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Friday, January 28, 2011
Robben Island was a prison for political prisoners from the period between the 17th to the 20th centuries. The prison was first taken in use by the Dutch settlers that are the ancestors of the white minority in South Africa today. The name Robben Island is Dutch for Seal Island, and the island is only a few meters above sea level caused by an ancient erosion event.
The prison has been the home to many South African politicians that have fought for the South African people’s rights.
Among those prisoners were Nelson Mandela and the current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma. They fought against the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and Nelson Mandela was the first black president in the country. Before the Island was used as a home for prisoners during the Apartheid, it was the base for a colony by the Dutch settlers. During the World War Two the island was the first point of defence against an attack on Table Bay. Right before the war it was considered that the island should be made into a holiday resort, but this did not happen. It was reserved for military use and later a maximum security prison.
Robben Island is about 12 km outside the coast of South Africa and Cape Town. Totally separated from the rest of the world these prisoners sat in small cells for years without any contact with their families. The reality at the island where long days with manual labour when they were not sitting alone in their cells. Many of the prisoners became blind after working long days outside with white metamorphic rocks that reflected sunlight.
Today Robben Island represent something else than it did 30 years ago. Those who spent decades there fought for freedom, democracy and equality for their people. That is what the prison and the island itself stands for today. We can find Robben Island as one of the places on UNESCO’s World Heritage List among many other unique places all over the world. Today there is a museum on the island where the prison used to be, and they have kept it all authentic. It is possible to visit Nelson Mandela’s cell and see what condition these prisoners lived under for several years.
Some garments of clothing are worn because of culture and tradition, others because of religious orthodoxy dictates it.
Arguably, some articles of clothing have no purpose whatsoever; they can be decorative or they can be a form of repression. Those who wear these are saying “yes, I submit, I will do as you tell me and my hat, tie; etc is proof that I will)
Clearly, the need for clothing and head coverings actually has a utilitarian purpose: to protect us from the elements. A lot of heat is lost through the head in the cold climates; while in the tropics the sun relentlessly punishes human beings; thus hats are necessary in both cases. However, it is my opinion that a tie has absolutely no utilitarian purpose…it is worn just as a form of conforming to the disciplined upper class work force while “blue collar” 
indicates that you are down one notch in the pecking order.
Then there is the ornamental purpose of hats and clothing; it tells others of your station in life, your affluence, your rank in an organization or simply an indication of regionalism…where you hail from will determine what you wear in order to fit in and be accepted. This conventional conformism exists across the globe in all cultures and all religions. No one place or civilization has been immune from it and we continue to display this type of conformism with fastidious insistence.
There are other reasons of course; like animals that “puff up” to show how formidable they are as opponents, so do humans…some who are short in stature would benefit from head gear that stands above the others; while colors and designs may also tell their perceived superiority as would be the case of bishops and cardinals in churches.
The headdress that is thought to have belonged to Aztec Emperor Montezuma II (or Montezuma). It is believed that the artifact has been in Europe since the 16th century. (http://www.deliberate.com/aztec/)
Hasidic Jews in fancy fur
Clothing, hats and ornaments can act as religious symbols and these can evoke strong emotional responses, particularly those that are visual. This article considers a set of cases in which members of ethnic minority groups challenge policies denying them the right to wear symbols important for the maintenance of their social identities. Among the controversies considered are those concerning religious headgear and hair as well as the kirpan, the Sikh ceremonial dagger. The number of disputes involving religious garb and hairstyles demonstrates how visual religious symbols are often perceived as 
threatening. By analyzing selected cases in which religious minorities experience discrimination, studies have revealed the precarious nature of religious liberty in democratic systems. Careful consideration of the religious symbols of minority groups may help avoid ethnocentric assessments and cross-cultural misunderstandings.
yarmulke, kippah or kappel
The Stoner Chasid
It wasn’t too long ago when women were not allowed in churches without having their heads covered. The Spanish women wore the traditional mantilla held in place by a peineta. Brides often wore a white veil and even more common was a white mantilla.
That being said; I still have the opinion that wearing something in order to appease the mobs or to show servitude or obedience to me is not acceptable and will challenge anyone who tells me otherwise. I understand not practicing nudity for example and I will not do that although I think that there should be places dedicated to such activity…like nudist camps or recreation areas only for that purpose. But I refuse to wear a tie although in the past I had to when I was in the job market and working.
An Incan South American Indian in a fancy feather headdress
When it comes to religion, of course I criticize those who wear something just because their religious leaders and their religion tell them to do so. It is one form of submission that I will not tolerate, particularly if it is forced upon a secular government to enact legislation to do so.
There are sub-cultures within the mainstream that will wear a certain attire to identify their membership or allegiance to a group. A good example is the gay leather drag worn by those enthusiasts of a particular sexual preference and practice.
In the Middle East and Asia you are bound to find a greater variety of clothing requirements…after all, they have had the influence of civilization a lot longer than the rest of the world.
A Sikh man wearing a Dastar/Pagri
The Hijab
Sheila & Abaya
The Niqab
The Batula
The Burqa
Doa Gaun
The Chador
The Birquini
Certain colors and styles are more common to some regions over the others, and many of the looks are worn for cultural tradition rather than religious reasons; without going into more significant details and with university students Yara Darwish and Dina Mutassem of Qatar, "Know Your Veils" is a brief guide to preventing Westerners from shaming our entire race of people by calling every head covering a burqa.
The Cuban “Guayabera” is cool and elegant
You don’t have to ask these two what religion they adhere to
In the South and rural America this seems to be one of the most common head gear accessories
http://abs.sagepub.com/content/47/12/1573.abstract
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/149572189_cb4b7383fe
http://cgi.ebay.com/CONFEDERATE-REBEL-DIXIE-CSA-REDNECK-HAT-BALLCAP-CAP-/360321143522
TheSmartestWay to Save, Why You Can't Save Money and What to Do About It
0 comments Posted by st at 3:00 AM
title: TheSmartestWay to Save, Why You Can't Save Money and What to Do About It
authors: Heidi E. Clingen, Samuel K. Freshman
genre: self-help/non-fiction
published: 2008
pages: 217
first line: We live in the richest country in the world, but many Americans are just living "month to month."
source: review copy
rated: 3 out of 5
TheSmartestWay to Save, Why You Can't Save Money and What to Do About It is your guidebook for surviving the recession. Your money is hard to make, but easy to spend. You know you need to save to pay for your home, send your kids to college, and retire. But so many people drown in a sea of toxic debt and feel powerless to overcome destructive, compulsive spending. This concise, readable manual will help you spend less, save more, overcome bad habits, and conquer debt. It is filled with hundreds of practical, doable tips that you can apply to your daily life, regardless of your age or finances. Authors Samuel K. Freshman and Heidi Clingen have two different perspectives, but their stories come together to encourage you to embrace your economic situation with enthusiasm. Their straight talk is engaging and compassionate and will make a genuine difference in your wallet--and your future!
The concise guide is packed with pointers to help all ages and incomes keep resolutions to:
-batten down the hatches for the rainy days looming on the horizon
-rescue themselves from drowning in a sea of toxic debt
-spend more time with loved ones and spend money on what really matters
-save money on clothes, gas, cars, food, parties, and more
-get started on the road to financial independence
TheSmartestWay to Save, Why You Can't Save Money and What to Do About It is a great resource for anyone who is looking for advice or motivation for saving money.
"Its not how much you make, its how much you keep"
The authors touch on the factors that make us spend too much money in the first place to what we can do to change our spending habits to tips for saving money for the long haul.
Do you own your possessions? Or do your possessions own you?
Do you fill your life with things that have real value for you and truly enrich your life? Or are your possessions stealing the time and affection that you should give your loved ones?
Your relationships with your friends and loved ones should be your top priorities.
p. 5
There is some sound advice within these pages and this is a helpful book, I finished it in one day. The book is written in three major parts.
1. Your Money And You
2. Your Money and Others
3. Your Money and the World.
The authors touch on things like frugal party planning, vacations and gift giving. One good point they made was the topic of gift cards as gifts. Such as the fees involved with gift cards and how gift cards are usually put inside our wallets and forgotten about.
'Gift cards are designed to sit in your wallet and serve as a constant advertisement of that store'
p.82
The authors discuss why it is that we overspend our hard earned money in the first place. Media and peer pressure to fit in or impress others are topics that are brought up. They also touch on strategies to pay off toxic debt, such as credit cards and loans. I liked the sections on budgeting and prioritizing. They suggest taking it one day at a time, and being realistic when it comes to saving. There's even a section on protecting yourself from different types of internet scams that are created to steal your money.
I recommend this one to anyone looking for a few ideas on saving money and for those who are in a need of a little motivation to get them to start saving a bit more.
When you establish the habit of saving, you will be able to start investing what you have saved. There are many dreams that you thought were out of reach, but they are obtainable under a good investment plan.
What do you need to improve your career and your earning capacity? Plan ahead to create a legacy for your loved ones that lasts for future generations.
p.183
Thursday, January 27, 2011
