Abstract This paper describes the Mexican holiday known as Cinco de Mayo. It then goes on to place Cinco de May in its historical context, recounting the events that led to the Mexican victory at Puebla in 1862. Finally, it discusses Cinco de Mayo as a present day tradition and how it is celebrated both in Mexico and the United States.
From the Paper "The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more than just a day of celebration, it is a day when Mexicans around the world recall, maintain and reaffirm their roots. It is a tradition that marks the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla over the French. Since that time no foreign power has ever invaded Mexico and Cinco de Mayo has come to symbolize an end to foreign intervention. According to the American Heritage Dictionary Fourth Edition a tradition is defined as ..."
Tags: Cinco, de, Mayo, Battle, of, Puebla, tradition
Abstract In today's sports, business, academic and other professional environments, conventional wisdom suggests that demographic and cultural diversity contribute positively to enhanced performance by groups or teams. Recent research suggests, however, that while diverse skills and abilities may in fact enhance group or team performance, demographic diversity (e.g. differences among team or group members in language, cultural, referential, or social background) may detract from it. This paper explores factors that make a group into a winning team, as well as analyzes both positive and negative effects of demographic characteristics and cultural diversity, on group and team behavior and performance.
From the Paper "As demonstrated, then, within research; current events, and popular culture alike, demographic and/or cultural diversity either may or may not enhance a team's or a group's performance, depending on the group or team itself; its members; its management and/or other influences; and its shared values, goals, and philosophies. Diversity of skill and ability, research shows, is in general more likely to enhance group or team performance than is cultural diversity."
Abstract This paper explains that one of the greatest factors, involved in the changes or manipulations of an environment, lies in the geographic distribution religion and the way each specific religion spreads and interacts with the surrounding divergent cultures and religions. The author points out that the famous Chinese characters Yin and Yang signify both the shadowy and sunny sides of the same mountain: Yang represents the sunshine, and Yin the darkness. The paper relates that another critical geographic feature of Asian culture especially Chinese is the Yangtze River; the stones from its riverbed are called "Fengshui" or "Geomancy" and are believed to have special powers.
From the Paper "Another example of how the physical landscape of Asia affected Asian religion and culture is apparent in Taiwan. Located in the Shangdong province, Mt. Tai, referred to as "Taishan", is the Sacred Mountain of the East. "Chinese people believe that Mt. Tai is itself a deity or 'Buddha', a powerful deity as well." Mt. Tai illustrates the impact and importance physical geography can have on a culture. Buddhism has incorporated the physical landmark, Mt. Tai, as an integral part of their spiritual belief system."
Abstract This paper explains that the Greek god Apollo represents archery, music and the sun. The author points out that, by being raised on the island of Delos, he was trained by Themis to develop god-like skills away from other Olympian gods and the lower mortals of Earth. The paper relates that, by being the son of Zeus and Leto, Apollo had the powers of both a Titan and Olympian, making him unusually powerful within the pantheon of Greek Gods.
Abstract This essay provides an overview of the work by Bell Hooks, a black feminist. It looks at her work in particular with the issues of expanding and promoting education, stopping racism, sexism and classism as a postmodernist and also by examining her critique of existentialism. The writer also discusses that Bell Hooks can be characterized as a socialist, a cultural critique and even as a radical.
From the Paper "Bell Hooks is a world-renewed scholar and a post-modern black feminist. She is well known for her critical appraisal of the white, middle class and male dominated society. Unlike many of her colleagues in academia, Bell Hooks has participated in TV and radio discussions and takes her view outside scholarly circles. Her written work is also such that it invites readers of all educational backgrounds not just those from academia. Her work on radical black feminism has been an inspiration for many young feminists of colour because of her explicit criticism on the ethnocentrism and mainstream feminism in the white-dominated society."
Abstract It is only recently that women have been permitted to participate in almost any sport, both in an amateur and in a professional capacity. This is largely due to the fact that our society generally views the ideal of female and male, as polar opposites. This view is the main factor influencing this issue, but not the only one.
From the Paper "Sport is shaped by our society, and our society is largely based on an ideal of female and male as polar opposites. This rigid notion of gender has shaped the way sport is practiced in our society. This is one reason why it was only recently that women were allowed to participate in most sports, both on an amateur and a professional level. It is now often thought that women have broken through the barriers and claimed sports as a realm in which they have an equal right to participate. However, the battle is not over."
Abstract This paper discusses how each individual begins to create self-perceptions from a very early age. According to this paper, these perceptions can be transmitted through parents, school, or society in general. However, as concepts are developed in conjunction with a child's culture, these ideals are also formulating a life-long view of the individual child as he or she relates to society, and that will allow the individual to ultimately create an identity that shapes their decisions, life style, and personal world within the larger social structure.
From the Paper "Many researchers contend that immigrants who are transported to another country have a greater chance of survival in the new land if they can quickly identify with a culture that is representative of the home of origin. This is evident because of language barriers, cultures norms, and the individual having a sense of belonging that supports who he, or she believes him/herself to be. This belief demonstrates the findings in the text that indicate that culture has a significant affect on the identity of the individual - to include methods of non-verbal communication, and personal space that is required when communicating. The text further stipulates that culture affects identity through the manner in which people view themselves."
Abstract This paper discusses the book "A Short History of Progress" written by Ronald Wright. Wright argues that progress, as an ideology, is merely a myth. The paper describes how humans see their own progress and advancement in the rapid transition from an industrial economy to information based one, while the reality is that the food technology of the late Stone Age is the only one we cannot live without. The writer explains that the crops of about a dozen ancient people feed the 6 billion people of the world today.
From the Paper "Ronald Wright is a British historian and the author of "A Short History of Progress", an interesting and challenging read. The book is small in appearance, but packs a big punch in terms of jamming the pages with historical facts and antidotes that are informative and intriguing. In his book, he examines the progress and downfall of ancient civilizations. Wright's purpose for writing the book is to warn people of the potential loom and doom facing contemporary society if no attempt is made to avoid the same disasters of civilizations past."
Abstract The paper analyzes how food, its forms and preparations, is recognized by scholars as an important element of human culture and society. The paper discusses how national cuisines or styles of cooking are thus seen as windows into specific cultures by which we can understand their history, influences and the forces that shape their national identity. From this perspective, the paper essay examines the cuisine of Vietnam, with a focus on the national noodle dish "pho".
Abstract This paper focuses on language as it defines cultural identity. The paper examines the lives of individuals that have experienced a cultural separation from society, discovering their personal and cultural identities through language. The paper then further discusses how school age children develop their attitudes about their lives and the world through the acceptance by society of their cultures and their languages of origin.
From the Paper "Language As a Definition of Cultural Identity Individuals that are born into specific cultures are taught through the practices of the culture how to relate to one another, what is acceptable in society, and what their roles are within the constraints of the cultural system. Just as children comprehend gender specifics from their interactions with parental figures from the time that they are born, culture becomes a significant part of the identity of the child because until socialization with the rest of the world begins with school enrollment, the child understands the world specifically through the culture that he or she is associated with. Language is a significant part of that cultural identity. Regardless of the language, each culture communicates with one another with variations of the proper spoken word, such as through slang, phrases, or abbreviated words."
Abstract This paper discusses Tonnies' theories of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft, which suggest two distinctly different ways in which society can be structured. The paper describes the former as essentially rural and arising from a shared moral vision held by persons of close ties and the latter as urban and arising from fear of the different members of the society. The paper uses two theoretical photographs to illustrate these concepts.
From the Paper "Gemeinschaft/Gesellschaft in Photographs The first photograph, which would illustrate Gemeinschaft, depicts a group of people, many of whom are members of the same extended family, although some are neighbors and friends. They all live in the same small village or community. There are no obvious ethnic or social distinctions among them. Children and elderly people are included in the group, and there are both males and females, in approximately equal numbers. In the photograph, these people are engaged in cooking and serving a holiday meal to other persons less fortunate than themselves. Although the photograph could include any ethnic group, and any holiday celebration, for the purpose of discussion, in this case it will be white working-class Americans (farmers), serving a Christmas dinner to a variety of poor people of various ethnicities and races."
Abstract This paper researches the correlation between the Ancient Greek past, the Orthodox Church and Greek culture. It focuses on the areas of the evolution of the Greek Orthodox Church and its practices, art, theatre, music and dance. This paper discusses how each of these areas has roots in Ancient Greece, and the research attempts to demonstrate how these foundations were associated with one another throughout Greek culture.
From the Paper " Theatrical performances began with the use of music by choirs that were praising the gods and pleading for a bountiful harvest. This practice among the ancients also involved the earliest forms of folk dance. These three art forms were later also incorporated into the Orthodox religion through festivals and the practice of a liturgy that remains of cultural significance today.Greek culture has evolved from ancient times with many of the original traditions still being honored today. Elements of ancient Greek culture exist in modern society because the Greeks provided a foundation of many of the world's forms of art. Theatre, for example, began in Greece as a musical choir form of devotion to the gods to ensure a good harvest. Greek art was considered an intricate craftsmanship that demonstrated the precision and advanced technique of an innovative culture."
Abstract This paper refers to the contrasting accounts of the Mau Mau Revolt of 1952-1960 that hastened the independence of Kenya at the terrible price of a civil war and brutal British counterinsurgency campaign. It then discusses economic origins and Marxist historians' views, and examines the dimensions of Kenya's numbers who accepted or supported British rule, demanded a gradual devolution of power and maintained respect for institutions.
From the Paper "The Mau Mau Uprising of 1952-1960, sharpened conflict between Kenya's European settlers and the Home Office in Britain that would bring Kenya's independence in 1963. The rebellion is a reminder of how colonial movements of the kind were often always well developed, ideologically, even as their heroes stay in popular memory as people involved in a noble campaign for freedom. The Mau Mau featured various contrasts in a unique movement that grew from an unique Kenyan environment. "
Abstract This document discusses Google.com and the China market. The first section is an in depth country analysis covering the political, economic, financial, social, physical/technological, and cultural dimensions of the market. The last section is a brief organization and product/service analysis for Google's entry into the China market. The rest of the document discusses Google's product organization in the market.
From the Paper "Since China's accession into the World Trade Organization China's foreign policy has become much more aggressive, assertive, and projectionist in nature as a way to counter perceived threats (Heller, 2003, paras.3-6). These perceived threats are effectively countered by or because of China's political apparatus: "China's rise is no longer a matter of the future. It is already the fourth largest economy in the world, and it is growing at three to four times the rate of the first three" (Zakaria, 2004, para.3). Clearly, China's political map accomplishes much for China's internal development but its policies are enabling it to dominate the Asian region both through aid packages to other countries and an increasingly assertive military stance. Economic China's economic expansion has been the engine driving the global economy."
A review of multiculturalism and the need for tolerance as discussed in the book "A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America," written by Ronald Takaki.
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the book "A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America," written by Ronald Takaki. Specifically, it summarizes parts three and four of the book, which focus on "distances" between cultures and "crossings" and what the mirror may hold for the future. The paper concludes with Takaki's advice that we all came from different shores in the beginning and that our stories and history have many more commonalities than differences.
From the Paper "Mexican migrant workers form another facet of this multicultural mirror in America. They too crossed the border into America hoping for opportunity and jobs. What they found, like so many others, was backbreaking work in the fields of the West. This section indicates how Chicano and American workers were paid far different wages, even doing the same jobs, and they, also like many others, created their own communities, the barrios, where they felt comfortable and secure. They also worked in a number of other low-paying professions, and often sent money home to their relatives to support them. The compelling issue among all these immigrants is their desire for a better life, and their need to retain at least some of their own culture. This seems to be the biggest problem with Americans, who expect immigrants to immediately become Americanized and forget their old lives and cultures. For many, this is simply not possible and desirable. The mirror is different for all, and that is one of the strongest points the author makes throughout this section of the book."
