History of West Point Essay

In 1778 George Washington, for whom West Point was always a crucial strategic position in the United States, appointed Kosciuszko as a chief designer of its first fundamental fortifications to which he moved his headquarters the following year. In 1802, President Jefferson officially opened the United States Military Academy at West Point. Under the superintendence of Colonel Thayer (1817-1833) who was also called the â€Å"father of the Military Academy†, higher academic standards were set and a great emphasis was put on military discipline and code of conduct. Civil engineering became the fundamental subject on the curriculum at West Point and for many years its graduates were the nation’s major constructors of the first bridges, roads, railway lines, etc in the USA (A Brief History of the Academy). During the American Civil War, both warring sides, the South and the North, were headed mainly by West Pointers, such as Grant, Sherman, Jackson, Lee, Sheridan, and others. West Point graduates also distinguished themselves in Europe during World War I. After the war, the academic curriculum at West Point was gradually diversified and enormous efforts were made to improve various physical fitness programs (A Brief History of the Academy). Among the most prominent West Pointers that distinguished themselves in World War II were military leaders such as Eisenhower, Bradley, MacArthur, Wainwright, Patton, Clark, Stilwell, and others. In the postwar period, the curriculum at West Point was broadened again and included science and technology. In 1964, the Corps of Cadets was increased from 2,529 to 4,417 resulting in the appearance of new facilities. The enrollment of women at West Point began in 1976 and each class now has approximately fifteen percent of female cadets. At present, the West Point Military Academy comprises over 4,000 cadets and every year it graduates over 900 officers (A Brief History of the Academy). â€Å"Page # 2† Code of conduct at West Point At West Point every cadet adheres to an ethical code of conduct called the Cadet Honor Code whose golden rule states: â€Å"A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do†. The Honor Code is a vital and important tradition that was initially formalized in 1922 by Superintendent MacArthur who also established the Cadet Honor Committee. The last part of the golden rule, however, was not included in its original version. In 1970, the code of conduct was revised resulting in the introduction of the â€Å"non-toleration† clause (Jones). The Cadet Honor Code in its present form has no boundaries and sets high standards of ethical behavior not only when cadets are at West Point, but also when they are at home or with friends. Living by the code means that cadets must strive for moral and ethical perfection and must never lie, cheat, steal, nor can they tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing by others. Cadets must be truthful, fair, and respect the rights and property of other people, and also assume responsibility for their actions. These principles constitute the Spirit of the Code whose goal is the development of leaders of characters. These high standards distinguish the Military Academy at West Point as well as its graduates from any other institution and students. For Cadets, they are fundamental principles of life, not just prohibitions (Jones). At the Academy, there is a democratic system of responding to any violation of the Cadet Honor Code. West Pointers are responsible for running the Honor System, convening Honor Investigations and Hearings of particular cases. The Cadet Honor Board consisting of six members gathers and evaluates the evidence to decide whether a Cadet is guilty of violation of the Honor Code. In case a cadet is found guilty of violation of any aspect of the code, Board members inform the Superintendent of his status who then decides what will happen to that cadet. In most cases, â€Å"dismissal† is the standard verdict but the cadet may also be given another chance to live honorably in the future (Jones). â€Å"Page # 3† Cadet life and religion at West Point A cadet’s life at West Point is very busy. A cadet’s daily schedule includes classes, study, physical education, athletics, military duties, and over hundred extracurricular activities coordinated by the Cadet Activities Office. Many instructors and officers reside at West Point and provide additional help and instruction to the cadets who need it, and also guide many extracurricular activities in which cadets are involved in their free time. These activities include language, aeronautics, astronautics, computer, engineering, athletic, and many other clubs (The West Point Experience). Sports play a very important role in the life of West Pointers developing self-confidence, competitiveness, and self-discipline in cadets. The Academy’s intercollegiate program includes twenty-four sports. In addition, cadets also publish publications such as â€Å"Howitzer†, â€Å"The Pointer†, or â€Å"Bugle Notes†; run the WKDT radio station; and write, produce, and perform plays and music. Extracurricular activities at West Point are viewed as an important aspect of a college community life (The West Point Experience). Religion is another important aspect of community life at West Point. The religious ministry comprising all major faith groups is provided not only for the Corps of Cadets, but also for the West Point staff. While performing the ministry, chaplains in religious communities are often assisted by councils consisting of cadets (Nonstandard Activities of the United States Military Academy). West Point cadets have the opportunity to attend chapel services and practice various religious observances. Cadets can join and regularly participate in chapel choirs, ceremonial rites, discussion groups, Sunday religious school classes run by various religious affiliations whose mission is to contribute to the spiritual and moral development of the West Point community (The West Point Experience). REFERENCES: 1. A Brief History of the Academy. Retrieved May 6, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www. usma. edu/history. asp 2. Jones, D. United States Military Academy’s Honor Code and System. Retrieved May 6, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www. usma. edu/Cpme/HS_Outreach/HS_Outreach. htm

“Othello” and “A Doll’s House”

In every story, we often see a colorful character in the form of the story’s antagonist. They are usually held in contrast to the story’s main character or the protagonist. This is how the antagonists were portrayed in both the stories â€Å"Othello† and â€Å"A Doll’s House.† The antagonists of the stories were set in comparison to the respective protagonists. On both these stories, the antagonists played a great part in destroying the happy marriages of both protagonists. Through their schemes and manipulation, they were able to destroy what these people held so dearly: their relationships with their loved ones.In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello,† Iago plays the antagonist role, opposing the position of Othello. Iago is depicted as one of Othello’s men, since the latter holds a high position which the former serves. When Iago felt that another man was favored aside from him, he planned to take Othello down by destroying hi s happy marriage with Desdemona (Shakespeare).In the story, we can see that Iago’s source of motivation in his schemes when Othello favors his lieutenant Cassio rather than his Ancient and ensign, Iago. It was jealousy that made him conceive every evil schemes and plans that he came up with. As the story’s antagonist, we can say that Iago is very clever with his plans, managing to outwit other characters and making them his â€Å"tools† to bring down Othello. He was very successful in manipulating the main character, making him believe that his wife was cheating on him.Analyzing the motives of Iago, we can say that his reasons were very shallow. It was his jealousy that led to the way things happened. But there was no point to be jealous about. He has a good position in Othello’s men. The way he see Cassion being favored more than him was just superficial, since it was him that Othello believed most. If Othello didn’t believe him, then the story wo uldn’t have led to the way it went. But Othello trusts Iago. He believes him so much that it has led to the destruction of his happy marriage, his downfall, his wife’s death, and eventually, his own death.The person who suffered the most in this story was Othello. With Iago’s schemes, Othello lost his trust in his wife. His faith in their relationship crumbled as Iago stirred up his thoughts. As a man of his stature, Othello need not be faithless with his wife. But because of his insecurities, Iago managed to toy with his emotions. As a â€Å"different† man, Othello thought that his wife was not satisfied with him. He was the Moor of Venice, a dark skinned man in the land of whites. Because of these insecurities, his suspicions grew to hatred. That hatred caused him to kill Desdemona only to find out afterwards that it was all Iago’s doings.In Henrik Ibsen’s â€Å"A Doll’s House,† the main protagonist was Krogstad, who was on t he brink of losing his job. He was an employee of the main character, Torvald. Torvald is the husband of Nora Helmer, and their relationship as a married couple is an example of a happy marriage for the society. But the happiness didn’t last for long, as soon as Krogstad schemed his way from getting himself fired from the job he didn’t want to lose (Ibsen).Krogstad’s reasons for his actions were all rooted to him keeping his job. It was very unfortunate that he knows a secret of Nora Helmer. He used this secret to try and save himself from getting fired. It was Nora’s head who’s on the line, fearing that her secret might be discovered by others, especially her husband. The only favor Krogstad asked in exchange for his silence was for Nora to convince his husband not to fire him. However, all of Nora’s efforts were futile, not being able to save Krogstad his job. Because of this, Krogstad chose to unveil Nora’s well kept secret, at the expense of Nora and Torvald’s happy marriage. After all, Krogstad has nothing to lose anymore.Looking at Krogstad’s reason for his actions, we can say that he is on the edge, that’s why he was forced to blackmail Nora just to save him. It was his job on the line, and he really didn’t want to use it. The fact that he knows something that Nora has kept so much for herself was not his discretion. It was the only option he has, and he chose to use that option well, in exchange for everything that he might lose. Krogstad may be seen as a bad man, but his actions show that it was fate that forced him to do what he has done. This doesn’t concern anything about keeping Nora’s secret just to save her shame or marriage. It was his own battle, and he must fight with everything he has. The only weapon he has in store at that time was Nora’s secret.We can say that the antagonists of the story had their way with the protagonists. They were able to blindly manipulate anyone in order to have their biddings fulfilled. In the end, it was all misery for the protagonist, each with crumbling relationships as both the stories closed. No matter what their reason may be, these antagonists were able to make the most out of every situation turning it into something advantageous for their own benefits.Works Cited:Ibsen, Henrik. â€Å"A Doll's House†.   1879.   Spark Notes. October 7 2007. .Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Othello†.   1603.   Spark Notes. October 7 2007. .

Genetic Engineering a Blessing or a Curse - 1370 Words

Introduction Science is a creature that continues to evolve at a much higher rate than the beings that gave it birth. The transformation time from plant, to ape, to human far exceeds the time from a calculator to a computer. However science in the past has always remained distant. It has allowed for advances in production, transportation, and even entertainment, but never in history has science be able to so deeply affect our lives as genetic engineering will undoubtedly do. With the new technology there will be, of course, people against it. People who are afraid that genetic engineering and cloning are nothing more than toys of the devil. They fear that it is unsafe. However, I believe genetic engineering is a safe and powerful tool†¦show more content†¦Genetic engineering is conquering this problem by utilising diseases that target bacteria. These diseases are viruses, named bacteriophages, which can be produced to attack specific disease-causing bacteria. Much success has already be en obtained by treating animals with a phage designed to attack the E. coli bacteria. Current medical capabilities allow for the transplant of human organs, and even mechanical parts, such as the battery powered pacemaker. Current science can even re-apply fingers after they have been cut off in accidents, or attach synthetic arms and legs to allow patients to function normally in society. But would not it be better if the human body could simply regrow what it needed, such as a new kidney or arm? Genetic engineering can make this a reality. Certain types of salamanders can re-grow lost limbs, and some lizards can shed their tails when attacked and later grow them again. Viewpoint 2 Ever since biblical times the lifespan of a human being has been pegged at roughly 70 years. But is this number truly finite? In order to uncover the answer, knowledge of the process of aging is needed. A common conception is that the human body contains an internal biological clock which continues to tick for about 70 years, then stops. An alternate watch analogy could be that the human body contains a certain type of alarm clock, and after so many years, the alarm sounds and deterioration beings. With that frame of thinking, the human bodyShow MoreRelatedThe Bioethics Of Human Genetic Engineering And Modification1589 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Genetic Engineering and Modification Humans are marvelous creatures no other animals compare in intelligence or general abilities. As humans, we never have enough, we always are in search of self-improvement and personal gain. Our lives are based on the pursuit of personal gain and to help better the human race as a whole. Sometimes we must sacrifice everything and other times it comes as little to no price to achieve something greater for ourselves and others. 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It seems clear enough that college professors are partly â€Å"born† since (among other factors) there is a genetic component to intelligence, and intelligence surely plays some part in becoming a college professor (well, at least a minor part!). But every college professor is also partly â€Å"made.† One obvious way is that college professors must have advanced education

Short Article Reveals the Undeniable Facts About Like Water for Chocolate Essay Topics and How It Can Affect You

Short Article Reveals the Undeniable Facts About Like Water for Chocolate Essay Topics and How It Can Affect You Write legibly in ink so the evaluators will have the ability to read your writing. As stated above, one of the means where the examiner judges your vocabulary is the way many topic particular words you use. Our writers are highly competent so you may place your order for any kind of custom essay with no hesitation. Finding the most suitable arguments will allow you to prove your point and win. When you are requested to opt for a great topic for your argument, start with something you're familiarized with. Don't neglect to explain why the dilemma is valuable to you! It is that everyone's interpretation of what makes a good society is different. Top like Water for Chocolate Essay Topics Secrets Our experts are always prepared to help you! Your cherished talent you have or want to develop. On-line assistance from expert writers will help save you a plenty of time. You also ought to realise that IELTS is an international exam and once the writers of the exam are making the questions, their principal concern is writing questions that may be understood by nearly everybody in the world. Another reason is to observe how well students argue on unique views and demonstrate understanding of the studied subject. Remember your final grade significantly is based on the topic. So, you won't need to consider over topics for high school anymore, we'll do that! For instance, you can pick a topic for elementary, middle, or higher school. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on like Water for Chocolate Essay Topics As tempting as it might appear to skip past the extra info and go right to the list of persuasive essay topics, don't do it. At times you might require some expert help with argumentative essay topics. Before you begin, it is essential to choose topics which you really know well. Quite similar important topics will include a view of vital themes. Religious radicalization Getting the correct topics for informative essay writing is just one of the most vital stages in the practice. Choosing good informative essay topics is simple if you understand how to go about doing it. Informative essays are somewhat more descriptive. An argumentative essay requires you to choose a topic and have a position on it. It is extremely easy to discover such a topic and also write this kind of essay as long as you stick to a few essential rules. You will obviously not have the capability to predict the precise topic that will come up. You must be very careful when choosing an essay topic. Picking an emotional topic is also a superb idea. There are numerous essay types, and at times the topic itself is as critical as the sort of the essay you're assigned. Thanks to the correct option of presentation style and a thorough understanding of the goals you need to attain in your essay, there are many categories essay themes may be broken into. To begin with, you must comprehend what distinguishes informative essays from some other forms of academic papers. Easy expository essays are essays where you're anticipated to work on facts instead of opinions. The point is that someone with a wide ranging vocabulary ought to be in a position to speak about any of the typical essay topics easily using words that are particular to that topic. There are many possible compare and contrast essay topics, and a number of them are tricky to perform. There are two primary means by which you can use the most frequent IELTS essay topics to your benefit. Some topics in regard to history is the color. Man isn't a thing but a creature that may only be understood in the lengthy procedure of development. 1 man can alter the world. Show me examples African-American men are more inclined to devote time in prison in the USA than every other group.

Differences And Similarities Between The Chimney Sweepers,...

Differences and similarities between the chimney sweepers (1789) and (1794) In the late 18th century, the industrial revolution was thriving, Families would sell their children to business men who would make them work, for them. A very common job for these kids would be chimney sweeping. They started working as young as the age of three years old. In 1789 and 1794, William Blake wrote 2 poems, about the life of a young chimney sweepers and his point of view of this everyday event. There are obvious similarities and differences throughout both of these poems. Both poems of the chimney sweepers are historic poems written in a very childish way, it is the life of young chimney sweepers expressing their feelings and what is a normal†¦show more content†¦Although the living conditions were very difficult and bad environments, they kept faith and praying to stay optimistic. Blake demonstrated this statement with different sentences in both of his poems. In the first poem an exemple is and by came who had a bright key(13), and he opened the coffins and set them al I free(14). In this case even if the childrens knew they were not in a good position, they kept being positive to eventually be free from their nightmare that they are living a the moment. A example in the second poem is They think they have done me no injury(10), And are gone to praise God and his priest and King(11). In this example, this seems to be harsh, but in this case Blake wanted to make the reader understand that during this time the church and religion was very i mportant. Also, it makes the reader understand how at the time in history, people would believe a lot in God. These poems have various differences and similarities, one thing that step out of both of these poems is the maturity level between them. The version of the poem 1789 from his collection of poem was written in a very innocent point of view, this little boy realized that what was happening to him was not the real childhood of a regular little boy. That he deserves a better childhood then what he is living right now. He also realized that believing in something positive wouldnt not give him any negative things even if this doesnt really makes sense with the childhood heShow MoreRelatedSimilarities And Differences Between The Chimney Sweeper And The Chimney Sweeper877 Words   |  4 PagesBoth â€Å"The Chimney Sweepers† poems were written during the industrial revolution. During the industrial revolution families were living in poverty, and times were challenging. Often times for families to survive they would sell their children to master sweeps, or master sweeps would welcom e orphans and homeless children into the industry of menial labour. They used children between the ages of five to ten depending on their size. Parents would often sell their children younger, because their smallRead More An Analysis of Blakes The School Boy Essay1745 Words   |  7 Pagesof Blakes Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience in its themes and imagery. Like many of the other poems in this work it deals with childhood and the subjugation of its spirit and uses imagery from the natural world. While first published in 1789 as one of the Songs of Innocence there are strong reasons why Blake moved it to the Experience1 section of the 1794 edition. If we compare it to other poems in the collection it sits better with others in Experience than those in Innocence. OnRead MorePoetry Essay Prompt2545 Words   |  11 Pagesessay in which you explain what characteristics of the second poem make it better than the first. Refer specifically to details of both poems. 1978 Poem: â€Å"Law Like Love† (W. H. Auden) Prompt: Read the poem and the write an essay discussing the differences between the conceptions of law in lines 1-34 and those in lines 35-60. 1979 Poems: â€Å"Spring And All† (William Carlos Williams) and â€Å"For Jane Meyers† (Louise Gluck) Prompt: Read the two poems carefully. Then write a well-organized essay in which you

Misunderstanding Racial Identity free essay sample

Misunderstanding Racial Identity The wrong interpretation of race has caused racism and prejudice problems, which have been passed from generation to generation. In America, where there is a large diversity, more people are guilty of â€Å"categorizing† others by using race and stereotypes. The incorrect â€Å"sorting† of individuals has become more evident on T. V, daily life, and current political and public views. In this text, I will explore some of the ways in which popular culture contributes to the dangerous trend of perpetuating and promoting unjust classifications through the use of stereotypes. Today, we identify people in such a way that people’s emotions are affected. Media has an immense impact on this because that is how people keep up-to-date with popular culture. Also agreeing with my perspective is Omi, who states that â€Å"Popular culture has been an important realm within which racial ideologies [that] provide a framework of symbols, concepts, and images through which we understand, interpret, and represent aspects of our â€Å"racial existence† (Pg. 628). The way that media present people from different cultures influences the way we develop prejudices. By looking at these features, we come up with ideas (or stereotypes) about the people that are being presented. I consider myself as a person that gets categorized by other people and also participate in categorizing because I am like any other human being that criticizes people’s actions, appearance, the way they speak, etc. While judging others, we come up with assumptions about them and classify them into a group or category. Based on the image that we form, we construct their identity in our minds and consequently treat people based on that image we have created of them. The classification of people into groups is so grave that global issues have occurred and are likely to keep occurring. For example, consider slavery; Europeans made a hierarchy of races putting African Americans at the bottom of the list. If we recall, African Americans became slaves in the United States and were treated with cruelty because they were seen as the lowest class that had no rights. Since a large portion of Americans viewed African American as the lowest class, the belief has remained throughout generations, therefore; many Americans still classify African Americans as the lowest class. Many times advertisement is a way in which specific groups are targeted and this can be offensive to the group because the commercials, ads, or posters present stereotypes instead. Propaganda and advertisement are meant to appeal to the attention of certain groups, but when the groups are racially targeted, it is a problem that we should strive to resolve to better our communities. Other situations where stereotypes are observable are when we watch Television. For example, when a Hispanic family is presented along with violence and maltreatment, the stereotype of â€Å"macho† and violent men is spread throughout society. As a result of such events portrayed by the media, we form perceptions about people or groups, and in our minds generalize the situations by applying it to a whole race. Stereotypes are not limited to advertisements and music but are also seen on daily life situations as well. For example, I have noticed the changing attitudes about racial identities in my community some of these changing attitudes are reflected by the way certain members of the community are classifying others based on racial or ethnic membership. According to the CNN Wire Staff, the city of San Bernardino in California went into bankruptcy in the year of 2012 (â€Å"San Bernardino Files for Bankruptcy† 1). As a result, different ethnic groups were blaming racial groups for this situation. A couple of days later, I heard an Anglo-Saxon American leader of a business association blaming African Americans and Hispanics for the bankruptcy. He blamed African Americans communities for wasting money and having countless babies that took a lot of money to maintain. Moreover, he said that there were too many Hispanics taking away jobs and making San Bernardino look bad by having so many illegals living in it. As we can notice there is tension between racial groups and consequently, we are all affected. In daily life situations divisions like these occur because of stereotypes and intolerance that overwhelm our community. Another situation that reflects stereotypes in daily life includes checkpoint locations by the police. In suburban areas where the majority of the population is white, checkpoints are rare to nonexistent because those communities are made up of â€Å"the best† race: the Caucasian. In urban areas where minorities inhabit, checkpoints are much more often seen because the locations are meant to target to specific races. For example, Hispanics that often don’t have their driving licenses or legal papers or African American that have pending tickets to pay because they can’t afford to pay them off. Omi agrees when he says, â€Å"Dramatic instances of racial tension and violence merely constitute the surface manifestations of a deeper racial organization of American Society – a system of inequality† (Pg. 625). As Omi states, there is â€Å"inequality† and â€Å"racial segregation† (Pg. 26) as can be noted in the fact that people are classified by race and not by their nationality. Race is not a way to identify people because not everyone is the same within the race even though we have similar looks. Our bad habit of identifying by race will keep creating problems especially now that there is an increase of mixed races. Popul ar culture has made its debut in current political and public views. As some of us have experienced, living in a racially divided America creates discomfort not only for foreigners, but also for native-born Americans as well. Today we see people being categorized into a racial group which closes doors for people even if they belong to a traditional American family. The Caucasian race is known to have the highest rate of people who have a college degree, but some doors are closed on them because they have appearance that resemble to those of minority races. For example, many people in these types of situations encounter different challenges, like not finding jobs in the United States because sometimes they are mistakenly distinguished as a race they don’t belong to. Although America is supposed to represent equality, discrimination in employment, schooling, and housing is present. Identification by race is incorrect because it negatively affects society to the point that it can lead to severe cases of discrimination, causing the violation of civil rights. By looking at other â€Å"races† as less than others, we are discriminating against people, and it is something that we notice some people do today. For example, people think that every black person is the same and consequently assume that all African Americans are delinquents. Many African Americans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Jamaicans and members of other nationalities that are of black descent, face discrimination today when in restaurants, renting apartments, buying a car, and many other services. I am a witness of this because I have been living in apartments since I came to the United States. Where I currently live, we have a Hispanic manager that admits she doesn’t like to rent apartments to black people because they are troublemakers. This is denying African Americans the right to live there, which is known as racial discrimination. Discrimination by race is becoming something that more people are struggling today with because in our popular culture, it is becoming acceptable to divide people and groups by their racial identity. In the speech, A More Perfect Union, Obama said, â€Å"I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time, unless we solve them together, unless we perfect our union† (Pg. 1). I believe solving our challenges would require getting rid of the racial classifications because that way there wouldn’t be divisions based solely on skin color. In other words, we would become united and represent one nation, not one race. Working together we would reach our goals, or if we don’t have goals, at least we could help others attain them. There would be a better representation of the American culture, the American people, and of ourselves even if we don’t belong to this nation. We come to this nation because this is where we want to accomplish what we aim for, but the path becomes narrower because of the difficulties popular culture presents. If we were united, there would only be one direction, no races that want to stay away from each other, and we could all move forward together without taking race into consideration. To conclude, to get rid of racial identification and to achieve union in our society, we must limit the use of stereotypes, prejudices, and racial categories that are presented by popular culture. Instances of racial categorization have become more common on T. V, daily life, political and public views because our popular culture has gradually accepted racial identification. Calling or identifying others by stereotypes should be something illegal because it not only affects our emotions, but also the development of our self-identity. It is true that we have the freedom of speech but there are certain limits when it is using discriminative words because we cannot interfere with others’ pursuit of happiness. By sorting individuals by stereotypes we are putting their race down; this sometimes causes a sentiment of ethnocentrism, a belief that the race we belong in is superior to the rest, in our communities which can cause even more divisions and tensions. If we stop using race as part of our identity on papers as they did on the census, we could make a change because individuals would probably see themselves as what they really are, and not an assumption of what they are being forced to consider themselves as. In addition, a lot of job applications, government papers, and other documents have race as a way for applicants to describe their identity. That is something that we should stop using in papers and instead only include our real identity, which are nationality, ethnicity, hair color, eye color etc. , but not including skin color. When we use skin color as our identity, I have noticed that people criticize by the way we look and not the true individual with traditions, beliefs, and morals. Works Cited CNN, Wire Staff. San Bernardino Files for Bankruptcy. CNN. Cable News Network, 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. . Omi, Michael. In Living Color: Race and American Culture. Signs of Life in the U. S. A: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. By Sonia Maasik and J. Fisher Solomon. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. N. 626. Print. Obama, Barack. A More Perfect Union. Huffingtonpost. com. TheHuffingtonPost. com, Inc. , 25 May 2011. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. .

Music History and Its Influence on America free essay sample

Im still tired and still upset about the deleted scene from my ream. I put the key into the ignition, and immediately feel better as My Love by Justine Timberline blares on the radio. First, as I put the car into gear and start to drive, I begin to hum along to the tune of the chorus. Soon after, Im singing right along with the famous singer, completely in sync, ( no pun intended, seeing as how the singer started out originally with the group N*Sync ); our vocals are harmonize, and my foot taps to the beat. Now, am motivated, fully awake, and looking forward to the long day ahead!My morning can be compared to millions around the world, because music an be a big influence in any human beings life, and a representation of a persons personality! Music is the one form of human expression that heavily influences the way we talk, the way we dress, and how we can relate to one another. We will write a custom essay sample on Music History and Its Influence on America or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We can dedicate music to a loved one, or indulge ourselves in to change change the mood we might be in at the time. People listen to their favorite songs while exercising to pump themselves or, after a long day at work, one might turn on some classical music, or jazz, while drinking a glass of wine, just to unwind. Some might go to a dance club looking for a potential mate, but I go to show off the years f dancing skills I have accumulated, just because of the adrenaline it gives me at how smooth and crisp my moves are, hitting every beat of the music! According to The American Music Conference, a valid connection between the human brain and music making have been found by music researchers. It has been found to help with language development, math skills, improved school grades, better social behavior, and has improved spatial temporal reasoning ( MAC. Music has always been an expression of the human race. Artifacts from every culture show people playing musical instruments. The oldest findings name from Asia, dating back four thousand years. Music has been used to perform religious ceremonies, performed in front of Royalty, and even to find spiritual balances, and centers. Whatever its uses, its main purpose has always been used to bring people together. Although there is no exact date for the origin of music, in my opinion, music was born when men were created.When the first caveman grunted in unison with another, and clubs were banged against rocks, a flame was lit, and the rest is history. As any music lover will tell you, music comes from the heart. As long as man was able to think, there was always a tune to be mimed, or a beat to tap your foot to. The influence and history of music has been classified into six major eras;The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Baroque Era, Classical, Romantic and the 20th Century ( Essentials of Music. ) The Middle Ages (450-1450) is when Christians and Christianity were persecuted, then accepted shortly afterwards. It became the official religion of the Roman Empire, even after its fall. Music was a major part of Christian worship, each verse or the daily liturgy was sang in what we call Gregorian chant. The Christian church was a major influence of the arts, especially in music. Major composers in that era were associated and supported by the church. Music also did not have a system of notation until late in the Ninth Century and was conducted mainly by the members of the church because it was such a time consuming lengthy process. ( Essentials of Music. The Renaissance Era (1450-1600) was called by historians The Early Modern Era. The rediscovery of writings by the Ancient Greeks and Romans was referred to as a sort of rebirth of the feudal system of the Middle Ages. The rise of music printing increased access to books on music, and viewed as an equal to rhetoric. Travel became a main source of USIA exchange, a driving force behind creating more music with international flavor. ( Essentials of Music) The Baroque Era (1600-1750) brought about new questions by scientists and philosophers as to why things happened and how things worked.Influential leaders such as Kings, Queens, and Emperors began to gain immense wealth and power, but lands started to form their own alliances and began control of their independence. Musicians started to believe that songs could move people physically. People began to experiment with music, and opera gained popularity by moving its audiences with its blend of music and drama. This was also an important source of entertainment to social classes. New instrumental forms, such as concerto and sonata took form.New forms of instruments were created ( especially wind instruments,) and the violin became the most important part of the opera. It was the most popular, among other instruments, that had become equal to the human voice. ( Essentials of Music) The Classical Era (1750-1825) brought new developments in production and led to increased wealth, and goods. Emphasis on peoples rights and the ability to shape the environment was sought out. The American and the French Revolution were momentous events during this period. Peoples view of the world and their relationship to it began to go through major change.Music was viewed as an innocent luxury, and composers had to react to an increased demand for songs. Many people started to express their emotions in their songs. ( Essentials of Music. ) The Romantic Era (1825-1900) was formed by a clearer understanding of the world and a humans place in it, which changed the way people thought of everything and everyone. Many parts of Europe tried to free themselves from its foreign rulers. Music started to tell stories, present people, express ideas of philosophy, and to highlight national identities. Composers began to incorporate ethnic influences in their music, and musicians looked at it as a calling rather than an occupation. ( Essentials of Music. ) European music is where the search for American musics begin innings would be found. Louis Charles Elson, author of The History of American Music states that when the Pilgrims and English settlers found their destination ( New England), they had their religious songs that they sang, but made no attempts to change them. They would not accept any alterations to establish NY new music to adapt to their new surroundings. All they did was mimic what they had learned in England.As history has proven, the migration Of foreign settlers coming to America, different ethnicities religions, and customs slowly began to take its toll, and make its mark in helping music, and our way of life grow. ( Elson) One example of such influences is the arrival of Africans, brought here to our country. During and after years Of slavery, African Americans showed their unique style of song and dance, singing African folk songs, and their outstanding ability to improvise brought about estimate and blues, which gave birth to jazz in the beginning of the Nineteenth century.Rhythm and Blues followed soon after in the asss, Soul in the asss, Funk and Disco in the asss, and Rap in the asss. Americans fell in love with these rich and enthralling styles and made them a big part Of our culture, and lifestyle. Along with many other influences, such as social unrest, civil rights injustice, and violence in the homes and streets, these innovative styles helped shape our once clean cut wholesome way of life. ( Enrolment) Societys example of its apparent influence from music showed its face in he 20th Century, particularly during the asss.Folk music singers began writing protest music to express their thoughts on political choices and the war in Vietnam. Young people took a real liking to the music because it strayed from the squeaky clean image Of the asss. It demonstrated intolerance of societies control and taught people to speak out. People embraced their new sense of freedom, expression, and their ability to show their individualism. From Do-Whop to Rock, from Jazz to New Jack Swing, and from Rhythm and Blues to Hip-Hop music continues to shape American influence. ( Hicks) Music has many other abilities besides changing courses of history, and influencing lifestyles.Music is also a great way to relieve stress. According to Bill Rehired, author of Human Conditioning, Stress Management and Music, music must promote and sustain a therapeutic ambiance and provide a calming influence that opens the door to reflection, corrective action, and ultimately inner peace. I agree with Mr.. Rehired because it does not matter how old you are, or what religion or ethnicity you come from, all human beings share the same sensations of emotion, so everyone at one point does become stressed. A lot of people have ways of coping with their stress, or anger, or their sadness, and a lot of people will turn to music for relief.Musicians have always told tales through song of their opinions, of their emotional battles, or of situations that they have been through. The result of such inspiring lyrics is that it helps shape our human conditioning, becoming a part of who we are ( Rehired. ) I have a few friends that are not able to express themselves emotionally, so when they have a problem or are going through a tough situation, they bottle it up inside. The only way they can express themselves is wrought music, by choosing a song that truly expresses their state of being, or their emotional State. O in a way, they make the artists do the talking for them. Now here is some food for thought. If music is such an important part of human expression, and is influential to society, and human expression, why do some people blame the negative occurrence in the media on certain genres of music? For instance, Elise Marie Paler, a 15 year old California native, was gruesomely murdered in March, 1996. ( Wisped) The convicted killers admitted to having choked and stabbed her to death, then returning to have sex tit her corpse, having done so by instructions from lyrics of the Heavy Metal Band Slayer.A lawsuit soon followed, but was thrown out because of the inability to sue them for freedom of speech. Also, the Rap community has taken a lot of criticism for influencing criminal activity ( Speech. ) Many rappers have been accused, and/or sued for contributing lyrics that pertain to living the Gangster way Of life, resulting in drive by shootings, drug peddling, etc. Singers, rappers, and songwriters are all protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, so they voice their freedom of speech how they see fit. Unfortunately though, a lot of artists dont mean a lot of the things that they say.Their music has such an impact on their fans, that some people take it too far. I believe that music does have an enormous impact on how we talk, think, and even dress, but people of sound body and mind are responsible for their own actions. Not to digress from the subject, but at one point my girlfriend was physically abused by her ex-boyfriend, but she tells me that she was to blame because she would strike him when she was mad, instigating the fights. My response was simple. It may have been you who influenced he fighting, but in the end, he crossed the line when he chose to hit a woman, and there is never an excuse for that! That same statement could be said the same for those who use music as an excuse to justify their actions. Now lets get back on track to the upside of music and its positive influence. Music has a lot to do with different courses of education. It is mathematical because it is broken down into numeric sequences, to make sure the timing is right. It is physically educating because it demands exercise Of the vocal chords, and in some cases different parts Of the body. Music even as a positive influence on plants and animals.