Cultural relativism Essay Example for Free

Cultural relativism Essay The issue of universalism of human rights vs. cultural relativism has been a focal point of heated debate for the last several decades. As globalization is bringing nations together, cultural differences and peculiarities become increasingly more salient. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nation in 1948, lists several categories of rights that the peoples of the world have agreed to accept and recognize. These rights include the right to life, liberty and security of person; the right to be free from slavery and servitude; the right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or arbitrary arrest, detention or exile; the right to marriage with the free and full consent of the parties; the right to own property; the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religionm; and the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work (United Nations, 1948). These rights are universally recognized because they protect the dignity of an individual and the basic social institutions which are present in virtually every culture. However, their universality is still contested, as â€Å"human rights as laid out in the international covenants ignore the traditions, the religions, and the socio-cultural patterns of what used to be called the Third World† (Tharoor, 1998, para. 1). For example, in some African societies, â€Å"group rights have always taken precedence over individual rights, and political decisions have been made through group consensus, not through individual assertions of rights† (Tharoor, 1998, para. 4). There are many instances when traditional practices conflict with universal human rights. For example, female genital mutilation, practiced by some African and Asian people for cultural and communal reasons, translates into irreversible lifelong health risks for females (UNICEF, 2008). The debate whether human rights are universal is perennial. It is important to recognize, however, that an effective framework for the protection of human rights can be developed only using a bottom-up approach, giving the broad support of a society where human rights are promoted. References Tharoor, Shashi. (1998). Are Human Rights Universal? World Policy Journal, 16(4). Retieved June 11, 2009, from http://www. worldpolicy. org/journal/tharoor. html UNICEF. (2008). Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. Retrieved June 11, 2009, from http://www. unicef. org/protection/index_genitalmutilation. html United Nations. (1948). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved June 11, 2009, from http://www. un. org/en/documents/udhr

Alice Kyteler Sorcery Trial Essays -- Witchcraft European History Essa

Alice Kyteler Sorcery Trial The sorcery trial of Alice Kyteler was an important aspect and a contributing factor of the European With-Hunt. The trial helped to set a precedent and a point of reference for later witch-hunts and later trials. The trial of Alice Kyteler helped make the link between heresy and witchcraft, helped in making witchcraft a crime punishable under heretical laws, helped define what the acts of witchcraft are, and allowed for the authority of the church in matters of witchcraft, such as torture, to be defined. Heresy and witchcraft are interrelated and in some cases, one in the same. The charge of sorcery and witchcraft against Alice Kyteler helped to solidify the correlation drawn between magic and heresy. The sorcery trials that where held in Ireland where centered around the idea that the magic that was being performed somehow made the practitioners heretics. William Outlaw was accused of, â€Å"aiding, abetting and harboring heretics†¦usury, perjury, adultery, murder of clergy, and excommunications, to the total of thirty-four separate counts.†1 William Outlaw, son of Alice Kyteler, had the charges of heresy and helping those who where heretics combined to include other charges that fell under witchcraft. Outlaw was accused of helping heretics, who where also being charged with heresy, and using sorcery for the use of evil. In Nicholas Eymeric’s, written fifty years after the Kyteler trial, lists that â€Å"†¦some others, however, are magicians and di viners who are not pure chiromantics, but are contracted to heretics, as are those who show the honor of latria or dulia to the demons.† Eymeric also wrote that, â€Å"These people,† referring to the magicians, â€Å"are guilty of manifest heresy.†2 This s... ... Alan Kors and Edward Peters (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1972), 85. 3. Brian Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe (London: Longman Group, 1995), 37. 4. Davidson, 26-27. 5. William Cardinal of Santa Sabina, â€Å"Magic and the Inquisition,† in Witchcraft in Europe 1100-1700, Alan Kors and Edward Peters (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1972), 81. 6. Davidson, 28 & 30. 7. Davidson, 82. 8. Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Spenger, â€Å"The Malleus Maleficarum,† in Witchcraft in Europe 1100-1700, Alan Kors and Edward Peters (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1972), 130. 9. Davidson, 28. 10. Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Spenger, â€Å"The Malleus Maleficarum,† in Witchcraft in Europe 1100-1700, Alan Kors and Edward Peters (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1972), 132. 11. Davidson, 62. 12. Levack, 77.

Movie Review of Secret (2007 Taiwanese Film) Essay

Casts: * Jay Chou as Ye Xianglun – A music student majoring in piano and lives with his father * Kwai Lun-mei as Lu Xiaoyu – A music student who lives with her mother * Anthony Wong Chau-sang as Xianglun’s father – Xianglun’s father and the discipline teacher at his school * Alice Tzeng as Qing Yi – Xianglun’s classmate who is in love with him * Yuhao Zhan as Yu Hao – A music student and talented piano player, nicknamed â€Å"Prince of the piano†, he had a â€Å"piano battle† with Xianglun Secret is an amazing movie to look at and to listen to. The film tells a â€Å"simple but very beautiful† love story which is tied between past and present. The story, the music, the talent – you’ll really be amazed and be in love with it when you see it yourself. You can’t imagine that it would be magical. It’s a unique story, unpredictable and interesting. What’s more interesting is there is more to it than what meets the eye. Careful attention must be paid to all scenes, or else the story won’t click and the end won’t be as good. Here’s the spoil. Ye Xianglun is a budding musical genius whose way with piano keys makes him a hit with the ladies, and even the guys, who recognize talent when they see it. Ye arrives at Tanjiang Art School and already he’s being watched, but his eyes and heart are immediately stolen by Lu Xiaoyu, an elegant, charming flirt who first happens upon Ye in the school’s aged piano r oom. The two begin a cute, casual romance that’s defined by secrets. Basically, Lu keeps them, starting with her name, then extending them to other things like where she goes, what she does, and why she’s always absent from class. Since she’s so effervescent and attractive, Ye is immediately smitten. Ye has a secret too, but I’ll give it away: his dad is a teacher at the school, and he’s played by Anthony Wong in an amusing performance that’s vintage Wong. Ye also has some friends at school who aren’t as amusing, and even qualify as annoying and bothersome. Some of these characters are played by Chou’s Taiwanese pop music pals. Since this is a Jay Chou (Ye Xianglun) production (besides starring and directing, he penned the original story and contributed the music), it’s only understandable that Chou make room for some of his buddies  as well as his pet obsessions, especially music. Ye becomes the class celebrity when he kicks ass in a â€Å"piano battle†, which is as entertaining as it i s patently manufactured. Basically, Ye outfoxes his opponent on the ivory keys, winning the hearts of the girls and the guys, while still remaining cool and sheepish in that inimitable Ye Xianglun way. Chief among his admirers is the pretty Qing Yi, who starts to crush on Ye big time. But Ye only has eyes for Lu. Or does he? Despite getting along swimmingly with Ye, Lu soon gets the idea that Ye is two-timing her with Qing. This is due to your standard crossed wires and mistaken circumstances, but the misinterpreted event is enough to throw a massive crush-killing wrench into their puppy love. That would probably be a terrible thing to behold if not for the fact that the relationship up until then was hardly inspiring. Ye Xianglun and Lu Xiaoyu have decent chemistry, but the relationship between their characters never seems that deep. There’s a manufactured quality to the dialogue that makes their supposed love a bit unconvincing, and without more acute emotions the film begins to drag. Sadly, part of this is the fault of Ye Xianglun, the actor. Ye possesses a certain likable charm, but his presence hardly screams â€Å"passion.† His demeanor is just too remote; Ye tr ies hard, but he can’t convey a complete range of emotions. Shoring things up, however, is Lu Xiaoyu. When she initially appears, she acts too much like an idealized good girl flirt to be real; it’s like she’s some manufactured idea of what perfect high school romance should be. However, as it turns out, there’s a reason for her bizarre flirtatious behavior, and as the film divulges more of the how’s and why’s, Lu is given a chance to convey emotions that prove heartbreaking. Her screen presence is refreshing and her emotion’s genuinely moving; if Secret manages to affect, Lu Xiaoyu is a large reason why. The revelation of the film’s eponymous secret is what gives Lu the chance to really affect the audience – and yet it’s also when the movie starts to lose its credibility. The mechanism behind the film’s secret is never known, but the logic of how it works is explained explicitly, such that every incident and action in the film needs to fit a set of rules explained by the characters and depicted by the events thems elves. But the film ultimately doesn’t adhere to its convictions, eventually twisting events to fit desired emotions and skirting around the rules that they’ve laid out for us. The film gives us a denouement, but it’s  only touching because it fits some sort of predetermined audience expectation, and not because it surprises or really affects. Some people may be happy with how Secret ends. But does the film earn its ending? I don’t think that it does. At least Secret is a very pretty ride. On artifice alone, the film is aces, serving up beautiful art direction, cinematography and music. Ye Xianglun (Jay Chou) really knows how to compose a tune; the film’s original music is genuinely stirring, and preexisting pieces are well-chosen and evocative of the film’s innocent romantic mood. Secret serves the senses exceptionally well – so much so, that it’s almost tragic when it ultimately throws logic out the window. Ye Xianglun and company have created a nice little valentine, but their desire to give the film more weight eventually leaves it adrift. The film barrels towards its intended goal with little regard for common sense, leaving the audience with nothing besides the pretty pictures and people to shore it up. Amazingly, that gambit is more successful than not, and Lu Xiaoyu (Kwai Lun-mei) practically drags the film across the finish line herself. Without her the film would probably sink beneath its own self-importance, as its manufactured sheen and occasionally miscalculated choices render the film little more than a superficially gorgeous pure love diversion for teen girls and the boys they drag to the cinema along with them. That’ll probably do just fine for most, since â€Å"manufactured diversion† seems to be a standard expectation for many modern moviegoers. Secret will probably score well with its intended teen audience, especially if they take in the film as a single, one-off experience. Further viewings would only reveal the film’s holes to be gaping and perhaps intolerable, but upon first glance, Secret is pretty and polished enough to charm. You should watch it too!

The Effect Of Cooperation On Efl Learners Education Essay

This paper will look into the consequence of cooperation on EFL scholars ‘ reading comprehension. The consequence will be examined in three subdivisions harmonizing to the surveies done in the field. First, the consequence of student-student cooperation will be explored. Second, the consequence of student-teacher cooperation will be studied. Last, the consequence of student-reading specializer will be considered. Nevertheless, before traveling to the point at that place will come some elucidation about cooperation. Research in the field of schemes and scheme categorizations ( Oxford, 1990 ; cited in Brown, 2007 ) has classified cooperation as a societal scheme and has defined it in footings of collaborating with others and collaborating with adept users of the new linguistic communication. This â€Å" adept users of the new linguistic communication † can consist both instructors and the specializers of the new linguistic communication. As supported by surveies ( Almanza, 1997 ; Fehring, 1987 ; Jacobs, 2000 ; Sen, Burns, & A ; Miller, 2009 ) student-student cooperation affected the scholars ‘ or pupils ‘ reading comprehension positively. By student-student cooperation, we mean several pupils collaborating and join forcesing with each other during the reading procedure. One manner to bring forth student-student cooperation is through concerted acquisition. â€Å" Concerted acquisition is agreement in which pupils work in mixed-ability groups and are rewarded on the footing of the success of the group † ( Woolfolk, Winne, & A ; Perry, 2003. p. 329 ) . To hold effectual concerted acquisition, groups must be concerted ; i.e. all members must take part ( Woolfolk et al. , 2003 ) . Almanza ( 1997 ) supported the effectivity of student-student cooperation by her findings, which revealed that pupils ‘ accomplishment in reading comprehension could be improved by doing usage of concerted acquisition. Fehring ( 1987 ) is besides in favour of concerted acquisition and its effects on scholars ‘ linguistic communication acquisition in general including reading comprehension. Jacobs ( 2000 ) confirms the effectivity of concerted acquisition in reading, excessively. In his work, Jacobs ( 2000 ) asserted five grounds why concerted acquisition or student-student cooperation is effectual and should be added to extensive reading ( ER ) which involves pupils in mutely reading big measures of reading stuffs. The five grounds include: Students can infect each other with enthusiasm for reading. Students can propose good ER stuffs for each other. The more adept pupils can assist other pupils. Peers provide an audience with whom pupils can portion about what they hold read. The other manner supplying student-student cooperation is through holding pupils or scholars help each other learn by learning each other. Harmonizing to Sen and co-workers ( 2009 ) , â€Å" holding other pupils work with the pupil holding trouble in reading was among the most normally cited schemes in Chinese Taipei, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago † ( p. 3 ) . The consequence of student-teacher cooperation on reading comprehension of the scholars is the following subdivision to be examined. Student-teacher cooperation refers to any sort of interaction and activity established between the pupil and the instructor, which has been indicated to be constructive and affect positively the overall linguistic communication acquisition of the scholars, reading comprehension included. Instructional conversation, which refers to â€Å" state of affairs in which pupils learn through interaction with instructors and/or other pupils † ( Woolfolk et al. , 2003. p. 335 ) , is considered to be an effectual manner in developing Student-teacher cooperation, which accordingly will hold pupils learn from their instructors and better their linguistic communication acquisition development, reading comprehension included. Harmonizing to Sen and co-workers ( 2009 ) , there are two types of Student- instructor cooperation, which are among the school-support schemes that help pupils develop their overall linguistic communication larning abilities: The instructor spends more clip working with the pupil separately. The pupil works in the regular schoolroom with a teacher-aide. Both of these two types of Student-teacher cooperation appeared to be effectual in linguistic communication acquisition development ; nevertheless, the first 1 was proved to be among the most normally cited schemes used and the 2nd 1 was found to be among the least normally cited schemes used in the bulk of states around the universe. The last subdivision analyzes the consequence of student-reading specialist cooperation on scholars ‘ reading comprehension. Reading specializer is the 1 who is a sort of expert in reading and its comprehension, is the 1 who is adept and experienced in the field. Student-reading specialist cooperation is a cooperation that is established between the pupil and the reading expert. This type of cooperation has been proved to be a constructive and effectual 1 in linguistic communication acquisition development ( Woolfolk et al. , 2003 ; Sen et al. , 2009 ) as will be discussed following. Cognitive apprenticeship has been shown to be an effectual manner in overall linguistic communication acquisition development, reading comprehension included, as student- reading specialist cooperation. Woolfolk and co-workers ( 2003 ) defined cognitive apprenticeship as â€Å" a relationship in which a less experient scholar acquires knowledge and accomplishments under the counsel of an expert † ( p. 337 ) . It was believed to be an effectual signifier of instruction in general and linguistic communication acquisition in peculiar, reading comprehension included ( Woolfolk et al. , 2003 ) . The other manner of set uping student-reading specializer cooperation in order to hold an enhanced comprehension among scholars is through holding pupils work with a reading specializer whether in a remedial schoolroom or in the regular schoolroom. Research ( Sen et al. , 2009 ) has shown that both of the schemes were proved to be effectual in heightening the reading comprehension of the scholars ; nevertheless, none of them was among the most normally cited schemes used in the bulk of the states.

Beliefs Related To Health Care Essays

Beliefs Related To Health Care Essays Beliefs Related To Health Care Paper Beliefs Related To Health Care Paper Traditionally the family must be involved from the start, to deal with any terminal illness. Some families, relative and friends may wish to prevent the communication of the diagnosis and prognosis from medical professionals to the dying person. The families of a few patients insist on being informed of bad news first, but the patient is usually told as well. Emotions may be displayed openly. For instance; anger, despair, depression. This is an acceptable means of behavior and is sometimes expected. Anger may sometimes be directed towards health care  workers. Emotional support is generally not sought, as this is considered to be an ‘in house’ matter. Morphine should only be used when other medications are ineffective. Some Italians may accept morphine while others may express many fears associated with its use. The strong Roman Catholic belief of the Italian community leads them to reject euthanasia. Pain is greatly feared since it is viewed as evil, unnatural, and deprivation. It is also openly discussed. Breathing difficulty is seen as a sign of dying and fatigue is perceived as depression. Illness may sometimes allow patients to feel guilty because they may feel they are being unproductive. Many Italians use alternative therapieshomeopathic medicine, acupuncture and massage. Traditional cures are often used for instance lemon for colds and flu, garlic for high blood pressure, and canarino, an herbal teach by boiling a few bay leaves together with some lemon rind, to treat a stomach ache. Some Italians believe that stomach poorly absorbs medicine or may believe that stomach is sacred for food, and prefer medication through injection. It is important to carefully educate patients on medication and procedures. Death and Afterlife: Death is not greatly feared, it is viewed as right of passage. There is a belief in life after death. Families may want to take dying member home to care for. When death occurs, the family wants to be there and relatives visit at homes of deceased persons family. Families want to see the body and may want to touch the body. Funeral home prepares the body. Major Industries Italy began to industrialize late in comparison to other European nations, and until World War II was largely an agricultural country. Tourism is one of Italys most important industries and a major source of foreign exchange. Manufacturing is centered in the north, particularly in the golden triangle of Milan-Turin-Genoa. Italys economy has been gradually diversifying, shifting from food and textiles to engineering, steel, and chemical products. The chief manufactures include machinery; iron, steel, and other metal products; chemicals; motor vehicles; clothing and footwear; and ceramics. Although many of Italys important industries are  state-owned, the trend in recent years has been toward privatization. The service sector has growing importance in Italy and employs well over half of the labor force. Education of nurses In most countries in the WHO (World Health Organization) European Region, 12 years of education is required before entry into an educational program in nursing and midwifery. Many countries recognize the need for academically prepared nurses and midwives, and the proportion of university-educated nurses and midwives, in comparison to those who received vocational  training, is slowly increasing. Nevertheless, the number of nurses whose education has prepared them to take over advanced practice roles is currently not sufficient. This deficiency is expected to continue through the next decade. Although progress is being made in standardizing professional education in the European Union, in 2009 attaining a bachelor’s degree requires three years of study for nurses in Italy. Heath Care System in Italy The National Health System of Italy, called the Servizio Sanitario Nazioanale, offers  inexpensive healthcare to all European citizens. In-patient treatments which are covered include tests, medications, surgeries during hospitalization, family doctor visits, and medical assistance provided by paediatricians and other specialists. The health system is also responsible for drugs and medicines, out-patient treatments, and dental treatments. Regardless of where one comes from, it is imperative that you have health insurance form the moment you arrive in Italy. Without it, issuance of a permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay) is not possible.

Anne Bradstreets Poetry

A literary review of the collection of poemsThe Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America by Anne Bradstreet who is thought to be the first genuine poet to develop in the English speaking New World. This paper discusses the poetry of Anne Bradstreet (who was only published once during her lifetime and without her knowledge ). Bradstreet had emigrated to New England as a young wife in 1630, and her poetry exemplifies a variety of themes related to home and hearth in the New World.Bradstreet offers more in-depth philosophic and religious analysis in other poems.Bradstreets poem Contemplations is an aptly-named poetic meditation with a didactic purpose.The poet uses images of nature such as could be seen in a given day as a way of evoking a sense of God and of the connection between the human lifespan and the larger metaphysical realm of God.The poem is in the first person, with the poet-narrator explaining her views as she observes nature and makes links between the images she sees there and her inner religious beliefs.This use of the first-person personalizes the narrative and brings the reader into the consciousness of the poet directly.We are brought by the poet into her contem plations.We know that the experiences she relates about nature are her own, and we know that the thoughts that these encounters engender are her own.

Applying Lean To E-Commerce Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Applying Lean To E-Commerce Business - Essay Example The typical example of such well-known e-commerce business with production problem is Disney Shop.Disney Store uses e-commerce as a mainstream approach to the sale of the variety of products through online stores. Users of the online store login, create the account, select preferred items, go through a payment system, and have the products shipped to them within an identified time. Financial records from the business, however, shows production related problems whereby the companies are recording increases in revenues but still have declining profits (Disney Stores, 2014). Hines (2008) noted that a typical cause of such a situation is the high level of waste in the production system, reducing the productivity and efficiency levels of the company significantly. With such reduced productivity and efficiency, the company will be making more revenue but due to high expenditure, the income does not balance the expenditure and so there are losses. The overall aim of lean thinking is to ensure that there are high benefit and value from production through the elimination of waste (Womack, Jones & Ross, 1990). The reason lean is seen as useful in solving the problem is that it will ensure that all forms of waste that have created unwarranted expenditure will be done away with. In any typical organization such as Disney Store, when lean is adopted, there are seven major types of wastes that are targeted for elimination. These include production defects, overproduction, unnecessary transportation, long waiting, unnecessary inventory, unnecessary motion, and over-processing (Hines, 2008). For most companies, once these forms of wastes are available, they would be seen to be making a lot of sales but in reality, they lack profitability. The reason for lacking profitability is because the wastes bring about the huge cost of production that consumes the sales.