Analysis of Witches In Exile Documentary by Alison Berg Free Essay Example, 1250 words

The culture is the thing which shaped a person s perceptions and formed their values and beliefs; telling a Zulu African man to go to a hospital for help with HIV may seem ridiculous to him as he may have grown up with a Sangoma healer and his beliefs are rooted strongly in the power of the Sangoma. Alison Berg s documentary takes us deeper into the divide between tradition and modernization and allows us to see the grasp that witchcraft has on African countries and the effects that it has on its victims; which can clearly be seen through the fear and hopelessness on the four women s faces shown in the documentary. The documentary takes you on a step by step journey that shows how these four women became condemned as witches. In Ghana, the majority of witches seem to be older women who are no longer able to bear children. They also seem to be economically disadvantaged and do not have the resources to fend for themselves. The question that stands in developing countries is whether o r not witchcraft is keeping the countries from further development. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Witches In Exile Documentary by Alison Berg or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page This is proof that education is needed so people will be able to fend for themselves and will not fall into the hands of predators. Every country needs to make amends with its citizen s spiritual beliefs and values, the practice of witchcraft has led to inexcusable events which strip many of their dignity and basic human rights.

Imperialism And The United States - 1368 Words

Imperialism is a recurring theme in the history of the world. Stronger countries see themselves as superior to other societies and believe their ways are right. They force religion, government, and practices on countless foreign lands. At the very end of the nineteenth century, the outcome of the Spanish-American war divided Americans into those for and against the annexation of the Philippines. The masses supporting it saw the islands as a strong foothold for the country in Chinese markets, compared to the minority which believed the United States was founded to escape oppression and should not lead to doing the same upon others. America becoming an imperial power shifted the world stage, and opened opportunity in trade on the other side of the world. Annexing the Philippines changed how other countries saw the United States, but more importantly it changed how Americans feel about their country; citizens rallied around the flag after defeating Spain because surpassing the empireâ €™s navy gave them something positive to think of after all the turmoil over the past hundred years (and still at the time over working/living conditions and inequality between races/genders). It gave the public a reason to be patriotic. If the United States did not annex the Philippines when it did, it would not have had the ability to become the strongest government in the world and increase exports throughout Asia, but at what cost? American leaders decided it would be a good power move, but didShow MoreRelatedCultural Imperialism And The United States1475 Words   |  6 Pagestime in Guatemala, I believe that the social issues I came in the most contact with were hegemony and cultural imperialism, or in other words, the influence the United States has over Guatemala. No matter where I was, whether it be the streets of the small town of San Miguel or the larger, more developed city of Guatemala City, I could not help but notice how much of an impact the United States has. Th roughout the course of a month we learned a lot about the root causes of poverty- America as a hegemon-Read MoreThe United States : An Age Of Imperialism1875 Words   |  8 Pagesnineteenth century the world was in an Age of Imperialism. The foremost European powers were all competing and swiftly increasing their territorial claims. Americans have always felt the desire to grow and expand the United States, they ultimately proved that with Manifest Destiny, when they settled from the east to the west coast. The idea of expansion overseas was something not new to the United States. The war against Mexico had allowed the United States to be carried into the Pacific and the issuingRead MoreAmerican Imperialism the United States (U.S.)1562 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s the United States (U.S.) pursued an aggressive policy of expansionism extending its political and economic influence around the world. What is imperialism? Why this policy was adopted and how it was rationalized. The major events that took place and which countries of the world the U.S. became involved due to this policy. Finally, we will see, not everyone supported foreign affairs by theRead MoreAmerican Imperialism : A Part Of United States History1463 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Imperialism American Imperialism has been a part of United States history ever since the American Revolution. Imperialism is the practice by which large, powerful nations seek to expand and maintain control or influence on a weaker country. Throughout the years, America has had a tendency to take over other people s land. Authors like Frederick Jackson Turner, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Albert J. Beveridge, Mark Twain, and William James all distinctive perspectives on U.S expansion and imperialismRead MoreImperialism And The United States Experience During World War I855 Words   |  4 PagesOne, the United States encountered many challenges, affecting America and Foreign Nations and their respective populations. Imperialism, economic expansion and industrialization impacted the United States’ experience during World War One. Americans were forced to recognize their strengths and weaknesses internally and externally. Imperialism is defined as a policy or practice by which a country increases its power by gaining control over other areas of the world . Prior to United States engagementRead MoreThe American War Of 18981372 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the United States was destined to stretch from coast to coast. Individuals began to migrate west in droves, rapidly expanding the United States until they reached the Pacific. In 1890, the Census Bureau declared that the frontier had been â€Å"officially closed.† Americans had settled the far reaches of their country, fulfilling manifest destiny. The United States began to set its sights on greater, overseas conquests. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the United States embarkedRead MoreNegative Effects Of Imperialism973 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica annexed many new and useful lands due to this decision. Imperialism therefore, was justified because it provided protection and food for the developing countries. Imperialism also helped the United States acquire countless amounts of land with an abundance of resources. However, many argue that imperialism was harmful because it caused many people to lose their lives. Imperialism had many positive effects because the United States would protect and help the developing countries. They helpedRead MoreThe Imperalistic Monster644 Words   |  3 PagesThe roots of imperialism have emerged from the ground since the beginning of time. Imperialism is the expansion of a countrys power and influence through diplomacy and military force. Imperialist nations of the recent past used brute force to conquer and enforce their control over other parts of the world. For example, when one looks at Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. One can see that the brutal force of Napoleon Bonaparte’s military extended French dominance over much of Western EuropeRead MoreTo What Extent Was Late Nineteenth-Century and Early Twentieth-Century United States Expansionism a Continuation of Past United States Expansionism and to What Extent Was It a Departure?1184 Words   |  5 PagesAPUSH To what extent was late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century United States expansionism a continuation of past United States expansionism and to what extent was it a departure? Throughout the history of the United States, America had a desire to expand its boundaries. The United States acquired most of its land during the nineteenth and early twentieth century with a brief break during the Civil War and Reconstruction. However, the way America went about graining new landsRead MoreDifference Between Formal And Informal Imperialism1721 Words   |  7 PagesDIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORMAL AND INFORMAL IMPERIALISM Name University Course Tutor Date Difference between formal and informal imperialism Throughout the history of the world, different kingdoms have been competing to expand their territories. In most cases, the expansion of theses territories has been at the expense of weaker territories that are incapable of fighting back effectively owing to different barriers . For example, the Mongols expanded their territory in less than a hundred years

Creative Writing †“Relief” Free Essays

he phone rang. It broke the silence of my seething rage. Its high piercing sound irritated me for some reason. We will write a custom essay sample on Creative Writing – â€Å"Relief† or any similar topic only for you Order Now I wanted to scream. Lisa wouldn’t normally cause me to feel that way (maybe it wasn’t just Lisa, but she had been getting to me recently). As twins we were supposed to share a special bond, and usually we got on really well. Despite being only four minutes older than Lisa, I often felt strangely protective of her. With curly blonde hair and brown eyes we looked totally identical, but the similarities ended there. Lisa’s favourite word was change; new outfit, new boyfriend, new hairstyle and so on. I was calmer. I had two very close friends – Hannah and Angie, and a steady boyfriend – Adam. That was another part of the reason why I was at home and in such a state. I had just got to the party, after being held up with my friend Laura, who was upset about family problems. Things between Adam and I had not been going well recently, and tonight he had arranged to meet me at six, so we could talk. It was nearly seven. I feared the worst, but friends do come first. However I was not prepared for the scene that met my eyes. I stood transfixed. Something sharp went straight through my heart. There stood Lisa and Adam, alone. Two of the people closest to me, I could not believe it. I ran. A huge bubble of emotion was trying in vain to escape from with in me, but it didn’t seem to know how. I could feel tears welling up. I wanted to scream, hit someone, collapse in a heap and break down and sink into the ground all at once. Then my emotions quieted and he silent tears began rolling down my cheeks. I reached the deserted bus stop, when the bus came that was deserted too. My whole life seemed deserted. As soon as I was home I dialled Hannah’s number then the grim realisation hit me: All my friends were at the party, my parents were out, my older brother – Phil was out. A fresh wave of rejection, anger, betrayal and total emptiness swept over me, and suddenly I felt very tired. I peeled off my clothes and went to bed. How could Lisa have done that? It wasn’t something she would do. Borrowing my clothes? Yes. Shirking chores? Yes. Forgetting favours I asked her? Yes. Trying to sort out my love life with some crazy scheme and making it worse instead? Yes. But stealing my boyfriend? No. Adam? Did the last 10 months mean nothing to him? What about all the special times we had shared together? What about all the â€Å"I love you†s? I felt the bubble return. That was when the phone rang. I left it to ring. It cut off, and then rang again. This time I answered: â€Å"Hello† â€Å"Hello, is this the Scott house?† â€Å"Yes† â€Å"Who am I speaking to?† â€Å"Ali† â€Å"Alison? This is Hertfordshire police† What on earth could the police want? A new emotion hit me: Fear. I listened with trepidation. â€Å"There has been an accident on the railway bridge; Blue Ford Fiesta, young driver, medium build, blonde curly hair. We believe it to be your sister† Lisa. It was Lisa. â€Å"Where is she? Is she ok?† I asked. â€Å"She’s at Princess Alexandra hospital. I think it’s best if you get yourself up there as soon as possible. Your parents are there already.† I ended the conversation. I walked over to Sarah’s to see if her parents drive me. I didn’t think about it, I just did it. I couldn’t think. Val and Mike were out. I went over to Helen’s Helen’s mum asked no questions. I couldn’t have answered even if she had. She drove me in silence. It was only a twenty minute journey although it seemed to last forever. I was not crying. A strange numbness had come over me. I couldn’t think or do or feel anything. There seemed to be a gap where my stomach was and my heart was beating so loudly the whole of Sawbridgeworth could probably hear. Finally we reached the hospital. Helen’s mum put her arm around me and led me. Somehow she knew where to go. All my resentful thoughts about Lisa had melted. I felt empty, small and absolutely terrified. I found myself sitting in a green chair. It was a sick green, the green you always find in hospitals. I could see my dad looking grave, his arm around my mum, who was silently crying. Suddenly I noticed there was an arm around me, it was Adam’s. I shook it off. A doctor stood by me; he held a glass of water and a small round white tablet. He was telling me to take it. â€Å"Where’s Lisa?† I asked â€Å"They did all they could for her. She wanted to tell you something. She kept calling â€Å"Ali, Ali† all the time she was conscious. She said that she loved you. We think she was driving to see you. She was driving very fast, the roads are icy† He said He didn’t need to tell me anymore. I knew. Lisa. Lisa was dead. Lisa was dead. It was my fault. I began to cry. â€Å"Ali, take the pill. You need it† It was Adam’s voice. I could see Charlie and Amy sitting by him, looking concerned and upset. There was something odd about that, but I couldn’t figure out what. I couldn’t take the pill. They didn’t understand. I had killed my sister. If I hadn’t gone off she never would have driven to see me. They couldn’t make me take drugs to numb the pain until there was none. â€Å"Alison, this is hard enough on your parents as it is, take it for them† coaxed the doctor I looked to my dad â€Å"Ali, this is hard on all of us, especially you, take the tablet, darling† he said in a hushed tone. Time passed in a blur. I had no idea if it was day or night, or how long I had stayed in my room. My mum kept bringing me those white pills. I was numb. I slept, cried, and just sat for hours, overwhelmed by shock, guilt and sheer emptiness. One morning my mum came in and asked me to come and see Lisa’s room. I followed her and my dad. For no apparent reason I was now feeling scared. My mum opened the door. It felt as though it symbolised something but I didn’t know what. I gasped. Lisa’s room, usually strewn with clothes, makeup and everything else under the sun, was tidy. Moreover all her stuff had been removed and it had been redecorated. I couldn’t take it. I broke down. Lisa was like my other half, I was incomplete without her. It was like being half dead. My dad looked at me; I could see it hurt him even to do that. Would it always be like this? Would I serve as a constant reminder of Lisa? â€Å"Ali,† a voice called. It was a familiar voice. It was Lisa. Was I dreaming? I closed my eyes and opened them again. I was lying in my bed. Lisa was shaking me. â€Å"Ali, you left the party. I didn’t get a chance to tell you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I just looked at her, utterly bewildered. I reached out my hand and touched her. â€Å"You’re alive, â€Å"I murmured. She looked a me briefly as though I was insane, then carried on, â€Å"Adam was waiting for you, and you didn’t come. It was my fault things were going badly between you two, so I pretended to be you to make it all better. I was going to tell you, but I couldn’t find you. I worked out what you saw, and I’m sorry.† â€Å"But Lisa, you’re alive† I stammered. This time she looked at me even more quizzically, so I explained what had happened down to every last detail. â€Å"Ali,† said Angie gently, â€Å"it was a dream, it must have been. We’re all fine, your mum and dad are out, and remember Charlie moved to Belgium in August.† I was totally dazed. I felt as if I had been asleep a few hundred years, instead of a few hours. â€Å"So Lisa isn’t dead and she never went with Adam,† I said uncertainly. â€Å"I can’t believe you even thought such a thing!† exclaimed Lisa. â€Å"Oh Ali, I’m so sorry† â€Å"Everyone’s downstairs, I’ll go down and explain. You come when you’re ready.† said Angie. I couldn’t restrain myself any longer. I whooped and threw my arms around Lisa, who looked shocked but pleased. My relief was so immense. I would never hate Lisa again. I was close on euphoric. I slipped my arm through Lisa’s and we went downstairs. Amy and Miranda had made up some sandwiches, and after all that had happened I think we all needed them. I was still incredibly tired, but I felt the sudden urge to hug everyone. My emotions were running so high. When I hugged Adam he stroked my hair and whispered, â€Å"I’m sorry about everything that happened. I love you.† Before I knew it he was kissing me deeply. Charlie phoned to say â€Å"Happy new year.† Everyone looked so happy now. As Lisa said, â€Å"It’s like a dream.† We all laughed. It felt so good. Relief. How to cite Creative Writing – â€Å"Relief†, Papers

Mandan Indians Essay Example For Students

Mandan Indians Essay Mandan IndiansThe Mandan Indians were a small, peaceful tribe located at the mouth of the Knife River on the Missouri near present day Bismarck, North Dakota. The Mandan were most known for their friendliness and their homes, called earth lodges. The women of the Mandan tribe tended their gardens, prepared food, and maintained lodges while the men spent their time hunting or seeking spiritual knowledge. The Mandan Indians performed many ceremonies such as the Buffalo Dance and the Okipa Ceremony that have been the center of great interest to many historians. The Mandan are also an important part of history because Lewis and Clark spent their first winter with these people and met Sacagawea, who helped guide them for the rest of their journey west. Mandan villages were the center of the social, spiritual, and economic lives of the Mandan Indians. Villages were strategically located on bluffs overlooking the river for defense purposes, limiting attacks to one land approach. The Mandan lived in earth lodges, which are extremely large, round huts that are 15 feet high and 40-60 feet in diameter. Each hut had a vestibule entrance, much like the pattern of an Eskimo igloo, and a square hole on top, which served as a smokestack. Each earth lodge housed 10-30 people and their belongings, and villages contained 50-120 earth lodges. The frame of an earth lodge was made from tree trunks, which were covered with criss-crossed willow branches. Over the branches they placed dirt and sod, which coined the term earth lodge. This type of construction made the roofs strong enough to support people on nights of good weather. The floors of earth lodges were made of dirt and the middle was dug out to make a bench around the outer edge of the lodge. Encompassing the village were stockades of poles as tall as six feet high to prevent enemy attacks. In the middle of a Mandan village was a large, circular, open space that was called the central plaza. In the middle of the plaza was a sacred cedar post that represented the Lone Man, a hero to the Mandan. At the North end of the plaza was the medicine or ceremonial lodge. The arrangement of earth lodges around the central plaza represented the social status of each family. Villagers who had important ceremonial duties were located closer to the plaza than those who were not. The rich, floodplain fields that surrounded the village made agriculture the basis of Mandan existence. On top of preparing food and maintaining lodges, sustaining gardens was the task of women within the village. The agricultural year began in April when women would clear the fields by burning the old stalks and weeds of the previous years crops. Around May they planted rows of corn, beans, tobacco, pumpkin, sunflowers and squash perpendicular to the sun so that the crops would get the most sunlight. To tend their gardens, women used tools such as a digging stick, rake, and hoe made out of wood or buffalo bones. Mandan gardens had many enemies, including prairie dogs, birds, and small rodents. In order to protect their gardens from these predators they often constructed scarecrows out of buffalo hide. Another way Mandan women tried to protect their gardens was by practicing rituals that called on the supernatural for help. Often, women performed daily cleansing rituals before entering their gardens by rubbing sage over their bodies, which they believed would protect their crops from worms and disease. Harvesting began in late August with squash and ended in October with corn. After harvest, women would dry the corn in scaffolds that were built above the ground. After the corn was dry, women picked the seeds that they would use for the next years garden and the rest was buried with other dried garden items in caches (underground storage pits) to preserve them through the winter. These caches were deep enough to require a ladder and often took several days to build. Once they were built they were lined with grass and buffalo hide. The dried corn, squash, and sunflowers were placed inside. How Can Artificial Intelligence Help Us? Essay This man was called the Okipa Maker and in order to sponsor such a ceremony he must accumulate a vast amount of goods, which would in turn be given away during the ceremony. The Okipa Maker depended on his family and clan to help provide the goods needed for this event. Before and during the ceremony young boys who wished to become men within the village endured long periods of fasting during which a young boy hoped to be visited by a spirit, in animal form, who would give him power and guide him through life. The nature of their vision was reported to elders to determine their role within the village. After the vision, the young men chose a family member to cut holes through the skin on their chest and inserted two skewers, attached to a long piece of hide, that would suspend him in the air from the central beams of the medicine lodge. Once the boy was rendered unconscious, he was lowered to the ground to regain consciousness without harassment from others. The objective of the ceremony was to test a mans endurance and strength to insure he was indeed worthy of becoming a warrior. The Mandan Indians are also known for the fact that Lewis and Clark spent their first winter among these people. Lewis and Clark arrived in the Mandan village in November of 1804 after 1,600 miles and 164 days of traveling and within four weeks constructed Fort Mandan, which they named after their Indian friends. Lewis and Clark stayed with the Mandans for five months during which time they met a fur trader named Toussaint Charbonneau, his Shoshoni wife Sacagawea, and their infant son Jean Baptiste. Sacagaweas homeland was in the Rocky Mountains, most likely near present day Lehmi, Idaho, but she had been kidnapped when she was twelve years old and five years later was sold to Charbonneau. Lewis and Clark hired Charbonneau and his wife as interpreters and guides to help them cross the western mountains. Sacagawea turned out to be very useful to Lewis and Clarks expedition with her incredible sense of direction and by teaching the 33-member group how to find wild food such as artichokes, carrots and potatoes. She also mended their clothing with thread and a needle made out of bird bone. By the time the trip was completed she had made 338 moccasins for the men of the expedition. Contact with Europeans in the late 1700s put the Mandan up against disease, an enemy they could not fight. Small pox forced the Mandan to move to Fort Berthhold Indian Reservation, along with their neighbors the Arikaras and the Hidatsas, who were also plagued with disease. To this day many Mandan Indians live near Mandan, North Dakota right across the Missouri River from Bismarck, North Dakota. Every year the Mandan Indians and several other area tribes have a pow wow where they perform dances and sell jewelry and food for audiences from all around the world. Fort Lincoln State Park Mandan Village is a park located just outside Mandan that has a small village of actual earth lodges that visitors can walk into and see. Visitors feel like they have been taken back into a part of history because all the items one would have found during that time are in the lodges. One lodge even has a man (not real) hanging from the rafters representing the Okipa Ceremony. The park is a truly amazing sight to see and keeps the memory alive and well about the Mandan Indians heritage and way of life.