The Anti War Movement Of The Vietnam War Essays - Free Essays

The Anti War Movement Of The Vietnam War Essays - Free Essays The Anti War Movement Of The Vietnam War The Anti-War Movement J,J,J,J, United States participation in the Vietnam War was a subject of much debate among the American public. While many Americans supported the United States involvement in the War, in agreement with the Government that American assistance was needed in order to stop the spread of Communism, other people felt that it was immoral for the United States to involve itself in another country's internal matters. The antiwar movement against Vietnam in the US from 1965-1971 was the most significant movement of its kind in the nation's history. Anti-war protesters were not confined to the young, radicals, intellectuals, and the disaffected. By 1968, [they] included many powerful individuals within the business and financial communities, the media, and the government itself ( McMahon 466). Also by 68, protesters numbered almost seven million, with more than half being white youths in the college. Students for a Democratic Society, (SDS), announced its opposition of the Vietnam War publicly in 1965. In a public announcement, they state their reasons for disagreement. We feel that the war is immoral at its root, that it is fought alongside a regime with no claim to represent its people, and that it is foreclosing the hope of making America a decent and truly democratic society.We are anxious to help and to change our country; we refuse to destroy someone elses country (McMahon 467). The SDS was not alone in their opposition. Civil-Rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., declared his opposition in 1967. He stated many reasons. it became clear to me that the war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at home. It was sending their sons and brothers and their husbands to fight and dieAs I walked among the desperate, rejected and angry young men, I have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their problemsBut, they asked, what about VietnamTheir questions hit home, and I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today my own government (McMahon 471). One aspect of the anti-war movement were teach-ins. Teach-ins were mass public demonstrations, usually held in the spring and fall seasons. These well-publicized rallies made the antiwar effort more respectable. The White House was plagued by two wars: the war in Vietnam and the war at home. In October 1967, protesters marched on the Pentagon. This was one of the most significant events of the antiwar movement. Although the marchers were unable to get into the Pentagon, this demonstration had a direct influence on the redirection of American policy in Vietnam. The antiwar effort crippled Johnson's presidency. In 1968 he announced that he would not be running for re-election. The antiwar movement inadvertently helped Richard Nixon win the election. Once elected, Nixon was bothered with the antiwar movement. He was convinced that it prolonged the war. He could not understand how the current generation of young people could include brave young marines, hippies and draft-card burners. In May 1970, Nixon ordered an attack on Cambodian sanctuaries to destroy communist command-and-supply buildings. He also tried to contain the protest that he knew his action would provoke. His hopes of controlling the rally failed when poorly trained National Guardsmen killed four students at Kent State University, on May 4. This made the expected protests much worse than anyone in Washington could have foreseen. The wave of demonstrations on hundreds of college campuses paralyzed America's higher-education system. The Kent State tragedy ignited a nationwide campus disaster. Between May 4 and May 8, campuses experienced an average of 100 demonstrations a day, 350 campus strikes, 536 colleges shut down, and 73 colleges reported significant violence in their protests. On that weekend, 100,000 people gathered to protest in Washington. By May 12, over 150 colleges were on strike (Internet source). The overwhelming response to the invasion of Cambodia and the Kent State crisis soon became too much for President Nixon. On December 15, Nixon announced his intention to withdraw fifty thousand troops from Vietnam in 1970 Among the most convincing theories of the movement were that it

Solutions for Wordy Phrasing

Solutions for Wordy Phrasing Solutions for Wordy Phrasing Solutions for Wordy Phrasing By Mark Nichol Efforts to make your writing more concise are admirable, but although some words and phrases won’t be missed or fewer or shorter words can be substituted, others may serve a useful distinction. Note, in the following examples and annotations, the differences in the suitability of various phrases. â€Å"What the organization aims to do is produce an economically sustainable model.† When a sentence describes a series of actions, revise to expunge the weakest among them. Start the sentence with the subject by omitting what, then delete do, and the rest falls into place: â€Å"The organization aims to produce an economically sustainable model.† â€Å"I appreciate the fact that we can discuss this reasonably.† A fact does not need to be identified as such. When such self-referential labeling occurs, delete it: â€Å"I appreciate that we can discuss this reasonably.† â€Å"Due to the fact that you arrived late, we missed our flight.† What does â€Å"due to the fact that† mean? â€Å"Because.† So use because instead: â€Å"Because you arrived late, we missed our flight.† â€Å"We arrived early in order to get good seats.† â€Å"In order to† can easily be reduced to to: â€Å"We arrived early to get good seats.† However, sometimes especially in sentences in which the phrase precedes know or a similar verb including it seems an improvement on the more concise version. Retaining the phrase in â€Å"She reread the essay in order to understand its argument more clearly,† for example, suggests a contemplation that â€Å"She reread the essay to understand its argument more clearly† does not, and â€Å"She reread the essay so that she understood its argument more clearly† is the same length as, and no more elegant than, the original wording. â€Å"So as to† is a similar construction, as in â€Å"We studied other cultures so as to appreciate traditional customs that persist in immigrant communities.† Also, â€Å"in order† is best retained before a negative infinitive, as in â€Å"I tiptoed across the room in order not to wake her.† â€Å"I left the papers on my desk in order that I would not forget them.† â€Å"In order that† is equivalent to so and can be replaced by that word: â€Å"I left the papers on my desk so I would not forget them.† (That may be retained but is optional.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsConnotations of 35 Words for Funny People5 Keys to Better Sentence Flow

Information Processing Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Information Processing Theory - Research Paper Example This paper will highlight the theory and model and analyze how its application in understanding the issues of children with special needs. For the brain to perform any of its functions, it adopts a logical order of processing information. The information processing theory is analogous to the functioning of a computer. The theory touches on three parts of the brain. These include the sensory memory that receives all sensory input. The short memory actively processes the perceived stimuli through several cognitive processes. The aspects of pattern recognition and attention come in closely to help the short memory process the stimuli. After processing, other complex procedures transfer the information to the long-term memory. Retrieval often occurs from the long-term memory. Information in the short-term memory is accessible for limited amounts of time and often undergoes decay after time elapses. In the social context, Crick and Dodge constructed a model that highlights the stepwise ma nner in which the human mind processes social cues from the point of reception to the production of response. In this model, it becomes clear that the brain does not respond to stimuli without processing. On the contrary, several steps are necessary for the human brain to produce a relevant response (Flood, Hare, and Wallis, 2011). In the initial stages of the social information processing, the brain indulges actively in the encoding and making interpretations out of cues from the social context or internal sources. The interpretation process includes analysis of causes, consideration of both self and inferences from others, goal assessment and past performance evaluation. In the next step, the brain employs several mechanisms in order to clarify the goal of the process. After attaining clarity on the social goals expected, the brain then indulges in mechanisms that result to relevant strategies aimed at producing effective response. Memories, social norms, and familiarity of the si tuation play a crucial role in determining the strategies adopted. The brain then analyzes the resulting response critically according to moral values, societal expectations, and assessing the potential reaction from the others. Lastly, the human mind weighs its capacity to enact the final response. In the end, selection of the best response and the associated behavioral code occurs (Flood, Hare, and Wallis, 2011). Children with special needs portray deficiencies in the social information processing. An illustration is the case of children with Asperger syndrome who portray a range of disabilities in the processes described in the Crick and Dodge model. Previous research suggests that children with this syndrome presented difficulties in attribution of their intents, generation of appropriate responses and evaluation of the relevance of the response (Flood, Hare, and Wallis, 2011). It becomes essential for special needs teachers to understand the difficulties of children suffering f rom this syndrome in order to help them improve in the processing of social effectively. Tur-Kaspa (2004) used the same social information-processing model to assess the learning disabilities

Economics of Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economics of Education - Assignment Example In a sequence of items over the past ten years, Hanushek used 38 different pieces of writing and put focus on: pupil/teacher ratio, education and experience of the teacher, teacher’s salary, Per Pupil Expenditure (PPE), administrative inputs and facilities. He reviews the evidence of a large number of studies basing on their views of the relationship between spending and school performance. He conducted vote-count based on aggregating 187 studies in 38 separately published books where in each publication there are several regression equations. He classified the relation between each input variable and an output variable into one of five categories according to the direction of the regression coefficient's sign (positive or negative) and its statistical significance (significant or non-significant). The fifth is coefficients that were non-significant but for which it was impossible to determine the direction of the coefficient's sign from the reported results. His conclusion is that money doesn’t matter as school’s output is concerned (Hanushek 150-164). Hedges et al study This study is a reanalysis of the evidence examined by Hanushek. These researchers found that a â€Å"systematic positive patterns in the relationships between educational resource inputs and student outcomes† exists. ... This study declared that the pattern of results given in Hanushek’s vote count is not consistent with the null hypothesis of no effect in every study and thus making a type II error in his statistical analysis due to the low power associated with vote counting. Hedges et al used more sophisticated procedures to aggregate the information in the different studies and corrects some problems that were found in Hanushek’s methodology where they came up with a conclusion which clearly states that â€Å"Money does matter after all†. This directly differs with Hanushek’s conclusion. These two studies attempted to highlight the relationship between inputs and outputs of schools with an essence of improving American educational system. However, all of these researches there was no consensus established as to which course should be followed or even on the need for additional expenditures to produce the desired improvements, instead, some scholars have questioned whet her there is a relation between the amount of resources and level of accomplishment of students in schools. Hanushek used vote counting analytic method. For a given resource input, the "result" of each study is the estimated partial regression coefficient of the resource input to student output, holding constant the family background and other inputs. The vote-counting methodology tabulates these results according to the sign (positive, negative, or unknown) and the statistical significance (significant or non-significant, usually at ?= .05 level) of the results. The category with the most results (the most "votes") is generally taken to represent the true state of the relation in

The Rorschach Ink Blot

The Rorschach Ink Blot Rorschach Ink Blot The Rorschach Ink Blot In 1921, Herman Rorschach published Psychodiagnostik. The Rorschach test was included as a monograph. Herman Rorschach received his inspiration for the ink blot test by J. Kerner. Kerner believed that responses to interpretation of ink blots could reveal important individual meanings. Rorschach applied this theory to diagnose psychological disorders. David Levy brought the Rorschach test to the United States. The test originally was received with skepticism and criticism from the European and American psychological community. The community found it useless due to the lack of scientific evidence. The cost, according to Psychological Assessment Resources, is around a hundred dollars. There are also many supplemental workbooks to aid in the administration and scoring. These workbooks run from around sixty to a hundred dollars. Herman Rorschach designed the ink blot test to measure individual’s responses and identify psychological disorders. The Rorschach has 10 separate cards. Five of the cards are black and gray. Two of the cards are black, gray, and red. Three of the cards are a mixture of pastel colors. Rorschach can be used for many ages. Only Professionals can administer the test due to the intense administration and scoring. Rorschach is most often used in clinical settings. The administration for the Rorschach is an extensive process. The examiner must make sure that the test is administered as ambiguously as possible. Subjects may ask many questions to get a basic structure. The examiner must only give away basic instructions, such as â€Å"what might this be?† Examiners must not respond to the subjects responses verbally or nonverbally. This might led to the subjects attempting to please the examiner’s expectations. Also Exner recommended that the examiner sat next to the subject instead of the traditional position of face-to-face. This was to reduce the non-verbal cues from the examiner. There are two parts of the test. The first part is the free-association phase. The examiner may ask the subject what he/she might see in the first card. Each card is administered individually. The subject then tells what he/she sees on the inkblot card. If his/her answer is insufficient the examiner makes a remark for the subject to attempt to look for more on the card. It is important that the examiner write down everything the subject says and every noise the subject makes. Also the examiner must record the subject’s reaction time. The position that the card is in while the subject is examining it must be recording precisely. For example, the examiner would have to report that for card 3 the subject’s reaction time was 2 minutes and the card was sideways. The second part of the test is the inquiry phase. The cards are shown again individually to the respondent. There are five dimensions on which the subject’s response is scored on. The dimensions are location, form quality, content, and frequency of occurrence. The first dimension, location, is where on the inkblot the subject saw his/her perception. The scores for location are W, D, Dd, or DW. A score of W means the subject saw his/her perception using the whole blot. A score of D means the subject saw his/her perception using a common detail. A score of Dd means the subject saw his/her perception using an unusual detail. A score of DW means that the subject gave a confabulatory or over generalized response. For a normal subject there is usually a balance between W, D, and Dd responses. By calculating frequencies of these responses, quantitative data is available to work with. Location alone is not enough to determine a specific mental problem. The second dimension is determinant, which is what determined response. There are four properties that can make up a response, form or shape, perceived movement, color, and shading. The score is determined off of which property the subject utilizes to develop a response. For example if the subject’s response was just based of the perceived form it would be a pure form response. There are also subdivisions within the properties. Perceived movement can be further divided into human (M), animal (FM), or inanimate (m) movements. The determinant is the most difficult to score because administration instructions are so vague. Also a major part of scoring determinant is the examiner’s interpretation of the inkblot. It would be best if the examiner had intense experience, but this is not very likely. Determinant scoring stirs up controversy. Many experts believe that scoring perceived movement does not measure psychological issues. Perceived movement may measure motor activity and impulses in the brain. It was believed that subjects that gave two cooperative movement responses were easy to interact with. Research studies illustrates that this theory wrong. The third property, form quality, is the measure of how well the subject’s response equates with the stimulus properties of the inkblot. If the examiner is able to see the subject’s perception then there is adequate form quality. If the examiner is unable to see the subject’s perception then there is poor form quality. This is not a reliable measure due to the dependence on the state of the examiner. Exner designed a comprehensive system to increase reliability of scoring. The fourth property, content, is what the perception was. This is simple to score. The perception must fall into three categories: human (H), animal (A), or nature (N). The final property, frequency of occurrence, is how popular the response is. This is a quantitative measure, therefore easy to score. Despite the fact that the Rorschach test is widely used, it has never been adequately normed. Exner attempted to norm the Rorschach in 1986. It was based off of the average adult American. Exner then used his findings to apply to the scoring of each variable. This proved to be helpful to the examiners of the Rorschach. Exner had to renorm the Rorschach due to faulty norm samples in his first attempt. With his new sample, it was found that his original system overpathologized subjects. The consequences from overpathologizing are immense. If the Rorschach is utilized to diagnose one with a psychological disorder, there is a good chance it over-diagnosed the subject. The Rorschach has been known to be used in forensics. If someone wishes to use the insanity plea, the Rorschach could benefit the perpetrator. The Rorschach’s reliability is even controversial. There are many studies arguing for and against its reliability. A meta-analysis was conducted of all past research done on Rorschach’s reliability. Exner argued that the test-retest coefficients are in the .70’s and that is acceptable. The odd-even technique results were in that range. Exner’s Comprehensive system produced adequate reliability, .61 to .74. The environment in which the test is administered profoundly affects the reliability. It can be found that the reliability in forensic and clinical settings is .80 to .90. Rorschach main component is relating to psychological disorders. Although when studies were conducted to prove Rorschach as a sufficient diagnostic tool, the results were not in favor of Rorschach. Even with the revised Comprehensive System by Exner, the test fails to relate to diagnoses. Major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorder and antisocial disorders are just a few disorders that do not link to Rorschach’s test. The incremental validity of Rorschach with MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) have been proved and disproved by studies. This is another example of the controversy surrounding the Rorschach impact on the psychological community. LA Times writer, Rosie Mestel reveals interesting background information about how Rorschach developed this theory. As a boy, Rorschach enjoyed a game in which players made ink blots then described what they say. Then as a psychiatrist he noticed that schizophrenic patients saw unusual things in ink blots. He then studied the responses of ordinary people and his schizophrenic patients. He then published his book with less than an enthusiastic response from the Swiss psychological community. Less than a year later the original publishing company went bankrupt and Rorschach died from a ruptured appendix. It wasn’t until the test reached the United States that it became famous. With all the controversy surrounding the test, it almost died out in the United States. John Exner saved the Rorschach from dying out. Yet, even today Exner’s version is under heat for unreliability and invalidity. Studies have been done to identify if the Rorschach could aid in differentiating psychological disorders from each other. A study was done in 2001 to determine the Rorschach’s ability to distinguish boys with Asperger’s Disorder from other psychological disorders. According to the results those boys who â€Å"underreport[ed] human content (H) or human movement (M), and cooperative movement (COP) in humans or animals† were more likely to have Asperger’s Disorder (Holaday, Moak, Shipley, 2001). Although the Rorschach doesn’t coincide with DSM-IV criteria, it provides psychologists to differentiate those boys with Asperger’s Disorder. A major disorder that the Rorschach has evidence to identify is Narcissism. It is reiterated that the Rorschach was not derived from DSM-IV criteria, but it relates well in the area of narcissism. Those who are more apt to narcissism relate ink blots on a personal level (Hilsenroth, M. J., Fowler, J.C., Padawer, J.R., Handler, L., 1997). The two variables in the Rorschach that predicted narcissism are reflection and idealization (Hilsenroth et al.). These studies illustrate that Rorschach might not be perfect in diagnosing and identifying psychological disorders, but it is still helpful. The Rorschach can be used as a supplemental tool to further discriminate a subject from multiple disorders. Regardless of the Rorschach’s reliability or unreliability, it is a widely used test in the world of psychology. When people think of psychological testing, a vision of inkblots comes to mind. The media has hyped the Rorschach to be a magnificent tool to diagnose â€Å"crazy† people. This accounts for the common view of the Rorschach being an accurate measure of psychological health. According to the studies done on the Rorschach’s reliability, it is not a safe measure. The United State’s Law system utilizes the test as a measure of criminal’s sanity. This is not safe for the general public. There is too much evidence to disclaim the test’s ability. The test also leaves too much room for error on the part of the examiner. If the examiner had malicious intentions, he/she could detrimental effect the subject. This is why the Rorschach should only be used as a supplemental tool. The Rorschach can be extremely beneficial to clinicians. Only so much information can be obtained from a personal interview and questionnaire. The Rorschach could reveal interesting parts of a person’s psyche. The information obtained from the test could be used in counseling that works on unresolved issues buried in one’s psyche. These issues could have been buried until many years of counseling forced them out. Under these circumstances the Rorschach is beneficial to both the subject and to the participating clinician. Time, money, and work could be saved by utilizing the Rorschach as a supplemental tool. It is also very important that only professionals administer the Rorschach. Many psychological programs spend a few weeks teaching the Rorschach, but if one wishes to administer the Rorschach regularly it must be mastered. As stated before there is an enormous amount of room open for error on the examiner’s part. Scoring and administration must be practiced numerous before results are taken seriously. This is for the benefit of the clinician and to the subject. Slightly biased results are just detrimental as incorrect results. In conclusion, the Rorschach remains a ground-breaking, controversial, and fascinating psychological test. One should not trust the results completely. Like any test there is always room for error, either on the examiner or subject’s part. It is extremely difficult to administer, score, and even take it. The Rorschach test should be respected for its ability to differentiate disorders and use as a supplemental tool in therapy. Unfortunately, the Rorschach’s reliability and validity prevent it from use as a sufficient diagnostic tool in the psychological community. References Hilsenroth, M.J., Fowler, J.C., Padawer, J.R. (1997). Narcissism in the Rorschach revisited: Some reflections on empirical data. Psychological Assessment, 9, 113-121. Holaday, M.E., Moak, J., Shipley, M.A. (2001). Rorschach protocols from children and adolescents with Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Personal Assessment, 76, 482-495. Mestel, R. (2003). Rorschach lore and the test’s legacy. LA Times, f5. Kaplan, R. M. Saccuzzo, D. P. (2005). Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, and Issues. United States: Thomson Wadsworth.

How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States?

It is no surprise that Buddhism has been embraced by the Americans with gusto. The Buddha was a man of ethics. And, the Chinese bodhisattva is a lady of compassion. Such are the deep values that the American peoples have cherished over the ages – moral principles coupled with compassion. The Chinese bodhisattva, in particular, is a great inspiration for the Americans. She is Kuan Yin: She Who Hearkens To The Cries Of The World (Blofeld, 1997). Is this not the present definition of America as well in global affairs? Zen Buddhism has acknowledged that ‘All is One.’ In other words, there is no essential difference between the different kinds of Buddhism practiced in the United States today. Rev Patti Nakai writes that the American female followers of Tibetan Buddhism have been at the forefront of dealing with women’s issues. To put it another way, the American woman is trying to closely follow She Who Hearkens To The Cries Of The World. The American man, too, is following her lead, by voicing his agitation at injustices throughout the world, and supporting his government in struggling for human rights everywhere.The American women, while fighting for women’s rights, do not hesitate in mentioning Shakamuni’s denunciation of women to prove their point, however. Shakamuni knew women as mere objects before it was explained to him that women, too, should be given a chance to grow in spirituality, simply because everything in this world is impermanent. Finally, Shakamuni did agree to respect women – he had seen impermanence in the death of his father. Before this event, he had been taught that women were akin to animals that are trained to breed, nurture, and How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States?3 entertain the opposite sex. Shakamuni had seen all the women in his life – from his stepmother to his wife, to all the dancing girls and servants of his palace, as creatures that lived solely to p lease men. The change came only when Shakamuni was told by Ananda, â€Å"Give women a chance; we cannot say for sure that they will fail unless they have a chance to study and follow the Dharma† (Nakai). In any case, it was the aunt of Shakamuni Buddha who became the first Buddhist nun and an inspiration for the American Buddhist women apart from Kuan Yin (Nakai).On the other hand, the American man is inspired by Shakamuni Buddha himself, who can learn and grow based on new experiences without turning back to his time of ignorance. This time of ignorance is experienced by every soul; the Buddhist American man delights in the fact that there truly is no turning back once he has had a chance to study and practice the straightforward, uncomplicated and harmless Buddhist principles. Yet another reason why American women have embraced Buddhism is that the Buddhist concept of karma, with its emphasis on self-knowledge, has become a powerful source in helping them overcome the hards hips they faced in life.American women believe that by employing the Buddhist concept of karmic retribution, they hold themselves responsible for the tragedies in their lives. These women have now come to believe that those tragedies are of their own making – that they have created their own suffering. Practicing Buddhism, then, is a form of ‘psychological healing,’ by means of which they not only engage in the Christian expression of ‘Know thyself’ but also begin a process of self-renewal. Sharon A.Suh (2004), the author of Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple further writes that the Buddhism of psychological healing for female practitioners at the Korean How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 4 Buddhist, Sa Chal Temple in the United States, differs from the Buddhism understood by the male practitioners, who do not understand Buddhism as an emotional and fortune-seeking religi on like the women do. Rather, the American man appears to show more interest in the intellectual and political approaches to Buddhism.He wants to genuinely understand how Buddhism can be used to further the interests of his nation besides improving his position/ situation in the home and workplace. American Style Buddhism There are two main types of Buddhism being practiced in the United States today: the Asian immigrant Buddhism and the American convert Buddhism. On the surface level, the only difference between the two forms of Buddhism lies in the respective languages spoken by each group. On a deeper level, there are quite a few differences in the way each group comprehends Buddhism.The practices of each group differ but naturally. In our day, there is an increasing body of scholarly research and writings on the American convert Buddhism, and although the American individual wants to look at all kinds of Buddhism, he or she is left with no choice but to engage in American style Buddhism. The American is, no doubt, expected to understand his or her language more clearly, apart from the benefits of easy identification with American style expressions (Suh). Converting to another religion always requires study. The American Buddhist is not naive either.All styles of Buddhism (and all religions, in fact) look upon the welfare of the individual with respect to the human society, as well as the welfare of the human society with respect to the individual, as their chief interest. The American Buddhist is not only practicing different kinds How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 5 of meditations to be at peace with himself and the world; but, as mentioned previously, also to fight for human rights in the United States and across the world, albeit peacefully.Karma Lekshe Tsomo writes on the women’s rights issue at the forefront of Buddhism: Since 1987 Buddhist women from around the world have begun to unite on a grassroots level and a ssume leadership in working for the welfare of human society. Now, just fifteen years later, the Buddhist women’s movement is recognized as a highly dynamic forum representing over 300 million women worldwide. This movement, emerging from the margins into the international spotlight as a force for social change, is an example of how women can unite their resources and talents, workin harmony, and make significant contributions to global understanding. This innovative movement focuses on Buddhist women’s issues and perspectives, but embraces all living beings. It is innovative in incorporating scholarly perspectives, spiritual practice, grassroots activism, and cultural performance as equally valid dimensions of women’s experience. Creating a forum that unites women from such a rich variety of backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives with respect and appreciation is an expression of women’s enormous potential for global transformation (â€Å"WomenPracti cing Buddhism†). Buddhism looks upon itself as a religion of peace. But, for there to be overall peace within the individual and the human society, all issues of importance to the individual must be dealt with in a peaceful and amicable manner. The American would not feel satisfied until he has dealt with issues that concern himself. It is difficult for this individual to feel at peace until he or she has intelligently tackled the human rights issues in society, for example, sexual discrimination. After all, the American has converted to Buddhism keeping its benefits in mind.This individual would not settle for less, just as the Buddha never sacrificed his principles. The American Buddhist would like to experience peace at home, peace at work, and peace in the community at large through his or her conversion to Buddhism. Inequality and discrimination, as an example, have stolen peace at many levels. But, Buddhism is encouraging How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 6 the American to be true to Self, and to be at ease in every situation in order to successfully engender peace.Karen Andrews, an American Buddhist woman, explains the meaning of discrimination in Buddhism itself: Buddhism has, throughout its history, slowly moved east, from India through China, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Japan. Most recently, it has begun its jump across the ocean to the United States. With each move, the expression of Buddhism has changed to suit the culture of the people. Buddhism has not yet been in the United States (or any other Western country) long enough to develop into a clear new form, suitable for Western culture.There are many aspects of traditional Buddhism which need slight adaptation in order to be accepted within the complex structures of Western society. One of the areas of traditional Buddhism which modern Western Buddhists find the most problematic is the area of gender. In most Asian Buddhist traditions, the leaders and teac hers are all male, while females are given less prestigious roles. Western Buddhists tend to come from highly educated and socially liberal backgrounds, which means that they tend to feel that men and women are equal and should be given equal opportunities in all endeavors.This difference of opinion between Western and Asian Buddhists causes a certain amount of tension. Even though the American woman loves Buddhism for the freedom, dignity and peace it allows her to enjoy, this Eastern religion is also disadvantageous in terms of Buddhist patriarchy. To take control of this disadvantage, many American women have pioneered a gender-neutral and gender-free way of understanding and practicing Buddhism. This has been made easy by the fact that Buddhist teachings do not revolve around divine revelations that would allow for no change in the understanding and practice of Buddhism.American women who have been raised to hate discrimination, have chosen to ignore the obvious sexist practices in Buddhism by following a middle path. In so doing, however, they have ensured that they do not step out of Buddhism altogether (Boucher, 1998). The American Buddhist men have agreed with the American Buddhist women on this issue. They have been taught to hate discrimination, too. How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 7 And so, American Buddhism does not face a dire problem of discrimination within the institution itself.Besides, peace is helpful; and hence, Buddhism is good news in America. How is the practice of Buddhism expressed in the United States? 8 References Andrews, Karen. Women In Theravada Buddhism. Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley. Retrieved 25 June 2007, from http://www. enabling. org/ia/vipassana/Archive/A/Andrews/womenTheraBudAndrews. html. Blofeld, John. (1997). The Bodhisattva Of Compassion: The Mystical Traditions Of Kuan Yin. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boucher, Sandy. (1998). Turning the Wheel: American Women Creat ing the New Buddhism.(1st rev. ed. ). New York: Beacon Press. Nakai, Rev. Patti. Women in Buddhism. Urban Dharma. Retrieved 5 December 2006, from http://www. urbandharma. org/udharma/womenbuddhist. html. Suh, Sharon A. (2004). Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple American Ethnic and Cultural Studies Series. Seattle: University of Washington Press. Women Practicing Buddhism: American Experiences. Smith College. Retrieved 5 December 2006, from http://www. smith. edu/buddhism/index. php.

Culture is Everything in The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Plato said in The Republic, â€Å"The soul takes nothing with her to the next world but her education and her culture.† (Quoted from Plato’s The Republic) Dependence in culture is inevitable for humans – take this away and we are lost (Livesey and Lawson, 2008). Livesey and Lawson (2008) generally defined culture as â€Å"a way of life†. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary culture is â€Å"the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group† (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Several factors affect the formation of one’s culture, Palispis, E. (2007) quoted Sir Edward Tylor, â€Å"Culture†¦ refers to that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as member of society.† (Palispis, E., 2007) In this context culture is something we acquire from the people we have lived with since we were born, it is not something a person can learn overnight nor can be disposed effortlessly. Our country is rich in culture; the occupation of the Spanish, the American, and the Japanese gave the Philippines its diverse and unique culture. This exceptional culture we have in our country has produced numerous brilliant individuals, who up to this day are still well recognized. So it is safe to say that part of the reason why they became who they were is because of their culture; because of our culture. (Ong, 2011) Culture is important in the formation of one’s identity, and there is such aShow MoreRelated Mother and Daughter Relationships in Joy Luck Club and A Hundred Secret Senses1679 Words   |  7 PagesMother and Daughter Relationships in The Joy Luck Club and A Hundred Secret Senses   Ã‚  Ã‚   In life, many things can be taken for granted - especially the things that mean the most to you. You just might not realize it until youve lost it all. As I walk down the road finishing up my teenage days, I slowly have been finding a better understanding of my mother. The kind of bond that mothers and daughters have is beyond hard to describe. Its probably the biggest rollercoaster ride of emotions thatRead MoreAmy Tan Chinese Cultural Identity1615 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel, Amy Tan s parents adopted a pluralistic identity. According to E. D. Huntley: Daisy and John Tan continued to cling to many elements of the culture of their homeland, living essentially insular life and socializing mainly with the members of California s Chinese community, although their ambitions for their children included a certain degree of Americanization. (2) Despite the fact that Amy TanRead More Improving Mother/Daughter Relationships in Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club1216 Words   |  5 PagesImproving Mother/Daughter Relationships in Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club One day everything is going great, in fact things could not be better and then you say something and your friend turns to you and says â€Å"oh my god, you sounded just like your mother†.   That is when you freak out and think to yourself it is true I am turning into my mother.   This is every daughters worst nightmare come true.   When a young girl is growing up her mother always says and does things that the girl vows she will neverRead More The Complexity of Mother and Daughter Relationships in Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club1316 Words   |  6 PagesThe Complexity of Mother and Daughter Relationships in Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club   Ã‚  Ã‚   Since the beginning of time the mother and daughter relationship has been complex.   The book The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan is a great example of the mother and daughter relationship.   In the book Amy Tan writes about four women who migrate to America from China.   All of the women were in search of a better life since the lives they had in China were not what they wanted for themselves.   Even though all of the womenRead MorePlunging The Joy Luck Club by Amt Tan Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesThe Joy Luck Club (1985) was written by Amy Tan (1952). The Joy Luck Club is the story of a Chinese mother who leaves everything behind, a mother who leaves her family in China in order to get her children (in this case our protagonist June) a better life. Or as Amy Tan says: â€Å"The Joy Luck Club, about a woman whose mother has just died and who regrets that she never knew who she truly was. The stories poured out. They were what I felt and had to say before it was too late. I had found my reason toRead MoreAmy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1097 Words   |  5 PagesCulture defines humanity. Culture makes humans different than any other living organism ever known. Culture is what makes humans unique, and yet culture is easily the most misunderstood characteristic of individuals. In Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan develops the theme of incomplete cultural understanding leads to an inability to communicate one’s true intentions through juxtaposition and conflict between mothers and daughters and their cultures. The conflicting Chinese culture of the mothers’Read MoreAmy Tan Overcoming Faulty Relationships and Self Identity Essay1514 Words   |  7 PagesAmy Tan struggled with many issues caused by her dual cultures, which she expressed thoroughly in her works. Daisy and John Tan were post war immigrants and the parents of Amy Tan (Amy Tan). Tan was given the Chinese name An-Mei, which stands for blessings from America (McCarthy). To them she was the blessing that they had received after their own struggles. Tan’s father came to America after WWII to become a minister (Amy Tan). Even though it seemed like Tan’s life was running smoothly tragedy struckRead More Power of the Mother and Daughter Relationship Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club1482 Words   |  6 PagesPower of the Mother and Daughter Relationship Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club In the novel, The Joy Luck Club, the author, Amy Tan, intricately weaves together the roles and experiences of Chinese mothers with their American born daughters. During a time of war, the mothers flee from China to America, leaving behind a past filled with secrets that unravel as their daughters mature. While sharing their difficulties, these mothers must be able to teach Chinese beliefs and customs to their daughters inRead MoreAmy Tan Talks About The Clash Between Traditional And Contemporary Values1719 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Two Kinds,† Amy Tan talks about the clash between traditional and contemporary values. The Chinese culture wants everything to be a certain way, but Tan grow up in around American culture and she was more likely to have her own thoughts rather than be an obedient daughter. This essay illustrates the procedure of character development of the second-generation Chinese immigrant daughters who experience differences between Chinese culture and Americ an culture, such as language, culture and generationalRead MoreAnalysis Of Amy Tan s The Joy Luck Club1637 Words   |  7 Pagessame time† (Goreski). Amy Tan, an author of numerous novels, understands the battle of relationships, especially between culturally diverse mothers and daughters. In one of Tan’s novels, The Joy Luck Club, she writes to get the point across of how difficult it is for contrasting cultures to communicate with one another, â€Å"...out of an intense concern with the individual artistic choices she was making at every level and at every moment† (Evans 3). The passionate message Tan stresses in the novel