135). Upon adaptation to her current situation, she achieves a level of spiritual purity mutual to that of Xavier. With this in mind, it is only through the undamaged will of both Niska and Xavier that he is cleansed of the complete collapse of self which foreruns death (379), and partakes in the â€Å"physical necessity† (Gordon 4) which allows him to survive the ordeal. Were it not for the complimentary moral steadfastness of these two characters, each would have been subjected to profound devastation, with one of them perishing, only to leave the other in a state of mourning over the severing of her last, greatest familial connection. Such an anchored identity is devoid in Elijah’s life, however, as exemplified through his deteriorating eupepsia, which reaches its apex at his demise. At the heart of Elijah’s ambiguous, conditional personality is his unending thirst for exhilaration as a form of immediate gratification. Saturated by the empiricism of the residential schools, which deny the existence of all aboriginal deities, Elijah thrives on the seemingly transcendent feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins. When Xavier ponders the spreading of a forest fire into the town they reside in before the war, Elijah responds with: â€Å"Can you imagine anything more glorious? † (Boyden 142), thereby manifesting his twisted disposition towards fear, while also foreshadowing his eventual descent into lunacy. Lieutenant Breech’s evaluation of the aboriginal people finds a portion of truth in Elijah, since metaphorically, his blood really is, â€Å"†¦closer to that of an animal than that of a man,† (101). In order to subconsciously override this perverted perspective in favour of a religious outlook, he turns to the recreational use of morphine, which is present in high amounts amongst his brother in arms, Grey Eyes. When describing its effects, Elijah says: â€Å"It allowed me to leave my body and see what was around me. I see how it could be a very powerful tool in a place like this† (128). By no coincidence, this passage occurs at around the same point where Elijah loses his knowledge of the aboriginal tongue, and thus, becomes linguistically assimilated by his fellow soldiers. The morphine hollows Elijah’s soul and accelerates his acculturation, causing him to pursue pleasure and meaning from killing (283), through which he attains the spontaneous euphoria which he craves. Instead of discovering the spiritual intelligence and purpose of which his life is bankrupt, he loses grasp on the distinction of reality and fantasy, with Xavier exclaiming late in the novel that, â€Å"†¦he [Elijah] walks with one foot in this world, [and] one firmly planted in the other world† (334). Additionally, the morphine ingestion was meant to rid him of his inner demons, such as his previously stated animalistic tendencies. Instead, it only serves to sharpen these instincts, and feed them with a profound apathy that enables Elijah to live without fear of moral consequences (212). This quickly advances into an addiction which exceeds recreational foundations in favour of unbridled dependence, and is the primary reason for Elijah’s eventual metamorphosis into a walking anathema. As stated by the author, Vikki Visvis, â€Å"Elijah’s windigo state is part shell shock, part morphine emotional addiction induced by European contact, and part internalized racism learned at residential schools† (Visvis 223). Therefore, Elijah’s downward spiral into death was not based significantly on his overuse of morphine, but his spiritual surrender to the drug. Over time his relationship with Grey Eyes (Boyden 313) becomes one which is entirely centered on the drug, and is therefore, not a true relationship at all, but an uninvolved, symbiotic connection existing only to satiate dark indulgences of a stereotypical windigo. The notion of relationships present in the lives of Xavier, Niska, and Elijah reveals, through their level of social authenticity, how completely they have become absorbed into the world of the wemistikoshiw. Xavier’s relationship with the Ontario Rifles can be accurately described as precarious and fluctuant. He refuses to socialize with the vast majority of his wartime acquaintances met during the war, with the exception of war veterans Thompson and General McCann (317). Bird reveres the two, figuring that they have each tolerated war for many years without cracking under its sinister pressure. The fact that Bird respects their capacity for bodily toil without the use of morphine indicates an avid understanding of both the war’s potential dangers, and its ability to corrupt those not willing to remain immovably independent from its paradigms. When describing the nature of the Great War, Xavier personifies it as a monster which hungers for the bodies of soldiers (73), thus explaining the prayers he sends to Gitchi Manitou, requesting a safe return home to his aunt in Moose Factory (237). Consequently, Xavier’s seclusion from the vast majority of the Ontario Rifles flourishes, and is only ompounded by his unwillingness to learn English and loss of hearing (227). Bird, however, is dynamic in his relationships on occasion, as with the case of his pseudo-lover, Lisette. Initially, Xavier believes her to be an innocent soul who is untouched by the hedonism and selfishness of the West, swiftly proceeding into what he believes to be a loving relationship with her (159 ). He is overwhelmed with feelings of aching for her not long afterwards, deciding to disobey the orders of his superiors and return to the town where they met. He is unexpected met with animosity from the girl, who turns out to be not as authentic as she first appeared: â€Å"’You can’t stay, Indian boy,’ she whispers. My stomach feels as if it has been punched so hard that all the air has left it. ‘I am with another. He is upstairs’† (252). Crushed by the betrayal he feels upon discovering Lisette to be a prostitute, Xavier’s isolation reaches its all-time peak. Despite being left with only affection for his heritage and aunt, he remains religiously disciplined when continuing his participation in the war. By the end of the novel, Xavier completely comprehends the nature of the West’s cultural imperialism and individualistic ideals. He recognizes these traits in Elijah, causing their friendship to decay at a breakneck pace. With the established practice of Niska in mind, he carries on the legacy of the Windigo-killer, and murdering Elijah for the sake of the sane. As described by Neta Gordon: â€Å"The role of the windigo killer is taken on because it fulfills the community necessity, and, in the case of†¦Xavier, it is taken on rather inadvertently and somewhat reluctantly† (Gordon 11). Xavier’s most endearing attribute, therefore, is his independence, because it facilitates his ability glimpse at his communal surroundings objectively, and make correspondingly righteous decisions. The greatest example of an ethical figure present in the novel, however, is Niska, whose wild life alone in the bush proves to be the perfect setting for producing a terrene, detached shaman. In her epileptic visions, Niska establishes somewhat of a one-sided relationship with the conflict in Europe, which cultivates her interest of the Windigo psychosis scourging the continent. To this end, she ominously states: â€Å"The sickness of the windigo could spread as surely as the invisible sickness of the windigo† (Boyden 262). Like Xavier’s use of Thompson and McCann as moral benchmarks, Niska leans on her family for moral support throughout the novel: namely her father and sister, Rabbit. The salience of these two characters is the radically opposing symbolism which they maintain in their relationship with the bushmaster. While Rabbit teaches the Niska unconditional love through fond memories (34), her father, the late hookimaw, or village elder, instills in her a primitive sense of respect and tradition. It is from these two characters that Niska is able to educate the last of her kin, Xavier, in the ways of the Cree, and ultimately, provide him with the emotional stability necessary to survive the effects of war through what Neta Gordon calls a â€Å"detoxification† process (Gordon 4). Most prevalent and divulging of Niska’s connection with others is her role as a Windigo-killer, which implies an acute responsibility for making difficult choices which often contradict what is deemed to be ‘civilized’ (Boyden 169). Ironically, it is Niska’s solitude and right-judgment which give her the reputation as what Xavier, and undoubtedly many others call a â€Å"†¦ good and crazy woman† (221). In actuality, Niska’s actions exude wisdom, pragmatism, and an authentic desire to obliterate the radiating wreckage of the Windigo. The malfunctioned motivations of a windigo cannot warrant animosity on their own, and rely on the destructive actions of characters like Elijah to animate their nature. As described by Joseph Boyden: â€Å"He [Elijah] isn’t grounded in his place or culture, and this ends up being very damaging to him† (Wyile 230). Incessant boasting is what is most easily evident in his demeanor, with Xavier pointing out a multitude of situations in which Elijah can be found falsely glorifying himself due to his emotional insecurity (Boyden 77). At one point in the novel, Xavier declares: I look around and realize that I know very few men by name any more. So many have come and gone that I’ve lost track. Amazingly, Elijah seems to know all of them, acts as if he’s known them for years. 243) The white-washed Weesacheejak is only capable of establishing superficial relationships with the other soldiers by donning a â€Å"mask† (314) which, in reality, distances him further from his allies than even Xavier does. A will to dominate sprouts from his impersonal approach to friendship, resulting in the fiery approach to human interaction that is demonstrated in Weesacheejak’s relationship with Peggy. When scouting one day with Xavier, he says, quite irrelevantly, â€Å"I am better than Peggy. He cannot take a scalp. He cannot do what I do† (246). Elijah’s attitudes towards superseding others are crystallized in his love for flying, since it entails an elevated level of importance in comparison to civilization, which is largely terrestrial. Ironically, when he does experience flight for the first time in an aero plane, it brings him a great pain, (331) thus foreshadowing the untimely demise of which he experiences by the novel’s close, which is brought about by his greed for contention. Most detrimental to Elijah’s psyche, undoubtedly, is his swift acceptance of western customs and paradigms, which is demonstrated by his conformity to the warmongering attitudes of his colleagues. Elijah’s bloodlust steadily increases throughout the duration of the novel, earning him medals of honour for his â€Å"unmatched bravery† in the face of battle (254). What these medals symbolize is a complete forfeit of his kinship with the Cree, a culture which preaches the sanctity of every form of life. Additionally, the medals indicate the completeness of Elijah’s assimilation into Europe’s wartime effort, and the connotations of selfishness which fester in its nucleus. Deranged and unsatisfied with even this acknowledgement, however, Elijah’s desire for human flesh continues to define him to the point of unsuccessfully assaulting Xavier, and dying in the process. He is the epitome of a non-Aboriginal, having always having what Xavier calls a â€Å"†¦gift for the wemistikoshiw language† (59). Elijah does not discover other people, which soils the seed of a robust relationship, but uses them as devices for augmenting his ego in a fashion typical of both an avaricious European and the Windigo. The purpose of Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden is to introduce the Windigo’s infectious and corrosive potential for spiritual defilement through the personalities of Xavier, Niska and Elijah via their cultural adherence, contrasting health, and dynamic relationships. The degree to which these three protagonists repel or embrace attitudes characteristic of the Windigo determines their physical, mental, and spiritual condition by the end of the anecdote. The novel’s ‘Wandering Windigo,’ Elijah, is portrayed as an individual who can find neither a form of metaphysical shelter, nor a definite identity, resulting in his decline into nothingness. In his downfall however, Elijah destroys the lives of hundreds, highlighting the necessity for Xavier’s donning of the Windigo-killer from Niska. By way of extension, Boyden speaks, via the juxtaposition of Xavier and Niska in comparison to Elijah, of the importance of the righteous, and their responsibility to eradicate evil before it is able to worsen despite the contesting pressures of one’s affiliates. Most importantly, the novel is Boyden’s plea to immerse children in the indigenous dimensions of their ethnicity and nationality in order to construct a strong sense of identity. An Aboriginal himself, Boyden describes Three Day Road as a cautionary tale (393) in which the human person is presented as a feeble, vulnerable entity which can only be sustained when its body, mind, and spirit are in communion with one another. The novel seeks to be food for thought, asking its audience how they would respond to excruciating circumstances such as war – whether they would be able to stay anchored enough to survive it, or experience the downwards spiral of the Windigo. In the course of our lives, will we journey along the road most travelled, losing ourselves to the entropic tides of conformity, or pave our own path in order to live an independent, fruitful existence? Three Day Road Arthur Joseph Boyden represents Carl Jung’s idea that humans often create a persona in order to be perceived by society in a certain way through the journey of the main character in the novel ‘Three Day Road’. Joseph Boyden illustrates the idea that war may impact someone to become something they initially weren’t. That being said, World War I, Aboriginal sniper Elijah Weesageechak becomes mentally and physically corrupted by the war, which results to his inevitable death. Further more, the loss of identity, his desire to become a war hero, and the use of morphine to escape reality caused Elijah Weesageechak to become a motionless killer.Once Elijah joined the Canadian army, he immediately did what ever he could in order to blend in with the other soldiers. Elijah had initially been able to speak English so he could communicate with the white soldiers, for he was raised by nuns in a residential school. To hide that he was an Aboriginal man, Elijah chose to adopt a British accent and speaking style when among the other soldiers. â€Å"Dear Henry, would you be a kind chap and make me a cup of tea? † (144). Elijah’s decision to not speak Cree when around his peers was his attempt to blend in with the rest of his former soldiers.Ditching his original Cree accent and adopting a British one was Elijah first step to creating his new persona. After Elijah became more familiar with the other soldiers, Corporal Thompson had chosen Elijah to be apart of a night raid. During the raid, Elijah and his best friend Xavier threw mill bombs into a German trench, thus killing the people inside. When Elijah returned to the Canadian trench, Corporal Thompson asked him if he enjoyed the night raid. Elijah responded, â€Å"It’s in my blood† (75). By doing so, Elijah had gone against the traditional Cree ways he was taught by Xavier and Niska.Instead he had modified his persona to embrace war and killing, which contradicts his ini tial belief before entering the war. That being said, it is quite evident that Elijah had disregarded his Cree traditions so he could become someone who only cared about killing and to fulfil his desired reputation as a deadly sniper. In order for Elijah to prove his killing abilities as a soldier to his peers, he begins to collect the scalps of his killings as trophies. In the novel, Elijah asks, â€Å"And what will collecting these trophies do for me? † â€Å"They will buy you honour among us† Francis says. â€Å"And we are honourable men† (204).Elijah feels as though he has to prove his killing abilities by gathering scalps so he will be accepted and favoured by his fellow soldiers. During Elijah’s quest on becoming a war hero, Elijah begins to enjoy killing and the fame that he receives from it. Elijah feels he must rise at every opportunity in order to impress his peers. An occurrence where Elijah’s persona was shown was when the Germans were retreating from a battle, and Elijah picked a target far off in the distance and shot him. The Canadian soldiers around him cheered and said that they will never see anything like that again.Elijah arrogantly responded: â€Å"Until the next time you are with me in a similar situation† (243). Elijah was unable to stop killing for he had become addicted to the fame he was rewarded with. This is revealed in the novel when Elijah says, â€Å"I’d go mad in a hospital so far away from it all† (150). Elijah’s desire to become a war hero caused him to partake in countless murders in order to impress others. He was able to do so with no emotion through his frequent use of morphine. Elijah used morphine when he participated in raids in order to get a ‘sense’ of his surroundings.Xavier description of Elijah on morphine is explained as: â€Å"But when the golden liquid is in his veins! Even at night the world is bathed in a soft light†¦He can make himself float from his body at will and look down at the world below him† (212). Elijah’s natural talent for hunting combined with his unhealthy use of morphine made him twice as dangerous. Without the morphine in his veins, Elijah became scared of the worlds, which lead him to use it more frequently. As he abused morphine, the real world became distorted. Without fear and pain, war was a game to Elijah.A game he enjoyed and became good at. Through the use of morphine, Elijah lacked an anchor to reality and because of this, killing became mechanical. An example of this is when Elijah and Xavier are on a sniping mission, they mistake a woman for an enemy and Elijah shoots her. Xavier angrily questions Elijah’s reaction to kill the woman. Elijah defends himself by responding with â€Å"I am trained not to hesitate in situations of danger† (306). Elijah’s response was robotic and emotionless. Eventually, Elijah starts to kill Canadian soldiers who get in his way.Xavier realizes Elijah has been completely broken by the war and has to be put down. Xavier is forced to kill his best friend, for the war changed him into a man he no longer knew. World War I was evidently too much for Elijah to handle. In order to fit in with the rest of the soldiers he had to throw away his Aboriginal Cree identity and adopt a British one which eventually lead to Elijah performing actions that went against the Cree traditions. That being said, he began to embrace war and killing in order to impress his fellow soldiers, as his ultimate conquest was to become a war hero.Further more, Elijah’s conscious was too powerful and filled his heart with guilt, which resulted in his use of morphine to conceal his inner emotions. With the aid of drugs, Elijah had become a mechanical killing robot whose thirst for blood was immeasurable. Unfortunately his uncontrollable actions were beginning to cause harm to his fellow peers, which resulted in the decision t o kill Elijah to protect the safety of the Canadian soldiers. Finally, Joseph Boyden illustrates the idea that the destruction of war may have an impact on one’s inner self and that fame and acceptance is something one is willing to die for. Three Day Road Wandering Windigo of the Wemistikoshiw The novel Three Day Road can be viewed as an explicit indicator as to the importance of sustaining cultural identity, and the consequences associated with its absence from any aspect of human life. The tale provides a salient setting through which this spiritual malfeasance is brought about, with much of its content consisting of the supremacy of the wemistikoshiw, or white man, over the Aboriginals in World War 1. The novel’s European setting manifests the primary cause for the spiritual bankruptcy of Elijah Weesacheejak, one of the story’s central figures and the novel’s primary thematic microcosm. Influenced deeply by Western ideals, he is said to be a windigo which, as explained by the aboriginal bushmaster, Niska, is characterized by: â€Å"†¦sadness so pure that it [shrivels] the human heart and [lets] something else grow in its place† (Boyden 261). A polar opposite to Elijah, Niska recognizes the necessity of spirituality rooted in tradition, and is able to identify the Windigo as a logical product of wemistikoshiw influence. Her nephew, Xavier, is defiantly against European conformity in much the same way, sacrificing physical well-being for the sake of the Cree culture which he cherishes and to which he hopes to return in the wake of the war. It is clear that each of these three characters is negatively affected by the widespread influence of the whites, albeit to different degrees. Each character’s amount of exposure to wemistikoshiw culture corresponds proportionately to both their bodily state by the novel’s end, and their specific levels of windigo-ism. Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road illuminates the Windigo’s corruption of identity through the personalities of Xavier, Niska and Elijah via their cultural adherence, contrasting health, and dynamic relationships. Much like two sides of the same coin, Western and Aboriginal societies share a structural essence, but vary wildly in their fundamental ideals and respective emphases. Xavier is aware of this distinction between the two peoples, saying: â€Å"†¦I’m left wondering what connection there might be between their [the European] world and mine† (246), in a manner which would suggest that one must belong to one ‘world’ or another, but never both simultaneously. Xavier chooses to live by Aboriginal tradition, as exemplified through his frequent neglect of wemistikoshiw behaviours. A prevalent literary critic explains the significance of naming in this respect, exclaiming that the: â€Å"†¦various names ssumed by or assigned to Xavier and Elijah signify to what extent their identities are able to transcend or fall victim to [the influence of the West]†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å" (Gordon 7). The only Western name assigned to Xavier is ‘X’ in light of his extraordinary shooting precision (Boyden 109). Despite the name’s positive connotations, Bird discards it, keeping to his original alias, which is bestowed upon him by his cherished Aboriginal friends (360, 363). It is evident, then, that Xavier’s neglect of the wemistikoshiw ways runs deep, and even when facing external, culture-based adversity, becoming an outcast is always a preferable option to abandonment of his tradition. Unlike the other soldiers, Xavier never acquires even the slightest appetite for killing, believing it to be wasteful in the context of war, since there is nothing to be gained but fresh supplies of bloodshed (Bohr). Initially, Xavier is revolted by the sight of death soon after he witnesses it devastate a German, saying, â€Å"The image of the soldier’s head exploding makes may stomach churn† (Boyden 88). In order to remedy this spiritual deficit he associates with letting the lives of other be wasted, Bird turns to prayer, which keeps him centered and stable within the comfort of his cultural roots. Over the entire course of the novel, Xavier never once forgets the importance of his background in regards to his current situation, meaning that he remains metaphysically anchored in spite of his foreign surroundings. Supplementary to Xavier, in terms of spiritual independence, is Niska, whose understanding of the wemistikoshiw transcends that of every other character in the novel, and stems from both her experiential knowledge of Western culture and the windigo. An objectivist to the core, Niska represents an archetype of cultural wisdom, as described by Joseph Boyden: â€Å"I wanted her to be a strong woman who was doing this [being a woman of the bush] despite what everyone says about her and the toughness of her existence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wylie 229). Niska is exposed to the horrors of the world at an early age, witnessing events such as her father’s murder of one of her fellow Cree gone windigo (Boyden 45). This coupled with her being used sexually by the Frenchman, who claimed to have â€Å"†¦fucked ahcahk, [her] spirit† (174), out of lustful capitalism creates a perfect storm of familiarity with the human condition within her. Niska realizes that the man-made society of the whites further pronounces the flaws of the human spirit, thereby differentiating between her culture and that of the emistikoshiw. She explains this difference early on in the novel, by way of her epileptic visions: â€Å"No one is safe in such times, not even the Cree of the Mushkegowuk. War touches everyone, and windigos spring from the earth† (49). In order to prevent the mingling of Aboriginal and European lifestyles, she completely refuses to submit to the will of the wemistikoshiw, even when forced to live in one of their resi dential schools as a young girl. The bushmaster neglects even menial compulsories, such as hair-cutting, saying, â€Å"They were going to remove the black hair that reached my waist as a symbol of wemistikoshiw authority, of our [the Cree’s] defeat† (93). Coming from a long line of Cree chieftains, Niska not only seeks to avoid the company of windigos, but also is obligated to dispose of them in the best interest of her fellow aboriginals (48). Niska’s comprehension of selfishness’ presence in both the wemistikoshiw and the Windigo contribute to her consequent avoidance of the two, and in turn, her unwavering state of impeccable spiritual stagnancy throughout the novel. Contrarily, Elijah succumbs completely to the culture of the white man, becoming immersed in its ideals and pursuits to the point of morphing into a fully fledged windigo. The reason for Weesacheejak’s uprooted spiritual state can be traced back to his upbringing, which consisted of an intensely ambiguous cultural identity. Growing up in residential schools for much of his life, Elijah is brainwashed into thinking of the Aboriginals as a â€Å"†¦backwards people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (56) by the nuns who live with him. The seeds of European identity clash with those of the Aboriginal culture when he is adopted by Niska, and resultantly, a fragile concept of cultural integrity emerges within him. This identity crisis contributes significantly to his inevitable saturation into the violence of the West, as described by the author Vikki Visvis: â€Å"†¦ Elijah’s perverted determination is primarily the product of the wartime environment, which is an inherently Western endeavor† (273). Elijah learns, very much unhealthily, that identity is malleable, and depends entirely on circumstance rather than individual character. This lack of oneness can be examined easily through his acts in The Great War, which consist of both the impulsive murder and the desecration of his victims (Boyden 310). Elijah’s lack of cultural foundation is responsible for each of these atrocities, and he believes that by committing acts such as scalping those he kills, he is somehow able to absorb a portion of their spirit. Xavier describes Elijah’s carnage as a â€Å"†¦spark which fills his belly when it gnaws for food (200),† thereby pronouncing the young man’s profound emotional imbalances. Elijah’s reliance on the mastery he achieves by ‘owning’ the flesh of his victims is hauntingly reminiscent of the definition of the Windigo, and this is no accident made by Boyden. Despite his inferiority to Xavier in regards to his skills in marksmanship (78), it is he, not his Cree companion who yearns for the blood of his enemies. Such a skewed perspective which testifies to the irrelevant nature of morality can be attributed to the boy’s faithless and marred upbringing. Like a true Windigo, it is Elijah’s lack of cultural backbone which provokes the collapse of his soul, as he contains no trace of the fundamental axioms required in the construction of a spiritually healthy human being. Vividly reflecting the spiritual status of Xavier, Niska and Elijah, is their amount of mental and physical trauma, which is minimized when rooted in a fixed, adaptable personality. Xavier is the prime example of an individual whose disposition itself promotes a fragile psyche, which contains a dangerously low capacity for negative emotions. Caught in the thick of the Great War, there are many instances in the novel which expose Bird’s benevolent personality in order to provide a reason for the corporeal turmoil which he endures. Xavier’s forgiving soul is illustrated multitudinously throughout the novel, emerging most prominently in his taking of Elijah’s namesake after his death, despite the dark circumstances surrounding it (375). Not confined to sorrow based solely on human tragedy, Xavier takes pity on even the lesser forms of life, which are senselessly destroyed as a result of the war. This universal respect for entities is present when he refuses to sweep the swallow’s nest from his cabin window. This defiance initiates his explicit description of Elijah’s carrying out of the terrible deed: Two [birds] are lifeless, killed instantly by the fall. The third raises its featherless head, bewildered, its eyes large and round above its small yellow beak. Its tiny wings beat frantically on the floor, then more slowly. The mother bird cries out. The baby swallow’s lids sink and it ceases to move. I turn my head away from all of them. (Boyden 258) Inherently, Xavier is a character who easily becomes sick with depression due to his compassionate nature, hindering him in certain situations, yet proving to be essential to his maintained Aboriginal perspective as his time spent in the war increases. He deems the west to be a â€Å"strange place where the entire world’s trouble explodes† (22), and it is therefore inevitable that his extensive exposure to the war-torn battlefields of Europe instigates his severe mental strain. Discretely physical, alternatively, is his involuntary ingestion of morphine, which only serves to numb his senses into weakness, threatening his life when he enters withdrawal (289). Despite these eminent dangers to Xavier’s mental and physical state, however, it is his spiritual fortitude which enables both his mind and body to be salvaged by Niska via the matatosowin, or purification ceremony which customarily follows the three day voyage by which a Cree returns to his/her people after a long absence. As explained by Neta Gordon, the event marks a certain: â€Å"†¦constructive deconstruction, and a forward-looking inclination towards healing and hope† (2). Xavier’s symbolic journey represents not the death of his physical body, but the annihilation of the last wemistikoshiw remnant clouding his sanity – his addiction to morphine. In spite of the wide variety of factors hindering Xavier’s will to survive, he is able to outlive his anarchic environment by accessing his actively ethical and tempered personality. Niska is very similar to her nephew in this respect, withstanding an onslaught of traumatizing circumstances back in Canada which test her bodily and cranial stature. Unlike Xavier, however, she is adept in her esoteric self-sufficiency (35), being able to distract her corporeal self from pending danger by actualizing her love of anecdotes. The primary medium she accomplishes this through is her participation in speech craft, which she uses to listen to and project tribal stories as a means of satiating her spiritual hunger (Bohr). A consistent theme embedded within the novel is Niska’s own retelling of her life to Xavier, as embodied by a quote: â€Å"Words are all I have now. I’ve lived alone so long that I’m [Niska] starved to talk† (89). Even earlier in her life than Xavier, the Cree woman develops the aptitude for developing a thick skin via the harnessing emotions such as heartbreak for conversion to wisdom. Her exposure to the Frenchman is notable in this regard. It serves Niska as an impetus through which she begins to develop a mature, progressive outlook on life. Reminiscing about this boost to her spiritual immune system, she says, â€Å"I was young, and the emotions of the young are as strong a pull as the arctic tides that suck fishermen’s canoes out into the bay to be lost forever† (165). In this way, she is able to look back on the event of the European’s quick departure after their first sexual encounter, and understand its arrogant, chauvinistic connotations (135). Upon adaptation to her current situation, she achieves a level of spiritual purity mutual to that of Xavier. With this in mind, it is only through the undamaged will of both Niska and Xavier that he is cleansed of the complete collapse of self which foreruns death (379), and partakes in the â€Å"physical necessity† (Gordon 4) which allows him to survive the ordeal. Were it not for the complimentary moral steadfastness of these two characters, each would have been subjected to profound devastation, with one of them perishing, only to leave the other in a state of mourning over the severing of her last, greatest familial connection. Such an anchored identity is devoid in Elijah’s life, however, as exemplified through his deteriorating eupepsia, which reaches its apex at his demise. At the heart of Elijah’s ambiguous, conditional personality is his unending thirst for exhilaration as a form of immediate gratification. Saturated by the empiricism of the residential schools, which deny the existence of all aboriginal deities, Elijah thrives on the seemingly transcendent feeling of adrenaline coursing through his veins. When Xavier ponders the spreading of a forest fire into the town they reside in before the war, Elijah responds with: â€Å"Can you imagine anything more glorious? † (Boyden 142), thereby manifesting his twisted disposition towards fear, while also foreshadowing his eventual descent into lunacy. Lieutenant Breech’s evaluation of the aboriginal people finds a portion of truth in Elijah, since metaphorically, his blood really is, â€Å"†¦closer to that of an animal than that of a man,† (101). In order to subconsciously override this perverted perspective in favour of a religious outlook, he turns to the recreational use of morphine, which is present in high amounts amongst his brother in arms, Grey Eyes. When describing its effects, Elijah says: â€Å"It allowed me to leave my body and see what was around me. I see how it could be a very powerful tool in a place like this† (128). By no coincidence, this passage occurs at around the same point where Elijah loses his knowledge of the aboriginal tongue, and thus, becomes linguistically assimilated by his fellow soldiers. The morphine hollows Elijah’s soul and accelerates his acculturation, causing him to pursue pleasure and meaning from killing (283), through which he attains the spontaneous euphoria which he craves. Instead of discovering the spiritual intelligence and purpose of which his life is bankrupt, he loses grasp on the distinction of reality and fantasy, with Xavier exclaiming late in the novel that, â€Å"†¦he [Elijah] walks with one foot in this world, [and] one firmly planted in the other world† (334). Additionally, the morphine ingestion was meant to rid him of his inner demons, such as his previously stated animalistic tendencies. Instead, it only serves to sharpen these instincts, and feed them with a profound apathy that enables Elijah to live without fear of moral consequences (212). This quickly advances into an addiction which exceeds recreational foundations in favour of unbridled dependence, and is the primary reason for Elijah’s eventual metamorphosis into a walking anathema. As stated by the author, Vikki Visvis, â€Å"Elijah’s windigo state is part shell shock, part morphine emotional addiction induced by European contact, and part internalized racism learned at residential schools† (Visvis 223). Therefore, Elijah’s downward spiral into death was not based significantly on his overuse of morphine, but his spiritual surrender to the drug. Over time his relationship with Grey Eyes (Boyden 313) becomes one which is entirely centered on the drug, and is therefore, not a true relationship at all, but an uninvolved, symbiotic connection existing only to satiate dark indulgences of a stereotypical windigo. The notion of relationships present in the lives of Xavier, Niska, and Elijah reveals, through their level of social authenticity, how completely they have become absorbed into the world of the wemistikoshiw. Xavier’s relationship with the Ontario Rifles can be accurately described as precarious and fluctuant. He refuses to socialize with the vast majority of his wartime acquaintances met during the war, with the exception of war veterans Thompson and General McCann (317). Bird reveres the two, figuring that they have each tolerated war for many years without cracking under its sinister pressure. The fact that Bird respects their capacity for bodily toil without the use of morphine indicates an avid understanding of both the war’s potential dangers, and its ability to corrupt those not willing to remain immovably independent from its paradigms. When describing the nature of the Great War, Xavier personifies it as a monster which hungers for the bodies of soldiers (73), thus explaining the prayers he sends to Gitchi Manitou, requesting a safe return home to his aunt in Moose Factory (237). Consequently, Xavier’s seclusion from the vast majority of the Ontario Rifles flourishes, and is only ompounded by his unwillingness to learn English and loss of hearing (227). Bird, however, is dynamic in his relationships on occasion, as with the case of his pseudo-lover, Lisette. Initially, Xavier believes her to be an innocent soul who is untouched by the hedonism and selfishness of the West, swiftly proceeding into what he believes to be a loving relationship with her (159 ). He is overwhelmed with feelings of aching for her not long afterwards, deciding to disobey the orders of his superiors and return to the town where they met. He is unexpected met with animosity from the girl, who turns out to be not as authentic as she first appeared: â€Å"’You can’t stay, Indian boy,’ she whispers. My stomach feels as if it has been punched so hard that all the air has left it. ‘I am with another. He is upstairs’† (252). Crushed by the betrayal he feels upon discovering Lisette to be a prostitute, Xavier’s isolation reaches its all-time peak. Despite being left with only affection for his heritage and aunt, he remains religiously disciplined when continuing his participation in the war. By the end of the novel, Xavier completely comprehends the nature of the West’s cultural imperialism and individualistic ideals. He recognizes these traits in Elijah, causing their friendship to decay at a breakneck pace. With the established practice of Niska in mind, he carries on the legacy of the Windigo-killer, and murdering Elijah for the sake of the sane. As described by Neta Gordon: â€Å"The role of the windigo killer is taken on because it fulfills the community necessity, and, in the case of†¦Xavier, it is taken on rather inadvertently and somewhat reluctantly† (Gordon 11). Xavier’s most endearing attribute, therefore, is his independence, because it facilitates his ability glimpse at his communal surroundings objectively, and make correspondingly righteous decisions. The greatest example of an ethical figure present in the novel, however, is Niska, whose wild life alone in the bush proves to be the perfect setting for producing a terrene, detached shaman. In her epileptic visions, Niska establishes somewhat of a one-sided relationship with the conflict in Europe, which cultivates her interest of the Windigo psychosis scourging the continent. To this end, she ominously states: â€Å"The sickness of the windigo could spread as surely as the invisible sickness of the windigo† (Boyden 262). Like Xavier’s use of Thompson and McCann as moral benchmarks, Niska leans on her family for moral support throughout the novel: namely her father and sister, Rabbit. The salience of these two characters is the radically opposing symbolism which they maintain in their relationship with the bushmaster. While Rabbit teaches the Niska unconditional love through fond memories (34), her father, the late hookimaw, or village elder, instills in her a primitive sense of respect and tradition. It is from these two characters that Niska is able to educate the last of her kin, Xavier, in the ways of the Cree, and ultimately, provide him with the emotional stability necessary to survive the effects of war through what Neta Gordon calls a â€Å"detoxification† process (Gordon 4). Most prevalent and divulging of Niska’s connection with others is her role as a Windigo-killer, which implies an acute responsibility for making difficult choices which often contradict what is deemed to be ‘civilized’ (Boyden 169). Ironically, it is Niska’s solitude and right-judgment which give her the reputation as what Xavier, and undoubtedly many others call a â€Å"†¦ good and crazy woman† (221). In actuality, Niska’s actions exude wisdom, pragmatism, and an authentic desire to obliterate the radiating wreckage of the Windigo. The malfunctioned motivations of a windigo cannot warrant animosity on their own, and rely on the destructive actions of characters like Elijah to animate their nature. As described by Joseph Boyden: â€Å"He [Elijah] isn’t grounded in his place or culture, and this ends up being very damaging to him† (Wyile 230). Incessant boasting is what is most easily evident in his demeanor, with Xavier pointing out a multitude of situations in which Elijah can be found falsely glorifying himself due to his emotional insecurity (Boyden 77). At one point in the novel, Xavier declares: I look around and realize that I know very few men by name any more. So many have come and gone that I’ve lost track. Amazingly, Elijah seems to know all of them, acts as if he’s known them for years. 243) The white-washed Weesacheejak is only capable of establishing superficial relationships with the other soldiers by donning a â€Å"mask† (314) which, in reality, distances him further from his allies than even Xavier does. A will to dominate sprouts from his impersonal approach to friendship, resulting in the fiery approach to human interaction that is demonstrated in Weesacheejak’s relationship with Peggy. When scouting one day with Xavier, he says, quite irrelevantly, â€Å"I am better than Peggy. He cannot take a scalp. He cannot do what I do† (246). Elijah’s attitudes towards superseding others are crystallized in his love for flying, since it entails an elevated level of importance in comparison to civilization, which is largely terrestrial. Ironically, when he does experience flight for the first time in an aero plane, it brings him a great pain, (331) thus foreshadowing the untimely demise of which he experiences by the novel’s close, which is brought about by his greed for contention. Most detrimental to Elijah’s psyche, undoubtedly, is his swift acceptance of western customs and paradigms, which is demonstrated by his conformity to the warmongering attitudes of his colleagues. Elijah’s bloodlust steadily increases throughout the duration of the novel, earning him medals of honour for his â€Å"unmatched bravery† in the face of battle (254). What these medals symbolize is a complete forfeit of his kinship with the Cree, a culture which preaches the sanctity of every form of life. Additionally, the medals indicate the completeness of Elijah’s assimilation into Europe’s wartime effort, and the connotations of selfishness which fester in its nucleus. Deranged and unsatisfied with even this acknowledgement, however, Elijah’s desire for human flesh continues to define him to the point of unsuccessfully assaulting Xavier, and dying in the process. He is the epitome of a non-Aboriginal, having always having what Xavier calls a â€Å"†¦gift for the wemistikoshiw language† (59). Elijah does not discover other people, which soils the seed of a robust relationship, but uses them as devices for augmenting his ego in a fashion typical of both an avaricious European and the Windigo. The purpose of Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden is to introduce the Windigo’s infectious and corrosive potential for spiritual defilement through the personalities of Xavier, Niska and Elijah via their cultural adherence, contrasting health, and dynamic relationships. The degree to which these three protagonists repel or embrace attitudes characteristic of the Windigo determines their physical, mental, and spiritual condition by the end of the anecdote. The novel’s ‘Wandering Windigo,’ Elijah, is portrayed as an individual who can find neither a form of metaphysical shelter, nor a definite identity, resulting in his decline into nothingness. In his downfall however, Elijah destroys the lives of hundreds, highlighting the necessity for Xavier’s donning of the Windigo-killer from Niska. By way of extension, Boyden speaks, via the juxtaposition of Xavier and Niska in comparison to Elijah, of the importance of the righteous, and their responsibility to eradicate evil before it is able to worsen despite the contesting pressures of one’s affiliates. Most importantly, the novel is Boyden’s plea to immerse children in the indigenous dimensions of their ethnicity and nationality in order to construct a strong sense of identity. An Aboriginal himself, Boyden describes Three Day Road as a cautionary tale (393) in which the human person is presented as a feeble, vulnerable entity which can only be sustained when its body, mind, and spirit are in communion with one another. The novel seeks to be food for thought, asking its audience how they would respond to excruciating circumstances such as war – whether they would be able to stay anchored enough to survive it, or experience the downwards spiral of the Windigo. In the course of our lives, will we journey along the road most travelled, losing ourselves to the entropic tides of conformity, or pave our own path in order to live an independent, fruitful existence?