ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The concept of customary practices has been around since the first attempts at creating not even a religion, but mere superstitions were undertaken. People need routine actions so that they could enjoy some form of certainty since the repetitiveness of group actions performed regularly allows for feeling safe. However, the effects of such habitual actions in which the entire group is involved in the need for artistic outlets for creativity is quite questionable. Despite the idea that is partaking in a group customary practice kills, the need for artistic expressivity exists, the actual introduction of group sense into the process of a habitual action, as well as the fact that these customary practices presuppose taking a journey to an individual spiritual revelation under the guidance of the group, clearly proves these practices being a source for creativity. Traditions And Customs As The Outlets For Creativity: Significance And Value Defining the value of traditions and customs in the society where religious issues have mostly been tossed aside, one will have to admit that, for the most part, customary actions are not supposed to lead to creative outcomes – they should inspire one for creativity and for the search of one’s self, as the example of the Hajj rite does. Instead of merely signifying a traditional coming-of-age event, it does set one onto a journey for very spiritual discovery. Hajj is not about celebration of reaching a particular age, which is by no means the merit of the person in question; quite on the contrary, it is about proving to the community in general and one’s self in particular that one deserves being granted the duties and responsibilities that people reaching the given stage do. What It All Boils Down To Group Sense Of Cohesion As An Integral Part Of Customary Practices Therefore, the question is whether the group sense of cohesion, which people claim to experience when they engage in customary practices associated with a particular religion are irreplaceable, or for that matter, whether the given sense of cohesion can be induced by any other activity. To answer this question, it is necessary to take a closer look at the nature of the given feeling. Cohesion, or the feeling of belonging to a particular society as a group of people, is traditionally experienced once the given group of people is engaged in a certain activity, where every single member has his/her particular role. Hence, in a broader meaning of the word, the given activity can take practically any form and happen within any environment. The given observation, however, begs the question whether rites of passage, as well as other customs that supposedly bring the members of a particular society together or signify a change in one’s social status have anything to do with cr
In this rather short poem, the narrator tells us about a rich man who comes to their small town and causes everyone to envy him, because he is young, well dressed, educated, popular, and rich the narrator says that he seemed to have everything. The narrator and the other townspeople were poor, and they all envied Richard Corey until Corey committed suicide. The author seems to be trying to convince us that we should be grateful for our lot, and not envy others. However, I think maybe he is only pointing out that we simply can never really know unless we walk inside someone else’s skin. There is no intrinsic value in poverty, except that it helps us to understand the poor. I do not believe that this means we need to remain poor. The author, Edwin Arlington Robinson, came from a financially secure family with social problems, such as his brother’s alcoholism, and he made his way for the most part, with some help from family and friends. His volumes of poetry won the Pulitzer Prize three times. The love of his life married his brother and refused him twice after being widowed. In looking at others of his poems, it seems that many are narrative and moralistic. We also wonder why the love of his life turned him down at least twice. So, perhaps, the poet did mean to tell us we should accept our lot. (Poets.org biography, Edwin Arlington Robinson, 2008) However, I still disagree with that idea, based upon the fact that poverty has no particular value, either culturally or mystically. Poverty as a choice, such as that made by Mother Theresa, may have value, but not of itself, but rather of the freeing influence it has on the person who owns nothing. Lloyd Morris, in his an
There has been an intense discussion on whether the consistent usage of social media directly influences the well-being of adolescents. In contemporary society, social media is frequently stereotyped and believed to cause anxiety, depression, and academic underachievement in teenagers. Nevertheless, this form of social interaction might also be beneficial and motivate young people. The current paper attempts to provide insights into the subject and review three articles concerning social media and its effects on adolescents. Despite the stigmatization of social media’s impact on the psychological well-being of young people, several experts have found that this theory is frequently misleading and there is no direct dependency. Coyne et al. (2019) have conducted an eight-year study of how social networking sites (SNSs) influence the mental health of adolescents. More than 500 individuals participated in the research and completed annual surveys from the age of 13 to 20 (Coyne et al. 2019). Ultimately, the authors have found that the time on social media does not directly influence the well-being of adolescents. Furthermore, some experts report that social media might also be beneficial for young people and allows for consistent interaction with peers, identity exploration, and expands awareness concerning global trends (Uhls, Ellison & Subrahmanyam, 2017). The authors also include the negative associations of social media, such as cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content; nevertheless, the positive effects generally overweigh the negative ones. Furthermore, the absence of social interaction might be harmful to the well-being of young individuals since adolescence is the period of rapid development. Orben, Tomova, and Blakemore (2020) have found that social deprivation might cause severe psychological complications to adolescents, particularly in the period of the pandemic. Summing up, cutting off access to social media will not help young people and might also have a detrimental effect.
Introduction People always express their views about contemporary issues in the society in different ways. For example, some people express their views by writing articles, giving speeches, and debating on various issues. Poems can also be used as a means of conveying ones feelings and attitudes about a given event or issue in a more passionate manner. This is because the use of figures of speech in poetry makes the message being conveyed more clear and interesting to the audience. This paper will discuss the different attitudes adopted by four poets towards war. “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is a poem that talks about the Crimean war. This war took place from 1853 to 1856. During this war, Britain and its allies fought against the Russians. And much of the conflict took place in the Crimean Peninsula. The Battle of Balaclava was one of the popular events that took place during the war. The Russians were so amazed by the great courage demonstrated by the British Light Brigade, to an extent that they did not feel humiliated by the defeat. They instead blamed it on an error that was made by an army official. The poet presents a glorifying perspective of the war by using an interesting beat, and narration about a noble heroism. The poet has also used a lot of imagery and metaphors in explaining the tragic events that Brigade experienced. Further more, the tone of the poem has been developed using figures of speech. However, this poem has some contradictions. This is because it conveys a sense of glory and honor, and at the same time it talks about war and defeat (Probst 75). “Concord Hymn” is a poem that was recited in Concord in 1837 to commemorate the role that was played by the people who lived in Concord in the “Battle of Concord Lexington”. This war took place during the American Revolution. This poem refers to the continuous struggle that North American colonies underwent in order to be emancipated from the British domination. The poet has recognized the great determination of the Americans when they fought against the British. The poet has presented a mixture of somber and joyous mood in the poem. This makes the poem relevant to the ceremony which was meant to commemorate the war. In the poem, the raising of flag symbolizes the great honoring of the people who died during the war and it also encourages the people who survived to continue fighting for more freedom. Although the language used in the poem is quite complicated, it is however a good way of expressing the important ideals of nationalism (Emmerson 4). The poem “The Man He Killed” talks about meaningless nature of war, in which a soldier killed another simply on the basis that they were fighting on different fronts. The first verse suggests that the two soldiers hated each because of war and had they met elsewhere they could have been good friends. The use of repetition in the poem is meant to justify the action of the soldier who killed his colleague because they were enemies. The narrator in this poem is trying to say that the action he took was unavoidable. The theme of the poem reveals the strang
Introduction The 21st Century has witnessed integration and increased cultural interaction among people on a previously unprecedented scale. This frequent interaction between people from varied cultures has risen mostly as a result of the advances that have been made in transport and communication technologies (Gudykunst & Mody 2002, p.12). Intercultural interaction has resulted in some problems since different cultures have different norms and value systems. Communication between people of various cultures has therefore at times been hampered. However, efforts have been made to ensure that intercultural communication is streamlined since communication is the corner stone on which any successful relationship, be it business or personal, is built. These efforts have mostly been successful and people from different cultural backgrounds have been able to communicate effectively. Despite efforts at making intercultural communication less hectic, there still exist some concepts which are particular to certain cultures. These concepts at times hinder communication efforts since they are not universally acknowledged. One such concept is the concept of face in Chinese culture. This paper shall set out to argue that the concept of face in Chinese culture complicates intercultural communication. To reinforce this claim, this paper shall discuss how the concept of face influences the communication by the Chinese and how it results in misunderstandings and slows down progress in some instances. Concept of Face Face is an important Chinese cultural concept and its implication is felt in all aspects of the Chinese person’s life. Chan (2006, p.2) declares that while face behavior is universal, the concept of face is Chinese in origin. Its connotation and significance in the Chinese context therefore differs greatly compared to in the other cultures. Face in the Chinese context has varied definitions demonstrating the complexity of the concept in China. Cardon and Scott (2003, p.10) however summarize it as “face relates to a person’s image and status within a social structure. David Yau Fai goes on to articulate that face is “a concept of central importance because of its pervasiveness with which it asserts its influence in social intercourse. [As a result,] it is virtually impossible to think of a facet of social life to which the question of face is irrelevant” (Quimin D & Yu-Feng 2007, 401). Face therefore dictates all social interaction for Chinese people irrespective of their social, political or economic status. Concept of Face: A Complication to Communication One of the concepts of face in Chinese culture is that of losing face. In the Chinese culture, losing one’s face is considered an end
Background of the Client Many people encounter numerous challenges in their lives. Such challenges can affect their careers, dreams, and objectives. Mentors should empower their clients in order to produce the best goals. The targeted client for this exercise is John White. John is currently working as a manager in a small firm. This friend of mine is unable to achieve most of his career goals (Connor & Pokora, 2012). Most of his employees have been quitting their jobs. The company has failed to record the best profits. A proper strategy will make it easier for John to achieve his career goals. John White has become an ineffective manager. He does not use the best leadership strategies. This malpractice has made him less successful. John White is not aware of the challenges affecting his performance. This situation explains why a powerful strategy is required to help him. John’s problem should be resolved in order support his goals. The approach will also make the company successful. The approach will ensure John is on the right path. John White also wants to achieve most of his career goals. A proper mentoring approach will equip White with the best skills. This practice will make a difference in his life. I will use the Skilled Helper Model in order to support John’s needs. This “model focuses on the current, preferred, and action scenarios” (Passmore, 2010, p. 54). These three stages will eventually produce the best outcomes. The important thing is to improve White’s leadership competencies. This exercise will eventually make John White a successful leader. Brainstorming the Best Solutions A powerful client-mentor relationship will produce the best results. This relationship identifies the major issues affecting the targeted client. The duty of a mentor is to support the needs of his or her clients. The practice will produce the best goals. The first step “is gathering the best information from the client” (Connor & Pokora, 2012, p. 47). Such questions will make it easier for the client to present the best responses (Nash, Sproule, & Horton, 2009). I used the following questions during the exercise:   * What are your current strengths?   * What is your current leadership strategy?   * What resources do have at your disposal?   * What are your career goals?   * What strategies can produce the best outcomes? The responses presented by John White made it easier for me address his problems. The client stated that he was always passionate about his career. He also identified his personal strengths. Some of these competencies included “ effective communication , problem-solving, and commitment to his goals ” (Connor & Pokora, 2012, p. 49). He also wanted his employee to follow orders. He also expected his employees to focus on the targeted goals. According to John White, t
Abstract This paper presents a report about a business project called “EarRing”. The project represents an innovative product –earrings that can also be worn as rings. The manufacturers of the product will offer a great variety of designs and styles of earrings. The products will be sold online and at the stores. The business will be gradually developed into a chain of stores on the territory of the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. Introduction In this report a business project called “EarRing” will be presented. This project will begin functioning in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. The business will be oriented and manufacturing and distributing jewelry of original design and construction. The main products will be earrings that can be transformed into rings. “SMART” Objectives What                                                                                             Why                                                                                                                                  Measure                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           * Create an initial plan for the first
Elgin Marbles are well-known sculptures currently kept at the British Museum. The sculptures were originally retrieved from the Parthenon in Athens. The Parthenon is an ancient Greek temple that initially was built to serve as a place to worship the Greek goddess Athena. This temple was built about 2500 years ago, and ever since that time it had been constantly in use, first by the worshipers of Athena, then, by Christians, as the Parthenon was turned into the Virgin Mary church, after that, it had been a mosque, since Athens used to be a part of the Ottoman Empire for 350 years (The Parthenon Sculptures par. 1). Ruined by an explosion of gunpowder at the end of 1600s, the Parthenon remained an archeological site ever since. In 1805, Lord Elgin, a well-known appreciator of Ancient Greek art, visited the Parthenon and took around half of the remaining sculptures from the ruined building. Lord Elgin did that with the permission of the Ottoman leaders of Athens, so the retrieval was not theft or an act of vandalism (The Parthenon Marbles par. 3). Yet today, just like centuries ago when the sculptures were first brought to Britain, the actions of Lord Elgin are widely criticized and argued about (Beard par. 3). The main issue discussed by the supporters and the protesters of the deed of Lord Elgin is whether the marbles should stay in the British Museum or be sent back to their motherland in Greece. While back in the 1800s the protests against the retrieval of the marbles came from artists such as Lord Byron, the contemporary request comes from the Greek government trying to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the whole world and Greece namely (The Parthenon Marbles par. 2). Elgin marbles kept in the British Museum today represent only about sixty percent of all the sculptures remaining after the ruination of the Parthenon (The removed sculptures par. 3). This way, what used to be a sole ancient masterpiece is broken into two major parts, one of which stays in Britain, while the other one rests in Greece. The British Museum keeps rejecting the requests of the Greek government to return the marbles. One of the main arguments employed by
Although the issues related to immigration are rather controversial and evoke heated debate, it is quite clear that lawful immigrants in the USA can assimilate into the American culture and obtain equal opportunities to succeed in the US society. For instance, an immigrant from Belarus, Alesya, had to balance a full-time job, full-time education, and family, pay high taxes, and live without health insurance or other benefits of legal status for almost a decade. However, eight years after her arrival in the USA, she has a degree and makes her contribution to the development of American society through her professional input. At that, are all experiences of people immigrating to the USA success stories? Of course, some newcomers engage themselves in unlawful activities, join gangs, or simply try to receive certain benefits without working hard and contributing to society. Nevertheless, such cases can never outweigh the economic, social, and cultural opportunities immigration has to offer to the United States. In spite of the fact that the controversy related to immigration is still strong, even the most ardent opponents of this trend seem to acknowledge the need to address the issue rather than maintain the existing status quo. For example, when speaking about immigrants, President Trump stated, “We’ll give them to the sanctuary cities to take care of” (qtd. in Fritze and Hayes). Trump’s administration has to station approximately 11 million illegal immigrants, which is associated with numerous challenges. One of these is the need to make US residents cooperative and positive about placing immigrants in their communities. Every American now has to think of all those people who have come to the continent (perhaps, including their own relatives) and focus on the benefits immigration will offer to their neighborhoods and the entire country. The United States is one of the countries where immigrants constitute a considerable part of the entire population. The overall number of immigrants in the country reached 40 million in 2010 (Martin 1). According to the US Department of Homeland Security estimates, 11 million immigrants are unauthorized, which is quite an alarming proportion (Baker 2). The primary country of origin is Mexico that is followed by El Salvador, Guatemala, and India (Baker 5). It is noteworthy that the majority of these people are aged between 25 and 44 years old, which is the working population that has a considerable potential to contribute to the development of the US economy. Historically, the United States has been the country of immigrants. First, European colonizers came to the continent in the distant 16th century, and since then, an incr