Standing Together Opposing Prejudice Essay Example for Free

Standing Together Opposing Prejudice Essay As I hail from a Muslim dominant Saudi society that is a manifestation of Islamic tenets of equality and fraternity. I was not aware of the racism and its different facets as Islam forbids any racial discrimination based on caste, creed or color and Saudi society follow this model of equality. So my first memory of racism is not related to an early age but it is at a mature level. Although I read several incidents and fiction about racism but my first direct encounter with racism was when I was studying at California State University and we were involved in a project on creating awareness about racial discrimination among student in particular and neighboring community in general. It involved a freshman Eric Butler from the University that used to work at a store and suffered from racial discrimination at the hands of a white male to whom Eric was offering his services to help. He complained about this racism to his employer and later to the company but company showed an attitude of indifference as nothing had happened. Students wrote letter supporting Butler castigating sentiments of racism in the adjacent community. I remained a part of the letter writing student community and later become involved in the student movement that was named Standing Together Opposing Prejudice (STOP). This movement emerged from that letter writing community and aimed at creating awareness about racial discrimination as most of the on-campus students including me believed that racial discrimination is a phenomenon of the past and nothing of this sort happens in contemporary era. Events like of Eric Butler’s happen due to lack of social tolerance. Although American society has struggled and succeeded to eliminate the notion of discrimination from the thoughts and action of people as a social habit but some individual still have malicious tendencies to involve in acts of social discrimination. This is due to some defect in the process of smooth socialization.

The Stolen Child by W.B. Yeats Essay -- Stolen Child Poem Yeats Essays

The Stolen Child by W.B. Yeats   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Stolen Child†, a poem by W.B. Yeats, can be analyzed on several levels. The poem is about a group of faeries that lure a child away from his home â€Å"to the waters and the wild†(chorus). On a more primary level the reader can see connections made between the faery world and freedom as well as a societal return to innocence. On a deeper and second level the reader can infer Yeats’ desire to see a unified Ireland of simpler times. The poem uses vivid imagery to establish both levels and leaves room for open interpretation especially with the contradictory last stanza.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nature and the land of the faeries present images of freedom throughout the first three stanzas. â€Å"There lies a leafy island†(Stanza 1, Line 3) where the faeries live, which is presumably far away from the world of pain and â€Å"weeping†(chorus) that is reality. The image of an island is used to represent separation from the real world and the freedom that it creates for the faeries. In the second stanza the faeries are â€Å"mingling hands and glances†(Stanza 2, line 6) and leaping â€Å"to and fro†(Stanza 2, Line 8) presenting an image of youth and lack of restrictions. The faeries call the child away to â€Å"the waters and the wild†(chorus) in the chorus. Yeats use of the image water is symbolic of free flowing life. The â€Å"wild† represents the faeries ability to live a life unrestricted by society. The first three stanzas have strong Celtic references that lead the reader to be...

Beneath †Original writing Essay

Psychoanalysis begins. Monday morning, it was a big rush. I had to pack the kids’ lunches and watch after them as they left for school. It was Kelly’s first day at junior school, and Michelle’s at secondary school. I don’t know why, but as I shut the front door I had flash backs of my first day at secondary school. I got worried. Michelle is a lot like me when I was her age. To my children, I am a normal nice mother, ordinary like everyone else’s mother. That is how they see me. They know nothing about my past†¦ It was an excruciatingly hot and sunny day – July 30th 1993. I dreaded the moment the sunrise began. I felt a huge lump at the back of my throat, my head was pounding, and droplets of cold sweat trickled down my forehead. I used to be a normal, quiet, and well behaved person but, all that changed when I met Camryn Barnes. After the first three times, I promised myself I would never do it again. Yet here I was with the hammer in my hand smashing the new lock on the school gate. It fell to the ground making a loud sudden noise, which made me jump even though it was expected. I ran towards the school building, but the school doors were all locked up. After approximately an hour of struggling through one of the technology department windows, I managed to squeeze in. I ran to Dr Daniel’s office, pushing the door open. There, looking up at me with his beady black eyes was Cuddles – Dr Daniel’s hamster. I had my equipment ready and then I opened the cage door picking up the small rodent with my trembling hands. I whispered to him in the darkness, â€Å"Don’t worry, it’ll only take a second. † I reached into the back of my threadbare jeans pockets and pulled out the razor sharp penknife. Tears poured down my face. One, Two, Three. I did it. My hand was drenched in fresh, warm blood. I dropped Cuddles on the floor and retreated back to the technology department. I can still remember the cold beady eyed stare Cuddles had given me as I pulled the pocket knife out of him. I recollect a similar expression from the past victims. I got back to Camryn a lot quicker this time. Camryn was pacing outside and when she saw me she signalled to me to hurry up. I half jogged and half ran. When I reached her, she caught hold of my wrist and pulled me along with her. I glanced at her beautiful tanned face and saw the contented smile displayed along her lips. I could almost hear her heartbeat, and taste her idea of sweet satisfaction. When we reached her house, she dragged me to her bedroom then leapt onto her red crumpled bed and kicked off her scuffed trainers. â€Å"Did you do it? Did you ‘top the pint sized rat? † she asked with enthusiasm. There was a malicious gleam in her green eyes. I nodded staring at my sweaty bloodstained hands. There was a huge lump in the back of my throat, my stomach churned. I couldn’t take it any more, â€Å"You said we’d never do it again! Wasn’t killing Jackie’s budgie, Peter’s cat and Ellie’s turtle enough? Why Dr Daniel’s hamster? Why? † Camryn stood up with a frown creasing up near her finely plucked eyebrows. â€Å"What’s wrong with you? Dr Daniels failed me in English! I worked so hard for him! He got what he deserved! † A sudden anger flushed through my body, â€Å"Like the others got what they deserved?! † Looking at Camryn, and seeing her satisfied realization from her manipulation, I had to leave. I walked home, showered and then lay in bed. I remember glancing at my digital clock†¦ it read 6:16am. I tried so hard, but failed to fall asleep. It was only a few hours, but seemed like days passing by. Eventually my mother came into my room to see why I was not ready for school. â€Å"I don’t feel well,† I murmured. Mother carelessly shook her head and left me alone. A month ago I used to be really close to my mother, but now I just seem to want to push her away and out of my life. It was almost as if I surrendered everything I loved for Camryn. My mother, my old friends and, my self respect. Eventually I fell asleep. Beneath my closed eyes, my thoughts swivelled in front of my eyes. All I saw was beautiful, cold water, ripples glistening. That was where I wanted to be. I woke up and changed into my favourite clothes. I knew what I was doing. I felt dizzy but ignored the queasy feeling. I sat on the floor and scribbled a note for my mother. I used to write little poems to my mother ages ago. I knew that was what I had to do now. I still remember what I wrote in the poem, word for word. â€Å"June year 1993, on the 25th day, The day I changed, stopped to pray, I made promises, made to break, But it’ll be over, whilst I lie in this lake, I feel like I’m, spiralling into a deep dark hole, Hopefully this depth, can contain my soul, What I’m trying to say, dear mother, I’m Sorry, For pretending to be so upbeat and jolly, Sorry mum, I didn’t mean to, I’ll be thinking of you through and through. â€Å"

Noble Gases List

The elements in the last column or group of the periodic table share special properties. These elements are noble gases, sometimes called inert gases. Atoms belonging to the noble gas group have completely filled their outer electron shells. Each element is non-reactive, has high ionization energy, electronegativity near zero, and a low boiling point. Moving down the group in the periodic table from top to bottom, the elements become more reactive. While helium and neon are practically inert and are gases, the elements further down the periodic table more readily form compounds which are more easily liquefied. Except for helium, all of the names of the noble gas elements end with -on. Elements in the Noble Gas Group Helium  (He, atomic number 2) is an extremely light, inert gas at room temperature and pressure. The liquid form of the element is the only liquid known to man that cannot be solidified, no matter how low the temperature drops. Helium is so light it can escape the atmosphere and bleed away into space.Neon  (Ne, atomic number 10) consists of a mix of three stable isotopes. The element is used to make signs and gas lasers and as a refrigerant. Neon, like helium, is inert under most conditions. However, neon ions and unstable clathrates are known. Like all noble gases, neon glows a distinctive color when excited. The characteristic reddish-orange glow of signs comes from excited neon.Argon  (Ar, atomic number 18) in nature is a mixture of three stable isotopes. Argon is used in lasers and to provide an inert atmosphere for welding and chemicals, but it can form clathrates and has been known to form ions. Argon is heavy enough that it doesnt readily escape Earths gravity, so it is present in appreciable concentrations in the atmosphere.Krypton  (Kr, atomic number 36) is a dense, colorless, inert gas. Its used in lasers and lamps.Xenon  (Xe, atomic number 54) in nature consists of a mix of stable isotopes. The pure element is inert and non-toxic, but it forms compounds that may be colored and are toxic because they display strong oxidizing tendencies. Xenon is encountered in everyday life in xenon lamps such as strobe lamps and some vehicle headlamps.Radon  (Rn, atomic number 86) is a heavy noble gas. All of its isotopes are radioactive. Although colorless under ordinary conditions, radon is phosphorescent as a liquid, glowing yellow and then red.Oganesson (Og, atomic number 118) presumably would behave like a noble gas but would be more reactive than the other elements in the group. Only a few atoms of oganesson have been produced, but it is believed that it will be a liquid or solid at room temperature. Oganesson is the element with the highest atomic number (mostly protons) on the periodic table. It is extremely radioactive.