Absurdity: An Essay On The Stranger :: essays research papers

An Essay on†¦ The Stranger; The Absurd "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all And in the Darkness bind them" (Lord of the Rings Volume II, The Council of Elrond) Within the Stranger, Albert Camus brought up many questions and a few answers. He created an outsider to society and showed us how he lived, Meursault. Meursault was always indifferent. Meursault accepted death. Why? Meursault saw the purpose of life meaningless. That is â€Å"Absurdity†! Absurdity, how does that word sound? Pretty bad, eh? Absurdity when used like â€Å"that’s absurd!† gives the feeling of negative judgment and a sense of finality. The idea of the Absurd seems to attach itself with meaningless, pointless and other such words that express a destination but without the means to get there and vice versa means but no destination. So from there I inferred that Camus does not believe in God nor any high law or universal law that are associated with a divinity, which is a path in life (either the means or the destination). So what is Absurd? The Absurd is living, a quest to find the meaning of anything within a reality with no purpose. Reality has no purpose because there is no high law, a universal law nor a God. Therefore this reality must be randomness. I believe that Camus wants us to see thi s and begin questioning our existence. So he wants he wants us to see the Absurdity and to cope with the Absurdity. If there is no point to living why do we continue to live? If this reality is absurd why don’t we recognize that and commit suicide? Taking one’s life shows the lack of will or reasons to live and also the needlessness of suffering. So what is living? Living is the Absurd. Living is hopelessness. Living is keeping the absurd alive. To keep the absurd alive you only have to live the absurd. 'Life will be more fully lived in so far as it has no meaning.' is a quote from Camus that shows this. Camus shows that you can â€Å"hope† for the best without hope. â€Å"Hope† is not the same as hope. â€Å"Hope† is optimism. Freedom from hope is freedom to your soul. You can no longer hurt yourself by living. It is hard to believe that being hopeless leads to living but living is an imprisonment. We try to be the best we can be but does not life limit us?

The Gym

As I stroll up to the two giant doors I reach out and grasp one of the pairs of handles, my fingers smudging its shimmering, chrome profile. As I enter the gym, the smells of stale sweat and cleaner mingle with my nose, creating flashbacks of prior experiences. I flash my ID card to the employee working at the front desk and continue on through until I reach my ultimate destination; the basketball court.When I enter the court the first thing I notice are the baskets. They stand over the court like sentinels; opposing each other on opposite sides like guards on the border of North and South Korea. The padding on the backboards, now a bland blue from wear and tear, is falling apart like an old sofa, while the backboard itself, once crystal clear, is streaked with white blotches and scratches. The rims, connected to the backboard, are a rusty orange that blisters whoever is foolish enough to hand on it. While the baskets are needed to play the sport, the most important component of a ba sketball court is the floor.The basketball court’s floor is springy and seems to assist in your jumping ability. They are made of a hard wood that is a tinged yellow, similar in color to an old desk. When the floor is clean, you can nearly see your reflection, but don’t let its shiny surface fool you though; landing on it may prove to be more painful than you think. However, when the floor is dirty it is unforgiving; your shoes slip and slide across the surface, like a scene out of a comic book. Even though the floor of a basketball court is important, there is something else needed to play the sport.In order to play the sport of basketball you need, quite simply put, a basketball. Employees working in the front of the complex will provide you with a basketball, but you have to leave your ID card with them. The basketballs are made out of bright, orange leather that is firm, yet soft to the touch. They bounce easily, allowing you to perform whatever dribbling technique your heart desires. Every player handles a basketball differently though and there are many different types of players that play at the gym.The people that hoop at the gym can be put into different categories. Most players fall into the stereotypical role of the player that just plays for fun: he wears ankles socks and cheap shoes, and usually isn’t that great of a player. Other people include the buff guy that relies on his strength rather than his fundamentals, the shooter with his reliable ability to spread the floor with his range, the slasher who is able to get to the hoop and create open shots for the shooters, and finally the ballhawk who annoys you with his intense defense and his knack of getting loose balls. All of these people are different but they mesh because their strengths compliment other people’s weaknesses.Whenever I go to the gym all of the sights, smells, and sounds help create images in my head that make me want to go back again and again. But pr obably the most memorable experiences are leaving; my slow, fatigued steps finally leading myself back through the giant doors and out into the world.

Purpose of General Appeals Process Essay

The purpose of a General Appeals Process is used to challenge payer’s decision to reduce, deny or to downcode any claim. The provider however, can ask for a review of the payer’s decision. The patient also has a right to ask for a request of the appeal. The claimant or appellant is the one that is filing the appeal. That could be an individual who is the provider or the patient. The basic steps are simple of the appeal. This is where the payer has a consistent procedure to handle the appeal. This has to do with what kind of appeal it is. The practice staff does a review on the procedure before other actions are taken. The staff then takes the necessary steps to move forward. The appeals must be filed by a certain time after the determination. The payers must go through three steps. These steps are a complaint, an appeal and the grievance. There is not a bunch of time to spend on this procedure. After this is done and the payer is still denying the claim, the claimant can take another step. This can be reviewed through the state insurance commissions since most payers are licensed through them. The state insurance commissions must have all copies of the file and to see why the claim was denied. The reason that the claim was denied to could be simple reasons. The reasons are mostly human error. The most common claim denials are due to not using the patient’s health care identification number and the correct name on the card. The other reasoning could be not putting down where the services were done. The last but not least could be invalid diagnosis codes. This could all be why the claim is denied. References Nyman, Ronald E., ESQ, (June 2007), MediStar Meducation , Volume 1, Number 4, www.credentialsxpress.com/newsletters/newsletter1-4 full.htm, Retrieved September 10,2010, Google.

The Amish Community: the Effects of Subsistence on Aspects

The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Tristin Bovee ANT 101 Ilda Jimenez y West October 29, 2012 The Amish Community: The Effects of Subsistence on Aspects of a Culture Any person who observes an Amish community may catch a glimpse of a lifestyle that looks as if it adheres to no modicum of logic. Why would a whole group of people choose to live without the technology that makes life so much easier? The answer is simple and uncomplicated; cultural preservation.The Amish are culturally aware of themselves, and as such have put forth the effort to sustain their traditions and way of life for hundreds of years (Kraybill, 2001). The further technology advances in the world outside of the Amish community, the broader the Amish lifestyle becomes from the modern American culture amongst which they live. However, if the Amish belief system is viewed from an anthropological perspective, their values and reasoning is much more understandable to modern thinkers . There are many different sects of the Amish belief system but for the sake of simplicity, this paper will concentrate on the Old Order Amish.The Amish faith sprung out of traditional Protestantism in the sixteenth century. Then referred to as Anabaptists, the Amish believed that baptism should not occur in children or infants, but only in adults that can make the decision for themselves (Kraybill, 2001). They also called for a separation between church and state, and a return to literal interpretation of the bible. Suffering extreme persecution for their beliefs, the Amish fled to northern Europe to escape harsh treatment from authorities and religious leaders alike (Fischetti, 1997).While living in these remote regions, the Amish grew dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture has been the primary mode of Amish life ever since. Many Amish beliefs today are stemmed from their subsistence strategy of emerging agriculture. Body The most widely known belief of the Ami sh community involves the refusal to use electricity or modern technology, such as television, in their homes. The Amish belief system is centered around family and community values and as such, they hold a strong conviction that modern technology shatters those relationships (Fischetti, 1997).The use of electricity opens the doors for mass media influence which holds the possibility of fracturing Amish traditional values. The very values that the Amish hold are a result of their emerging agricultural subsistence. When livelihood depends on bringing in crops and dairying, community and family are the primary modes of labor, and cooperation is of the utmost importance in order to maintain their way of life. Some analysts argue that the individualism seen in modern cultures is caused primarily by industrialization (Kraybill, 2001).By avoiding modern technology and said industrialization, the Amish believe they are maintaining their closely knit communities. From the etic perspective, this may seem to limit the quality of life that the Amish live, especially their youth, but from an emic perspective, this is the lifestyle that they know works for them and does not challenge what they believe. Amish adults are only looking out for the wellbeing of their children on a spiritual level. Like band societies, the Amish do not believe in accumulating wealth; they believe in having what one needs to survive.Beyond enduring, what is important to them is helping each other, which is an aspect in most cultures that grow or forage for their own food (Marlow, 1996). Amish and band societies have much in common, such as their reciprocal economic system of general reciprocity. A reciprocal economic system is a variety of trade between family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). General reciprocity is an exchange without an instant return or a determined value of the trade (Nowak & Laird, 2010); this is what the Amish community practices between members.Within the Amish, assistance or supplies are given freely to those who are in need of it; the provider knows that anyone in their society would do the same for them under similar circumstances. Due to their belief in self-sufficiency within their community, the Amish do not believe in government assistance. Coupled with the collective Amish decline of private health care, one may wonder how they pay for medical expenses; their church and community. The Amish church picks up most medical costs, and what it does not cover is picked up by the individual family and community.The Amish lifestyle is based upon the literal interpretation of the Christian bible, as well as a set of unwritten, adaptable guidelines called the Amish Ordnung. The Amish Ordnung provides the Amish community with cultural capital, or awareness of the morals, principles, convictions and responsibilities of Amish life (Kraybill, 2001). It outlines correct behavior, clothing choice and technologies that are deemed acceptable for use without fear o f destroying the family (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). The guidelines that the Amish Ordnung outlines are changeable.This is to better facilitate solutions toward the difficulties of living in contemporary society while maintaining their cultural heritage and beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). While many people living in modern society have faith of some kind, the Amish live their faith every day. Every aspect of their life is centered around their biblical interpretations and beliefs. Family and community are a huge part of the Amish belief system which is evident by the way their kinship systems work and live together. The Amish are a patriarchal society.Men are the breadwinners and thus the head of the household; women ensure the upkeep of the home and the upbringing of the children (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These gender roles begin at a very young age. In some societies, such as pastoralist societies, this division of labor via gender creates an environment of ine quality in favor of male family members (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is not the case in an Amish household; each family member is respected and valued for the person they are, and also for the work they accomplish.The strong nuclear family and the division of labor being gender-based provide the Amish with a strategy to impress upon their children the importance of their beliefs (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). Young members of an Amish community are not required to be baptized into their faith until eighteen years of age (Kraybill, 2001). Eighteen years living within an Amish community results in these kids knowing nothing else and it is often easy for them to make the decision to continue living their experienced lifestyle. However, should anAmish child refuse, they would be shunned. Shunning is the practice within the Amish community of excommunicating members who do not hold to the community beliefs. Most parents would like to keep their children as close as possible, which is ju st another motivation for immersing their children in the Amish world in order to keep them from being shunned. Often, two or three generations of extended families live in neighboring homes and work the same farmland. This is because a large part of who makes up an Amish community is determined by geographic proximity (Kraybill, 2001).Amish grandparents will often retire to a home on the farm referred to as a dowdy house (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). These practices demonstrate the provision of a support system through all stages of life. Societies which practice agriculture for subsistence often establish large families to assist with the amount of labor required for farming (Nowak & Laird, 2010). This is demonstrated in Amish families, which on average produce six children per nuclear family (Kraybill, 2001). However, agriculture is becoming less common amongst Amish communities as there is little farmland large enough to accommodate them.This has led many Amish families to re cognize the importance of family planning, since little farming requires less farm labor and family assistance with farm chores (Donnermeyer & Friedrich, 2002). In addition, many Amish families have turned to selling crafted items to supplement the income lost from the declining amounts of agriculture. In the book, Riddle of Amish Culture, author Donald Kraybill (2001) states that â€Å"the hallmark of Amish society has been a close-knit, highly integrated community where the threads of social life are woven into a single fabric that stretches from cradle to grave† (pg. 19, para. 4).This quote emphasizes the Amish social life centering on family, community and church from birth to death. Social activity in the Amish community can be described in three words; family, community, and church. Amish society is organized into three basic social units. The first unit, the settlement, consists of Amish families living within a common location and typically ranges in size from a dozen families to several thousand. The second unit, the district, is the organizational unit above the family and refers to the church. One church district usually includes twenty-five to thirty-five families within the immediate area.The third unit, affiliation, is the collection of church districts that hold similar religious practices and cooperate with each other (Kraybill, 2001). Amish children are taught in parochial schools, in which the highest level of education achieved is the eighth grade (Kraybill, 2001). The Amish believe that their way of life does not require more than an eighth grade education; most Amish children know how to run a household well before they finish their schooling. Conclusion If it weren’t for their way of life, they would have been acclimated to societal norms long ago.However, the Amish people are capable of seeing the world from an emic and etic perspective, ostensibly at the same time. Because of this awareness, they are able to take the corre ct steps to ensuring the survival of their cultural and spiritual beliefs. REFERENCES: Donnermeyer, J. F. , & Friedrich, L. (2002). Amish society? : An overview reconsidered. Journal of Multicultural Nursing & Health, 8(3), 14. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/220297959? accountid=32521 Fischetti, P. R. (1997). The Amish. Washington, United States: Educational Extension Systems. Retrieved from http://search. roquest. com/docview/189310852? accountid=32521 Kraybill, D. B. (2001). Riddle of Amish Culture (Revised Ed. ). Baltimore, MD, USA: John Hopkins Univeristy Press. Retrieved from http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford/docDetail. action? docID=10021650&ppg=2 Marlow, E. (1996). Teaching about another culture? : The Old Order Amish. The Social Studies, 87(4), 161. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/274834778? accountid=32521 Nowak, B. , & Laird, P. (2010). Cultural Anthropology. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://conte nt. ashford. edu/books/AUANT101. 10. 2/sections/ch00

Iran's Vulnerability Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Iran's Vulnerability Assessment - Essay Example The battle of control is weakening Iran’s government and there is no clue if this destabilization will lessen down. Iran is also facing ethnic threats as an internal destabilizing problem. There is religious dictatorship in the country which is the death of democracy. The so-called theocratic leaders and divine officials have been governing the country for many years. Theocracy is the rule. So, free thought and expression is restricted. The official religion is Islam but Shia’s are given preference which means that Iran grades its citizens as first class or second class. We do not see any non-Persian Iranian in political power. Non-Farsi nationalities cannot use their language or culture within the country, for example in education. There also exists sexual apartheid in Iran which oppresses women’s rights. â€Å"As far as the issue of religion, frankly the issue for Iran is not any religion or ideology, not even Shia religion†, writes Gandhi. Non-Muslims or minorities who do not adhere to the official religion face many threats like kidnappings and killings. Freedom of religion does not prevail which leads to persecution of the non-Muslims. The strictness in the adoption of religion by radical Muslims has created a rift between the citizens and the religion. Since, as previously stated, the religion prefers the Shia’s, this leads to the creation of sects and groups which further weakens the country’s stability. According to Radio Zamaneh, â€Å"a group of 110 activists in Iran has issued a statement condemning the military threats against their country†. Perceived military threats have continued to pose dangers to the country’s integrity for years. The undemocratic leaders have been using military interventions to use war to achieve their objectives of oppressing people’s rights and requirements. Ahmadinjead has been telling the world that Iran is not

Critical Analysis on the book Tracks by James Welch Essay

Critical Analysis on the book Tracks by James Welch - Essay Example Misshepeshu, the underwater manito, "influences the abundance and availability f land and sea animals" which great effect the food supply (Vecsey 74). This matchi manito is credited with most malicious acts happening in or around the water. According to Chirstopher Vecsey, an Ojibwa religion scholar, "It could cause rapids and stormy waters; it often sank canoes and drowned Indians" (74). But it is also known to "shelter and feed those who fell through the ice" (Vecsey 74). The very dialectical nature f Misshepeshu is something in which Nanapush and the other tribesmen firmly believed. For example, when Fleur returns to the lake from Argus, the town experiences a period f good fishing and no lost boats. They attribute this to Fleur's ability "to keep the lake thing controlled" (Erdrich 35). Because the manito f the lake is appeased, people are hesitant to question the relationship that Fleur has with the monsters in fear f enraging him. Both narratives open with the introduction f Fleur Pillage, the heroine f the novel. Immediately, the reader notices a distinct difference in the two narrators' descriptions f Fleur's arrival to the tribe. The tribe elder Nanapush, also the opening narrator, is the first to find Fleur Pillager after an attack on her family. He notes that she is "about seventeen years old...[and] so feverish that she'd thrown off her covers, and now she huddled against the cold wood range, staring and shaking" (Erdrich 3). When the reader proceeds to Pauline's narrative, they realize that Nanapush never mentioned Fleur's relation to the lake monster. The absence f the Misshepeshu from Nanapush's narrative suggests that he is comfortable with his system f beliefs. His language and tone tells the reader that his is not searching for new meaning in life or religion. He was raised a pure breed Chippewa and he embraces these roots. To Nanapush, the lake monster has always been a part f his struggle for su rvival. He has seen both the good and the evil f Misshepeshu, never questioning its actions but living with them. In contrast to Nanapush's narrative, Pauline's is overshadowed by a preoccupation with the lake monster f Matchimanito. When she introduces Fleur, she shows no concern for Fleur's well being, but rather astonishment over Fleur's ability to evade the death f Misshepeshu. Pauline describes the monster: Erdrich's choice f the word "devil" suggests to the reader that Pauline has been schooled in Christianity. This is reaffirmed to the reader when it is learned f Pauline's desire to a join the convent. The Christian vision, now branded in her mind by missionaries, will not allow her to view the water manito as a contributing part f her life, but only as the ultimate sinner: the Christian Devil. Confused as to her religion and her identity, Pauline ultimately moves into a convent to live in seclusion f the tribe and Misshepeshu. But she is drawn away each day to visit the lake where Fleur and Eli live, unable to cease the thoughts about the monster who, she claims, is her "tempter." The dual nature f the lake creature goes against her new beliefs as a Christian and is the source f her misunderstanding. Whereas the nuns at the convent pray to one God representing the absolute perfection f

Principles of PR and its role in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Principles of PR and its role in Society - Essay Example The PR works to establish a link between the public or the prospective customers and the business. Media relations is by far the most common and most convenient PR tool used to provide an effective reach out to the customers of businesses and the general public. This form of PR makes it easy for the public to receive relevant information from across the society and beyond thereby bringing about exposure and awareness. My choice of the PR closely attributes to the controversies that surround the media system in the contemporary world. The aggressive entry of social media into the PR system has complicated issues and has brought more sophistication than success owing to abuse and misuse. The article, â€Å"Challenges of The Information Society and Public Relations,† by Palevska has provided an imperative insight. It explores into the dire constraints that come along with continued innovations in the information society and how it influences the public relations. By reading the article, I have established an understanding of the intrinsic link between information society and public relations. The scenario is applicable in all parts of the world, and other journalists and public relation officers can replicate in other parts of the world. Concerning my specific focus of the concept of media relations and its scope, the article has added into my knowledge, another dimension of the link between information systematics and likely influence on public relations (Palevska, 2012). In my opinion, the article has attempted to offer an insight into some of the conflicting scenarios likely to exist between public relations and the information society. The information society rapidly evolves with the changing dimensions in technological advancement. As such, information delivery and reach up tend to depend on the level of innovativeness a company has relative to its competitors. PR is fast evolving from a primitive and less focus on technology use to a more