Rap and Hip-Hop Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Rap and Hip-Hop Culture - Essay Example The conclusion section summarizes the main ideas of the paper and further confirms that the rap/hip-hop culture tends to contain adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. Rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women. Rap and hip-hop refers to a cultural movement and genre of music developed in the 1970s in New York. This was mainly among Latino Americans and African Americans. Hip-hop has four major elements namely break-dancing, graffiti writing, and rapping. Other elements are slang, hip-hop fashion and beat-boxing. Since its first emergence in the Bronx in the 1970s, rap/hip-hop culture has spread to many parts of the world. When hip-hop first emerged, its basis was around disc jockeys creating rhythmic beats through looping breaks on two turn tables, and was later followed by rapping. Then there arose particular dress styles and form of dancing among the new music followers. The emergence of rap and hip-hop music in the 1970s came with a lot of fear. This was because many parents and other stakeholders thought that this new rhythms and lyrics would negatively affect the listeners, most of whom were adolescents. This fear was carried on into the 21st century. Many critics of this genre of mu... This fear was carried on into the 21st century. Many critics of this genre of music are of the view that it promotes homicide, drug use, violence, suicide, deviant sexual activity, bigotry and aggression (Ballard and Dodson, 1999, pp 476). This is a significant topic since this issue has sparked a lot of debate among parent groups, censorship supporters, artists, record companies and even the United States federal government. The same issue also crops up in the medical arena, with the American Pediatrics Association expressing fear that rap and hip-hop lyrics threaten the well-being and health of adolescents. According to Mendelson (1989, pp 314-315), the greatest concerns include suicide, accidents, sexually transmitted diseases, drug use and pregnancy. Many physicians perceive the adolescent period as a very difficult period due to the rapid psychological and biological changes occurring during this period. Furthermore, the society expects these young people sound moral values through the way they perceive adult behaviors and standards. A number of physicians use their adolescent patients' music preferences to get a clue to their mental and emotional health. Music that contains explicit lyrics is capable of skewing and misrepresenting the world's realities. Rap and hip-hop music tends to represent adolescent themes of autonomy and rebellion. Rap music has particularly been known to make provocative remarks towards women. Hence the most popular music forms for adolescents must revolve around such themes as sexual imagery and disrespect (Brown and Hendee, 1989, pp 1659-1663). Moreover, many have questioned what effects music lyrics have on stereotyping, aggression, suicidal ideation and mood. According to a study conducted on the

Speech: Accepting and Dealing with Change :: essays research papers

Change can have many meanings. It is going from â€Å"same† to â€Å"different†. Change can be defined as an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another and as a process of transition. The forces of change affect attitudes, beliefs and behavior. Not a single moment goes by when everything in our lives will remain the same. When you become adjusted to your surroundings, something changes again. Changes can affect both individuals and groups. Throughout our lives we go through many changes, especially in adolescence. This is shown in the song Graduation by Vitamin C. Graduation is about the change of leaving high school and moving on to adulthood. It shows the many questions young people have about leaving school, and uncertainty of the future. At the same time, it shows the constant of friendship that people can rely on, when many other things in their life are changing. Some people who have dealt with changes in their lives have become inspirational to others because of their courage, determination and optimism. Examples of such people are the Biggest Loser contestants and also Bethany Hamilton. The television program the Biggest Loser shows people changing their lives physically and emotionally through diet and exercise. People watching the show could relate to these people, which could give them inspiration and motivation to make changes of their own. Bethany Hamilton is an example of dealing with change in an optimistic way. In October 2003, Bethany was attacked by a shark while out surfing in Tunnels beach, Hawaii. Without warning, a Tiger shark attacked her surfboard, dragging her back and forth and then disappearing into the ocean. Bethany was able to compose herself to use her right arm to swim back to the shore. She was later taken to hospital with severe injuries, where her left arm was amputated. She came through her recovery with things that were important to her, such as her family and her Christian faith. Despite the trauma of the incident, Hamilton was determined to return to surfing. Just 10 weeks after the accident, she returned to the ocean and went surfing again. She adjusted to the change by using a custom made surfboard and changing her surfing style. Bethany taught herself to surf with only one arm and she also began surfing competitively in competitions again. Hamilton claims that the loss of her arm was a bles sing in disguise.

Why are Geographers interested in Marston Vale?

Marston Vale lies upon the Oxford clay, between Bedford and Milton Keynes in UK. The soils in this area are very fertile. Because the majority of English houses are built in bricks, and the location of Marston Vale is also near London, many brickwork industries were set in this area over last hundred years. Most of the clay extracted here is sent to London to build houses. Today, the extraction of clay and the brick making is still busy, and the Stewartby brickwork industry is one of the biggest industries formed in Marston Vale. Millions of tonnes of clay are extracted from the clay pit everyday, then the clays are transported by conveyor belt to the brickwork, where the clays are drained, moulded and then fired in kilns to make the red bricks that are used to build houses. After all the clay that is valuable to mine has been extracted, huge holes are left on the ground. The topsoil has been removed from the ground during clay extraction, and so no plants will be able to grow in such areas. The area turn to worse if there is rain, the whole area will turn muddy and dirty. A chain of pits stretches along the A421 from Bedford to the M1 near Milton Keynes. This was one of the worst areas of rural derelict land and damaged Ecosystem. The noise, pollution, traffic and bad view that has been produced by the extraction pit and brick making factory affect local residents badly. What can be done to improve the situation? In 1989, 12 National Community Forest project were launched. These Forest will cover 470,000 hectares , which take over 3.6% of all land area in England and Wales, nearly equal to half the total land area used by the National Parks. The Community Forests is a national programme of improving the environment, which affects half of the people in England. Improving the countryside around towns and cities by planting woodland is the main aim of the Community Forests, especially in the areas of the derelict land. This will improve the environment and benefits the local people. In theory, the land must be made to contribute the local communities, e.g.: Creating jobs, Creating farmlands, Creating an attractive environment, Creating a variety of different landscapes, Creating sports facilities, Creating settlements. The Marston Vale Community Forests. Marston Community forests is one of12 National community forests projects which introduced in 1989. The Marston vale community forests cover a total area which more than 150kmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. About 25,000 people are living inside the forest area, about 145,000 people are living on the edge of the area, most of them are in Bedford and Kempston, about 500,000 people are living within 20 minutes' drive. (These figures are from GeoActive) In order to succeed in this project, local people should put efforts in planning, planting and looking after the woods that are planted. The past experience has shown us that most environmental management, which involved local people, are more likely to succeed. Local people are encouraged by the Forest team to grow their own seeds in Marston Vale Community Forest project. The results of that are small woodland have begun to grow in their villages. Forest team also need to encourage landowners to allow their land to be planted with trees and organise seed collection and planting days. (This information is from GeoActive.) From this act, we know that the Marston Vale Community Forest project does not just involve the restoration of the clay extraction pits, but also allows local people to get in. It encourages people to plant trees, to protect the woodland created, to take a part in the development of the forest. The most important thing is people will love what they have planted, in order to love the whole nature. The restoration of the clay extraction pits in Maston Vale community Forest. There are three possible ways to restore the clay extraction pit: 1) The main restoration for the clay extraction pits is by changing them to an artificial forest. The way of doing so is to spread 3-4 metres of topsoil over the top. Then trees may be able to be planted in. The local people are involved in the development of the Marston Vale community forest. The plan is for local people to plant 100 ha of woodland each year and 5 Km of hedgerow each year. Farmers can apply for grants from the Forestry Commission for planting woodland. 2) The huge hole left on the ground can also be turned into an artificial lake by pouring water into the pit, or just leave them until the rain season comes. Separate clay extraction holes may be joined together by digging out the soil between them. The Stewarby Lake is an example of this restoration. 3) There's also another restoration, which is making it into a landfill site. I personally think this is a fantastic restoration, because this is also a waste solution. Million tonnes of waste can be buried in the clay extraction every day. This solved the crisis of waste in London. After the waste is filled in, plants can also be planted on top. After a long time, a chemical reaction will be happen when the waste decays and the methane gas is produced in this process. We went to an L-field landfill site, which is run by Shanks company; more information on landfill site will be in the back. *Questions On my coursework. 1) How brickwork, clay extraction and landfill sites effects local people ‘s life 2) What's local people's knowledge on Marston Vale Community Forest Project? 3) How successful is the Marston Vale community forest project? Both in attempting to solve the problems of pits left on ground after the clay extraction, and to create the better environment for local people. These are three questions that I set through my coursework. The answers for these questions will be in the end of my coursework in details. For first data collecting, the school organised a day fieldtrip to the Marston Vale area. On the day of the fieldtrip, we visited the following places: *Community forest centre, the artificial forest that has been restored from pits. *Stewartby lake, an artificial lake in the forest, also a different landscape created from clay extraction pit. *The Quest pit, one of the present clay extractions pits run by Hanson Company. *Wootton village for the questionnaire, to ask a few questions on how the brickwork and the landfill site affects local residents. *Randalls Farm, to do some water tests on the Elstow Brook River located there. *Landfill, to see what is the landfill site is like. Issues in the Maston Vale to look at. A Geographer will particularly look at the environmental issues in this area, such as how clay extraction damages the area's Ecosystem, how this affects local people, and what can be done to solve the problems, and finally are these attempts successful or not, and what can be improved? To answer all these doubts, I will first introduce the area to the readers, give them the exact location of the Marston Vale area and what transportation is available to get there. To let readers understand more about my coursework, especially on the day we went to the Marston Vale. I'll explain clearly what we've done on the fieldtrip; where we did them; why we did them; and what are the data can tell us.

Pip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay - 1473 Words

Pip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Great Expectations, written by Charles Dickens and set in mid-late Victorian era; is about a boy named Philip Pirrip, better known as Pip and his great expectations. As a child he lived with his sister and brother in-law Joe. Luck brings him to the aid of a convict, and to the house of a wealthy society lady. After many encounters with her in Satis house, he seeks a life as a gentleman. A Victorian society gentleman is a man of high social status, and is expected to be wealthy, well educated, come from a wealthy background, and have enough money not to work. This is all Pips perception of what the precepts of being a gentleman are. Drummle sets a good example of this for†¦show more content†¦Affluence is unimportant for a moral gentleman; the importance is how you treat and respect others. Victorian gentlemen seems to be more about themselves or rather what is around themselves, like wealth; moral gentlemen are more about their inner qualities, personality and the way they behave. The expectations of a moral gentleman are more naturally come by; the society gentleman gains unnatural qualities; so what Im trying to say is the moral gentleman comes from within a person, a person who becomes a society gentleman is selfish because he wishes to gain. The arrogant behaviour seems to come naturally for a society gentleman, or for a person who is in contact with one. Herbert and his father Matthew fit some of both precepts, they are well-educated, quite wealthy, work for their living, and have friends. Herbert is caring, devoted the day to attending to me, he tends Pips wounds, and Pip describes him as kindest of nurses. Herbert is also a moral gentleman; Pip took his time in realising that he should have copied his example instead of Drummles. Before Pip went to London he had been to, a wealthy society lady, Miss Havishams house many time, he met a girl named Estella who called him coarse and common, this is the starting point to Pips intensions of being a gentleman. Pip tells Biddy he wants to be a gentleman because of Estella I want to be a gentleman on her account.Show MoreRelated Pip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations3985 Words   |  16 PagesPip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations After reading the compelling ‘Great Expectations’ by the famous writer Charles Dickens, I can gather that it is based upon his own psychological insight to life. He makes connections in relation to a specific character or event in the storyline, which were critical in his own expectations. Also Dickens moulds his selection of characters very well into the desired settings he’d created, that matched what he knew only too well throughout his childhoodRead MoreEssay Sympathy for Pip in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens997 Words   |  4 PagesSympathy for Pip in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens For the past half term, in English, we have been spending our lessons on a novel by Charles Dickens called Great Expectations We have been concentrating on the opening Chapters as well as to understand the novel. Great Expectations is based on a boy called Pip. Pip is an orphan who lives with his cruel sister and husband Joe Smith whos a blacksmith. He is poor and lonely as his siblings unfortunately died. Read More Sympathy for Pip in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Essay2049 Words   |  9 PagesSympathy for Pip in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens problems with format    Great Expectations is a novel in which each character is a subject of either sympathy or scorn.   Charles Dickens implies through his use of guilt and suffering that Pip is a subject of sympathy.   Frazier Russell wrote that in Great Expectations the protagonist (through his suffering and disappointment), learns to accept his station in life.(   Also through Pips suffering comes the sympathy the reader feelsRead MoreCharacter Analysis in Pip in Charles Dickens ´ Great Expectations1542 Words   |  7 PagesGraduate, or the next new celebrity. But, these expectations can begin to define a person if he believes he has to conform to societys expectations. In Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, young Pip feels the pressure from society and his love, Estella, to become a gentleman. By attempting to rise in his social class Pip then abandons his previous good morals and his family members when he moves to London. Each character has aspirations for Pip which he believes he must fulfill in order toRead MoreThe Relationship Between Pip and Abel Magwitch in Charles Dickens Great Expectations1125 Words   |  5 PagesThe Relationship Between Pip and Abel Magwitch in Charles Dickens Great Expectations In this essay, I am to observe the changes in the relationship between Pip and the convict Abel MagwitchRead MorePip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Jem and Scout in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird1381 Words   |  6 PagesBoth Pip in Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Jem and Scout in Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird have deep fears in early childhood. How do the authors create these fears and vulnerabilities? Charles Dickens Great Expectations and Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird are two very different books. Great Expectations tells the story of a young boy growing up in Kent at the beginning of the 19th century, and To Kill a Mocking Bird centres around two children growing up in AmericaRead MoreGreat Expectations: Prose Study Coursework How Did Charles Dickens Create Sympathy for Pip in the Opening Chapter of Great Expectation?1161 Words   |  5 PagesGreat expectations: Prose study coursework How did Charles Dickens create sympathy for Pip in the opening chapter of great expectation? In this essay I’m going to be writing about a Charles Dickens book called ‘Great Expectations’ and how he successfully makes the reader feel sorry for the main character in the book named Pip; a young orphan, alone in a graveyard and how bad his life is or how bad its going to get. Dickens makes the reader feel sorry for Pip because we find out that, apart fromRead MoreGreat Expectations and a Christmas Carol: a True Gentleman Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Expectations and A Christmas Carol: A True Gentleman According to Dictionary.com, a gentleman is a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered man. However, by Victorian definition, a gentleman was, perhaps most importantly, a rich man. â€Å"Charles Dickens†¦was an author of relatively humble origins who desired passionately to be recognized as a gentleman, and insisted, in consequence, upon the essential dignity of his occupation† (Victorian Web). In Great Expectations he portrays Pip, aRead More Attitudes toward Victorian Society in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens1156 Words   |  5 PagesGreat Expectations Explore some of the ways in which Dickens’ attitudes to Victorian society are presented in the opening chapter of Great Expectations. For this essay I will be focusing on the opening chapters of Great Expectations, a novel written by Charles Dickens. I am going to consider the Victorian society at the time and dickens’ use of language to express themes, settings and characters. Charles Dickens wrote this story in the Victorian times. Hence we seem to think what ‘does heRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations943 Words   |  4 Pagesmuch as in Great Expectations. In many ways the narrator/protagonist Pip is Charles Dickens in body and mind. While there are many differences between the story and Charles Dickens life there remains one constant. This constant is the way Pip as the narrator feels, because these feelings are Dickens s own feelings about the life he lead. Since Great Expectations was written towards end of Charles Dickens life, he was wiser and able to make out the mistakes and regrets of his life, and Pip experiences

The Human Cloud Is A Staple Of Doing Business - 1273 Words

Over the last decade, the â€Å"human cloud† has become a staple of doing business. Companies from main street to wall street can quickly find extremely talented subcontractors online, from anywhere in the world, at a very reasonable price. For this reason, it has become increasingly difficult to trade competitively without â€Å"crowdsourcing,† or accessing the human cloud. The â€Å"human cloud,† a term used to describe the online, talentsourcing ecosystem that has emerged over the last decade or so, revolves around online middlemen, such as Upwork , that engage a virtual pool of workers from around the world that can be tapped, on demand, to provide a broad range of services to any interested buyer (Kaganer, 2012). â€Å"As the world becomes more global,†¦show more content†¦2). All these advantages notwithstanding, the challenges of leveraging the human cloud should not be taken lightly. Perhaps the most notable downside to international trade would be the sophistication of communication required to manage cloud workers. Virtual organizations can speed up cycle time, but they pose new challenges for managers on how to manage remote workers. Communications technologies and the Web let employees work from anywhere—around the corner or around the world—and require special attention to managing communication (Carpenter, 2009, p. 62). For the uninitiated, differences in culture, language and cross time zone coordination make the managerial task formidable indeed. Given this challenge, we wonder if there exists a set of principles for successfully leveraging the human cloud? Here are three principles that managers of a distributed workforce can rely on to successfully leverage the human cloud. Principle #1: Inspire Most workers want to be a part of an enterprise that matters. Current research suggests that in the United States, the millennials generation, specifically, has a preference for social enterprises (FerriReed, J., 2014). As the global workforce ages, the advantage in

The Effect Of Salt Concentration On Plant Growth - 1193 Words

Research question Does salt concentration effect plant growth? Aim To investigate the effect of salt concentration in soil on plant growth Hypothesis As concentration of salt increases, the growth of plant will be detrimentally effected when grown in a controlled environment. Background theory Plants are a living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, absorbing water and inorganics substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll (Oxford Dictionaries, 2015). Plants are the backbone of all life on Earth and an essential resource for human well-being (BGCI, 2015). For all forms of life, plants form the basic food staples. They are the major source of oxygen and food on earth since no animal is able to supply the components necessary without plants (Jennifer C, 2014). Plants make food – they are the only organisms that can convert light energy from the sun into food. Plants make oxygen – one of the materials that plants produce as they make food is oxygen gas for animals and people to stay alive. Plants provide habitats for animals – it is a primary habitat for thousands of other organisms. Plants help make and preserve soil – the roots of plants help hold soil together which help reduce erosion and helps conserve the soil. Plants provide useful products for people – many plants are important sources of product that people use, including food, fibresShow MoreRelatedThe Effect of Salt Concentration on Grass Growth1414 Words   |  6 PagesThe effect of salt concentration on grass growth Abstract Our aim was to test the effect of different salinities on the growth of plants which what we did was measured different amounts of salt dissolved into 2 litres of water, watered the plant once with the salt water then for 9 days with pure ware. I found with my investigation that the less the salt, the more the growth of the plant. My aim was achieved by measuring the 5 fastest geminating (out of 20) and to measure the differences in growthRead MoreEnvironmental Factors That Affect Plant Growth Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction All the factors that inhibit plant growth are defined as stresses. Environmental factors influence the characters, composition, growth and development of individual plants and plant communities. When any of these environmental factors exceeds the optimum tolerance of a plant, it produces stress to the plant influenced by the developmental, structural, physiological and biochemical processes of the plant. Towards a stress definition Levitt 1980 defined stress as any environmentalRead MoreThe Use Of Magnetite Nanoparticles And Its Effects On The Environment931 Words   |  4 Pagesleaves decreased in different concentrations of NaCl (Table 1). Several factors such as reduction of photosynthesis, degradation of cell membranes, reducing of plant available water and Na+ accumulation in the leaves were the main causes of weight loss under salt stress (Hajiaghaei-Kamrani et al., 2013). Also results showed that Fe2O3NPs treatments increased the FW and DW values as compared to the control plants. The highest value of leaf FW and DW at all concentrations of NaCl were observed in 30Read MoreCoal Seam Gas853 Words   |  3 PagesQueensland depends at times on underground water. The effect of CSG extraction using underground fracturing on underground water is not clear. Basic sets of impacts that are broadly well understood are that aquifer levels will sink dramatically and will depressurise. It also risks groundwater con tamination and the salt that is present in the water of coal seams will be brought to the surface as well, in a quantity of about 1.8 million tonnes of salt per year (ABC, 2010). There are several types of waterRead MoreThe Effect Of Salinity On Growth And Development1508 Words   |  7 Pagesgravitropism: The effect of salinity on gravitropism shown in downward root growth Background information: Gravity greatly influences plant growth and development. When plants enters the first stages of growth, the primary factor that determines the outcome of the plant’s survival is gravitropism. Gravitropism, determines upward shoot growth to secure a correct positioning of the leaves for efficient photosynthesis and gas exchange. Gravitropism primarily determines the downward growth of roots. GravityRead MoreSalt Pollution1495 Words   |  6 PagesSalt Pollution As awareness for pollution increases, other forms of pollution are defined. Almost everyone knows about toxic waste and carbon dioxide pollution, but not many people have heard of salt pollution. Salt pollution has been on the increase since the evolution of the automobile. With more pressure on government agencies to keep the highway clear and safe, an increase in the use of salt has developed. It is important to understand why salt is used and how it work as well as the environmentalRead MoreSalinity And Its Effects On The World s Most Serious Environmental Problems1100 Words   |  5 Pagespopulation, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, food shortages, and land scarcity are compelling the use of lands not utilized because of salinity and other soil stresses. Salinity and sodicity problems are characterized by an excess of inorganic salts and are common in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) where they have been naturally formed under the prevailing climatic conditions and due to the high rates of evapotranspiration and lack of leaching water (Mengel and Kirkby, 1982; Shannon et alRead MoreThe Effect Of Stress Levels In Plants859 Words   |  4 Pagesthat salinity stress levels increased sodium and decreased potassium contents in the shoots and fruits of pepper plants which is a typical response of plants in saline environments arising from the inability of plants to distinguish between sodium and potassium ions (Storey et al., 1983). The increase in Na+ content mainly in the vacuole provides an osmotic adjustment of salt affected plants (Sakr et al., 2007). This accumulation might be due to the important role of sodium in increasing osmotic pressureRead MoreThe Pollution Of The United States1558 Words   |  7 Pagessnowfall, it is a common practice to pour salt on the roads. The reason for this is because a property of salt allows it to lower the melting point of water, which makes it much easier to clear the streets of snow and ice that would otherwise leave the roads dangerous, unusable and slippery. It is a simple way to reduce car accidents, and it is also much cheaper compared to the alternative chemicals that can be used for the same purpose. However, the salt that most cities use doesn’t simply disappearRead MoreThe Causes of Waterlogging from Irrigation Essay831 Words   |  4 Pagesto increase production of arable farmland to maintain the ability to feed the ever increasing population. Irrigation is generally considered the most effective way of increasing farmland production. It can help supplement the water needed for crop growth when rainfall is at a low point or, in more humid areas, it can help bridge dryer times and reduce agricultural risks. The goal of irrigating is to increase the land usable for crops, the crop production per harvest per season, and the diversity of

Civil Disobedience by Henry David Free Essays

In his essay, Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau introduced his audience to his personal thoughts regarding the injustice of the American government. Moreover, he sought to encourage individual action to boycott any law or institution instilled by the government that was in any way conflicting with a person’s beliefs. A true revolutionary at heart, Thoreau put his words into action by refusing to pay his poll tax for 6 years and was forced to spend the night in jail because of it. We will write a custom essay sample on Civil Disobedience by Henry David or any similar topic only for you Order Now Rather than seeking reform by cooperating with the corrupt institutions of his time, he refused to become a part of them and condemned their existence. â€Å"That government is best which governs least† is the quote Thoreau incorporated to his opening sentence. In a nutshell, he was attempting to convey that considering the fact the government exists to serve the people, it should not do much to interfere with the quotidian life of those under its spectrum of power. He sees the American government as an evil that only watches out for the interests of the majority and blatantly ignores those who are not part of that general consensus. He believes that a government in â€Å"which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice† (Civil Disobedience, Page 24) and that is essentially what a democracy represents in his eyes. Contrary to popular belief, he states that all of the achievements that had been accredited to the government were only made possible out of the character of the American people because they embraced the change and put it into action. Slavery was another social injustice that he thought was only in place because of the oppressive nature of the American government. Another one of his purposes throughout the course of his essay is to inspire others to stand up for their values and morals regardless of general opinions. He compared the American government to a machine that when gone astray can only be stopped by the â€Å"counter-friction† provided by a person’s dissent. Furthermore, he justified the complete disregard for norms instilled by the government by arguing that he thinks â€Å"we should be men first and subjects afterwards† (Civil Disobedience, Page 26). He states that a democracy, although theoretically supposed to encourage reform, suppresses attempts that don’t match up to its ideals therefore making it hypocritical and untrustworthy. He backed up his statements by providing his own personal experience of getting arrested for refusing to pay poll tax. In this way he hopes to convince readers to act out against policies that they disagree with enacted by the government. Lastly, he wishes that a government arises that will not be plagued by the impurity of the one he currently a subject of. He believes that the only way a government can justly rule its subjects is â€Å"†¦until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Civil Disobedience, Page 348). Although Thoreau admits that democracy is a step forward from other forms of oppressive governments, it is not the final step. He believes that a â€Å"perfect and glorious State† would cherish individuality and never impose ideas on the subjects it governs. Although not plainly stated in the essay, equality is one of the many things that it is unknowingly striving for. Overall, Civil Disobedience is a critique of the wrongful practices of the US government that seeks support in achieving change by refusing to participate in its corrupt practices. Thoreau emphasizes the idea of a government that doesn’t taint the ideas and opinions of the individuals and forces them to conform to values that are not theirs. How to cite Civil Disobedience by Henry David, Essay examples