Understanding the Bible Belt in the United States

When American geographers map rates of religious belief and regular attendance at places of worship, a distinct region of religiosity appears on the map of the United States. This region is known as the Bible Belt, and while it can be measured in a variety of ways, it tends to include much of the American South.   First Use of Bible Belt The term Bible Belt was first used by the American writer and satirist H.L. Mencken  in 1925 when he was reporting on the Scopes Monkey Trial which took place in Dayton, Tennessee. Mencken was writing for the Baltimore Sun  and used the term in a derogatory way, referring to the region in subsequent pieces with such quotes as the Bible and Hookworm Belt and Jackson, Mississippi in the heart of the Bible and Lynching Belt.   Defining The Bible Belt The term gained popularity and began to be used to name the region of the southern U.S. states in the popular media and in academia. In 1948, the Saturday Evening Post  named Oklahoma City the capital of the Bible Belt. In 1961, geographer Wilbur Zelinsky, a student of Carl Sauer, defined the region of the Bible Belt as one in which Southern Baptists, Methodists, and evangelical Christians were the predominant religious group. Thus, Zelinsky defined the Bible Belt as a region stretching from West Virginia and southern Virginia to southern Missouri in the north to Texas and northern Florida in the south. The region that Zelinsky outlined did not include Southern Louisiana due to its preponderance of Catholics, nor central and southern Florida due to its diverse demographics, nor South Texas with its large Hispanic (and thus Catholic or Protestant) population.   History of the Bible Belt The region known as the Bible Belt today was in the 17th and 18th centuries a center of Anglican (or Episcopalian) beliefs. In the late 18th century and into the 19th century, Baptist denominations, especially Southern Baptist, began to gain in popularity. By the 20th century, evangelical Protestantism could be the defining belief system in the region known as the Bible Belt.   In 1978, geographer Stephen Tweedie of Oklahoma State University published the definitive article about the Bible Belt, Viewing the Bible Belt, in the  Journal of Popular Culture.  In that article, Tweedie mapped Sunday television watching habits for five leading evangelical religious television programs. His map of the Bible Belt expanded the region defined by Zelinsky and included a region that encompassed the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. But his research also broke the Bible Belt into two core regions, a western region and an eastern region. Tweedies western Bible Belt was focused on a core that extended from Little Rock, Arkansas to Tulsa, Oklahoma. His eastern Bible Belt was focused on a core that included the major population centers of Virginia and North Carolina. Tweedie identified secondary core regions surrounding Dallas and Wichita Falls, Kansas to Lawton, Oklahoma.   Tweedie suggested that Oklahoma City was the buckle or capital of the Bible Belt but many other commentators and researchers have suggested other locations. It was H.L. Mencken who first suggested that Jackson, Mississippi was the capital of the Bible Belt. Other suggested capitals or buckles (in addition to the cores identified by Tweedie) include Abilene, Texas; Lynchburg, Virginia; Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Springfield, Missouri; and Charlotte, North Carolina.   The Bible Belt Today Studies of religious identity in the United States continually point to the southern states as an enduring Bible Belt. In a 2011 survey by Gallup, the organization found Mississippi to be the state containing the highest percentage of very religious Americans. In Mississippi, 59 percent of residents were identified as being very religious. With the exception of number two Utah, all of the states in the top ten are states commonly identified as being part of the Bible Belt. (The top 10 were: Mississippi, Utah, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma.)   The Un-Bible Belts On the other hand, Gallup and others have pointed out that the opposite of the Bible Belt, perhaps an Unchurched Belt or a Secular Belt, exists in the Pacific Northwest and the northeastern United States. Gallups survey found that a mere 23 percent of Vermont residents are considered to be very religious. The 11 states (due to the tie for tenth place) that are home for the least religious Americans are Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island.   Politics and Society in the Bible Belt Many commentators have pointed out that while religious observance in the Bible Belt is high, it is a region of a variety of social issues. Educational attainment and college graduation rates in the Bible Belt are among the lowest in the United States. Cardiovascular and heart disease, obesity, homicide, teenage pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections are among the highest rates in the nation.   At the same time, the region is known for its conservative values, and the region is often considered to be a politically conservative region. The red states within the Bible Belt traditionally support Republican candidates for state and federal office. Alabama, Mississippi, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas have consistently pledged their electoral college votes to the Republican candidate for president in each presidential election since 1980. Other Bible Belt states usually vote Republican, but candidates such as Bill Clinton from Arkansas have sometimes swayed the votes in Bible Belt states.   In 2010,  Matthew Zook and Mark Graham utilized online place name data to identify the preponderance of the word church locally. What resulted is a map that is a good approximation of the Bible Belt as defined by Tweedie and extending into the Dakotas. Other Belts in America Other Bible Belt-style regions have been named in the United States. The Rust Belt of the former industrial heartland of America is one such region. Other belts include the Corn Belt, Snow Belt, and Sunbelt.

Tablets Can Help Students Improve Their Learning - 943 Words

Since the advancement of technology, schools have considered replacing textbooks with tablets. According to a 2012 report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), schools spend more than $7 billion dollars on outdated textbooks a year. It has become a major problem. With all the outrageous expenses including paper, printing, and publishing costs that go towards printing textbooks, schools should consider using tablets instead of books for students to use. Therefore, buying tablets would make it more affordable and convenient for schools to receive new information with digital textbooks. However, teachers feel as though tablets would be a distraction in the classroom by having students pay attention to apps, email, and games instead of improving their learning. Tablets can help students improve their learning by providing digital textbooks and educational apps, prevents backpack-related injuries, and increases standardized test scores. Tablets can help students improve their learning by providing digital textbooks and educational apps for students to use that are affordable and convenient. Tablets can hold hundreds of books on a device, plus homework, quizzes, and other files. Fortunately, it eliminates the need for physical storage of books and classroom materials. The average tablet has anywhere from 8 to 64 GB of storage space. For example, when using an iPad it can hold up to 1,000 books per GB depending on the size of the book. Top K-12 publishers such asShow MoreRelatedAli James. Advanced Composition B1. Mrs. Provost. 22 February1540 Words   |  7 PagesComposition B1 Mrs. Provost 22 February 2017 Tablets Are Necessary in Classrooms Tablets in schools come with many pros and cons but ultimately, the world is becoming more and more advanced and technological. Schools need to keep up with the changes going on in the world. Tablets are extremely imperative in schools. People may view tablets as overly expensive, however, they are actually very cost-beneficial. Tablets allow for more learning in the classrooms, give students more and easier ways to learn andRead MoreTablets: A New Force Taking Over the Classroom852 Words   |  3 Pagesis the best possible way for students to learn is the constant topic professors and dean’s are discussing. How can my students better understand the material ,how can I make this course more interesting and what can I do to improve my teaching skills, these are just some of the questions professors ask themselves on a daily basis. The way of teaching with textbooks has always been the traditional method, but seems to never change. The lessons are the same and students are con stantly hearing the sameRead MoreShould Tablets Be Used? Schools All Over The Nation?1329 Words   |  6 Pagesa tap away. Nowadays, an individual can do most things online requiring minimal scrolls and taps. With so many advancements in technology, life has become much more convenient. With modern technology becoming a total phenomenon for civilization, it should be a key aspect to education. Students should be prepared for their future careers where they will most likely be using technology. With all these improvements and advancements, devices were invented that help make school education much easier. TheseRead MoreTablets Vs. Textbooks 1415 Words   |  6 Pagesinto the key source to get students and teachers more interacted while in a classroom setting. Tablets such as the iPad and the Microsoft surface have made this idea possible, showing students that there is another alternative to the traditional method which would be a printed version of the textbook. Tablets are portab le computers that use a touchscreen as its primary input device, meaning that both keyboard and mouse are both physically located on the screen. Early Tablets were built to be used withRead MoreEssay on Textbooks versus Tablets1030 Words   |  5 Pagesinto schools. Technology, such as a personal computer or tablet, with the proper precautions, should be implemented into schools as a learning device. Technology does not just allow students to stay connected with family and friends, they are also an excellent tool for learning, and they encourage the responsible use of technology. To begin with, technology makes it possible for students to stay in touch with family and friends. A student can call home and ask a family member to bring them a forgottenRead MoreUsing Tablets Into The Education System1023 Words   |  5 Pagestopic of learning, most of us will readily agree that the ‘old-fashioned’ style of teaching by textbooks should not be discredited by modern society; however, the incorporation of tablets into the education system has demonstrated a positive approach by showing a correlation between technology and improved learning in students. The standard way to approach learning has it that textbooks form a solid foundation for students’ schooling, but contemporary theory has it that the tablets help students learnRead MoreTablets vs. Textbooks1698 Words   |  7 PagesTablets vs. Textbooks During the 21st century, humans have developed the scientific technologies more rapidly than ever before. And the way of their lives is also changing according to the change of new technologies. Nowadays, we can easily see the people who are holding tablets with their hands around our place. A tablet is simply a mobile computer that is small, portable, and easy to use with just two fingers. Since it has been recognized for its usefulness and utility, many students study andRead MoreReplacing Textbooks with Tablets1024 Words   |  5 Pagesto access the Internet through smart phones and tablets rather than laptops and computers, it is not a surprise that they would also want to transform the American education system by bringing tablets into classrooms. In fact, a few schools around the country have already replaced textbooks with tablets and have seen improvements in students’ standardized test scores. Using tablets instead of textbooks is not only convenient and helpful, bu t it can also reduce the amount of paper wastes in schoolRead MoreTechnology : Benefits Our Everyday Lives1224 Words   |  5 Pagestrying to find new ways that will help improve their lives in beneficial ways. The advantages of using technology are; to help improve the way we learn, to stay connected with family and friends and how the use of these technologies make life easier. Research suggests that technology has become such an important part of our everyday lives because of the benefits that computers, tablets and cell phones provide. Computers today can be found almost anywhere. They can be found in your home, business officesRead MoreImpact Of Technology On The Classroom1118 Words   |  5 Pagesis more interactive for students and they learn more efficiently using it. Should technology be used in the classroom? My opinion on the debate is yes. I think this because there are many positive and negative uses of technology to further education. One example is that nowadays we are consumed by technology, making us progress as individuals, so why should we not use it in education? The main problem is that most people assume it is costly, â€Å"...after buying the tablets and the software, schools

Parents Should Not Spank Children - 1657 Words

Parents should not spank children Spanking is a method that most of parents use to punish their children after they have done something bad, which can help a child not to do the same thing again or over and over. It has been the way of discipline for many years. According to Julie Crandall, â€Å"65 percent of Americans spank their children, which means 3.5 out of 5 parents spank their children†. This study clearly shows us that parents more parents spank their children. Parents have been influenced by their surroundings to do it. They spank their children because they think it really works, so their children can behave better. Also, it can shape the child into good character and parents think spank their children will teach them not to do things that are forbidden. All in all, majority of people in this world believe that spanking is an acceptable tool for disciplining their children. Some people think that spanking is a type of abuse that parents need to correct a child†™s behavior, on the other hand; others think that spanking is not a good way to correct a child’s behavior. A parent does not need to spank your kid to get an outstanding out. Rather than trying to teach a child how to behave, corporal punishment makes him or her feels afraid. With this negative outcome, no parents should spank their children. It would be better if parents stop spanking their children and parents should not be allowed to spank their children in any situations. InShow MoreRelatedShould Parents Spank Their Children?1327 Words   |  6 Pages Should parents spank their children? Miguel Tello EMT LBCC Shawn Parker Nov 24, 2015 Abstract Corporal Punishment is a controversial topic that is influence by religion, values, upbringings etc. What parents do not realize is that it can have great outcomes in whether you practice it or not. One thing is certain, physical abuse is not always the answer. People should take a second and evaluate there parenting skills. Whether they are going to give positiveRead MoreShould Parents Be Allowed to Spank Their Children1456 Words   |  6 PagesShould Parents Be Allowed To Spank Their Children? The inhuman act of corporal punishment at home that is discouraged globally by a number of pressure groups and social welfare organizations should be completely banned, and parents should be allowed to spank their children. Physical violence practiced on children also known as corporal punishment has been discouraged globally by a number of pressure groups and social organizations for a number of reasons with serious consequences for violatorsRead MoreParents Should Not Spank Their Children Essay examples1654 Words   |  7 Pagesinjury. So, are parents actually teaching their children violence? When a parent spanks a child, whether they are aware of it or not, they are teaching that child violence. They are teaching them that hitting someone else is okay. In his article The 13 Ways Spanking Harms Children, Michael J. Marshall, PhD, says that children who are spanked engage in more hitting and fighting than those who are not physically punished by their parents. Relying on spanking when parents think its neededRead MoreSpanking Young Children1366 Words   |  6 PagesAbout 60% of parents in the United States use spanking as a method to discipline their young children. In most cases parents believe that spanking is the only effective way to discipline their children. According to the â€Å"International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family†, spanking is often referred as; â€Å"one or two flat-handed swats on a childs wrist or buttocks, but would not include a beating with a whip or a belt, for others, spanking also includes slaps and pinches to the leg, arm, back , or evenRead More Corporal Punishment in America Essays1222 Words   |  5 Pagescorporal punishment as the use of physical force aimed at causing children to experience pain but not injury, for the purposes of correction and control of youthful behavior (Day 83). Spanking is one form of physical or corporal punishment (Epoch 1). The general acceptance, and sometimes support, of corporal punishment as a method of discipline is an aspect of the American culture (Barnett, Miller-Perrin, Perrin 61). Children are abused, in part, because they are unable to defend themselvesRead MoreParenting Styles, Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive And Uninvolved981 Words   |  4 PagesParenting style has a big impact on how children develop into adults, and there are important implications for their future success. (Ronald Riggio, 2014) How a parent treated their child will follow the child for the rest of its life. Different parenting styles and their punishments that follow can affect the child mentally (psychological disorders) and physically (obesity). While we all know some forms of punishment is uncalled for such as persistence spanking is not typically just punishment butRead MoreCorporal Punishment Is A Discipline Method1650 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish Dictionary, states that the verb spank means to â€Å"slap with one s open hand or a flat object, especially on the buttocks as a punishment† (Spank). Either against or for spanking in both definitions one can see this i s an inhumane thing to do to a person let alone a small innocent child. I have heard stories from my father about how he used to be spanked as a child. He said that if it was a minor wrong behavior then he or his siblings would receive a spank by the hand, but if they did somethingRead More Corporal Punishment (Spanking) - A Parents Choice Essay748 Words   |  3 Pagescausing children to experience pain but not injury, for the purposes of correction and control of youthful behavior(http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=32539). Spanking is a controversial topic and should not be taken lightly. As a child I was spanked when I did something wrong. My parents never left a mark on me what so ever. Being spanked taught me respect and kept me in line. The way my parents disciplined me, I think is an accepted method of punishment. I believe what parents do to theirRead MoreThe Importance Of Parental Spanking Of Children1540 Words   |  7 PagesParents should not spank their children because the parental spanking of children can be harmful to the behavioral and social development of their children. Parental spanking of children is a violent disciplinary technique where a parent hits childrens behinds with an open hand or object in order to deter childrens behavior in a way the parents may perceive as negative. I grew up in a home where my parents spanked me and my three younger brothers. I have witnessed parental spanking of childrenRead MoreThe Effects Of Spaking And Child Abuse866 Words   |  4 Pagesspanked by a parent for misbehaving may carry on this behavior as an accept able form of punishment for their own children. Others believe spanking to be an outdated punishment that is cruel and can cross the line to physical abuse. Some also believe spanking allows a parent to immediately stop a dangerous action, and, as a traditional form a discipline, may be necessary to communicate a message about negative behavior to young children who may not understand verbal explanations. A lot of parents find their

Toy Evaluation Paper - 650 Words

Toy Evaluation Paper I This paper will summarize the ERR articles from the bulleted topics and issues. This paper will also include summaries on toys that may encourage violence and aggression, toys that may promote pro-social behavior, gender stereotyping in toy selection, and cultural stereotyping or, lack of cultural awareness in toys. Influenced Behaviors; Toys can influence a child’s behavior, and his or her identity. Children are given toys that demonstrate different significance about aggression, different genders and how to interact with each other. An example would be guns and swords; these are geared toward boys, and endorse fighting, and battling In retrospect, guns and swords can help children in developing†¦show more content†¦Further, certain toys seem to suggest that boys are valued higher in society than girls (Starr, 1999). The information appears to show that there may be more stereotyping with regard to toys offered to boys. It seems that most parents choose more masculine and gender-neutral toys for the boys such as, soldier action figures, wrestling kits, and karate fighters (Starr, 1999). These types of toys encourage competitive and aggressive behaviors, however; they are also more constructive, conductive to handling, and more reality based (Starr, 1999). For girls, dolls, dream houses, and kitchen centers promote the idea that girls are meant to become mothers and caregivers. This can have a positive or a negative influence on a girl because it can send the message insinuating that girls should be submissive caregivers, and boys should be on control and aggressive. Whereas most gender specific toys fit into the gender specific stereotypes, the nongender specific toys seemed to discourage stereotypes. An example would be Lego’s, this is a nongender specific toys that allows both sexes to use his or her imagination to the fullest. Culturally Influenced; In my observations of toys, including guns, dolls, superheroes, and Legos, none indicated any cultural or ethnic stereotyping. Cultural or ethnic stereotyping can influence a child’s identity. Conclusion; Most children receive toys throughout hisShow MoreRelatedDescription Of A Toy Energy Investigation1451 Words   |  6 PagesMohammad Abuabeeleh Real toy energy investigation – you must choose a real-life toy and qualitatively describe the energy transformations that occur in its operation (for example: in a music box, a dial is turned to wind up a spring. You are doing work to wind the spring, which is stored as elastic potential energy of the music box. After the dial is released, the spring unwinds and converts its potential energy into kinetic energy of the ballerina.) Toy chosen: The toy chosen is the SurfhoverRead MoreManagerial Finance Project Toys R1497 Words   |  6 Pages - 1 - Managerial Finance Project Toys R in Brazil Managerial Finance - 2 - Summary My paper term paper is 8 - page for my managerial finance class that analyzes the prospects of Toys R for international expansion into Brazil . The analysis consists of financial analysis of the company and en vironment analysis of the country. It relies on eight external sources presented in APA format. Body of the paper Introduction Toys R Us Inc., is a leading toy and baby products retail company thatRead MoreJohnson Toy Company1738 Words   |  7 PagesJohnson Toy Company Introduction Efficiency and success of any organization is measured by the effect of its policies to successfully manage its operation. Lack of policies creates confusions among employees and impacts the effectiveness of the organization. As a result of its failing return policy, Johnson Toy Company is challenged with major revenue losses and is considering measures to correctly deal with the problem. Purpose of Paper The purpose of this paper is to propose a new policy thatRead MoreInformation From Other Classes And Supplementary Forms From Icon1333 Words   |  6 Pageswe’ve seen interventions, however we have watched one in depth assessment. Therefore, during this midterm paper, I want to share what knowledge I’ve gained in assessment, intervention, and in overall counseling. Furthermore, I want to integrate information from other classes and supplementary forms from ICON. Therefore, we begin with assessment and evaluation. Before entering the evaluation, there are some steps and logistics a clinician needs to complete. Firstly, a clinician may need to reviewRead MoreForecasting Methods1713 Words   |  7 PagesWho is likely to be first to adapt to each competitive challenge? „X How much change should the firm anticipate both in the short run and the long run? In this paper, I will provide an overview of forecasting methods and compare and contrast these various methods. The paper will then focus on how Mattel, one of the nations largest toy manufacturers, uses demand forecasting under conditions of uncertainty  ¡V most specifically those relating to the pattern and rate at which customers demand productsRead MoreThe Middle Of Business And Human Rights1653 Words   |  7 Pagesethical and social responsibilities to the consumers. Children often lack the literacy skills needed to completely understand how things may work; the toys must be secure in all aspects including both the intended and unintended use of the product. Therefore the products must be safe for the children, manufacturers should not only create safe toys but they must also be aware of the society concerns on children s rights and privacy. Body One of the world’s most leading manufacturers of childrenRead MoreAutism Spectrum Disorders Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will discuss the characteristics or Autism Spectrum Disorder, including its symptoms, treatments, and possible causes. This paper will also highlight the differences between Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) and Asperger Disorder(AD). Autism spectrum disorders effect one in 110 births in the United States. Autism spectrum disorders are severe, incurable developmental disorders whose symptoms, including impairments in social interaction and communication, emerge during the first two years ofRead MoreOp 2.171607 Words   |  7 Pages social emotional, we observe the children in their play and keep observation notes on the area that we are linking the activity to. 2.1 Identify the types of equipment and activities that are used to support creative development †¢ Outdoor toys – bikes, scooters, prams, bouncing ball etc. Hoops. (dancing, spinning with hoops, peddling, moving on the bikes and pushing the pram) †¢ P.E. session. (stretching, running, jumping, crawling, bending etc.) Obstacle relay race. (ropes, been bagsRead MoreMattel Toys: Safe for Girls and Boys? Essay1580 Words   |  7 PagesMattel designs and manufactures toys that are treasured by boys and girls all around the world. They believe in the influence of play and the power it has on children to grow and learn. This paper will look at who was responsible for Mattel initiating the recall of its toys, whether Mattel acted in an ethical, responsible manner in regards to the safety of their toys, and also look at ways society can protect children from harmful toys. Mattel was founded in 1945 and was run from a garage inRead MoreThe Work Of An Occupational Therapist1677 Words   |  7 Pagesto behave at a certain age how would they realize there is something wrong. In this paper, we are going to try to implement those theories in the behavior of a child. The observation of Eddy, a 43 months old child born in the United States but whose parents were born and raised in Cuba took place on a Saturday early afternoon in the living room of the kid’s house. The house from front to back was covered with toys of different colors and shapes along with security measures for the kid’s safety in

The Da Vinci Code ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Free Essays

First and foremost, to my friend and editor, Jason Kaufman, for working so hard on this project and for truly understanding what this book is all about. And to the incomparable Heide Lange – tireless champion of The Da Vinci Code, agent extraordinaire, and trusted friend. I cannot fully express my gratitude to the exceptional team at Doubleday, for their generosity, faith, and superb guidance. We will write a custom essay sample on The Da Vinci Code ACKNOWLEDGMENTS or any similar topic only for you Order Now Thank you especially to Bill Thomas and Steve Rubin, who believed in this book from the start. My thanks also to the initial core of early in-house supporters, headed by Michael Palgon, Suzanne Herz, Janelle Moburg, Jackie Everly, and Adrienne Sparks, as well as to the talented people of Doubleday’s sales force. For their generous assistance in the research of the book, I would like to acknowledge the Louvre Museum, the French Ministry of Culture, Project Gutenberg, Bibliotheque Nationale, the Gnostic Society Library, the Department of Paintings Study and Documentation Service at the Louvre, Catholic World News, Royal Observatory Greenwich, London Record Society, the Muniment Collection at Westminster Abbey, John Pike and the Federation of American Scientists, and the five members of Opus Dei (three active, two former) who recounted their stories, both positive and negative, regarding their experiences inside Opus Dei. My gratitude also to Water Street Bookstore for tracking down so many of my research books, my father Richard Brown – mathematics teacher and author – for his assistance with the Divine Proportion and the Fibonacci Sequence, Stan Planton, Sylvie Baudeloque, Peter McGuigan, Francis McInerney, Margie Wachtel, Andre Vernet, Ken Kelleher at Anchorball Web Media, Cara Sottak, Karyn Popham, Esther Sung, Miriam Abramowitz, William Tunstall-Pedoe, and Griffin Wooden Brown. And finally, in a novel drawing so heavily on the sacred feminine, I would be remiss if I did not mention the two extraordinary women who have touched my life. First, my mother, Connie Brown – fellow scribe, nurturer, musician, and role model. And my wife, Blythe – art historian, painter, front-line editor, and without a doubt the most astonishingly talented woman I have ever known. FACT: The Priory of Sion – a European secret society founded in 1099 – is a real organization. In 1975 Paris’s Bibliotheque Nationale discovered parchments known as Les Dossiers Secrets, identifying numerous members of the Priory of Sion, including Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Leonardo Da Vinci. The Vatican prelature known as Opus Dei is a deeply devout Catholic sect that has been the topic of recent controversy due to reports of brainwashing, coercion, and a dangerous practice known as â€Å"corporal mortification.† Opus Dei has just completed construction of a $47 million World Headquarters at 243 Lexington Avenue in New York City. All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate. How to cite The Da Vinci Code ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, Essay examples

A Critical Essay on Rules of the Game

Question: How does the antagonist in the story chosen contribute to the storys overall meaning? Answer: Introduction Amy Tans one of the prominent literary exponents Rules of the Game has been chosen and the essay takes a close perusal of how far the antagonist, Lindo contributes to the course of her daughter, Waverly Jongs life. It illustrates a binary tussle between the protagonist Waverly Jong and the antagonist Lindo and is a twofold contention in the sense the narrator portrays a Chinese American family seen to have caught between continual dilemmas as well as the subtle power strife between a mother and a daughter (Wong). As a Chinese immigrant in America the mother, Lindo is busy in providing an ideal Chinese upbringing to her daughter Waverly while on the other hand; the story upholds a grave issue of mother-daughter tussle, where Lindo is ever conscious of the power that she exercises as a mother on her daughter. In this sense, by many Lindo has been viewed as the antagonist in the story aggravating the complications in her daughters life due to some of her own preconceived notions. The chess set received by Waverlys brother from the Chinese Santa Claus can be viewed as the turning point for the Jongs as it interests greatly the Jong brothers and especially Waverly. She develops a consistent winning streak, which however, unconsciously makes her mother jealous; this becomes even more evident in Lindos attempts to fade her daughters genuine talent by telling people about the mere luck factor working behind her wins (Wong). Concentrating on the first major theme of generating a sense of other in a foreign land, Lindo and her daughter Waverly seem to be stuck between two cultures especially because living in Chinatown of San Francisco magnifies this sense of disintegration to them even more (Fickle). Chess becomes the sole respite or window to Waverly that allows her integrate in the society of United States (Zhang). Amy Tan is renowned for deftly handling the nuances of mother-daughter relationships especially when it comes to be of Chinese American origin. In this story, she incorporates the themes of power equation, manipulation, along with freedom and confinement in this tussle (Wong). Both Lindo and Waverly remain busy in manipulating each other in order to climb into each others heads and as a result, Waverly learns the art of manipulation at a very early age from her mother. Their continual schemes of manipulating each other only increase alienation and a deep feeling of hurt between them also signifying in this context, the role of honesty functioning inside the game of chess. While at one hand, Waverly views chess as the source of her freedom, her mothers growing expectations turns her newly gained delight into a prison seizing her childhood innocence of her on the other. Lindo wants her daughter to be entirely dependent on her even for trivial common things like salted plums, her psycho logical and physical well-being and strikingly tends to bar Waverly from defining and nurturing her unique mental power in the form of chess (Bloom). Turning to the tussle between Asian and American values, Amy Tan emphasizes the contrast between two cultures in terms of attributing a persons achievement. While the American values admit individuals efforts and credits behind success, Asians tend to emphasize communal and familial acclaim behind the achievement (Fickle). The implicit mother-daughter conflict has thus been viewed in a broader social perspective where Amy Tan has justly detailed the hazards of being caught between two distinct values and heritage (Wong). According to Chinese familial values, Waverlys brothers Winston and Victor having significance of their own names are supposed to emerge as the familys principal achievers whereas Waverly would have appropriated her role in the family as merely a backdrop (Bloom). However, it is the feminine figure; the little sister of the family who does justice with the chess set that was initially designed for her big brother. Lindo victimized by the ideal feminine notions, too is seen to fortify this patriarchy mistreating her daughter (Zhang). Concentrating on all the points, therefore, we can conclude that Lindo, as a mother cannot be categorized as the conventional antagonists since she herself is the victim of being an idealized Asian cultured woman. Most importantly, she becomes a woman who is made to look for some source of power in the boundaries of her household where she can have the desired access. For Waverly, rules imply the ones enforced on her by her mother while for Lindo the meaning of rules extends to the intercultural standards that singled her out as an outsider and did not allow her unite with the American society until she learned to adopt them before entering into the country. References: Bloom, Harold.Amy Tan. Infobase Publishing, 2014. Fickle, Tara. "American Rules and Chinese Faces: The Games of Amy Tans The Joy Luck Club."MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States39.3 (2014): 68-88. Wong, Sau-ling Cynthia. "Sugar Sisterhood: Situating the Amy Tan Phenomenon."Amy Tan(2014): 49-83. Zhang, Jun. "Cultural Ties in Amy Tans Works."Contemporary English Teaching and Learning in Non-English-Speaking Countries3.5 (2014): 55-61.