A Hero Within Free Essays

Everywhere you turn society today seems to be keen on portraying African Americans as a scapegoat to white societal issues and inadequacies. Ernest Gaines exemplifies this idea in the novel A Lesson Before Dying in which a young black man, Jefferson, is sentenced to trial and execution for what can be considered a â€Å"wrong place and wrong time† incident. Grant, who is an educator in the community, plays the role of a cynic and buffer between Jefferson and the rest of the community. We will write a custom essay sample on A Hero Within or any similar topic only for you Order Now He begins this novel as a somewhat worn out empty husk of what his full potential can fully allow. In a society that is dominated by white people in a post slavery pro-racist world very few opportunities present themselves for African Americans, such as Jefferson or Grant, that allow for growth and fulfillment of one’s existence. As the novel progresses Gaines provides the right elements to allow for self-fulfillment and growth for both characters that lead to life changing epiphanies and ultimately allow for a hero figure to rise. Although almost opposite in composition both Jefferson and Grant lack elements that allow them to feel whole and truly live. As individuals both struggle to live in a world that seeks to oppress causing each to barely live, but through their combined experiences and shared struggles, each are able to break the chains of oppression and rise to their ultimate potential. Grant begins the novel feeling distanced from the other members of the black community while at the same time feeling intrinsically bound to them. He feels pressured to conform to a society in which white people are superior and give little to no privilege to blacks. This idea is furthered as Dr. Joseph visits Grant’s school and compliments his students mentioning that they are a â€Å"good crop†, insinuating that the black students are subhuman or objects for a slave type of work. Although Grant’s inadequacies leave him feeling conflicted, hollow, and helpless to do anything but run away, he often remembers the pride and excitement surrounding black heroes such as Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis as they stood up to the white men and society. A hero as seen through Grant’s eyes is â€Å"a man who does something that other men do not do or cannot do. † Although Grant believes he is not a hero, he believes that Jefferson can embody the idea of a hero and that he can stand up to defy the white people proving that African Americans are human too. Grant continues by explaining to Jefferson while crying that he (Grant) needs him (Jefferson) more than Jefferson needs him. The crying and showing f helplessness marks the first transition for Grant towards the hero he can become and shows the character’s positive growth. This transition also marks where the individual struggles between Jefferson and Grant end and unification towards the embodiment of heroism begins Grant continues to embody the idea of a hero and show character progression while drinking at the Rainbow Club by standing up for Jefferson, when it would have been much easier to ignore the situation and derogatory comments. Grant’s passion and inability to sit back while the mulatto bricklayers demean the idea of Jefferson promotes the hero within, by standing up for the weak and doing something when others would not. Even though a fight breaks out and Grant is knocked unconscious, it is still another positive step towards the inner fulfillment he desperately needs. Grant also embodies a non-traditional hero in the sense that he keeps his loved ones, Vivian, at arm’s length at all times. This typically is done to protect the loved ones from impending harm; however this differs because in this instance it stems from his own inadequacies and lack of conviction in himself. Although Grant lacks the ability to see his true inner potential, others such as Tante Lou have shown positive encouragement and ultimately given everything in the belief that Grant can be great. In this instance Tante Lou has kept hidden the fact that she works incredibly long hours and works her fingers to the bone, just to send Grant to college. These outside positive factors have helped pave the pathway so that one day Grant can find his inner hero and live up to his full potential. Another important transition into Grant’s heroic path is the belief in himself which stems from an important connection with Jefferson whom he felt provided an idea he lacked, wholeness. Grant explained to Jefferson that he felt lost and needed Jefferson to believe in something so that someday he (Grant) can look to Jefferson as an example and start believing in himself. Through Jefferson, Grant has learned to stop hiding behind his own fear and inadequacies. This marks the change in status for both men as Jefferson for the first time exemplifies strength, which is shown in his posture and offer to provide Jefferson food. Grant steps back from a teaching role and exemplifies a student role in which he feels inadequate, realizing that perhaps his opinions and cynic views on life have been wrong. This is an important point in the book because it marks the final transition into the fulfillment of both men’s existence. At this point he reader has seen both characters come full circle and grow from empty husks into in depth complex people, both of which can be considered as heroes. On Jefferson’s last night Jefferson apologizes to Grant for crying when he realized that Grant would not be at the execution, stating that nobody had ever been as good to him as Grant had been during his incarceration. This kindness shown by Grant once again exemp lifies the hero role as doing something that other men do not do; in this case it was treating Jefferson as a man, a human, and as an equal. Finally Jefferson’s diary shows how Jefferson has grown into his potential and indicates that his faith is placed not in God but in his friendship with Grant. His finding of faith is the last part needed by Grant, to fully believe in himself and become the man Tante Lou and everyone else knows he can become. Although both individuals started on a path of isolation, cynicism and were shown as empty husks of their true potential, they each found fulfillment and growth. Even though it was unintentional both Jefferson and Grant grew from the experiences provided by the other and were finally able to break the chains holding them back to fulfill their potential as heroes. Upon the epiphanies that each had based on the others actions and conversations, both characters were able to grow and accomplish what individually they could not. Even though in the end Jefferson was still put to death, this book shows that two men who have nothing in common can create something so great that it shakes the very foundation on which they are built. This can apply to present day society as well as to society in the past. How to cite A Hero Within, Papers

Debut Albums and Jerry free essay sample

Two students, Fee and Jerry, talk about a popular hobby Jerry: Hi Fee, hows the new Job going? Feb. : Its very exciting and Im really learning a lot. At the same time, Its also quite tiring. I need a break today. Jerry: How about If we go to lunch together? Feb.: No, I want to do something more active. I have an Idea. Why dont we go to the park and fly a keel Jerry: Are you kidding? Fee: No, Im serious. Flying kites is an ancient tradition here. Look, I have this kite my uncle gave me. Jerry: Hey, its a butterfly.It must look really cool flying high in the slyly Fee: So, are you up for it? Jerry: Okay But where can we flay kite in such a big city? Fee: We can go Just down the street, at the Workers Stadium. We will write a custom essay sample on Debut Albums and Jerry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Jerry: You can fly kites in the stadium? Fee: Well, not exactly. But we can fly them in the parking lot. Lets go! Jerry: Okay, Im right behind you! (Twenty minutes later, they arrive at the north gate of the Workers Stadium. ) Jerry: Wow! So many kites! Fell: Watch your step! Dont get run over by the roller-skating, Jerry: I have to watch out for those football players too! I didnt know this Is such a popular place.Fell: I used to come here as a kid to play, and at night my mother and grandmother sometimes came to dance. Jerry: All of these kites are really beautiful. Look at that long one over there. It looks like a dragon to me. Fee: Thats right, it is. The dragon is really impressive, but I prefer the bird kite over there. Dont you think its amazingly graceful? Jerry: Yes, it looks like a real bird flying! It obviously takes real skill to fly these special kites. Im eager to see your butterfly up among the clouds. Fee: Okay, hold onto the kite while I get the string ready. On the count of three, let go. One Two Three. .. Here we go!!! English Conversation 2: Fee is helping Jerry decide what gifts to give to his family back home Fell: HI Jerry. Jerry? Oh,Jerry!! Jerry: Oh, Hal Fell. I didnt hear you approaching. Fee: You were really lost in thought. Or were you sleeping? Jerry: No, I wasnt sleeping, just thinking. Fee: About what? Jerry: Well, Ill be going back home to visit my family for a couple of weeks. Fee: Thats great. Its been a while since youve seen them, hasnt it? Jerry: Yes, its been quite a while. Fee: So, you must be thinking about how happy youll be to see them again.Jerry: Yes, thats true. But Im also thinking about what kinds of gifts I should bring back from China for everyone my brother, my sister, her husband and daughter, and of course, for my parents. Fell: Of course, you want to bring back some traditional things. How about some Chinese kites? Jerry: Hey, thats a good Idea! You and I had a lot of fun flying kites together. Im sure my niece would get a kick out of flying a Chinese-style kites too. Fee: And maybe you could bring back some masks from the Beijing Opera. Exotic too! My parents will really like them.Okay, now I have to think of something to buy my sister. Thats a tough one! Fee: Dont be so pessimistic, Jerry. Does she like exotic fashions? Maybe you could bring back a equip, a traditional Chinese dress. Jerry: Of course! Another great idea! How do you think of these ideas so easily, Fee? Fee: Hey, you said it before Im a genius! Ha ha ha. Jerry: Okay, now the toughest people to shop for my brother and my sisters husband. What in the world could I bring back for them? Fee: Didnt you tell me that your brother is studying Chinese now? Jerry: Yes, thats right.He hopes to come to China after he graduates from university. Fee: So why not buy him a DVD so that he an watch a movie in Chinese? Jerry: Sure, hed love that. Hes crazy about gung if movies, so he can have fun and learn at the same time! You amaze me, Fee. Fee: Geniuses will do that! Okay, now for your brother-in-law. I think youre on your own there! Jerry: Well, I could Just get him a Ive been to the Great Wall t-shirt. Fee: Or maybe hed like a Chinese kite too. Or maybe a gung if DVD. Jerry: Right, or maybe a equip! Fee: Thats a silly idea!! Jerry: Yes, youre right. Hes much too fat to wear a equip! English Conversation 5: Jerry wants to visit the Great Wall, so he asks Fay for some suggestions Jerry: Fay, Ive heard it said that you are not a true man until youve stood on the Great Wall. Id like to visit the Wall this weekend. Do you know how I can get there? Fay: There are two ways to go there. You could go there directly by bus or train, or you could Join a group tour. Jerry: Is one way better than the other? Fay: Going with a group is certainly more convenient. Everything is taken care of for you, including lunch and tickets to places of interest along the way.It usually costs around 100 ARM. Jerry: That sounds like a good deal. Fay: On the other hand, if you go directly, you wont stop along the way, which means oh can spend more time at the Wall itself. Its also cheaper. Jerry: Well, I like to go off on my own. I think going directly would be better for me. Do you know how I can get there? Fay: Ive heard the cheapest way is by minibus number 919, which you can catch near the Justinian subway station. It costs only 10 Yuan! Theres also a train which starts on the west side of the city which goes directly to the Wall, but Ive never taken it. I know theres a small station outside the west gate of Beijing Aeronautics University. You could go there and ask around. Jerry: Thats very close to where I live, so Ill check it out! By the way, have you ever been to the Great Wall? Fay: Yes, I have. It was VERY impressive! Not only is it so long, but I was surprised at how steep the steps are. Its almost like climbing a mountain! The scenery from the wall is quite spectacular. Looking out from the Wall, you can really get a sense of history. Jerry: Great! Im really looking forward to it. So Fay, since youve been to the Great Wall, you are a true man, right?Fay: Yes, now I drink lots of beer and even smoke cigars! Jerry: Really?!? Fay: Of course not, Im Just kidding! Fee: Hi Jerry, whats wrong? You look a bit under the weather. Jerry: Im not feeling ere well. I seem to be coming down with another cold. Fee: Not again! You had a cold last month, and the month before that, too. Jerry: Well, theres not much I can do about it. Im not sick on purpose. All I can do is take some medicine and take it easy. Fee: Would you mind if I made a suggestion? Jerry: No, I dont mind. Go ahead. Fee: Maybe you should try some traditional Chinese medicine.Jerry: If it can help me get rid of this cold, Id be willing to give it a shot. Fee: Actually, it might not make a difference with this cold, but it can make your whole body stronger so you wont catch so many colds. Jerry: Whats so special about traditional Chinese medicine? Fee: One special point is that its all natural. Chinese medicine is made from plants, not chemicals, which means there are few side-effects. Jerry: Thats a big advantage. Some people cant stand the thought of taking medicine because of all the chemicals. Fee: Another advantage is that Chinese medicine works slowly, so it keeps your body healthy in the long run.Jerry: That sounds like Just what I need! But, how does traditional Chinese medicine work? Fee: Basically, it helps balance two opposing forces in your body. In Chinese, we call these forces Yin, which is cold, dark and diet, and Yang, which is hot, bright and active. If you have either too much Yin or too much Yang, your body is out of balance, and you are more likely to get sick. The purpose of traditional Chinese medicine is to put Yin and Yang back in balance. Jerry: I see. So how can I get my hands on some Chinese medicine. Can I buy it in any pharmacy?Fee: First, you should be examined by a traditional doctor. I know a good doctor Just around the corner. Jerry: Im a bit afraid, Fee. Will he give me any shots or anything like that? Fee: Dont be afraid, Jerry. The doctor will Just feel your pulse and check the color of your tongue. Its very simple and painless! Jerry: Great! I have some free time at the end of next week. Hows your schedule on Thursday or Friday? Fee: Im free both days. Ill call the doctor to set up an appointment, then let you know what has been decided. Jerry: Thats wonderful Fee. It should be a very interesting experience for me.English Conversation 4: Jerry tells Fee about his first visit to a primary school Jerry: Hi Fee, how was your day? Fee: Hi Jerry, Ive been looking for you. Where have you been? Jerry: I Just had a very interesting experience. I spent the whole day with dozens of little children! Fee: That sounds like fun. Jerry: Yes, it was fun But exhausting! Kids have so much energy. Fee: Where did you meet all these kids? Jerry: At the primary school down the street. I visited some of their classes in the morning, then taught them some simple English in the afternoon. Fee: English must be very difficult for them.Jerry: Actually, they were very eager to learn. I was quite impressed. Fee: What did you teach them? Jerry: One teacher gave me some sentences to practice. The kids love to repeat things times I whispered, and they whispered back. They were very cute. Fee: Yes, I can imagine. Jerry: We also sang songs and played some English games together. Fee: Thats great. You know, when I was in primary school, we never had English lessons. Jerry: How about in middle school? Fee: We studied English, but only for a test. It wasnt very practical. Jerry: Well, youve managed to learn English very well.I guess its because youre a Super Student. Fee: Ha ha ha. Not me! The kids you saw today seem to be much more super than I am. Theyre the future of China. Jerry: Yes, they are, so China must have a bright future! I wonder what this country will be like in 15 or 20 years when these kids are adults English Conversation fee invites Jerry to go sing some songs with her friends Fee: Hey Jerry, my friends Just invited me to go to aka la okay with them tonight. Would you like to come along? Jerry: Where are you going? California? Do you mean karaoke?We pronounce it carry Oh key in English, with the emphasis on the Oh. Fee: Oh, I see. Do you want to go to karaoke with us? Itll be fun! Jerry: Fee, I feel nervous when someone hands me a microphone. I freeze. I know Im not a very good singer. Fee: Thats strange! I thought Americans were very outgoing. Jerry: Not me! Im very shy, especially in front of a group of strangers. Fee: Hey, my friends arent strange! Jerry: Strangers Just means people I dont know. It doesnt mean they are strange! Was it easy for you to sing the first time you went to karaoke? Fee: For me it was very easy, I love to sing!But now that you mention it, some of my friends were very shy the first time they went. One of my friends says he has to have some beer before he can sing in front of people. Maybe you should have one or two drinks before singing. Jerry: Yeah, one or two beers might help Or twenty! Fee: Does that mean youll come? Jerry: Okay, Ill give it a try. At the karaoke club Jerry: Oh, its a private room! I thought wed be singing in a crowded bar or restaurant. Fee: No, we have this all to ourselves. Jerry: That will make it easier maybe. Now, how does this work? Fee: Its simple. Just choose a song and sing.Do you know Hotel California? Jerry: Sure, everybody knows it. Fee: Great, here it comes now! Good luck Jerry! Jerry: What do you mean? Im not ready to sing yet. I havent even had ONE beer! Fee: Youll Just have to do your best. You know what they say: Just do it! Jerry starts to sing. Two hours later. .. Fee: Jerry, how many songs have you sung? Jerry: Oh, at least 10. Fee: I think its been more like 20. Time to go home! Jerry: Time to go home? But were Just getting started. Lets stay half an hour more. Fee: Sorry, we have to go to work in the morning and you have to study. Well come back some other night. Jerry: Great! How about tomorrow? Fay: Hi Jerry. The school year is almost over. Do you have any plans for the summer holiday? Jerry: Im planning on sleeping all day, every day! Fay: Oh, come on Jerry, you must be kidding. Jerry: Yeah, Im Just pulling your leg. Actually, Im going to go down to Gaucho Province. Fay: Really? Why would you go to Gaucho? Its not a very popular tourist site. Jerry: Exactly! Its not very popular, so it wont be too crowded. I enjoyed my trip o the Great Wall, but there were so many people there. I think it spoiled the atmosphere a bit.Fay: Im sure Gaucho wont be so crowded. But wont it be too hot in the summer? Jerry: No, according to one of my students, its very cool in the summer. He said it is naturally air conditioned. Fay: Well, that sounds good. I wouldnt mind getting away from the Beijing heat myself. Still, I wonder Is there anything worth seeing in Gaucho? Jerry: Sure! For one thing, theres the beautiful natural scenery. Im sure youve heard of the Hang Guy Shush Waterfalls. Theres also the Mailing Gorge which is said to be spectacular. There are mountains everywhere in Gaucho, even in the capital city of Gunning.Fay: Yes, I have heard of Hang Guy Shush Pub, but wont you get bored Just looking at the scenery? Jerry: Come on Fay, theres lots of things to do. I can go hiking in Asian Ling Park in Gunning, visit Miami villages in the southeast, and I know youve heard of Gunny, a very historical city. Its where Mao Zee Dong first became the leader of the Red Army. Fay: Gee, when you describe it like that, it sounds really interesting! Jerry: And thats not all. Ill be able to eat very delicious, spicy food, drink world-famous amatol, and my student told me I can meet mom very beautiful women there!Fay: Im sure youll have fun Jerry, but let me give you some advice. Be sure to hold onto your wallet AND your heart! Jerry: Well see what happens! Fay: Do you have a place to stay in Gaucho? Jerry: Yes, Im very lucky. My students sister is the manager of the Gaucho Park Hotel, the best hotel in the province. Ive seen some pictures on the Internet, its really nice! But I think outside Gunning, Ill stay in a Miami village or maybe buy a tent and go camping. Fay: Thats great, Jerry. Im looking forward to seeing your photos when you get back.

Vitro Fertilization Essays - Reproduction, Fertility,

Vitro Fertilization Human in vitro fertilization is selection of embryos for the transfer to the uterus. The eggs are surgically removed from a woman's ovaries and placed in a carefully prepared broth called human tubal fluid. Six hours later, the husband's sperm cells are added. The evidence of fertilization was detected approximately 16 hours later. Later on, the scientists select four embryos that are actively dividing and carefully inserts them into the woman's uterus through her cervix. In another 10 days, a laboratory pregnancy test will tell her if the embryo has attached to her uterine wall. The average rate of achieving pregnancy being 35 percent. For fertilization of a human egg to occur, whether it be in a petri dish or nature's setting(a woman's fallopian tube), a series of intricate events must occur to produce a viable egg in the women and healthy sperm cells. Recently we have learned in class; the development of a ripe egg and its release into the fallopian tube is called ovulation, which is controlled by hormones produced by the brain, pituatory gland and ovaries. The leading cause of abnormal ovulation though, is caused by polycystic ovary syndrome. There is very little known how or why it is caused, but we do know those patients with the syndrome have increased insulin levels. When ovulation does occur, the newly released egg enters a fallopian tube, ready to encounter sperm cells that have made it through the selective hurdles of a woman's urinary tract. One hurdle the sperm cells encounter is the cervix, which acts as a biological filter. The cervix filters out all the unhealthy or abnormally shaped sperm. Once a viable egg is produced and sperm cells have entered the fallopian tubes, fertilization is possible- if the two types of cells successfully meet. The events of early reproduction are among the most fascinating, most complex, but least understood in human biology. This class has taught me to share a fundamental desire for this significant process and has helped me understand the events that ensure the continuation of human life.

The eNotes Blog Louise Erdrich Read toLive

Louise Erdrich Read toLive On Monday the 16th a couple of us went to see Louise Erdrich give a reading from her new novel, LaRose, out now in hardcover from HarperCollins. This novel is set in Ojibwe territory in  North Dakota and draws inspiration from a story Erdrichs mother told her about a family who shared their son  with the parents of a child theyd accidentally killed. LaRose, the young boy who is given to the wronged family in Erdrichs novel,  is the fifth of his name, the favorite child of his father, Landreaux. Hes a spiritual boy who communes with his ancestors and has a strong relationship with the young girl Maggie, who thinks hes a saint. When we saw her, Erdrich read two passages about Maggie, one a harrowing passage of violence narrowly escaped, the other a tense yet hilarious account of a  volleyball game Maggies team wins. After the reading, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions about where Erdrich draws  inspiration for  her novels  (from her rich heritage and her a ncestors), how she feels about the education system on reservations  (we need to celebrate Native American teachers and build more immersion schools where children can learn traditional Native American languages), and  what books she would recommend (works by Tracy K. Smith, Marlon James, and Ocean Vuong, among others). Win a Signed Copy of Love Medicine! We were lucky enough to meet Erdrich briefly and get a signed copy of one of her most popular books,  Love Medicine. Since this book is often taught in high school, we thought we would give a student a chance to win this autographed copy of  Love Medicine, which includes a personalized message from Erdrich herself: Read to love. Its good advice for readers of any age. Check out the inscription below, and let us know  in the comments,  on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram if you want this special copy. Well pick one lucky eNoter at random. Many thanks to Town Hall Seattle and Elliott Bay for sponsoring the event and letting us attend!

Zara brand Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Zara brand - Assignment Example Zara is praised widely as the leader in clothing industry. Inditex group-Zara is the most successful clothing company the profits of which rose substantially. In its Inditex’s all subsidiaries, Zara is the key contributor and the backbone of Inditex strength in profitability.The major motivation to the Zara for going global was Cost Reduction. The diminishing transportation costs and low tariffs and duties in many countries facilitated the firms to geographically disperse their operations and take the advantage of inexpensive labor providing countries. Another reason for this internationalized model wasthat it was becoming more difficult for Zara to curb the costs in Europe because most of the firms were labor intensive and labor cost was very high in Europe then. Although these facilitations were also exploited by its competitors, Zara outperformed all. Its distinctive operating strategies regarding Logistics and Value Chain brought impressive results compared to its competit ors.Zara’s Value Chain Strategies to cope with global market:Zara spends substantially on Research and Development which results in the latest fashion items. Special focus on Research and Development is Zara’s most important value creating activity. Zara has a team of more than 500 fashion designers, who visit the world and sense the new trends going on. These designers are provided with handheld computers for reporting and being in touch with the Management. On the other hand, the competitors reduce.... In September 2010, Zara reported $835 million profit- a 68% substantial increase in first half’s net profits- that pushed the aggressive growth rate. The firm considered this success as the outcome of satisfactory customer reception in Asian markets (BBC 2010). Logistic and Value-Chain Analysis: A firm involves in many activities from getting raw material from the suppliers to distributing the final goods to consumers. Logistics is actually a careful organization of these activities which leads them to success and efficiency. If performed efficiently, these activities develop competitive advantage of the firm in terms of cost reduction and/or differentiation and create value for its shareholders. The sequence of all these value-creating activities, which aim at earning a firm an edge in the market, is called Value-Chain. The value-Chain provides competitive advantage to a firm by either reducing the firm’s cost of production, or creating differentiation for its products . The basic value generating activities are almost similar to a wide range of firms. Porter identified few basic value activities referred as Porter’s Value-Chain model. Porter’s value chain is depicted below in the model. Inbound Logistics activities are those which help get raw material from the suppliers and warehouse it. Operations activities transform the raw material into finished goods and services. Outbound Logistics deal with warehousing and distributing the final products. Then, Sales are generated by identifying the customer needs and providing them value by Marketing and Sales. And after-sale Services are provided to customers to engage them in future business

Social media and elections Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Social media and elections - Term Paper Example In 1865 with express messages growing between businesses, financial and legal offices, and banks of major cities, it became necessary for faster methods to communicate by telegram and letter. The pneumatic post came about to help with the shortcomings of the telegraphic network in Paris. Small metal cartridges carried telegrams and letters by pneumatic pressure. Information could be transferred both faster and independently without outside interference (Adams, 2011). The telephone has been the single most influential form of social media to come about before the 20th century. There has been a continual debate over who actually invented the telephone, among those are Charles Bourseul, Antonio Meucci, Johann Philipp Reis, Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray, and the debate goes on. In 1890 Bell and Edison were accredited to making it a commercial device. In 1891 Nikola Tesla developed the radio and obtained a US patent for the invention. This was another form of social media produced with radio frequencies. Email was introduced in 1966. The first email was actually sent in 1971 between two computers that were sitting side by side. The early systems of email required that each recipient be online at the same time in order to send and receive messages. What we have today is much more advanced in that it accepts, stores, forwards and delivers without having to be online at the same time (Adams, 2011). â€Å"Social media is the use of digital (and often mobile) technologies and Internet-based applications for exchanging or creating conversation.† (Adams, 2011). This has become the modern day definition of social media. However, history shows that social media can be include other forms of communication. Social interaction has become totally necessary in today’s culture and trade. The world has become a place where relationships are fragile and dealings can be difficult.

International Crime Statistics In Japanese Society Criminology Essay

International Crime Statistics In Japanese Society Criminology Essay International crime statistics indicate that the crime rates for most offences are significantly lower in Japan compared to those among Western European nations. To what extent could the relatively low Japanese crime rate be explained in terms of the social organisation of Japanese society?   When looking at comparative criminology, Japan is a good example. This is because the majority of the criminal justice system in Japan is borrowed from other countries and then adapted to fit in well with Japans cultural traditions. They look at the fundamentals of social institutions from other countries and adapt them to fit in with their heritage. By comparing and looking at the systems in other countries it can help to establish an appropriate and useful way of carrying out their justice systems. The increase in the economy in Japan in the 1980s and 90s drew interest from business people around the world. Also, along with this there was interest with justice officials on the success with Japan on responding to the crime problem. However, the accomplishments must be seen in light with its cultural heritage. Japans criminal justice system is interesting as they have successfully provided an effective response into the crime problem and have also adopted the guidelines and methods of the criminal justice systems in other countries to fit in with their own. I will be looking at informal social methods of control as this contributes greatly in keeping the crime rate low in Japan. The following statistics show crime rates in Japan compared with other western European countries: The Sixth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems between 1995 and 1997 showed that in 1995 the total crimes recorded in Japan stood at 1,421 per 100,000 population compared with 8,168 in Germany and 4,331 in Switzerland (UNCJIN, 19th January 2001). Finch (2001) found, using statistics from the Heisei 0nen no Hanzai, that in 1994 the Japanese homicide rate stood at 1.0 (per 100,000 population) while France stood at 4.7 and the UK at 2.7. The 2005 survey showed that Japan had a corruption rating of 6.9 compared with 8.6 in the UK (Transparency International, 2005). It is thought that the decline of crime has been linked with the decline in the increase of population due to post-war industrialization and the continuing urbanisation and the fact that there were fewer younger children. In spite of this, there has been an increase in crime since industrialization and urbanisation in western countries.  This then shows that it does not explain that post war industrialization and urbanisation is the reason for the decline in crime in Japan. Japan has  changed in a similar way to western countries in this sense but the difference is that Japan has not undergone the same cultural transformations.    Although Japan is not a rich country it has become an industrial giant since World War 2. It is the only non-western country that has become industrialised and they export a number of products. The Japanese saw how expanding and becoming more industrialised would have a positive impact on their economy. They have been successful because of their competitive spirit. This style is rooted in the traditional cohesiveness of society marked by a sense of conformity and uniformity. This can then explain why a lot more attention is focused on the group rather than the individual. (Reischauer 1977) explains that the reliance upon the group is illustrated in a number of ways. For example, a person is valued more as a member of the team rather than for contributing individually. So the Japanese are very competitive but not creative. Also, parental authority and family ties are stronger in Japan than in western societies however this is beginning to change. There are a lot of qualities that we consider that may have an impact on Japans successful criminal justice system and the impact that Japans cultural values may have on societys response and their criminal act. They are the most homogenous of people in the world as they have common history, language and race. Ninety nine per cent of its population is Japanese. By being a homogenous society it can help explain the low crime rate as they all share the common norms and have similar values. By the residents agreeing on what signifies being Japanese, social control becomes a lot easier as they have the same values and beliefs. However, this does not mean that homogeneity itself can explain the low crime rates as there are other examples worldwide where people all agree on the same norms and values yet there are still people that are not conforming to them.    Due to the lack of Christian heritage, individuals that are in Japan arent guilt ridden when they do something wrong as their culture doesnt believe in them sinning. However, having a sense of belonging has a huge impact on an individual in Japan. Deviant behaviour is considered a rejection of the social norms to which individuals are expected to conform to as they are part of the countrys tradition. As a result, if an individual does something wrong they would feel shame because they have violated the norms in society. Informal social control plays a huge part in Japanese society. In Japan this is applied to families, traditional religion, schools and work place. This method of informal social control is likely to be an important factor.   The way of the groups and family in Japanese society is that there is collective responsibility and that everyone sticks together. Although there is individualism it is different in a way that identity in Japan comes from the group that they belong to. Individualism in Japan comes from the individuals ability to produce, continue and guard relationships. Theres part of collectivism whereby everyone is attached, for instance school, family, employer. This tie between the groups then creates a sense of obligation towards each of them. This is good as it can provide emotional support however it can also bring a lot of shame when a member of the group misbehaves. Parents are an example of this as they are seen to be responsible and apologetic of the behaviour of a fully grown child. Self control is something which is learnt earlier on for the Japanese. Developing self control is the most important stage of socialization in Japan. This differs from western countries where educating a sense of self is more important. In Japan the main ways of socialization are families, schools and companies. The Family play a significant role in how their children behave. Individuals act within the limits of their family and community roles and are easily humiliated when deviating from them. There is a strong obligation to humour their family, community and their nation. The Japanese learn that the group is an important part of their wellbeing. Family is an important aspect and is opposite to how most individuals handle things in other countries. Bayley (1991) states that, American mothers chase their children around the block to get them to come home; Japanese mothers are chased by their children so as not to be left behind. This shows that Japanese children respect their mothers and actively seek out their attention. Individuals act within the limits of their family and community roles and are easily humiliated when deviating from them.    Japanese children are under strict discipline at home. Most importantly they are taught to adhere to parental authority and so they are driven by parental expectations. For this reason they are allowed to depend on their parents. Japanese children have always had a lot of body contact with their parents, being carried on their mothers back, taking baths with parents and sleeping with them till around the age of four or five. This differs from western society where children are taught to sleep in their own beds in their own rooms at an early age. Japanese children are therefore treated as big babies instead of small adults. Because of this Japanese children are very dependent on their parents. Bayley (1991) is clear to point this out when describing how in western countries parents control badly behaved children by keeping them grounded in the home whereas in Japan parents threaten children by saying they will be locked out of the home. From this children learn their punishment b y being excluded from the uchi world. In schools pupils are around a lot of school regulations.  Ã‚  Those who disobey these regulations are not only criticized by their teachers but also by their peers. Through the hidden curriculum Japanese pupils develop social control. Schools completely encourage informal social control. Pupils even fear asking teachers questions as they might be seen as revolting against the teacher. Also, Japanese pupils learn to not control selfish behaviour. They are taught this through small group activities such as cleaning. Pupils are also taught solidarity with the group and a shared responsibility for poor performance in the group. From this, Japanese pupils then learn that it is more appreciated to be part of a group rather than being alone as this is how it is in the  uchi  world. The Japanese companies are described as Gemeinschaft Capitalism (Mawby 1990.) This is because all the local communities dont have an impact on individuals in contemporary Japan but companies have replaced this instead. Companies provide a lot of benefits and a sense of belonging to a big family as well as a sense of pride. So the companies then offer ontological security. This then means that the worker then must follow the strong informal control by their company and if they do not do so then they will be psychologically excluded from their colleagues and the company which will mean losing the ontological security. The appreciation for hierarchal arrangements among people is another element of Japanese culture. Empey (1982) noted the importance of Americans distrust in the 1960s of their social institutions. However, the Japanese do not share this experience. Archambeault and Fenwick (1988) state that, group consciousness combines with a sense of order to force cooperative relationships between most segments of the Japanese community and their justice agencies. The respect of ones positions leads to citizens to honour and trust the justice system employees. Police courts and correction officials are seen as guardians of the societys morals as well as enforcers of the law. Because of the peoples faith in the agent of the system and the belief that decisions will be made according to what best serves society. The Japanese response to criminal offenders may differ to the response of other countries. Western countries seek rehabilitation by encouraging the offender to become independent and responsible whereas the Japanese system looks at encouraging the offender to integrate voluntarily into the structured social order. The Japanese see the community as the best place for getting the voluntary integration. Prison is not seen as a useful way of achieving rehabilitation and this explains why there is such a low incarceration rate in Japan. Japans way of policing is effective as they have a working relationship between the citizens and their services. Those from western countries may be troubled by some of the ways that the relationship between them works. For example, there is a residential survey that is conducted twice a year by Koban officers. Policing in western countries wouldnt do this as it would mean sharing personal and neighbourhood information with police officers. Also, Parker (1984) writes how Koban officers that are on patrol will enter homes that are unlocked and leave calling cards warning occupants about their poor crime prevention habits. This is because police behaviour in Japan reflects a moral norm just as much as a legal one.    Jury trial is a failure in Japan. As Shibahra says Japanese people prefer to be tried by a judge rather than by their neighbour. This is because the decisions of the jury may not be binding as the judge can disagree with it. The judge can then put the case before different jurys and so this is why in most cases defence councils go before the judge.   Another reason for the effectiveness of Japans criminal justice system is because Japanese citizens tend to admit to misbehaviour. Another way that looks at explaining the effectiveness of policing is how the police respond to civilians with encouragement and support.  Ã‚  As Bayley (1991) put it, the Japanese police and their citizens believe that each have to work through the other in order to make society a civil place to live. This support requires the police to place importance on non-enforcement activities and to  work together with people not just the ones that are breaking the law. This then results in service orientation which helps to explain the effectiveness in policing. Bayley (1991) also compares the policing in America with Japan. An American policeman is like a fireman he responds when he must. A Japanese policeman is more like a postman; he has a daily round of low key activities that relate him to the lives of the people among whom he works Japan is unique because of its low incarceration rate. This is surprising as it has the same objectives as most other countries, rehabilitation and retribution. Although they have similar aims, Japan is different in how they meet that aim. The majority of western countries try to solve rehabilitation by encouraging individualism whereas Japan looks at social responsibility.   Although the success of the economy in Japan was an achievement they also had another by having a falling crime rate. The western countries believed that because of industrialisation and urbanization that this was the cause of the rising crime rate. Since the World War 2 the crime rate has continued to increase whereas in Japan they have experienced a falling crime rate in the same time. Japan has two different types of norm. One deals with members of the group where an individual belongs and the other deals with non members of the group where the individual belongs. The first consists of giri (Japanese traditional duty) but the later appears to be more like western concepts of rights. This combination is Japanese perception of social environment which can be represented as two concentric circles. The inner circle called uchi (home) and the outer circle called yoso (elsewhere). When the police catch criminals 99 percent of the time offenders that come before a judge are convicted and 99 percent of those that are convicted are sent to prison. The statistics can be misleading as informal controls are used at each stage regardless of the formal terminology. Although this does seem impressive around half of the 99 per cent convicted have their prison sentence suspended and a lot of the time the offenders arent even placed in supervision. Japanese houses are small and are built on narrow streets close to each other. This makes operating social control systems and recognising deviant behaviour easier as everyone in the community is known and it becomes hard to hide. Today you would see patrol cars being used as a modern way of policing but Japan doesnt agree with this method. Instead they believe in the deployment system of Koban. One fifth of patrol officers work in patrol cars whereas the remaining four fifths operate from Koban. The Japanese citizens favour the Koban and where there is a lot of congestion in cities it means that the Koban officers on foot or bicycle would be able to beat patrol cars to scenes where police response is needed. The services that are provided by the Koban and their officers reflect community policing. One of the major strengths with policing in Japan is the police box system. These boxes are staffed by an officer who lives in the resource with his family and becomes a part of the community. The residents have to be registered with the local stations. Officers frequently do home visits and even provide general assistance.   In order to answer the question on how the low crime rate can be explained in terms of the social organisation in Japan we have found that a lot of contributions are the cause of this. Japan has successfully taken laws from different counties and has adapted it to fit in with their own society. Also we have learnt that informal social control plays a huge part in Japanese society and can be the answer to why there is such a low crime rate in Japan. In Japan, individuals tend to feel more at home within a group be it at home with a family or with their peers in school or at work. They fear expulsion from these groups if they were to deviate from the norms and so are less likely to commit a crime. Referencing Adler, F. (1983) Nations Not Obsessed With Crime, Colorado: Fred Rothan Co.. Braithwaite, J. (1989) Crime, Shame and Reintegration, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. CIVITAS (http://www.civitas.org.uk/crime/crimestats6.php) European Institute for Crime Prevention and Cntrol (http://www.heuni.fi/Etusivu/Publications/1266333832841 Komiya, N. (1999) A Cultural Study of the Low Crime Rate in Japan, The British Journal of Criminology, Vol. 39 No.3. pp. 369-389. Miller, S., Kanazawa, S. (2000) Order by Accident: The Origins and Consequences of Conformity in Contemporary Japan. Oxford: Westview Press. Reichel, P. (1994) Comparative Criminal Justice Systems, New York: Prentice Hall.  Ã‚   Appendix: Module Handbook Reichel, Philip L. (1999).  Comparative criminal justice systems: a topical approach. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Sheptycki, J. W. E., 1960- Wardak, Ali. (2005).  Transnational and comparative criminology. London: GlassHouse. Terrill, Richard J. (1999).  World criminal justice systems: a survey. 4th ed. Cincinnati: Anderson Publishing.