Fall Of Russian Communism Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Fall Of Russian Communism Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Fall Of Russian Communism The Reasons for the fall of Socialism/Communism and the Troubles of Starting the New Democratic System in the Russian Federation Let's not talk about Communism. Communism was just an idea, just pie in the sky. Boris Yeltsin (b. 1931), Russian politician, president. Remark during a visit to the U.S. Quoted in: Independent (London, 13 Sept. 1989). The fall of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union was more than a political event. The powerful bond between economics and politics that was the integral characteristic of the state socialist system created a situation that was unique for the successor states of the Soviet Union. The Communist regime was so ingrain in every aspect of Soviet life that the Russian people were left with little democratic tradition. Russia faces the seemingly impracticable task of economic liberalization and democratization. This is combined with the fact that the new administration must address human rights issues, such as living conditions and the supply of staple goods in this new form of administration makes the prospect of a full democratic switch seemingly impossible. To fully understand the scope of the transference of governing power in the Russian Federation, one must first look at the old Socialist/Communist regime, to see the circumstances under which it fell gives a good view of why this transference is almost impossible. In the beginning Communism seemed to the people of Russia as a utopian ideal. The promise of the elimination of classes, of guaranteed employment , The creation of a comprehensive social security and welfare system for all citizens that would end the misery of workers once and for all. Lenin's own interpretation of the Marxian critique was that to achieve Communism there would first have to be a socialist dictatorship to first suppress any dissent or protest. Through coercive tactics this new government seized power and in 1917 Lenin came to power. Under his rule the Soviet Union underwent radical changes in it's economic doctrines adopting a mixed economy which was termed the New Economic Policy also referred to as NEP, this economy called for some private ownership of the means of production, but the majority of industry was made property of the people, which meant the majority of the means of production was controlled by the government. Lenin's government made many achievements. It ended a long civil war against the remnants of the old Czarist military system and established institutions in government. During this period, and in fact throughout the majority of the Communist rule, censorship and the subordination of interest groups such as trade unions was imposed to stop dissension and increase conformity to the new governments policies. Lenin died in 1924, and was quickly followed by Joseph Stalin as head of the Soviet Communist Party, the oppressive reforms started by Lenin were continued and at length became completely totalitarian. Stalin became the most powerful man in Russia. He controlled to bulk of all the political power and with that he started a ruthless campaign of removing all opposition to the Communist rule. During this period called the Great Purge Stalin systemically executed anyone who stood in his path. Millions of people were arrested and either harassed or killed. The economic status of the Soviet Union was yet again changed and the entire system became controlled by the government. All private ownership ended. A mass program of industrialization was commenced, and the strength of the Soviet Military was substantially increased. The citizens during this period endured great hardship. Agricultural production output diminished resulting in food shortages, these shortages were enha! nce by the mass exportation of food, this was done to pay for industrial imports. Stalin also put the production of what he called production goods such as manufacturing machinery over basic consumer goods such as clothes and other staples. During this period the Second World War broke out and drained most of what was left of the already impoverished state. Yet after the war national unity was strengthened as well is the Soviet military machine. The Soviet Union became a super power, the U.S. being the only country more powerful than it. After the death of Stalin in 1953 Nikita Khrushchev became First Secretary of the Communist party. Stalin's death marked

The Evolution of Greek Tragedy

The Evolution of Greek Tragedy Today, a trip to the theater is still a special event, but in Ancient  Athens, it wasnt just a time for cultural enrichment or entertainment. It was a religious, competitive, and civic festival event, part of the annual City (or Greater) Dionysia: We might want to imagine the atmosphere of the ancient drama festivals as a combination of Mardi Gras, the gathering of the faithful in St Peters Square on Easter Day, the crowds that throng the Mall on the Fourth of July, and the hype of Oscars night.- Ian C. Storey When Cleisthenes reformed Athens to make it more democratic, it is thought that he included competition between the groups of citizens in the form of dramatic, performing dithyrambic choruses. Be that as it may, Tragedy- as also Comedy- was at first mere improvisation. The one originated with the authors of the  Dithyramb, the other with those of the phallic songs, which are still in use in many of our cities. Tragedy advanced by slow degrees; each new element that showed itself was in turn developed. Having passed through many changes, it found its natural form, and there it stopped.- Aristotle Poetics Taxes,  A Civic Obligation Well in advance of the Elaphebolion (an Athenian month that ran from late March to early April) event, the city magistrate selected 3 patrons of the arts (choregoi) to finance the performances. It was an onerous form of taxation (liturgy) the wealthy were required to perform- but not every year. And the wealthy had a choice: they could supply Athens with a performance or a battleship. This  obligation included: Housing and feeding the chorus and actors.Selecting chorus members (young men about to enter the military).Hiring a chorus director (didaskalos) who trained the 12-15 non-professional dancers (choreuts), for a year, to perform, sing, and dance in the chorus.Providing a place to train.Paying for a dedication to Dionysus if he won. Professionals and Amateur Actors While the chorus was composed of (well-trained) non-professionals, the playwright and actors had, as Didaskalia puts it, leisure with a passion for the theater. Some of the actors became such polished celebrities their participation would give an unfair advantage, so the lead actor, protagonist, was assigned by lot to a playwright who was expected to compose a tetralogy, direct, choreograph, and act in his own plays. A tetralogy consisted of three tragedies and a satyr play- like a dessert at the end of the heavy, serious drama. Partly humorous or farcical, satyr-plays featured the half human, half animal creatures known as satyrs. Visual Aids for the Audience By convention, the actors in tragedy appeared larger than life. Since there were about 17,000 open-air seats in the theater of Dionysus (on the south slope of the Acropolis), going more than halfway around the circular dance floor (orchestra), this exaggeration must have made the actors more recognizable. They wore long, colorful robes, high headdresses, cothurnoi (shoes), and masks with largemouth holes to facilitate ease of speech. Men played all the parts. One actor might play more than one role, since there were only 3 actors, even by Euripides (c. 484-407/406) day. A century earlier, in the 6th century, when the first dramatic competition was held, there was only one  actor whose role was to interact with the chorus. The semi-legendary playwright of the first play with an actor was Thespis (from whose name comes the word thespian). Stage Effects In addition to the actors accouterments, there were elaborate devices for special effects. For instance, cranes could whisk gods or people on and off stage. These cranes were called mechane or machina in Latin; hence, our term deus ex machina. The skene (from which, scene) a building or tent at the back of the stage that was used from the time of Aeschylus (c. 525-456), could be painted to provide scenery. The skene was at the edge of the circular orchestra (dance floor of the chorus). The skene also provided a flat roof for action, a backstage for the actors preparation, and a door. The ekkyklema was a contraption for rolling scenes or people onto the stage. Dionysia and the Theater At the City Dionysia, the tragedians each presented a tetralogy- four plays, consisting of three tragedies and a satyr play. The theater was in the temenos (sacred precinct) of Dionysus Eleuthereus. The priest was seated in the center of the first row of the theatron. It may be that there were originally 10 wedges (kekrides) of seats to correspond with the 10 tribes of Attica, but the number was 13 by the 4th century B.C. Tragedy Terms Tragic Irony  happens when the audience knows what is going to happen but the actor is still ignorant. Hamartia:  The downfall of the tragic hero is caused by hamartia. This isnt a willful act in violation of the laws of the gods, but a mistake or excess.Hubris:  Excessive pride can lead to the downfall of the tragic hero.Peripeteia:  A  sudden reversal of fortune.Catharsis:  Ritual cleansing and emotional cleansing by the end of the tragedy. Sources Roger Dunkles Introduction to Tragedy The Entrances and Exits of Actors and Chorus in Greek Plays, by Margarete Bieber.  American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 58, No. 4. (Oct. , 1954), pp. 277-284.

Male Cultural Competence response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Male Cultural Competence response - Assignment Example Therefore, the multiculturalism cornerstone remains in establishing an appropriate understanding of people’s sociopolitical histories as well as the people’s histories and the groups to which they belong. During treatments, it is significantly important for the development of an alliance between the clinician and the client for a better therapy. In such a perspective, masculine oriented therapy does not necessarily mean that the clinician has interests in an individual’s masculinity; however, such information is important for the establishment of an alliance. From the student post, it is evident that the patient is given unsatisfactory treatment based on his past behaviors. Because of discriminations, it is proper that clinicians understand their therapist’s values and worldview in order to develop a strong alliance during therapy and offer appropriate treatment (Healy, 2005). As such, the clinicians and another medical staff would offer treatments without any bias, or assumptions by understanding that indeed people are different from the varied cultural variances. Appropriate training and education are crucial in the development of male- culturally appropriate interventions and strategies, especially for therapists as in instances of learning to discuss issues of race and racism. Male as a gender has certain characteristics and activates associated with it. As such, men tend to participate in certain activities, having the strengths-based approach, which are ideally positive factors of engagements in optimizing the available conditions for positive development and creativity in the minimization of the possible risk practices (Berg-Weger et al., 2001).  Certain elements  of the  male  strengths approach of a man’s interaction with other men involve the recognition and focus on strengths and capabilities as a means of responding to challenges that one faces as well as depersonalizing the problems.

Death Script pertaining to chronic illness Assignment

Death Script pertaining to chronic illness - Assignment Example As I became immersed in my reverie I imagined my husband and my mother at my side when the doctor gave me the dreaded news that I had leukemia. I saw myself not being able to respond at all to what the doctor was telling us. My mother’s silent sniffle seemed distant and unreal and I couldn’t bring myself to see my husband. The news of death shocked me to the extent that I kind of forgot my surroundings and the people I loved so dearly. It’s almost as though that moment was reserved just for me. A hope still lingered at the back of my mind that my physician may be mistaken, that the possibility of finding cure elsewhere would be worth making the effort for. I tried to comfort myself with the thought that I wasn’t the only one dying. After all people die every day, every second even and it’s just a reality check that everyone has to come to terms with (CDC 2009). I suppose I’m better off than a lot of people who die at such a young age having not even started their lives. I tried to rationalize the news of my death by considering the fact that middle aged women are most prone to die if they have leukemia (Emedtv n.d). I comfort myself with the thought that at least I gave birth to five beautiful children and I got to raise them to be good human beings. I got the opportunity to bond with a man who fathered my children and made me feel special in so many ways. Still the agony, the betrayal of life itself and the fear of not knowing what lay ahead of me gave me a sinking feeling, sucking out all my happiness in an instant. As days passed by it felt like I was already dead. My mother was constantly at my side and as much as my husband wanted to be there someone had to stay home to take care of my children and tend to worldly affairs. My mother would try to distract me to take my mind off of my illness but I knew that it was all she could think about too. I wished I could spend

New Beginnings in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf :: Whos Afraid Virginia Woolf

New Beginnings in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf  Ã‚   Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a disturbing and powerful work. Ironically, it is disturbing and powerful for many of the same reasons. As the audience watches George and Martha tear savagely at each other with the knives of hurled words, sharpened on pain and aimed to draw blood, the way in which these two relentlessly go at each other is awful to see, yet strangely familiar. Like wounded animals, they strike out at those closest to them, and reminds one of scenes witnessed as a child between screaming parents from a cracked door when one is supposed to be in bed. In this age of psychoanalytic jargon, George and Martha are the quintessentially dysfunctional couple. Yet, with all their problems, Albee reveals that there is a positive core of feeling that unites these two troubled people and that helps them look beyond their self-created hell. The truth of their relationship is exposed layer by layer as the play progresses, like the peeling of an onion, and though the pattern of this truth appears vague at first, with each cycle of revelation, the pattern becomes more distinct, and the picture is fully revealed in the final, cathartic scene. One of the most consistent themes of the play is the question of George and Martha's "child," and all that this child, and children in general, symbolizes for them. The "child" seems not only a desire for fecundity within their relationship, but also a projection through which they express many of their personal desires, needs, and problems, and, in this context, the child's subsequent "death" signifies a mi lestone in their understanding of their marriage and of themselves. By the end of play, after much suffering and flagellation, George and Martha appear ready to deal with their lives in a new way. George and Martha have a history. They are also emotionally trapped by this history, especially that of their respective childhoods. As a consequence, both are plagued by low self-image and self-doubt. The audience learns of this history slowly, in bits and pieces. Martha tells Nick and Honey in Act 1 how she lost her mother early and grew up very close to her father. She was married briefly, but her father had the marriage annulled. She returned to live with her father after college, and met and fell in love with George.

Expository Paper Essay

Everyone needs some sort of schooling to be successful in life. In school, students learn to read, write, process thoughts and ideas and apply knowledge to outside situations. No one can argue the point that school and education aren’t necessary, because the thought is absurd. In my opinion though, school had become a competition instead of an education. Students have become so focused on being the best in their class, having a GPA a hundredth of a point higher than their friend, being involved in extra-curricular activities, and obtaining as much knowledge to the point of just memorizing rather than understanding. Believing that an average public school education will give you the knowledge you need to be successful in everything that you do in order to make a living is an incredibly false perception. Schooling gives you an education which sets a foundation for like, but how will you live if you’ve never had to think about living? Life lessons are important, but if you’re too busy focusing on schooling and memorizing pointless information, when will you learn to live? You wont get anywhere without having a basic knowledge of people skills and what you should expect from life once you turn 18. These days, the prestige universities are more interested in students who are well rounded and have an understanding of the world around them. Having an understanding of how the world is and will be is ultimately the most important idea you could ever learn. In order to bring education back to its sole purpose, we have to drop the constant competition. The issue with trying to back off competition and return to the original purpose of an education is who will start the trend. People can’t drop what they’re doing and back off to think about the real meaning of education. Because of selfish ambition, that’s impossible. Reevaluation of the system of schooling and learning is vital not necessarily this generation, but our children, and our children’s children. If our year of teenagers is messed up by pressure of society, imagine 100 years from now.

How to Balance Net Ionic Equations

These are the steps to write a balanced net ionic equation and a worked example problem. Steps To Balance Ionic Equations Write the net ionic equation for the unbalanced reaction. If you are given a word equation to balance, youll need to be able to identify strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes, and insoluble compounds. Strong electrolytes dissociate entirely into their ions in water. Examples of strong electrolytes are strong acids, strong bases, and soluble salts. Weak electrolytes yield very few ions in solution, so they are represented by their molecular formula (not written as ions). Water, weak acids, and weak bases are examples of weak electrolytes. The pH of a solution can cause them to dissociate, but in those situations, youll be presented an ionic equation, not a word problem. Insoluble compounds do not dissociate into ions, so they are represented by the molecular formula. A table is provided to help you determine whether or not a chemical is soluble, but its a good idea to memorize the solubility rules.Separate the net ionic equation into the two half-reactions. This means identifying and separating the reaction into an oxidation half-reaction and a reduction half-reaction.For one of the half-reactions, balance the atoms except for O and H. You want the same number of atoms of each element on each side of the equation.Repeat this with the other half-reaction.Add H2O to balance the O atoms. Add H to balance the H atoms. The atoms (mass) should balance out now.Balance charge. Add e- (electrons) to one side of each half-reaction to balance charge. You may need to multiply the electrons by the two half-reactions to get the charge to balance out. Its fine to change coefficients as long as you change them on both sides of the equation.Add the two half-reactions together. Inspect the final equation to make sure it is balanced. Electrons on both sides of the ionic equation must cancel out.Double-check your work! Make sure there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. Make sure the overall charge is the same on both sides of the ionic equation.I f the reaction takes place in a basic solution, add an equal number of OH- as you have H ions. Do this for both sides of the equation and combine H and OH- ions to form H2O.Be sure to indicate the state of each species. Indicate solid with (s), liquid for (l), gas with (g), and an aqueous solution with (aq).Remember, a balanced net ionic equation only describes chemical species that participate in the reaction. Drop additional substances from the equation. Example The net ionic equation for the reaction you get mixing 1 M HCl and 1 M NaOH is: H(aq) OH-(aq) → H2O(l) Even though sodium and chlorine exist in the reaction, the Cl- and Na ions are not written in the net ionic equation because they dont participate in the reaction. Solubility Rules in Aqueous Solution Ion Solubility Rule NO3- All nitrates are soluble. C2H3O2- All acetates are soluble except silver acetate (AgC2H3O2), which is moderately soluble. Cl-, Br-, I- All chlorides, bromides, and iodides are soluble except Ag+, Pb+, and Hg22+. PbCl2 is moderately soluble in hot water and slightly soluble in cold water. SO42- All sulfates are soluble except sulfates of Pb2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, and Sr2+. OH- All hydroxides are insoluble except those of the Group 1 elements, Ba2+, and Sr2+. Ca(OH)2 is slightly soluble. S2- All sulfides are insoluble except those of the Group 1 elements, Group 2 elements, and NH4+. Sulfides of Al3+ and Cr3+ hydrolyze and precipitate as hydroxides. Na+, K+, NH4+ Most salts of sodium-potassium and ammonium ions are soluble in water. There are some exceptions. CO32-, PO43- Carbonates and phosphates are insoluble, except those formed with Na+, K+, and NH4+. Most acid phosphates are soluble.