Fist Stick Knife Gun Essay - 1524 Words

Jen Jeffrey Juvenile Justice and Delinquency October 21, 2001 Critique of Fist Stick Knife Gun The Book Fist Stick Knife Gun by Geoffrey Canada is a biographical account of his childhood in the south Bronx. He and his 4 brothers were raised by only their mother. She would survive on no more than ten dollars a week. He moved several times as a child until finally landing on union avenue, the place were many of his life lessons were learned and at times applied. He learned about the ranking process of kids on union Ave. and how the only way to improve your status was to use your fists to fight your way up the chain. Looking back Geoffrey Canada notices the major shift in attitudes concerning the rules of the streets. What once was†¦show more content†¦The lower categories were the early teens and the pre teens. The early teens were just learning the rules whereas the pre teens couldnt go off of the sidewalk. Geoffrey belonged to the lowest rung, the sidewalk group. As time went on he got in many fights, sometimes with friends just to dig himself out of the bottom grou p. He soon became the kid not to challenge because he learned how to fight. The next was Stick. Their wasnt much mention of this phase in his life, but he does mention the fact that in certain circumstances, a broken bottle or a stick can be used in self defense when the opponent uses a weapon. The place where this would happen is at school. The rules of the streets still applied but the problem was many different gangs associated and congregated at his junior high. So everyone their follows different rules, some gangs might think the use of weapons is acceptable, so Union Ave. people have to adjust these circumstances and use a stick or a broken bottle to defend themselves. As he grew even older he began to notice other gangs tendencies of carrying knives. He realized that this fact changed the code of conduct. No longer would be a good fist fighter keep you from confrontation. Even the most unskilled fighter could win a fight and be on top if they knew how to swing a blade. One day Geoffrey lucked out, because he found an oldShow MoreRelated`` Fist, Stick Knife, And Gun ``1266 Words   |  6 Pagesmaster the code of conduct and or the rules of the streets in order to survive. Not to mention learning the demands of socially regarding displaying appropriate behavior when they are outside of the disorganized community. In the book, Fist, stick knife, gun, the author shared his experience of growing up in a society in which he needed to learn the code of conduct that regulated what was fair and unfair when it came to surviving and protecting himself throughout his childhood. Not only did CanadaRead More Critique of Geoffrey Canadas Fist Stick Knife Gun Essay1506 Words   |  7 PagesCritique of Geoffrey Canadas Fist Stick Knife Gun The Book â€Å"Fist Stick Knife Gun† by Geoffrey Canada is a biographical account of his childhood in the south Bronx. He and his 4 brothers were raised by only their mother. She would survive on no more than ten dollars a week. He moved several times as a child until finally landing on union avenue, the place were many of his life lessons were learned and at times applied. He learned about the ranking process of kids on union Ave. and how the onlyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Fist Stick Knife Gun By Geoffrey Canada Essay2179 Words   |  9 Pagesthoroughly convincing. His Book Fist Stick Knife Gun, is a great explanation of violence and poverty in late 20th century here in America’s inner cities. Of how he changed from a timid and frightened child into a young man who could hold his own in a fight in the streets, is written in a believable way. Canada actually learned the way of the streets because he grew up in the streets. All of his experiences first started when he was a child when he and his friends used their fists to settle disputes and toRead MoreThe Importance Of Teaching A Past Lesson836 Words   |  4 Pagesand students alike to understand how classroom interactions can become more meaningful. In addition to my lesson analysis, I have also included a lesson plan and its subsequent reflection. The lesson provided was an opening lesson for my Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun Unit. The intention was to lead with high levels of engagement in order for students to buy in to the upcoming Unit. In the past, my principal and new teacher mentor has suggested videos and co-operative learning strategies that will allowRead MoreI Am An Active Participant898 Words   |  4 Pagesstudents witnessed uproar after the death of Freddy Gray. While coming up with a Unit Plan, I knew it had to be relevant to what my students are currently experiencing. After conferencing with several teachers, I finally decided to teach Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun. Our Essential Q uestion for the Unit is, Where does violence come from and how can we stop it? Acknowledging what my students are going through rather than sweeping it under the rug appeals to the part of the standard that requires teachingRead MoreA Very Thoughtful Look Into Inner City Violence And The Rules Surrounding It1718 Words   |  7 Pagesis thoroughly convincing. His Book Fist Stick Knife Gun, is a great explanation of violence and poverty in late 20th century here in America. His story of how he changed from a timid and frightened child into a young man who could hold his own in a fight in the streets is written in a believable way. Canada actually learned the way of the streets because he grew up in the streets It first started when he was a child when he and his friends used their fists to settle disputes and to gain a reputationRead MoreEnding Of Huck783 Words   |  4 Pagesinto the forest, the boys had found a huge stick pile. Huck then took out his pocket knife and said â€Å"well?... Let’s get to carving.† So then all the boys proceeded to carve out wooden knifes, spears, rings, and small animals while singing. That’s when Tom said â€Å"hey, we could carve wooden guns and play cowboys and Indians!† All the boys agreed to this proposition, and so that’s exactly what the boys did for the next 45 minutes. All boys had their own wooden guns that they all made individually, and thenRead MoreRacial Profiling by Police Essay1669 Words   |  7 Pages Brent Staples’ essay, â€Å"When the Paranoids Turn Out to be Right,† acknowledges the issues of racism and racial profiling committed by police. In â€Å"Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun,† Geoffrey Canada also expresses views on this issue when he asserts that police fail to protect and serve individuals in poor neighborhoods. Staples contends, â€Å"Among the day-to-day acts of discrimination that shadow African Americans, none are more stressful or dangerous than those committed by police, some of whom treat black peopleRead MoreGeoffrey Canada and the Harlem Childrens Zone Essay1672 Words   |  7 Pagesand kept them privy to the civil rights struggles that their community was facing (AE, 2011). Growing up in Harlem was challenging. Early on, Canada knew that there was a ranking order in the South Bronx. He highlights this in his book, Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America (1995). Canada tells a story about how his two older brothers were playing at the park one day. The younger of the two boys, took off his jacket. A boy at the playground threatened the Geoffrey’sRead MoreEssay on Freedom Riders1426 Words   |  6 Pagesbut the bus got away until about six miles down the road. The mob caught up to the bus and surrounded it until Ell Cowling, a police officer, pulled out his gun and badge and the Klansman backed away. Someone from the mob had thrown a flaming device into a bus window and the bus went up in flames (Garrow 2). Two highway patrolmen fired their guns to scare the crowd and make them leave so the passengers could safely get off the bus. Only twelve riders were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke

World War II And The Great Society - 1772 Words

Which has proven to be more impactful on American History: World War II and the New Deal, or the Vietnam War and the Great Society? Both wars were brutal and changed the lives of many Americans, and both programs, the New Deal and the Great Society, had huge impacts on the poverty rates in the United States. World War II in Europe began on September 3rd, 1939, when the Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain, declared war on Germany. Thanks to the Allied and Axis powers systems, many of the world’s countries were involved in this massive war. Germany’s unprovoked attack on Poland was the start of World War II. The war was six years long, resulted in over 60 million deaths, and involved Germany, Italy and Japan on the side of the†¦show more content†¦At the war’s end, these factories were converted into factories where appliances and automobiles and other vary luxury items would be manufactured. There was a new, high demand for luxury items such as televisions and new houses after the war. During World War II, men AND women were both making a whole lot more money, and since this money could not be spent during war time due to rations, there was a huge amount of people spending their savings made during this time after the war, and this had a major pos itive impact on America’s economy. World War II affected American Society in so many different ways. Wartime posters and the victory in Europe caused a huge sense of patriotism in many Americans. Women were forced to begin work and became spenders. Minorities were beginning to be integrated into sports, music, and movies; and Civil rights issues for women and minorities started becoming more and more important throughout society as well. World War II’s extensive scientific research lead to many new technological advances. New inventions, new products, new understandings of life. There were also new forms of music and art that started becoming popular during the time of the Second World War such as Jazz, Blues, Western Swing, American Urban Art, and Abstract Expressionism. Politically, World War II also caused many changes. After the war, American was no

Swatch Case Study free essay sample

What do you think has been the contribution of the marketing function, the product design function and the operations function to the success of Swatch? Please explain in sufficient detail. The Swatch brand launch in the 1980s was marked by new and great styles and designs. It was originally intended to regain the market share that was lost to Japanese manufacturers. The combination of marketing and manufacturing expertise, and stylish product design was able to restore Swiss made watches as major players in the watch industry. Swatch watches are manufactured in Switzerland, which has one of the highest labor costs in the world. But because efficient manufacturing operations, like building the quartz mechanism directly into the plastic case, and using less components (less than half the number in most other watches), the company was able to produce high volumes at low costs. Fewer components also meant that the manufacture of the watch could be fully automated. We will write a custom essay sample on Swatch Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The company has a very effective marketing strategy. It has different varieties of watches for different segments (according to age of their customers). It makes sure that it has a series of new watches with different styles for every season (Spring collection, Summer collection, etc. ), every special occasion and every significant world event (like the Olympics and the World Cup). Swatches used to be available in every store at affordable prices (to re-capture the lost market share), but now the company has a different strategy to keep peoples’ interest up beyond the 80s craze it has created. It is now doing the opposite of what it did decades ago. This is due to more than one factor including the artistic design (which are sought after). Swatch capitalized on the idea of product line extensions and variations. It has also tapped famous personalities like John Lloyd Cruz and Anne Curtis (which are effective celebrity endorsers) to represent the company. Product design is also remarkable because the company hires talented designers. The designers are asked to make sure that their works of art, every design in every series, will meet the expectations of customers. For this reason, Swatch watches are popular not only in the Philippines but more so in other parts of the world. 2. How do you think Swatch compares with most watch manufacturers? Swatch’s manufacturing operations allows it to produce at relatively high volume and low variety for much of its manufacturing process. It therefore has a relatively simple and relatively cheap manufacturing operation, while at the same time allowing ‘mass fashion’ orientation of its marketing. Swatch has a higher degree of automated manufacturing (because of the high volume and the standardized products) and rely less on labor in the manufacturing process. The company can allocate more for product design, and less for direct manufacturing labor cost as compared with other companies. Swatch’s designs continue to surprise even the avid customers and it manages to maintain the excitement and continue to capture and captivate customers’ attention.

The Bible among the Myths

Introduction The Bible among Myths by John N. Oswalt is among the best apologetics of the recent times. The book seeks to debunk the ideas, which secular scholars have been propagating in the recent years, that the Old Testament chapters of the bible are part of the Ancient Near East Mythology.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on The Bible among the Myths specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In essence, what Oswalt does in this book is to show that any arguments linking the Old Testament with the Ancient Near East Mythology are misguided. In so doing, Oswalt endeavors to make it plain to readers that literature from such scholars is misleading. In a bid to achieve this goal, Oswalt chooses to approach the book from a polemical viewpoint to convey his point. His introductory argument anchors on the assertion that in the last five decades much has not changed insofar as the content of the Old Testament is concerned, yet the perception of scholars has radically changed in the same duration (Oswalt 2009, 11-12). Currently, most scholars have lost esteem for the Old Testament, and to them, it is just another Ancient Near East myth. Some scholars consider the Old Testament as ‘remarkably similar’ to Ancient Near East mythical literature associated with other Semitic religions that originated from the Ancient Near East. Oswalt dispels this assumption by going to great depths to explain what a myth is in a bid to exclude the Old Testament from such definitions. Oswalt accomplishes this task in the first section of the book, viz. the first five chapters, which explore the Old Testament alongside the Ancient Near Eastern myths to bring out the contrast between the two.Advertising Looking for book review on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second section of the book analyses the Old Testament from a historical p erspective and eventually concludes that the bible is a historical account to a certain extent. Chapter 1 The first chapter opens with an assertion that the bible is a key contributor to the Western world’s perception of reality. The importance attached to the Bible’s contribution in this sense stems from the fact that it greatly influenced ancient Greek philosophy and it continues to influence the perception of the world to date. The influence of the Greek thought on contemporary world perception is explored. The most illustrious aspects of ancient Greek thought that are inherent in the manner in which we perceive the world today are, according to Oswalt, the notion that human beings live in a universe and not a polyverse (Oswalt 2009, 21). Oswalt endeavors to show how the Greek pattern of thinking fits in with the biblical perspective of the same. Therefore, he explores the Hebrew perspective of the same issue. He notes that the Hebrew descendants were monotheists wh ose principal belief was that there is only one supreme God, who doubles as the creator of the universe. God revealed himself and his will to humankind, and thus humanity is expected to obey the will and be rewarded or defy it and face punishment.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on The Bible among the Myths specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The notion of the integration of the Greek philosophy and biblical principles in today’s worldview manifests in the fact that the Greeks believe in the law of non-contradiction, which fits in well with the Jewish idea that God set himself apart from his creation (Oswalt 2009, 25-26). Oswalt thus notes that logic or rational thinking, which the Greek are credited with as the originators, only came to be after humanity’s acknowledgement of God as the sole creator of the universe. Oswalt refutes the emerging belief that logic and science can prosper without relig ion by arguing that the only thing that the two can deliver to humanity is destruction. He notes that Hiroshima and the Buchenwald concentration camps are the best humanity can achieve through logic and science alone. Chapter 2 In the second chapter of the book, Oswalt embarks on a mission to set the bible apart from myths by presenting different scholars’ definition of the term and trying to find the definition that suits the bible most. He starts by pointing out the reductionist viewpoint, which has been assumed by scholars towards the bible since the 1960s. In an attempt to prove that the bible is unique and cannot be equated to Ancient Near Eastern myths, Oswalt examines different definitions of the term ‘myth’. He carefully examines three definitions of the term and proceeds to show why the bible does not fit with each of the definitions. Specifically, the first definition claims that the most outstanding feature of a myth is the falsity of the narrated occu rrence or deity in the narrative (Oswalt 2009, 33).Advertising Looking for book review on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The distinctive feature of the second definition is that it notes that truth in a myth is relative so that if many people think the myth is true then it is truer than otherwise. In the third definition, events in myths are neither right nor wrong (Oswalt 2009, 38). All the three perspectives of a myth espouse the idea of continuity, which claims that all matter in the universe is the same thing. The example employed in the book to explain this idea is that of a man and a tree being the same thing both physically and spiritually. The fact that the underlying principle is the idea of continuity behind the myths leads Oswalt to define myth in his own way as ‘continuity’. Oswalt thus notes, â€Å"Myth exists to actualize continuity† (Oswalt 2009, 45). From such a position, he is in a position to explicitly outline the intrinsic characteristics of the Christian and pagan perspectives of the world later in the book. Chapter 3 The third chapter is dedicated to explainin g the philosophy of continuity deeply to give clear concept of its assertions as well as Oswalt’s beliefs insofar as the idea is concerned. All myths have, at their heart, the concept of continuity in which humanity, nature, and the divine are all part of one another. There is an interconnectedness, which links the physical, the spiritual, and the divine such that their existence is a circular continuum. Continuity is thus a worldview whose essence is mythical thinking. Oswalt analyses continuity with the intent of articulating its aspects in relation to religious thought. He notes that continuity, if approached from the perspective of a worldview, has numerous effects. Chief among the effects is the idea of associating some natural signs with certain phenomena (Oswalt 2009, 50-56) that if a certain sign manifests in nature, it symbolizes the arrival or departure of some phenomena. As an example, he tries to point the link between floods, plagues, and weather patterns among o thers with reality. Another good example that shows the effect of continuity is given by the use of magic to manipulate the universe in one way or another. Oswalt gives several other effects of continuity, and in essence, his argument is that myth is nothing, but a way of looking at reality. He proceeds to delineate definitive features of myths. Among them, all, but a few myths, share the idea that there are numerous gods. Chapter 4 In this chapter, attention shifts from examining the features of myths to examining the features of the bible. In essence, Oswalt moves from the continuity worldview to give a biblical worldview, which he calls transcendence. The main idea behind transcendence is that God exists apart from the universe and there is no continuity between the physical and spiritual planes. According to Oswalt, transcendence manifests in everything that the bible highlights about reality and he explains the distinctive features of the Old Testament such as monotheism, icono clasm, and the value attached to humankind coupled with the origin of acceptable ethical standards (Oswalt 2009, 64). A key feature of the bible that emerges from the description is that apart from the bible religion, viz. Christianity, all other religions are polytheistic except Judaism and Islam whose origin is accounted for in the bible. Thus, the key feature of the Old Testament in this respect is that Yahweh is the one and only God. This feature also applies to the rest of the bible. A different key feature of the bible is that before the universe came to be, God already existed. Thus, God created anything that exists in the universe out of nothing, which is a distinguishing feature of the bible. Another distinguishing feature of the bible in chapter four is that humanity is held in high esteem unlike in myth where humans are lowly creatures. This assertion by Oswalt fits in with the idea that man was created in the image of God and he was given authority over all creation. Sev eral other features of the bible are described, but all of them point to the idea that transcendence underpins every distinguishing feature of the bible. Chapter 5 Oswalt proceeds with his argument on why the bible is not a myth. This pursuit compels him to explore the ethical standards demanded of humanity in an attempt to show that the Ancient Near East and other secular world perceptions. Therefore, he expounds the concept of ethics from the perspective of the Ancient Near East and other secular worldviews. Oswalt notes that these worldviews held two distinct standards of ethics. Of these two, the first standard delineates how humankind should interact with its own. Concisely, it defines what is expected of every individual insofar as relating with one another is concerned. The other standard of non-biblical ethics explained how humankind was supposed to relate with numerous gods, which myths claim to exist. Every god had a particular way in which humanity was supposed to approac h him/her and carry out his/her instructions. This aspect sets the bible apart from myth completely because in the bible, God set a single standard of ethics for humanity. The standards that were expected of humankind when Christianity began are the same standards expected of humanity today because the God of today is the same God that existed even before he created anything (Oswalt 2009, 85-87). The idea of same ethical standards for all humanity leads Oswalt to compare the similarities that exist between Israelites and non-Israelites. He outlines a number of areas, which exhibit similarities between the two groups, but he is quick to point out that such similarities are a matter of coincidence. He does not believe that such similarities were intended to exist between the two groups. His main point as he closes the first section is that the bible’s perspective is unique and distinct from other perspectives and thus it is not a myth. Chapter 6 The second section of the book b egins with this chapter. The gist of Oswalt’s argument in this section is the historicity of the Old Testament. He is keen to note that the widely accepted historical ideology came from the bible. In a bid to prove this argument, he begins by examining the definition of history. Though there are several definitions, he examines them and coins his own, which he believes is the best. The theme of his definition is that for a text qualifies as history, it has to focus on human activity in â€Å"time and space, exist for the purpose of human self-knowledge, attempt to be an accurate account, and include an attempt to evaluate† (Oswalt 2009, 113). With this definition in place, he proceeds to examine other ancient pieces of writing. His intention is to point out that the writing may be insightful in giving an idea about ancient culture and other aspects of life, but clearly, they meet the criteria for qualification as history. The different ancient forms of writing are list ed and the purpose for each of them outlined, but all of them are found to fall short of qualifying as history because they distort the true account of events or they unnecessarily focus on particular individuals at the expense of many among other reasons. Oswalt then proceeds to point out how the bible is different from other forms of ancient writing. He endeavors to prove that the bible fits into the definition of history he coins because the bible, unlike other forms of ancient writings, depicts humans as fallible characters who have notable flaws inherent in the human nature (Oswalt 2009, 124-127). He uses the outstanding example of King David who is hailed as the greatest king in the bible, but he committed adultery and murder of a woman’s husband. Chapter 7 In this section, since the author has already concluded that the bible is history, he sets out to dispel the arguments leveled against the historical nature of the bible. He notes that some of the issues that have ca st doubt on the bible’s historicity include revelations and supernatural events, which were associated with the Israelites. Oswalt proceeds to note that God was keen on ensuring that Israelites recorded true accounts of their experiences. The main point that comes out here is that the bible points out clearly that God has made everything that is known to humans known via human-historical experience. Oswalt is keen to point out to the reader that the bible is an accurate account of the past. The idea of accuracy and history features in his definition of history earlier in the book. According to him, accuracy is one of the key yardsticks for determining what is historical and what is not. Thus, in the case of the bible, God preternaturally manifested his being to the Jews to make sure that whatever they chronicled was a true record of what they had seen and heard. This aspect, according to Oswalt, qualifies the bible as historical despite the criticisms leveled against it. He i s also careful not to touch on biblical passages, which would discredit his argument on the historicity of the bible. Chapter 8 In chapter eight, Oswalt continues to argue his case about the accuracy of the bible, which makes it historical. Therefore, chapter seven and chapter eight are somewhat like a single section for they address the problems associated with history in an effort to distance the bible from such problems and prove beyond doubt that it is indeed historical. Like in the previous chapter, his energy is directed towards proving that the bible is a historically accurate document. With this knowledge, he urges the reader to note that the entire bible is historical because books included therein give accounts of real people and their patterns of life. An important element of the accounts is that it does not attempt to hide their flaws, which typically picture them as ordinary humans. Oswalt goes a little bit deeper to bring out what the term history really means. In so d oing, he uses the German and Norwegian versions of the term Geschichte and Historie respectively. He shows how the translation of the term into different languages could distort the underlying meaning. He notes that the German version refers to a narrative while the Norwegian version refers to an actual event (Oswalt 2009, 157). In concluding this section, Oswalt notes that the bible is historical and that its historical nature cannot be isolated from theology because the essence of theology is history and to crown all these arguments, he quotes Apostle Paul who wrote that faith could not exist if people do not believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which is a historical event. Chapter 9 This section is the penultimate chapter of the book. Oswalt thus begins to lay the ground for his conclusion. He does this identifying a few scholars who have given alternative viewpoints on the bible. Among those he identifies are â€Å"John Van Seters, Frank Moore Cross, William Dever, an d Mark Smith† (Oswalt 2009, 172). What Oswalt does at this point is to debunk the viewpoints of all these scholars by identifying a key idea in their work and pointing out how it is misguided and thus false. He begins by critiquing Van Seters’ claim that Jewish priests tampered with the bible after the Babylonian exile so that according to this scholar, the bible is not in its originally intended form (Oswalt 2009, 172). Oswalt refutes this assertion and points out that it is false. He also refutes Cross’ claim that the bible was an epic poem before being changed to what it is today (Oswalt 2009, 175). In the two instances, Oswalt position is that the bible has never undergone any alteration or changes save for translation into different languages. Oswalt proceeds to debunk other viewpoints from scholars such as William Dever who firmly believes that the Judaic belief system was similar to the Canaanite belief system, yet the similarities were ignored by scholars thus pitching the Israelite belief system as unique when it actually was not. Oswalt rejects this perspective as misguided and false, as to him, this kind of literature misleads its readers. Oswalt also rejects Mark Smith’s argument, which claims that the Israelite system of belief traces its roots to the Canaanite polytheistic belief system (Oswalt 2009, 181). This argument undermines the accounts of the bible, which it records that only one God existed before creation and he created everything that exists in the universe. In essence, it undermines the concept of transcendence as elaborated by Oswalt in chapter four. Thus, it cannot hold as true. Chapter 10 This chapter is the concluding section of the book whereby Oswalt sums up all his key arguments, which allows him to take a strong stand that the bible is a unique and special writing and is thus not a myth. The major ideas he conveys are the disparity between the biblical worldview or biblical perception of reality and the secular or non-biblical perceptions of the world. He is keen to point out that the biblical perspective finds its essence in the concept of transcendence while the non-biblical perspective has its essence in the concept of continuity. In a bid to make his point on the superiority of the bible over Ancient Near East literature and other non-biblical writings, he points out that the Western world has embraced the worldview of continuity, hence the downturn in morality that is witnessed in its societies. Here, he further propagates the idea that nothing good can come out of humanity if the influence of God is missing. Therefore, the bible cannot fall within the precepts of the definition of a myth. Reference Oswalt, John. 2009. The Bible among the myths: Unique revelation or just ancient literature? Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. This book review on The Bible among the Myths was written and submitted by user MotherAskani to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.