A Nation of Wimps Essay Example for Free

A Nation of Wimps Essay A Nation Of Wimps Parents are going to extreme lengths to take the bumps out of life for their children. However, that has the net effect of making kids more fragile, and that may be why they’re braking down so easily. People learn through experience, and through failure they learn how to cope with things later on in life, themselves. And whether we realize that or not, this nation is turning out to be producing more and more wimps. The Fragility Factor College is one of the biggest fragility factors. It leads to psychological distress, binge drinking, substance abuse, self-mutilation, etc. Relationship problems don’t go away, anorexia and bulimia keep on coming. Welcome to the Hothouse Parents are overprotecting their children, they are intruding too much into their lives. They started to call colleges and asking about their grades. American parents today expect their children to be perfect, and that puts to much pressure on them. Arrivederci, Playtime Children don’t play enough these days. Over 40, 000 schools in the U. S. don’t have recess anymore. Commercialization of children’s play leads to more stressed out children. Plays develops cognitive thinking, and is important for normal development of children. The Eternal Umbilicus Cellphones today make children addictive to their parents. Students are typically in contact with their parents several times a day, which makes them constantly homesick, and keeps them away from learning how to manage for themselves. All that is the pathway to depression, it weakens self-regulation, it influences relationships and friendships, and make children become more frustrated and impatient which then leads to the fail of relationships and even greater depression. From Scrutiny to Anxiety and Beyond What creates anxious children is parents hovering and protecting them from stressful experiences. This group of children experiences stress in situations most kids find unthreatening. They grow up shrinking from social contact, and lack confidence. They are later on easily influenced by others. Overparenting creates lifelong vulnerability to anxiety and depression. Endless Adolescence Adulthood no longer begins after adolescence ends. Kids are starting to extend childhood, because they are making up for the things they weren’t supposed to do as children, and are creating a whole new stage called the â€Å"early adulthood. † Boom Boom Boomerang Play is connected to the making of healthy relationships later on in life. The less time children spend in play, the less socially competent they become. Through play we learn how to read feelings and negotiate conflicts. Taking the play out of childhood is bound to create development lags. Just Whose Shark Tank Is It Anyway? Competition has become a stressful and significant part of our everyday lives. Parents imagine that their children must be swimming in a big shark tank. Kids today are more ambivalent about the college race than are parents. Nowadays, parents are actually locking their kids into fragility, and by that the kids never learn how to cope with anxiety. Putting Worry in its Place Parents need to abandon the idea of perfection and give up some the invasive control. Children are far less integrated into adult society than they used to be, and by that parents have introduced a tendency to assume that children can’t manage difficult situations. Parents need to remember that one of the goals of higher educations is developing the capacity of thinking for ourselves. Conclusion Indeed parents today have became overprotective of their children, they overshelter them and overpraise them. They cheat for their children by making up fake diseases and getting them into colleges by relations. All of that is creating a whole different type of kids, that aren’t individuals anymore, we are creating the nation of kinds depending on their parents, a nation of wimps,

Allies Mitt Essay -- essays research papers

Allie's Mitt , Catcher In The Rye. Allie's mitt was a very important symbol in Catcher In The Rye, the mitt had poems written all over it. Allie was Holden's little brother, he got leukemia and died in Maine. Allie's mitt symbolizes the innocence that Holden yearns for , Allie's innocence was preserved in the mitt. Allie died when he was young, he was still innocent. By dying young Allie stayed out of the phony, adult world. In some ways Holden wants to be Allie. Holden wanted to preserve his own innocence but he could not. A baseball mitt is a common part of childhood, so it has the "power" to preserve innocence. The most interesting part about Allie's mitt are the poems, a grown up would not be writing poems and reading them during the game, he would be competitive, and all he would want is to win. Allie was to innocent he did not care about winning he just wanted to play baseball. Allie's death was tragic but maybe it is the death that Holden wanted for himself , he wanted to preserve his innocence. One example of Allie's innocence is " He was also the nicest, in lots of ways. He never got mad at anybody" Holden valued the mitt he only showed it to one person outside his family, Jane , "She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, with all the poems written on it. She'd never met Allie or... Allies Mitt Essay -- essays research papers Allie's Mitt , Catcher In The Rye. Allie's mitt was a very important symbol in Catcher In The Rye, the mitt had poems written all over it. Allie was Holden's little brother, he got leukemia and died in Maine. Allie's mitt symbolizes the innocence that Holden yearns for , Allie's innocence was preserved in the mitt. Allie died when he was young, he was still innocent. By dying young Allie stayed out of the phony, adult world. In some ways Holden wants to be Allie. Holden wanted to preserve his own innocence but he could not. A baseball mitt is a common part of childhood, so it has the "power" to preserve innocence. The most interesting part about Allie's mitt are the poems, a grown up would not be writing poems and reading them during the game, he would be competitive, and all he would want is to win. Allie was to innocent he did not care about winning he just wanted to play baseball. Allie's death was tragic but maybe it is the death that Holden wanted for himself , he wanted to preserve his innocence. One example of Allie's innocence is " He was also the nicest, in lots of ways. He never got mad at anybody" Holden valued the mitt he only showed it to one person outside his family, Jane , "She was the only one, outside my family, that I ever showed Allie's baseball mitt to, with all the poems written on it. She'd never met Allie or...

Not so Good Earth Analysis

The Not So Good Earth For a while there we had 25-inch Chinese peasant families famishing in comfort on the 25-inch screen and even Uncle Billy whose eyesight's going fast by hunching up real close to the convex glass could just about make them out–the riot scene in the capital city for example he saw that better than anything, using the contrast knob to bring them up dark–all those screaming faces and bodies going under the horses' hooves–he did a terrific job on that bit, not so successful though on the quieter parts where they're just starving away igging for roots in the not-so-good earth cooking up a mess of old clay and coming out with all those Confucian analects to everybody's considerable satisfaction (if I remember rightly Grandmother dies with naturally a suspenseful break in the action for a full symphony orchestra plug for Craven A neat as a whistle probably damn glad to be quit of the whole gang with their marvelous patience. ) We never did find out how it finished up†¦ Dad at this stage tripped over the main lead in the dark hauling the whole set down smack on its inscrutable face, iping out in a blue flash and curlicue of smoke 600 million Chinese without a trace†¦ The title contains â€Å"not-so-good† describing the contents of the poem, which is a negative adjective compound. It is a parody of the book â€Å"The Good Earth† by Pearl Buck, which is about the good times, values and Chinese proverbs. The phrase â€Å"For a while there† shows how Western society is apathetic towards the Chinese. â€Å"25-inch Chinese peasant families† explains that the characters in the poem are watching a 25-inch screen television. â€Å"famishing in comfort† is a juxtaposition in line two, whose comfort?Certainly not the Chinese. In line four â€Å"convex glass† relates to the television. Dashes â€Å"-† in the first nine lines represent changes in tone of language and persona of the narrator. â€Å"He saw that better than anything†-there is more concern for Uncle Billy being able to see what’s happening than what is actually happening. In line 11, the main character is bored by the part â€Å"where they’re just starving away†, this shows his lack of compassion for their situation. â€Å"Confucian analects† – Chinese philosopher. Analects are proverbs and/or homely wise sayings.In line 21 â€Å"it† represents the television. From line 21 onwards they seem to be more worried about the television breaking than they do about the real life tragedy of the deaths of so many Chinese peasant families. Line 25 (the last line) concludes with the phrase â€Å"600 million Chinese without a trace†¦ † this portrays the complacency of western society in the way that they don’t realize there is life beyond their own lives, they are so immersed in themselves, that they think that this reportage is only for ente rtainment and once the television brakes the scene just goes off air.They don’t realize that this is still happening after the Television breaks, they don’t feel touched or even realize that this is a real life thing not just some program. Generally: Consider the general attitude: very complacent and detached. The characters are ignorant and apathetic towards the Chinese in the documentary. Revealing the imperfection of western society being too self-absorbed, and preying on their lack of consideration and respect for others. The poem constantly drifts between fact and fiction.Floating in the midst of reality displayed on the television, and the artificial world which our mind creates to block out the poverty and suffering that we are not directly involved with. Throughout the poem the media promotes death scenes and action, while blunting the emotional impact of reality. Dawe uses many colloquialisms â€Å"to be quit of the whole gang† this express the general laid back style of the poem. Tone: Dawe maintains the tension between humor and seriousness.The Not-so-good Earth (1966) Like ‘Televistas' this poem is centred on the common place activity of watching television. It is a concept totally within the audience's experience. Television in our consumer society is our prime source of information and entertainment. Often the two become confused: lives and human tragedy are considered a product, something that will engender interest and thereby generate revenue. The greater the suffering, the more successful the program and the greater market share.Dawe is concerned that we have become desensitised to human suffering because it is presented to us as entertainment: a product rather than an issue. The irony is that we have become emotionally distanced from reality even though the world enters our homes via television. The title and the film description are references to ‘The Good Earth† based on a novel by Pearl Buck. Set dur ing the Japanese advance on China during the late 1930s, it contains ideas that the land sustains life and that suffering is rewarded.This poem describes a family viewing the film, complete with the advertisements, and their reaction (or rather, lack of) to it. They never actually see the end as the father trips over the cord in the darkened room. It is a very satirical poem that creates black humour. Through the characters' complete insensitivity and absence of either empathy or sympathy, Dawe expresses amazement at the complacency of people in our society. There is continual tension between the humour and the seriousness of what is described.For instance, Uncle Billy's sight problems are comical but Dawe's biting satire is evident by its juxtaposition to the riot scene's seriousness he is straining to see. The uncle's triviality is as obvious as the insensitivity of the watchers. Modern man is more concerned with superficial appearances, ‘using the contrast knob to bring the m up dark', the ‘mess of old clay' that is dinner, than in meanings attached to them. There seems an inability to comprehend the events as having happened to real people.The narrator is used to suggest modern man is apathetic and completely self absorbed. He is revealed as such by his inability to comprehend the implication of his comments. He speaks about the Chinese ‘famishing in comfort on the 25-inch screen'. The paradox is clear to the audience. The reference to the ‘terrific job' on the ‘screaming faces and bodies going under the horses' hooves' reveals a similar insensitivity. The lack of punctuation helps create the idea that society does not pause to consider the reality of other people's suffering.Instead, like the narrator, we just move quickly onto the next item of information. Here Dawe mocks the movie's idea that suffering reaps reward: how can it if nobody even notices? The fact the narrator does not seem at all concerned about what happened in the unseen ending further demonstrates his lack of engagement. The ‘blue flash' eliminating the picture represents how quickly the situation has been forgotten. The blank screen and the ‘dead' set may symbolise modern peoples’ inability to empathise with others. Our concerns are trite and centred on ourselves.We’re indifferent to the suffering of others and view it only as a source of entertainment. Dawe also suggests that the media nurtures this insensitivity. It is ironic that in an age (thanks to the media)where people know far more about what happens all over the world that people seem to care little beyond their own insular world. There is a sense of confusion between reality and fiction. It is ironic that advertisements for luxury indulgences like ‘Craven A' cigarettes have been interjected into what should be deeply moving moments of the film.The advertisement is described as having a ‘full symphony orchestra' which is a farcical contras t to the grandmother's death. The media does not treat tragedy as real and this blunts society's reactions and emotional involvement. Linked to both these ideas is the way people distance themselves from unpleasantness and shirk responsibility. Dawe's use of the aside'( if I remember rightly.. )' implies that the narrator deliberately avoids discussion of the seriousness of the movie's events. Not-so-good-Earth' is a clever poem that maintains the audience's interest. It is colloquial, using everyday expressions like ‘For a while there', ‘a terrific job' and ‘probably damn glad'. This makes it very accessible. It is also personal with the use of the first person. It is, at least at first glance, humorous, but the humour darkens as the poem progresses. The title is a pun, referring both to the movie and our modern society. Overall, whilst the events are clearly exaggerated, they stimulate the audience to evaluate their own attitudes.

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Summary

Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice is a fantastic play and boasts one of Shakespeares most memorable villains, the Jewish moneylender, Shylock. This Merchant of Venice Act 1 summary guides you through the plays opening scenes in modern English. Here, Shakespeare takes the time to introduce his main characters - most notably Portia, one of the strongest women parts in all Shakespeares plays. Act 1 Scene 1 Antonio is speaking to his friends Salerio and Solanio. He explains that a sadness has come over him. His friends suggest that his sadness could be due to him worrying about his commercial ventures. He has ships at sea with merchandise in them and they could be vulnerable. Antonio says he is not worried about his ships because his goods are spread between them and if one went down he would still have the others. His friends suggest that he must then be in love, Antonio denies this. Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Graziano arrive as Salerio and Solanio leave. Lorenzo says that now Bassanio and Antonio have been reunited they will make their leave but arrange to meet up later for dinner. Graziano tries to cheer Antonio up but to no avail, he tells Antonio that men who try to be melancholy in order to be perceived as wise are deceived. Graziano and Lorenzo leave. Bassanio complains that Graziano has nothing to say but just will not stop talking. â€Å"Graziano speaks an infinite deal of nothing† (Act 1 Scene 1) Antonio asks Bassanio to tell him about the woman he has fallen for and intends to pursue. Bassanio acknowledges that he has borrowed a lot of money from Antonio over the years and promises to clear his debts to him: To you Antonio, I owe the most in money and in love, And from your love I have a warranty to unburden all my plots and purposes how to get clear of all the debts I owe.(Act 1 Scene 1). Bassanio explains that he has fallen in love with Portia the heiress of Belmont but that she has other richer suitors, he just wants to try to compete with them in order to win her hand. He needs money to get there. Antonio tells him that all his money is tied up in his business but that he will act as a guarantor for any loan that he can get. Act 1 Scene 2 Enter Portia with Nerissa her waiting woman. Portia complains that she is weary of the world. Her dead father stipulated, in his will, that she herself cannot choose a husband. Portia’s suitors will be given a choice of three chests; one gold, one silver, and one lead. The winning chest contains a portrait of Portia and in choosing the correct chest he will win her hand in marriage. He must agree that if he chooses the wrong chest he will not be permitted to marry anyone. Nerissa lists suitors who have come to guess including the Neopolitan Prince, County Palatine, A French Lord and an English nobleman. Portia mocks each of the gentlemen for their shortcomings. In particular, a German nobleman who was a drinker, Nerissa asks if Portia remembers him she says: Very vilely in the morning when he is sober, and most viley in the afternoon when he is drunk. When he is best he is little worse than a man, and when he is worse he is little better than a beast. An the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him.(Act 1 Scene 2). The men listed all left before guessing for fear that they would get it wrong and face the consequences. Portia is determined to follow her father’s will and be won in the way in which he wished but she is happy that none of the men who have come have succeeded. Nerissa reminds Portia of a young gentleman, a Venetian scholar, and soldier who visited her when her father was alive. Portia remembers Bassanio fondly and believes him to be worthy of praise. It is announced that the Prince of Morocco is coming to woo her but she is not particularly happy about it.