Sunday, May 24, 2020

Society is not so Civil in the Wild - 800 Words

Society is not so Civil in the Wild Lord of the Flies is set on a lush and bountiful island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. A group of British boys survived a plane crash after being shot down. Two boys, Ralph and Piggy, found a Conch shell and signaled to the other boys to gather around. They then started to devise a rescue plan and Ralph was elected â€Å"Chief.† His main objective was to have a sustaining fire which would be a signal to any passing vessel. Jack also wanted to be elected â€Å"Chief.† Instead Jack became the leader of the hunters. The hunters were in charge of catching pigs that were on the island and keeping up the signal fire. As time moved on the young boys began to have a fear of a creature that they called the†¦show more content†¦Simon fainted and when he woke up, he went to the mountain and found that there was no beast just a man in a parachute. He rushed back to tell the others, who were at the feast, but was ambushed and k illed. The next day Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric discuss what they had done and they all feel remorse. Later that night Jack and his hunters attacked Ralph and his followers and stole Piggy’s glasses. The next day the boys went to retrieve the glasses and in a fight between Ralph and Jack, Piggy was killed and Sam and Eric were captured. That night Ralph was told by Sam and Eric that he would be hunted the next day and most likely killed as a double-sided sharpened stick has already been made. That morning Sam and Eric told Jack that Ralph was hiding. Jack then set the forest on fire in the hope of bringing out Ralph. The novel concluded when Ralph, running for his life, confronted a British naval officer who came ashore to check out the smoke on the island. William Golding developed his characters in Lord of the Flies so that each character showed a certain aspect in the downfall of civil people in an uncivilized wild. Ralph for example, was the oldest boy on the islan d, an elected leader, who lost all his power because he could not control the wild nature of the boys. Ralph in a sense had to be a judge and consider all factors that would be best for the boys.Show MoreRelatedTranscendentalism : A Philosophical And Literary Movement1725 Words   |  7 Pagesinstead focused on what he wanted his poetry to be and how he thought it should be written. These radical free thinkers developed ideas and morals about society and the individual that, at the time, were viewed as â€Å"uncivilized free and wild thinking† (Thoreau, Henry. Walking) and which have influenced the development of America. â€Å"Uncivilized free and wild thinking† is a term created by Thoreau in his essay ‘Walking’, at the time when his essay was published, this phrase would have had very different connotationsRead MoreHenry David Thoreau : Idealism And Existentialism1311 Words   |  6 PagesIdealism and Existentialism consolidate together in Henry David Thoreau’s work, Walking. His ethic is no other than of a man that has come to his full- senses, seeing the world from the most narrow space that society have to offer, he expanded that space and went into a journey that every man should take, a journey of self-discovery and understanding of nature. Thoreau’s Walking solves the question that we all may consider of doing before making an action. How to do it? is described in Walking,Read MoreI ll Eat You Up !, Where The Wild Things Are An American Movie Released1432 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I’ll eat you up!† Where the Wild Things Are is an American movie released in 2009 that centres on Max, a rather mad young boy who in the end changes to become that of the ideal child. Through Max’s growth, Director Spike Jonze displays that different Transcendentalist tenets are still a valid aspect of our culture, and that writers such as Thoreau and Emerson still have their influence. Transcendentalists from the 1800s, such as those previously mentioned, have values generalized into living purelyRead MoreRelationship Between the Society and the Individual Explored in Ceremony and Into the Wild1580 Words   |  7 Pages The society and the individual have a strong and close relationship. It has been noted that an individual is formed and shaped in relation to the society in which he or she grows in. The society provides the individual with the necessities of life and it is the duty of the individual to use these necessities in the most reasonable way without exploitation. The society provides economic, political, cultural and social structures that help the individual carry out his or her daily duties effectivelyRead MoreMeridian1100 Words   |  5 Pageslimitation and free of civilization, all the while, the thought of being free of civilization, without limitation is overwhelmingly wild. In the novel Meridian, by Alice Walker, the short presence of a character addressed as The Wild Child symbolizes the theme of self awareness and pursuing one’s life independently. Alice walker uses the short presence of The Wild Child as an influential factor when developing her main character Meridian. The use of characters from Meridian’s ancestry, such asRead MoreSelf Reliance By Ralph Waldo Emerson1202 Words   |  5 PagesSelf-Reliance. The essay mainly talks about the importance of self-reliance, self-reliance and the individual, and self-reliance with society. As a whole it promotes self-reliance as an ideal and contrasts it with various modes of dependence or conformity. Throughout Into the Wild, Chris McCandless shows that he is very independent and does not conform to society. Which is why he leaves his home and travels to be closer to nature. The thoughts and actions of Chris McCandless shows many transcendentalistRead MoreAnalysis Of Into The Wild By Chris Mccandless753 Words   |  4 PagesInto the wild by Jon Krakauer is a true journey of a man named Chris McCandless who wanted to escape from the norms of the modern tendency of social comformandy, although his journey eventually came up short. Christopher McCandless engulfed the philosophy from American poet Henry David Thoreau of having less government and pro self sufficiency with ties to nature and beauty of having freedom in his surroundings. McCandless shared his views from American poet Henry David Thoreau . Chris McCandlessRead MoreAlternative Lifestyles in Krakauers Into the Wild and Thoreaus Civil Disobedience1523 Words   |  7 Pagesthat was brought to light by both of these writers. Both of these men write about a life of minimalism and the act of self-reliance. Through Thoreaus writing about his own life in Walden and his essay Civil Disobedience and the story of Chris McCandless told by Krakauer in his book Into the Wild we learn about two similar but at times very different viewpoints on the subject. I would like to compare the two lifestyles and show how different the lifestyle of McCandless was to Thoreau and ultimatelyRead MoreEssay on Expository Writing - an Elephant Crackup711 Words   |  3 PagesLea Cherbaka Expository Writing Professor Joanne Sills January 26, 2010 Civil Mammals Violence has become a major problem in modern-day society. Gruesome video games and certain entertainment shows such as pro-wrestling has been exposing violence to kids that later on wish to emulate these actions. These actions are then publicized to the world by violent acts toward other species and human beings. In his article, â€Å"An Elephant CrackupRead MoreAbraham Lincoln And The Civil War1095 Words   |  5 Pagesof the United States. He had the Proclamation of declaring forever to free slaves within the Confederacy in the year 1863. Lincoln directly told the South In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you.... You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it. Lincoln was thinking of using force to defend Federal law and the

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

An Ideal World, People Would Get Along - 850 Words

In an ideal world, people would get along. Unfortunately, this is not real and the world is full of different forms of hate and discrimination. People are discriminated against based on various things like race, religion, and sex. The Transgender community faces one of the highest amounts of discrimination. This includes using a public restroom, going to a doctor’s office, insurance, workplace, and traveling. First, utilizing public restrooms are a major problem for transitioning individuals. In many states, like Kentucky, there have been numerous attempts to pass laws that would force these individuals to use the bathroom that reflects the gender on their birth certificate, or assigned at birth. This is a form of discrimination that would single out Trans individuals making them targets because no one is going to bother a cisgender individual only those they suspect of being transgendered. For example, a transwoman who is just a few months into her hormones and hasn’t received Sexual Reassignment Surgery going into the women’s restroom in a Walmart and is stopped by security asked to prove her identity using her Identification that still says male. She will then be charged for using â€Å"the wrong† restroom and forced to go to the boys bathroom where she has an increased chance of being targeted as well as attacked. This action is like painting a sign on a personâ⠂¬â„¢s back that says â€Å"easy target†. Second, many doctors can be discriminating whether they mean to or not. On most ofShow MoreRelatedBelief in a Utopia795 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is an ideal society? What is your â€Å"perfect† world? We all have laid in bed late at night thinking of how if only we had some magic power to change the world how much better the world. Even thinking about what we would change about the world. Many have tried to achieve a perfect society or in other words a utopia. Possibly the most famous utopian civilization was the Oneida Society built solely for the purpose of everyone being equal. Ultimately though the Oneida people collapsed under the greedRead MoreMedia and the Discrepancy Between Ideal Self and the Real Self891 Words   |  4 Pagestoday’s world. It was a study by authors Martin Eisend and Jana Moller that proved that TV viewing did increase the incongruence between the ideal self and the real self among women as well as men. Since the beginning of technology and its advancements, the media has never been as strong in influencing people as it is today. This especially holds true to younger generations because they are more exposed and have more means of knowing what everything else is happening in the world. The mediaRead MoreEssay about The Ideal Leader1342 Words   |  6 PagesHow would the world be different if we had a president who habitually did the right thing and was admired by everyone? In a world where the political scene is constantly changing and is often dominated by tyrants, we can go back in time and gather wisdom from Plato as to what an ideal leader looks like. For instance, most leaders we see today are proud, self-seeking and trapped in a cave that tells them that success comes from oppression and looking out for their own good; however, Plato shows usRead More Media Manipulation Exposed in George Orwells Shooting an Elephant1586 Words   |  7 Pagesreporting, it’s been kn own that what actually gets into the news reports is monitored and carefully picked by higher authorities. What isn’t widely known, however, is that the media can use specific wording and phrases that, on the surface, look like normal news coverage, but are actually a technique of the media to control the images people see and the words they hear and read. From this, people then form their ideals, but are these actually ideals of those people if the media from which they based themRead MoreEssay on Belonging1704 Words   |  7 PagesThe need to belong in an integral part of the human psyche. All people, on some level, desire to feel a sense of belonging that will emerge from the connections made with people, places, groups, communities and the larger world. Belonging cannot be achieved without an understanding of oneself and their surroundings. Belonging encompasses many different themes, several of which are explored in Romulus My Father. Throughout Romulus My Father the characters are either developing or not developingRead MoreThe Spirit, Ideals, And Values Of An Individual Can Express A Great Deal1086 Words   |  5 Pages The manners, ideals, and values of an individual can express a great deal about the society in which they inhabit. These aspects represent society’s guiding principles, showing our motivations, influences, and attitudes that we hold and act with. During the Counter-Reformation period, the very foundations of the world began to collapse. Italy was thrashed by Barbarians and the church structure was challenged, creating difficulty in keeping certain manners, ideals, and values unchanged. In an attemptRead MoreAnalysis of Stone Soup and the Gangster as Tragic Hero Essay examples1342 Words   |  6 PagesSomewhere along the way, though, lines were strewn and those values and morals became extin ct by nature. Now with misinterpreted ideals and ideas of logical fallacies as our only reference to the normal way of living, life is made to be more complicated and full of anxiety. In the short stories of â€Å"Stone Soup† by Barbara Kingsolver and â€Å"The Gangster as Tragic Hero† by Robert Warshow these non-realistic values are tackled and confronted to reveal the true ideals of the modern day world and the effectsRead MoreGlobal Citizen Essay1660 Words   |  7 Pagescitizen varies, for people have their own opinions and say about how they see an ideal one as. Kwame Appiah wrote Cosmopoltianism, and in his opinion, a global citizen is seen as one who sees no division within themselves and â€Å"others†; that it is necessary to agree with one another to behave morally. The view of an ideal global citizen has been altered for centuries, and in every culture it is uniquely seen and educated differently. Many Americans may agree when asked, â€Å"what is a n ideal global citizen†Read MoreWhat Does The Ideal Education System Look Like?899 Words   |  4 PagesWhat does the ideal education system look like? It is an interesting question. By looking at what the current model of the educational system is lacking can help to produce a clear picture of what the ideal educational system would be. Many people would agree that the current education system has failed to produce positive results. In many ways the current education system does not meet the needs of students. One problem of the current system is that it is a one fits all style of system. It doesRead MoreConsumerism : Consumerism And Consumerism1521 Words   |  7 PagesIn the 21st century, it has become apparent that the most important thing to people is consumerism. In the world, I live in today, people have made it seem like if someone does not have the top name brand things or the newest and latest things, then the person is an outcast. It is consumerism that runs most of our lives without us even realizing it because we feel that if we do not have certain things, we will be looked down upon and we become unhappy with ourselves. Advertisers create â€Å"a worldview

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Mussolini’s Relationship with Hitler Free Essays

string(69) " the opportunity to spread its power and influence to other nations\." There were many similarities between Mussolini and Hitler even though the two exhibited some differences. Having risen to power earlier, in the 1920s, Mussolini was the senior between the two and had a great influence on Hitler. Hitler saw in him a teacher who helped him shape his policies. We will write a custom essay sample on Mussolini’s Relationship with Hitler or any similar topic only for you Order Now The two however had individual characteristics that made their lives quite different. As much as Hitler went to school and graduated as a fine art student, Mussolini was self – educated (Trifkovic 1993). The latter had a larger than life approach to life and he wanted to be perceived as a superman by the people. In this way he would fake pictures portraying him as a master of various skills including a pilot, wrestler etc. On the other hand Hitler had a less colorful view of life. He was more successful in battle; being able to win majority of the wars that he staged against his enemies. In this way Germany was able to conquer other nations. As much as his friend found it easy to conquer other nations due to his early war experience and the huge army back at home; Mussolini had a difficult time in winning battles. In most of the battles he had to depend on the assistance of the Germans in order to become victorious (Carpi 1994). The two leaders were nevertheless hungry for power and were inclined to totalitarian leadership. They both had been wounded in battle and had almost taken a similar avenue to power (Hayes 1995). There election promise to restore hope and help solve the unemployment problem earned them the support and sympathy from the majority voters. In some way they did not fail as both German and Italy significantly reduced the levels of unemployment in the initial years of their leadership (Cassels 1963). The two had a hot cold relationship. Despite the signing the Pact of Steel, which called for cooperation between the two countries in matters economical, militaristic and on foreign policy issues; still there are times when one of the countries would act without due consultation with the other. Ascension to Power There is great similarity in the manner that the two leaders campaigned for political leadership and got elected to the office. There countries by the time were facing unemployment problems, hopelessness and disillusionment. The citizens were therefore anticipating for someone who would literary save them from the situation. The coming of both Mussolini and Hitler was perceived as a great relieve to the economic situation of the time. There campaign which was fierce propaganda helped to catapult the two dictators into office. This propaganda continued to play a key role in the governments and administration of the day; the citizens were totally unaware of the true information that the government was acting upon. In times of war or when the government made important decisions that directly or indirectly affected the lives of the citizens; there were totally kept in the dark (Weber 1982). The two dictators all had a similar script to help them rule over the people (Flood 1989). They were at a point of establishing a new leadership whereby the individual was the one and only decision maker. This totalitarian government did not tolerate any form of opposition either from an individual or groups. It was therefore common for those who expressed ideas or views that were opposed to the leader to either face prosecution without trial or they were simply liquidated. The two leaders had an unquenchable thirst for power. This trait seemed to have cemented their relationship as they tended to see oneself in the character of the other. Hitler had been able to learn from Mussolini the way to govern a nation with the full authority centered on one individual. In mastering the way Mussolini carried out the affairs of the nation and particularly the conduct of the military; Hitler was eventually able to come up with his own style of leadership (Flood 1989). He was however very critical to avoid the mistakes that his friend had made. So in imitating his manner and way of leadership, he was also aware of the pitfalls that come with overindulgence more so exhibitionism. Foreign Policy It is because of the thirst for power and having the same style of leadership that the two dictators had to settle for an agreement such that they will support one another in case of war. This agreement otherwise referred to as the Pact of Steel was more in favor of Hitler’s Germany that is was for Italy (Corrado 1993). There was an unquenchable thirst for power on the part of Mussolini – for he had seen a powerful ally in Germany – that made him sign the deal. Later on it came to Italy’s realization that Germany was too aggressive in a bid to try and expand its influence thus fought a number of war expecting the cooperation of Italy. At least in two instances Italy declined to get involved in the wars despite the agreement. In both the 1939 and 1940 war, the former being the German’s invasion of Poland, there had been no cooperation between the countries. In the latter case the hesitation came since Mussolini had seen the possibility of Germany benefiting entirely from the invasion. The foreign policies of both Mussolini and Hitler were primarily addressing the expansion of their empire. The two would not squander any opportunity to try and spread there influence. For instance the involvement of Italy in the Spanish war was basically as a result of hunger for power by Mussolini. In this civil war that proved to be quite unpopular in Italy; was a way to get another member to the club of dictators. Already Hitler and Mussolini had perceived themselves as the most powerful nations in Europe. The two come up with an axis to which the other European countries revolved. According to Mussolini Italy would not miss the opportunity to spread its power and influence to other nations. You read "Mussolini’s Relationship with Hitler" in category "Papers" In this stance Italy was backed by Germany and together they rallied their support for Franco. The two were in favor of another establishment of a Fascist dictatorship in Europe. In this war there combined force succeeded in having Franco joining the club of dictators. The effect of this war was a further alienation of Italy from the rest of Europe. It implied that the only option and way that was open to Italy was to augment its friendship with Germany. The Military The military might of Germany was not only one of the best but also the biggest. It was said to be five times more that the limit set by international standards. The significance of the great numbers of the officers was apparent. The nation went and fought many wars and was able to be successful in most of them. The military had been well equipped with sophisticated weapons and personnel that made it difficult to be defeated by any other nation. The two leaders were so much fascinated by the army such that even they themselves would always be seen in the army uniforms. In these military activities the leaders also were able to influence one another in one way or another. For instance the Nazi salute came from a direct imitation from the Mussolini army. Similarly there are a number of ideas that Mussolini borrowed from Hitler after he had visited his country and allowed to see the military. On seeing the military might of the Germans he made up his mind to maintain friendship with Hitler. Mussolini knew little about the military hence it was always divided and fragmented. There seemed to be no way to make the factions stick together and be loyal to their commander-in – chief. For a period of a decade or so Mussolini tried to consolidate and manage the military effectively. He could achieve but little success in this regard as his military exhibited weakness due to the internal divisions. This can be contrasted to his friend whose military was so compact and their loyalty was not compromised. The military was more of a cult than a professional body meant to safeguard the security of the nation. The German soldiers were simply dehumanized such that they were like automatons to follow orders that were given by their superiors. Together in Fascism Fascism seemed to have glued the two dictators together. They both found great relieve and prestige in holding absolute power. Fascism is regarded as unmasked capitalism since it has as its core value the idea of big business (Weber 1982). The two dictators were beneficiaries of the big business helping them ascend to leadership positions. It was therefore there prime role to ensure that the idea does not die with their coming into power. Fascism therefore continued to appeal to the emotions of the masses as it took on symbolism such as the hand salute, flags and creeds. Both Hitler and Mussolini exhibited these qualities and also the tendency towards racism, nationalism and sadism. Fascism detested so much the status quo and this has been the defining trait of both the dictators. Mussolini ensured that all political parties were dissolved. This gave him absolute power to rule over the state of Italy. He got to control each and everything in the country; the most powerful ministries were placed in his hands. These include defense, home and foreign affairs and corporations. Similarly he employed a lot of propaganda machinery such that the citizens are kept out of the picture. Everyone was made to believe that Fascism was the one and only system that could work in the 20th century (Griffin 2000). The other forms of government such as democracy and liberalism were to be shunned since they were outdated and could not be adopted. This manner of leadership was much akin to that of Adolph Hitler, just like his friend, he accomplished most of his goals through propaganda. A student of Mussolini, Hitler perfected the art of propaganda (Sternhell 1994). He was able to persuade the entire nation to support his goals and ideals in order to achieve a common purpose. Hitler had an entire ministry allotted to propaganda. Initially Mussolini held the policy of privatization of industries to the satisfaction of the financers. This was however a short term measure as the policy was reversed such that the government took on the control of the industries (Seldes 1935). As Mussolini struggled to ensure economic and financial independence of Italy – it was vital the country to have enough resources. This was not the case with Italy which struggled with limited resource allocation. To some extend Hitler had the resources to sustain his economy. He was able to solve the unemployment problem in the country and meet the demands of the huge army. Though the nation had been sidelined by other nations due to its aggressive behavior, still the economy did not flounder. This success story did not last for long as there were many obstacles on the way of achieving the goals that the leaders had set in mind. The Fascism ideology failed in its endeavor to bring some substantial changes in the human person and the society at large. First the two major personalities that stood for the idea actually met the most miserable of deaths. No one really wants to remember the actions of the two dictators. Similarly the goals of Fascism namely to come up with a society and human beings that are heroically moral were never to be realized. At first both Mussolini and Hitler were revered and admired by the citizen as they seem to have brought the changes that were badly needed by them and the society as a whole (Trifkovic 1993). This did not last long more so for Mussolini whom everyone soon realized his true character. The alienation of the two individuals by the civilized nations of Europe show how they were affected by their policies. However one cannot simply dismiss Mussolini as a failure who brought nothing but misery to his country. On the contrary Mussolini has been noted to have established the most stable government ever. It is as a result of his government that the nation of Italy can boast of a stable foundation. Similarly the good infrastructure of the country traces its roots back to the leadership of Mussolini. This is not to approve of his character or Fascism as a form of leadership. Any leader can take advantage of any form of leadership. In the case of Mussolini and Hitler the two used the power that had been bestowed on them to ensure that no one opposes their leadership. They systematically eliminated the individuals or groups that were not in favor of their policies. Common Tendencies Since Mussolini and Hitler were regarded as friends they were prone to show similarities in their actions. In some of their actions however the two lacked straight forwardness and tended to be some aspect of distrust. Germany and Italy both left the League of Nations, the former in 1933 while the latter – incensed by the imposition of sanctions by the league after invading Ethiopia – left in 1939. This shows how closely the two leaders influenced the behavior of one other. The attempt to try and occupy Albania by Mussolini had been noted as being synonymous with Hitler’s invasion and later occupation of Czechoslovakia and Austria. This attempt, unlike that of Hitler, did not bear any fruit as the Italian forces were defeated and forced to withdraw from Albania. The foreign policy of the two dictators were therefore similar to a greater extend but the political and military might of Germany was far much superior compared to that of Italy. It is for this reason that analysts were concerned that Mussolini was in fact simply a puppet of his comrade. The foreign policies of Mussolini and Hitler were meant for the achievement of power and status. There were both in favor of the expansion of their empires. To achieve this purpose the dictators employed force and diplomacy. For instance in 1935 take over of Ethiopia, Mussolini had to use force. Similarly Hitler had to threaten with the use of force in order to occupy Austria. In this way the two dictators exhibit the same manner of approach in an attempt to gain power. In brief the two fascist dictators were cut in the same cloth (Trifkovic 1993). There character though seemed to show some variation it was nonetheless the same. Everything that the two dictators did could be brought down to the thirst for power. This was mostly accomplished through wars. The Wars The civil war in Spain that lasted for three years saw the exhibition of new weapons and brought to the fore rivalries between the nations. The war simply showed who is who in the world. There were democracies on one hand comprising of countries such as Belgium, Britain, France and Holland. One the other hand there were the totalitarian regimes which included Russia, Italy and Germany. The might of these nations was to be exhibited in Spain during the civil war. Countries such as France and Britain however did not want to get involved in the crisis and therefore kept off the battlefield. This war was therefore fueled by external forces with little participation of internal forces. In participating in the war, Mussolini was acting against the will of a significant number of Italians. The war was not popular with the majority people since it was simply meant to quench the thirst for power of an individual. Mussolini wanted to have another dictator to join in Europe to join him and Hitler. In this endeavor together with Hitler they recorded huge success after General Franco won the war. Italy had been reluctant to join the First World War due to domestic policies that favored a liberal stance. By then Mussolini was allied to the socialist party thus held to the principles of the party. He later on changed his mind and joined Hitler’s faction on the battlefield. This angered the socialist party leadership thus resulting to his expulsion from the party. Similarly in the Second World War Mussolini was reluctant to join his friend as he was unsure on which side to fight. He was later to make up his mind after he had witnessed the progress in the war. Despite the fact that Hitler was more successful in war compared to Mussolini, the wars kept their relationship close and tight. The invasion of Italy to both Greek and Ethiopia – the former due to the supposed killing of her soldiers while the latter just a revenge mission on an occurrence that happened many years back – led the country to face sanctions from the League of Nations. This was very disagreeable to Mussolini thus making him withdraw from the league. He, just as his friend Hitler had come to the realization that the league could not stand on the way to acquisition of colonies. In order to understand the two leaders one has to place their actions in their respective context. It was the time when the nation’s exalted wars and there was much honor and prestige in conquering another nation. The philosophy of the time was mostly in the favor of the Germanys. This is notably Fred rich Nietzsche whom it is said to have influenced both Hitler and Mussolini with his idea of the superman. This idea was later to become the obsession of Mussolini. He wanted everyone to believe that he had extraordinary qualities. In his approach to many issues and problems that faced his country, Mussolini lacked a realistic approach. Betrayal In one way or another friendship between Mussolini and Hitler has not been smooth running. There have been ups and downs; sometimes they did cooperate while other times the two were totally on different paths. In most cases Mussolini was the victim of the betrayal as he was the lesser of the two in the relationship. In the Pact of Steel for instance the two were to stand by one another in case one declared war on another country. This was not to be as Italy was reluctant to join Germany in its attempt to invade Poland; an incidence that caused the Second World War (Trifkovic 1993). In failing to join his friend in war despite the deal that had been made earlier on, Mussolini was declaring his independence. There is also the possibility that the army was not prepared to fight at the time. The failure to abide by the Pact of Steel can also be as a result of the feeling that Hitler was opportunistic. His military was in fact more aggressive compared to that of Italy. This meant that Italy will serve as the puppet to be manipulated by Germany. Considering the character of both Mussolini and Hitler, none would be willing to accept such a demeaning position. Even with the apparent friendship between Mussolini and Hitler, the latter was said to have recommended Hitler for excommunication to the pope. This action, considering the closeness of the two, had two implications; one is that in essence it sounds factual and quite obvious. On the other hand it is shocking for the suggestion to come from ones friend. The two had cooperated in many things and continued to do so. In fact when everyone else seemed to turn his back against Mussolini, it is Hitler that came to his rescue. The incidence is therefore quite shocking as it is interesting. For no one really knew the true character of these individuals. Not even there closest friends. Nevertheless the two did cooperate in many spheres of life. If it were not for the support of the Germany military, then Mussolini will not have achieved some of the victories that were pegged to his name and regime (Cassels 1963). The most significant aspect of the relationship is the rescue that was carried out by the German soldiers. Mussolini having been arrested and imprisoned in the mountain top; it took the world by storm to see that the German soldiers were able to rescue him (Trifkovic 1993). This was a true display of friendship between Hitler and Mussolini. In fact after the rescue Mussolini was reported to have anticipated his friend’s assistance. Likewise Hitler could not afford to do nothing considering that the friend has been kept in prison. Conclusion It is apparent that for anyone to effectively discuss the actions of Mussolini he will not avoid to mention Hitler. The two cooperated in a number of ways and in carrying out the affairs that badly affected the world. Among the things that fascinated the two principles were war and the military. The obsession with both the military and war made them to always show up in the public in full military uniforms. Nothing however is more notable of the two than their thirst for power. It is primarily for the want of excessive power that the two Fascist dictators saw a similarity in one another bringing them closer together. Even though Mussolini had pioneered in totalitarian leadership, it is Hitler that perfected the practice. He learned from the failures of Mussolini thus able to avoid the pitfalls. In brief, the relationship between Mussolini and Hitler had been a friendly one till when death set them apart. How to cite Mussolini’s Relationship with Hitler, Papers

Monday, May 4, 2020

Computer and Internet in Education free essay sample

The increasing amount of time children are spending on computers at home and school has raised questions about how the use of computer technology may make a difference in their lives—from helping with homework to causing depression to encouraging violent behavior. This article provides an overview of the limited research on the effects of home computer use on children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. Initial research suggests, for example, that access to computers increases the total amount of time children spend in front of a television or computer screen at the expense of other activities, thereby putting them at risk for obesity. At the same time, cognitive research suggests that playing computer games can be an important building block to computer literacy because it enhances children’s ability to read and visualize images in three-dimensional space and track multiple images simultaneously. The limited evidence available also indicates that home computer use is linked to slightly better academic performance. The research findings are more mixed, however, regarding the effects on children’s social development. Although little evidence indicates that the moderate use of computers to play games has a negative impact on children’s friendships and family relationships, recent survey data show that increased use of the Internet may be linked to increases in loneliness and depression. Of most concern are the findings that playing violent computer games may increase aggressiveness and desensitize a child to suffering, and that the use of computers may blur a child’s ability to distinguish real life from simulation. The authors conclude that more systematic research is needed in these areas to help parents and policymakers maximize the positive effects and to minimize the negative effects of home computers in children’s lives. The time is ripe to assess the impact of home computer use on child and adolescent development. Most American children now have access to home computers and are using them for everything from playing games to doing schoolwork to chatting with friends via e-mail to surfing the Web. In 1999, an estimated 67% of households with children had a computer game system such as Sega or Nintendo,1 60% had home computers, and 37% had home access to the Internet—more than twice the percentage with access in 1996. 2 Although children still spend more time watching television than using computers, when a nationally representative sample of children ages 8 to 18 were asked which medium they would choose to bring with them to a desert isle, more chose a computer with Internet access than any other medium, including television. With the increased role of home computers in children’s lives has come increased concern about how children may be affected. Time spent on home computers may displace other activities that have more developmental value, and the merit of the computer-based activities has also been questioned. Surveys of parents suggest that they buy home computers and subscribe to Internet access to provide educational opportunities for their children and to prepare them for the â€Å"information age. †4 Although they are ncreasingly concerned about the influence of the Web on their children and are disappointed with some of the online activities their children engage in—such as games and browsing the Internet to download lyrics of popular songs and pictures of rock stars—parents generally view computers favorably, and even consider children without home computers to be at a disadvantage. 5 Although research on the effects of children’s use of home computers is still sketchy and ambiguous, some initial indications of positive and negative effects are beginning to emerge. This article begins by describing the increasing amount of time children are spending on home computers and the impact of computer use on other activities. This discussion is followed by a survey of the available research about the effects of home computer use on children’s activities and development in four broad areas: (1) physical well-being, (2) cognitive and academic skill development, (3) social development and relationships, and (4) perceptions of reality. The article concludes with a summary of the issues requiring further study to better understand what can be done to ensure that children’s use of home computers has a positive impact on their lives. Displacement of Other Activities When children use home computers instead of watching television, it is generally viewed as positive; but when children use computers instead of participating in sports and social activities, it raises concerns about the possible effects on their physical and psychological well-being. Results from a national survey suggest that in 1999, children between ages 2 and 17 were spending approximately 1 hour 37 minutes per day using the computer and/or playing video games,1 about 24 minutes more than in 1998. 6 Yet little research exists on how children’s growing use of computers may be displacing activities other than television viewing, and the few findings that exist are ambiguous. Some evidence indicates that children who use home computers may watch less television than nonusers, but other evidence suggests that television viewhttp://www. utureofchildren. org The Impact of Home Computer Use on Children’s Activities and Development ing remains the same or might even increase with the use of home computers. For instance, parents reported in a 1998 national survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center that children in households without computers watched television an average of 36 minutes longer each day than children in homes with computers (2 hours 54 minutes versus 2 hours 18 minutes, on average). Children in homes with computers also spent less time watching videotapes and more time doing schoolwork and reading magazines or newspapers, compared with children in homes without computers. Even after controlling for families’ income and education levels, computer ownership had a significant, albeit weaker, effect—that is, in homes with computers, children spent less time watching television compared with children in families with similar income and education but without home computers. Interestingly, having a home computer did not affect the time spent reading books or playing video games on noncomputer platforms. Other studies, such as a 1999 study by Nielsen Media Research, suggest that computer use does little to reduce television viewing. The data gathered by Nielsen showed almost no change in household television viewing after households gained Internet access. 8 Indeed, many Americans report that they prefer to use computers and watch television simultaneously. A 1999 study of 10,000 U. S. households by Media Metrix, an Internet and digital media research firm, found that among households with a home computer, 49% used their computers and watched television at the same time. Still others suggest that, because of the growing trend to link the content of various media—as exemplified by the â€Å"tie-ins† between children’s television shows, computer games, and Web sites—computer use may not displace television, but may instead lead to an increase in television viewing. 10 (See the article by Montgomery in this journal issue for further discussion of the links between television and the Internet. ) Furthermore, it appears that greater access to home computers may actually be increasing children’s total â€Å"screen time,† that is, time spent using a computer, playing video games, and watching television comhttp://www. utureofchildren. org bined. For example, parents reported in a 1999 survey that children between ages 2 and 17 with access to home computers and video games spent an average of 4 hours 48 minutes per day in front of a television screen or computer monitor. In contrast, parents reported that children without computers or video games spent an average of 3 hours 40 minutes per day in front of a screen, more than an hour less. 1 Another national survey of children ages 2 to 18 found that total reported screen time averaged 4 hours 19 minutes per day, excluding use of the computer for schoolwork. Reported screen time varied greatly by age, however, ranging from 2 to 3 hours per day for ages 2 to 7, to nearly 6 hours per day for 125 Parents reported in a 1999 survey that children with computer access spent an average of 4 hours 48 minutes per day in front of a television screen or computer monitor. ages 8 to 13 (see Figure 1). 11 As the combined amount of time children spend across these various media increases, the likelihood of displacing time spent on organized sports and other social activities also increases, thus exacerbating the impact on children’s physical and social well-being. Effects on Physical Well-Being Systematic research on the physical effects of children’s computer use is lacking thus far, but insights can be gained from several sources. Results from the numerous studies on the physical effects of watching television are informative, given the similarities between these media. In addition, research focusing on the physical risks of playing computer games is important, given that games remain the most frequent home computer activity for children across most age groups, despite the proliferation of other software and applications. See the article by Becker in this journal issue for further details on the demographics of different types of computer use. ) These studies suggest that children’s extended computer use may be linked to an increased risk of obesity, seizures, and hand injuries.