Anthills of the Savannah free essay sample

At the turn of the 20th century, it was often said that the sun never sets on the British Empire it covered a vast area of the planet that included parts of Europe, Africa, Oceania, North America and Asia. However towards the end of the 21st century few of it’s former colonies remained. The effort exerted by Britain during WW II had left the country exhausted and made Britons turn inward and look at their own country, which led to many of them swapping ideas of imperialism to ones of nationalism. As Britain struggled through the post war economic crisis, many in the new Labour government of Clement Attlee began to see the Empire as an unnecessary drain on public finances and felt that Britain should abandon it’s attempts to retain it’s overseas territories. (Arnestein 377) In Africa Britain’s Empire came to a swift end, with Britain often withdrawing from their former colonies rapidly, leaving the newly-independent states ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of sovereignty. We will write a custom essay sample on Anthills of the Savannah or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Although Britain had shed it’s former colonies it’s influence still remained strong and through this it played a very important role in shaping the history of Africa. Through the implementation of Frederick Lugard’s Dual Mandate ideas, which he expressed in his book The Dual Mandate In British Tropical Africa, it left an indelible mark on the African continent. Through this book Lugard had tried to create a wide-ranging theory of colonial policy that could be used by the British in controlling the African colonies. In it he proposed how Britain would rule Africa through a system of indirect rule using indigenous authorities. The object in view is to make each Emir or paramount chief, assisted by his judicial Council, an effective ruler over his own people. †(Lugard ) He felt that more progress could be made if white officials were utilized as advisors more than direct rulers. Lugard felt that the chiefs should be gradually given more responsibility, especially in the handling of public funds a portion of taxes collected could be retained in local treasuries to pay local officials and bureaucrats, fund local improvements and public works. There are fifty such treasuries in the northern provinces. of Nigeria, and every independent chief, however small, is encouraged to have his own. †(Lugard ) Lugard argued that Britain as trustees of Africa had a responsibility to educate the ruling class, so that they would be ready to fill the posts in the government and to take over from the chiefs. â€Å"The task of educating them in the duties of a ruler becomes more than ever insistent ;[ of the importance of education, especially for the ruling class, and for the filling of lucrative posts under Government:† (Lugard) This form of education would be based on the English education system and would use English teachers if at all possible. Moreover, as education spread, a new western educated elite began to emerge among Africans, some of these were the sons of ruling chiefs but many also came from common backgrounds While the British did devote some resources to education in Nigeria, one should not get the impression that they were substantial. In fact, many educational resources came from religious missions and not the government. Colonialism was creating a new, educated elite that differed from the traditional elite and they were not going to sit idly back and watch the British and tribal chiefs enjoy all the power and privilege. Many of these newly western educated people were the very ones who were pushing nationalist ideology to the common people. . This is where we join the story in Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah, the fictional country of Kangan has shed it’s colonial bonds and it’s ruler Sam has been installed to power by a military coup detat. In the novel Achebe paints a picture of the political and cultural crisis that affects the countr when it turns from a former colony to an independent nation. In this post colonial setting we get a clear indication on just how strong a role Britian had in Kangan which is the thinly disguised country of Nigeria. The three main male characters all know each other, having met at the interestingly named Lord Lugard college when they were younger. â€Å"I had known him for close on twenty five years from that day long ago when we met as new boys of thirteen or fourteen at Lord Lugard college† (Achebe 11) In this British school the male characters were molded by their teachers to act as if they were British especially Sam. While in school Sam had expressed dreams of becoming a doctor, but these ideas were immediately abandoned when he was told by his head master â€Å"that the army was a career for gentlemen†(45) All Sam ever wanted to do was â€Å"what was expected of him especially by the English who he admired to the point of foolishness†(44) We see Sam take on the mannerisms of the English with his expressions and speech. When Sam says â€Å"its not cricket †(19) we know that its not enough for Sam to take on the mannerisms of ordinary Britons but those of the well to do classes. Although much like listening to the Mozart album at the wrong speed he does not use the expression correctly, the actual expression is â€Å"it’s just not cricket† this shows that although Sam aims to mimic his former colonizers he can never completely develop the nuances of speech and refinement that would make him just like them. This form of mimicry is based on the colonial’s desire to some how fit into and find a position for themselves within a world that although they are a part of they can never be a fully fledged member. It is not hard to imagine with Sam as leader that although the British government is no longer in power its soul still remained. The novel does not take long to show us how the influence of Britain still remains in it’s former colony. When the British departed, the vacuum it left was quickly filled by a powerful dictator whose rule like the British before him had not been legitimized by a democratic process. In much the same way as the British would have dealt with what they would have considered the not so bright peasants, we see that Sam deals with them in the same condescending manner, feeling that if he can fool them the impressionable peasants will leave him alone â€Å"Tell them if you like, that I’m on the phone with the President of the United States or the Queen of England. Peasants are impressed by that kind of thing, you know†(p. 16) Like their former masters , the new elite black rulers looked down upon the people they were supposed to be serving. We clearly see this at the public execution when Ikem looks at the public waiting for the executions to happen in the blistering heat and contemplates how is it possible for the poor to remain calm when they can see the empty shaded seats reserved for the elite. Mimicking what the British would have said about the Africans, the African elite now say about the poor. Rather than looking down on someone for the colour of their skin, now class has been racialized. â€Å"You see, they are not in the least like ourselves. They dont need and cant use the luxuries that you and I must have. They have the animal capacity to endure the pain of, shall we say, domestication. The very words the white master had said in his times about the black race as a whole. Now we say them about the poor. †(p. 37) Ikem knows that the real threat of colonialism is if you succeed in mimicking what the former colonists had done to your own people. He wrote this in a hymn at the end of a scathing editorial looking for the law on executions to be overturned. â€Å"The worst threat from men of hell, May not be their actions cruel, Far worse that we learn their way, And behave more fierce than they. (P. 37) In the novel another British influence that separates the elites from the common people is their grasp of the English language. It is a class divider with the elites speaking flawless English and the working class speaking pidgin English. The nation is fractured both by education and language. It was the African elites who spoke English correctly, were the ones to benefit when Britain left, creating a distance between them and the poor. This distance mirrored that created by the British between themselves and the native Africans. In the novel it is the main characters mimicking of the British that brings them respect and power and maintains the gap established by the British between the government and the poor. The Attorney Generals comments to Sam reflect this â€Å"As for those like me, Your Excellency, poor dullards who went to bush grammar schools, we know our place, we know those better than ourselves when we see them. We have no problem worshipping a man like you. Honestly I dont. You went to Lord Lugard College where half of your teachers were Enlgishmen†. (p. 22) While Achebe does rightfully explain that the elitism created in Africa was the result of colonialism he does not lay all the blame on the colonists shoulders. Rather a bigger problem in the post colonial state is the incapacity of the country’s elite to establish rapport with the poor, this forms the main premise of Achebe’s novel â€Å"It is the failure of our rulers to re-establish vital inner links with the poor and disposed of this country, with bruised heart that throbs painfully at the core of the nations being. †(p. 131) Achebe blames the national leaders for not upholding the interests of the poor

Computers in Our Future essays

Computers in Our Future essays Over the past half century, computer technology has transformed our world by providing us with incredible tools for processing and communicating information. A number of organizations have recognized the importance of computer technology. The computer has come a long way since it was first invented, which put the power of technology in the spotlight. Through the years there have been many advances with the help of computers. It is now common to see computers in every classroom. The impact of the computer on America has been enormous. Everyone is amazed by what the computer allows people to do. With the benefits that a computer is equipped with, the computer is almost a mandatory thing to have in the home, at work, and especially in schools. At the heart of this new age is the advent of the personal home computer. The computer is considered one of the most technological advances of the twentieth century. As the general public becomes increasingly computer literate,' the gap betwee n technology and peoples' intellect notably shrinks. Dont know anything about computers? Dont think they are a big part of your life? Think again! Computers are wondrous machines that improve our lives in many areas like education, entertainment, and work. The use of computers in and out of school has made improvements in the way we learn. There is hardly anybody around who can say computers havent influenced their lives. Computers have all but taken over society, as we know it. Computers deciphering speech, cars commandeered by satellite and miracles of miniaturization are a reality. Are you ready to take advantage of this technology? The current information technology mediums, such as the Internet pose exciting new opportunities for researchers and educators. Voice recognition along with these other new advances in technology is going to vastly increase the computer accessibility. ...

Geographical Effects of Hurricane Katrina Thesis

Geographical Effects of Hurricane Katrina - Thesis Example A catastrophe of this level provides an opportunity to examine how long-range recovery is evident within an impacted area to determine the motivators of recovery as they change spatially and temporally, and in this case, geographically. The objective of this essay is to examine and discuss several geographical risks and opportunities of the devastated New Orleans. After the disastrous hurricane Katrina, it barely needs too much thinking to suggest that New Orleans is destined to have a ‘new’ geographical makeup. Even though it is quite premature to envision with any level of confidence the content, form, and dimension of this makeup, several geographical issues are mainly worth taking into account. Even though the devastation of New Orleans seemed large-scale in news coverage, the geography of destruction in the city was indeed fairly inconsistent. Besides eastern and central New Orleans, Jefferson Parish’s low-lying parts were flooded (Colten 2005). ... A lot of their houses were partly inundated. In several instances the water reached houses’ roofs, compelling distressed individuals who had moved to their home’s upper floor to hack openings in roofs to get out (Ward 2008). All over the storm-devastated region, the Coast Guard ‘rescued 12,533 people by air and 11,584 by boat, as one-third of the Coast Guard’s air fleet was deployed to the Gulf Coast’ (Johnson 2006, 139). The University of New Orleans, the New Orleans Convention Center, and the Louisiana Superdome became emergency shelters (Johnson 2006). From these and other sites, the population was finally relocated to refuges in Louisiana and other areas. Possibly 10,000 of the 455,000 dwellers of New Orleans stayed in the metropolitan area after mass departure (p. 139), together with several people who stubbornly declined to abandon their homes. By September New Orleans was a completed vacated, the same as St. Bernard Parish and portions of neig hboring Slidell and Metairie (Rydin 2006). Much of the city’s infrastructure, especially telecommunications, shut down not including text messaging, which became a salvation for a large number of people. Numerous businesses closed, discharging thousands of employees. Regular transportation was closed down. Police consent was needed for access into most of the metropolitan area (Eckstein 2006). More disastrously, a significant portion of New Orleans’s population died. By September several inhabitants of flooded neighborhoods were permitted to go back to their homes (Curtis, Mills, Kennedy, Fotheringham & McCarthy 2007). The levee breaches had been remedied and the ‘dewatering’ of the area was in progress (p. 210). The view that

Islamic Symbolism and History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Islamic Symbolism and History - Essay Example It is still contested when the emergence of Islam in the modern period started. Three historical episodes occurred in the 15th century and had an enduring impact on Islamic foundation in the modern age (Esposito, 1999): (1) the conquest of Jerusalem by Crusaders, (2) expulsion of Muslims from Spain in 1492, and (3) Islamic revolution in Iran. Under the regime of the Ottoman, approximately from the mid-15th century to the conclusion of the First World War, Islam turned into the formal religion of the Ottoman rule (Esposito, 1999). Nevertheless, because of the imperialistic thrust of European powers, Ottoman supremacy was defined in the 19th century. The Ottoman state turned to a restructuring agenda, called Tanzimat, to face this challenge (Ahmed, 2002). Under the Tanzimat, according to Esposito (1999), the Ottoman Empire modernized its economy, commerce, and military. Turkish patriotism emerged at the end of Tanzimat which became eventually an alarming dispute to the Ottoman stateâ⠂¬â„¢s Islamic foundations. In 1924, Kemal Ataturk formed the Turkish Republic which tried to restrict the presence of Islam in politics and public affairs while practicing a Westernized political and cultural rule (Ahmed, 2002). Three main phenomena were existing in the Islamic domain in the 19th century, namely, Islamic Reform, patriotism, and Imperialism (Esposito, 1999). According to Esposito (1999), patriotism in the Islamic world in the modern period emerged as a reaction to the dominance of European powers and the weakening of Islam.

See instruction section. There are 5 topics to choose from Term Paper

See instruction section. There are 5 topics to choose from - Term Paper Example Obesity rates among adolescents in the United States have tripled since 1963. More than one-third (33.6%) of U.S. children and adolescents are either obese or at risk of becoming obese, with significant variations across ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Overweight children have a 70% chance of being overweight or obese as adults and an 80% chance if one or more parent is overweight or obese. Obesity increases various health related risks both in childhood and into adulthood (American Heart Association, 2005 cited in Goldberg and Gunasti, 2007).). It is estimated that at current rates, the lifetime risk of type 2 diabetes (and many related health problems) is 30% for boys and 40% for girls (McGinnis et al., 2006 cited in (Goldberg and Gunasti, 2007).). Other associated health problems for which obesity increases the risk include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, and general poor health† (Koplan et al., 2005). Needless to say, the social factors that affect the healt h of Americans breed diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. It has to be mentioned that the present economic environment of the US is far from ideal because it is still recovering from the financial crisis. Thus, both customers and organizations alike are in cost saving mode in order to cope with the current economic situation. This is however not peculiar in the health care industry because the current difficult economic situation is felt across America’s industries whether in healthcare, finance, auto etch. Policy wise, the most significant economic development in the health care industry is the implementation of the pay for performance because it can affect the bottom line and viability of a health care provider institution. â€Å"Pay-for-performance or P4P is a quality improvement strategy that employs financial incentives to improve compliance with evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, to improve patient experience, to

The Role Of Women In Ministry

The Role Of Women In Ministry There are number of controversies surrounding womans role in the church with woman in ministry being one of them. Should a woman preach. Is it appropriate for a woman to be a leader in the church? What does the Bible say about this issue? Although, a woman being a priest is an acceptable view in various churches it is still not widely accepted. This is one of the most debatable issues surrounding the life of the church with no ultimate conclusions made. Some people believe that the main role of a woman is to be a caring mother and loving wife. While others think that a woman is able to preach and can be an amazing priest or leader. However, this is definitely not the matter of men vs. women, or in other words, the discrimination of a gender. It is issue of womans role in the church, which basically arises from mistakenly interpreting Bible. In this paper I will explore the three diverging views on women in ministry in the church (1) women can be a part of the church, serving as the preachers. (2) Women should fulfill their primary goal to take care of the family, (3) Both men and women can be great leaders. One way to look at women in ministry in the church is to be supportive. In traditional Judaism a womans primary role is to be a mother, a wife, a housekeeper. Is this statement limits a womans eagerness to serve? The answer is no. Since traditional Judaism also claims that women have a big influence on all families spiritual life. Looking back to the ancient times, Greek men considered women by nature intellectually inferior to men. (Bell, 1994, p.197) They are the ones that teach their children about the truth of God. They are the ones who raise priests, rabbis, and the highest rulers of the church. The fact that women were not allowed to go to the synagogue does not necessarily mean that they have no rights into the ministry in the church and have no voice regarding the issues of the church. Religion does not simply appear only in the synagogue. The basi cs of the religion emerge at home, where women are spreading the Good News. There have been instances in which women have begun ministries, missionary endeavors, or Christian organizations only to be later displaced by men in leadership positions. (Tucker Liedeld, 1987, p. 435). This argument proves that women are able to set a good example, to be good leaders and serve others. By showing hospitality, sharing the gospel, and giving generously to the needy, the women of the early Church contributed greatly both to the spread of Christianity and to the support of the Christian community of which they were a part. (Lynn, White). Most of the times it is not a womens decision to serve in the church, but the calling of Holy Spirit, that cannot be contempt. On the other hand, there are many disagreements about woman being a priest. One of the main disagreements is that firstly she has to accomplish her main goal childbearing and housekeeping. Men and women were created for different purposes, to fulfill his/her duties. Woman was sent to this earth in order to take care of the family. Having an important role in ministry in the church would not allow her to devote herself fully for the family. What is the purpose of serving in the church, if ones children are not fed and crying at home? It is believed, that woman is not able to serve and take care of the family at once. If she is fully devoted to God, then there is no time left for teaching her own children. Another point, which is proved by Bible is that women should not have an authority over men, I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man (1 Tim. 2:12) or another verse emphasize that women should not teach or preach in the churches, women should remain silent i n the churches (1 Cor. 14:34). As it is mentioned in the book Daughters of the Church, Then the argument runs: woman is not inferior, but God himself has ordained a submissive role for Church her that excludes certain church activities. It is widely discussed that women are not allowed to have an important role in the ministry in the church simply because Jesus was a man. Also, his twelve apostles were all man. Catholic Church declares that While He was on earth, Jesus chose men to be His apostles and He passed on authority to these men to carry out His work of preaching the good news and forgiving sins. (The Priesthood, 2010) It is believed that there is a reason for that. Looking from this perspective, womans calling is to take care of the family, be modest and let the men to take a role in the ministry at the church. When women care about the Church and sense the Holy Spirit calling them to share the Good News and nurture believers, the stained-glass ceiling used by Church to lim it womens authority quickly becomes oppressive. (Finger, Sandhaas, 2011, p. 67) In order to appreciate what God has said, one have to consider, that the boundaries for women to be an authority over men, does not necessarily mean that they cannot be teachers or spiritual leaders. The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. The only activity women are restricted from is teaching or having spiritual authority over men. This logically would preclude women from serving as pastors to men. This does not make women less important, by any means, but rather gives them a ministry focus more in agreement with Gods plan and His gifting of them. (Lynn, White) Therefore, women primarily should concentrate on their family and do not try to get involve into the life of the church and to obtain an authority over a man. Last, but definitely not the least, is the perspective that both women and men can encompass significant roles in the ministry at the church. I strongly support thi s view, since it can be proved by Pauls saying that, There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28) According to Bible, both men and women are created by the image of God. If people would interpret this statement correctly, without any routing around, it would be clear that actually women are equal to men. As long as woman and man are in Christ they are one and the same. Ones calling or mission is not superior to the other. Theologians Tucker and Liefeld claim that Christians-both male and female-should, like the Son of Man, come to serve, not to be served. Questions about authority in the church, and particularly about the ministry of women, might be resolved more biblically if attention were given to the fact that ministry means serving. (Tucker, Liedeld, 1987, p. 441). This statement concludes that women can also preach and serve if their calling would be interpreted as serving. As it was mentioned before in this paper, women are able to teach and to preach as good as men do. Therefore, if there appears a situation when womens help is needed, she always can endure her ministry in the church. The most important thing is that women would not neglect her family. For proper interpretation of this issue Bible has to be understood in a full context. Most of the debates come from New Testament passages, however, Old Testament has many great proves of women in ministry. First of all, it is written in Genesis, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Gen 1:27) This issue goes along with the Imago Dei doctrine, since everybody is equal in the eyes of the Lord. God has no intentions to set a barrier between the genders. Also, there are many examples of women in ministry in early church. One of them is Deborah, who was considered as a prophetess. She was a judge of Israel, who demonstrated great leadership to the entire nation. Also, four da ughters of Philip are excellent examples of how the Holy Spirit works trough women and allows them to contribute to making Gods promise come true. There are much more great examples how women did their contribution to the spread of Christianity and helped to fulfill Gods will. To my way of thinking, to restrict womens role in all of the life of the church is an obvious denial of gospel. The only issue that could appear is that women can be too spiritually devoted. If this problem appears, she should focus on her primary duties. To be a mother and at the same time a spiritual leader is a big challenge. Therefore, this is the main issue why women could not be fully engaged in the life of the church. However, I do not find it inappropriate if a woman devotes herself only to God and serves people, if she has a calling from Holy Spirit. A great example is a Mother Teresa, who devoted her life for serving other. Till these days she is the most honored woman in the life of church. She had a great impact on millions of people and fulfilled her mission on earth in the best possible way. A famous orthodox priest once said, Today women make enormous and significant contributions to human societies. Their nurturing rule role within the family as grandmothers, wives, mothers and daughters provide a stabilizing influence upon the structure of the family. Indeed as Christians, women provide the church irreplaceable assistance. (Seraphim) From all of these examples, I can state that women can indeed have a great impact on other people, therefore the distinctive line should be eliminated regarding women versus men preaching and serving in the church. Based on the discussion provided in this paper, should women have a role in the ministry in the church? There are many diverse opinions regarding this issue, however, I would state that both, men and women could be a good leaders and both could have an important role in the ministry in the church as long they have a calling and it does not contradict their primary duties. I would claim that the issue of the role of women in ministry in the church is ambiguous. To my way of thinking, the main problem is false interpretation of the Scripture. People often take few Bible verses and interpret them in their own way, without a full context, meaning and deeper understanding of the traditional Judaism culture. It is ussualy based on narrow thinking; which is mixed with pagan understanding and is useful for some particular layers of society. In the traditional Judaism women were highly valued and had an important role to educate their children. Only because of an excessive responsibility that they had in family and their devotion to the beloved ones, they could not be fully engaged in ministry in the church. After all, every woman, no matter who is she, a mother or a wife, if she is dedicated to serving God, if she feels that she is called by Holy spirit to take care of others, she has to appreciate this gift from Go d and not be afraid to fullfill the Gods will. Women, who are actively involved in churchs life, are surrounded by many different assessments. Nowadays women are working in various theology departments or conferences. Even in LCC International University we have women proffessors, who are dedicated to their work and are willing to share their experience, knowledge and complete their missionary work. The main problem is that our thinking is biased and it is framed that only men can dominate and be great leaders. In my opinion, as long as you have a gift from God to lead, to teach, then there is no longer an issue if the leader is a man or a woman. If it fulfills Gods wish to spread the Good News, everyone could be a teacher. Overall, both men and women should be engaged in the life of church, and both can bring their contribution to all levels of ministry.

Health and Happiness :: Happiness Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the fall semester of 2004 I participated in a program to improve my habits of healthy living. I set goals for myself in four different areas, Exercise, Nutrition, Sleep, Social or Family Time, Play/Laugh/Create and, Spiritual development. During the three months of September, October and November I experienced some challenges and some successes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the area of exercise my beginning goal was to play soccer every day and try and lift weights at the gym. This started out really easy because I had soccer everyday and lifted weights on a consistent basis. After the season was over I have found that it has become more difficult to be discipline about running and lifting weights due to trying to improve my grades from the lack of effort during soccer season.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next area I would like to talk about is the nutrition area. I have found this category to be one of the most consistent areas to keep going. It is not very hard to eat something healthy with every meal. But, I have found now that I have more time on my hands it is easier to eat more junk food than I would like to because I just eat what ever looks good to me at the time. I do not think about what I am eating like I did at the beginning of the semester.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Third is the Sleeping category which was the easiest for me to keep up with. I am one of those people that if I do not get enough sleep the night before it is hard for me to function that next day. So, I have tried to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep every night. It does not seem like a hard task but when you are in school, playing a sport and having a relationship with a girl it is hard to get seven hours of sleep every night. I figured out how to keep on a consistent basis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The social/family time was a good one to have. It helped me talk to my parents on a more consistent basis. By talking to them it made me feel like we had a good trustworthy relationship with them. There were also times when I found myself not talking to them because I was to bust with either school soccer or my girlfriend. But, for the most part I felt this was beneficial for my relationship with my parents.