The Black Hearts of Men Essay Example for Free

The Black Hearts of Men Essay John Stauffer, in his book The Black Hearts of Men sets out to make one simple point through four men. He aims to bring to light the unified and revolutionary goals of what he describes as â€Å"the only true revolutionaries† among antebellum abolitionists. These were John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Dr. James McCune Smith, and Gerrit Smith. By describing for the first time these personalities and their actions as a form of sociological struggle, Stauffer sheds new light on a dark moment in American history One of the goals that Stauffer is intent upon is proving that these important figures beliefs were more than just religion and reform but more specifically religion and class. This is an important distinction, because by attempting to prove this the author will show perhaps a bit more far reaching importance of their work. Rather than treat them as isolated agents of change, he treats them as representatives of a social construct. This then lends more credence to their ideals and the criticism of the society in which they lived. Stauffer does an especially good job in proving this in chapter entitled Glimpsing God’s World on Earth. Here, nearly contrary to the title he analyzes this view. Especially focusing on the better known John Brown (as compared to the others in the book), he shows that the struggles to change society were just that – an effort to change equalities of classes – and not just a blind attempt to change laws. Another important facet of Stauffer’s writing appears to be his rejuvenation of the history of Gerrit Smith. Despite the fact that the book features aspects of the very well known Douglass, and the infamous Brown, it is the focusing of narrative on Smith that sets this book apart from others on the subject. In this way, too, he restresses the vitality of his original point about the abolitionist movement being part of a greater class struggle, and therefore more important to America’s history than generally related. Each chapter returns to Smith in some way and with some new angle, to bring out the key figure’s integral part in the events. This in an unexpected thing, and again is successful. Chapter 5, Bible Politics and the Creation of the Alliance shows how this is accomplished. What is expected is a religious treatment on how everyone should be equal and loved. However, what is discussed is Smith’s vision: that the Bible is a socio-political tool that can be used not to justify merely universal love, but as a catalyst for social change. It is Smith that is given credit by Stauffer, and perhaps very justly, for the larger guiding principles of the movement. The third function of The Black Hearts of Men is to bring out into the open the unjust blindness the country has regarding Smith, Brown, Smith and Douglass. Even worse is the general ignorance of them shown by even their contemporary abolitionists as soon as 1874. According to Stauffer, the history of these men, their aims and their achievements began to fade as soon as their alliance was broken. Certainly Douglass’s fierce orations on the subject of slavery are remembered in textbooks today. Likewise, John Brown and his daring raid on Harper’s Ferry are also found in popular retellings of the Civil War. However, there is no mention neither Gerrit Smith, nor Dr. James McCune Smith. In point of fact, these latter two are not only unmentioned, but are completely forgotten throughout history in its popular sense. Perhaps worst of all, Stauffer implies, is that the connections between even the two remembered figures are severed. There is no sense of a joined movement or ideals between the two. They are just revolutionaries who are known for their behaviors and actions, not shared sense of a larger, social and class related revolution. They were out to form the perfect world – but are only known as abolitionist icons. John Stauffer’s aims of his book are far-reaching and accomplished. The Black Hearts of Men is successful because it accomplished the relation of its purposes. It brings to light the unified and revolutionary goals of what he describes as the true revolutionaries among antebellum abolitionists and their personal histories are properly rejuvenated. Most importantly, the book succeeds in showing just how much more there was to the abolitionist movement – not just revolutionary zeal, but agent for sociological change. ? BIBLIOGRAPHY John Stauffer. The Black Hearts of Men: Radical Abolitionists and the Transformation of Race. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2001.

United Nations Peacekeeping Essay example -- World Politics Peace UN E

United Nations Peacekeeping Figures Not Available â€Å"The United Nations is so radically defective that it is incapable of establishing world order; truth be told, not only has the UN failed [to achieve its peacekeeping objectives], but it was always bound †¦ to fail† (Simioni 12). At first sight, it would seem that this is part of just one of the many current debates about the effectiveness of the UN as the main arbitrator of the international community. In fact, it represents one of the view points expressed in August 1947, soon after the failure of the first and only round of negotiations concerning the establishment of a transnational army under direct UN command (DEA 33). Since then, the controversy about the role of the United Nations in maintaining global security has remained an ever-current issue, with prominent political personalities contesting the reliability, and even the underlying principles of such an organization. In spite of the never-diminishing criticism, the UN remains a key player on the global ar ena, the only truly representative spokesperson for an increasingly complex assembly of peace-seeking nations. Moreover, ever since its establishment in 1945, the United Nations has achieved notable successes in promoting world peace, by delivering efficient peacekeeping and peacemaking operations, by diversifying its conflict-prevention measures, and by maintaining an equidistant and impartial position towards combatant parties. These standards have been considered essential in assessing the effectiveness of the UN throughout its existence. The neutral stance towards world issues was highly valued by the founders of the organization. Subsequently, former Secretary-General U Thant stated, â€Å"the basis of the UN is the pledge by sovereign states to co-operate†¦ in [efficient] joint missions to alleviate conflicts worldwide†¦ in a responsible and [fair] manner† (qtd. in Schoenberg xi). In later years the trend to broaden peacekeeping initiatives represented Kofi An nan’s main strategy of further enhancing the organization’s ability to cope with new geopolitical developments. Therefore, in evaluating UN successes it is essential to consider both quantitative and qualitative evidence supporting the three above-mentioned criteria. From peacekeeping to peacemaking Over the years, the UN has moved from traditional, observer-based peacekeeping to more... ...ealing with relentless sovereign countries, the Security Council also coordinates the activity of the International War Crimes Tribunal, which can prosecute war criminals in spite of the immunity offered by their political position. Thus, the UN is able to actively deter heads of state and other important officials from instigating to grave human rights violations and other types of abuses against the civilian population (â€Å"War Crimes†). Therefore, the structure and the prerogatives of the Security Council give the United Nations not only its highly valued impartiality – an impartiality that is vital to the process of peacekeeping – but also the ability to minimize the costs for the innocent bystanders of armed conflicts. Overall, the United Nations represent a mechanism that is highly proficient in promoting world peace, by deploying efficient peacekeeping and peacemaking operations, by implementing diverse conflict-prevention measures, and by maintaining an impartial position towards combatant parties. In fact, the UN is currently the only international organization that has the mandate of virtually the entire international community to work towards global peace and security.

Future of Singapore Public Housing Loan

Abstract The Singapore government together with the housing finance consider the public housing as one of the various achievements they have accomplished. Public housing accommodates more than 80% of the residents in Singapore. A majority of the residents, close to 90%, is designed as Housing Development flats (HDB). In an effort to improve the current housing state in Singapore, the housing finance and the government has introduced various schemes and substitute schemes alike. The schemes have encouraged the resident into becoming homeowners in addition to ensuring that they did not default their mortgage payment. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is responsible for the dealings and management of the public housing program in Singapore. The local town council oversees the daily management activities. They also ensure planning and development of the public housing in addition to selling and resale of the houses as well as offering financial mortgage. Introduction Singapore Public Housing finance loan borrowing has dropped four folds in the recent year. Owing to a myriad of factors, the number of loan applicants for the public housing allocation has significantly reduced as compared to the numbers associated with the previous application. The government estimates that the number may rise in next coming years if market curbs are softened, such as loan repayment schemes on interest rates and application. A future projection of the public housing finance loan interest indicates a downward trend in the near future owing to the stiff competition put in place by private property owners (Ong, 2010). It is imperative, therefore, to reduce the public housing loan rate in order to attract new property owners while increasing the resale of the previously owned property. Currently, the resale price of previously owned units on the public housing has dropped by 1.3%. The government has not taken any measures to ensure that this market situation is controlled, but is examining the matter in order to employ proper strategy to enable Singapore citizens to own homes. In case the current prices of property remain stagnant at 57%, it is estimated that the public housing loan rate will rise. The number of public housing owners is estimated to gradually increase in case the current rate does not drop in the near future (Ong, 2010). The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is responsible for the dealings and management of the public housing program in Singapore. The local town council oversees the daily management activities. They also ensure planning and development of the public housing in addition to selling and resale of the houses as well as offering financial mortgage. The paper discusses an examination of the privatization of HDB and reasons behind it, with projection to loan in the coming years and how one can become a public house owner in Singapore. Privatization of HDB Loan to Consumer Bank The main aim of the privatisation of Housing and Development Board mortgage loan to consumer banks in Singapore was to curb the price competition through inculcation thereby increasing the performance of the banking sector within the economy. The mortgage yield was not sufficient to meet the standards set by HDB, thus the privatisation of the HDB mortgage became imperative (Adams, 2014). Moreover, the private sector’s better performance and management of the economy was an added reason for the privatization as compared to the public sector’s ability in managing and performance. With the privation of the HDB loans to consumer banks, the annual interest rate returns have since increased and projections show that they will continue to increase in the coming year. This therefore eliminates the high rate hurdle previously presented by HDB through the elimination and minimization of the government regulation on the HDB housing projects. (Li, 2014). Financier of Mortgage loan: Interest rates Homebuyer with potential can choose to buy a home with either a HBO loan or Bank loan. The payment scheme chosen will determine the selection of the mortgage partner from which the mortgage loan will be received. Homeowners are able to apply for mortgage loans through HBO and Consumer banks. The above options for loan financier are in place in order to enable potential buyers to decide which best fits their financial capability. In addition, HDB plays the role of a financier to flat owners by giving mortgage loans. This has enabled Singapore residents to acquire public houses easily and faster with the help of HDB mortgage loan. From a financier’s point of view, a homebuyer applying for a mortgage loan is required to have met their credit assessment and this is assessed with their current system of standard mortgage application. For an eligible flat buyer to have access to a concessionary loan, they must have an HDB Eligibility Letter (HLE) confirming that they are capable of making repayments. This is important because it accesses one’s potential ability to pay back his loan with constraining their personal budget. Before anyone can purchase a flat, they must have a letter of eligibility of HDB. HBO concessionary loan interest is 2.6% which is only 0.1% higher than the Central Provident Fund (CPF). It seems important tor e-examine the interest rate of HBO quarterly in comparison to CPF interes t rate to ensure that it stays roughly the same level. This type of system design helps to provide an easier scheme for the mortgagor to service their loan payment, and ensure they constantly pay without defaults. This interest rate of the HBO loan has been in existence for over 15 years (Ong, 2010). Contrary to this, banks interest rate is currently 1%. The interest is dynamic and not constant because it is determined by a number of other factors which affects the operation of the bank such as its business strategy, the prevailing market situation and commercial decisions. It is determined jointly by all the financial institution in Singapore. This system make it unreliable because it is not constant, it keeps fluctuating based on the above mentioned factors. Even though HBO mortgage offer low amount of loans, HBO mortgage scheme remain the most suitable financier to mortgage loan. Unfortunately, and since the privatisation of HBO, all those who wish to finance their resale and acquisition of HBO public housing will have to apply loans to various banks licensed by the monetary fund to give mortgage loans to public housing acquisition and resale. Immigration There are benefits to being a citizen in Singapore. Singapore is one of the major cities in Asia in terms of wealth and culture. To buy and rent an HBD flat, one has to be 21 years or older and a citizen to Singapore. Another benefit that the citizens of Singapore are entitled to is obtain loans at concessionary interest rate with HBO to help them in obtaining the flats. In addition to this, they are also offers for citizens who obtain public houses for the first time such as subsidies, for instance grants offered by the government as a cushion to aid those buying public houses. Citizens also enjoy lower rates for houses repairs (Adams, 2014). Conclusion In conclusion, the number of public house owners in Singapore is bound to increase in the near future with increase in mortgage. The performance of HDB’s hurdle interest is expected to increase on an annual basis with the privatisation to consumer banks to aid in the mortgage loan financing. This has facilitated the process of solving the housing problem in Singapore owing to the fact that the government has provided a more reliable and efficient option to help people buy property. Although the current market is not promising, the government is working hard to curb the situation and enable more Singapore in the coming year to own public house. This will enable them to deal with the housing problems and concentrate in development of other sectors of the economy thereby increase their national income and dominate in the leading economy (Li, 2014). Bibliography Adams, J. (2014, October 10). Bleeding the banks. Retrieved October 31, 2014. Li Sen, S. (2014, October 3). Spike in bad home loans swells Singapore banks’ NPLs. Retrieved October 31, 2014. Ong, S. (2010). Housing affordability and upward mobility from public to private housing in Singapore. Singapore: S.E. Ong].

Women and Fiction in The Yellow Wallpaper - 1314 Words

Women and Fiction in The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper is a deceptively simple story. It is easy to follow the thirteen pages of narrative and conclude the protagonist as insane. This is a fair judgement, after all no healthy minded individual becomes so caught up with hideous and infuriating wallpaper to lose sleep over it, much less lock herself in a room to tear the wallpaper down. To be able to imagine such things as broken necks and bulbous eyes in the wallpaper is understandable, irrational and erratic designs can form rational patterns in our minds, but to see a woman locked inside of the bars of the wallpaper and attempt to rescue her seems altogether crazy. Her†¦show more content†¦The windows are barred, preventing not only entrance but any type of escape. The heavy and presumably immovable bedstead is needlessly nailed to the floor. The wallpaper, perhaps the most overtly symbolic image in the story, is introduced as hostile as well. From a recurrent spot in the wa ll the bulbous eyes stare out with vicious intent (7). She is surrounded by objects that symbolize women writers place in a male dominated society: restrained. Women authors have been troubled by male refusal to let them into their circles. Female writers have had to assume pseudonyms, publish anonymously, or simply wait until someone finds their genius and decides to publish it. Even publication included heavy criticism and faultfinding. Like previous women authors, she lives in a society of obstructions for female writers. If the house is symbolically a metaphor for the biased literary world, her husband John is one of the oppressors. John is not effeminate in the least, rather he is an archetypal male: practical in the extreme, he has no patience with faith, and does not believe in irrational superstitions. He is the stereotypical male writer who has his eyes on large, tangible topics such as death and war, and cannot fathom anything that is not felt and seen and put down in figures such as love, birth, and in this case, insanity (3). If John symbolizes the biased male writer, it naturally follows that he would not appreciate herShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Charlotte Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper969 Words   |  4 PagesYellow Wallpaper Annotated Bibliography Frye, C.B. Using Literature in Health Care: Reflections on The Yellow Wallpaper. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. (32: 7). 1998. 829.33. Print. Most people who wrote about The Yellow Wallpaper do so from the perspective of a literary scholar. This however is written by someone in the health care field. C.B. Frye says that fiction can impact the larger world; in this case it impacted mental health and the work of Gillmans doctor, S Weir Mitchell. AlthoughRead MoreFeminist Perspective on Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper1274 Words   |  6 PagesThe Yellow Wallpaper, Written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is comprised as an assortment of journal entries written in first person, by a woman who has been confined to a room by her physician husband who he believes suffers a temporary nervous depression, when she is actually suffering from postpartum depression. He prescribes her a â€Å"rest cure†. The woman remains anonymous throughout the story. She becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper that surrounds her in the room, and engages in some outrageousR ead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Perkins Gilman1271 Words   |  6 PagesCharlotte Perkins Gilman, author of the novel entitled, The Yellow Wallpaper significantly used the aspects of literature such as genre, stance, and register to express the social message concerning the sufferings that women undergo in their daily affairs. However, most of the females do not have control over the challenges that develop in their surroundings. Gilman also uses the book to entertain the society members thus providing relief to the readers. In essence, the author of the novel aboveRead More Imprisonment of Women Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper1439 Words   |  6 PagesImprisonment of Women Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper When asked the question of why she chose to write The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman claimed that experiences in her own life dealing with a nervous condition, then termed melancholia, had prompted her to write the short story as a means to try and save other people from a similar fate. Although she may have suffered from a similar condition to the narrator of her illuminating short story, Gilmans story cannot be coinedRead MoreThe Deeper Meaning of The Yellow Wallpaper1257 Words   |  6 PagesCharlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, is the disheartening tale of a woman suffering from postpartum depression. Set during the late 1890s, the story shows the mental and emotional results of the typical rest cure prescribed during that era and the narrator’s reaction to this course of treatment. It would appear that Gilman was writing about her own anguish as she herself underwent such a treatment with Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell in 1887, just tw o years after the birth ofRead MoreComparison of William Faulkners A Rose for Emily and Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper815 Words   |  3 PagesThe two short stories â€Å" A Rose for Emily† and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† are two very similar but at the same time very different. The main characters Emily Grierson, from William Faulkners A Rose for Emily, and the narrator, from Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wall-Paper, are both in the same boat that many women were placed in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s. Both of these two stories were written in a generation that women were looked downed upon and made to feel less important thanRead More Gilman Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper1290 Words   |  6 PagesGilman Exposed in The Yellow Wallpaper      Ã‚   Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, is the disheartening tale of a woman suffering from postpartum depression. Set during the late 1890s, the story shows the mental and emotional results of the typical rest cure prescribed during that era and the narrator’s reaction to this course of treatment. It would appear that Gilman was writing about her own anguish as she herself underwent such a treatment with Dr. Silas Weir MitchellRead More The Psychological Portrait in The Yellow Wallpaper1344 Words   |  6 PagesThe Psychological Portrait in The Yellow Wallpaper   Ã‚   Charlotte Perkins Gilman was famous in her time as a womens activist. Later, she began writing fiction. As noted in her Norton Anthology biography, Charlottes stories often reveal her worldview. The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story written to combat the modus operandi for curing depression in her day. This cure consisted of being completely sequestered from any intellectual or artistic engagements. Her addendum to the story alsoRead MoreObsessions Always Have Meanings Essay1218 Words   |  5 PagesIn the stories â€Å"The Birthmark† by Nathaniel Hawthorne and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, they are similar because they both deal with the wives being obsessed with something. Also in both stories their husbands are concerned and want to help them with their obsessions. The wife in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† is obsessed with the wallpaper on the wall and sees it as another world. She believes that there is someone stuck b ehind the wall and is trying to get out. Tearing down the wallRead MoreThe Summer People, By Shirley Jackson And Smoke Ghost By Fritz Leiber1649 Words   |  7 PagesQUESTION 3 The assertion that all works by weird fiction authors are simply â€Å"ridiculous flights of fancy wholly detached from ‘real world’ issues and problems† is completely false. I could choose almost any example from our readings and pick out some sort of â€Å"real world† issue or important thing that I have learned from them. For the sake of time, however, I will focus on â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, â€Å"The Summer People† by Shirley Jackson and â€Å"Smoke Ghost† by