How to Win a Student Election, by a Former Class President

How to Win a Student Election, by a Former Class President SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Hoping to be your class president? Winning the position takes a lot of work, but you can absolutely make it happen. Why should you trust me?I was my Junior Class President and Student Government President my senior year, so I know what it takes to get there. In this article, I've outlined every step you need to take to become class president: starting with just getting on student council freshman year, all the way through running ina big election as a senior. Why Do You Want to Be Class President? Before I talk about how to get elected, I want youto think about why you want to become class president. Do you want to improve school dances? Do you want to have a wider variety of school lunch options? Create a class field trip? Start a fundraiser? All of these reasons are legitimate. You need to figure out what your own goal is. If you're having trouble, sit down and brainstorm. Think about all the events your student government plans. Which did you attend? Were there issues at these events? What could have been done better? Is it something you could change? This brainstorming should lead you to some ideas of why you want to become president of your class or school. Why do you need a reason to want to be class president? It'll keep you motivated during your campaign, and it'll help you explain to your classmates why they should vote for you. I'll delve into this in-depth later on in this article. First, I'll go over the two major steps you need to follow in order to run a successful campaign. Step 1: Start Early If you want to be president of your class or high school some day, you need to start working towards that goal early. Plan to join student council your freshman year, but don’t expect to be elected president.Freshman student council elections are usually a mess.Freshman elections typically happen within a month of starting school, so no one knows each other. The person elected president is usually the person whose name other students have heard the most.It’s not usually based on competence or trust. My recommendation for freshman student council elections: Run for one of the â€Å"smaller† offices such as secretary or treasurer.There is usually less competition for these positions, so you’ll have a better shot of being elected.During freshman year, your aim should just be to get on the council. Once you're on it, you’ll be able to prove your effectiveness as a leader and can start the climb towards president.I was elected Freshman Treasurer, and then Sophomore Vice President, and then Junior Class President. Butby starting early, I don’t just mean joining the council early... Step 2: Maintain Relationships You need to work from the start to build relationships with your classmates so that they know and trust you. This is the most important step to becoming Class President. Students want to elect someone they like and know is competent.Be a leader in the classroom.Participate in class discussionsandget good grades, it’s how you’ll prove your competence.Don’t be the class clown or the student who’s always on their cell phone or asleep. Interact with the students around you.Sit with different groups at lunch.Talk to them about their concerns and what changes they’d like to see happen at the school. If you’re not currently on student council, ask if you can attend their meetings.Some student councils allow students who’re interested in joining to sit in on their meetings, and some host an occasional meeting (monthly, bi-monthly, annual, etc.) for students who’re not on the council to voice their concerns and ideas. Also, if you’re not currently on student council, ask members of student council if they need help with their events.It’s a great way to test out student council to see if it’s right for you, and it's also a great way to show you’re fit to be on student council/leading student council. With my advice, you won't be quite so lonely! How to Run a Winning Election The two steps I mentioned above will start you on the path to becoming president of your class, but to run a winning election you’ll need to do more. #1: Get Your Name Out There To win an election, you need to marketyourself.Start by creating aslogan, even if it’s as simple as â€Å"Lauren for Junior Class President.†You want to use one slogan for your campaign that will be used on all of your marketing materials so that your name becomes recognizable. If you don't come up with one slogan and instead use multiple slogans or designs, peoplemay get confused. You want one good slogan that you'll use across all of your material to ensure a clear, focused campaign that'll create name recognition. Think about all of the US presidential campaigns; the posters always have one design from which they never stray. #2: Put Up Posters With YourSlogan The posters can be super simple; even just a print out of the slogan on normal computer paper will work.However, you should have a lotof them.The exact number will vary proportionally to the number of students in your class (or school, if you’re running for the overall Student Government President).What I mean by that is if your class has 100 students, 10 posters may be enough, but if you have 1000 students in your class, you may want to put up 50 or more posters.Count on some posters being ripped down or disappearing.Most schools have rules against this, but it’s hard to catch someone ripping down a poster.Plan on making extras. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. #3: Create Something to Hand Out This can be a sticker, button, pencil, etc.You can make these super cheaply by buying labels, printing your slogan onto the labels, and handing them out as â€Å"stickers† or putting these labels onto pencils.Again, as I said for posters, the number of handouts you should make will vary based on the number of students in your class or school.If you can afford it, I’d recommend making at least one sticker/handout per student in your class.The campaigns usually last multiple days, so try to make sure you have enough handouts to give a second sticker or pencil to other students who may misplace the first. NOTE: You may not be able to use all of my suggestions above. Different schools have different campaign rules. For example, some schools don’t allow you to hand anything out. Check with a teacher or school administrator to make sure you know what the rules are. What’s the Point of Marketing Yourself? You won’t win an election if people don’t know who you are and whyyou’re running.As I said before, students want to elect peoplethey like and know are competent.Even if you’re a leader in the classroomandgetting good grades, if you’re in a class of 1000, you may not know half of your classmates.You want the other half of students who don’t know you personally to know your name and to talk about you with their friends. Posters help create name visibility.People will start to recognize your name and will hopefully start to talk to their friends about you. Handouts (i.e. stickers or pencils) also help create name visibility and offer you an opportunity to meet more students you don’t know.At lunch time, travel around your cafeteria, walk up to people you don’t know and ask if they’d like a sticker or pencil.It’s a GREAT excuse to talk to people and will give you an opportunity to convince them to vote for you. Make sure you tell them why you want to be president. As I mentioned earlier, whatever reason you decided to run (whether it was to improve school dances or improve the lunch menu) tell it to them!Ask them what they’d like to see happen at the school next year. Show them you’ll be a good listener as well as a good leader! #4: Ace Your Campaign Speech Some schools have candidates give speeches or debate.My school did not.If your school allows you to give a speech, definitely do so! Here are my recommended points to hit in your speech/debate. Introduce yourself (It may seem obvious, but it will helpstudentswho may not know you). â€Å"Hi, I’m Lauren Jones, and I’m running for Junior Class President.† Say why you want to be president and why you’re qualified. Your qualifications will bea combination of personal characteristics and past experiences and successes. â€Å"I'm responsible and agood listener. I served as Sophomore Class VP and fundraised more than $1,000 for the Red Cross.† State your platform (what you plan to do differently). â€Å"I plan to move our school dance to the Marriott Ballroom instead of our gym.† Say how you plan to accomplish your goals. â€Å"I will raise the money to move our dance to the Marriott Ballroom by hosting a school-wide bake sale.† End with your campaign slogan. â€Å"Remember, Lauren for Junior Class President.† These should be the main points you hit, but I’d recommend injecting some humor into it to make it more interesting.However, your speech should notbe too long (I’d recommend 2-3 minutes maximum).Make it concise and to the point or you’ll lose your audience. If you market yourself well along with starting early, building a solid reputation, and maintaining relationships, you'll have yourself a winning campaign! What’s Next? If you’re interested in becoming class president in part to put it on your college application, you should learn about what makes an amazing extracurricular activity for your college applications. Also, you should learnhow many extracurricular activities you need for college. Interested in learning about other great extracurricular opportunities? Learn more about job shadowing, community service, and volunteer abroad programs. Aiming to get into Harvard and the Ivy League? Read ourHow to Get Into Harvard guidefor everything you need to know to get accepted. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Staples and Cofer Essays

Staples and Cofer Essays Staples and Cofer Paper Staples and Cofer Paper Different Ethnicities Same Problems When Americans meet someone new they are already sticking that person into some sort of category because of their appearance. If someone looks different than Americans are use to, they automatically stick some sort of stereotype to them. Stereotypes are strongly displayed in the media; stereotype can be based of someones color, culture, religion, or sex. In Black men in public spaces by Brent Staples, and in The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer, the authors talk about stereotypes based on their gender and ethnicity nd the experiences they both encounter because of their ethnicity and gender which have many similarities and differences. Stereotypes can lead to hatred and discrimination against other groups. The problem with stereotyping is it is identifying an individual based on a group a person belongs to, which is not right because each individual is their own person. Stereotypes can be true, and are sometimes false that is why a person should only be Judged by who he/she is, each person is unique in his/her own way. Cofer addresses the stereotypes of Latin women, while Brent Staples points out the social views of African American men by both displaying the stereotypes stuck to them, how the grew up, and encounters with strangers to reveal the similarities and differences they face concerning ethnicity. No matter what ethnicity a person is, it seems as if everyone has to face being Judged based on his/ her ethnicity and getting some kind of stereotype stuck to them. Both Staples and Cofer had to experience being stereotyped, but the way the handle the situation had some similarities. For staples him being an African American man he had to face being Judged by many people and being seen as a criminal. He expresses the feeling of rage because he was always being perceived as a criminal. He describes how many people, no matter what color, reacted when he walks by. He even noticed people lock their car doors as he walks past them, how they cross the street to avoid him, and how some women clutch onto their purses when they walk by him. Mr. Staples understands the fear as well as the real danger that everyone faces everyday however, he still feels alienated about constantly be perceived as a criminal because he was African American and a male. Cofer also goes through life feeling alienated, he notices how she dresses is different from what Americans are used to so she gets singled out from the group and harassed. Growing up Staples had to deal with seeing gangs killing others, people getting locked away, and seeing young friends and family members being buried. Staples 61) While Cofer grew up with strict parents and constantly being told how to act and dress. (Cofer 1 54) Both Cofer and Staples had to deal with having issues to fit it. Staples was a good boy and stood out for that reason he did not participate in the violence and gangs. He knew he did not want to o down the same paths as his friends did which was odd to the people where he group up at. , while Cofer also struggled with not fitting in because she was of different ethnicity and did not dress like the others. They both had went through being Judged growing up because of them being different. Where Staples grew up it people did, and for Cofer it was odd to Americans to see her dress like people in her home country. Although both the essays are dealing with stereotypes among a certain group, Staples encounters with people are very different than Cofers. In Cofers essay, the average Latin woman has to deal with others assuming they are ome kind of sex symbol. There is no fear associated with these Latina women because they do not look intimidating but rather sexy or domestic, they are approached with sexual advances or as if they were all house keepers, maids, or waitresses. In Staples case, he was not only Judged by his intimidating appearance, but also feared by all who came across him. As opposed to Cofer, where people are approaching and harassing her. Staples is seen as a threat and is unapproachable to all who come across his large stature. Staples explains how during several instances while walking around at night he would notice how individuals changed their eactions when they saw him. Staples describes how he would hear the sound of car doors being locked when he would cross a street with cars waiting for the traffic light to change (Staples 60). Staples also explains how tense it would get when he would walk down the street at night with other pedestrians around. Although Staples was everything but a mugger, the people he came across at night from fearing him. Staples was clearly seen as some sort of predator while Cofer was seen as the prey who is constantly approached and being harassed with negative and insulting comments. She was stopped and harassed on many occasions by men singing ffensive songs to her. Staples was nothing like a criminal, what most people assumed he was, he was an educated individual who had an intimidating appearance from his height and dark skin color. Staples is mainly Judged for his larger statue, skin color, and gender which comes off to be considered dangerous to people, while Cofer is also Judge on outer appearance which comes off to be domestic or sexy. Brent Staples, because he is black is perceived as a criminal; Judith Cofer is a Latina and is mistaken for a waitress. Both individuals have numerous examples of when they have been done wrong or discriminated against. When Staples was working as a Chicago Journalist, he was rushing into the office and mistaken by the manager as a burglar or criminal. Cofer went through something similar, when she was about to do her first poetry reading, she had been mistaken for waitress by some older women. Staples and Cofer both had Justified reasons to become upset in these situations and every other situation they have encountered, but instead of becoming upset they decide to do something to correct these misconceptions. Staples always considered himself to be in the wrong in these situations, while Cofer made herself the victim. Staples accepts that people are always going to Judge him because he is a African American male, and he feels he should change himself. As Cofer sees it oppositely, she wants the people who that have these misconceptions to change their ways, not only that she wants them to realize why they should change, and to become more knowledgeable when it comes to different cultures. Both authors are different genders so very different stereotypes apply to them in a different way.. Although Cofer and Staples were both of different ethnicity and gender they both faced many of the same issues of ethnicity, though different scenarios. What was different from Staples and Cofer then other individuals knew these stereotypes were wrong so they both wanted to prove so. Both Authors had a purpose to writing these essays, Staples wanted to reveal to society how peoples perception of the Black Male is affecting them, and Cofers purpose was to address the misconception of the stereotypes of Latin women. In the end, some people may agree with Staples and Cofers purpose and feel stereotypes are wrong, but some will not and may still believe them. Stereotypes are not going away today or anytime soon but it is import that people do not add to them.

The Human Resource Frame Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Human Resource Frame Paper - Essay Example In the case of a more complex situation such as an instructor working in multiple countries (Europe), where various laws may apply, a team may be assembled temporarily to solve the problem. This team would then disband when the issue has been resolved. Berlitz is applying the international management strategy - think globally, work locally. Interpersonal dynamics can hold numerous complexities because of the vast differences in not only personalities of the employees, but, in the case of Berlitz, in cultures. As discussed in McShane & Von Glinow (2005) if a person has worked with individuals from other countries or has been expatriated, that person knows how different the values, decision-making, behavior, and relations with one another can be. Individualism versus collectivism is mentioned in cross-cultural studies, along with power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and achievement nurturing. Berlitz shows on their Internet site, tips for each of the cultures the applicant is conside ring or new employees will be entering. This information is designed to ease the transition and ensure there is a good fit for the employee, the student, and the school when there are differences in background and/or culture. Since 2000 the company has expanded primarily through the use of the franchise concept, leaving the corporate offices to be the support arm for the core operations (Berlitz International, Inc., 2001). McShane & Von Glinow (2005) discuss the concepts of centralization versus decentralization, which have to do with company size and decision-making. Berlitz is a decentralized structure, which leads to the boss and subordinate interfaces being handled primarily at the language learning center rather than through corporate. Learning centers vary in size and staff makeup. Some centers are owner/operators while others are quite large with specialized areas found to be departmentalized such as children’s language programs, train the trainer departments, accounti ng, and sales. In the case of the language center this report is following, the boss subordinate interfaces could be intermittent, since the District Manager may handle the role for the Language Center Director. Employees may look to their peers or those employees with longer length of service for guidance on an informal basis. This is not a bad thing as long as that guidance coincides with what the District Manager and the Sales Manager may have in mind for the growth of the center. Since organizations and people need one another, the language center may have allowed informal interactions to replace formal interactions when it helps the organization and the employee (Bolman & Deal, 2008). The general philosophy for managing people is: â€Å"Berlitz is a member of the Benesse Holding Group, a leading Japanese provider of products and services for language/global leadership training, education and lifestyle. Berlitz’s management philosophy is based on five principles: Total c ustomer orientation; Open and active participation; A spirit of innovation and challenge; A superior business structure; Strategically oriented planning† (Berlitz Language, Inc., Management Team, 2011). From a Bolman & Deal (2008) human resource frame, this statement provides employees with a foundation of how management and the organization will serve them. Continuing with the employee value proposition: â€Å"

International Marketing -Situational analysis, Marks and Spencer Essay

International Marketing -Situational analysis, Marks and Spencer FRANCE - Essay Example In France, the cultural influence as it affects consumer behavior is a function of the coverage in competition is within the primary shopping districts. Indeed, the level of rents and exposure to the high class, innovator consumers within the elite shopping districts is where retailers such as the Gap provide the largest and most targeted competition to M&S. In cities such as Lyon and Paris, the concentration of competition within the shopping districts has provided M&S with exposure to the consumer at the expense of a high degree of market competition. The particular taste of the French market is determined by benchmark research against competitor lines of clothing regarding differences between style and texture from market to market as well as market research including focus groups to better obtain an understanding of the changes in consumer choice. â€Å"M&S needs to carry out intense market research to identify the customers’ needs for styles and products. M&S must develop an effective customer opinion and feedback system, preferably through the internet, being more convenient.† (Docshare.com, 2009) Best, D.B. (2010), On the money: M&S "ahead of competition" in food, says Rose. Available from: http://www.just-food.com/analysis/ms-ahead-of-competition-in-food-says-rose_id111147.aspx [Accessed: October 22, 2011]. (2009),  Exploring Corporate Strategy in Marks & Spencer. Available from: http://www.google.com/search?sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=M%26S+France%2C+competitors&btnK=Google+Search#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=M%26S+France%2C+france%2C+market+segmentation&pbx=1&oq=M%26S+France%2C+france%2C+market+segmentation&aq=f&aqi=q-w1&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=3807l9417l0l9580l33l23l1l0l0l2l1395l12673l4-3.14.1.2l21l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=b571422ac7922aeb&biw=1600&bih=799 [Accessed: October 22, 2011]. Moore, C. M., Doherty, A. M., & Doyle, S. A. (2010). Flagship stores as a market entry method: The

Researching crime - project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Researching crime - project - Essay Example You have been kicked, punched, thrown into walls and beaten to the point that you can no longer feel the pain of new wounds that have embed themselves on your flesh. You are scared and alone and have no clue as to why your class fellows or any other person in the school show a constant anger towards you. What do you do, whom do you turn to, and what will happen if you cry out for help?   In this situation a school counselor is your only hope. But if he is shying in reporting the abuse, you will definitely be in a very difficult situation. School counselors can play a great role in preventing child abuse in schools. Reporting abuse often becomes an ethical dilemma because of difficult interactions among several factors. These factors include diverse professional contexts, legal requirements, professional-ethical standards, and the conditions of suspected abuse. Child abuse is any maltreatment or neglect of a child that results in non-accidental damage or injury which is uncalled for. It transcended through generations and across race, class and ethnicity. Historical evidence tells that children were perceived as nothing more than property and were subjected to various forms of mistreatment. They are beaten, enslaved, prostituted and even killed at the hands of parents and guardians upon whom they are dependant. According to Gelles and Straus (1979a), "the family is perhaps the most violent social group and the home the most violent social setting, in our society† (p. 15). Every year, tens of thousands of children are distressed by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or by caregivers who disregard them, making child abuse as recurrent as it is revolting. A child has a considerably higher chance of being killed or brutally injured by their parents than by any one else around them. Collins and Coltrane (1995) highlight this point by s aying that â€Å"for children,

Christmas Carol Essay Example for Free

Christmas Carol Essay A Christmas Carol focuses on a very mean character called Ebenezer Scrooge, who unnaturally receives a chance to make amends for his actions towards his clients. Life in Britain in the 1800s was very dark and gloomy, also its population was increasing rapidly. At this time and age, Britains industrial revolution was in full flow, thus making Britains population explode. Charles dickens had uncountable financial problems and was in in huge dept. In addition to this, in the fall of 1843 dickens and his wife were expecting their fifth child. Supporting his large family was difficult for Dickens. Requests for money from his family and a large mortgage had left Dickens seriously short of cash. In a way Dickens most cherished and most read books was created as a result of his own desperate need of money. Charles Dickens routinely walked the city streets, 10 or 20 miles at a time, observing the life. The descriptions in his writing seem like an exact replica of what he observed and experienced during these times. Evidence of this shown in the text. Descriptions such as a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, may show how Charles Dickens might have behaved when he had his desperate money problems. In this essay, I will be discussing the development of Ebenezer Scrooges character in Christmas Carol whilst going through each stave. Stave 1 clearly introduces Scrooges character to the reader. At the beginning of the stave, the first description we see is where it says: The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker and the mourner. Scrooge signed it. From this text the reader can already comprehend that scrooge is a man who only takes credit for himself and that he despises spending money on other people. Another description presented by the text tells the reader that there is something about Scrooges life style that makes him very unpopular with the locals. Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks My dear Scrooge how are you This makes it crystal clear that scrooge is obviously not a nice person, thus making the locals shun his presence. Scrooges cold and cruel actions to people result in Marleys Ghost appearing in Scrooges home. The ghost warns Scrooge that if he does not change his way of life, he will end up loosing everything and becoming just like Marley, who is dead and bound up in chains. In the second section or stave 2 of the novel, even though Marleys ghost had gone, its presence was having an effect on Scrooge. Marleys ghost bothered him extremely Since no one has ever been close to changing Scrooges personality, this text shows a slight alteration in Scrooges character. In this stave, Scrooge is visited by another ghost who says to represent Christmas past. This ghost shows Scrooge his early life and how much he has changed. After Scrooge has witnessed his passed life and actions, Scrooge is moved with regret. I wish Just these two words are very significant as they show a huge positive development in Scrooges character, which suggests that Scrooge is willing and hoping to change his cruel ways, and diminish descriptions of himself such as: To see a heightened and excited face would have been a surprise Scrooges life is full of negative descriptions like this and he wished to make amends for his past actions. Scrooge then says something to the ghost that is very, very unusual: There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night, I would like to give him something. This is probably the first time that Scrooge has ever shown any affection for anyone, which shows that the presence of the ghosts are developing Scrooges character in a divine way. In stave 3 of the novel Scrooge is visited by yet another ghost who says to represent Christmas present. This ghost shows Scrooge how other families, such as the clerks and the Cratchits. Scrooge sees that even though the Cratchits are very poor, they can have a high quality of life and be happy at Christmas. Earlier on in the novel Scrooge says a cold blooded thing concerning one of the Cratchits son called Tiny Tim who looks very frail and scrawny and much too vulnerable to the hands of death: If he be like to die he had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Scrooges cold heart was so uncaring, that he thought that the death of a person was a benefit or an advantage to people. However, when the ghost showed Scrooge this family, his reminiscence of his past sayings had a different effect on him: Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the spirit and was overcome with penitence and grief. Now that Scrooge has viewed that people can be happy without a lot of money, his former way of thinking has now disgusted him. Scrooge has now probably for the first time accepted that his way of life is detestable and needs to be changed: All the things that ghost has shown him came upon his mind. He softened If he would have listened he might have cultivated the kindness of life. This shows a further development of Scrooges character as his hard headedness had been softened and also, he now desires to have a personal quality of kindness. In stave 4 of the novel Scrooge is visited by the last of the three ghosts who represents Christmas future. In this stave scrooge is shown a group of people who are discussing a very unpopular mans death. Scrooge is puzzled by the conversation of the group until the ghost silently exposes the secret when he shows Scrooge a gravestone with his own name on it. The description of the ghost in the beginning of the stave definitely offers a hint that Scrooges future will be cold and dark just as his past life: Shrouded in a deep black garment It seemed to scatter gloom and mystery These phrases are fitting descriptions of a ghost that will bring news that is associated with death. The tone of this stave is also set with words such as; Shadow and dark room. These words give further evidence that a death orientated future awaits Scrooge. Scrooge is horrified when he sees his own gravestone, but to further upset him, he sees that his death is un-watched, un-wept and un-cared for. the phrase neglected grave shows that no one cared if Scrooge died because of the extent of the his cold-hearted actions towards people. This event made Scrooge release all of his emotions. I hope to live to be another man His future death makes Scrooge resolve to change his way of cold way of life into a much more kind, new man. Stave 5 shows the finale of Ebenezer Scrooges development of character. In this stave Scrooge is shown to be a completely different man. For example, instead of sacking one of his employees for being late, he raises his salary another example is that the story says that Scrooge became like a second father to Tiny Tim. In this stave there is also evidence that points to the outcome of the story as the mood of the novel suddenly changes from a dark and gloomy mood to a more happy mood. Words such as Bright and Golden sunlight show that something marvellous and positive is going to happen to Scrooge and his character. These hints are fulfilled when the text says: Glowing with good intentions Obviously from this, the reader can see that Scrooge is a changed man, and is exploding with good deeds and emotions, and instead of planning to do evil he is planning to do something obliging. Language devises such as similes are also used to show Scrooges development in character: As happy as an angel This simile is used to further emphasize the alteration in Scrooges personality. Since Angels are portrayed to be perfect heavenly creatures it is obvious to the reader that Scrooge has made some miraculous changes from being a cold hearted, uncaring and evil man into a loving, kind and angelic new man. In my personal opinion, I believe that the presence of the ghosts were like stepping stones to the development of Scrooges character. It seemed to me that the lessons taught by the ghosts became more and more severe as Scrooges mind gradually softens.

Frantz Fanon and Cultural Nationalism in Ireland :: Essays Papers

Frantz Fanon and Cultural Nationalism in Ireland Only recently has Ireland been included in the extensive study of postcolonial societies. Our geographical closeness to Britain, the fact that we are racially identical, the fact that we speak the same language and have the same value systems make our status as postcolonial problematic. Indeed, some would argue it is impossible to tell the difference between Irish and British. However, to mistake Irish for English to some is a grave insult. In this essay, I would like to look at Ireland’s emerging postcolonial status in relation to Frantz Fanon’s ‘The Wretched of the Earth’. By examining Fanon’s theories on the rise of cultural nationalism in colonised societies, one can see that events taking place in Ireland at the end of the nineteenth century bear all the hallmarks of a colonised people’s anti-colonial struggle through the revival of a culture that attempts to assert difference to the coloniser and the insistence on self-government. The years 1870 to 1890 in Ireland saw the fervent battle of Charles Stewart Parnell and his Home Rule party for home rule in Ireland. This consisted of Ireland having its own parliament to deal with internal affairs while still remaining under the control of Westminster in international affairs. It was not the desire for a full separation from Britain that would come later. However, by 1890, problems in Parnell’s personal life lead to a breakdown in communication with the Prime Minister and to a split in the Home Rule party. According to M E Collins, this left a void in Irish politics and life that was filled with a new cultural awareness and a questioning of Irish identity: ‘the new movements were different. They stressed the importance of Irish identity, Irish race and Irish culture’ (170 M E Collins, Ireland 1868 - 1966). It is at this point that Fanon’s ‘Wretched of the Earth’ becomes relevant to Irish history. In his chapter entitle d ‘On National Consciousness’, Fanon stresses the colonised native fears of being assimilated totally into the culture of the coloniser, of being ‘swamped’ (169 Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth). These were the exact concerns that occupied the minds of the Irish people after the failure of home rule. They began to be anxious about what Collins terms ‘the distinguishing marks of Irishness’: ‘a culture and language that was different to Britain’s’.