Abstract
This paper examines the history of American individualism, culture, community and civil rights using Bellah, et al's "Habits of the Heart" and Morris' "Origins of the Civil Rights Movement".

From the Paper
"Social scientists have long debated the relative influence of individualism and community in shaping the American political culture. Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler and Tipton make the case that American nationalism is essentially Eurocentric, based in large measure upon the values and norms of the Anglo elements and groups within society and representative in many instances of the British legal and social traditions. While recognizing that this is the case, Aldon Morris suggests that in a society which promotes assimilation as..."

Tags:individualism, culture, community, civil rights

Abstract
This critical and thematic paper notes the importance of grading systems and cultures to grow up around educational institutions, conventions of grading, and the amazing self reproduction of these cultures. The writer discusses that this contrasts with the reality of genius as if often undetected in such systems, along with the need for entirely different concepts of education as propounded by Paulo Freire. The writer maintains that much has been written of the postmodern condition but whatever the influence of 'gradism' Paulo's demands of better education remain just as badly needed.

From the Paper
"Formal systems of education have codified subsystems of grading that direct students' fortunes within and sometimes beyond educational institutions. Rather than serving as rough indications of a student's ability or effort, whole social categories have grown up around grading systems in different environments and to the extent that grading can largely define the person, depending upon the environment concerned. As Paulo Freire remarked, long ago now, educational systems need not reflect local realities or their practical needs, as was well displayed in ..."

Tags:grading, education, as, culture

Abstract
This paper explores the impact of culture for children in the school system. It further addresses how culture influences how the child thinks, learns and becomes socialized in the educational community. The paper also notes that because the influences of culture on children begin from the time of birth, the information that affects the child's development is significant and so is the potential for conflict to arise within the classroom.

From the Paper
"Culture impacts every child that enters the school system because culture impacts how the child thinks, learns and becomes socialized in the educational community. Because the influences of culture on children begin from the time of birth, the information that affects the child's development is significant and so is the potential for conflict to arise within the classroom. This is because the student has learned to value his or her cultural ideas, which often become completely separate from the social norms expected in schools. Therefore, how culture is embraced or denied in the classroom has the potential to have long term affects on the..."

Tags:culture, language, education

Abstract
This paper presents an account of specific elements of Senegal's culture including clothing and fashion, music, dance, film, books, food. The paper presents an overview of Senegal culture and roles of Islam and French colonialism.

From the Paper
"This research gives an account of selected attributes of Senegalese culture. The research will cover culture clothing music dance movies books and food with a view toward locating major themes evident in patterns of change and consistency in these categories ..."

Tags:Senegal, Islam

French colonialism

Cultural features

Africa

Negritude

Francophone

Abstract
This paper discusses several areas of recent controversy that can serve to erode the public's confidence in the law enforcement officers involved. The paper relates that sneak and peak warrants and FISA wire taps are raising questions of the public's right to privacy. The paper also discusses how the designation of certain individuals as unlawful combatants and incarcerating them without benefit of counsel can diminish the public's confidence that the law enforcement community will respect their 6th Amendment rights, and, the practice of rendition, where suspects are transferred to third party nations erodes the public trust as well. The paper asserts that the September 11th terror attacks was an all too painful reminder that homeland security is a national priority in the modern age of terror. The paper offers an examination of the discharge of this important duty by law enforcement officers and the public perception of the propriety of their actions.

Tags:homeland security, public, relations

Abstract
This paper examines how the existence of a 'slave community' is a subject that provokes a great deal of controversy and debate, among historians of American slavery and how the essence of the term 'slave community' implies a separate collective culture and way of life, encapsulated in a microcosm away from the world of the whites.

From the Paper
"The most provocative discussion on the subject of a 'slave community' was its rejection by Stanley Elkins. Firstly, Elkins argues that there was no common shared culture or community brought with the slaves from Africa. Elkins sweeps away generalisations made about African culture that could have made a 'substantial difference in character and social habits' by highlighting the 'cultural diversity among the African tribes.' A point also carried by Kolchin who comments 'during the antebellum period southern slaves lacked the large-scale infusion from Africa that might have served to foster black cultural forms.' The likelihood of a shared identity diminishes even further when you consider the diversity of languages across the West Coast of Africa."

Tags:african-american, elkins, stanley, blacks

Abstract
This paper examines the assertion that management communication can change the culture of an organization. The paper uses case studies to assert that executives must actively engage in effective communication in order to maintain a successful culture. Detail about why communication is so essential is also provided along with journal and text references.

From the Paper
"In the concept of a culture or organization, regardless of size, communication defines the framework for efficiency, values, and successes. A culture that does not communicate effectively cannot be as successful as one that flourishes on sufficient information exchange. When members of an organization do not understand the goals and desires of the group, dissent, unrealized goals, and incompetence can occur. Well-planned conversations and management direction allow for a thriving culture. In a culture that relies on limited communication, members can be left..."

Tags:organizations, culture, communication

Abstract
This paper is a comparison between ancient Egyptian culture and more modern cultures. Comparisons are made with respect to the arts, architecture, cultural tradition, agriculture, art, religion, language, and several other areas.

From the Paper
"Ancient Egyptian religion, though it was quite different from that of modern religion, has proven to be quite influential on modern society. Dating back as far as the fifth millennia BC, the period which was characterized by the development of the calender. The calender was important to religion because it was based on the documentation of religious feasts.1 The calendar eventually evolved into its present form but it was the early Egyptian version that became the basis of documenting time. The Egyptians, much like other cultures, believed in the existence of higher beings(Gods of the earth, air, and heavens).2 Much like the Egyptians, most modern day religions are all based on the worship of a spiritual presence, giving reason to believe that the study of Egyptian religion is what has influenced the worship of other God's throughout history. Another point to make about the influence of Egyptian religion is that religion was the central part of their lives for the most part,3 much like the way it is for people of the church and monks today. Other aspects of ancient Egyptian religion that can be viewed as influential could be the fact that they worshiped in temples,4 comparable to the churches and temples of today. A final point of interest with respect to ancient Egyptian religion is that they Visutskie 3 actually dealt with the idea of death and resurrection thousands of years before the Christians did with Jesus Christ. Egyptians actually celebrated the feast of Easter with the death, burial, and disappearance of their King, Osiris, on a Friday, and to celebrate his resurrection three days later, on the Sunday. The Christian celebration of Easter is, in fact, an exact replica of the Egyptian Easter with respect to time, details, theme, and objective.5 Aside from religion, perhaps the most influential part of Egyptian culture on modern culture is that of the architecture."

Tags:agriculture, art, comparison, culture, language, pharoah, pyramid, religion, tomb

Abstract
The following paper will argue that any description of cross-cultural similarities and differences is best founded on a consideration mainly of culture-specific dimensions rather than culture-general dimensions; beyond that (and just as importantly), if one wishes to be competent in cross-cultural communication and learning, a firm grasp of culture-specific dimensions is critical. With that in mind, the following paper will look at how emphasis upon culture-general dimensions can lead someone to overlooking the subtleties that distinguish various cultures. The paper will also, in the interests of fairness, highlight how knowledge of culture-general dimensions can allow someone to feel "more at home" in an alien culture - and it can humanize others in the minds of a person traveling to a new location for the first time. Lastly, the essay ends by returning to its support of culture-general communication by citing the time saved, by making it easier to distinguish the "real" commonalities between cultures, and because it makes possible more experiential opportunities.

From the Paper
Intercultural Study: Why Descriptions of Cross Cultural similarities and differences are best founded on consideration mainly of culture-specific dimensions rather than culture-general dimensions The following paper will argue that any description of cross-cultural similarities and differences is best founded on a consideration mainly of culture-specific dimensions rather than culture-general dimensions; beyond that (and just as importantly), if one wishes to be competent in cross-cultural communication and learning, a firm grasp of culture-specific dimensions is critical. With that in mind, the following paper will look at how emphasis upon culture-general dimensions can lead

Tags:specific, dimensions, culture

Abstract
The status and position of women living within Amazonian communities has been widely researched over the past forty years, with the majority of earlier studies reporting that woman were controlled through a division of labor that served as a socialization process. This essay reviewsS. L. Heckler's article, "Tedium and Creativity: The Valorization of Manioc Cultivation and Piaroa Women", in which Heckler contends that current research suggests, "that division of labor enforces and underscores the complementarities of gender roles and that this complementarity is the basis of Amazonian social life".

Outline:
Introduction
Gender Issues and Socialization
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Heckler reported that all four women considered manioc, which they all cultivated to a greater or lesser extent, as being a vital element of their lives, while individual success, or lack of it, significantly contributed to both personal and corporal status. Laura, for example, was highly respected in the community because of her profound agricultural skill and knowledge, and because she was the daughter-in-law of the group's most powerful shaman. Maria, who like Laura was a middle-aged woman, was also highly respected because of agricultural skills. The third woman, Marie Gloria, who was ten years younger than Laura and Maria, although not particularly recognized for her agricultural knowledge, was valued for her processing skills. The final subject used was a younger woman, Antonia, (around thirty years old), who spent a limited amount of time growing manioc due to having to provide a wage. This, as Heckler states, causes women, such as Antonia, "obvious discomfort at having to admit ... that they did not work in the garden every day" (2004). This indicates that women who do not, or are seen as not, fulfilling their 'feminine obligations' are considered as being inferior. This, as seen in the case of Antonia produces feelings of inadequacy, personal failure, shame, and guilt, for the 'failure' to comply with local tradition."

Tags:women tradition amazonian, gender roles, male domination, community respect recognition status culture roles