Race: Social Construct

Race as a Social Construct â€Å"Race dominates our personal lives† (192 Lopez). Race is constantly a part of people’s lives and throughout the film Rabbit Proof Fence directed by Phillip Noyce and the Critical Race Theory written by Ian Lopez, we are able to see in what ways it affects people. The film depicts a group of three half caste Aborigine girls, who are taken from their family by a white man, Mr. Neville. The girls are taken to be trained as servants and also so they can assimilate to the â€Å"White† culture.The article explains how race can be mistaken to be a biological difference, but how it actually is a social construct created by society. Throughout their works, Lopez and Noyce portray that race is not determined by biological factors, but rather by society creating social constructs. The Aborigine’s uneasiness towards whites because of how the whites treat and degrade them for their physical attributes exemplifies how race is a social con struct. In the movie, the half caste kids were nervous of being taken and never being able to see their mothers again.The half castes were taken to their new â€Å"home† where they were â€Å"[checked] for skin color and the fairer ones who are cleverer† to see who can be freed to leave and get a good education (Noyce). The whites were the ones who were free and had many more opportunities than the Aborigines did because of the color of their skin; hence, â€Å"Their race in the end determined whether they were free or enslaved† (192 Lopez). Their freedom was controlled by the whites, who caused them and their family’s pain because the whites thought their race was superior.In Rabbit Proof Fence, the whites separate themselves and the Aborigines because of their skin color and make the mistake of determining race by biological differences. Although Molly’s wit is able to fool Mr. Neville, Moodoo knows where the girls are, proving that race is creat ed by society and not by genes. There are times when Moodoo senses the girls nearby, but seems to ignore it. When he is with the white man looking for the girls he says â€Å"she’s pretty clever that girl, she wants to go home† (Noyce) because he wants to pretend he does not know where they are.He understands that it is unfair for these helpless people to be taken from their families out of force because he can relate since his daughter was taken as well. In the Critical Race Theory article, Lopez talks about how â€Å"Black and White are social groups, not genetically distinct branches of humankind† (193 Lopez). To Mr. Neville, whites are thought to be superior because of how they look compared to the Aborigines; therefore, the fairer ones are more intelligent and clever. Molly and Moodoo prove Mr.Neville wrong when they outsmart him, which verifies that race is a social construct. Race can be thought of â€Å"as a vast group of people loosely bound together b y historically contingent, socially significant elements† (193 Lopez) from their ancestry. Society has categorized people based on many different characteristics ranging from â€Å"hair, complexion, and facial features† (192 Lopez). We see this categorization in the movie when the whites put the half caste Aborigines in a special camp away from their families because of their skin color.The Critical Race Theory explains to us that race is a social construct created by society and Rabbit Proof Fence provides us with examples from the article. Race is constantly mistaken to be people with different physical attributes, when in reality a person’s biology should not and does not determine which race he or she belongs to. Race is a social construct. Works Cited Delgado, Richard. Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1995. Rabbit-proof Fence. Dir. Phillip Noyce. Perf. Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, and Kenneth Charles Branagh . Miramax Films, 2002. DVD.

Gay Marriage †persuasive essa Essay

Everyone dreams of one day becoming married and having a family, and most of the time this dream is fulfilled, that is, if they are straight. As each year passes by, there seems to be an increasing number of gay couples that aspire to become married. Even though gay marriage is becoming an extremely popular topic, people begin to realize that it does either one of two things (unless they are apathetic on the issue); gay marriage puts a strain on the outlook of society or it opens up many opportunities for the gay couples themselves. Bishops and other religious figures of the church feel that gay marriage is appalling, and should be abolished from society. The article mentioned in the National Catholic Reporter, â€Å"Bishops Warn of Dangers to Marriage,† it is revealed that bishops believe same-sex marriage is â€Å"one of the most troubling developments in contemporary culture. † (Roberts 2). According to text, the first command given to Adam and Eve was â€Å"be fertile and multiply† (National Catholic Reporter). The culture of America is perceived to be a family consisting of one mother, one father, and however many kids are desired; however, if same-sex marriage were to be allowed, it would diminish all natural aspects of our culture. Bishops of the Church believe that it is â€Å"in the offspring† where â€Å"married love finds its crowning glory† (Roberts 2). To reiterate into other words, the greatest achievement of marriage is found in the child created by that man and woman. Though one may not believe in Christ or anything to do with religion, the Church is against gay marriage because they believe that men and women were created to produce fertile offspring, a task impossible for gay couples. Most people against gay marriage agree that it can nit and should not be permitted because the female necessitates a dominant male figure to protect her. In the Weekly Standard, â€Å"The Worst Thing About Gay Marriage,† teaches us that â€Å"marriage is a part of a kinship system† and kinship depends on the â€Å"protection, organization, and often exploitation of female sexuality vis-i -vis male† (Schulman 3). Women and children have suffered and will continue to suffer from being over-protected and controlled, but the consequence of under-protection and indifference will be immeasurably worse (Schulman 4). It is understandable that over-protected women feel effected by the matter, but at least they are guaranteed someone to be there when in danger, while on the other hand, under-protected women are far more vulnerable. We realize that marriage is above all, â€Å"concerned with female sexuality† and that kinship depends on the protection of women from â€Å"rape, degradation, and concubinage† (Schulman 2). This is why marriage between and man and woman has been necessary in virtually every society ever known (Schulman 2). In other words, it is a priority to attain a male-female relationship in order to create the safest possible environment for the female. Same-sex marriage cannot offer the appropriate assurance for the female’s safety due to the lack of a male figure designed to protect. Often, marriage leads to the desire for kids, and adoption is the only way that desire can be fulfilled for homosexual couples, which can tremendously affect the child’s path in being raised as a normal kid. Psychological Reports, as mentioned in Paul Cameron and Ellen C. Perrin’s â€Å"Insight on the News,† tested 52 families and ninety-two percent of the children in those families â€Å"mentioned one or more ‘problems'† which included â€Å"hyper sexuality, instability, molestation, and domestic violence† (Cameron and Perrin 2). A great majority of kids growing up in a home with homosexual parents find it to do so because they are lacking either a mother or a father, who are both vital participants in childhood. On one Insight on the News interview, a nine year old girl growing up with gay parents reveals her feelings of discomfort at home and how â€Å"all of a sudden [she] felt like a different person because [her] mom was a lesbian† (Cameron and Perrin 2). Every marriage between a man and a woman is capable of giving any child that they create or adopt a mother and a father, which is the opposite for gay couples (Gallagher 109). Gay adoption can be a negative part of a child’s life because it is usually found to be hard on the child growing up, due to the fact that they lack either a mother or father figure. While a high number of individuals are against gay marriage, there are also the ones who believe everyone should be granted equal rights. America has always been set on the idea of equality for all because â€Å"our fathers brought forth this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all mean are created equal† (Lincoln). Sadly this nation has taken a long time to live up to that promise of equality (Olson 2). Society encourages marriage because of the commitment not only to each other but also to their families which creates a union between the two; however, society doesn’t seem to accept this same idea for homosexuals. If same-sex marriage were to be legalized, it would be†recognition of basic American principles† as it would â€Å"represent our nation’s commitment to equal rights† (Olson 2). Historical figures from America’s history to now have always promised equal rights for everyone, yet hays seem to continue to be discriminated against. The basis of America has always been freedom and equality for all, discarding all of homosexuals who are granted limited marriage rights. As mentioned earlier, marriage naturally leads to the aspiration for having children, and adoption is the only way for homosexual couples to do so, which in the end is a positive side of gay marriage because it opens up the doors for a child in need of a loving home. As stated in The First Post, there are never enough parents to adopt out all of the children in foster care homes, so â€Å"whether the family is gay or straight† it is usually â€Å"better than the foster-care system† (1). Gay adoption can open up many opportunities for the children trapped in the foster-care system because they will be showed the love and other vital aspects of childhood that would never be expressed in foster-care. A new twenty five year study, as mentioned in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, shows that children of gay parents showed higher ratings than their peers in â€Å"social, academic, and overall competence† and â€Å"lower in aggressive behavior† (Manford and Chrisler 1). Children of gay parents are overall better off than children with heterosexual divorced parents because they have two full-time parental figures that are always there for them (Manford and Chrisler 1). Children of gay parents demonstrate a more confident statue mainly because they are supported by two parents, whereas an increasing majority of children have divorced parents. A positive idea of gay marriage is gay adoption because it creates a positive outlook for kids who thought they would never have a chance in the foster-care system. Many people against gay marriage believe that it ruins the prosperity of heterosexual marriage, when in reality they just search for any possible reason to make gay marriage appear as an unspeakable issue. In his editorial found on About. com, Tom Head explains that in the countries that have legalized same-sex marriage, the rate of heterosexual marriage has either â€Å"gone up, remained stable, or declined consistent with other countries in the region that do not recognize same-sex marriage† (Head 1). In other words, gay marriage has absolutely no affect on heterosexual marriage as shown in the statistics of Tom Head’s editorial, because the rates of heterosexual marriages stay the same as they would if gay couples didn’t exist. Found on the Daily Paul Liberty Forum, Bruce Hausknecht admits that â€Å"there is no aspect of family life† that is impacted by a homosexual agenda that is â€Å"fundamentally at odds with the biblical view of marriage and sexuality† (Hausknecht 1). To recap, there is no family containing heterosexual parents that is impacted by the views of gay marriage; gay marriage isn’t harming anyone. An optimistic outlook on gay marriage is the idea of it harming nobody, especially heterosexual marriages, which is a main target in trying to destroy gay marriage. Gay marriage has always been and will continue to be a highly controversial issue among the believers and non-believers. There will always be those people who oppose gay marriage, accepting that male-female marriage was generated to produce fertile offspring. There will also be those who want equality for all. These two beliefs are the basis of the controversy of the issue, and it will continue to be until gay marriage is accepted in society.

Collision Regulations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Collision Regulations - Essay Example It Important to take into consideration that it is not the high speed that solely becomes the use of a collision or accident. Rather it is the inaccuracy vessel operators have when estimating the speed difference between the vessels that creates much problems. Significant factor to take into regard when contemplating risks and collisions attributed to the advent of an 80 know ferry in the English Channel should encompass: The operator of the vessel has many more responsibilities than speed when preventing a collision. As the term itself implies, speed is a factor associated with timings. Controlling the speed involves evaluation of right timings of actions. When a vessel has to speed up to avoid collision, it must do so immediately. Designing of the vessel's structure and capabilities to meet such situations is a prerequisite. Speed is not the only factor responsible for a maritime collision and in cases of poor visibility and lighting speed is not even a factor. Collisions normally occur during overtaking and when the vessels meet head on. Rule 13(b) of International Collision Regulations states: "A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that at night she would be able to see only the

Treaty of Versailles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Treaty of Versailles - Essay Example The Elbe, the Oder, the Niemen and the Danube were declared as free international routes.The Versailles-Washington system has created a lot of large and small problems, which together led to war. So, East Prussia was cut off from the rest of Germany and had no train and motorway connections with it. The separate existence of the city of Danzig did not satisfy either Poland or Germany (German population totally prevailed in the city). USSR lost almost all bases of the Baltic Fleet. The Soviet fleet could be based only in Leningrad after the Treaty.Germany was unable to pay huge reparations to the Western countries. This was the reason why the French army occupied the Ruhr in 1923, which was the most developed industrial region of Germany. 10% of the German population lived in the Ruhr. It produced 40% of steel, 70% iron and 88% of coal were mined there. Occupation of the Ruhr only exacerbated the economic crisis in Germany.Many problems were not resolved during the Versailles Conferen ce and after signing the Treaty. The new treaties were called to deal with the unsolved challenges: Treaty of St. Germain(1919), which established the current borders of Austria; Treaty of Trianon (1920) of the victorious nations and Hungary; Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922), etc.The direct consequences of the Great War and the Treaty of Versailles were so-called small wars: Romania and Serbia against the Hungarian Soviet Republic (1919); Greco-Turkish War (1919-1921); Soviet-Polish War (1920).

Rio Tinto plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rio Tinto plc - Essay Example The company has been able to generate an overall cash flow of $8.3billion showing an increase of 85%. This increase in cash flow has been achieved after making capital investment of $2.5 billion, a figure which has increase by 13% in the current year. (www.riotinto.com,2005). An analysis of the financial data from 2005 onwards suggest that the company has been able to increase its revenue from $19.033 Billion in 2005 to $29.700 Billion in 2007- an increase of more than 56%. The earnings per share of the company have increased from $3.81 to $5.67 in 2007. Operating Income of the company has been also consistently increasing from $ 6.92 billion in year 2005 to $8.571 in year 2007. (Reuters, 2008). Three years performance of the Rio Tinto suggests a very strong performance of the company. A more closer look at the performance of the company would suggest that the during 2005, company has been able to generate sales mostly through the sales of iron ore and copper whereas the same trend seem to be taking place in the years after 2005 also. Further more the comparison with the industry ratios in the year 2007 suggests that the company has been able to beat the industry in major ratios. The Price to Earnings ratio of 18.94 is higher as compared to the industry PE ratio of 13.62 whereas the other key ratios including the sales growth, EPS growth, working capital management ratios are better than the industry benchmarks. However it also must be noted the total debt to equity ratio of the company is higher than the industry ratios suggesting slightly higher degree of leverage being availed by the company as compared to the industry. On the whole strong stock performance coupled with the strong operational and financial performance of the company suggest a very solid and mature financial strength of the company along with better management of resources. Rio Tinto being one of the largest companies in the industry and being quoted at multiple stock

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

International Business - Essay Example The Cold had ended, with the emergence of one single bloc. The world had become a single ‘market place’ (Eriksen, pp.3, 2007). This was aided by the phenomena, Globalisation. Globalisation is undertaken as a reality, and Renato Ruggeriero has put it aptly, a reality that has overwhelmed all others (Scholte, pp.1, 2000). Globalisation has been aided by free trade and the increment of international businesses. What in essence is free trade? There are various definitions of free trade; free trade is trade that is not held up by national or international laws (Baggini, Fosl, pp.32, 2010). Globalisation is a term that is on everyone’s lips. However, only a few people have had a clear and definitive definition of the term. However, definitions form the basis of an individual’s perceptions and evaluations (Scholte, pp.42, 2000). The definition of globalisation, according to the European Commission is: â€Å"Globalisation can be defined as the process by which mar kets and production in different countries are becoming increasingly interdependent due to the dynamics of trade in goods and services and flow of capitals and technology† (Held, pp. 92, 2000). In essence, increased trade, and international economic activity, faster communication networks define globalisation. In a way, globalisation has led to the compression of the world. Due to this, the world has been brought closer, in different ways, for better or for worse (Eriksen, pp.4, 2007). The beginning of the paper will identify the benefits that have been brought due to increased trade and international business. The neo-liberals largely advocate the working of the free market, and in effect promote free trade. A very common theory that promotes free trade is that of comparative advantage. This theory assumes that there are two countries in the world, each producing one single good. In a way, these two countries will only produce goods in which they are better off, because it wi ll be more profitable, and exchange the goods with each other. Therefore, ‘comparative advantage theory’ is the rationale for free trade. For example, India and China have a comparative advantage in the production of clothing because of cheap labor. In addition, Japan has a comparative advantage in electronic equipment because it has a technological edge (Gitman & McDaniel, pp.73, 2008). David Ricardo gave this theory. Technically speaking, the consumption frontier of a country will lie outside the production frontier of a company due to free trade (Thirlwall & Lopez, pp.7, 2008). In addition, another rationale for free trade has been the neoclassical factor endowment theory. This theory argues that it is not because of â€Å"technological differences that free trade is required, but because different countries are endowed with different factor supplies† (Todaro & Smith, pp. 560-565, 2003). In a sense, neoclassical thinkers suggest that trade has provided nations with the opportunity to capitalize on those resources which are abundant (Todaro & Smith, pp 561, 2003) In addition, although globalisation has received much criticism, a closer look into statistics will also show that globalisation has created wealth and jobs. Because of globalisation, livings standards have greatly improved, because a large consumer market is created. International competition also keeps prices down, therefore keeping the risk of inflation quite low. For example, since 1997,

Participation 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Participation 2 - Essay Example Outlines set the whole process and indicate whether the essay is complete or not. Outlines are a roadmap for the cohesive, constructive and concise progression of the topic (read thesis statement) that writer wants to stress upon. Freehand essay writing means doing a construction of a building just to break and alter it again and again realizing that it has not shaped as per the original idea. Outlines are clear reflections of writer’s idea. They draw a clear picture in the mind as to how one wants to progress with the given topic. Though ideas are in mind but outlines are laid down on a piece of paper. It is always easy and less exhausting to make changes on outlines in the beginning itself – before finishing on a draft of paper. When the essay emerges following precise and clear outlines, it is an indication that nothing is omitted in preparing the essay. That is a measure of its completeness and such essay is likely to create a lasting impact and inquisitiveness in t he minds of readers. Reference How to Write an Essay, online from http://www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers/ [Accessed on 6/25/2011]