Abstract This paper presents an overview of the life of OmarKhayyam, born on 18 May 1048 at Nishapur, the provincial capital of Khurasan. The writer explores all aspects of his amazing life, as painter, mathematician, musician, writer and philosopher. The paper begins with his early life in Persia through to his death in Nishapur on 4th December 1131. The writer believes that OmarKhayyam was an outstanding astronomer and astrologer and his contributions to this field are invaluable still today. The paper includes a number of drawings of the man and examples of his writing.
From the Paper "Omar Khayyam was well known as a poet, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and physician. His full name was Ghiyath al-Din Abu?l-Fath Omar ibn Ibrahim Al-Nishapuri al-Khayyami. A literal translation of the name al-Khayyami means "tent maker" which maybe derived from his father's trade or he may have practiced this skill at one time. Khayyam played on the meaning of his own name when he wrote; ?Khayyam, who stitched the tents of science, Has fallen in grief's furnace and been suddenly burned, The shears of Fate have cut the tent ropes of his life, And the broker of Hope has sold him for nothing!?."
Abstract OmarKhayyam's poem, "The Rubaiyat", is a work alive with contrast, conflict, and contradiction. Some of these conflicts are external conflicts, cultural conflicts, physical conflicts, and time. There are also the eternal, internal struggles of sin against holiness, wisdom against lack of knowledge, and faith against unbelief. This paper shows that all of these conflicts show the basic question of the poem: "What is the meaning of life"? Khayyam tries to answer this question many times in the poem. He offers several different answers, many in contradiction of each other. The paper shows that the answer he finally comes up with is one quite against his Muslim faith. It shows that the poem can be seen as an argument between the physical and the spiritual, with the strong, human, physical urges winning out over the weakness of the metaphysical.
From the Paper "Bringing up Jesus and Moses (as well as David later on) not only brings in organized religion to the piece, but also uses them as references to pre-Islamic religions of the Middle East: Judaism and Christianity. More distinctly pre-Islamic Persian references to Jamyshd (an ancient mythical Persian king and constant presence in the poem) and to Pehlavi (the pre-Islamic Persian language) come up in the fifth and sixth stanzas."
Abstract This paper discusses two essays on machismo, "What is Macho?" by Rudolfo Anaya and "Machismo is Complex" by Omar S. Castaneda. The paper summarizes the points made by in the two essays and then explains the macho defense system dynamic that perpetuates machismo in men.
Tags: macho, machismo, masculine, male, Muy, Macho, What is Macho?, Machismo is Complex
Abstract The paper presents a critical review of "Streets of Glory - Church and Community in Black Neighborhoods" by Omar M. McRoberts, determining the McRoberts' success or failure in accomplishing his stated intent in writing. The paper sites both advantages and disadvantages in regards to this book in particular, and submits comments on the value of developing an understanding of faith-based social services in general.
From the Paper "McRoberts considers three "ways in which churches were meaningfully different....churches differed in their application of ubiquitous religious ideas, in modes of interaction with the immediate environment and in their approaches to activism, or social change" (2003:59). Differing views of the street include seeing it as an: evil/dangerous place; a recruiting ground, a point of contact with people at risk. Many churches were a combination of these. How churches interpreted "in the world, but not of it" found expression in particularism and exilic consciousness. This often included linking holiness with Southernness and equating life in the North with exile. Church activisms are displayed along a continuum of: serve members more or less exclusively (priestly) -> mixture of members and non members (pastoral) -> mostly nonmembers (prophetic). McRoberts maintains that churches are impacted for change by leadership turnover, congregational growth more than by the "broader political and cultural climate."
Abstract This paper compares the texts of Mawardi and Nizam Al-Mulk and analyzes their contributions to Islamic culture. In addition, the times and the lives of these two great thinkers and the social ambiance that shaped their psyche are examined.
From the Paper ?Al-Mulk drew up a set of protocols for the governance of the empire called the Siyasat Nameh, the two most influential institutions of which were the offices of atabeg, and the right of iqta. Atabegs were military advisers to young princes who frequently ended up usurping the power entrusted to them, while iqta was a grant of the income from land to an official who was entrusted with its running. In theory no ownership in the land passed but in practice large hereditary estates developed. Both these institutions led to a massive decentralization of power and this in turn facilitated and prolonged the factional fighting which characterized the Seljuk period of power.?
Abstract This paper explains that the mathematical formula known as "Pascal's Triangle" was simultaneously discovered centuries before Pascal by the Chinese and the Persians; it was even mentioned by OmarKhayyam centuries before Pascal. Pascal, however, one of the world's most famous mathematicians, was the first "modern" mathematician to realize the true potential of the formula and apply it. The author points out that Pascal's Triangle contributed to the understanding of probabilities, which led to the development of "average gain" or "probable gain" formulas that are still used extensively in business and industry. The paper relates that there is one problem with Pascal's formula: as the numbers increase, the triangle takes much longer to solve, and the formula becomes ungainly, but mathematicians have learned to cope with the formula and have created alternates that let them work with the numbers more effectively. Formula included.
From the Paper "The mathematical formula known as "Pascal's Triangle" has long been attributed to the great mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, who lived in France during the 17th century. Pascal only lived to be thirty-nine years old, but during his lifetime, he made significant achievements in mathematics and philosophy, and may be most well known for the mathematical formula of Pascal's Triangle, which he did not invent, but has long received credit for inventing. Pascal was a bright child, who created the first known type of automatic calculator at the age of nineteen, and invented the modern-day barometer before he turned thirty-one."
Tags: probabilities, persians, chinese, formula, problem
From the Paper "Omar Cabezas, in Fire From the Mountain, portrays his own coming of age as a member of the revolutionary Sandinistas in Nicaragua. The book is essentially an effort to show the human side of an evolving Sandinista, to humanize the hazy and frightening image of the Nicaraguan revolutionary which is posited by enemies of the Sandinista revolution. The book is also meant to offer a non-romantic portrait of the same group, countering the image presented by those who would paint revolution as an entirely glorious and endlessly inspiring adventure.
Cabezas tells us offhandedly --- in the immediate aftermath of a description of a popular pool hall in the author's hometown of Leon --- that "I remember it was during Holy Week that I joined Frente Sandinista, right after I graduated from high school" (p. 15). The reader is unprepared for such information..."
Examines the unique story-telling approaches of Toni Morrison "Beloved", Rigoberta Menchu "I, Rigoberta Menchu", Omar Cabezas "Fire From the Mountain" and an Aztec collection "The Broken Spears".
2,475 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 5 sources, 1995, $ 87.95
From the Paper "For members of marginalized groups, limited access to education and literature compel them to forge fresh relationships to language. Writers from these groups base their work on modes of speech, on communal traditions of oral communication, and, sometimes, on the reimagining of European art forms. But, when they employ the standard framework of novel, chronicle, or autobiography, the standard is transformed. As a group, they (and others like them) are creating a genre, the novela-testimonio, in which the disenfranchised seize the weapons used to oppress them, and turn them on their rulers. That is the case for the following four narratives, which take very different forms: Toni Morrison's Beloved is a novel; Rigoberta Menchu's life story. I, Rigoberta Menchu, was compiled from a series of interviews; Omar Cabezas wrote his autobiography in Fire from the ..."
Abstract Carol Moog's article, "Media Mirrors" deals with the changing advertisements of Maidenfrom lingerie. The paper discusses Moog's point that women went from seeing Maidenform commercials as being interesting and empowering to seeing them as embarrassing. The author of the paper argues against Moog's opinion and challenges the idea that the type of underwear one wears determines whether one believes in oneself or not. The paper also examines the role of men in the advertisements.
From the Paper "From personal experience and observation, I don't agree with the author of the article. I think that Moog portrays women as not really knowing what they want, and as the kind of people who are extensively swayed by advertising campaigns. Granted, it is the goal of advertisers to sway people to buy their product. However, Moog's article almost sounds as though she does not feel that most women are intelligent enough to make choices in their life based on things that are more important than what type of bra they are wearing. Since the article is written by a woman, it surprises me that the article would give off this kind of impression. However, that is the very definite feeling that I received from it."
Abstract Where advertising is considered, the roles that men and women play in it, and how they feel about the ways they are portrayed in it, have changed over time. The paper discusses Carol Moog's article "Media Mirrors" in which the main focus of advertising centers around the Maidenform bra company. Maidenform has been around for a long time, and consequently has had to change its advertising strategy several times to keep up with changes in women's opinions and beliefs. From the point of view of Moog, women went from seeing Maidenform commercials as being interesting and empowering to see them as embarrassing. The paper also gives its authors personal opinion on Moog's article and shows that she disagrees with much that has been written.
From the Paper "The problem with the men in the Maidenform commercials of later years is that they completely ignore the woman in the advertisement. Not only are they not interested in her physical attributes, but they do not appear interested in what she has to do or say either. This did not appeal to many women, because they felt that men were ignoring them despite the fact that they were flaunting themselves. Exposing oneself, whether physically or emotionally, is usually a difficult and stressful time. There are people in this world that enjoy it, but they are not the majority."
Abstract Malcolm X, African-American activist and member of the Nation of Islam, spent most of his life fighting racism and white supremacy in the United States. This paper outlines several key experiences in Malcolm X's life and connects them to his actions, using quotes from his autobiography to support its conclusions.
From the Paper "In doing so, Malcolm X redefined for himself the role of white people in addressing the persisting problems of racism in America. Before, the white man was automatically considered to be the enemy and hence nothing outside of complete separation could solve the myriad of problems facing the American black man. However, with the focus on society itself Malcolm X was finally able to see that not all white men were determined to see him fail. " "The true Islam has shown me that a blanket indictment of all white people is as wrong as when whites make blanket indictments against blacks," he proclaimed."
Abstract The paper highlights the insurgence of terrorism and the resultant fears expressed by peoples throughout the world. The paper discusses the characteristics of the leading terrorist organizations and the background of its leaders in an attempt to explain the thinking behind the terrorist psychology.
Outline:
Hamas
Hizballah
Al Quaida
LTTE
Hizb ul-Mujahideen
Terrorists Profile
Usama Bin Laden
Velupillai Prabhakaran
Shoko Asahara
Mullah Mohammed Omar Ahmed Ramzi Yousef
From the Paper "Terrorism has expanded into every nook and corner of the world today. A terrorist today, does not appear with a distinctive personality but rather blends with the society leaving security experts with little clue. While organized crimes are mostly economically motivated, terrorism is on an entirely different footing. Religious and cultural fanatism are the main motivational factors for terrorist outfits. [Frank Bovenkerk] Terror networks are in operation with the groups globalized and operating from diverse bases. Because of this, it is not possible for law enforcement officers to operate with existing tools for local crimes. Terrorism management wings need international cooperation and a transparent relationship with their counterparts from other nations."
