Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King Essay Example

Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King Paper The tragedy of Oedipus the King is among the worlds best known stories. Nis determination to know the truth of things, and his evident belief in the power of the individual to affect the world inspire both respect and pity. His wife and mother, Jocasta, seems almost a shadowy figure beside him. Certainly, she is less understood. Yet she, too, is worth of admiration should inspire both admiration and fear. For, like Oedipus himself, this essentiall pragmatic and courageous woman (1) is lead to her ate not by blasphemy,(2) but by a love for her husband (3a) that is greater than her concern for anything, including herself. (3b) Like Oedipus, Jocasta seems both pragmatic and determined to deal with the truth. She enters the drama from her home, and seems to have little patience for male posturing, ordering then to, Get back home, sir, you and Creon you/into your house. (35) But her concern here is not to conceal. When she is convinced sees that her husband is visibly upset by his encounters, she immediately announces that, l stay to know. (38) When Oedipus explains that Creon has attempted to lay the guilt for Laiuss death on him, she responds not with horror or by dismissing the idea, but by asking if Creons suspicions are based on, His own invention or on evidence? She is pragmatic, and not apparently afraid of truth. Indeed, even after Oedipus reveals that her reassurances about the death of Laius have shattered peace, and as he says, struck at my very soul (40) she continues to answer his questions concerning the old kings death. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Jocasta in Oedipus the King specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer She is concerned, even as she admits frightened, asking, Why Oedipus, what nightmare thought has touched you now? (41) Yet she still furnishes the details he demands, describing Laiuss looks and the numbers in his procession. Whatever her worries may be, she does not conceal or in any way deviate from honesty at this point. It would be incorrect to dismiss In fact, it is this respect for fact and for the truth that makes it impossible to dismiss Jocasta as someone who has no respect ofr the gods. Her first reference to the gods is not dismissive far from it. She accepts Creons oath of innocence because it was sworn by all the gods. She acknowledges the power of the gods when she returns from an unsuccessful attempt to calm Oedipus down, saying, l address/myself to you Apollo, whose Lycean shrine/is nearest to these rites and prayers. (49) And yet, when she finishes telling Oedipus the story of the death of Laius, she concludes, So there! Apollo fails to make his son/ his fathers murderer. (40) However, this is not a repudiation of the gods themselves. It is a refusal to accept prophecies as absolute. It is only when she is told that her husbands state of mind is the result of the words of Tiresius that she ecomes dismissive, even contemptuous. In other words, She is not dismissing the god she IS dismissing the idea of oracles, oracles delivered by men, or the idea that an oracle reveals something that is inevitable. And, like the pragmatic woman she is, an oracle that she fully and logically believes was wrong. She is not concerned does not even consider his guilt in the murder of Laius, or about his oracle coming true, only that rampant fancies in a legion raid/the mind of Oedipus. (48) Of greater importance to her, however, than fact and the truth of prophecy Living s she does in an age that accepts the idea of fate, this insistence on fact and the dismissal of oracles might still seem arrogant, but it quickly becomes clear that Jocastas main concern is the happiness of her husband. We need to remember that the main concern of Oedipus is the fact that he might turn out to be the murderer of Laius, and therefore, the cause of the citys agony. She, however, correctly perceives that part of his uncertainty lies in his fear of the oracle that sent him fleeing from Corinth. In her response to his assertion that the verdict tilts to heavily to me (46), he attempts to answer both his fears: Rest assured; his account was that, exactly that, He cannot cancel what he said. The whole town heard, not I alone. And even if he tries to change a word, he still can never make Oh surely, King! the death of Laius tally with the oracle, which said it had to happen through a son of mine poor nbabe, who never killed a thing but himself was killed Oh long before! After this, Ill never change my look from left to right to suit a prophecy. The first part of her response is obviously aimed at calming Oedipus fears that he ight have killed Laius. But the second part is Just as obviously aimed at calming and even repudiating the concern that has dominated his life in the years leading up to this day, a concern that neither sees as having any effect of the here and now sufferings of Thebes. When he persists in his fears, she says, But let us go indoors. All my care is you, and all my pleasure yours. Again, her intention is to calm him, soothe him, herhaps even seduce him away from his worries. She is clearly a loyal wife, in love with and concerned for her husband and his peace of mind. Her eemingly blasphemous assertion, How dwindled are the grand predictions of Apollo. , (51) and her almost exultant reaction to the news of the death of Polybus This is the man that Oedipus was terrified to kill, so fled;/And now, without the slightest push from him, hes dead. P. 50 have nothing to do with the tribulations of Thebes. They refer only to the Corinthian oracle that she now realizes drove her husband away from parents and a city that he loved. Jocastas concern for Oedipus is all consuming, greater not only than her concern for Thebes, but even greater than her concern for herself. The former is already obvious. The latter becomes clear when the messenger continues his happy story, revealing to Oedipus the truth of his birth. Jocastas response is silent. She goes pale, she covers her face, and she stands, transfixed, now aware that she has fathered are true. She cannot change this. She is guilty of the greatest of sins. Yet she does not rush to kill herself . Instead, she turns to her husband, crying at him to Forget it all. Its not worth knowing. (58) When he persists, so does she: Im pleading for whats best for you. (59) And when it becomes clear that he will not listen and that he will persist in his search for the truth, her response is almost a prayer: God help you, Oedipus! Hide it from you who you are. Her concern again is not for herself. It is all for him. She does not attack oracles anymore. She does not answer questions or react pragmatically. She only urges him to stop the search, thereby trying to spare him the horror that she faces. Shattered in her own soul, her concern is only for his. It is only when she realizes that she cannot stop him that she turns away and rushes to her own death. Jocasta is no simple lover of power, no blasphemer, and no plotter. She is first and foremost a woman to whom love is all. Oedipus falls on a far grander scale, suffering because he attempted to stop the sufferings of an entire city, because he dared to place humankind at a level nearly equal to that of gods. Jocasta falls more domestically, placing the heart above the mind and her husband before herself. His disgrace in the city streets appalls us. But we will not be rulers. Her death upon the marriage bed is closer to our own lives, and should move us even more.

An Evaluation of the Relevance and Utility of Lean Manufacturing Approach to the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain The WritePass Journal

An Evaluation of the Relevance and Utility of Lean Manufacturing Approach to the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Introduction An Evaluation of the Relevance and Utility of Lean Manufacturing Approach to the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain : 113), the principles of Lean manufacturing are â€Å"customer value, value stream analysis, demand pull, continuous flow, and waste elimination.†   The purpose of a Lean supply chain network is to bring the lowest cost in differential customer value, which can be met through collaborative priorities in demand, real-time information on markets, and logistics delivery efficiencies, to name a few. The concept of networks of supply chain partners suggests that the success of companies is through their constant origination from new networks of supply chain partners in order to meet certain objectives. As a general rule, these constantly developing networks can act in response to the dynamic characteristic of customer demand (Sople 2012). The manufacturing function must not be the only domain to which Lean principles must be applied. Rather, it must also be applied across organisations in the supply chain to decrease the wastes usually associated with supply chain operations. Th e full benefit of Lean manufacturing and supply chain management necessitates that the scope of Lean implementations must go beyond a single function and must be structured as a part of managing relationships with customers and suppliers (Lambert 2008). It may therefore be analysed that with the adoption of Lean techniques, the management is tasked to align corporate activities with Lean manufacturing in supply chain management across organisational functions. Lean thinking also allows the organisation to direct business relationships with customers and suppliers. Application of Lean Principles Lean thinking is apparently applicable to pharmaceutical development and manufacturing (Wigglesworth and Wood, 2012). Lambert (2008) states that whilst the various material flows as well as flows of goods and information are the focus of Lean supply chain operations, Lean application to the management of supply chains is further from the physical flows of inventory. It also takes account of the entirety of the business relationship amongst firms. When a firm applies Lean manufacturing concepts to its supply chain management, it begins to focus on value drivers; revenue development; asset efficiency, and reductions in cost, inventory, and working capital. All of these are apparently beneficial to an organisation. Applying Lean thinking to supply chain management is very likely since both of them share commonalities, such as long-term perspectives, value and customer creation; systems view; and structured business relationships;   Ã‚  amongst others (Lambert 2008). These commonalities indicate how much Lean thinking and supply chain management lend to each other. Based on this, one can conclude that Lean approaches are aligned to supply chain management and that the two are generally not in contrast with each other. Potential advantages of Lean approach to managing quality and efficiency in the pharmaceutical industry One of the potential advantages of Lean approach in the pharmaceutical industry is the reduction of cost of goods in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. The implementation of Lean thinking can be carried out by developing workflows and infrastructures to reduce inventories (Ende 2011), which are in fact a target of quality and efficiency efforts within pharmaceutical companies. The concept of continuous manufacturing in pharmaceutical companies deals with the challenge of overproduction, which leads to surplus inventory and longer cycle teams. These are the focus of efficiency on which pharmaceutical companies must be engaged. Its significance is seen in the fact that   excess inventory is considered the greatest waste because it brings upon itself certain costs related to the management, storage, and transport of inventories adding to the waste (Schneider 2010). Therefore, when Lean techniques are used, such wastes are reduced, if not totally eliminated within the pharma ceutical firm. Novartis and H. Lundbeck case studies Novartis is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms (Abreau 2013). The upstream part of its supply chain indicates flow of information and full visibility. Novartis uses product-to-demand technique based on demand, whereby its daily variable demand stream is integrated to production (AMR Research 2006). Between its levels of supply chain are limited visibility and flow of information (Abreau 2013). Despite being ranked number 2 behind Pfizer in cost of goods sold in 2006, Novartis decided to take on Lean principles and become the â€Å"Toyota of pharmaceuticals.† Using Lean principles, the company is focused on reducing its cycle time to 70 per cent and reducing spending by 40 per cent, as well as pursuing continuous manufacturing with raw materials going in one end of the chain and finished products coming out the other (AMR Research 2007). Along with this is the reengineering of every process and role, leveraging information technology, and setting up process-oriented teams in the absence of first-line supervisors so that personnel would report directly to one team leader (Shanley 2004). Here, one can see the application of Lean techniques to Novartis’ supply chain, thereby helping the company to improve its internal processes and eliminate waste. Lundbeck, on the other hand, is an international pharmaceutical firm that began its Lean adoption in 2005. The company went through certain phases in its Lean adoption, such as building consensus in the management group and running a range of Lean events and building a culture around these events. In the first phase, Lundbeck implemented 40 Lean events assisted by external experts, followed by 70 to 80 Lean events each year, with all personnel in the supply chain being involved (Simpler Consulting 2010). Through its adoption of Lean principles in its supply chain, the company was able to cut costs by 25 per cent. Workflow analysis within the organisation is also aided by video cameras, which leads to further improvements. Part of its Lean techniques adoption is the use of large bags instead of small box packaging, which reduced production delays from four hours to only an hour (Miller 2012). Is Lean appropriate to the pharmaceutical supply chain? Yes, Lean techniques are appropriate to the pharmaceutical supply chain. Despite Lean thinking’s origination from Toyota manufacturing, its adoption is still suitable to the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, its applicability is seen in the number of pharmaceutical companies that continue to adopt Lean manufacturing techniques. Although many of these techniques cannot be taken on to the more complex pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, their adoption mirrors the pursuit of increased optimisation (Shanley 200). Boyer and Verma (2010) surmise that whilst the original focus of developing Lean thinking is the manufacture of automobiles, it can still be applied to other industries. This is because Lean approach is more than a set of techniques but is a mindset for all personnel and managers who are focused on waste elimination and reduction of variability in the entirety of the business process. The advantage of Lean’s adoption in the pharmaceutical industry is the ability of pharmaceutical companies to experience logical rhythm through the supply chain. With the Lean enterprise, adaptive supply chain is carried out, causing the whole organisation to possess real-time process visualisation (Hafeli 2006).    Argument for agility in the pharmaceutical supply chain Pharmaceutical companies are inclined to be bureaucratic, which results in several wastes in internal processes. With the application of Lean principles, pharmaceutical companies are able to strengthen their relative agility (Radeka 2013).   This would mean that despite the relative limitation of the application of Lean principles in the pharmaceutical supply chain as pointed by WCI Consulting Limited (2011), the result is still improved agility in the supply chain. Apparently, the need for agility in supply chain management is founded on decreasing product life cycles and demand patterns of increasingly volatile markets. Sweeney (2009) points out that Lean is not enough, that agility in supply chain is required because of emphasis on speed, with time being a major competitive weapon. This argument is reasonable given the rapidly changing market in which pharmaceutical companies operate. However, as emphasised above, Lean thinking is also applicable to the pharmaceutical industry. An argument arising about the adoption of Lean thinking in the pharmaceutical industry is the risk that goes with it. Such adoption is said to put the supply chain to increased vulnerability to disruptions and unpredictable events due to lack of slack on which to withdraw. With Lean techniques making the supply chain vulnerable, a question that may come up is whether this would mean Lean is not suitable at all. The answer is pharmaceutical companies can apply Lean techniques to cut costs and adopt agility in order to obtain supply chain resilience, as pointed out by WCI Consulting Limited (2011).    Conclusion This paper provides a critical analysis of the relevance and utility of Lean techniques in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Lean thinking allows the elimination of wastes and cost reduction in pharmaceutical companies. Lean supply chain considers the entirety of the business relationship amongst firms. Reduced costs of goods and reduced inventories are the potential advantages of Lean approach in the pharmaceutical industry. Novartis and Lundbeck case studies provide an example where Lean techniques and supply chain management become integrated. Despite the effectiveness of agility in supply chain management, Lean cannot be set aside as a valuable tool.                      References Abreau, P. E. M. (2013) An ANP Model to Support Decision-Making in a Portuguese Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. Reterived on March 22, 2014 from http://run.unl.pt/bitstream/10362/10724/1/Abreu_2013.pdf AMR Research (2006) Supply Chain Saves the World. US: AMR Research, Inc. AMR Research (2007) Risk!: Navigating an Uncertain World. US: AMR Research Inc. Boyer, K. and Verma, R. (2010) Operations and Supply Chain Management for the 21st Century. First Edition. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Ende, D. J. (2011) Chemical Engineering in the Pharmaceutical Industry: RD to Manufacturing. New Jersey: John Wiley Sons. Hafeli, R. (2006) Enabling Lean and Compliant Manufacturing at Novartis with SAP. Denver: SAP Adaptive Manufacturing Summit, September 28. Lambert, D. M. (2008) Supply Chain Management: Processes, Partnerships, Performance. Sarasota, FL: Supply Chain Management Institute. Miller, G. (2012) Lean Earns Lundbeck Big Prize, Cost Cuts. Retrieved on March 22, 2014 from fiercepharmamanufacturing.com/story/lean-earns-lundbeck-big-prize-cost-cuts/2012-01-18 Radeka, K. (2013) The Mastery of Innovation: A Field Guide to Lean Product Development. NW: CRC Press. Schneider, O. (2010) Adding Enterprise Value: Mitigating Investment Decision Risks by Assessing the Economic Value of Supply Chain Initiatives. Zurich: vdf Hochshulverlag AG Shanley, A. (2004) Novartis Goes Lean. Retrieved on March 22, 2014 from pharmamanufacturing.com/articles/2004/111/ Simpler Consulting (2010) Lean Management of the Pharmaceutical Sector Brings Increased Efficiency and Improved Quality While Increasing Profits. Retrieved on March 22, 2014 from simpler.com/success-stories/Lundbeck_Case-Study.pdf Sople, V. V. (2012) Supply Chain Management: Text and Cases. New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd. Sweeney, E. (2009) Lean, Agile and Resilient Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: Jargon or Action? Irish Pharmachem Buyers Guide (September), 38-39. WCI Consulting Limited (2011) Keeping the Supply Chain Agile. Retrieved on March 22, 2014 from wcigroup.com/Nostrapharmus/Keeping%20the%20supply%20chain%20agile.pdf Wigglesworth, M. and Wood, T. (2012) Management of Chemical and Biological Samples for Screening Applications. Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag Co.

Texas AM Galveston Admissions Information

Texas AM Galveston Admissions Information Texas AM University at Galveston is a branch campus of Texas AM University focused on marine and maritime studies. It is a selective school, admitting 55 percent of applicants. The 135-acre suburban campuss main location is on Pelican Island, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The university is nearby several of Galveston’s popular beaches and is 50 miles northeast of Houston. It is also home to the Texas Maritime Academy, one of six American maritime academies that prepare future officers of the American Merchant Marines, Academically, Texas AM Galveston has a 15 to 1 student faculty ratio and offers ten undergraduate and three graduate degree programs within the field of marine and maritime studies. Marine biology and marine transportation are two of the most popular areas of study. Students are actively involved on campus, with 27 clubs and organizations and 13 professional organizations for students. The university has several men’s and women’s intramural sports teams and competes in varsity sailing and crew. Admissions Data (2015) Texas AM Galveston Acceptance Rate: 55 percentTest Scores: 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 500 / 590SAT Math: 520 / 610What these SAT numbers meanACT Composite: 22 / 26ACT English: 21 / 25ACT Math: 22 / 27What these ACT numbers mean Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 1,942 undergraduatesGender Breakdown: 61 percent male / 39 percent female92 percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $10,868 (in-state); $25,618 (out-of-state)Books: $1,054 (why so much?)Room and Board: $13,168Other Expenses: $2,596Total Cost (includes travel expenses): $30,696 (in-state); $46,336 (out-of-state) Texas AM University at Galveston Financial Aid More current data not available, but these figures are from 2011-12. Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 61 percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 39 percentLoans: 42 percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $6,096Loans: $6,434 Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 45 percentTransfer Out Rate: 57 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 19 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 30 percent Texas AM University at Galveston Mission Statement: mission statement from tamug.edu/about/ Texas AM University at Galveston is a special-purpose institution of higher education for undergraduate and graduate instruction in marine and maritime studies in science, engineering and business and for research and public service related to the general field of marine resources. The institution is under the management and control of the Board of Regents of The Texas AM University System, with degrees offered under the name and authority of Texas AM University at College Station. Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

Origins and influence of Cumbia on the Colombian culture Research Paper

Origins and influence of Cumbia on the Colombian culture - Research Paper Example The Cumbia dance and song is a symbol of Colombian culture around the globe (Dimartio, 1999 p26). This is because Cumbia dance has strong links to the history of the Colombian people and for generations, acted as a melting point for numerous Colombian cultures that defines the national identity of the nation (Wade, 2008 p109). Cumbia can be traced to music and dance that reflected the social lives of the countries of origins of African slaves brought to Colombia by the Spaniards to work on the plantations. The African slaves created Cumbia as the only form of entertainment that they had to ease the unpleasant and harsh nature of work as a slave in the Americas (Rosa & Neciosup, 2008 p59). Up until the 1930s, Cumbia was only known in Colombia (Dimartio, 1999 p26). It was performed by a few professional groups that toured the Colombian countryside and was also performed by gifted musicians who lived in the various villages. These gifted musicians were preserving a tradition that was handed down to them by their ancestors. Aside the African influence, there is clear evidence of Spanish influence in Cumbia. Most Cumbian songs are sang in Spanish and the costumes used by the main, like the hat, pants, shirts and dresses are sewn according to Spanish standards. They reflect the main cultural trends of the dresscode of Spanish America. There is also a strong Amerindian influence in the dance and some of the instruments used in the dance of Cumbia. All these observations were made after watching the Xiomara dance video and the Ballet Esmeraldas group perform. The purpose of the research is to identify the origins and manifestation of Cumbia. It examines the components of Cumbia and how it developed. It goes further to identify why it forms an important part of Colombian culture. The study was motivated by the fact that the Colombian community is New York is large and quite influential. In spite of their dominance as a great part of the New York society, many people with stereotypes view Colombia and Colombi an with a very negative attitude. However, in spite of this, the Colombian people live very respectable lives all over the United States and a vast majority of them work very hard and contribute to the building of the American economy through various decent jobs. Thus in a Hispanic classroom, it is important to dispell some of these false information and visions about the Colombian culture and teach students some of the important aspects of their native cultures and traditions that can inspire heroic and positive attachments to these cultures. So as part of this project, I hope to uncover important elements of the Colombian culture and history that can help in the quest to get the average student to understand and appreciate other important aspect of Colombian culture that are often not discussed. This research therefore attempts to examine some of the distinct elements of the Colombian culture that makes them different from everyone else. It is interesting to note that Cumbia refle cts the complex history of Colombia and brings out the socio-cultural insights of the Colombian people. It debunks modern views of Colombia and has taught me a lot about the Colombian people which I will not have known, aside the stereotypes I grew up learning about the

What does Buctler and Hamnett's (2011) study add to our understanding Literature review

What does Buctler and Hamnett's (2011) study add to our understanding of ethnic minority aspirations for social mobility in the 'new East End' - Literature review Example The aspiration that the ethnic minority had in mind was to move from the low class to the middle class. This is because they lacked the social mobility (Grusky, Ku and SzeleÃŒ nyi 2008). This paper is going to analyze what Buctler and Hamnetts (2011) study add to the understanding of ethnic minority aspirations for social mobility in the new East End. London is among the global city that is leading in the whole world. This is because of the position that it takes, the financial flow and migration that takes place on the two end sides of the labor market at the top and the bottom (Butler and Hamnett 2011). On one, hand, there are those workers that are highly paid and those that are poorly paid. For example, those that are highly paid came from US, France, Germany, Japan, China, on the other hand, the less skilled are the large masses from Africa and Asia. Those in good living environment with wealth are the whites while the rest are non-white. During these periods, there has been great de-industrialization, which has shaped East End dramatically (Grusky, Ku and SzeleÃŒ nyi 2008). There has been a prominent social division in East End and the West End in terms of races. The east was made of the poor and deprived ethnic minority. While, on the other hand, the west was full of wealth and power. The people on the west end were mostly the whites. With the development of the docks in the nineteenth century the working class of individuals became much established than the previous centuries (Harvey 2005). East End had been an abiding area for the whites who are in the working class. They had a tight social link that was on the basis of kinship and class. But as the transformation transpired more began to suburbanize out to areas like Woodford and other areas elsewhere. East End remained to retain the old traditional characters (Harvey 2005). The dramatic

The Growth Of Information And Communication Technology

The Growth Of Information And Communication Technology The growth of information and communication technology has significantly impacted on every facet of the world on most often noted is the internet. The advancement of Information and communication technology ICT, coupled with the rapid uptake of increasingly affordable, key technologies such as the Internet, has also helped foster an environment that promotes globalization of knowledge and information. The Internet has revolutionalized communication making information access across boundaries deemed seemingly impossible in the past a thing of general practice. People around the world are able to communicate with unprecedented ease. In the past, government has enjoyed great successes in censoring traditional communication media and this has affected information flow to the masses. The internet on the other hand with is multi-directional information flow communication nature where anyone can air their opinions on any desired issue at will has posed great challenges to governments. For countries with repressive regimes, the Internet has become a revolutionary force as it allows the free flow of information and which has been perceived as threat by the authorities in some countries. Government in some countries have responded imposing strict censorship on Internet usage by the public through monitoring, filtering and access to some site in the internet in a bid to control access to information. Internet censorship can be defined as the control or suppression of the publishing or accessing of information on the Internet. Internet censorship has been a greatly debated topic around the world with people having different opinions. In most countries governments at different level have been the in the fore front in the campaign for a regulated internet. Though there are a few arguments that support the need to have the internet censored, it has been largely rejected by organizations and individuals across the world as censorship of the internet is widely regarded by many as an attempt by government to suppress freedom of speech. This essay examines the arguments against internet censorship by government, its impact, successes and failures of government in some countries that embarked on such projects, and the challenges they have faced. It also assesses the key importance of censorship and concludes with an individual opinion evaluating the stated arguments. The case against the government Campaigners against the governments censorship of the internet have strongly opposed censorship and have stated that it prevents freedom of speech thus undermining confidence and trusts in the medium and this inhibits crucial flows of data. Also, Internet censorship and filtering leads to monitoring which is seen by many as another big brother ploy by government to invade the public privacy. It is more often argued that the government will use internet censorship as a tool to promote political agenda and the public has been quick to conclude that the true voice of the public will not be heard. In Australia, the National-Anarchists reject any parliamentary censorship of material and the reasons given has been summed up simply, any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both Benjamin Franklin.[1] Reports on internet censorship show the level of its pervasiveness recently being experienced in some countries. There are several tools and solutions instituted by the government of these countries for the purpose of internet censorship and also the content censored also vary with most blocked contents being political, pornographic, religious contents and others. [2] The common argument used by most countries in proposing censorship is that of child pornography. Most people however believe that the governments plans on internet censorship do not quite provide the solution to child pornography. It is often seen as, and in fact proven by experts that websites play only a minor role in circulation of child abuse materials and cannot be simply banned by Government [1]. It is often suggested that censoring for children by utilizing a user backed software and filtering systems instead of governmental censorship is a viable solution for keeping children away from indecent internet content. There are several software systems that allow parental control of internet materials. The OpenNet Initiative (ONI) has made a categorization of nations that is classes as internet enemy list. The ONI is joint project between some academic institutions across the world with the goal to monitor and report on internet filtering and surveillance activities by different nation. The project uses several means to determine the extent and nature of government-run internet filtering programs. It lists China, Iran Saudi Arabia etc in the forefront of internet censorship in the world. A new wave is now being generated by the Australian government as it moves to launch its own internet censorship project, [3] which has sparked up several arguments across the world. According to the ONI reports, censorship varies with countries and some countries have pervasive filtering policies, often routinely blocking access to not just pornographic and prohibited contents, but also human rights organizations, news, blogs, and Web services that challenge the status quo or are deemed threatening or undesirable. The Chinese governments The Great firewall currently uses four mechanisms DNS blocking, reset commands, URL keyword blocking and content scanning to prevent Internet users in the country from reaching blacklisted Web sites or content [16]. This technique though quite effective faces some technology challenges as private VPNs used by banks, manufacturing and other businesses often allow users within these organizations bypass this great firewall. These VPN services are now even open to the public for sign up at a fee that is quite affordable and attempts by the government to clamp down on this may impact on the economy since businesses will be affecte d. The general public thus rides on this loophole [4]. Methods of implementing censorship have also been criticized. Blocking unwanted and prohibited content using a dynamic process that would require analysis of website content in real-time would significantly slow down the internet. This is already being experience on the china network. [4]. Reports from Australia also suggests this will be the case when the Australian project kick off. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) confirmed that under trial conditions internet filtering reduced speeds between 2% and in excess of 75%, but with half the tested products falling between 20-30%. It was concluded that proper implementation of the censorship project could result in a 20% drop in internet speeds [5]. Policies have been another hugely criticize factor. Often times government policies on censorship do not make a clear distinction on materials unfit for internet content, this resulting in legal and harmless contents being blocked. Organizations have challenged and even filed lawsuits to prevent passage of censorship bills in some states citing free speech violation and the decision to embark on censorship as unconstitutional. This is the case of a Utah Internet Censorship law, intended to restrict childrens access to material on the Internet but that may in fact also restrict adults access to a wide range of lawful material [6]. Examples cited COPA internet censorship law of 1998, included whether an education web page showing young women how to perform self examinations for breast cancer be banned and being classed as sexually explicit [7]. Australian government for example intends to use a public complaints mechanism for blacklisting URLs as well as URLs provided by international agencies. Analysts have questioned the accountability and transparency of this and have stated that the same government bureaucrats who put together their initialed flawed blacklist would remain responsible as arbitrators of the system. In support of the publics claim, a recently leaked list of blacklisted website showed that about half of the sites listed were in fact not related to child porn as claimed by the government but rather other contents that were to a certain degree could be classified as legal content for the adult community. This has sparked further debate on the issue [8]. A word for the government The biggest arguments presented so far by the government in support of internet censorship have been issues relating to preventing access to illegal contents and child pornography, racism, fraud terrorism, religion etc. With the attempts so far made by several nations to impose some form of censorship meeting with similar resistance, government should realize that the key challenges faced are three fold, the people, the law and the coping with technology. One could however wonder why the topic on censoring the internet would generate so much argument when the public indeed presently abides by certain degree of censorship. From schools preventing access to certain contents and websites, warnings are displayed on university networks on the impact of downloading of file sharing, companies prevent employees from accessing chat systems, networking website and other sites at work using firewalls to ISPs blocking potential dangerous contents either because of virus or to keep their network safe and uncompromised, Why then is the public so opposed to the government censoring the internet? It could be safe to state that the public is just not ready for the extreme spectrum of Internet control which would result in a globally regulated internet by the government for the fear that the public could lose its freedom of speech and the fear unknown. Conclusion Recommendation Though internet censorship could be considered a necessity in cases where there is need to set a standard for publishing and the kind of information to publish on highly sensitive topics, by and large the foreseeable disadvantages far surpasses the benefits that may be accrued. I do not see Government succeeding in the offing in the fight to regulate content on the internet. Technology favours the public internet users rather than government and as such the government will be playing catch-up and their efforts may yet be foiled. Technology is presently enabling data encryption, user generated videos and pod casts thus complicating the tasks by the monitoring bodies. Also the laws governing internet censorship if passed will meet several barriers as they are more likely to be passed by countries independently. The internet spans boundaries and how these laws would apply to other countries a crucial aspect of consideration. The law will need to keep up with changing technology as such there will be no rest for law makers. Passing laws takes considerable time, and lapse in law would result in loopholes that could be exploited by the public. In addition, the controversies generated by government censoring the internet far outweigh the benefit. The internet is a global communication platform and the government needs to study close before imposing laws. Close attention should however the paid to the fact that the global nature of the net does present problems to censorship. To conclude, though the proposed laws by government to regulate the internet is of good intention, it is unwise for the government to censor the internet because any law infringing on the publics right to free speech or breaching individuals right to privacy and freedom on such a vast communication medium as the internet will be difficult to enforce.

Living Like Weasels Essay

â€Å"Living Like Weasels†, by Annie Dillard, is a very complex essay with deep metaphorical meaning. In her essay, Dillard takes an interesting view of the way people could live; she describes how a weasel moves through life, suggesting humans take a similar approach. Bringing things back to a more primitive perspective of instinct and simplicity, she explores through symbolic imagery, why humans should latch on to their one passion in life and never let it go. Many people may think it is strange to suggest that a human being should live like an animal such as the weasel. However, a weasel exhibits a variety of desirable traits that we humans yearn to attain. In the first part of Dillard’s essay, she gives a brief introduction of what a weasel is and the sort of tendencies that they have. She then goes on to tell an elaborate story of a man who shot an eagle out of the sky only to find that a weasel was fixed by its jaws to the eagle’s throat. Dillard states, â€Å"The supposition is that the eagle had pounced on the weasel and the weasel swiveled and bit as instinct taught him, tooth to neck, and nearly won.† The weasel acted upon instinct, disregarding the size and power of the eagle. Dillard uses this bizarre image to show her admiration for the instinct and determination of this small creature, as well as a basis for the premise of her essay. Further into her essay, Dillard brilliantly ties her thoughts together. She states, â€Å"Time and events are merely poured, unremarked, and ingested directly, like blood pulsed into my gut through a jugular vein†¦The thing is to stalk your calling in a certain skilled and supple way, to locate the most tender and live spot and plug into that pulse.† Here, Dillard creates a clear picture of what she believes to be the best way to find your one true passion. Somewhat like how the weasel instinctively bit onto the eagle’s neck, she suggests that humans stalk their one passion and then hold on wherever it takes them. Dillard sums up the main idea of her entire essay in the last paragraph. She says, â€Å"I think it would be well, and proper, and obedient, and pure, to grasp your one necessity and not let it go, to dangle from it limp wherever it takes you. Then even death, where you’re going no matter how you live, cannot you part. Seize it and let it seize you up aloft even, till your eyes burn out and drop†. With this statement, Dillard more directly states  that people should do as the weasel does. Just as the weasel grabbed onto the eagle, humans should hang on to their one passion, because even through death and whatever else is to come, what you have grabbed onto will last forever. Throughout Dillard’s essay she uses key phrases such as â€Å"ingested†, â€Å"latch on†, â€Å"grasp†, â€Å"plug into the pulse†, or even â€Å"jaws†. All of these are phrases that allude to the segment earlier in her essay about the weasel that fearlessly latches onto the throat of an eagle, refusing to let go. These phrases create an extremely clear and even somewhat violent scenario, but they are all components to what Dillard believes humans should practice in their every day lives. Through a series of metaphors and symbolic imagery, Dillard is able to convey her philosophy towards life: to latch onto a certain passion and not let it go even through death. Although her idea is very intriguing, even romantic, the type of single mindedness and drive that she suggests could be somewhat dangerous. Having complex minds that are always aware of choices and different paths to take, the human species could not function under such restrictions as a weasel does. Although this is true, humans can strive for their goals and passions with great determination, yet unlike the weasel, have the benefit of having certain awareness for the consequences of their actions.