Abstract This paper explains that Saudi Arabia has the highest number of first cousin and second cousin marriages because in the Saudi family, the only interaction which is permitted between a man and a woman is inside the family structure with cousins. Fifty percent of all marriages are consanguineous and three out of four of these are between first cousins. The author stresses that the recessive genes resulting from consanguineous marriages often result in the off-spring having many cardiac malformations and diseases that are very rare in the west or totally exclusive to some Saudi Arabia tribes. The paper recommend that, to stop this practice, thus reducing the societal costs, the Saudi Government (1) has first and foremost to discourage inbreeding on a public level with the help of the Ulema and religious leaders of the land, (2) has to increase awareness among both tribal and urban dwellers about the problems arising from inbreeding and (3) all families should be taught to recognize diseases in their family to assist in determining the genes that are causing the problem. Map.
From the Paper "Since the Saudi society is an ultra conservative society, there hasn't been much talk about the effects of these marriages on child birth before recent times. In older times the child would probably die, most still do, and no body would attribute it to social practices of the people in regards to marriage. Although this is changing, there is still a long way to go. In a study by Al Gain on the disabilities in Saudi Arabia, he found out that most parents of disabled children had no idea of inheritance rules, and the diseases afflicting their children were actually genetic disorders."
Abstract The authorship of the 'Gospel of John' has been debated over the centuries, and no one is entirely certain of who wrote it to this day. There is evidence to support various claims of authorship, and this paper argues the case for New Testament figure John the Baptist, cousin of Jesus, as the book's author. Support for this theory comes from a number of sources, including textual evidence in the 'Gospels'. The considerations of the Baptist's identity and background must be considered in this discussion, as well, as 'The Gospel of John' was written in a very different style from the other gospels, which may be reflective of John the Baptist's unique and radically different personality and overall personal style. John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin, son of Elizabeth who was Mary's cousin, and was only 6 months older than Jesus.
Abstract This paper discusses how certain movies and television shows today that portray trials adequately and correctly to the public viewers but there are some details that are incorrect. The author discusses the correct way of selecting a jury, examining witnesses and introducing evidence into a trial, and looks at particular films which may affect the general public's opinion of a trial by jury, such as "My Cousin Vinny" and "The Rainmaker".
From the Paper:
"Movies and television display correct as well as incorrect details about the process of a trial by jury. The public's perception can be easily influenced by watching movies and television that present incorrect details of trials. By learning the actual and correct process of a trial by jury, the public will become more informed of the errors presented in television and movies."
Abstract This paper studies the essay written by Norman Cousins in 1962 about who was responsible for the death of then famous boxer, Benny Paret. It looks at the dangers of boxing as a blood sport and questions whether wider social circles were to blame for his death.
From the Paper "In his 1962 essay "Who Killed Benny Paret?", Norman Cousins makes a strong argument against the propriety - and the morality - of professional boxing. He backs up his statement with quotes from an interview he did nearly three decades before he wrote this essay as well as facts from the then-recent death of boxer Benny Paret. Although the essay is a compelling argument about the physical dangers of boxing to participants and the moral dangers of boxing to those who watch the sport, the essay would be even more effective if it were not quite so repetitive and if the events that he is writing about were better known to today's readers."
Abstract This essay compares the various ways in which American marriage ideals have resulted in the stigmatization of non-traditional types of marriage such as cousin, polygamous and homosexual. It emphasizes the roles of religion and reproduction in determining which types of marriages are considered acceptable. The writer concludes that while American has had a rapid push towards civilization and culture, this has led to the stigmatization of American citizens who are simply pursuing marriage in nonstandard ways.
From the Paper "Morality and evolution have come together to form American cultural assumptions about marriage. Consequently, both American society and law have banned and stigmatized cousin, polygamous and gay marriages. Because many people in America regard marriage as a sacred institution comprising the basis of civilized society, an inability to reach this status has serious social and legal consequences. American cultural assumptions have limited the purpose of marriage to one particular pattern of reproduction, stigmatizing people with other beliefs or practices."
Tags: eugenics, homosexual, lesbian, religion, society
Abstract This paper reviews Moya's work on the Spanish immigrant community that came to Buenos Aires during the 19th century and explains his motive for writing the book. The paper also discusses the central thesis in the book, Moya's analyses of the history of the immigrant community, and the strengths and weaknesses in the book.
From the Paper "According to Moya, statisically, Buenos Aires in South America had the third largest Spanish population in the world, after Madrid and Barcela in Spain. This surge in population occured after four million Spaniards immigrated to Buenos Aires in the 19th century. Moya suggests that methodologically, the large proportion of the Spanish population that immigrated to Barcelona was ignored by historians because these individuals were not seen as exotic in comparision to other immigrant communities in Argentina. While it is true that the nation as a whole experienced an increased rate of immigration during the 19th century, the Spanish immigrants were viewed in a uniquely complex way, in regards to their Hispanic heritage. They were poor and of working class, yet they spoke Spanish. They were of despised groups and professions, quite often, but they were seen as embodying the local heritage."
Abstract In this paper, the writings of classical Greek philosophers and Robert Hughes and Norman Cousins are used to help answer the question of "what is the purpose of art what is its effect, and what is gained by a culture's interest in it?"
From the Paper "For many many years, efforts have been made to answer such questions as 'What is art? What is the inherent value of art? and Who determines the value or art?' (i.e. the artist or the viewer i.e. society) There are perhaps as many answers to these questions as there are artists and audiences. If we look at the works of Robert Hughes, Norman Cousins and the classical Greeks, we can discern a glimpse into the answers to these perplexing questions."
Tags: Plato, Aristotle, representation, fundamental questions, customs, practices, rituals, shared meaning, values, communication, history, records
Abstract An evaluation of the opinions of multi racial Asians living in different countries and a review of the problems they face. Articles by two authors who have addressed the issue according to their own experiences as part of a multiracial community are discussed. These are Lonnae O'Neal Parker's:" White Girl? Cousin Kim Is Passing. But Cousin Lonnae Doesn't Want to Let Her Go" and Remy Gastambide's "Living in Shame". This paper also discusses issues relating to Tiger Woods' multiracial identity.
From the Paper "While considering the experiences of Parker, who is a multiracial woman living in the United States; it has been observed that the major problem faced by the multiracial individuals is that of their identity. They are ever confused by the question as to which group they belong to? She shares her experience of how her mother was being questioned about her as to whose child was she and what difficulties she went through during her childhood. She shares the thoughts on how the multiracial families try to escape from their identity in order to get accepted by the society. In this regard, she shares her experience with her cousin who considers herself as a white person just because her skin gives an impression of a white women, eve though she is a multiracial individual like her."
Abstract In 1814, Lord Byron, upon seeing his cousin Lady Anne Wilmot Horton in "a mourning dress of spangled black", was so moved that by the next day he had written ?She Walks in Beauty,? first published in Hebrew Melodies in 1815. Similarly, more than two centuries earlier, a young, radical poet from Canterbury named Christopher Marlowe published "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus" which contains a poem inspired by ?The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships,? namely Helen of Troy. The paper shows that as "idealized" women, Byron's cousin Anne and Marlowe's Helen stand as symbols of love in the hearts of the two authors. It examines the way the image of beauty is expressed in both poems.
From the Paper "Marlowe also describes Helen's beauty as "fairer than the evening air" and "clad in the beauty of a thousand stars" which like Byron's cousin Lady Anne symbolizes her dual nature as one who reflects darkness and brightness. The poet also states that Helen's beauty is brighter ?than flaming Jupiter,? a reference to "the God of Heaven who loved Semele and consumed her with thunder and lightning" (Barnet 93). Since Helen is also ?more lovely than the monarch of the sky,? a possible metaphor for Phoebus, the sun god, the poet wishes to be in the "azure" arms of Arethusa, a nymph "greatly loved by Jupiter for her beauty as reflected in the blue waters of the Hellespont" ( Harmon 258). Finally, the poet declares that ?none but (Helen) shalt be my paramour!? or a greatly loved and adored woman who is far above all else on Earth and in the Heavens."
Abstract The following paper discusses the story by Rebecca Harding Davis with an aim to show the beginning of a resurgence of interest in a woman whose first major work wrought radical changes in how fiction would be written and read in America.
From the paper:
"Life in the Iron Mills" has been called ?one of the revolutionary documents in American literary history.? The same year it was published by Atlantic Monthly, then America's leading national magazine, the country became embroiled in the Civil War.
"The narrator of this story is very familiar with, but at the same time very removed from the world she describes. She takes the reader on a tour of a factory town and an iron mill, where a young man named Hugh Wolfe shovels coal for the iron furnaces. Hugh is worshipped by his cousin, Deborah, who while visiting Hugh at the Mills steals the wallet of leading males citizen of the factory town when he comes through the mills for a tour and notices, along with the other men on the tour, the "korl woman" figure sculpted by Hugh."
Tags: feminism, woman, revolution, civil, war, narrator, discrimination
Abstract The paper discusses family gatherings, identity and how the author's family and childhood affected her writing style. The grandmother, an older and wiser person, was Cofer's primary influence and she is discussed throughout most of the paper. The paper presents comparisons of the grandmother.
From the Paper "Family gatherings have always been an important factor among families, especially my family. Everyone would enjoy each others company, the men in one room and the women in the other, watching the football game or telling stories. I remember hearing laughter and from the men, groans when their favorite teams weren't performing up to par. I also remember listening to the women in my family tell stories of when they were younger and remenise on the "good 'ole days". The family in "Casa: A Partial Rememberance of Puerto Rican Childhood", by Judith Ortiz Cofer, is much like mine. All of the women sit in a room and discuss life in general. These moments helped develop me into a mature woman and identify myself as they also did for Cofer. I was able to become a more self-aware person and see myself not only through those around me, but especially through my own eyes, just the same as the chats did for Cofer. Because of the gatherings, she was able to develop her love for writing stories and mature as a woman."
An introduction to the South American Indian tribe, the Yanomamo and and an exploration into their customs, including their system of cross-cultural marriage.
Abstract A paper which examines the Yanomami people - a remote tribe in the Tropical Forest on the border between Venezuela and Brazil. The paper shows their customs and culture and focuses on their system of cross-cultural marriage which follows a bilateral cross-cousin marriage system. The paper also discusses Napoleon A. Chagnon, a young American ethnographer who brought the knowledge of Yanomamo ethnography to the world.
From the Paper "The practice of infanticide is practiced in their culture. This is one of the reasons why there are more males than women. If a female is born she is killed at birth. They feel that women are inferior. Some Yanomamo women kill their infant because they fear the wrath of their husbands for having a female baby. The Yanomano may choke the baby with a vine, suffocating the infant by placing a stick across her nose, or slamming her against a tree. "
From the Paper "Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, married to Muhammad's daughter Fatima. As a boy Ali, who was much younger than the Prophet, lived in Muhammad's house and was practically adopted by him. At the death of the Prophet the confusion over the succession (al-khilafah, hence the "caliphate") to the leadership was heavily debated. Ali's claims, based on his double relationship to the Prophet, were supported by many. But the leadership was given to Muhammad's father-in law, supported by Muhammad's wife A'isha. After two more successors, Ali ibn Abi Talib was declared caliph. But his rule was brief and when he was assassinated those who seized power began the line of the Umayyad caliphs.
The followers of Ali (the shi'ah of Ali) remained faithful and most did not recognize the Umayyad line. This difference.."
From the Paper "This study will examine the influence of Ali Talib, the cousin of the Prophet Mohammed, on the development of the religion of Islam, as well as on the Shi'ite branch of that religion. The study will include consideration of Ali's struggles in life as well as the reasons he was not chosen to be the successor to Mohammed.
Ali was born approximately in the year 600 A.D., when Muhammed was about thirty years of age. When Muhammed was six, after the death of his father, mother, and grandfather, he "entered the household of his uncle Abu Talib, the father of Ali and the head of the Banu Hashim family. Thus, Ali was not only a cousin but also virtually a foster-brother of Muhammed (although there was a considerable age difference between the two)" (Momen, 1985, p. 2)."
Abstract From 1910, when many of their Latin American cousins were establishing their own national autonomy and identity, the United States, through government policy, military might and business interference protected their own interests and sustained the balance of power their way. This paper explores how the United States dealt with three of their Latin American neighbours: Mexico, Argentina and Nicaragua. It conducts an analysis of U.S. involvement on Mexican, Argentine and Nicaraguan territory and affairs and discusses how this interference manifested through U.S. government and military policy, exports and business interests. This paper explores each of the aforementioned Latin American countries separately.
From the Paper "Argentina experienced a similar type of relationship with the United States, not unlike Mexico. From 1913 to 1929, the foreign trade value increased threefold. Argentine natives could purchase more foreign-produced material per capita than the U.S. In 1920, total Argentina-U.S. trade rose to $421 million. From 1914 to 1919, Argentina experienced a positive balance of trade. From 1921 to 1929, total trade volume performed better than two billion dollars but Argentina experienced a trade deficit with the US. The share of US trade with Argentina was rising while Britain's percentage was falling."
