ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The human race is characterized by its high level of variance exhibited in clothing, language, ideologies and religion to name but a few. This differences which are mostly as a result of cultural diversity and socialization are not only visible in our ways of life but also in the religious tenets that guide us. Through out time, man has engaged in the practice many religions each serving a specific purpose to its faithful. As a result, there are many religions through which various cultures attain their spiritual and moral bearings in a bid to bring themselves closer to a higher power (deity). The different religions are differentiated in terms of beliefs, customs and purpose and are similar in one way or the other. This paper shall set out to describe my personal experience at a Jewish synagogue. To this end, I shall explain a ritual that I observed and its impact on my life. In addition, I shall highlight various aspects that I found intriguing at this place of worship. Considering that I am not Jewish, I shall also reflect on how the congregation treated me during the service. Jewish synagogue: A brief overview According to Rich, the Jewish community goes to the synagogue for prayers, Torah readings and teachings (1). These practices act as replacements for the ritual sacrifices practiced by Jews of older days. The synagogue has three main functions: firstly, it is a beit tefilah; which means a house of prayer. In Judaism, group prayers play an integral part in strengthening faith. The synagogue presents the followers with an avenue through which this practice can be observed. Secondly, the synagogue is also a house of study where Jewish children are taught about their religion, culture and moral practices. This process is commonly known as the bat mitzvah. Thirdly, like most places of worship, the synagogue acts as a social gathering place where various social and charity events can be held. My experience at the synagogue during Sabbath A few weeks ago, I visited a Jewish place of worship called Temple Sinai which is located in Summit, New Jersey. My main aim was to observe a ritual that is commonly practiced by the Jewish community (the Sabbath prayers held on Friday evenings). Considering that I was from a different religion and that this was my first time to enter a synagogue, I did not know what to expect. However, the little research I had done on this religion gave my some clues on how to behave and what the experience ought to be like (especially to a visitor). This synagogue practices Reform Judaism. This means that they welcome innovation in their religious practices all the while preserving the traditions that founded the religion (Temple Sinai, New Jersey 1). Upon entry into the synagogue, I received a warm welcome from members of the congregation. I was offered a small
Introduction Arthur Lewis was the first to make the subject of development economics a serious discipline. This was most popular after the war when Lewis wrote heavily on development theory which emphasised the function of the state in some countries of so-called Third World. Lewis wanted to apply existing economic theory to the economic problems of the developing countries, particularly those in the Caribbean. He was an expert in economic theories and issues and applied these theories to real experience. (Ranis 2004) The main limitation of the Lewis model is that there were two models: that of Lewis’s original ideas and advocacy for the economic development of the tropical countries, and the Lewis model advocated by Fei and Ranis (1963) that disregarded most of Lewis’s original ideas. First, I will describe the Lewis model, compare it with the original ideas of Lewis, and provide an analysis of its influence on principles. Then I will discuss the limitations of the Lewis model and how the limitations came about. Background Economic development seems to be a new discipline but it actually started when Adam Smith published his book Wealth of Nations which focused on the economic problems of the developing world, particularly Africa, Latin America and the so-called Third World (Todaro & Smith 2012). Arthur Smith came later but his ideas were fresh and based on actual experience. Development economics deals with the distribution of ‘scarce productive resources’ and its growth over a considerable period of time, along with the economic and political forces that will bring about immediate and fast improvements of living standards for peoples of the developing world (Todaro & Smith 2012). Arthur Lewis is known for his ideas on development economics and the so-called ‘Lewis Model’ but little of this construct actually reflects the original ideas of Lewis. Figueroa (2004) argued that Lewis’s 1954 paper (Theory of Economic Growth) referred to two different models; one case focused on the national economy and another on the world economy. The national economy draws the reader to the Lewis model. But Lewis focused himself on the global economy, on the problem that caused poverty among nations and the sharp contrast between poor and rich countries. The Lewis methodology was analytical and investigative instead of prognostic. Lewis cited some econo
The issues of the modern world are vast and dreadful, and their resolution is the goal of humanity as a whole. The contemporary problems of today include the refugee crisis, hate crimes, mental health, abortion law, and scarcity of drinkable water. Global organizations such as the UN allocate numerous resources to improve the situation, but concrete solutions are far from being ready for application. In this way, abortion criminalization continues to put the lives of numerous women at risk of mortality as they seek to undergo the procedure within unsafe environments due to the restriction imposed by the government or society (Berer, 2017). The refugee crisis, which is often interconnected with hate crimes, imposes financial and social problems within the government. Citizens often perceive refugees as threatening existences. The reasons vary but can be associated with the financial burdens allocated to their support, fear of identity replacement, and health issues. As a result , prejudice and hate are born and directed to refugees or minorities. It is an unfortunate situation that demonstrates the ignorance of some who are unaware of international situations that fuel the refugee crisis. Therefore, the situation calls for the strengthening of tolerance and education. Other issues that engulf the world of today concern mental health and water shortage. The first issue prevailed for such a long time that people consider it as part of everyday life. It is a sign that improvement in that area is necessary. The abnormalities of mental health affect morale, the ability to participate in healthy behaviors, and decrease quality of life in general. It is possible to approach the problem by providing guidance on stress relief and maintenance of healthy relationships or incorporating them within the curriculum of general education. However, a similar approach is inapplicable with regard to water scarcity. There are numerous reasons for the problem that effectively point to the comfort of humanity. Nevertheless, if practical and low-budget technology to filter and desalt water resources would not be developed, humanity’s current lifestyle would cease to exist, and problems ranging from the diminishment of food to the renewal of imperialism might emerge. Reference Berer, M. (2017). Abortion law and policy around the world: In search of decriminalization. Health and Human Rights , 19 (1), 13.
Introduction The 1920s, when the Austrian writer Franz Kafka came to German-language literature, were quite turbulent. Like all his generation, who entered literature on the eve of the First World War, Kafka lived with a constant feeling of deep hostility of the soulless, technicalized and bureaucratized world to human nature. This was expressed, in particular, in the theme of alienation in his novel The Metamorphosis (Murray 62). These years were no less turbulent in the United States, which was reflected in American literature, in particular, in the novel by the American writer Nathanael West The Day of the Locust , the main theme of which is alienation and despair in American society at that time. It is of interest to compare and contrast the expression of the topic of alienation in the works of the aforementioned writers in order to understand the common features and differences in the perception of the topic of alienation in the society of Germany and the United States of the pre-war era. The Tragedy and Comedy of Alienation Kafka appeared able to express the special features of the worldview of his era and his country. Operating not with concepts, but only with artistic images and metaphors, he outlined the contours of space and time of his contemporary world. The Metamorphosis rightfully occupies a central place in Franz Kafka’s work. He makes a stunning impression literally from the first phrase: “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into horrible vermin … His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked” (Kafka 5). The very fact of the transformation of a human into an insect, presented in the classical narrative manner at the beginning of the story, causes a fe
This essay will be looking at the comparison between workaholics and alcoholics considering the fact that both exhibit some kind of uncontrolled desire to do what they do. The term workaholic was first mentioned by Wayne Oats in his book “confession of a workaholic” (Adrenal failure.com). Workaholism is basically addiction to work. Workaholics do not find time to rest and they regard taking vacations as a waste of time and always find an excuse as to why they can not take a rest. Workaholism bare some threats with regards to aspects of life such as personal, social and health development. More often than not, Workaholism is confused and mistaken as hard work but in the real sense, the two extremes are totally different situations. Hard work allows for creativity and development in ones job while work addiction is the source of instability and inhibits creativity. Alcoholics just as workaholics are individuals rooted into taking alcohol and can not help to stop the habit. In most instances, they wish to quit the habit but they find it extremely difficult to stop drinking alcohol. In that case they develop dependency on alcohol to an extent they can not perform a task without taking it. This situation indicates the level of one’s dependence on alcohol and like Workaholism it also weakens social, personal and health developments. An addicted individual finds it difficult to stop drinking and always finds a reason for his or her adapted behavior. This means that he or she takes alcohol unmindful of the dangers involved especially in health and social life. Alcoholics confuse their behavior with relaxation and having fun which in the real sense is a major destruction taking place within the body and all around them with regards to social parameters. These two situations are similar especially in the long-term effects on the victim or patients so to say. They both lead to passionate dedication to work and alcohol respectively. Workaholics and alcoholics both exhibit similar characteristics such as withdrawal from social life. The two are preoccupied by working and drinking respectively and they can not stop doing it even when it compromises their social responsibilities. Alcoholics and workaholics alike would rather go for their distinct engagement at the expense of their social obligations. In both situations, the victims seem withdrawn and rarely can they engage in any social activity. They love to be alone and more often they seem so worried. They both lack the sense of family touch and they can easily go for their schedules at the expense of the family hence the family suffers. This happens due to the fact that workaholics and alcoholics both tend to neglect their responsibilities at the family level in favor of their engagements. In the current developed world and liberalized society, the problem of alcoholism and Workaholism is so difficult to avert. This is owing to the fact that in such a busy and a fast moving and changing technology, the w
Introduction Homer’s The Odyssey contains the most extensive account of the adventures of an epic Greek hero Odysseus. However, for many decades critics have argued whether or not Odysseus is, indeed, a hero. Reading The Odyssey , one notices many differences between Odysseus and the typical heroic images in other ancient myths, such as Achilles in The Iliad . Odysseus shares some characteristics with other epic heroes, for instance, his physical strength, but also has many other qualities, which distinguish him from a traditional epic image, such as wit, cunning intelligence, patience, and stateliness; moreover, he also possesses some negative qualities that are not generally attributed to epic heroes: for example, pride, unfaithfulness, and poor leadership qualities. Positive traits help Odysseus in his journey and grant him the support of higher powers, whereas other, less exemplary qualities, halt him on his way to Ithaca by creating various obstacles. Wit Odysseus’ wit has been the subject of many critical studies and explorations. Indeed, legendary epic heroes are not typically shown to be fluent in words. Odysseus, on the other hand, freely uses rhetoric to achieve his goals. For example, Zerba discusses the episode in the land of the Phaeacians with regards to Odysseus’ wit and his use of language: “his performance impresses Alkinoos, lord of the Phaiakians, so much that the king likens him to a singer of tales […] who has spoken both knowingly […] and with a pleasing form […] in his words” (314-313). Zerba argues that it is Odysseus’ story that helps him to get a new ship and crew from the Phaeacians: “Odysseus’ tale of his wanderings in the court of the Phaiakians […] is delivered in the effort to secure safe passage to Ithaka and to acquire guest-gifts that will enhance his status, is in this sense provisional” (317). However, despite the need to win the audience, Odysseus also uses rhetoric to establish his authority; in his storytelling, he is always somewhat
Introduction Without a doubt, propaganda is one of the most powerful forms of advertisement. It operates with the sole purpose of influencing the beliefs and opinions of a large group of individuals. Merriam-Webster Online (2007) operationally defines it as “the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.” Propaganda can take several different forms. There can be truth in propaganda or it can be a blatant attempt at deception. Its importance does not lie in its truth value. What is important for propaganda is that it provides clearly biased information as a way of influencing the actions and beliefs of a large group of individuals. In keeping with the goal of propaganda—to be a social influencer, propaganda operates to present a message which dictates a change in behavior or attitude. In order for it to be effective, the message has to be received by the individuals it is aiming at influencing. In so doing, it has to utilize a medium for mass communication. This medium can be television, newspapers, books, flyers, posters or the Internet. Whatever the medium utilized, the message must be powerful enough to persuade the receivers and it has to be capable of being incorporated an individual’s conscious thought process. When the message is incorporated within the individual’s thought processes, it causes a change in beliefs or may cause a change in behavioral patterns (McDonald & Palmer, 2003). Main Text Rutherford (2000, p. 260) delineates the difference between propaganda and intellectual forms of persuasion as one which is based on the truth value of claims made. He is of the opinion that lies comprise the lion’s share of propaganda and describes it as a very powerful tool utilized in the arena of politics. He feels that the only aim of propaganda is to benefit the sponsor. In benefiting the sponsor, many individuals may be harmed. The fact that it may harm innocent individuals is not a concern in propaganda. Propaganda can further be differentiated from intellectual forms of persuasion in that the goal of intellectual forms of persuasion is to provide individuals with the knowledge necessary to make intelligent and informed decisions. In presenting the information to individuals, they make a powerful statement that can be supported by a body of empirical research or other grounded facts. It is the aim of intellectual forms of persuasion to inform not to deceive. The true power of propaganda can be seen in the WWII mass media campaigns aimed at women. The circumstances were such that the United States government was faced with an unprecedented problem. That problem involved the recruitment efforts aimed at benefiting
Analysis When Charlotte Perkins Gliman’s story “The Yellow Wallpaper” came out in the New England Magazine about 1891, it evoked comments from a number of physicians. One said, “Such a story ought not to be written. It is enough to drive one crazy.” Another opined that “It was the best description of incipient insanity he had ever seen,” Ms. Gilman confesses to have undergone the same experience as the woman in the story, but that she was saved form a similar fate by her family who let her out into normal activity and she recovered. Years later a great specialist admitted having altered his treatment of neurasthenia since reading the story which was not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy. “The Yellow Wallpaper” starts out with a wife whose name and physical condition are not mentioned. She speaks of herself and her husband John as “ordinary people who seldom secure ancestral halls for the summer.” In describing this hereditary estate, she reveals a highly suspicious nature – a symptom of an aberration of the nervous system. She insists that there is something queer about the colonial mansion, else why should it be let so cheaply and stand so long untenanted? John is the practical sort. “He has no patience with faith , an intense horror of superstition, and scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt ands seen and put down in figures. “Both the patient’s husband and brother are physicians of high standing. They assume friends and relatives that there is nothing the matter with her but a “temporary nervous depression – a slight hysterical tendency. So at first she is docile and follows all their orders but disagrees with them inwardly. Personally, she believed that congenial work with excitement and change would do her good, but she was powerless. She was a writer and did write for a while, but gave it up since it tired her a good deal. When she revealed to John that she felt something strange about the house, he responded by saying that what she felt was a drought and promptly shut the window. She got unr
The concept of human rights is at the center of liberal political theory. They can be defined as the freedoms and rights that all people in the world are endowed with from birth to death (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2019). Human rights regulate relations between members of society, as well as “relationship with the State and the obligations that the State have towards them” (UNICEF, n.d). This concept is formed on the basis of ideas about dignity, independence, respect, equality, and fairness. Although human rights cannot be taken away from a person, they can be restricted by law in certain cases (Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2019). These rights are ensured both at the state level and in international documents. Although universal human should be granted to all people, their conceptualization is not accurate enough at the present time. Gordon (2017) stresses that the main controversy, in this case, is the need to protect cultural pluralism at the same time as rights that do not depend on racial, class, religious and cultural differences. The issue may lie in a Eurocentric view that does not take into account the historical characteristics of states and societies in other parts of the world. Thus, human rights must be universal values that can be relevant to all people. A more appropriate concept might be the natural human pursuit of happiness and avoidance of pain.
The concept of media framing usually has a significant influence on how the audience processes the information. It impacts how different people process the information and how different people look at the same issue. The concept of media frames usually is mainly concerned with how journalists, policymakers and other key players in the information sector relay or present information. The way the information or message is framed influences the impact of information as it determines how different people will process that information; it dictates how the audience will interpret the message (Borg A, 2005). The newspaper coverage and news coverage on the issue of Larry Summers’s speech contributed negatively to the growing popularity of that speech portraying it as very offensive and provocative even though Larry Summers had been required to be provocative. Furthermore, in his defense Larry Summers that the facts of his speech were indeed based on research which most of the women scientists objected to giving counter facts that supported their arguments (Kindler D and Lynger S 1987). The media coverage on the issue heightened the statements issued by Larry Summers to an extent where the public damage caused as a result of the statements became too high such that Larry Summers was forced on numerous occasions to seek apologies to the public since many had been offended. In most of the daily newspapers ranging from 14 th January to late march the issue of Larry summers speech always caught the attention of the media appearing on as headlines, sparking a lot of debate. The coverage of this issue by the media could be a perfect example of episodic framing which effectively analyzes the event that helps to fully bring out the issue at hand which is the provocative speech by Larry Summers which has been having been made successful by the frequent repetition of the issue in the media as well as giving the public something to think about (Shaw D C and McCombs E M, 1977). The political point of view at stake in media frames is an overall mislead of the public who serve as the electorate of a specific nation or state. This is achieved from the fact that the media is primarily responsible for establishing an agenda for which the public can hold discussions. This is achieved from the fact that the media is very influential not only from the fact that they are the sole transmitters of information but also their ability and power to dictate to people what they should think about (Kindler D and Lynger S 1987). The media is very significant in shaping the political agenda as they have the innate ability to direct people towards paying attention to some issues at the expens