American History X Essay -- essays research papers fc

American History X   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Will racism ever come to an end or will its path go on infinitely? For the most part, the majority of people respect those who are different either in color, race, and/or heritage; however, there are those few that hold bigoted views towards people who are different than they are. The movie American History X by Tony Kaye displays an example of people who hold bigoted views. Derek, a Neo-Nazi leader, must contend with his actions relating to his past racist views and actions. This powerful movie explores its characters thoroughly and gives reasons why people become so callous and turn towards a racist group. It also exposes insight to problems that plague America when it comes to racism in everyday life, from schoolyards to basketball courts. All together American History X presents its watchers with an impressive theme that makes everyone who watches it take a step back and just say, â€Å"WOW!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main characters are two brothers, Derek and Danny, and the way they became involved with the Neo-Nazist’s ideas are different, yet the same. Derek the older of the two by five years, is first influenced by his late father. One night at the dinner table they discussed what he was reading in English and Derek told him Native Son. The dad had never heard of it and so Derek explained that it was black history month and so they were reading a book by a black author. His father did not like that very much and angrily talked that with affirmative action, and other such things, blacks were taking away from what was already established by whites. When a black drug dealer shot his dad when he 601 2 was fighting a fire on duty as a firefighter, Derek blamed â€Å"blacks, brown, yellows, its all their fault† and that lead him down a dark path. Disgruntled and confused, Derek became a leading member in a Neo-Nazi group, which he called the D.O.C. Danny, his young brother, watched, listened, and breathed every word Derek spoke. He too bought into the world of hatred. During the time Derek spent in jail for killing three black burglars, Danny tried to do everything possible so his brother would respect him when he got out. But the time in jail transformed Derek. He rethought his whole life when his former black principal visited him in jail to ask, â€Å"Has anything you’ve done made your life better?† (Kaye). ... ... others more easily (McDougal). Hate itself takes up a lot of energy. All that wasted energy could be channeled into other areas that are more rewarding such as helping others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For an explanation unknown to anyone, some people are inclined to hating others. Motives may perhaps be because they are insecure of who they are, feel threaten by someone, or an explanation which no one has. The movie explains a major reason why people hate is because they want to blame someone else for their misfortunes. It is always nice to put the responsibility on somebody else’s shoulders. Hopefully in a near future people can begin to comprehend how foolish it is to hate all the time, and then start to love. Works Cited:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Impersonal Interview. 4 March 2000. Hron, John. â€Å"What does our future hold?† 10 March 2000. Available http://users.powernet.co.uk/orion/nazicnt.htm . Movie discussion. 10 March 2000.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  . Movie discussion. 10 March 2000. Suall, Irwin. Skinhead International : A Worldwide Survey of Neo-Nazi Skinheads. Berlin. Anti-Defamation League of Bnai. April 1995 . Impersonal Interview. 4 March 2000.

Whales in Captivity

Killer Whales Deserve Freedom Kimberly Hall COM 155 November 27, 2011 Mara Galvez Killer Whales Deserve Freedom Orcas are complex social creatures deserving freedom and respect, not captivity in theme parks under the guise of public education and entertainment. Aquarium staffs say captive whales are priceless educational tools. However, people can educate their children by bringing them to the wild instead of bringing the wild to them at the expense of the Orcas health and well-being. The price of a family admission ticket is what continues to drive this cruel spectacle,† according to Michael O' Sullivan, the Executive Director of The Humane Society of Canada (Whales in Captivity, 2010, Para. 3). Orcas suffer in many ways in captivity, and are subject to many stressful situations they would never encounter in the wild. Captivity changes not only their mental state but also their physical appearance. One of the most salient physical effects of captivity is dorsal fin disfigurati on.In the captive population, almost every male has a flopped dorsal fin, and most females have at least some bend to their dorsal. In the wild, male dorsal fins can exceed heights of six feet straight up. The best theory is that the dorsal fin flops from the force of gravity. Dorsal fins are made of cartilage, not bone. Orcas are one of the fastest mammals in the sea; they can reach speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Orcas can dive underwater to depths of close to 200 feet. When diving, the animal’s heart rate slows from 60 beats per minute to 30 beats per minute.Meanwhile, oxygen-carrying blood diverts away from the extremities, and then navigates toward the heart, lungs, and brain, where there is more oxygen needed. These biological changes permit the animal to conserve oxygen while submerged for longer periods of time (About Orcas – Physical Characteristics, 2005). In the wild Orcas have support from the water, keeping their dorsal erect. In captivity, Orcas are at th e surface constantly for feeding, training, and petting purposes, and swim only in circles so there is very little dorsal support, thus causing the dorsal to flop [ (Bohn, 2011) ].Orcas in captivity suffer from more than just physical imperfections. Dosed with drugs to help the killer whales deal with stress, they suffer terribly in marine parks. Animals and humans share the same immune system. Just as stress reduces our immune system, it does the same to the killer whale. Therefore, stress has been an indirect cause of death in captive killer whales. Killer whales in captivity experiencing stress tend to beat their head against the walls of their tanks until it bleeds. At least three captive whales have killed themselves with this repetitive motion brought on by stress.Have you ever heard of this happening in the wild? Not only does it not happen, an Orca in the wild would never bring bodily harm upon itself. Denial of their right to live in their true habitat where they belong cau ses the killer whales much stress, frustration, anxiety, and sadly aggression. In the wild Orcas, do not attack humans as they have in marine parks. As Barry (2010, Para, 12) explained, â€Å"Isolation among marine animals is highly stressful, which leads to abnormal behavior. † Marine parks such as Sea World have what they call petting pods, where the children can pet and feed the Orcas.Orcas are given tranquilizers to help them deal with the stress and anxiety of human contact. People might not be so eager to pet these wild mammals if they knew everything the Orca had to go through just so they could pet them for a minute or two. (Smith, 2010) Along with the stress of living in a marine park, Orcas suffer extreme stress being away from their family members. In the wild Orcas travel with their family (pods) that range anywhere from five to 25 family members (Orcas). Orcas families are very close knit. They mostly travel in pods that include their parents, grandparents, child ren, etc.Taking the Orca away from their family causes them much stress, anxiety, and depression. In the wild, their offspring stay with them and travel with them. Orcas, related by blood, remain together for the duration of their lives. In captivity, the aquarium staff removes their offspring (calves) from them at a very young age. For Orcas, known to be the one mammal that is closest to the human race as far as family, feelings, and social behaviors, it would be equivalent to a human being removed from their family to never see them again, to never speak to them again. Smith, 2010) In the wild, Orcas have constant communication with their pods (family). To communicate with their pods (family) in the wild Orcas use echolocation. Mandell (2010) describes echolocation as, â€Å"The process of moving air between the sinuses in their heads to make high-pitched sound (p. 2). The vibrations travel underwater until they encounter objects and then rebound back creating audible tones the w hales use for navigation. Their sound waves go so far that they never come back to the Orca who sent it. What comes back is the voice (sound waves) of another Orca (family member).In captivity, these high-pitched sounds can only travel to the wall of the tank and bounce back. Thus, causing the sound (the Orcas own voice) to bounce back and forth repeatedly which in time can drive a killer whale insane. It would be equivalent to keeping a human in a room, in solitary, who is constantly hearing voices. Being isolated in a small tank (approximately the size of two Orcas), splashing spectators with your tail, and doing tricks several times a day for years would make any species go crazy. I agree that watching magnificent Orcas performing tricks with a human trainer is not educational.Unfortunately, watching one snap and kill a trainer is educational, but only if the lesson changes the minds and actions of its captors. Orcas are complex social creatures deserving of freedom and respect. There are currently 42 killer whales in captivity worldwide. Out of the 194 killer whales in captivity since 1964, two-thirds died within 10 years, and less than 30 survived longer than 20 years in captivity [ (Mandell, 2010) ]. To keep them in captivity disguised under education and entertainment is nothing more than cruel and unusual treatment.They suffer physically, socially and mentally. Captivity is more detrimental to the welfare of the Orca than the wild could ever be. Watching Orcas in their natural habitat is far more educational than watching them perform tricks in a marine park. [ (Santich, 2010) ] OR [ (Orlando, 2011) ] YOU DECIDE References About Orcas – Physical Characteristics. (2005). Retrieved December 7, 2011, from orca-zone: http://www. orca-zone. com/aboutorcas/index. html Barry, J. (2010, August 26). Killer is prized, feared, stressed: Life won't change much for Tilikum, the orca that drowned a trainer at Seaworld.St Petersburg Times . St Petersburg, FL, United States. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/264384772/1338068E48F8B67489/1? accountid=35812 Bohn, G. (2011, November 28). Killer whales and captivity; What threat, if any, does life in the aquarium bubble pose to the health of these giant sea mammals. The Edmonton Journal . Edmonton, Alta, Canada. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/251763683/133805C5287EFA914D/1? accountid=35812 Mandell, M. (2010, June 29).Short history on killer whales. Bergen County, N. J, United States. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/365980652? accountid=35812 Orlando, S. W. Orca Collapsed Dorsal Fin. (picture). Captive orcas. Sea World Orlando, Orlando. Retrieved from http://pediaview. com/openpedia/Captive_orcas Santich, K. Free Willy? Conservationists say this is how orcas should live — in the wild. SeaWorld tragedy — a reminder of why orcas should swim free? Whale and Dolphin Co nservation Society. (picture) Retrieved from http://blogs. orlandosentinel. om/changetheworld/2010/02/a-tragic-reminder-of-why-killer-whales-should-not-live-at-marine-parks. html/orcinus_orca_5 Smith, J. (2010, June 11). Captive Killer Whales. The Ecologist . United Kingdom. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/234920905/1338063BFFA6E62ABF8/1? accountid=35812 Whales in Captivity – Spectacularly Cruel – says Humane Society of Canada. (2010, July 1). The Canada Newswire . Ottawa, British Columbia, Canada. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/docview/455947023/133806FC22464623DC8/6? accountid=35812

Geoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales - 1787 Words

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the Franklin presents a tale which deftly examines the tension between ideal vs. reality. In a perfect world the marriage promise between Arveragus and Dorigen sets the tone for the rest of the tale by means of marital equality but in reality no good comes from it. Although â€Å"The Franklin’s Tale† is arguably the most equal out of all the Marriage Groups, its repetition of acts of magnanimity overpowers that equality and turns it into a kind of competition. The foundation of marriage between them is decided together and creates this method of balanced responsibility that is almost ideal but realistically unable to occur due to inherent gender and social expectations. The Franklin’s final question regarding who the most â€Å"free† at the end of the tale is very debatable because of the different types of â€Å"free† in Middle English. The Franklin zero’s in on that question for only the me n and leaves out an important character. Because Dorigen and Arveragus both agreed to the terms of their marriage contract, it seems unfair to leave out Dorigen’s impact she has on the overall theme of â€Å"free†ness. So given that each character in this tale is in chain of promised service to another, the ambiguity of the final question proposed by the Franklin complicates the ability to judge who is the most â€Å"free† when including Dorigen. The difficulty of answering the Franklin’s question is due to the multipurpose usage of the word â€Å"free† in Middle English.Show MoreRelatedGeoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales1781 Words   |  8 Pagesrelationship and were wholly looked down upon. During these women s lifetimes, sovereignty was sought after but never fully achieved. Women were looked at as a way to please the man and someone to carry his child when time came. In modern time, the extremist who don t support equality among women and men are known as misogynists or anti-feminists. On the side of the spectrum, those who do support equality are known as feminists. Geoffrey Chaucer, who is by some considered a proto-feminist writer, is oneRead MoreThe Friar s Tale Of Geoffrey Chaucer s Canterbury Tales Essay1508 Words   |  7 PagesWalker Mr. Abel British Lit/comp. 7 November 2016 The Friar’s Tale Many pilgrims in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales held a religious position. Some of these people’s personal ideas have caused debates and criticism over Chaucer’s opinion of the Catholic Church. Critics have discussed the ideas that were presented both subtly and openly. Two of the pilgrims and their tales will be discussed: the Prioress and the Pardoner. Both of these tales offer points of criticism in the Catholic Church. The PrioressRead MoreAnalysis Of Geoffrey Chaucer s Canterbury Tales Essay1670 Words   |  7 Pagesto better themselves. This first exploit of trust can be found within Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. 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The peasants, the elite, and the clergy are all re presented, serving as means of making greater statements concerning who they are and the world they shareRead MoreAnalysis Of Geoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales 1697 Words   |  7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer Thinking of Geoffrey Chaucer one may only consider him as the author of The Canterbury Tales but like most authors they are not only their best works. Unfortunately for most late poets and authors their history isn’t much known, it is usually not documented in general. Yet fortunately for Chaucer he has worked for people who do get their history written about which makes his past a little more well known than other poets of his time. So of course with this there are biographiesRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales867 Words   |  4 PagesAt the beginning of Geoffrey Chaucer’s â€Å"The Canterbury Tales,† he opens with a description of twenty-nine characters who are going on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. Each character in the story represent a stereotype of a kind of person that would be seen in England during the Fourteenth Century. Every single character is unique, but also embodies physical and behavioral traits that would be common for someone in their profession. He writes each character so they have realistic qualities. However, whenRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales868 Words   |  4 Pagesprotection of rights for its people, in an effort to restore the goals and actions of an exemplary governing body. Geoffrey Chaucer illustrates a similar call to action for pre-reformation Church authority to lead by example, ideally abiding by the practices they teach in The Canterbury Tales. Through the use of bickering ironic characters such as the Friar and the Summoner, Chaucer juxtaposes these hypocritical examples with the loyal and archetypal Parson’s description in the General Prologue.Read MoreGeoffrey Chaucer s Impact On Literature1231 Words   |  5 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer’s Impact on Literature: English poet Geoffrey Chaucer is acclaimed to be one of the best and most influential poets in history. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote several famous literary works in what is called middle English. Geoffrey Chaucer was born in 1340 in London, England. Over the course of Chaucer’s life, he entered and exited several different social classes. He began to write his most known pieces when he became a public servant to Countess Elizabeth of Ulster in 1357. He diedRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1321 Words   |  6 Pagesread the Canterbury Tales? The story behind The Canterbury Tales is enhancing. Geoffrey Chaucer was a revolutionary writer whose life influenced his writing. Geoffrey Chaucer helped the king and stayed at his service for years. Chaucer quit the service to chase his ambitious dream of being a writer and a poet, and hoped to succeed. Chaucer wrote many stories and poems and his most successful and popular was The Canterbury Tales. His stories were rev olutionary and successful. Geoffrey Chaucer s lifeRead MoreWomen s Liberty Through Literature1105 Words   |  5 Pages Women’s Liberty Through Literature Kendall N. Player English 4 AP Literature Mrs. Johnson  The role of women in society has been well documented through world literature. Works such as The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Hamlet by William Shakespeare,The Education of Women by Daniel Defoe, and A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. These works come from a wide variety of time periods, they range from the middle ages to the modern era, where the first was published around 900 years before the last