How Can We Safe Water - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 946 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/04/15 Category Ecology Essay Level High school Topics: Water Pollutions Essay Did you like this example? INTRODUCTION Being born and raised in Florida I take water pollution very seriously. I grew up surfing in the crystal blue waters in Ponce Inlet, Florida. Water pollution is a very serious problem that has not only an impact on the planet but to us, our health, and our future generation. We all have access to free water in our homes but we use the convince of it being bottled, buying it at the store and grabbing one before we run out the door for the day. The dangers that plastic has on our oceans and humans is going to be a crisis for our aquatic eco-system if we dont do something about it. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "How Can We Safe Water?" essay for you Create order BODY Water is free right? Does your fridge have a water filtration system? Do you have tap water in your house? If the answer to a majority of these questions is yes then ask yourself this: Why are over half the Americans buying bottles of water? Plastic water bottles are made from a composition called (PET) polyethylene terephthalate which takes at least 450 years to decompose. A simple plastic water bottle sitting on your desk will outlive us. Over half of the water bottles consumed by Americans today are discarded into the trash which then, where do they go? Landfills and our oceans. According to the National Geographic1, scientists believe that 8.8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every YEAR. Think about it, tons of plastic ending up in our oceans every year damaging the aquatic eco-system. There are so many mini organisms that thrive on the aquatic waters to live so that our aquatic eco-system stays healthy. According to the National Geographic2, 40% of all fish species in the North America are at risk of extension. The bodies of water around the world are critical elements for us as humans not only for our health but for our economy here in Florida. We live in a state surrounded by water, the fish market is popular here. People come visit from all over to come try local fresh seafood. Whether you live in a land locked state or a state that is surrounded by water. The eco-system all serves us the same. Storm clouds move inland from the oceans and carry nutrients through the air providing us with the healthy air we get to breathe. Plastic bottles are not the only problem. Discuss the different types of algal blooms There are many manufacture industries where their chemicals run off into the ground or even worse into rivers or the oceans. This causes a chemical imbalance in the waters which causes algal blooms. Algal blooms occur both in fresh and salt water. When algal blooms occur in the water they suffocate the portion of water from its nutritions killing off any organism that was living also known as dead zones in the water. According to the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship3, run offs are created when water builds on the surface faster than it can enter the soil creating a run off. Once the run off beings chemicals, such as, fertilizers get mixed into the water. The water then flows into canals, lakes, rivers and oceans. As water heats up storms become stronger and beach erosion becomes more prominent. Ice caps melt which creates rising seas. If the water is too warm it can result in the death of aquatic organisms that will disrupt many marine habitats. The increase in warmer waters is created by thermal pollution. Thermal pollution is created when the industrial industries use it as coolant and when the water is deposited back to its original source the temperature of the water deprives the oxygen level of the current water temperature. Creating a change in the overall waters temperature. Look at what happened to Puerto Rico with hurricane Maria. The storm intensified so quick because of how warm the water was. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)4, two things must be present for a hurricane to form: warm air and oceans water surface temperatures at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a recipe for disaster in years to come. If the water is too warm it can result in the death of aquatic organisms that will disrupt many marine habitats. In reference to School of Oceanography5, the warmer the water the lower the oxygen level which will in return shift marine life habitats. CONCLUSION So next time you go to purchase water from the grocery store. Think to yourself how much money you can save a week, month or a year by purchasing a filtration for your fridge and buying a bottle that can be washed. Think about the nutrients we put into the earth, it will come to the surface and make its way to the waters. Think about it. If we dont take of our bodies what happens? We get sick, right? So why are we abusing what is giving us life? References: Aquatic Ecosystems and the Species Who Rely on Freshwater. National Geographic, National Geographic Society , 28 Oct. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/aquatic-ecosystems/ Plastic Pollution. Kids Games, Animals, Photos, Stories, and More, National Geographic Society , 15 Aug. 2018, kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/kids-vs-plastic/pollution/ Gardner, Ron. The Problem of Runoff. Pesticide Environmental Stewardship, pesticidestewardship.org/water/runoff/ US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hurricanes Form over Tropical Oceans, Where Warm Water and Air Interact to Create These Storms. How Does the Ocean Affect Hurricanes?, NOAA Ocean Explorer , 29 May 2013, oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/hurricanes.html Portner, Hans-Otto, et al. Warmer, Lower-Oxygen Oceans Will Shift Marine Habitats. The School of Oceanography, University of Washington, www.ocean.washington.edu/story/Warmer%252C_Lower-oxygen_oceans_will_shift_marine_habitats

The Roman Empire Essay - 1216 Words

Rome was said to be founded by two brothers whose names were Romulus and Remus. Legend says they were raised by a wolf and ran off to a city they both wanted to rule but they killed each other over their lust for power. Romulus killed Remus and named the city Rome after his victory. Romulus’s story influenced many Romans but, what really happened was Romans were under Etruscan rule for many years as slaves until the Romans rebelled and overthrew their masters. Romans were discouraged by Greece thinking Rome would be easily swept away. Rome was attacked by many barbaric tribes including fighting a war with the Etruscans but triumphed again and again. Rome started with nothing and worked its way to the top, as nothing could break the Roman spirit, and their drive to dominate. After a tedious start, the Romans became the largest and most prosperous Empire the world has ever seen. The Roman Empire was an important building block to how we live today such as are architecture, conc rete, government and war tactics, and if it had not been for great generals of Rome, it may have fallen before it ever had the chance to rise. Rome first started has a republic just like America’s government today except Rome had dictators who would rule for only six months. The Roman republic wasn’t perfect and at first it was ruled basically by the aristocrats because they had all the wealth to bribe their way into government positions. But after refusing work for the unhappy plebeians, thereShow MoreRelatedThe Roman And Roman Empire1068 Words   |  5 PagesThe Roman Empire, which was centered in the city of Rome, was the most extensive western civilization of ancient times. With its major advancements and prosperity it is hard to believe that the Roman Empire suddenly collapsed and fell into a time known as the Dark Ages. After a period of struggles for the Roman Empire, the empire gradually fell. Rome was the most successful civilization of its time. Its strategic location in the center of the Italian Peninsula and the fertile plains that supportedRead MoreThe Roman Of Roman Empire Essay1234 Words   |  5 Pages The Roman scutum was a large body shield used in battles, sieges, and gladiator fights. The scutum was used from the early Roman Republic until the third century CE and helped to define many of the Roman battle tactics that made them so successful. The curved, semi-cylindrical design provided full-body protection and was especially used in the testudo formation during sieges. The Roman Scutum is a perfect example of the military genius of the Roman Legion. The Roman Empire was created from theRead MoreThe Roman Empire1469 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Roman Empire. The Roman way of life and â€Å"Pax Romana† set up a standard of what defined civilization great. However, what was it that made the Roman life great? Was it the rules, the system of government, the virtues of the people? I believe what made the Romans so mighty was a blessing from God due to the outpouring revival of their hearts. However, to fully understand how their hearts were revived for Christ and how God had His hand on them we must take a look at the past of the Romans AfterRead MoreRoman Empire871 Words   |  4 PagesThe Roman Empire is known as one of the greatest empires of all time, blossoming politically, economically, and culturally. Rome was quickly expanding, reaching as far as North Africa. When Octavian came into power, the Pax Romana, or â€Å"Roman Peace,† began. However, this long peace may have triggered the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Because Rome was not distracted by conquering foreign lands, its citizens relaxed and lived in luxury. There did not seem to be any goals they did notRead MoreThe Roman Empire And The Romans1815 Words   |  8 PagesIn Roman history, it is often true that history was written by the victors, and given the large expansion of the Roman Empire, the Romans likely wrote over the accounts of the civilizations they took over, adapting the new provinces into their way of life and assimilating Roman culture into new facets of outlying territories way of life. The Roman Empire and Aug ustus had the ambition to expand north, going east of the Rhine where they had never gone, to take over new territory and the tribes thatRead MoreThe Roman Empire1551 Words   |  7 PagesStep 1: Plan What kind of technology in the Roman Empire affect its growth the most? I will be investigating from the start of the Roman Empire in 753 BCE to when the Western Roman Empire fell in 476 CE. This investigation will have a broad scope while investigating and include things from the Roman Legion to aqueducts and concrete. This investigation will not include technology that was not widely used to better the Roman Empire. The research question will answer my question by conducting researchRead MoreThe Roman Empire Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pages The Roman Empire, arguably one of the greatest civilizations to have ever ruled here on earth. The story is that it was founded by two brothers, Romulus and Remus, sons of Mars, the God of war, and raised by a she-wolf. After killing his brother for crossing his wall, Romulus went on to become the first king of Rome, which was named for him. Later when the men of Rome wanted noble women to be the mothers of their children, they conceived of a plan that included deceiving the Sabin’s and kidnappingRead MoreThe Roman Empire912 Words   |  4 PagesPaper B To many people, the mention of the Roman Empire invokes thoughts of gladiators, debauchery, and the abuse of power. To others, it brings visualizations of classic statues, beautiful temples, and mythological gods. The Roman Empire was all of that and more. The saying, â€Å"Rome wasn’t built in a day† is true and its fall and decline happened gradually as well. Ancient Rome has inspired volumes of historical works, theatrical plays, and even movies in more recent times. More specifically,Read MoreThe Roman Empire903 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the greatest empires in history is the Roman Empire, but ironically what makes it one of the greatest is also what lead it to start falling apart. In other words, many different factors lead Rome to its success and prosperity, but these factors also are the ones that initialize the ruin of the republic. Different authors such as Polybius, Cicero, Sallust and Plutarch describe several of these factors that lead the Roman Empir e to its glory and failure. Polybius relates Rome’s success to itsRead MoreThe Roman Empire Essay1535 Words   |  7 PagesTwo thousand years ago, in the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, the Roman Empire stood strong. Grand cities filled with magnificent buildings and riches of every kind. Rich emperors lived in palaces and beggars lived on the street. The city streets of the Roman Empire were filled with crowds of people making their way to work, school, or play. â€Å"Before it gets light, we have the bakers. Then it’s the hammering of the artisans all day. There’s no peace or quiet in this city!† The overpopulated

14 Points Woodrow Wilson Free Essays

President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points On January 8, 1918 President Woodrow Wilson gave a proposal to Congress which outlined the post World War I peace treaty later negotiated at the Paris Peace Conference, and in the Treaty of Versailles. The fourteen points were intended to generate support for Wilson’s vision of the postwar world, both home also among allies in Europe. The president hoped that the promise of a just peace would be embraced by the populations in enemy nations and generates momentum for ending the war. We will write a custom essay sample on 14 Points Woodrow Wilson or any similar topic only for you Order Now When comparing Avalon Project ( primary) History World (secondary) documents for Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, I found that the primary document is the actually proposal. There is nothing creative about it. It is just what Wilson stated. When reading the primary I had no understanding of what was being presented to both houses of Congress. In Wilson perspective it was for the Congress, to discuss the objects of the war and the possible basis of a general peace. As, I read the secondary source document, I fully understood the proposal. The writer generated this version for the people. He shortened and paraphrased it but, I was able to understand the document. Indeed the Avalon Project (primary) version was more information then what was needed because he was presenting it to Congress so it had to be in a certain form most important professionally presented. That document is more of the original. So it is supposed to be more into details. With the History World (secondary) version the information w How to cite 14 Points Woodrow Wilson, Papers

Islamic Religion Essays - Islam, Quraish, Ahl Al-Kisa, Arab Muslims

Islamic Religion Todays Muslims are branded as terrorists or fudamentalist. But their religion is a gentle religion. On the Arabian Penninsula, home of the Arabs, was isolated and they were able to develop their civilization without outside influences. It is about 1 million miles square, that is located between the Red sea and the Persian Gulf. There are two distinctive regions. The first has well-watered valleys between mountains and the second is arid plains and desert. Grass grows quickly during the showes of the rainy season. In ancient times the Arabs were bedouin (nomads that hersed sheep, goats, and camels. and lived in tents made made of felt from camel or goat hair.) They ate fresh or dried dates and drank milk from their herds. On special occasions they ate mutlon. their tribes were made of related families. They valued family ties becuase because they ensured they ensured protection and survival. They had a chief (sheikh). The sheikh ruled as long as the tribe allowed him. They had a counsil of elders. There was warfare over waterholes and pastures. Their way of punishment is an eye for sn eye and a tooth for a tooth. To improve warrior skills they had camel and horse. They had story telling in frount of the campfire. They had poetry about battles, desert, camels, horses, and love. In 500 A.D. they started a town called Makkah, which was fifty miles inland of the Red sea. Trade was mostly of animal producys for weopeans dates grains, spices, jewels ivory, silk, and perfumes. They had caravans travel there from as for china. Arabs had and worshipped many ditied business ties were replaceing family ties, and old tribal laws were not adequat Byzantine and the Persin armies were threatining to conquer them. The tribes had the some language but they had no central goverment, or sense of unity, The Arabs searched for new beliefs. The prohet of Islam was muhammad. He was born in Makkah in 570 A. D. . He was orphaned at an early age and was adopted by his uncle. He worked as a carovan leader on a trade route. He was know to be honest and able. His employer khadij'a ,a weakthy window if age 40, put him in charge of this business and proposed marriage to him. He went to a cave outside the city in 610 A.D. to pray and fast reveloution (vision) there. He was told to recite. "Recite in the name of your lord, the creator who created man from clots of blood. Rwcite! Your lord os the most bountiful one who by the pen has taught mankind things they didn't know.'' His second vision to rise and worn people. In 613 A.D. he preached to his family and friends that there was one god. And all that belived in him are equal.The rich shared with poor lots of the converts were poor. The rich merchants and the religious leaders did not like,Mushamad and the Muslims were persecuated. After some theats on his life in 632 A.D. he sent 60 families to Yathrib.And then follewes them in secret(Known then as the Hjrah immirgration). 622 A.D. os know on the Musslim calandar as the frist year. Muhamad became the rules of Yathris then it was called Medinch al-Neb orMadinah ''the city of the priphet.''The Madinch Compact of 624 A.D. was the foundation of Islanie state. Muhamad was the Judge and commander in chief. Quxan was their bible of Ialam. They extended proection, to Jews and christiand who accepted Islams political authoriyt. Makkems invaded Yathrib,and the Muslims fought in self defense.The Makkans were defeated. And the Muslims won support of the Arab groups outside of Madinsh. They later invaded Makkah and hod little resistance.They accepted Islamic Religion and Muhammad. Islanic Religion and Muhammed. They destroyed idols, and turned the shrine of prohet Abraham into a place of worship. Makkah was the spiritual capital and Mdinth into the political capital. In 631 A.D. the Arabian Peninsula was supported by an army representing each of the Arab tribes. Muhammad later died at Madinah in 632 A.D. Beliefs The Quran was the divine messages from God over a peroid of 22 years. It was written down or memorized that was compiled into a written collection(Quran). is the final matters of faith and lifestyles. It was written in Arabic. It is stories, teachings, and exhorations of what is written in the Bible. Values Basic Moral values in the Quran are similar to Christanity and Judasim.Murder, lying, stesling and adultury are condemened.Honor parents,

Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism †World History Essay

Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism – World History Essay Free Online Research Papers Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism World History Essay Throughout our world, there are many different nations throughout the world with different nationalities. But what is a nationality? What makes each nation different from each other? Nationalism is the feeling of commonality that one has with people from similar backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. Nationalism has the power to create entire new states, move borders, and start wars. There are the theories of Civic Nationalism and Ethnic Nationalism. Civic Nationalism is the theory that one belongs to a country based on one’s choice to live there. Ethnic Nationalism is the belief that one can only belong to a nation if one is of the correct blood. The forces of Nationalism were at work greatly throughout the 20th century, both positively and negatively. One of the most negative examples of nationalism this century was the regime of Adolph Hitler in Nazi Germany. Adolph Hitler used a combination of myth, ethnic nationalism, and national pride in his regime of power, which resulted in the deaths of millions of innocent people. Nevertheless, German people felt pride in their nation and in their leader, who was bringing Germany back as a world power. Adolph Hitler used pre-existing nationalist sentiment, pre-existing views on other nationalities, and sheer force to instigate his regime. His Ethnic Nationalist views led both to the extermination of millions as well as his desire to make gains in Europe. The extreme negative forces of Ethnic Nationalism were at work in Germany under Adolph Hitler. Hitler believed in a 19th century German belief known as the Volk, in which Germany surpassed other nations in terms of culture and society and had a duty to dominate. Hitler’s views of Ethnic Nationalism led to the Second World War and resulted in an international conflict. Hitler held the belief that other races in Germany were causing German society to decay. He beliefs that the German Aryan race of blond hair and blue eyes is superior to all others, and he dreams of a European union of Aryans, free of undesirable races. The nations he would like to unite in a union of Aryans in clued Germany, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, and England. This aggressive form of nationalism also led to increased militarism in Germany. In 1938, Austria formed a union with Germany. A large amount of people in Austria were of German â€Å"stock† and spoke the same language. Hitler belie ved that â€Å"those of the same blood belong in the same Reich!† (Holocaust Timeline) Throughout Europe and into Southern Russia, German people had settled. Hitler wished to push east and eventually settle these areas with Aryan people. Nazi Germany’s nationalist ambitions were the major cause behind World War II, and their desire to dominate over inferior races is demonstrated through their invasions of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Not only was nationalism a driving force behind Hitler’s goals once in power, but nationalism was one of the major causes of Hitler’s success in gaining control of Germany. After Germany’s defeat in World War I, German nationalism was dealt a severe blow. Hitler himself was completely devastated by the German loss. He said of when he heard the news, â€Å"Since the day when I had stood at my mother’s grave, I had not wept†¦But not I could not help it. And so it had all been in vain†¦Did all this happen so that a gang of wretched criminals could lay hands on the fatherland.† (From Herder to Hitler) The Nazi party appealed to Germans reeling from their defeat in the First World War, which resulted in massive reparation payments to be made to the allies. The promise of a reborn Germany (the swastika symbolised rebirth) that would be the new great military power on the planet offered promise to many. Hitler promised a better country a nd said that the reason the country had crumbled was because of the non-Germans living and infiltrating German society. Hitler played off pre-existing ideas. At this time in Europe, the Jews were mainly a minority nation without a country of their own to live in. A lot of the Jews did not have much land so turned to education as a means of getting by. Many Jews became lawyers, journalists, doctors, and civil servants. Non-Jews resented the position of Jews in business etc. and the number of them getting an education. Jews were often subject to violent displays of protest in Europe at this time. Hitler played off these pre-existing notions about them and used them as a scapegoat for the nation’s problems. One of the major reasons for Hitler’s popularity was the Great Depression. The Great Depression affected one out of two German people and affected Working and Middle class Germans alike. (Howarth) The points offered by the Nazi party had something for everyo ne and eventually Hitler was elected in 1933. In this way, nationalist forces were in favour of Adolph Hitler and let to his rise to power. At the time, German people were inspired by the promises of a better future of a glorious powerful Germany. Nationalism is a very powerful force, however, and can be used both positively and negatively. When Adolph Hitler used nationalism to gain control of Germany, he did not have positive motives as we would see them today. He wanted to control Germany and establish his Aryan state. Hitler’s beliefs in Ethnic Nationalism had a very dark side to them. Ethnic Nationalism in Nazi Germany led to the extermination of millions of â€Å"inferior† races. This practice has come to be known as ethnic cleansing, creating a nation made up only of those who belong by blood. Hitler held the belief that the German Aryan race of blond hair and blue eyes reigned supreme over all other races. This belief was rooted in the Social Darwinist theories of the earlier century. He believed the mixing of Germans and non-Germans had resulted in the deterioration of German society. This also comes from the Darwinist theory in that mixing of different races results in an inferior breed that has less physical and mental abilities. (Heller to Hitler) Under the Nazi’s â€Å"Law for the Protection of German blood and honour,† Jewish people were designated a different race. The subsequent Nuremberg Laws resulted in the Jews having their civil rights taken aw ay and legally declared separate from Germans. In order to bring about Aryan racial supremacy in Germany, the Germans had millions of Jews sent to concentration camps, where they either had to perform arduous labour for the Germans or were executed by firing squad or the gas chambers. Jews weren’t the only people subjected to Germany’s ethnic cleansing. Germany also deemed gypsies, communists, Slavs, religious minorities, and gays undesirable. During Hitler’s Nazi regime, the numbers of people executed are in the millions. The estimates range from the 10 million mark all the way up to the 26 million mark. (Wikipedia.org) Hitler’s views on racial supremacy, therefore, resulted in one of the largest mass murders in history, and are a horrific example of what the force of nationalism can do. When we look at nationalism in Nazi Germany, we can see a regime that appealed to people’s nationalism and managed to get to power because of it. German people wanted to better themselves and they liked what the Nazis promised, a better future for Germany and a stronger Germany. Adolph Hitler’s ideas for a unified Aryan Europe led to the Second World War, one of the most brutal conflicts in history in which millions of soldiers were killed. His dislike for the Jews and his ideas of German nationalism led to the extermination of millions of Jews, gypsies, gays, and other minorities. The forces of nationalism active in Nazi Germany around the time of the Second World War are an excellent example of how nationalism can inspire people and give them hope, yet cause conflict and horrific acts. Nationalism cannot be called a positive force, even for the German people in this case, as these feelings of nationalism led to a brutal international conflict. Research Papers on Ethnic Nationalism or Civic Nationalism - World History EssayAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Quebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraGenetic EngineeringBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

High-stepping Stepchildren

High-stepping Stepchildren High-stepping Stepchildren High-stepping Stepchildren By Maeve Maddox English has several idioms that employ the words step and stepping. As a verb, step means to lift the foot and set it down again on the ground in a new position. As a noun, step is the act of stepping. baby steps and giant steps A â€Å"baby step† is a step that covers a very narrow distance: Still, a year after Mr. Shumlin’s call to arms, progress can be measured only in baby steps. A â€Å"giant step† is one that covers a wide distance, either forward or backward: One of those amendments would address Citizens United which, [Stevens] wrote, was a giant step in the wrong direction. goose-stepping To goose step is to march in such a way that the legs swing sharply from the hips, and the knees are locked. Soldiers marching in this way resemble mechanical toys. Because this type of marching was a feature of Nazi military display, it is associated with fascist power. Goose-stepping in unison may have been used by the Nazis to help brainwash people into following their cause, a new study suggests. India and Pakistans aggressive border closing ceremony has been stopped after soldiers complained the high goose-stepping was wrecking their knee joints and causing foot injuries. Confess that guns hold absolutely no interest or appeal for you, and youre a leftist, a radical who wont be happy until the jackbooted thugs of The New World Order are goose-stepping down Main Street, trampling Our Sacred Freedoms. â€Å"Goose-stepping† always has a negative connotation, but another idiom, â€Å"high-stepping,† can be positive or negative. Literally, â€Å"high-stepping† describes the act of lifting the legs high while walking. Because horse fanciers admired the gait of a high-stepping horse, a fashionable or attractive person came to be known as â€Å"a high-stepper.† Sometimes the term is used in a negative sense to refer to someone who lives extravagantly, or who aspires to a higher social status: Dona had come to town as a schoolteacher.   She was pretty, vivacious, and in the parlance of the time, a â€Å"high-stepper.† Leo Donnelly, always at his peak in silk-lined, low-comedy, high-stepping crook roles, is here at his best. The following sentence spoken by an NPR regular seems to confuse high-stepping and goose-stepping: Nazi soldiers’ high stepping casts a fog over the event. Note: The word fog is also jarring; perhaps the announcer was reaching for pall. Two more idioms that have literal and figurative meanings are â€Å"to sidestep† and â€Å"to step up to the plate.† The literal meaning of sidestep is to step aside, as if to avoid some physical obstacle: Climbing from the carriage, she held her bag against her chest and  tried to sidestep  a puddle  the size of a small lake. Figuratively, â€Å"to sidestep† is to avoid involvement or responsibility: Jefferson Township Sewer Authority  hopes to sidestep  big expense with grant money. â€Å"Step up to the plate† comes from the game of baseball. Note: Home plate is a 5-sided rubber slab at one corner of a baseball diamond at which a batter stands when batting and which must be touched by a base runner in order to score. When it’s a player’s turn to bat, he â€Å"steps up to the plate.† Figuratively, the expression means to come forward and accept responsibility for something that must be done: Community members stepped up to the plate and raised more than $2,700 for the Harmon Killebrew Miracle Field at a recent fundraiser. Unrelated to the verb step in the sense of moving the feet is the affix step- as in stepchild. This step derives from an ancient Germanic word element that was placed before the word for a family member â€Å"to form designations for the degrees of affinity resulting from the remarriage of a widowed parent.† For example, a widow who married a widower would become the stepmother of the widower’s children. They in turn would be her stepchildren. Stepmothers in all the fairy tales I’ve read are notorious for their ill treatment of their stepchildren. Consider, for example, the stories of Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel. Because of the stereotype of the wicked stepmother, the word stepchild has acquired the figurative meaning of â€Å"someone or something that is neglected, undervalued, or abused.† Here are some examples: â€Å"Its a sad fact that P.E. is  educations  ugly  stepchild,† said Goldstein. Rarely is open space seen as more than an afterthought. It truly is a stepchild of planning when it should be a catalyst and spatial organizer for development.   A fairly recent embellishment of stepchild in the sense of an object of abuse and neglect is the expression â€Å"redheaded stepchild.† The earliest evidence of the phrase in the Ngram Viewer is dated 1923. An article at World Wide Words references an example from 1910. Like stepmothers, redheaded people do not fare well in folklore. If a stepchild is undervalued, then a redheaded stepchild is the object of special negative attention: We then learned that Waukegan is apparently  the North  Shores  red headed stepchild.   The South is the  red-headed stepchild  in the American story.   Note: The adjective is hyphenated in the OED, but spelled as one word in Merriam-Webster. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†Driver License vs. Driver’s LicenseTypes of Ignorance

Explain what is meant by orientalism. Discuss how this has influenced Essay

Explain what is meant by orientalism. Discuss how this has influenced Western interpretation of cultures past or present - Essay Example Orientalism could also be used to mean a manner of seeing, which distorts and emphasizes differences in cultures between the Arabic people and people, from Europe and the U.S. It entails viewing the Arab culture as uncivilized, exotic, dangerous, and backward (Said 1978, p. 2). Said defined orientalism as â€Å"the west acceptance of the differences between West and East.† He purported that this acceptance serves as the starting point for detailed social descriptions, epics, theories, and political accounts about the Orient, mind, its people, and customs. In a nutshell, orientalism can be described as the image of the ‘Orient’ portrayed as a thought system. As a scholarly discipline, orientalism began in the eighteenth century following the European colonial conquest of countries in the Middle East. Academic disciplines that addressed the orient flourished; this led to the adoption of orientalism in France, England, and other European nations. Orientalism became t he basis of the western exertion of power over the Orient (Near East Cultures). The west viewed the Middle East as an exhausted, stagnant, and defective region, which needed the involvement of Europeans to enhance civilization. This justification happened with an aim to keeping the dreams and ambitions of the western powers alive. Therefore, Oreintalism can be regarded to have originated from the west’s desire to conquer the Near East and exert significant influence (MacKenzie1995, p. 24). Influence of Orientalism on Western Interpretation of Cultures in the Near East Orientalism has had a profound influence on the way Western cultures depict aspects of the cultures from the East. Western writers and designers have always portrayed the East negatively. Further, artists from the west represent the cultures of the East as backward. For example, French artists in the 19th century used orientalism in their description of Eastern cultures (Kennedy 2000, p. 351). These Orientalists used colors, styles, and elements that portrayed Mediterranean countries of the Near East. Westerners have come to adopt eastern styles, motifs, and subject matter in design, architecture, and art. For example, Turquerie as a fashion dominated the western art work from 15th century to 18th century. Therefore, the west has used fashion, and other artistic styles to portray the Near East negatively (Tausch 2006, p. 83). Further, the West depictions of Islamic Moors, especially the Muslim groups of West Asia and North Africa, portray orientalism. For example, in early biblical scenes, Jewish and Roman characters were displayed with exotic costumes. This reflected the culture of clothing such as wearing of turbans in the near East. In addition, the portrayal of oriental carpets in paintings of renaissance depicts the cultures of the Far East (MacKenzie1995, p. 27). As more Western artists travelled to the Middle East, they represented numerous scenes, which entailed aspects of the Orie ntal culture. They depicted the cultures as exotic owing to its differences. The artists had a keen interest on the Islamic cultures of the Near East. For example, French artists Eugene Delacroix and Jean Leon painted pictures, which depicted Islamic culture. These pictures had an impact on western interpretation of the Western Cultures (Tausch 2006, p. 84). In the West, the use of the orient has continued in the Movies, as westerners use