The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1914

The assassination of an Austrian Archduke was the trigger for World War I, yet things were so nearly different. His death set off a chain reaction, as  mutual defense alliances  mobilized a list of countries, including Russia, Serbia, France, Austria-Hungary, and Germany, to declare war.   An Unpopular Archduke and an Unpopular Day In 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to both the Habsburg throne and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was not a popular man, having married a woman who – while a Countess – was deemed far below his station, and their children had been barred from the succession. Nevertheless, he was the heir and had both interests in the state and state commitments, and in 1913 he was asked to visit newly annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina and inspect their troops. Franz Ferdinand accepted this engagement, as it meant his usually sidelined and insulted wife would officially be with him. Ceremonies were planned for June 28th, 1914 in Sarajevo, the couple’s wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, this was also the anniversary of the First Battle of Kosovo, the struggle in 1389 which Serbia had convinced itself saw Serbian independence crushed by their defeat to the Ottoman Empire. This was a problem, because many in the newly independent Serbia claimed Bosnia-Herzegovina for themselves, and fumed at Austria-Hungary’s recent annexation. Terrorism One man in particular who took particular umbrage at this event was Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb had devoted his life to protecting Serbia, no matter the consequences. Assassinations and other politically charged murders were not out of the question for Princip. Despite being more bookish than charismatic, he managed to enlist the support of a small group of friends, who he convinced to kill Franz Ferdinand and his wife on June 28th. It was to be a suicide mission, so they wouldn’t be around to see the result. Princip claimed to have originated the plot himself but he did not have trouble finding allies for the mission: friends to train. The most important group of allies was the Black Hand, a secret society in the Serb army, who provided Princep and his co-conspirators with pistols, bombs,  and poison. Despite the complexity of the operation, they managed to keep it under wraps.  There were rumors of a vague threat that reached all the way up to the Serbian Prime Minister, but they quickly dismissed.   The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand On Sunday June 28th, 1914, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie traveled in a motorcade through Sarajevo; their car was open topped and there was little security. The would-be assassins positioned themselves at intervals along the route. Initially, one assassin threw a bomb, but it rolled off the convertible roof and exploded against the wheel of a passing car, causing only minor injuries. Another assassin couldn’t get the bomb out of his pocket because of the crowd’s density, a third felt too close to a policeman to try, a fourth had an attack of conscience over Sophie and a fifth ran off. Princip, away from this scene, thought he’d missed his chance. The royal couple continued with their day as normal, but after the display at the Town Hall Franz Ferdinand insisted he visit the mildly injured members of his party in the hospital. However, confusion led to the driver heading to their original destination: a museum. As the vehicles stopped in the road to decide which route to take, Princip found himself next to the car. He drew his pistol and shot the Archduke and his wife at point-blank range. He then tried to shoot himself, but the crowd stopped him. He then took poison, but it was old and simply caused him to vomit; the police then arrested him before he was lynched. Within half an hour, both targets were dead. The Aftermath No one in Austria-Hungary’s government was particularly upset by Franz Ferdinand’s death; indeed, they were more relieved he was not going to cause any more constitutional problems. Across the capitals of Europe, few other people were overly upset, except the Kaiser in Germany, who had tried to cultivate Franz Ferdinand as a friend and ally. As such, the assassination didn’t seem to be a major, world-changing event. But Austria-Hungary had been looking for an excuse to attack Serbia, and this provided them with the cause they needed. Their actions would soon trigger World War I, leading to years of bloody slaughter on a largely static Western Front, and repeated failures by the Austrian army on the Eastern and Italian Fronts. At the end of the war the Austro-Hungarian Empire had collapsed, and Serbia found itself the core of a new Kingdom of the ​Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.    Test your knowledge of the origins of WWI.

Literature Study - 1088 Words

To investigate how influential PD providers shape social capital, we drew on data from a larger study of mathematics and science professional development in a major metropolitan region in the Western United States. The study intended to capture the range of professional development opportunities available to teachers within the region. The region in the study consisted of four counties, the metropolitan area itself and its three contiguous counties. We considered professional development providers to include anyone involved in the planning or delivery of PD opportunities to teachers in any of the four counties. We did not require that the PD providers were from the region. The larger study used interviews and surveys to map the advice and†¦show more content†¦The purpose of the exploratory interviews was to solicit the names of individuals involved with providing PD in the region. We used this information to create an initial list of names that formed the seeds of the snowball. We defined three criteria for inclusion in the sample: (1) participants had helped plan or provide mathematics professional development for teachers; (2) the PD occurred in one of the four counties in the region; and (3) the PD occurred within the past year. Our initial seed list consisted of the names of 23 providers and their home organizations. With this list, we began the main part of the snowball sample. We conducted two waves of interviews and one wave of surveys. For each interview wave, we followed the same protocol (Figure 1). Interviews covered three main topics: (1) beliefs about qualities of effective PD; (2) the ideas about mathematics instruction and the mathematics practices they were promoting; and (3) their collaboration and advice networks (see Appendix A for the interview protocol). This article draws from the third section of the interviews. For this section, interviewers provided participants with the list of names. Going through each name on the list, they asked participants if they went to that individual for collaboration or advice about PD. If the participant saidShow MoreRelatedLiterature : My Experiences : The Study Of Literature1205 Words   |  5 PagesThe study of literature is a lost art, like taking a picture with film. It is an item in which you can hang on to forever and create everlasting memories and will always come to use, not something you can just cast aside. As a student, many can attest to the fact that Literature is not as entertaining as other classes may be. However, literature is something in life that you do not appreciate until it’s time to share your knowledge with the world,. Personally, I am thankful that I read many booksRead More The Study of Literature Essay1162 Words   |  5 PagesThe Study of Literature I finally understand the study of literature. As an English major, a reader/ writer/ poet who has spent a great deal of time reading the works of others and writing about them, I am reminded of something I have heard my father, a teacher, say repeatedly about the modern American attitude toward education. Nobody learns just to learn, he observes sadly, pointing out the way in which students often view particularly higher education as some kind of training groundRead MoreEssay on What Is Literature and Why Study Literature711 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is Literature? Why Study Literature? At often times, literature is thought of as lackluster works and long books and passages. People often think that literature is one thing, not knowing that it is in actuality composed of several elements that we all use in our daily lives. In order to get a clear understanding of exactly what literature is, we must first identify the definition. According to Merriam- Webster, literature is defined as the body of written works produced in a particularRead More It’s Time to Include Gays and Lesbians in Our Study of Literature2601 Words   |  11 Pageswilling to blame her sexual identity on a dysfunctional family and an unyielding educational system. While uniquely American in both its authorship and perspective, Rubyfruit Jungle should not be included in a curriculum of contemporary American literature. Because the novel presents a portrayal of lesbianism that is far removed from current gay culture, it is not truly contemporary to the audience for which it was intended. To include it in such a curriculum would be an insult to the lesbian communityRead MoreLiterature Study1667 Words   |  7 Pagesforeign employers hiring their services because of the success of the 2012 Olympics. 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FVC focused intervention studies in community education setting within this population sector have become more prevalent due to the growing evidence of a correlation between chronic disease and dietary habits. Seven of the nine investigations cite low-income adults and their families consuming below national averages of recommendedRead MoreResearch Study On A Literature Review Essay1400 Words   |  6 Pages4.2 Research Hypothesis Hypothesis Researchers almost never conduct a study in an intellectual vacuum; their studies are usually under taken within the context of an existing knowledge base. It helps to lay the foundation for the study and also inspire new research idea. 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Democracy in China Essay examples - 3298 Words

Introduction The topic of democracy in China is a highly controversial topic. Although China has not democratised, it has done well in the global situation amongst its democratic competitors. Since the path to democracy is different for each country, we cannot expect that China would follow the same path or same model of democracy as the western nations. This essay will look at what democracy is and how it can be placed in a Chinese context as well as looking at the proponents and opponents of democracy in China. It will also look at whether China is democratising by focusing on village elections, globalisation and the emergence of a civil society. These specific topics were chosen because they will help provide good evidence and†¦show more content†¦The idea behind ‘government of the people, by the people and for the people’, is that the government exists to benefit the citizens of the state and not those in power. Elections are central to democracies in the West, but elec toral turnout is not that high. Furthermore, problems with the legitimacy of the government in democratic systems can be seen in the case of Italy. The government is in a constant state of change and suffers a legitimacy crisis. Therefore, it posses the question of why would democracy in China be regarded as a vital thing when many of those in the West do not even exercise their basic democratic right to vote. The idea of democarcy in China The idea of democracy in China is different from democracy in the West. Democracy is not a word that is traditionally part of the Chinese culture or philosophy. The closest translation of democracy to Chinese is the word ‘minzhu’. The want for democracy in China stems from the citizens wanting more freedom and more individual rights. 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Democracy can be defined as a set of practices and principles, such as political participation and electoral processes, that protect freedoms and at minimum include the presence of free and fair elections, the protection of minority groups, the respect of human rights, and governed by majority rule . The People’s RepublicRead MoreThe Future of Freedom1075 Words   |  5 PagesHistory The Future of Freedom In his book, The Future of Freedom, Fareed Zakaria writes that we must make democracy safe for the world. The American democracy sets the standard around the world for liberal democracies, but transitions across for other countries across the world toward a liberal democracy is often difficult and with poor decision making, close to impossible. Liberal democracies are the systems in which people choose their government and live in an environment of freedom. In ZakariasRead MoreChinese Population And Its Effect On China1700 Words   |  7 PagesIf â€Å"democracy† is a term that sounds so familiar to many Western countries, the concept, on the other hand, does not adhere a same value in developing countries, especially for China. In fact, Chinese population is heavily under the effect of democratization resistance for many reasons, including but not limit to (1) the government’s own definition and version of democracy (2) Chinese’s long historical factors and un ique cultures, (3) different political philosophy and (4) whether is developed orRead More The Future of Freedom1081 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In his book, The Future of Freedom, Fareed Zakaria writes that we must make democracy safe for the world. The American democracy sets the standard around the world for liberal democracies, but transitions across for other countries across the world toward a liberal democracy is often difficult and with poor decision making, close to impossible. Liberal democracies are the systems in which people choose their government and live in an environment of freedom. In Zakaria’sRead MoreThe Current Chinese Government Fits Into The Category Of Authoritarian Regimes856 Words   |  4 Pagesuse ideology or coercive mobilization to shape citizen’s interests, or support for the regime. However, China had been in a category of totalitarian regimes once after the World War 2 ended. After the world war 2, under the Mao†™s control, China’s sovereignty imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people, which is the totalitarian regime. 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The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down - 1469 Words

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall down, by Anne Fadiman, illuminates the issues that arise when constructive collaboration cannot be accomplished between two conflicting parties. The conflict between Western beliefs and Hmong ideology is illuminated through a young epileptic Hmong named Lia Lee, and her tragic experience due to cultural differences. Ultimately, the conflict between parent and doctor beliefs thwarted medical advancement, eventually leaving her in a vegetative state and a premature death. In order to fully understand her predicament, we must establish the bounds of each culture. Largely defined by science, Western culture approaches things in technical terms, with decisions being based on measurable evidence. Western advocates argue that individuals must understand and accept scientific reality over their religious views. Non-Western beliefs, such as the Hmong culture, are largely defined by religion and pseudo-science practices. Those that oppose strict Western ide ology, such as Francesca Farr, propose, â€Å"our view of reality is only a view, not reality itself† (p 276). In other words, reality is relative to the respective individual. Legitimate claims on both sides create a large grey area of misinterpretation. On the contrary, health does not have margin for misinterpretation. The lack of understanding can prevent Western doctors from providing certain aspects of treatment. Even worse, the patient may reject treatment entirely. This dilemma in culturalShow MoreRelatedThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down1888 Words   |  8 Pagesan example of culture. Authors Anne Fadiman and Joshua Reno explores the different aspects of culture and ethnography in their two books, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures, and Waste Away: Working and Living with a North American Landfill. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down illustrates the story of a Hmong child who ha s sever epilepsy, and the communication and cultural differences and challenges between western doctorsRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down1004 Words   |  5 Pages1.) The book that I chose for my book report is, The spirit catches you and you fall down. The book was written by essayist and reporter, Ann Fadiman and was published in 1997 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. There are 288 pages in this book. 2.) The book is non-fiction. 3.) When I was choosing a book, I was in utter confusion. I wasn t a reader and I didn t know where to look. Luckily, however, Professor Yanmei was able to show me this amazing book! 4.) There were many characters in this book, butRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down2167 Words   |  9 PagesStructural Causes of Cultural Insensitivity in Anne Fadiman’s The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Many years ago, an epileptic Hmong girl named Lia Lee entered a permanent vegetative state due to cross-cultural misunderstanding between her parents and her doctors. An author named Anne Fadiman documented this case and tried to untangle what exactly went wrong with the situation. Two key players in her narrative were Neil Ernst and Peggy Philp, the main doctors on Lia’s case. As Fadiman describesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Essay1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe English translation of the Hmong phrase â€Å"quag dab peg† is that the spirit catches you and you fall down. While western society knows this as epilepsy, the Hmong believe that the seizures are caused by the presence of a â€Å"dab† or soul stealing spirit, which leads the soul to leave the body.1 The Hmong consider those who suffer from epilepsy to be respectable and of a higher status. In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, the doctors and the Hmong ar e looking for a solution to the same problem;Read MoreCultural Diversity In The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down1549 Words   |  7 Pages Cultural Diversity What happens when two very different or even mutually exclusive cultural perspective are forced into contact with one another? In Anne Fadiman’s The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, there is a division between the shamanistic insubordinate cultural of Hmong refugees in Merced, California and the cold analytical approach of western medicine. In the early 1980s, the child of a Hmong refugee family in Merced, California is born with epilepsy, her name is Lia Lee. Anne FadimanRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You As You Fall Down By Anne Fadiman1688 Words   |  7 PagesThe book, The spirit Catches you as you Fall Down by Anne Fadiman follows the life of a Hmong family living in the city of Merced California after fleeing their home in Laos due to persecution. The main focus of the book is a little girl named Lia Lee who suffers tragedy in her life at a very young age. The book illustrates the differences between the healing methods, or medical procedures between the western cult ure and the Hmong culture, and how if affected Lia and her family as she grew up. TheRead More The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Essay1868 Words   |  8 PagesThe Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is about the cross-cultural ethics in medicine. The book is about a small Hmong child named Lia Lee, who had epilepsy. Epilepsy is called, quag dab peg1 in the Hmong culture that translates to the spirit catches you and you fall down. In the Hmong culture this illness is sign of distinction and divinity, because most Hmong epileptics become shaman, or as the Hmong call them, txiv neeb2. These shamans are special people imbued with healing spiritsRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down Essay1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe book titled The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: Talks about a Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures written by Anne Fadiman. Anne Fadiman is an American essayist and reporter, who int erests include literary journalism. She is a champion of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Salon Book Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Current Interest. In the book, Anne Fadiman explores the clash between a county hospital in CaliforniaRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down1273 Words   |  6 PagesThe United States is known for its melting pot of cultures, which creates one of the most contentious issues in the medical world which is the clash of cultures. The book we read â€Å"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down† is a great example of how a miss communication and struggle between cultures which lead to a very dismal end. The difference in beliefs cause constant issues in communication, even though both want what is best. Lia Lee was born into a Hmong refugee family with very bad epilepsyRead MoreThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down968 Words   |  4 PagesResponse to The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down â€Å"Medicine was religion. Religion was society. Society was medicine† (Fadiman, 1997). To the Hmong’s, this is a way of life. Everything in their culture is interrelated and represents a holistic view. As Americans, we try to incorporate the holistic approach into our health care system, but heavily rely on medications and science to treat illness. Arthur Kelinman developed the explanatory model of illness which incorporates a series of questions

Pussy Riot Research Paper free essay sample

Three members of the Russian punk-rock rebel band, Pussy Riot, have been jailed for two years after staging an anti-Putin protest. The official reason for their incarceration has been officially listed as â€Å"hooliganism motivated by religious hatred (1). † The sentence has sparked intense global support for Pussy Riot, as well as increased opposition against the Russian government. The all-female band performed this protest in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow’s main Orthodox cathedral. After blessing themselves with the sign of the cross, the members, dressed in vibrantly colored masks, bowed towards the alter and videotaped a â€Å"punk prayer. † Their song called to Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Putin. The resulting video, titled â€Å"Punk Prayer: Mother of God Drive Putin Away† was subsequently uploaded onto the Internet. The video suggests a direct criticism of Putin’s anti-feministic political infrastructure and aims to undermine his reelection. A still from the released video that landed Pussy Riot’s members in jail. We will write a custom essay sample on Pussy Riot Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (11) Their punishment came in the form of two years deprivation of liberty in a penal colony (1). † And according to a B. B. C article (1), Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich smiled from inside a glass-walled cage as their verdict was announced on Aug. 17. Tolokonnikova, her fist pumped into the air as she was led out of the courtroom, was sent to Mordovia. The region of Perm was left to Alyokhina. Both are considered the harshest existing camps. Samutsevich was released last month, but Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova, both mothers of small children, will be expected to complete the full sentence. The three awaiting their verdict in the courtroom (12). In terms of the immediate domestic response, Pussy Riot received both support and criticism. And the underlying religious context was undeniable. A group of four women, one of them topless, sawed down a cross at a public square in Kiev. But despite a few small, localized displays of support, many Russians were unsympathetic to the fate of Pussy Riot. Feminism in the form of direct political action is viewed wearily in the country. The direct criticism came mainly from religious zealots, those who viewed the band’s performance as a direct insult to the Russian Orthodox Church. One demonstrator outside the court in Moscow even shouted, â€Å"Let Pussy Riot and all their supporters burn in hell (1). † A Time article (2), â€Å"Pussy Riot Trial Unleashes Putin’s Secret Weapon: The Orthodox Faithful,† further discusses the issue of religion. â€Å"Putin has advocated a return to religion as the core of a new Russian national idea,† says the article. Putin’s following lack the motivation to guarantee him a reelection and so, â€Å"for the church and state, the result would be some kind of symbiosis, which may be Putin’s only chance of reawakening his tired base. † Additionally, the article believes â€Å"[t]he verdict against Pussy Riot has empowered this base and its values,† perhaps strengthening the only true devotees Putin has left. Female protestors in Kiev sawing down a cross. (13) Unlike the domestic response, global outside response to the matter was not centered on religious alliances. It was also overwhelmingly pro-Pussy Riot. Yet the solidarity seems torn. Though Pussy Riot’s punishment is widely viewed as unjust, some support appears to be a direct result of a pro-Feminist mindset. But others take on an exclusively anti-Russian agenda, focusing their outrage on the governments’ attitude toward freedom of speech and creative expression instead. The Russian government has a certain reputation for being anti-Democratic. The same B. B. C article (1) reports how Tolokonnikova’s husband, Pyotr Verzilov, believes â€Å"Russias image was quite scary even before [this]. What happened now is a clear sign that Russia is moving towards becoming more like China or North Korea. † There is no doubt most Western cultures would agree with Verzilov. In fact, shows of support spread throughout Europe and North America, raging through Berlin, London, Dublin, Barcelona, Paris, and New York City. The B. B. C article seems focused on this face of the post-Pussy Riot reaction. It continues to report, quoting opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who exclaimed, â€Å"[t]hey are in jail because of Putin’s personal revenge. This verdict was written by Vladimir Putin. † The same source also takes note of Amnesty International’s opinion on the matter. Freedom of expression in Russia took a â€Å"bitter blow† said the organization. U. S. state department spokesman Victoria Nuland was also quoted as having remarked, â€Å"We urge Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is upheld. † The Huffington Post article (3), titled â€Å"Defend the Riot: Pussy Riot’s Global Revolution,† further examines what Americans would perceive as a violation of rights. It argues that Pussy Riot, along with the people they’re speaking for, should have â€Å"the right to speak freely and practice ones religion as they see fit all notions that have become synonymous with our nation yet underappreciated by recent generations of American citizens. † Taken for granted by some Americans perhaps, but the jailing of an all-female Russian punk band has more than revived the global insistence for freedom of speech. The article predicts that â€Å"Pussy Riot has become one of the most influential artists of our generation. † Due to their newfound status as political revolutionaries, Pussy Riot has found immeasurably influential spokespeople, as Madonna, Bono, Paul McCartney, Bjork, and a few notable others have publicly stood behind the band. Policymic. com (4), a blog devoted to becoming a public outlet for hushed governmental affairs, also took on the Pussy Riot incident and shed light on certain related religious and political connotations. â€Å"Pussy Riot Jailed: Why This is Both a Religious and Political Issue† (4) is similar to the aforementioned Time article (2), â€Å"Pussy Riot Trial Unleashes Putin’s Secret Weapon: The Orthodox Unfaithful. † But it examines a narrower political effect, the direct result of the band’s incarceration, centering around the idea that the â€Å"conviction is yet another example of the collaboration between church and state typical of Russian history, aimed to increase Putins power. † Yet the article believes in this case, â€Å"we are witnessing an unprecedented level of collaboration between the ROC [Russian Orthodox Church] and the Putin regime for the purposes of political prosecution. † â€Å"Political prosecution† evokes predatorial action, thereby also suggesting Pussy Riot’s subsequent innocence. Clearly, many critics, both inside and outside of Russia, are convinced the jailing is ideally representative of the flaws in Russian government, both church-related and purely on the state level. Other sources also reported on this particular government-centered, anti-Russian response to the court’s ruling. However unlike the previous cited articles, they assume the role of devil’s advocate, calling attention to a potential for harm if the West continues to use Pussy Riot as a rallying point against a historically oppositional foreign power. This eruption of politically driven demonstrations are causing some to worry that the Russian government’s reaction to the incident has redirected the West, and especially the U. S, back to its blindly anti-Russian, Cold War roots. A New York Times article (5), titled â€Å"The Wrong Reasons to Back Pussy Riot,† warns against â€Å"[u]sing dissidents to score political points against the Russian regime. † It is akin to â€Å"adopting a pet tiger: No matter how domesticated they may seem, in the end they are free spirits, liable to maul the hand that feeds them. † Painting the Pussy Riot members as anything but radicals lends to a false notion of targeted advocacy. When in actuality, Pussy Riot will likely not linger long under a feminist sentiment. The punk group has previously sung for other issues, including â€Å"freedom from patriarchy, capitalism, religion, conventional morality, inequality, and the entire corporate state system. † Unless the West is also ready to join this revolution wholeheartedly, it cannot yet use Pussy Riot as a figurehead for political restructuring in Russia. Standing behind Pussy Riot now, when â€Å"it is obviously blameless and the government clearly guilty, is pure opportunism. † Another New York Times article (6), â€Å"Pussy Riot Was Carefully Calibrated for Protest,† upholds similar views. It mentions Pussy Riot’s unapologetic court statements, which â€Å"revealed an intellectual and philosophical rigor, and its earlier efforts with the art group Voina offered even more brazen forms of dissent. † Voina, Russian for â€Å"war,† once recruited the then pregnant Tolokonnikova for a public orgy at a Moscow museum in 2008. They had also previously set fire to a police car and been accused of obscene vandalism. Pussy Riot’s associations and past actions suggest radicalism, a political stance intolerable to most nations, even the most liberal. â€Å"The Wrong Reasons to Back Pussy Riot† (5) also discusses the thoughts of Eduard Limonov, a former Soviet dissident and anti-Soviet leftist. During his time in the United States as a Cold War trophy, Limonov concluded, â€Å"the F. B. I. is just as zealous in putting down American radicals as the K. G. B. is with its own radicals and dissidents. † His views were met with a cold reception from most Americans despite the evidence supporting his statement, suggesting a bias rooted in patriotism rather than democracy. There is little dispute over the injustice surrounding Pussy Riot’s harsh sentence. But using a specific instance involving radicals to further the anti-Russian attitude could create a dangerous precedent. This Russian artist sewed his lips together to advocate for Pussy Riot and freedom of speech. (14) Others threw their support behind Pussy Riot for reasons leaning more heavily towards pro-Feminism. Although some supporters used the harsh sentence as a way to highlight injustices of the Russian system, a great amount of outrage arising from the event stemmed from a broader political issue—the lack of female representation in many modern political systems. A piece by the New Yorker, â€Å"Pussy Riot Grrrls,† (7) identifies Pussy Riot’s clearly feminist beliefs, and its similarly feminist audience. For â€Å"despite the chasm between freedom of expression in the United States and Putin’s Russia, it’s been impossible to resist connecting Pussy Riot with riot grrrl, the punk-rock, radical-feminist movement of the early nineteen-nineties. † Riot grrrl is an underground feminist punk rock movement, typically associated with the modern third wave of feminism. It is primarily concerned with issues pertaining to rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy, and female empowerment. But, unlike the American-rooted riot grrls, Pussy Riot had much more at stake and because of the risk involved, created an overwhelming response in the feminist world. A group of women donning balaclavas to show support for Pussy Riot. (15) Though protests have sprung up all over Europe and North America, an article from the Guardian (8) highlights a particular demonstration organized in Leeds. Like the New Yorker piece (7), it focuses heavily on the female reaction to the band’s incarceration. Reporting on the Leeds protest, the article quotes singer Louise Distras: â€Å"Pussy Riot have inspired me by showing how we absolutely have to speak out against media portrayals of women as subordinates. She is not alone in her distress. The widely regarded leader of riot grrl, Kathleen Hanna, lead singer of Bikini Kill, interviewed with Pitchfork (9), and expressed her views on the matter. To Hanna, â€Å"[w]hen their rights are taken away, all of our rights are taken away. † Feminism promotes close-knit activism and due to its pack mentality, has a certain connotation in society. â€Å"Typically, people think if you’re a feminist, all you talk about is women. But it’s much larger than that; all things are connected. It seemed to me that they clearly understood that,† said Hanna. To true feminists, their cause spans across a wide range of issues, many of which are deeply set in flawed political infrastructures. The previously cited article, â€Å"The Wrong Reasons to Back Pussy Riot,† (5) almost arrived at this conclusion, but not quite. Convinced of Pussy Riot’s radicalism, it judged their feminist agenda separate from their political one. And in fact, many sources mentioned above reported on protests that interpreted the unfair treatment of Pussy Riot in a purely anti-Russian sense. What sets coverage like the Pitchfork interview, the Guardian article and the New Yorker piece apart is that despite being heavily focused on the feminist front, the sources seem able to deduce that feminism is political. And thus, the issue, though a clear example of Putin’s iron fist, would only be half represented if portrayed solely as a protest against the Russian regime. Other sources reporting heavily on the political side seemed to have treated the call for feminism as a matter entirely separate from the lack of certain freedoms in Russia. What Pussy Riot, Hanna, and countless other protestors are trying to bring to light is the realization that feminism is not removed from justice as a whole. For despite Pussy Riot’s radical affiliations and actions, it would be a mistake to brush off their insistence for feminism as an extension of mere anarchism. Clearly their actions were drastic and graphic, yet their belief system suggests a real political relevancy. In a Time article titled â€Å"Pussy Riot on Trial: The Case Against Feminist Rockers,† (10) band member Garadzha most adequately captures the actual aims of Pussy Riot and their true purpose. â€Å"Sexists have certain ideas about how a woman should behave, and Putin, by the way, also has a couple thoughts on how Russians should live. Fighting against all that—that’s Pussy Riot,† she said. Coming from a direct representative of their cause, it’s evident there is truth to all sources on the matter. Feminism is at the forefront of their concerns, but to them, it does relate to the broader issue of oppression in Russia. The article further states, â€Å"the women, who are primarily young, educated and middle class, felt the need to protest what they viewed as Putin’s brutal, corrupt and totalitarian rule. † Although Pussy Riot’s protest was certainly politically driven and would cause many to raise their eyebrow at the system responsible for their harsh fate, its main message was not to promote skepticism of Russia. Their goal was to demonstrate the relevancy of feminism under the broader scheme of oppression.

Critical Thinking Paper free essay sample

Music has affected the lives of youth Into their adulthoods from their conception. The popular genres of todays music test their audiences Innocence and willingness to buy into the lyrics, which are written to explain of a daily life that has digressed into drug use, sexual behavior, violence, and racial slurs. We Are Young, Funs current number one single on the Billboard Charts, dollies the essence of being young in a bright ballad.The chorus We Are Young/ So lets set the world on fire encompasses the stereotypical conceptions of Youths reckless behavior (Fun). Aided by the bright IANA in the background, and the background chorus, which evokes a sense of community, the song includes friends in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State, and begs that between the drinks and subtle things that a lover forgets the singer gave It to [helm/her] months ago (Fun). The youth exposed to such lyrical content have been documented to be more violent, careless, and irresponsible. The advertisement agencies that sell these lyrics are to blame for much of lyrical influence; however, the record labels who transmit these lyrics onto radio stations and produce artists content, must prevent the active influences of lyrics upon first review.Record labels must monitor and censor Hip-Hop, Heavy Metal, and popular music lyrics broadcasted to teenagers in order to reduce overwhelming influences of drug use, promiscuity, violence, racial slurs, and suicide. The incredible nature of musics influences embody each of its elements, as its melodies and harmonies possess immense effects even as they refrain from words that might seep into the subconscious and prompt anti-social behavior.In order to secure the success of their childrens future lives, pregnant mothers play Mozart in hopes that their babies might become as veiled and sophisticated as the piece (Voicele ss). These babies often do grow up to excel beyond their peers who may have devolved into becoming violent and reckless, as their mothers listened to Rap music during pregnancy (Box Juveniles); thus, the true impact of a songs lyrics is extremely significant.Rap music, the spoken division of the Hip-Hop Culture, which promotes rebellion in the name of a collective love for art and the loathing of poor city- life, preaches of the daily harsh lives of those in the ghetto. Rap music uses crude lyrics in order to mirror the crude quality Of rappers lives ; however, often forgetting of the diversity of its young listeners, Rap promotes the use of slurs in effort to explain inner city or underprivileged life (That). Rappers, often inner city African-American men, refer to their counterparts as the N word, and their enemies as f*got and d*ekes.Rappers identify the N-Word as a name of belonging that secures them into their black culture; however, rappers warn people of other races, particularly Caucasians, never to use the word (Westwood). Regardless, rappers have indirectly caused attention to the word, prompting other pop Culture moguls into accepting the word into their scapulars. DC Chalked, who identifies himself as a Sand N-Word used the word significantly in his single We The Best. Fat Joe, a Latino, defends his use of the word because everywhere, Latino and blacks are the same (Westwood).Youth listening to these artists are thus desensitizing to th e word, as adult idols embrace it as well. Jennifer Lopez, a Latin from the Bronx, used the N-Word in her hit Im Real (Westwood). Her use of the word created much discussion and unrest within the music community, however it also modeled the prodigious influence the N-Word has begun to take within the United States. Homophobic lyrics are extremely prevalent, revealing the sentiments of the artists who sing them as they reshape those of the listeners.Homophobic lyrics, often used as insults and words of caution, appear in each genre of popular music, appearing in the words of rapper Common to those of county music star Brad Paisley (Frederics). Kathy Perry, a rising Pop Star who aspires to epitomize individuality, sings our So Gay, a song in which she criticizes her boyfriend for acting gay. Perrys lyrics change the identification of on?s sexuality into a synonym for stupid acknowledging that her boyfriend is so ay [he doesnt] even like boys (Frederics).The song proves to be offensive to the boyfriend, but only because of the negative digression of the gay sexuality, which has become a synonym for stupid or cowardly (Wintertime). Homosexual youth are thus bombarded with these influences, becoming not only hated for their sexual orientation; but because of the negative connotations that gay implies (Wintertime). Mine, a rapper notoriously known for his seemingly homophobic behavior, has not ceased to accommodate to anti-gay lyrics.Admitting to his faults but covering for his rods, Mine says his homophobia manifests from a separate personality he embodies while he raps (Frederics). Regardless, Amines lyrics are extremely hostile and condescending to LEGIT youth, expressing in an appropriately named Criminal Whether youre a f*g or a l*z, Or the Homes, Herman, or trans-vest, pants of the dress- hate f*gs? The answer is yes. Amines lyrics pose a threat to youth, as he uses his popularity to advertise the antagonistic and dangerous values people have against homosexuals.In a recent study, 83% [teachers] said they heard [gay] being seed regularly [as an insult] and much more than its nearest rivals, b*tech (59%) an d SSL*g (45%) (Wintertime). Amines influences, as well as artists Of popular, reggae, and country music accredit to the unintended misery many homosexual youths experience as they deal with their peers. Women, viewed as a token of wealth by much of the music industry, are ill treated within the lyrics of popular artists, provoking violent aggression in their listeners.Verbally, women are disrespected and disregarded past sexual needs. Much of Hip-Hop and Rock culture has devolved into that of sexism, as such popular songs such as Smack That by Akin and Hoes and Ladies by T- Wayne portray messages that women should be treated as personal belongings and/or are only needed for a mans sexual satisfaction (Box Juveniles). Smack that, a song chronicling Axons feelings for a stripped at the club, identifies her as a club banger as she climbs up and down that pole/ Looking like one of them putty-cat dolls (Akin).T-Wanes Hoes and Ladies contains explicit curses and desires towards women, revealing to naive youth the limits to which sexual behavior is unacceptable a-Wayne). Axons Smack That, as well as T-Pains Hoes and Ladies encompasses the popular conceptions that women are only sex object s, meant to display their bodies for male admiration. In recent studies, the effects of Rap and Rock music have proven to be detrimental to the male view and appreciation of the women (Treason). Rap music proves to evoke violent and aggressive sexual thoughts in men, as well as a stimulant of sexual frustration (Treason).Speaking poorly of women in their lyrics, Rap and rock music promote the cursing and degrading of women, ultimately resulting in lessened male conceptions of women counterparts . While listening to rap and rock music, men are provoked to be more physically violent with women (Treason). In a study conducted by Elian Treason, men were found to use inappropriate gestures, and think much more of rape and the abuse of women. Heavy Metal, much guided by Marilyn Manson, is known for its compliance to anti- social values. Manson argues in The Reflecting God Who said rape isnt kind? (Lustiest).Depressed Youth, who often listen to heavy metal, are less likely to care about the values, and are thus prone to participating in such anti-social behavior. Regardless of the genre, the negative influences of the treatment f women in lyrics are dire and dangerous to the outcome of todays Youth. Apart from its influences with women, music lyrics promote aggression and violence in youth. Attributed with much of the blame for violence in youth, Rap music makes people more aggressive and devious in their intentions; however, Rock music proves to have an equal case for violence as its careless nature preaches of rebellion.Rap music poses for the generation of lost youth, who find their idols in the musicians they listen to and attempt to mirror their ways ; thus, listeners easily find themselves immersed into the years, wanting to do what the artists profess (That). In an experiment, twenty students who all disliked hot sauce were asked to listen to rap music. Half listened to music without violent content, and half did; however, all of the students were asked how much hot sauce they would give to a peer (That). Those who listened to violent music reported that they would give four times more hot sauce than those who listened otherwise (That). The results of the experiment attest to the dangers of rap lyrics, which can lead to car fights, robberies, and other antisocial acts. The rise in violent statistics is directly reapportion to the rise in fame of popular rap musicians (Bookings). The measure by which the violent influences of Rap is observed is statistics; however, much of Rocks influences can be identified in cautious events. AAA 1987 concert in SST. Louis of Guns and Roses, the classic Rock Band, resulted in a riot between 2500 youths the music excited and 60 injured (Orthodox Photos). Likely result of jamming which is the an unconscious phenomenon of the brain in which listeners lose conscious control of their minds and succumb themselves to the pessimistic images conveyed (Caching). The most alarming of these documented effects is the suicide of Thomas Sullivan, who, before his death, killed his mother and set his house on fire (Orthodox Photos). Thomas Salivas story is the ultimate extent to which music to which music can affect a listener; however,it encompasses the overbearing influence musics lyrics .Suicide is most prevalent in Heavy Metal music if any other genre, often speaking Of self-hate and the detriments of bullying. Marilyn Manson, one Of the more popular Heavy Metal artists, is thought to have aided Columbine, as his death lyrics to his bullies are thought to have encouraged the Columbine leers to murder 12 classmates, injure 24, and kill themselves (Catching). Heavy Metal Music proves to be extremely popular to depressed youth, as it speaks of revenge, murder, and death within its lyrics.Only seven percent of Heavy Metal lyrics include suicidal references; however, 50 percent speak of murder, and 35 percent of Satanism (Orthodox Photos). Oozy Osborne advocates suicide in Suicide Solution and Suicides an Alternative. Osborne sings of the fathomed greatness of death, relating to youth that no one cares. .. Suicides an alternative (Orthodox Photos, Suicides an Alternative). The depression, angst, and anti-social values the youth idealize, emerge from what they listen to, and the values Heehaw Metal reveres. Many other youth are encouraged to depreciate their lives in the form of drugs.Thirty Percent of songs on the Billboard Top Charts contain influences of drugs, devolving music into an influence itself (Parker-Pope). Rock and Roll ensures its glorified lifestyle in its motto Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll. In much the same way, Rap music advertises drugs in speaking of the harsh reality of ghetto life. Fans of Rock, mirroring those of Rap, dress much like hose whom they idealize, and strive to do that that the idol does. Drugs and alcohol, therefore, are an indisputable element of Rock and Roll lyrics, and that of the fans lives of rock fans (Caching).Fourteen percent, however, of rock songs contain lyrical content of drug use, contrasting the eighty percent of rap songs (Reuters). Rap music is notorious for its drug influences; although it means to inform its audiences Of an oppressed and ignored culture, much of its audience is prompted to try and learn of the drugs it speaks of. Many rappers are endorsers of alcohol as well such as Tidy and Cirri (That). The culture of Rap and Rock music is much the same, and because of its influences, casual drug use in teens has jumped nearly fifty percent over the last four years alone (Lustiest). Within these lyrical drug influences, 14% of songs include Marijuana use, 24% include alcohol, and 12% of songs depicted other substances (Parker-Pope). The direct use of drugs in relation to the influences of drug use in music lyrics depicts the devastating influences lyrics have on youth. Sexual influences prove to be as overwhelming as those of drugs. Revealing to youth to the true consequences of their impressionable ignorance, teen regencies have become the results of music lyrics. Rap, Rock, and Popular music all speak of sex, as the limits to which modern lyrics extend to make their lyrics raunchy has exceeded extreme levels.Prince, the ass sex symbol, is no longer evocative, as the lyrics of today, which include, Tip Drill by Newly which is full of raunchy, demeaning lyrics (Bookings). Teen pregnancies are directly relatable to the music in modern teen culture. Lyrics found in music exuded to youth trigger impulses, encouraging youth to be much more violent and assertive in their desires (Treason). In a study, seven hundred 15 ear olds listened to sex related lyrics; two thirds listened to lyrics degrading sex, and one third listened to sexually explicit lyrics; however, after listening, almost all reported thoughts about sex (That).Teens listening to sexually degrading lyrics are twice as likely to start having sex than those who dont, crediting to the 51 percent of heavy listeners who have sex within years, in relation of only 29 percent of youth who say they do not listen to any sexual music (Associated Press). The statistics of youth pregnancies in relation to the music they listen to exemplifies the power of the lyrics in any societal issue. The desensitizing of youth as a result of the influences in lyrics would not be so immense if Record labels had taken action from first glance of the lyrics.The record labels determine the concept ion of the influence. Record labels hire the producers, studio artists, session artists, and advertisers. The creation of a single is meticulous and crucial to the amount of money to be gained; however, if each of the record labels agreed to refrain from including negative influences in lyrics, they wouldnt lose any business, and teenagers would have to relearn how to appropriately take care of themselves. Record Labels must monitor the amount of references of drug use in order to ensure the future health and intelligence of the future generations.Record Labels must also refrain from the amount of references to promiscuity in order to protect the futures of potential professional college educated men and women. In order to ensure that youth becomes of age in order stray from participate in drug and promiscuous behavior, record labels must revoke the influences violence. The revoking of racial slurs from lyrical vocabulary would ensure a safe environment in which youth could live. Record Labels just revoke racial slurs in order to ultimately guarantee safe lives.