Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria Essay Example for Free

Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria Essay This development was heralded as an avenue to usher in democratic stability and good governance. However, contrary to widespread expectations, the post-military regime became an avenue for the explosion of violent ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, since the emergence of democracy in May 1999, not less than one hundred ethnically and religiously instigated conflicts have occurred in Nigeria which resulted in loss of lives and unquantifiable material and psychological damage. Drawing from documentary research and findings, this paper probes the persistent spate of ethno-religious crises in Nigeria and its harmful implications on democratic consolidation in Nigeria. It investigates the history, causes and manifestations of ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria and maintains that unbridled lust for power, corruption, religious intolerance and the failure of the government to deliver democratic dividends, have resulted in these conflicts between ethnic and religious groups in the country. In the light of all these then, can democracy thrive in an atmosphere of crises? Can Nigeria come out of ethno-religious conflicts? If so, what steps can the government take to rein in the menace of these crises? Finally, the paper provides submissions for curbing this social epidemic, which has become a permanent feature of the Nigerian social polity. Keywords: Nigeria, Ethno-religious, Crises, Democracy, Development Introduction Democracy could be said to be a seed: when you sow bountifully, you reap bountifully. Thus, one of the dividends of democracy, which Nigerians have reaped in abundance since the transfer of power from the military to the civilians on May 29, 1999, is the rising wave of ethno-religious conflicts with devastating and untold consequences on lives and property (Jega, 2007: 116). Nigeria is a very populous nation in Africa with diverse cultural heritage. In fact, the country has a population of over 140 million and over 400 ethnic groups belonging to different religious sects as well (Salawu, 2010: 345). Since the attainment of independence, Nigeria has remained a multi-ethnic nation, which has been grappling with the problem of ethnicity on the one hand and that of ethno-religious conflicts on the other hand. At the inception of independence, for administrative expediency the various ethnic factions were fused and merged together by the colonialists. Then, the colonial masters left and things started falling apart, the center no longer held. No ethnic group desired to see the other. Little wonder then that the former Secretary of State at the British Colonial Office (1952-1959), Sir Peter Smitters regretted the action taken by the British to merge diverse ethnic groups into one in Nigeria. According to Ali (2004) cited in Adebayo (2010: 214), he was reported to have lamented that it was extremely dangerous to force diverse radical and social entities into single rigid political structure. However, that statement was medicine after death; the deed had been done. Indeed, a conglomerate of almost four hundred ethnic groups, each having its distinct history, language, culture and political systems before the colonial rule, all preserved in mitigated forms with the British system of governance super-imposed and named Nigeria really had future implications for unity. The colonial administration, for administrative convenience, compressed and merged the various ethnic groups in their respective regions, making Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba the major ethnic groups and reinforced the three political/administrative divisions – the north, the east, and the west, under appropriate constitutional arrangement. At independence and post independence era, the status-quo of the colonial era was retained under that infantile freedom, with every group retaining its tradition, language, and culture while sharing the common central institutions in a federal arrangement (Adebayo, 2010: 214). As a result, these major ethnic groups, because of their opportunistic positions were seen as consistently dominating the political and economic scene before and after the attainment of independence in 1960 and this led to agitations for state creation by the other â€Å"minor† ethnic groups who saw themselves as the marginalized groups. However, the more states were created, the more the complaints of marginalization and inequality by the new minorities against the new majorities in each state (Abdullahi and Saka, 2007). Consequently, the proliferation of ethno-religious and political turbulence in the country is therefore necessitated on the one hand by cultural, communal and religious differences and on the other hand by fear of domination nursed by the minority groups. As if what constitutes the federalism is not satisfied, there have been agitations for reversing back to the old regional autonomy of the different groups for the purpose of determining the pace of their development and control of their respective resources. These pernicious phenomena of ethnicity and religious intolerance led to the incessant surge of ethno-religious conflicts, which gave birth to the many ethnic militias today like the O’dua People’s Congress (OPC) put in place by the Yoruba in the south-western part of the country to fight for the protection and defence of Yoruba in Nigeria; the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), fighting for the cessation of the Igbo ethnic tribe in Nigeria; the Bakassi Boys; the Egbesu Boys; the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC), the Igbo Peoples’ congress (IPC); the Arewa People’ Congress (APC) and the Ohaneze Ndigbo among others. This might probably be the feeling of Elaigwu (2005: 12) when he writes †¦the violent protests in the Niger-Delta over perceived injustice in resource distribution; the Itsekiri-Ijaw violence in the Delta; the resumption of the Ife-Modakeke communal violence; the menace of Odu’a Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and the accompanying violence in Lagos and Shagamu areas; the formation of the Arewa Peoples’ Congress (APC) and the Igbo Peoples’ Congress (IPC); the MASSOB feeble attempt to resuscitate Biafra; the Sharia crisis and the demands for a confederation; the South-South demand for the control of its resources; and all the recent interethnic/religious conflicts in various states across the country are all part of the bubbles of the Nigerian federation. They are based on the historical structures of mutual fears and suspicions among Nigerian groups in a competitive process. They reflect dissatisfaction of Nigerian groups with the state of the federation. With the emergence of all these ethnic militias and the deep divide between the various ethnic groups, religious intolerance became more violent and bloody with more devastating results using the ethnic militias as the executing platforms of ethno-religious agenda. Federalism thought to be an approach to national unity, resulted to anarchy in the country. A number of steps were taken to at least mend the disunity and disarray prevalent then and promote unity among the various ethnic groups. These included the establishment of federal institutions in some states of the federation, promotion of national cultural and sporting activities, and, more significantly, the National Youth Service Programme (NYSC), just to mention a few (Adebayo, 2010). Although these steps yielded pockets of successes in achieving national unity, the â€Å"unholy† marriage of convenience of the ethnic groups still begs for irrevocable divorce. While the ethnic rivalry held sway, religious pluralism, which culminated in many crises, shook the country to its very roots. The pernicious effect of this trend is not entirely surprising given the fact that religion is so sensitive to Nigerians that many are not only ready to defend it at all costs, but are ready to die for it. Hence, religious pluralism which resulted in religious intolerance was fused with ethnic rivalry, producing the recurrent spate of ethno-religious crises. And because of the violent nature of ethno-religious conflicts, which often take the form of riots, sabotage, assassinations, lynching and maiming, kidnappings, armed struggles, guerilla warfare and secession in Nigeria, they undoubtedly pose dangerous threats to democracy in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Yes, as Jega (2007: 116) truthfully stated, the genetically engineered seeds of democracy planted by our colonial masters and further successive military regimes have grown to mature crops for harvest. Instead of democracy yielding peace, stability and security to lives and property, it seems to have yielded a return, full circle spate of ethno-religious conflicts and violent eruptions. Thus, the discussion of ethno-religious conflicts in whatever context becomes all the more necessary given the fact that there is a phenomenal recurrence of these conflicts around the nation thereby increasing its threat level to democratic consolidation in Nigeria. It is against this backdrop that this paper attempts to probe the history, manifestations and implications of ethno-religious crises in Nigeria since the dawn of democratic dispensation. Causes of Ethno-Religious Crises in Nigeria According to Awolowo (1990: 35), the notion of Nigeria as â€Å"a mere geographic expression† was engendered by the forceful packaging by colonial authoritarian fiat of unwilling communities of diverse origin and culture under the same polity. Consequently, relations and political behavior of the peoples are characterized by mutual suspicion and invidious hatred since they are strange bed-fellows, who were only coerced into the nation-state via amalgamation. Until 1960, Nigeria was a British colony. Like most colonies, it was not constructed for internal coherence, but rather for the administrative convenience of the British (Shively, 1997: 39). Over 400 different languages and dialects are spoken within its borders, and there is also an important religious split, as the north is primarily Muslim and the south is predominantly Christian, making her not only at ethno-religious crossroads but also at linguistic crossroads. As diverse as these ethnic groups are, they are also not accommodative of each other’s religion and professions of faith. This state of intolerance has added up to fuel the spate of crises in Nigeria. It should be noted that religion has always been the platform for frontal expressions of ethnic aggressions and conflict. Hence, ethnocentric politics, sectional solidarity and primordial interests became prominent features in the nation’s political practice. Sectional and individual virtues and interest rather than collective virtues and national unity are advanced and exalted. Thus, communal orientation precluded any attachment to the state and the syndrome of the ‘son of the soil’ took preference over merit and competence in the choice of policies and leaders. Although as Obasanjo and Mabogunje (1992: 4) aptly observed, colonialism provided scaffolding of holding the different communities together, not much change was achieved in altering communal mentality and predilection. Nonetheless, the persistent military incursion into government and politics did much harm for the body polity as national issues was mostly tribalized and primordial virtues extolled. These regimes had primordial outlook and sub-national mentality under which the northern part of the country was favoured brazenly, on one hand, and the southern part was deliberately dealt with in terms of appointments, contracts, location of government establishments, political oppression and repression as well as provision of social services and infrastructures. As a result, ethnic sectarianism has left a trail of destructive violence and even threatened the territorial integrity of Nigeria (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, 2001). Indeed, after long years of authoritarian rule, when the military clique and their civilian collaborators privatized the Nigerian state (Ukiwo, 2003), politicians in the emergent Fourth Republic were all too anxious to claim control of the state and its oil wealth as well. This thus led to an unbridled competition for political relevance and spheres of interests among politicians, especially in the context of the division of the country into geopolitical zones, states and local governments and the fact that distribution of benefits among the political class depended on the ability of each member of the ruling class to deliver his constituency. This lust for power has led to the neglect of the needs of the masses and the demand for peaceful co-existence. Instead, the rulers continue to enrich their pockets through corrupt dirty means and seek for elongation of tenures for selfish gains. In the circumstance, ethnicity, religion and other sectarian identities are exploited, resulting in avoidable violent conflicts among component units of the country. The persistence of mass poverty and increasing income inequality, largely as a result of the transformation of the fortunes of politicians and their allies from jobless neighbors to emergency billionaires in less than two years after capturing power, have deepened popular alienation. It has also called into question the legitimacy since 1999. Consequently, some of the easiest things to do in contemporary Nigeria are to mobilize an assassin, vigilante, ethnic-cum-religious militia, rioter, crowd or rented pro-government demonstrator. The result could only be imagined. The power lust of the political cliche is one of the perceived causes of ethno-religious crises in Nigeria. Another reason responsible for ethno-religious crises in Nigeria is the wrong interpretation by those who claim authority to the understanding of the holy books. If not so, one wonders why people act contrary to the teaching of the holy books (whether the Quran or the Bible) in matters pertaining to peaceful co-existence, unity and sanctity of life, and property. As it is a serious disease for someone who does not have a full grasp of the interpretation of any of the holy books to claim authority to knowledge, many of the so called ‘religious leaders’ use their shallow knowledge to put up interpretations to suit their selfish ends banking on the ignorance of their followers. Lamenting on the wide gap between the teaching and practice of religion among its adherents, Adebayo (2003) cited in Adebayo (2010: 219) identified some factors responsible for using religion as instrument of polarization, among which is leadership tussle, which also culminated in the proliferation of many denominations in the country. Also, sectarian jingoism, as well as excessive patriotism to one’s religious sect, which consequently transformed to fanaticism, is another major factor contributing to this social menace. Salawu (2010) also noted that the failure of the Nigerian leaders to establish good governments, forge national integration and promote what can be called real economic progress, through deliberate and articulated policies, has led to mass poverty and unemployment. This has resulted into communal, ethnic, religious and class conflicts that have now characterized the Nigerian nation. Poverty and unemployment have therefore served as nursery bed for many ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria because the country now has a reservoir of poor people who warmongers as mercenary fighters. What this means theoretically is that poverty and unemployment increase the number of people who are prepared to kill or be killed for a given course at token benefit. This explains why all ethno-religious crises that ever occurred in Nigeria have a large turnout of people (including the under-aged) as fighters. Lastly and very importantly, and not the least, the ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria also have some historical antecedent (Salawu, 2010). This is because many governmental actions during the colonial rule and after independence encouraged, to a large extent, the sowing of the seeds of ethno-religious conflicts that are found to be rampant in the Nigerian nation today. Over the years, many events in Nigeria have led to the politicization of mistrust, intolerance, violence and acrimonious relations between the mainly Moslem north and the Christian south of Nigeria. To this extent, there has been an unfortunate insertion of ethno-religious discrimination and incompatibility in the structures of the Nigerian State since the colonial period. The political events of the January 15, 1966 coup and the July 1966 counter-coup further entrenched ethno-religious configuration in Nigeria. This is because the killings and counter-killing that followed the coups which took ethnic and religious colorations as the Muslim dominated tribes in the north were set against the Christian-dominated tribes of the southern region.

Theories on the Economics of Poverty

Theories on the Economics of Poverty Janet Owen The issue at hand is the decline in the U.S. poverty rate, which doesn’t deliver much good news. The writer, Monica Potts is an unbridled critic of the rate of poverty. Poverty is a prevalent gregarious issue that has troubled the United States and various other nations for thousands of years. While nations like the United States of America have worked genuinely hard to eradicate it domestically, it still widely subsists internationally. Neediness has been a dependable issue all through history. Despite what the normal pay, unemployment or general flourishing level is, there will reliably be people who are homeless and hungry. Despite being a champion among the most prosperous countries on the planet, the United States is not safe to it either. Without a doubt today, there are still people endeavoring to find safe house, feed their kids and find warm clothing. This social issue has diverse impacts on different foundations and people. In any case, there are conceivable plans that are open to alleviate this social issue. In discussing dejection in the United States, I will be utilizing three huge perspectives: the general condition, the creating clerical class destitution and the relationship between little associations and imperative measures to decrease poverty. The conservative hypothesis is that poverty is an individual wonder. On this hypothesis, individuals are in poverty in light of the fact that they are apathetic, uneducated, oblivious, or overall substandard in some way. On the off chance that this hypothesis were genuine, it would take after that devastated individuals are fundamentally the same individuals consistently. Also if that were genuine, we could whip destitution by helping that specific 15% of the populace to evaluate things and move out of poverty. Subsequently, a system of substantial oppressive life arrangements to help this disconnected group get things together may possibly end or significantly lessen destitution. The liberal hypothesis is that poverty is a structural wonder. On this hypothesis, individuals are in poverty in light of the fact that they end up in gaps in the monetary framework that convey them deficient wages. Since individual lives are dynamic, individuals dont sit in those openings until the end of time. One year they are in a low-wage gap, yet the following year theyve discovered a vocation or gotten an advancement, and arent any longer. Anyway, that gap that they were in a year ago doesnt go away. Others inexorably end up in that opening in light of the fact that it is an industrious surrender in the monetary structure. It takes from this that devastated individuals are not the same individuals consistently and the best way to diminish poverty is to modify the financial structure to lessen the quantity of low-wage gaps in it. To evaluate which hypothesis is genuine, the least demanding thing to do is answer the inquiry: are devastated individuals the same individuals consistently or diverse ones? The individual hypothesis predicts that they are the same individuals (and further that they require paternalist intercession to start acting responsibly). The structural hypothesis predicts that they are distinctive individuals (and further that we have to adjust the monetary structure to greatly improve the situation). As the greater part of the analysts connected aforementioned, longitudinal overviews demonstrate that devastated individuals are not the same individuals consistently. The last SIPP had approximately one-third of Americans ending up in rambling poverty eventually in the three years, yet only 3.5% ending up in roundabout destitution for every one of the three years. The PSID information demonstrates that around 4 in 10 grown-ups experience a whole year of neediness between age 25 and 60. In the event that you check kids, the quantity of individuals who experience no less than one year of poverty rockets considerably higher obviously. Additionally, it merits calling attention to that almost 45 percent of grown-ups have utilized a method tried welfare program in their life. Finally, Monica Potts, keeps up her position on destitution from the perspective of a starting late hindered economy. She battled that more than 50 million Americans were existing in a food insecure home sometime in 2009. She differentiates this with the 36 million in 2006. The essential circumstance that these dejection stricken individuals face is whether to pay their home credits or put sustenance on the table. Most likely, Potts focuses her trade not on the minorities or single folks, yet on the working populace families that are engaging. Her affirmation begins from our country over that is endeavoring to meet solicitations from distinctive scopes of the extent from the homeless to the working population. These viewpoints offer a huge array of social issues coming about because of poverty. Case in point, the viewpoint on minorities puts the negligence like a fireworks show on Hispanics and African-Americans. As a happening, the generally propelled government help projects were focused on these minorities. Thus, this raises the bigger issue of speculation and prejudice. In case the countrys advantages are for the most part utilized for a specific area of the masses, then it singles them out for accidental examination by those not gathering the resident preferences. Whats more, since little associations are the key impulses of jobs, we fight that the noteworthy conclusions of voracious business visionaries are that they are not helping the vocation creation change enough. Likewise, this methodology additionally puts pressure on governments to mediate either emphatically or adversely to sway organizations to cultivate work creation. Finally, the cubicle class desperation issue is essenti ally affecting the close-by state and city governments that are under weight to hold and supply sustenance banks for people that dont have the intends to do so. Therefore, the issue of poverty under these perspectives affects close-by and state governments, associations, and additionally peoples manner towards those tormented from desperation. The plans showed demonstrate that organization intercession is the plan. For example, Potts alluded to that destitution organization sometime during the last twenty-five years has been decreased by government undertakings concentrated on towards specific demographics. She furthermore offered game plans by enhancing preparing levels remembering the deciding objective to development a whole deal plan. On the other hand, it has been fought that since governments have control over native dollars and little associations have control over business creation; the plan would be gotten from the agreeable vitality of the legislature. Moreover, by using financing and facilitating business procedures to help assuage destitution, the agreeable organizations would definitely help advance long haul work development. Finally, while Potts doesnt offer a prompt game plan, the association of working population destitution reflects that simply short lived sponsorship is needed. In this manner, by helping sustenance banks and adjacent city governments push through updated enthusiasm for the short term, this would suffice until a whole deal game plan has been found. The proof recommends that these arrangements would, in time enhance the social state of poverty. By first concentrating on transient easing through sustenance banks and nearby city help, the quick issue of encouraging individuals would be met. For the long haul, the legislature would assume an exceptionally compelling part in helping animate this project. This would oblige the assistance and association of little organizations with investments that adjust to the central government. At long last, the length of transient support is promptly replaceable with long haul arrangements, neediness can be killed. The rotating entry way of neediness is a pummel dunk marker that the structural hypothesis of poverty is right, however we can get much more particular by recognizing where the structural gaps are. There are numerous spots to concentrate, yet one simple and undeniable one is age. To start with, consider youngster poverty. Youngsters have much higher poverty rates than grown-ups and more youthful kids have higher poverty rates than more established kids. Why is this? Two reasons. In the first place, families with youngsters in them need to get more pay every year to keep afloat destitution line than families without them. However, the business sector does not disperse families more cash simply on the grounds that they have more youngsters. Therefore, the minor demonstration of adding a kid to a family makes it more probable that the family will be in destitution. Second, grown-ups have kids when they are youthful laborers, yet adolescent specialists likewise make the minimum wage. This excessively makes it more probable a youngster will be in poverty than a grown-up absolutely on account of the way the economy is organized. Why do adolescent kids have higher poverty rates than more seasoned youngsters? Since adolescent youngsters have youthful folks and old kids have old folks. Old folks profit more than adolescent folks in light of the fact that they are deeper into their pay life cycle. Its normal to depict 25-65 as prime working-age grown-ups. Be that as it may, take a gander at the amount of poverty that falls over those working years. Almost 20% of 25-year-olds are in poverty while short of what 10% of 64-year olds are. Why? Adolescents make much less than older laborers. Youthful laborers are regularly dealing with youngsters too, while more seasoned specialists for the most part are not. This is anatomic. This is one of the exceptionally glaring anatomical reasons why you are going to see individuals swapping in and out of poverty over their life course. I could go on, yet the fact is clear. Poverty reproduces itself in exceptionally unsurprising structural ways. Since the issue is structural, the arrangement must be structural also. This is quite as troublesome an assignment as it may appear. Case in point, on account of structural poverty issues harrowing youngsters and adolescent families, it is effectively managed by utilizing a Child Allowance program, which is usually utilized all through Europe. References: Glennerster, Howard. United States Poverty Studies and Poverty Measurement: The Past Twenty-Five Years. The Social Service Review 76.1 (2002): 1-26. JSTOR. Web. 7 Mar. 2011 Singer, Alan. Business Strategy and Poverty Alleviation. Journal of Business Ethics 66.2/3 (2006): 225-231. JSTOR. Web. 7 Mar. 2011 Chen, Stephanie. â€Å"The New Hungry: College-Educated, Middle-Class Cope With Food Insecurity.† CNN. 13 Dec. 2010. CNN. 7 Mar. 2011.

DRacula Chpt. In Depth Summary and Commentary Essay -- essays research

Summary The novel begins with the diary kept by Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, or lawyer, as he travels through Central Europe on the business of his firm. He is on his way to the castle of Count Dracula, a Transylvanian nobleman, to conclude a deal in which the Count will purchase an English estate. We learn that he has just qualified to be a solicitor, this is his first assignment as a professional, and he is engaged to a young woman named Mina Murray. Harker describes in detail the picturesque country and the exotic food at the inns, noting recipes that he plans to obtain for Mina. In the evening of the first day of his diary (May 3), he arrives in the town of Bistritz, and checks into a hotel recommended to him by Dracula. There, he finds a letter from the Count awaiting him, welcoming him to the Carpathian Mountain region, and informing him that he should take a coach to the Borgo Pass, where Dracula's carriage will meet him and bring him the rest of the way to the castle. The next day, as Harker prepares to leave, the innkeeper's wife presses a crucifix on him and gives him incoherent warnings, saying that it is the eve of St. George's Day, when "all the evil things in the world will have full sway," and that he is going to a terrible place. He is discomfited by this, and his uneasiness increases when, as he gets aboard the coach, a crowd of peasants gathers around him, muttering various forms of the word "vampire" in their native langu...

Stuttering :: Biology Essays Research Papers

"IIIII Can Can Can't Heeeelp It: Stuttering to the Truth" "Stuttering is something the stutterer does, not something he has, because of something he is." --Wendell Johnson Can you imagine not being able to introduce yourself without struggling to pronounce your own name? What would your life be like if you had to battle every time you said "hello"? How would you feel if a mob of security guards surrounded you at Wal-Mart because an employee had mistaken you for being mentally ill ((1))? These are just a few scenarios that 42-year-old Kurt Salierno, a carpenter and minister from Atlanta, encounters everyday. Salierno has a stuttering disorder, which more than 3 million people in the United States and 55 million people around the world struggle with daily. Salierno describes his problem as similar to being trapped in a glass capsule; "I can see out, but there's no way to get out" ((1)). Salierno's feelings and views about what he experiences raises some interesting questions. What is reality like for a person with a stuttering disorder? Is the "I" that is trapped inside the capsule representative of the self that he cannot express due to his disorder? Internally, Salierno is conscious of the words, which he wishes to express. However, Salierno is seldom able to produce these words externally. Does a stutterer create his or her own reality within his or her mind? To the stutterer, does independent experience become reality? With reference to the philosophical thought e xperiment about the tree falling in a forest, does a stutterer make a sound if no one can hear him or her make that sound? Stuttering is a neurological disorder of communication, from which the normal flow of speech is disrupted by repetitions (neu-neu-neuro), prolongations (biiiii-ol-ooogy), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. Rapid eye blinking, tremors of the lips and/or jaw, or other struggle behaviors of the face or upper body may accompany speech disruptions ((3)). Why does stuttering worsen in situations that involve speaking before a group of people or talking on the phone, whereas fluency of speech improves in situations such as whispering, acting, talking to pets, speaking alone, or singing ((1))? In ancient times, physicians believed that the stutterer's tongue was either too long or too short, too wet or too dry. Therefore, practitioners from the mid-1800s tried surgical remedies such as drilling holes into the skull or cutting pieces of the tongue out to eliminate stuttering ((1) ).

Essay --

I believe that each and every child is unique and special in their own way. No two children are the same, therefore their behavior will not be the same and the way they respond to guidance will not be the same. However, all children want and need to be treated with love and respect. How you treat at child from a very early age will create the foundations of their self-esteem and self-worth. Children need to know that they are cared about by their teachers and they also need to feel safe and secure when they are at their school. As an early educator, it is my responsibility to demonstrate the rules of the classroom and continue to enforce them. I believe that if children are aware of the rules and know the appropriate way to treat one another from the very beginning, you will have a positive classroom environment with minimal misbehaving. I strongly believe that a child should never, under any circumstance, encounter emotional, verbal, or physical abuse. They should, at all tim es, be treated with respect and kindness. I believe in positive guidance and discipline strategies, having a supportive physical environment that can guide children’s behavior, and learning about feelings, friends and that their teachers are supporting them. Positive discipline strategies begin with the adult’s behavior with good limit setting and clearly communicating those limits to the child. They also include teaching more appropriate behavior such as, giving clues for the new behavior, giving choices, and supporting children in their new behavior. Positive guidance and discipline also include changing something about a situation, and ignoring behavior when it is fitting. Setting limits with children can be difficult and time consuming. Doin... .... It is also very important to build a strong feeling vocabulary because emotions can be very hard to understand. As teachers all we want for our children is to be cared about, respected, and successful. Implementing the proper discipline strategies has a giant role in this. I cannot express enough how important it is to show your children respect and love while still showing them that there are rules and limits that they are to follow. How a child is treated at a young age affects them for the rest of their lives. As an early educator you are creating the foundations for that child’s future. Using positive behavior strategies will help that child excel in academics and everyday life. Disrespect and abuse are never the answer; there is always a positive and respectful way to handle any behavior situation. Children are little humans, they deserve your best!

Interest Groups Essay

Introduction As we all know there are types of groups that are playing important role in the administration in the mechanism of government especially in terms of decision making or legislative body. These groups are known as Interest Groups and Pressure Groups. Basically interest group is defined as any collection of people organized to promote a goal they share or to resist some objective of the government of other groups. It is also defined as an organized group that tries to influence the government decisions without putting their members in governmental position. While pressure group is an interest group that exercises pressure on the government to obtain laws, policies & decisions compatible with their special interests. Basically pressure group is an interest group with higher degree of involvement in politics. In Malaysia, there are various types of interest groups in order to obtain the rights for what they represent. Interest groups in Malaysia such National Union for Teaching Profession (NUTP), The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS), Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) aggregates and articulate information regarding to their respective interest in order to influence the government decision based on their interests. However, there are disadvantages for the existence of interest groups. This will be the main idea of this assignment. Simplified Characteristics of Interest Groups Simplified Functions of Interests Groups 1. Mechanism for Political Representation- The interests of the people are represented in an organized way. It means that the people doesn’t have to directly go to the government but instead have interest groups to represent for them as the groups are established. It allows people to be involved in political process without being in a politica party for examples the NUTP, FOMCA and CUEPACS 2. Mediator between the Public and the Government- This is a linkage function between the people and the government. The interest groups provide necessary informations needed by both the people and the government 3. Interest Articulation (voice out the interests)- They voice out interests based on their interest groups and also voice out any interest of the public that is related to their interests 4. Influence the Government- This is the main function of the interest group. They influence the decisions but have no intention to take over the government and makes sure that the government focu ses on their interests. 5. Supplement Government Agencies(assist,enhance,help)- Conduct surveys and research to provide information to the government which the results will help government to adopt better public policies. Types of Interest Groups 1. Anomic Group- separates from social norms, spontaneous (informal), often involves violence 2. Associational Group- formal, distinct and established, effective procedures, active participants in political process. 3. Non- Associational Group- not formal, has similar characteristics & interests, reflect social/ethnic/cultural/religious interests 4. Institutional Group- exists within the government, highly involved in political & social activities, lobby from within the government. Simplified Methods of Gaining Influence The Demerits or The Disadvantages of Interest Groups * There are various demerits of interests group if it is not well managed and observed. 1. Some of the methods used to gain influence can lead to negative effects -Methods like Bargaining can lead to bad effects because it is similar to lobbying whereby the public policy is influenced directly. It also invloves secret negotiations which is usually related to the national budget. When this happens and if not observed carefully, the allocation of the money can be wrongfully distributed. If it happens, the interest groups may misuse the allocation given and the people they represented MAY NOT be included or the money won’t be used for the better of the people they represent. -Another risky method is the method Propaganda. In propaganda the usage of mass media and other methods to spread information to the public is on a massive scale. If the information or awareness spread by the interest group is false or with hidden agenda, it may cause the people to be wrongly influenced or mi ssunderstanding of the government policy. The people may retaliate for no legitimate reason which may cause damage to a peaceful nation. -Other than that, other methods like direct method like boycotts, demonstrations and strikes may cause commotion. This types of influencing methods are prone to be violent regardless of which party initiate violence first. -Indirect methods like being a member of parliament which is also a member of interest group may misuse his/her power in order to influence the governmernt decision. The member of interest group is a spouse to a bureaucrat may also lead to the misuse of power in order to influence the government decision. For example if a bureaucrat has a wife who is in an interest group, the potential of the husband to listen to every request to his wife relating to her interest group is very high. Not only that, it can be a bad thing too if a retired bureaucrats who join NGO or other groups that have connection with junior bureaucrats whereby t he juniors may listen to every request of their seniors. The juniors may provide confidential information of government policies to the retired bureaucrats. -Methods like illegalities may also be used especially in desperate times. Illegalities ranges from extortions, bribery, arson, blackmail and many more. 2. The existence of certain types of interest groups can produce adverse effects. -The existence of an interest groups like Anomic Groups which derived from the word Anomie meaning separation from social norms. This group is not a formal group. Usually it comes from dissatisfaction of the people. When this happens, it usually involves violence. This type of group may produce protests, racial riots and so on in order for their interest to be prioritized. 3. Biased -Interest groups can be considered biased because they are only prioritizing their interest or interests related to them. They do not really care about other interest of the people as a whole and care about better policy for the people genereally. They just prioritize their interests. Information provided is one-sided. 4. One Track-Mind (Runs Undemocratically) -The interests groups usually do not care about others interest and opininons. They also refuse to listen or to take care of other interest. They consider other interests or opinions are wrong. They do not let what others have to say or wants if it is contradict to their core interests. 5. Pluralism (as in United States) -Critics of pluralism contend that there is no such thing as the common good because there are so many conflicting interests in society: What is good for one person is often bad for others. They argue that the interest groups interfere with democracy because they seek benefits for a minority of people rather than the greater good of the majority. The National Rifle Association, for example, has repeatedly blocked new gun control legislation despite the fact that a majority of Americans actually want stricter gun laws. Other critics argue that the interest group system is really effective only to economic interest groups, which have greater financial resources at their disposal. Nearly two-thirds of lobbyists in Washington represent economic groups. Critics also argue that interest groups tend to ignore the interests of the poor in favor of middle- and upper-class Americans, who have more time and money to contribute 6. Corruption -Corruption takes place in the interest groups whereby the bribery is done between the interest groups and the interest provider (policy makers/government). In corruption, the bribery can be in many forms such as gifts and money. The bribery is performed in order for their interests being implemented. The irresponsible authority personnels will accept the bribery and in return the interest of the interests groups will be prioritized. 7. Influenced by wealth -This can be explained by the more money or fund the interest groups has, the more tendency of their interests being prioritized is higher. Conclusion Interest group is basically an organized group of people that tries to influence the government without being in the governmental positions. Various methods can be or are being used in order for their main objective which is to influence the government in order to get their interests priotized. But, there are negative side which is the demerits to the interests groups. Bottomline is, interest groups has it own merits and demerits in order for it to function as an interest group. The demerits can be abolished with proper procedures and proper preventive measures. If not the interest groups may be useless. Resources 1. 90% of this content is studied, aggregate and filtered from the notes made by Sir Fairuz Hidayat PAD170 Chapter 6 notes. 2. Another 10% is scouted, filtered, studied from the internet. 3. http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/american-government/interest-groups/section5.rhtml 4. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110412030051AAPzyYE 5. https://www.google.com/#q=disadvantages+of+interest+groups

“An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge” By Ambrose Bierce Essay

Naturalism is often perceived as a form of writing which is blunt because of the candor that writers used in approaching the subject. However, while naturalism is known to employ detailed realism in describing its subjects it necessarily follows that characterization becomes a critical process where the reader is given the benefit of making a conclusion as to how a particular character is characterized. In effect, naturalism merely generates the facts for the reader to base his/her conclusion on. In this light, the main character in Ambrose Bierce short story, â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge†, Peyton Furquhar is given flesh and blood using naturalist elements of description, association, and flash back. Description is a device that could be perceived as naturalist because it is through this that the writer is able to give a matter-of-factly picture of the character and in the short story, such device works to initially present the superficial characteristics of the main character. For instance, in the line, â€Å"Peyton Farquhar was a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family. † (Bierce, 2010) no further suppositions can be made except for what is being stated; that the protagonist is well to do, is in agriculture, and has integrity in that he is a well respected member of a known family. Obviously, in these lines, the writer does not have any intention of creating other subjective interpretations; instead he simply states what is superficially apparent. In another line from the story, â€Å"her husband approached the dusty horseman and inquired eagerly for news from the front. † (Bierce, 2010) still referring to the protagonist, the author again reveals another superficial personality that being the eagerness of the protagonist for news, in fact this particular characterization is stated in the same line to avoid further misjudgments. Association is also used in the story to indirectly characterize the character by revealing apparent unrelated events or situations. This is consistent with naturalism where the environment and social circumstances can work to influence a particular character or an event. In the lines, â€Å"Evidently this was no vulgar assassin. The liberal military code makes provision for hanging many kinds of persons, and gentlemen are not excluded. † (Bierce, 2010) succeeding a lengthy description of the physical attributes of the protagonist, the writer, by association, suggests that the protagonist was being executed unjustly. Further analysis of this line would reveal that another association comes to mind; that the character belongs to the middle or the upper class. So, even without the physical descriptions, one can easily associate the mitigating circumstances to the actual character of the protagonist. Another such example is found in the lines, â€Å"To be hanged and drowned,† he thought? â€Å"that is not so bad; but I do not wish to be shot. No; I will not be shot; that is not fair. † (Bierce, 2010) here, the author reveals a side to the character of the protagonist determined by his chosen method of death – being shot during this period was an undignified way of dying as it was indicative of the gravity of the fault of the one being executed. Shooting was also done while the victim had his back on the shooters which all the more makes it quite humiliating and degrading. So, this particular line characterizes the protagonist, through external circumstances, as someone who has a reputation that he protects and would not want to be tarnished. Other than just association, reminiscing and flash back are also tools in naturalism that may be employed to characterize a character. Flash back is when the protagonist draws from past experiences or recalls certain social elements that are not in effect at the period the story is being told, and these elements can reveal much about the character and even affirm the actions of the character. So, in the lines, â€Å"By diving I could evade the bullets and, swimming vigorously, reach the bank, take to the woods and get away home. My home, thank God, is as yet outside their lines; my wife and little ones are still beyond the invader’s farthest advance. † (Bierce, 2010) the author paints the character to be someone who is deeply concerned of his family that even in his direst moments, as guards were shooting at him from the riverbank, he still had thoughts of his home intact, which he verily recalled consequently revealing this particular aspect of his personality. Again, this same naturalistic device is used in the lines, â€Å"He must have traveled the entire night. As he pushes open the gate and passes up the wide white walk, he sees a flutter of female garments; his wife, looking fresh and cool and sweet, steps down from the veranda to meet him. †; (Bierce, 2010) where a sexual nature is revealed in the scenes that the protagonist recalls. Here, other than just revealing that the character is a homely and family person, the stark description of the garments as well as the scent of the wife are consistent with a subliminal description which points to the sexual desires of the character. In the story, â€Å"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge† Bierce effectively gives his character ‘life’ notwithstanding his turning up dead in the end, by using certain elements of naturalist and realist literature. Here one sees that through superficial and candid description, association of environmental and social circumstances, as well as the recall or reminiscing of past circumstances, the personality, attitude, and character of the protagonist becomes more vivid and believable. References Bierce, A. (2010). An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from http://fiction. eserver. org/short/occurrence_at_owl_creek. html