“Higher Learning” Reaction Paper Free Essays

string(37) " of them are more diverse than ever\." The film â€Å"Higher Learning† portrays the many prejudices and race issues that existed in America around 1995, when the movie premiered. The movie takes place at Columbus University, which serves as a fictional university undergoing the transition of America being a more diverse, free nation. From the time when America began its struggle with race and culture boundaries, people of the United States have shown their true beliefs towards other people who may look differently than they do; and the movie â€Å"Higher Learning† is a good example of the type of prejudices. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Higher Learning† Reaction Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now Before the movie even starts, the title of the movie already promotes a message that lies in the title, â€Å"Higher Learning. † The title may suggest that, not only are students attending a university to gain more knowledge needed for the career they choose to pursue, but rather, obtain greater knowledge about life and living freely amongst one another without having race or culture boundaries. Students that are entering college are about to embark on a journey that will prepare them for real life adulthood. The title â€Å"Higher Learning† implies that being enrolled in college is not only for your academic development but also your social evolution. At the current time in the movie, when there were many race and culture boundaries that created conflict between people of different backgrounds; students, especially minorities, were being tested for real life situations by entering college. The way Singleton implements group of students of the same background around campus symbolizes the cultural divide between many different ethnic groups. The racial-ethnic groups that were all the minorities on campus were always seen together and rarely separated. Throughout the movie, many groups of students from different ethnic backgrounds often experienced altercations with each other. Two of the main groups that clashed throughout the movie were the African American students; some of whom involved themselves in the Black Panther organization, and the white supremacist group who recruited Remy from the university. Throughout the film we notice the extreme change of two students, Malik and Remy. Malik who is a gifted track athlete, attending the school on a cholarship, is a African American freshman whose views of different race and cultures are mature, whereas his attitude towards himself being a black track star are immature. We do not see him stereotype other students in the very beginning of the movie; however, we do notice that other students who were not African American acted differently toward Malik and they showed fear an d also hatred towards him. One person who builds hatred toward Malik is Remy. Remy is a white freshman student who is enrolled in the university and is not involved in anything. Remy is placed with an African American roommate and in the beginning of the movie. Remy quickly develops hatred towards the perceived ignorance of his roommates and his friends. Remy then distances himself from his own room and falls into the arms of a group of white supremacist who would like to have him join the group. Shortly, Remy is brainwashed into the group’s ideology that the group of white males promotes. The group of white supremacist displays their ethnocentrism of white people. Malik and Remy are caught in altercations throughout the movie, in which Singleton uses to cause rising action towards a climax that ultimately causes the belief that students have to change. Also, Malik, being involved in these situations, develops some frustration towards the beliefs and acts of Remy and the white supremacist. I believe that Singleton uses these rising actions as a symbol of the way that our environment can influence us and can sway our thoughts on issues. For example, Remy is vulnerable when he becomes an outcast after been known for saying things out of the ordinary. However, he is approached by skinheads that mold him into their group beliefs and values. At first Remy is uncertain when he witnesses his new friends beating up people on Halloween but he is reassured by Scott, who is the noticeable leader of the group, that what they are doing is good and making society cleaner. From there on Remy grows into a skinhead himself that has determination to get rid of the minorities. Malik also undergoes a similar change, where he develops into an individual who shows hate towards white people. Malik also begins to stereotype and he exemplifies this when we notice him dodging his close friend who is his roommate and even tells him that they can’t be seen together. Singleton’s also portrays the different cultures that each group shares. As a group, members enjoy practicing their culture and enjoying the freedom that they have to follow through with their practices. For example, the African American students enjoy listening to their rap, hip-hop, and R B, and when they play their music in front of people from a different background, more importantly, the white skinheads; they scold the African American students and seek to get rid of them. I believe that Singleton uses this act of other cultures displaying their values to symbolize that America is a free nation where everyone is free to their own beliefs and values; however, many prejudices exist and many people have trouble accepting a more diverse society. Over time, America has come a long way from when segregation of minorities was protested. Being a minority is more accepted in today’s society. Also, even in younger generations, I am beginning to notice that, now, we do not see the color of a persons skin at first. Stereotypes still exist, and it seems almost common nature for one to stereotype a person, but in today’s society, these concepts are more thought about and held back in respect for one another. As a college student, I do not walk around campus and see only groups that consist of only one type of race. When I see groups of people, many of them are more diverse than ever. You read "â€Å"Higher Learning† Reaction Paper" in category "Papers" You can still notice that many of the different races still cling together almost by instinct, however even sometimes these groups interact with each other and are more socially accepting of one another. The racial divide no longer seems to exist as much as it did from the movie. There still are some people out there that still practice ethnocentrism; however, in today’s society, these people are now mostly looked down upon and can be considered a minority group. The race and culture barriers that once caused so much devastating acts of violence and treatment against people of a different background no longer litter the streets of everyday activity. The few people that still have negative beliefs of people of a different race are now sunken into the background of society. Many of the negative words are now kept inside and are often kept unsaid. These words often remain unsaid mainly because in today’s society people who promote prejudices against different races are more than often looked down upon. In addition, certain words now have different meanings, some completely opposite of what they meant in 1995. The way people communicate with people of a different race has changed greatly. There may be preconceived stereotypes that people still carry with them due, mainly in part, to the environment one grew up in. However, people have learned to respect one another and issues with communicating with people of a different race have become more at ease, rather than being hostile. In some ways, however, there are some similarities that exist between the time frame of the movie, and present-day. People in today’s society still stereotype one another. The stereotypical thought is often the first thought that comes across our mind when we see a person of a different race. Over time, though, stereotypes have been slowly diminishing in society. Some other similarities are the groups of people. Although the way that students group with each other is not based so much on race anymore; larger organizations still exist in today’s society. One example of an organization is the Ku Klux Klan. Also known as the KKK, the Ku Klux Klan is a group that consists of only people from the white race. Their main purpose is to reinforce their belief that the white race is more superior to any other races. Other groups also exist in today’s society that practice the values that they believe. However, these groups are not so much outgoing anymore and the acts of violence that the groups committed in the past are rarely seen in present day. There were many points throughout the movie where a scene occurred that caused viewers the realize something. For example, in the scene where Malik is in a conversation with Fudge, Fudge explains to Malik that all the students of the same race only interact with each other and are rarely seen with students of a different race. After Malik is told this, at that point in the scene, Malik’s face turns stern and the music becomes more dramatic. I believe it is at that time where Malik realized the social barriers that existed on campus and also around the world. Another scene that came to be very important to me is when Remy is seen in the first step of him becoming part of the white supremacist group. In the scene Remy is seen studying outside on some stairs shortly after leaving his room due to his African American roommates playing loud music. At the time Remy is vulnerable and is in need of company. The leader of the skinheads happens to approach Remy in this time of need and Remy is convinced into following Scott, the leader of the skinheads. These two scenes in the movie are two of the few scenes that stand out the most to me. These scenes stand out the most to me from other ones because these are two points in the movie where the way the two students perceive people of a different race begin to be altered by their environment. I believe that Singleton incorporated these scenes and the way the two characters develop in order to symbolize the change in society by whom we may encounter in life and how that can impact our beliefs. Another scene that I believe is significant is at the beginning of the movie when Malik enters an elevator after a white student, Kristen, is standing in the elevator about to go up. During this brief scene in the elevator, after Malik get in the elevator, Kristen clinches her purse more tightly and her facial expression shows fear for Malik. This scene shows that at the time of the movie how people reacted towards one another. It is also a brief time where you can notice that Malik only shakes his head when he sees how people react towards him. I enjoyed the movie very much. The movie pointed out the harsh reality of the way society was in 1995, especially on a diverse college campus. The move portrayed many acts of violence that may have occurred in real life and it helps to raise our attention and realize how ignorant people acted toward each other. After watching the movie I hope that people who discriminate against other races and cultures can change the way they think. The movie made me feel grateful, as well, for the people who went through this hard time in America and got through it in a righteous manner. After watching the movie, I became more aware of what the current time era presented to people. And that was ignorance, violence, prejudices, and discrimination towards people who looked differently than that of one’s self. I have much respect for the people who had to go through so much trouble just because they were different. I also enjoyed the movie because Singleton incorporated scenes that may seem out of the ordinary is today’s society, but is what really happened during the days of America segregating. The movie â€Å"Higher Learning† is directly related to our Sociology course, in that the film’s main them is racism, and other sociological issues that existed in 1995. In our sociology class, we learn about the reasons why humans interact with each other in the way that they do. In the movie â€Å"Higher Learning† many issues arise such as racism and discrimination, as well as, prejudices and barriers. In our sociology course, we learn about these issues and other sociological concepts so that we understand the way society interacts. How to cite â€Å"Higher Learning† Reaction Paper, Papers

Small Business Speech free essay sample

Would you want to run your own business now? Well, what if I told you this isn’t what the average business owner does and is actually pretty far from the real true. Today’s small business owners are the backbone and drive behind the success of a business and above all, in charge of and responsible for everything the business does. However, there are many challenges that face small businesses today and an article written by Michael Alter for INC. com in 2013 listed that the major challenges for small businesses lately have been the economy, government regulations, and the tax environment (Alter, 2013). This is why operating a successful small business today requires attention to many aspects including management, marketing, customers, and location. I am personally a small business owner and have operated a summer rye wicking business since 2004, which explaining that is another speech in itself, so know the joys and discomforts of running your own business. We will write a custom essay sample on Small Business Speech or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Signpost: The first aspect of a successful business is its management. Body: I. Having the right management allows employees to know what they’re doing and how it relates to the goals of the business. . Every business has an owner, or owners, who first started the business and are the ones in charge or effectively the managers for the business. b. It is essential for the owners to convey their vision for the business to the employees so everyone can understand the direction and goals of the business (Kiser, 2004). c. Getting everyone on the same team and to understand what their job is is essential to the operation of a small business. Signpost: As management has to do with employees, marketing focuses on the ustomers. II. One of the most important aspects of running a successful business is knowing the market. d. Not only is it imperative to know the product or service being offered, knowing whom that good or service is focused towards is equally important. e. A quote by Sco tt Kiser in his Keys to Running a Successful Business in 2004 states â€Å"If everyone is your market, then no one is your market† (Kiser, 2004). Meaning a product can’t be sold to everyone but instead a specific market. f. Knowing what the target market consists of and if there are enough customers to maintain steady business is an essential part in the success of the business. g. In my personal business, my client’s word-of-mouth marketing is one of the main ways I gain business through providing a quality service. Signpost: As marketing deals with finding the right area of customers, keeping the business of customers is a whole different part. III. Every business, small or large, needs customers to survive. h. As with marketing, knowing what customers inside the target market want is crucial for success. . How the customers purchase the service or product along with meeting their growing demand is a vital part in providing quality service and keeping their business (Kiser, 2004). j. Making sure the product they buy, or the service provided, meets or exceeds the customer’s satisfaction is essential to maintaining a quality relationship. Signpost: Just as customers are vital to a business , the location serves are equally important purpose. IV. Every business needs a location to operate from whether it has one employee or a thousand. k. The business location can mean the difference between success and failure, which is why the location is one of the single most important factors in a small business as stated by Caron Beesley of the U. S. Small Business Administration in 2013 (Beesley, 2013). l. Some business can be operated from home, while others need a physical store front. m. Either location can work as long as it does not interfere with the interaction with the customers and the goal of the business. n. My personal business is based out of my home, but requires me to travel to each individual client since it is based on a service. Signpost: To summarize let’s look back at the aspects required for a successful small business. Conclusion: Running a small business may seem like an easy job, but in reality, it requires attention to many vital aspects. Management is crucial for directing employees and keeping the overall goal alive. Marketing is required to know the needs and wants of the customers and customers are required to for the business to survive. Location is vital to the success of the business and the interaction with the customers.

A Brief Overview of Émile Durkheims Role in Sociology

A Brief Overview of Émile Durkheim's Role in Sociology Who was Émile Durkheim? He was a famous French philosopher and sociologist known as the father of the French school of sociology for his methodology combining empirical research with sociological theory. The following outlines his life and career and his published works. Early Life and Education Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) was born in Épinal, France, on April 15, 1858, to a devout French Jewish family. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all been rabbis, and it was assumed that he would follow their lead when they enrolled him in a rabbinical school. However, at an early age, he decided not to follow in his familys footsteps and switched schools after realizing that he preferred to study religion from an agnostic standpoint as opposed to being indoctrinated. In 1879, his good grades got him into the École Normale Supà ©rieure (ENS), a well-regarded graduate school in Paris. Career and Later Life Durkheim became interested in a scientific approach to society very early on in his career, which meant the first of many conflicts with the French academic system- which had no social science curriculum at the time. Durkheim found humanistic studies uninteresting, turning his attention from psychology and philosophy to ethics and eventually, sociology. He graduated with a degree in philosophy in 1882. Durkheims views could not get him a major academic appointment in Paris, so from 1882 to 1887 he taught philosophy at several provincial schools. In 1885 he left for Germany, where he studied sociology for two years. Durkheims period in Germany resulted in the publication of numerous articles on German social science and philosophy, which gained recognition in France and earned him a teaching appointment at the University of Bordeaux in 1887. This was an important sign of the change of times and the growing importance and recognition of the social sciences. From this position, Durkheim helped reform the French school system and introduced the study of social science in its curriculum. Also in 1887, Durkheim married Louise Dreyfus, with whom he later had two children. In 1893, Durkheim published his first major work, The Division of Labor in Society, in which he introduced the concept of anomie, or the breakdown of the influence of social norms on individuals within a society. In 1895, he published The Rules of Sociological Method, his second major work, which was a manifesto stating what sociology is and how it ought to be done. In 1897, he published his third major work, Suicide: A Study in Sociology, a case study exploring the differing suicide rates among Protestants and Catholics and arguing that stronger social control among Catholics results in lower suicide rates. By 1902, Durkheim had finally achieved his goal of attaining a prominent position in Paris when he became the chair of education at the Sorbonne. Durkheim also served as an advisor to the Ministry of Education. In 1912, he published his last major work, The Elementary Forms of The Religious Life, a book that analyzes religion as a social phenomenon. Émile Durkheim died of a stroke in Paris on November 15, 1917, and is buried in the citys Montparnasse Cemetery.

Free Essays on 12th Night Qoute

Quote Essay â€Å"If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die† These are the first lines of the play, said by the Count Orsino. These lines set one of the main themes in the story, which is that love can bring much suffering. The plays characters seem to view love as a plague or curse which does not bring them happiness. What Orsino is saying in this first passage, is that he wants the musician to play so that the music will feed his love and that once the musician plays enough he will be sick of love and then die. Many other characters claim to be suffering from love as well. Olivia is suffering first of all because of the loss of her father and then her bother. This effected her so much (at first) that she refused to be in the company of men for several years so she could mourn them. Olivia also describes love as a â€Å"plague† from which she suffers terribly (I.v.265). She thinks that she is suffering because Viola does not love her as well. The theme also continues into the relationship of Viola and Orsino. Viola has fallen in love with the count but can not express her love to him because she is disguised as a man. She may also feel emotional pain because of Orsino’s constant talk of Olivia. Viola also may be suffering from the thought that her bother as died. This suffering from love in the play is something that brings a comedic affect to the play. To the audience it is funny that Olivia has fallen in love with Viola. It is also funny that she chose a woman in disguise over a real man, who has wealth and power. We need the suffering of the characters for entertainment, but to the characters this not a laughing matter. So if this theme wasn’t in the play it would lose its main appeal.... Free Essays on 12th Night Qoute Free Essays on 12th Night Qoute Quote Essay â€Å"If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die† These are the first lines of the play, said by the Count Orsino. These lines set one of the main themes in the story, which is that love can bring much suffering. The plays characters seem to view love as a plague or curse which does not bring them happiness. What Orsino is saying in this first passage, is that he wants the musician to play so that the music will feed his love and that once the musician plays enough he will be sick of love and then die. Many other characters claim to be suffering from love as well. Olivia is suffering first of all because of the loss of her father and then her bother. This effected her so much (at first) that she refused to be in the company of men for several years so she could mourn them. Olivia also describes love as a â€Å"plague† from which she suffers terribly (I.v.265). She thinks that she is suffering because Viola does not love her as well. The theme also continues into the relationship of Viola and Orsino. Viola has fallen in love with the count but can not express her love to him because she is disguised as a man. She may also feel emotional pain because of Orsino’s constant talk of Olivia. Viola also may be suffering from the thought that her bother as died. This suffering from love in the play is something that brings a comedic affect to the play. To the audience it is funny that Olivia has fallen in love with Viola. It is also funny that she chose a woman in disguise over a real man, who has wealth and power. We need the suffering of the characters for entertainment, but to the characters this not a laughing matter. So if this theme wasn’t in the play it would lose its main appeal....

Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fashion - Essay Example One, there was an atmosphere of freedom. Two, the industrial era was growing. And three, there were people whose ideas were catching up with the youth of those times. What was happening was a new generation shaken by the war and psychologically drained was left without mooring. It was left to this generation to lead or to be lead. The economic scenario was grim. In this environment, a new culture emerged that was to give the haute couture in Paris a run for its money! Fashion was no more to be treated as the private domain of a few individuals. It became mass based. It became an industry that rolled out quality, ready-to-wear stuff in mass productions. There was awareness to move away from the elitist class to more bourgeois order and reap the benefits of a freer and more powerful society (Mid Twentieth Century). The 1950s emerged with the market targeting teenagers for music and fashion. The trends were becoming bolder. Women were wearing shorter skirts. Popular movies set trends in what to wear and more than eager teenagers in huge droves styled themselves after their divas. Christian Dior introduced a New Look silhouette that bespoke the freer atmosphere after the war restrictions. The New Look silhouettes included longer skirts with emphasis on waist and shoulder lines (1950s fashion). In the 1960s, a class of fashion designers emerg... In the 1960s, a class of fashion designers emerged of the likes of Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent, and Emanuel Ungaro. They brought about radical changes in the way people wore clothes. This was also the time when the skirt had metamorphosed to mini-skirts. The hippie culture towards the latter part of the decade added its own imprint on dresses and the bell-bottom trousers was one of them. Since then, the world has not looked back. The pattern of wearing clothes continued from the 1960s to the 1970s. The jeans also made their presence felt and people began wearing them in large numbers everywhere. Jeans were increasingly tattered to give the wearer the look of randomness. However, this was also the time when the shift was taking place away from the mini-skirt and the skirts began dropping to below the knee levels. Shoes were more flat and pointed or rounded in leather or canvass. From the 1970s the trend for changes continued albeit more sporadically until the closing of the millennium in 2000. In the mid-1990s the insistence on more formal clothes became a necessity and young people were told to be formally attired. These were the days of recruitments. Technology advanced. Management got more powers in decisions of recruitments and lay off. They could tell their recruits what to wear. In many firms they wore uniforms. This trend has continued to this day. Fashion and the Arts In arts, fashion covers a wide array of interests from handicrafts and photography to knitting and shoe making. Each stream is a field by itself and nurtures its own discipline. From time to time, one or more disciplines come together to exhibit their wares for a few days to weeks. Fashion is in essence

Court Observation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Court Observation - Essay Example In the year 1978, five boys were reported missing and were presumed dead. The suspects that were captured at the time, Lee Evans and his cousin, Philander Hampton could not be held due to the absence of credible evidence. However, as time went by, the court found something to link Lee with the murders of the five teens. The issue that arose during the case was the linking of Lee to all the murders (Henry, p. 20). Questions as to why he would do such an act were asked. The public was very interested in the closure of the case. To this day, the bodies of the teens have not been recovered. Families of the deceased are appealing to the accused to disclose the location of the bodies. This is to allow them to be at peace and have the ability to let go of the memory of their lost ones. Facts reveal that Lee Evans and his cousin led the teens into a vacant house, put them in a closet, poured gasoline and lit it. They then left. It is believed that the teens were forced to the abandoned house at gun point (Henry, p. 22). First, three were taken by Lee then two followed later. When asked the reason he was doing this by his cousin, Lee said it was payback since the boys had stolen his marijuana. The case came to a close as the jury found Philander Hampton guilty of the five counts of murder. This is because he had pleaded guilty to the charges. The case had gone cold and had been put under missing persons. A confession from Hampton helped law enforcement agencies to start the case again. This time they had a witness. Lee Evans still has not pleaded guilty to these charges (Henry, p. 23). There was a plea made by Lee’s defence for a mistrial but the judge, Patricia Costello, denied the motion for the mistrial. If the case was considered a mistrial, then the case would have to start all over again. Beside Hampton, Lee Evans is the only other person who truly knows what happened. This means that the prosecution is heavily reliant on his account of what happened. Since the fire destroyed the credible evidence, the prosecutors have nothing else to go by. Lee’s defence asked the witness why he did not stop the accused from doing what he allegedly did. The answer Hampton gave was that he did not know Lee was going to do it (Henry, 25). He is the one who allegedly gave Lee the matches to use to set the place on fire. The prosecution in this case has a hard time since the evidence produced by their only witness is being questioned. With his tenth grade education, Hampton seemed confused with the account of what actually happened. Hampton, in his testimony, claims he fled from the scene of the crime before it was set on fire. He explained to the jurors in the case how the accused, Lee Evans, led the victims into the deserted building and carried out the actions (Millman, p. 15). Lee acted as his own defence at the beginning but later on, he decided to involve a public defender. The credibility of the key witness was also questioned. This was bec ause of his past criminal record. He had been arrested on several occasions and charged with drug possession. He was also charged with shoplifting. The defence thinks that Hampton was coerced into agreeing to testify against his cousin. They also think that if he is the key witness, why did he have to wait this long to decide to testify (Millman, p. 25). As a witness, Hampton had a lot on his plate. Family members claim that they suspected Lee Evans from the start. This is because, at the time of the

Analysing The Age Of Global Tribes Philosophy Essay

Analysing The Age Of Global Tribes Philosophy Essay In The age of global tribes, Amin Maalouf presents two themes; religion as the main identifier in now a days and globalization. He discusses these in parallel, demonstrating how they affect and shape one another. He approaches the issue of religion by attempting to analyze how it came to be that specific aspect of identity that everyone seems to be holding on to presently through a series of questions resonating around the source or reason for this global drive back to religion. He provides some probable answers attributing this phenomenon, as he calls it, for example to the fall of Communism and Marxism and how their goal of obliterating religion back fired, hence making religion the sole refuge for the oppressed. The authors position is clear through out this chapter, for although, hes personally not against religious affiliation and he believes that religion is always going to be a present factor no matter how dynamic the equation of life got, he still stands against religious affiliation being the primary or sole form of identification and declares that we are in a need for an other aspect of association He calls upon a separation of church and identity and states that if religious affiliation were to be replaced, it ought to be with something more humane and not the opposite. When addressing the issue of globalization, Maalouf describes its power of propagation and how in the face of such a strong phenomenon, religion is being chosen as the shield and sought as a refuge since it seems to be comforting and fulfilling both urging needs of spirituality and identity. This is a very interesting chapter from his book, as it discusses an extremely real and present phenomena, the battle between identity and globalization. One could take such a dilemma lightly dismissing it as a natural reaction to change, but what one must realize is that like any battle ever fought, its the lessons that one learns while fighting that are more valuable than the outcome itself. We, as individuals should be concerned about this ongoing conflict, one that we are involved in without even being aware of. We take it for granted that we know who we are and where we stand but when faced with a crisis, things shift drastically and we surprisingly find ourselves on sides we might not have known even existed. Thats what this excerpt invoked in me, while reading it, especially when the author presents the idea of how one is in fact closer to his contemporaries than to his ancestors, elaborating this through the two types of heritages that he calls vertical and horizontal. Our ho rizontal heritages seem to affect us more than we realize, this is something to seriously reflect upon and understand since we do by habit or denial tend to hold ourselves in regards primarily if not solely of the verticals level point of view. For this battle to end, we all should find a way to mingle these two phases of our heritages within us in order to achieve inner peace. This should be taken on an individual level; every part should heal itself in order for the whole to be able to achieve harmony. Globalization like any other phenomenon is a medium; it has both good and bad in it. Why do we take it as a habit to scorn upon the objects, means or mediums rather than the persons who use them to do bad? These mediums are not bad or good by nature but they hold the potentiality of being one or the other, depending on whos using them. They are in a state of neutrality until used, and hence the outcome if bad should therefore be attributed to the person and not vice versa. The author in this chapter tries to show the potential good that globalization can bring in that it can in fact help direct the worlds attention to a global identity. The only aspect that we all should hold as primary of our identities, is our humanity, thats the type of lineage that we should strongly identify with, thats what we all have in common , thats what we all are no matter what . Admitting that common bond will in no way make us less of the individuals that we are. How did union come to mean loss? Why is it ok to belong to a certain group but suddenly its threatening if its on a universal level? On the contrary, I find it personally to be inspiring and strengthening to belong to such a universal lineage, especially one that is as certain and as real as humanity. Because coming to think of it, anything else in the world is taken now a days by words or actions, making it a complex and unstable foundation for intentions and motives are involved and one can never manage to know these for sure but humanity is the only aspect of ourselves that is undisputed; one cannot pretend to be a human being! Of course, history is full of examples of certain characters that lacked humanity in them as shown by their actions and thoughts but these I insist remain an exception. I find myself standing on Maaloufs side in his call for a universal identity , one that we all belong to by the virtue of our humanity and through which we all enjoy our fundamental rights and one in which our dignity is revered and preserved. For universality cannot exist without such concepts. Human dignity should be maintained above all. Unfortunately, realistically speaking we stand in a world very far from achieving this view any time soon whether it is due to political systems, materialistic notions or simply apathy , I honestly dont know. But I do hold conviction to one thing and that is in order for us to embody such a vision, we will have to start with ourselves first, this has to be fought on an individual level and once weve all dealt with it ,well realize that the battle is already won.