...As Americans we all have a duty to serve our country but what can we do as teenagers? One thing that I can do promote Americanism is to help my family because they work hard every day and come home tried. I can help my mom and wash the dishes, sweep the kitchen those are some ways that I could help her. I can also help my dad walking round the house and reaching for higher places because he has trouble sometimes with his back. My dad always tells me to help around the house and mop the floor,cleaning the living room and etc. Those are just some ways that I can help my family as a fourteen year old. More ways that I can help my family is by mowing the lawn. For example I can put the gas in the mower and cut the grass. Then I can help...
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...Identity is as much about public perception as it is self-perception. In Mohsin Hamid’s novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist the reader is confronted with this fact in a bid to understand what it means to be American and Pakistani. The narrator Changez is unsure of who he is, and whilst certain personality traits remain, his sense of identity is changed significantly by the novel’s conclusion. Through the use of a dramatic monologue Changez is able to explore how he sees himself as he attempts to clarify his experiences in America. The use of allegory further enhances the story as Hamid also questions the identity of America and Pakistan as nations and provides a controversial ending to trap the reader in their own perceptions. Hamid depicts Changez’s identity as being fluid and constantly changing. As the novel is a dramatic monologue, Changez provides the American with a detailed account of his shifting identity. Hamid uses this to show identity is as much a conscious decision as it is unpredictable. At first, Changez is friendly and plays up this element of his personality for both his American guest, by “offering [his] services”, and his companions in Greece, as he could “not prevent myself from carrying her backpack.” Indeed, it is this facet that attracts both Erica and gives the reader some reason to empathize with him. Changez presents himself as a respectful, thoughtful person, someone who Erica comments “feels solid.” Despite this, he is clearly out of his element and...
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...“I was never an American. I was immediately a New Yorker.” How is Changez’s sense of identity altered over the course of the novel? Identity is as much about public perception as it is self-perception. In Mohsin Hamid’s novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist the reader is confronted with this fact in a bid to understand what it means to be American and Pakistani. The narrator Changez is unsure of who he is, and whilst certain personality traits remain, his sense of identity is changed significantly by the novel’s conclusion. Through the use of a dramatic monologue Changez is able to explore how he sees himself as he attempts to clarify his experiences in America. The use of allegory further enhances the story as Hamid also questions the identity of America and Pakistan as nations and provides a controversial ending to trap the reader in their own perceptions. Hamid depicts Changez’s identity as being fluid and constantly changing. As the novel is a dramatic monologue, Changez provides the American with a detailed account of his shifting identity. Hamid uses this to show identity is as much a conscious decision as it is unpredictable. At first, Changez is friendly and plays up this element of his personality for both his American guest, by “offering [his] services”, and his companions in Greece, as he could “not prevent myself from carrying her backpack.” Indeed, it is this facet that attracts both Erica and gives the reader some reason to empathize with him. Changez presents himself...
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...What do you think we can do to promote Americanism and love of country? I think one of the things that I could do is to teach the younger ones, like preteens ranging ten to eleven years old. Today this younger generation is so obsessed with their devices they don't look outside themselves or pay attention to the world around them and what's really important. I think we all have a responsibility or a duty to honor and to teach others to have a love of country. I would instill more knowledge about America to the preteens of this generation. I would gather a group of approximately fifteen children to meet and discuss America's history, explaining it in a simple enough way for them to comprehend. Also, I would make it fun because the struggle...
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...Socialists define religion in four ways, first by identifying whether there is a belief in some kind of super natural power, second if there is an expression of belief through collective worship. Sociologists also define religion by identifying if there is a presence of a force which unifies society, and if there are a set of morals which guide behavior. There are also substantive definitions of religion, these define religion by suggesting there has to be a belief in the supernatural, a being with powers beyond humans and substantive definitions also suggest that in religions there is a belief in the sacred, where members in society worship selected people or things, and this may cause feelings of awe. The social constructionist definition of religion takes a more interpretivist approach to defining religion, they focus on how members of society define religion, for example scientologists see themselves as a religion; however many see it as a cult. In this essay I will focus on functionalist definitions of religion, and look at how religion contributes to society and how a religion can unite a society with moral codes. During the 19th century and in to the early 20th century Durkheim studied primitive societies, he noted that in Australian aboriginal tribes they all identified with spiritual totem. Totemism is a religious belief that is normally featured in shamanistic religious, the Totem is normally of an animal, or another naturalist figure that is representative of a person...
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...With the end of slavery, the economic panics of the late nineteenth century, and the birth of the Industrial Revolution, many Americans were looking for new markets, opportunities and wealth, causing them to head South. Americans turned to Central America where countries were attracting and recruiting foreign investors by giving them land in an attempt to build capital and develop. The United States justified the move to Central America through the idea of Pan Americanism. Pan Americanism was a movement that sought to create, encourage and organize relationships between the Americas through diplomatic, political, economic and social means. The Americans who headed to Central America on the terms of Pan Americanism became known as the banana...
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...argued that imperialism was necessary to bring civilization to the uncivilized, and share American institutions and values. Although there was no clearly defined progressive movement, Nationalism had its place throughout the progressive era and progressive ideas. Many progressives, regardless of what they were individually trying to promote, strove to redeem traditional American values such as democracy. The overall focus of the progressives was improving and refining America despite the fact that there was no common goal. This is, in my opinion, one of the more positive results of growing nationalism in America in the early...
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...members through promoting shared norms, values and morals which prevent change as it promotes integrity and social solidarity. Functionalists such as Durkheim and Parsons argue that life is impossible without the shared norms, values and morals enforced in society and without them, believe that society would fail. Durkheim sees religion as having traditional conservative beliefs about moral issues and many oppose changes that would allow individuals more freedom in their personal lives for example, the Catholic Church forbids divorce and abortion etc. This supports the idea that religion inhibits change because it upholds the functionalist ideology of ‘family values’ and often favour the more traditional and out-dated ideas of family such as the patriarchal domestic division of labour. However, it is hard to see how religion can socialise the majority of society and stop social change from happening when in today’s society, only a minority of people regularly attend church or believe in a traditional religion. Furthermore, Functionalist sociologist Bellah introduced the concept of a ‘civil religion’ in America in 1970. A civil religion refers to a situation where sacred qualities are attributed to aspects of the society itself meaning religion is an essential feature of society. Bellah found this evident in America where the concept on civil religion was first developed also known as ‘Americanism’. Bellah found...
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...relationship will become more significant as it broadens the sectors of partnership in the future. Initially, starting with economic and development cooperation, the enhanced relationships, with cooperation on politic, regional security, counter terrorism and transnational crimes, has achieved a new era of “comprehensive partnership.” For the next decade, regional development in Asia Pacific will require the partnership to become more comprehensive. Several key issues in the region will become the major consideration for the next type of partnership. Some issues exist in Asia Pacific region. These are economic development, environmental issues, transnational crime and terrorism, legal cooperation, immigration, drugs, the rise of anti-Americanism, natural disaster and civil services. The US, as a key player in the region, also has an interest in maintaining her...
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...performs in modern society. • It creates and legitimates society’s central values. This is done my sacralising them. In the USA, Protestantism has sacralised the core American values of individualism, meritocracy and self-discipline. This serves to promote consensus and social stability. • It is the primary source of meaning. It answers ultimate questions about the human condition e.g., why the good suffer and why some die young. Such events defy our sense of justice and make life appear meaningless, and this may undermine our commitment to society’s values. Religion provides answers to such questions, e.g. by explaining suffering as a test of faith that will be rewarded in heaven. By doing so, religion enables people to adjust to adverse events or circumstances and helps maintain stability Parsons: Values and Meaning• Parsons sees religion helping individuals to cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes. He identifies two other essential functions that religion performs in modern society. • It creates and legitimates society’s central values. This is done my sacralising them. In the USA, Protestantism has sacralised the core American values of individualism, meritocracy and self-discipline. This serves to promote consensus and social stability. • It is the primary source of meaning. It answers ultimate questions about the human condition e.g., why the good suffer and why some die young. Such events defy our sense of justice and make life appear meaningless...
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...Examine the view that religion has positive functions for society (18 marks) Functionalists demonstrate a positive view of religion, they see religion as a fundamental factor in the maintaining of consensual values. Without religion, Functionalists believe that society would break down. Durkheim suggests that religion is not a belief in Gods, spirits or supernatural but rather a factor that separates the sacred and the profane. Sacred things are believed to hold value and are treated with awe whereas profane objects, activities or people hold no significance and are considered ordinary and mundane. Durkheim concluded that sacred objects, for example the cross in Christianity, are only sacred because they represent or are symbolic of particular groups. Because such objects are given meaning based on the collective values of society, Durkheim ultimately believed that religion is society worshipping itself. Durkheim argued that religion serves two cognitive functions, firstly, religion helps maintain social solidarity where societies members can unite over common beliefs and values. The second function religion fulfills is the creation of ‘collective consciousness’ this is the idea that religion acts as a ‘glue’ that maintains social integration. These functions are seen to be positive as they suggest religion preserves society rather than disrupts it. Parsons offers another positive view of religion, he outlined three positive functions that religion successfully fulfills...
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...anti-American marketing. In November 2002 French political activist, Tawfik Mathlouthi began selling a new brand of cola in France. Mathouthi called his cola Mecca, after the city in Saudi Arabia when Muhammad was born. While some religious leaders question the use of Islam’s holiest city for a brand name, not many people are questioning the brand’s success. Mecca, the site of the Great Mosque and the yearly hajj, or pilgrimage, holds a very significant meaning to followers of Islam. Mathlouthi hopes the name can have an equally significant meaning for consumers of soft drinks. Mathlouthi is capitalizing on the rising tide of anti-Americanism in the Arab world and beyond. He has fashioned his product on Zamzam Cola, an Iranian Coca-Cola substitute sold in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Mecca Cola sponsored a large peace rally in London to promote opposition to America’s war in Iraq and the Mecca brand. The company gave out 36,000 bottles of Mecca Cola, and 10,000 shirts with the Mecca logo and the words “Stop the War” and “Not in my Name.” The product uses phrases such as “No more drinking stupid” and “Drink with commitment” to sell the brand and makes no apologies for its political position. Mathouthi, who was born in Tunisia and moved to Paris in 1997 to start a radio station admits that his product is political in nature. He states that it is an...
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...Buy American Requirements David Moore Strayer University Cost and Analysis BUS 315 Michael Raponi February 17, 2016 Buy American Requirements Buy American is a section of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that substantially increases funds distributed by the federal government to the local, and state governments over a period of years illustrates that the increased funding of the federal, state and local projects imposes additional requirements on the contractors and their suppliers to ensure that the products or material composition that they utilize during the construction and completion of those projects must contain a certain percentage of USA made goods and components. Under the Buy American Act and the Buy America, products that do not meet the domestic requirements are permitted to include a ‘cost premium’ to the price that is offered to the purchaser or contractor of an item used in completing a project. Johnson suggests that the Buy American Act applies in cases where the federal government directly purchases materials or products or a federal facility or building. It requires that the final product must contain 51 percent of components made in the US. A cost waiver happens when the domestic materials are 6 percent higher than the foreign materials. The act also allows a price premium of 6 percent to be charged if the local requirements are not met. The Buy America applies to the projects undertaken by the state and local governments and...
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...Asses the usefulness of functionalist theories in understanding religion today Functionalists see society as a system that works together as a whole. Functionalism is based on a consensus; this is where each institution functions to help society by working together. Functionalists argue that religion is one of the institutions that promote social integration and social solidarity through value consensus. It is need to maintain social control Durkheim argues that religion brings people together creating social solidarity. This is done through ceremonies and ritual which unite people whether they are religious or not. He argues that most religions have ceremonies such as christenings, marriages, and funerals. Durkheim disguises between the sacred and the profane which are found in every religion. The sacred are things that are set apart or forbidden such as churches, temples. These things produce a sense of awe and respect where are profane does not. Profane are objects, activities which feature in individual’s daily life, such as shopping. Durkheim argues that ceremonies take people away from their profane part of life and bring into the sacred part of their lives. This creates a collective conscience as it unites society. Society today is more secular due to the reduction of religious beliefs rituals and ceremonies still bring people together. Functionalist would argue that even today religion still maintains social integration Durkheim argues that there is nothing special...
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...Functionalist theories of religion Understand functionalist theories and explain the role and function of religion, and how religion contributes to social stability. Durkheim on religion: He believes that it is a central institution for creating and maintaining value consensus and social solidarity. The key feature was not the belief in God, but a fundamental distinction between the sacred and profane found in all religions. The sacred and the profane For Durkheim, the key feature was not a belief in gods, spirits or the supernatural, but a fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane found in all religions. The sacred are things set apart and forbidden, that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder, and are surrounded by taboos and prohibitions. By contrast, the profane are things that have no special significance-things that are ordinary and mundane. Furthermore, a religion is never simply a set of beliefs. It involves definite rituals or practices in relation to the sacred, and these rituals are collective-performed by social groups. The fact that sacred things evoke such powerful feelings in believers indicated to Durkheim that this is because they are symbols representing something of great power. In his view, this thing can only be society itself, since society is the only thing powerful enough to command such feelings. When they worship the sacred symbols, therefore, people are worshipping society itself. Although sacred symbols vary...
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