Discussions centered on gender are usually very controversial.Many individuals feel that the classification of human beings along the line of gender is the main cause of gender inequality.This belief has led to the development of feminism-a movement that sees women as a specie that needs to be protected from abuse and neglect by men.This movement has become so popular that virtually every country has its own fair share of feminists.
I am not a feminist.I do not also believe in feminism.I am a masculinist.Masculinism believes that the gender inequality in the world is bad.It also believes that such inequlity is skewed against the men-contrary to what feminists believe.I can amass tons of evidence to show that men are the chief sufferers in today's world.I would refrain from doing so here because I do not want to digress from the topic.
Gender differences are real and are as old as mankind. There would always be men and women.What causes problems and frictions in society is the promotion of a particular gender's interest at the expense of the interest of the other gender.All human beings are equal and ought to be treated equally.The same opportunities for development ought to be available to all human beings irrespective of gender.If this is done, the unnecessary controversy generated by the issue of gender would subside and the society would be the better for it. There would always be males and females. The males need the females to survive just like the females need the males to survive too.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
WORDS AND PHRASES THAT ARE TABOO IN MY CULTURE
In the culture of the people of southeastern Nigeria,there are many words and phrases that are considered taboo.The list is so large that writing down all of them would lead me into writing a book instead of the simple blog topic I set out to write.There are too many of them.However,I would discuss a few of them.
Firstly,the expression "burukwa okuko uzo lakpuo ura" means "may you go to bed before the chickens".This is a very terrible thing to say to anybody.It is considered a bad wish of abnormal proportions.It is believed that the speaker wishes the addressee dead.The chickens usually go to roost at about 4pm when ordinarily, all healthy men and women are supposed to be in offices and factories working.
Again, the expression "sikwa n'ala nuo mmanya" literaly translated, means " may you drink from the ground". This expression is also a terrible one and is considered a taboo.It is believed that anybody who says that to another wishes the addressee dead.Quite naturally, the use of the expression on another may attract very bizzare consequences.
That is not all.Telling a man or woman that he or she has two hands is also considered a huge insult. It is a figurative way of saying that such man or woman is a thief.It is believed that if the addressee is a child,he or she may grow up into a thief.
Outside the expressions above, there are still a host of others.It is forbidden to mention a snake by name at night. The elders believe that doing so may attract a snake.Instead,it is called "eriri" which means "rope".Tuberculosis is such a dreaded disease that it is forbidden to mention its name to the hearing of healthy people.It is instead, called "ukwara nta" which means "the small cough".The same applies to leprosy or "ekpenta". Anybody who suffers from the disease is called "onye oria ocha" or "the white disease". Sometimes, the person is called "onye ocha" which means "the whiteman".
At the risk of repeting myself,the taboo expresssions are too many to be exhausted in this essay.I do believe that the few I have discussed here would enlighten the reader to the fact that the color of human beings may look different,but we are all the same.
Firstly,the expression "burukwa okuko uzo lakpuo ura" means "may you go to bed before the chickens".This is a very terrible thing to say to anybody.It is considered a bad wish of abnormal proportions.It is believed that the speaker wishes the addressee dead.The chickens usually go to roost at about 4pm when ordinarily, all healthy men and women are supposed to be in offices and factories working.
Again, the expression "sikwa n'ala nuo mmanya" literaly translated, means " may you drink from the ground". This expression is also a terrible one and is considered a taboo.It is believed that anybody who says that to another wishes the addressee dead.Quite naturally, the use of the expression on another may attract very bizzare consequences.
That is not all.Telling a man or woman that he or she has two hands is also considered a huge insult. It is a figurative way of saying that such man or woman is a thief.It is believed that if the addressee is a child,he or she may grow up into a thief.
Outside the expressions above, there are still a host of others.It is forbidden to mention a snake by name at night. The elders believe that doing so may attract a snake.Instead,it is called "eriri" which means "rope".Tuberculosis is such a dreaded disease that it is forbidden to mention its name to the hearing of healthy people.It is instead, called "ukwara nta" which means "the small cough".The same applies to leprosy or "ekpenta". Anybody who suffers from the disease is called "onye oria ocha" or "the white disease". Sometimes, the person is called "onye ocha" which means "the whiteman".
At the risk of repeting myself,the taboo expresssions are too many to be exhausted in this essay.I do believe that the few I have discussed here would enlighten the reader to the fact that the color of human beings may look different,but we are all the same.
MY MOST INTERESTING ADVERTISEMENT
My favorite magazine is the TELL magazine of Nigera.The advertisement I am about to review is contained in it's edition of February 26th 1999.It is an advertisement of the omega wristwatch.I believe that the members of the target audience of the advertisement are exclusively men.To begin with,the product being advertised is a masculine writ watch.The catch words and phrases used in the advertisement are also directed at men.The photograph of the wristwatch which appears in the magazine shows the wristwatch on a man's wrist.
The advertisement uses a combination of persuasive words and images to sell the product to a male reader.The words are not verbose. They sound simple and straight to the point.In truth, the words are contained in just one sentence-"Omega, worn by men who rule the world".As simple as these words may sound, they seem to give the impression that anybody who wears the wristwatch would end up ruling the world or that anybody who is already ruling the world needs to prove that fact by buying an omega wristwatch.The picture of a successful-looking, handsome man that appears on the page seems to be the icing on the cake.The picture lures,persuades,and appeals to the male reader to either prove his level of success by going for an omega wristwatch or to prove the extent of his aspiration for success by going for the wristwatch.All together,I consider the advertisement a great one.
The advertisement uses a combination of persuasive words and images to sell the product to a male reader.The words are not verbose. They sound simple and straight to the point.In truth, the words are contained in just one sentence-"Omega, worn by men who rule the world".As simple as these words may sound, they seem to give the impression that anybody who wears the wristwatch would end up ruling the world or that anybody who is already ruling the world needs to prove that fact by buying an omega wristwatch.The picture of a successful-looking, handsome man that appears on the page seems to be the icing on the cake.The picture lures,persuades,and appeals to the male reader to either prove his level of success by going for an omega wristwatch or to prove the extent of his aspiration for success by going for the wristwatch.All together,I consider the advertisement a great one.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND SUCCESS OPPORTUNITIES
Technological advancements have turned the world to a village.It is now very usual to hear several individuals talk or even write about the "global village".Similarly, the distance between time and space has been significantly compressed.There is no doubt therefore that having access to the internet has a connection to success.
There may be a temptation to argue that intelligence, more than any other factor, contributes the most to success.While not excluding intelligence as one of the factors that influence success positively,it is quite obvious that awareness of the existence of opportunities is fundamental to success.The internet represents awareness and information.As a reputable professor,J.O.J Nwachukwu-Agbada, put it;the internet has made it possible for individuals to take a tour of the entire world from the comfort of their living rooms.
Any institution that is serious with its concern with the academic advancement of its students must make arrangements to give its students unhindered access to the internet. Most institutions seem to have realized this fact. That is why getting connected to the internet has become a fundamental issue for all academic establishments.It is hoped that the zeal with which students embrace the awareness culture represented by the internet would eventually translate to a new order in which all things negative would have no place.
There may be a temptation to argue that intelligence, more than any other factor, contributes the most to success.While not excluding intelligence as one of the factors that influence success positively,it is quite obvious that awareness of the existence of opportunities is fundamental to success.The internet represents awareness and information.As a reputable professor,J.O.J Nwachukwu-Agbada, put it;the internet has made it possible for individuals to take a tour of the entire world from the comfort of their living rooms.
Any institution that is serious with its concern with the academic advancement of its students must make arrangements to give its students unhindered access to the internet. Most institutions seem to have realized this fact. That is why getting connected to the internet has become a fundamental issue for all academic establishments.It is hoped that the zeal with which students embrace the awareness culture represented by the internet would eventually translate to a new order in which all things negative would have no place.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
MEN ARE NOT SMARTER THAN WOMEN.
A lot of men consider women inferior to men.Such men believe that women are not genetically equipped to handle complex problems or engage in tasking assignments.This belief became so widespread around the world that it led to a lot of injustice against women.It took the efforts of many feminists to draw a lot of attention to this injustice.
However,the truth is that men are not smarter than women.There is no scientific evidence to show that a person's intelligence may have any connection with such person's gender.Across the world,many women had at one time or the other,distinguished themselves in many professions.Many of them had also risen to become the leaders of their countries.
Besides, a lot of women are the breadwinners of their families.They work hard night and day to make sure that things move smoothly at the home front.Other women who are not exclusively breadwinners in their homes contribute meaningfully to the affairs of their homes.It would therefore be unfair to rubbish the contributions of women like them by asserting the superiority of the contributions of their male counterparts.
A persons smartness may be influenced by genetics,education and environment.But it can never be influenced by gender.
However,the truth is that men are not smarter than women.There is no scientific evidence to show that a person's intelligence may have any connection with such person's gender.Across the world,many women had at one time or the other,distinguished themselves in many professions.Many of them had also risen to become the leaders of their countries.
Besides, a lot of women are the breadwinners of their families.They work hard night and day to make sure that things move smoothly at the home front.Other women who are not exclusively breadwinners in their homes contribute meaningfully to the affairs of their homes.It would therefore be unfair to rubbish the contributions of women like them by asserting the superiority of the contributions of their male counterparts.
A persons smartness may be influenced by genetics,education and environment.But it can never be influenced by gender.
A CASE AGAINST FEMALE PROSTITUTION IN COLLEGES
Prostitution is considered the oldest"profession" in the world.This is largely because no one can give a clear and easily acceptable account of the origin of the trade.A lot of women embrace prostitution because of an inexplicable desire for sexual satisfaction.However,a greater percentage of prostitutes were forced into it as result of the need to make ends meet.Many females in the later group are college students who resort to the trade in order to finance their education.
Many people who support prostitution have argued that the end justifies the means.They argue that women should be free to use what they have to get what they desire.This argument is however, Machiavellan.
Irrespective of the reason for embracing it,prostitution is an obnoxious trade.It debases womanhood.Most women who eventually quit the trade discover too late that their psychological balance had been negatively affected for life.Additionally,such women may sometimes end up contracting deadly sexually-transmitted diseases including the dreaded HIV virus.
That is not all,any female student who prostitutes in order to pay her way through college may discover too late that the accompanying emotional torture may diminish the happines associated with graduation.It is therefore hoped that the current efforts of government to disuade women. from taking to the profession would be sustained.
Many people who support prostitution have argued that the end justifies the means.They argue that women should be free to use what they have to get what they desire.This argument is however, Machiavellan.
Irrespective of the reason for embracing it,prostitution is an obnoxious trade.It debases womanhood.Most women who eventually quit the trade discover too late that their psychological balance had been negatively affected for life.Additionally,such women may sometimes end up contracting deadly sexually-transmitted diseases including the dreaded HIV virus.
That is not all,any female student who prostitutes in order to pay her way through college may discover too late that the accompanying emotional torture may diminish the happines associated with graduation.It is therefore hoped that the current efforts of government to disuade women. from taking to the profession would be sustained.
AAMU SHOULD OFFER MORE COURSES UTILIZING DISTANCE LEARNING
Alabama A&M University has come a long way.From its modest beginning in 1875,the university has grown to enviable heights.It is remarkable that its long period of existence notwithstanding,AAMU remains very conservative.Almost all of its courses are offered on campus.A lot of people argue that this has helped to retain the high academic standard of the university.Such people believe that offering more courses utilizing distance learning may ultimately water down the already established academic standard of the university.Such argument may contain certain elements of truth.The arguments notwithstanding,I believe it would be good for the university to offer more courses utilizing distance learning.
The world is increasingly becoming a village as a result of technological developments.By offering more courses which utilize distance learning,AAMU would be able to exploit this technological advancement to its benefit.There is no doubt that more students would be attracted to the university as problems associated with constant journeys to the campus would be eliminated to a very large degree.What this means is that the revenue base of the university would also appreciate.In as much as generating revenue is not the main reason for setting up a university,money remains very important in ensuring the maintenance of acceptable academic standards.
Moreover,offering more courses which utilize the distance learning would create employment for several classes of people.With the expected increament in student population,more staff and faculty would also be needed to accommodate this increment.
On a personal note,offering more courses which utilize distance learning would benefit me immensely.I would stop shuttling to the university campus each day to receive my lectures from my home which is far from the campus.Additionally,I would save a lot of money which hitherto,I had spent on transportation.
Expectedly,embracing the program would not lower the quality of education since a lot of machinery can be put in motion to make sure that fraudsters do not exploit the opportunity.
The world is increasingly becoming a village as a result of technological developments.By offering more courses which utilize distance learning,AAMU would be able to exploit this technological advancement to its benefit.There is no doubt that more students would be attracted to the university as problems associated with constant journeys to the campus would be eliminated to a very large degree.What this means is that the revenue base of the university would also appreciate.In as much as generating revenue is not the main reason for setting up a university,money remains very important in ensuring the maintenance of acceptable academic standards.
Moreover,offering more courses which utilize the distance learning would create employment for several classes of people.With the expected increament in student population,more staff and faculty would also be needed to accommodate this increment.
On a personal note,offering more courses which utilize distance learning would benefit me immensely.I would stop shuttling to the university campus each day to receive my lectures from my home which is far from the campus.Additionally,I would save a lot of money which hitherto,I had spent on transportation.
Expectedly,embracing the program would not lower the quality of education since a lot of machinery can be put in motion to make sure that fraudsters do not exploit the opportunity.
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