Essay on Salvation on Sand Mountain by Dennis Covington

Dennis Covington writes about a unique method of worship—snake handling, in his memoir, Salvation on Sand Mountain. He begins as a journalist, looking in on this foreign way of life; however, as time progresses he increasing starts to feel a part of this lifestyle. As a result loses his journalistic approach, resulting in his memoir, detailing his own spiritual journey. Upon the conclusion of his stay in this world, Covington realizes the significance of this journey, and argues in his memoir that we cannot entirely know ourselves until we step outside of our comfort zone and separate ourselves from our norm. It is almost as if Covington was in a dream or some sort of trance throughout this whole experience. He begins as a†¦show more content†¦Allowing himself to be pulled into this world says a lot about the author’s character: it is almost as if he is vulnerable, and this vulnerability in some cases can be seen as a weakness. However, this vulnerable act all owed him to find himself and strengthen his previous beliefs and attitude. According to Aristotle, authors have an ethical obligation to have a strong ethos: this entails authors to have intelligence, rectitude, and goodwill, and Covington expresses this throughout his entire memoir. Even though, at the beginning he does not understand their behavior, and after he is embarrassed and virtually kicked out of the society, he is able to write the truth about the handlers with the utmost respect. Yes, he exposes many aspects of the handlers’ lives, but he does so in a respectful and journalistic manner: it is clear that the information he divulges is essential to the reader understanding the true meaning of his argument. The author does not purposely try to portray these people in the best light possible, but rather the most ingenuous way. He demonstrates his goodwill by remaining impartial during most of the memoir: occasionally he allows his emotions to effect his depiction of t he characters; however, this is almost impossible to achieve, because he interacted with these people and was reacting to certain situations. Covington writes this memoir for many reasons: he writes in order publicize this exclusiveShow MoreRelated Reflecting on Religion in Literature1925 Words   |  8 Pagesto use all three to form an overall definition of religion based on the work we have done throughout the semester. The three books that I am referring to are Ann Schiller’s Small Sacrifices, Rane Willerslev’s Soul Hunters, and Dennis Covington’s Salvation on Sand Mountain. Ann Schiller’s Small Sacrifices explores religious change among the Ngaju in Borneo, Indonesia. She elaborates on the Indonesian government’s demand on the Ngaju to conform to one of the religions they deem acceptable. In conformingRead MoreSnake Handling, a Pentecostal Pastime Essay1256 Words   |  6 Pagescrazy, and the list goes on and on. However, one of the negative stereotypes that tend to stick out more prominently than others is that people in Appalachian folk are crazy, serpent handling, Christians. In order for the people of the Appalachian Mountain region to figure out a way to get over this stereotype and move forward in their quest to be no longer considered â€Å"outdated†, they must first break down and fully understand what they are going up against. The region’s religion is characterizedRead MoreIn Dennis Covington’S Book Salvation On Sand Mountain And2612 Words   |  11 Pages In Dennis Covington’s book Salvation on Sand Mountain and David Haberman’s Journey Through the Twelve Forests: An Encounter with Krishna, we get two very different experiences of researches stepping into a world of different religion and perspectives than their own. While both Haberman and Covington focus on a certain religion and the traditions of its followers, Haberman does a better job with presenting an accurate representation of Hinduism and the Braj pilgrimage. This is because Covington’s

Speech Disorders Speech And Language Disorders - 1760 Words

Speech Disorders A speech disorder occurs when a person has problems with his or her voice or is unable to produce speech sounds correctly. Difficulties pronouncing sounds, articulation disorders, and stuttering are examples of speech disorders (â€Å"Speech and Language Disorders and Diseases†, 2016). Some of the common speech and voice disorders in adulthood include Dysarthria, Apraxia, and voice disturbances. Dysarthria is when a person has an ongoing difficulty expressing certain sounds or words. They have poorly pronounced speech (such as slurring) and the rhythm or speed of speech is changed. Dysarthria has many causes which include alcohol intoxication, Dementia, neuromuscular diseases, Facial trauma, Facial weakness or tongue weakness, head trauma, head and neck cancer surgery, nervous system disorders that affect the brain, poorly fitting dentures, side effects of medications that act on the central nervous system, stroke, or a Transient ischemic attack (â€Å"Speech impairment (adult): MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia†, 2016). Apraxia of speech is a motor disorder. The messages from the brain to the mouth are disrupted and the person cannot move his or her lips or tongue to the right place to say sounds correctly, even though the muscles are not weak, Apraxia can occur in conjunction with dysarthria or aphasia (language difficulties related to neurological damage). Apraxia is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control coordinated muscle movements, such as aShow MoreRelatedSpeech and Language Disorders Psychology Essay1294 Words   |  6 PagesSpeech And Language Disorders Psychology Essay Young children can have unclear speech and mispronounce words, but as the children get older they learn how to use their tongue, lips and brain to work in harmony to say difficult and unfamiliar words. For most children speech difficulties pass with time but for some they find it hard so they repeat or pro-long sounds. This can be very hard for children so they can struggle to find ways to avoid using these sounds or words. A phonological disorderRead MoreSpeech Disorder : Language Delay Essay1713 Words   |  7 PagesLANGUAGE DELAY IN TODDLERS. Language delay in toddlers should by no means be confused with speech disorder or language disorder. Speech disorder is when one’s child is incapable of sounds pronunciation in words. Different letters have unique ways in which they sound and a child with speech disorder finds it almost impossible to achieve communication by speech as their speech is next to impossible to understand. In language delay, the child in question usually struggles with the following; sayingRead More Speech and Language Disorders Essay2774 Words   |  12 PagesSpeech and Language Disorders Communication is very crucial in life, especially in education. Whether it be delivering a message or receiving information, without the ability to communicate learning can be extremely difficult. Students with speech and language disorders may have â€Å"trouble producing speech sounds, using spoken language to communicate, or understanding what other people say† (Turkington, p10, 2003) Each of these problems can create major setbacks in the classroom. ArticulationRead MoreSpeech : A Speech Disorder Essay1615 Words   |  7 Pagesworld, speech impediments affect many different people. Most of the time, individuals do not even realize the person they are speaking with has a speech disorder. This disorder even impacts icons including Greek philosopher Aristotle, physicist Isaac Newton, singer Elvis Presley, golfer Tiger Woods and actor Bruce Willis. However, one story that stands out involves Kind George VI of England. In his early childhood the prince acquired a stammer; now known mostly as a stutter. He went to a speech therapistRead More Technologys Impact on Children With Communication Disorders1594 Words   |  7 PagesTechnologys Impact on Children With Communication Disorders â€Å"†¦If all of my possessions were taken from me with one exception, I would choose the power of communication, for by it I would regain all the rest. Daniel Webster† (Lloyd, Fuller, and Arvidson 1). Imagine that you were born one hundred years ago and as you grew, you never learned to talk, or at the very most, could only communicate in two or three word sentences. What would you do? How would you make your wishes known to thoseRead MoreQuestions On Difficulties Of Speaking Disorders888 Words   |  4 PagesDifficulties of Speaking Disorders Adam Cardenas Texas State University- San Marcos COMM 1310: Fundamentals of Human Communication Mrs. Tonya Stewart My name is Tom Fletcher, I am a 23 year old graduate student with a bachelor’s degree in communications, and pursuing a master’s degree in Communications. While I spend most of my time working towards my degree, ironically, I have a speech disorder where i have a lisp. A speech disorder is a communication disorder that disrupts one’s speakingRead MoreEffects Of Language Impairments On Children1542 Words   |  7 Pages Language impairments has affected all types of people of all types of age. Language impairment has no specific target to effect. Many people who suffer from a traumatic event, aphasia disease, or simply a stutter; are all cases known for having communication disorders. Over six million people in the U.S. suffer from a language impairment; out of that six, one million suffer people suffer from aphasia, and three million suffer from stuttering. Through various research, many analysts have discoveredRead MoreStuttering Is The Most Common Speech Dis order1116 Words   |  5 Pagespeople from wanting to engage in social situations with the fear of embarrassment that their disorder can cause them. Stuttering is a fluency disorder which causes interruptions in the flow of speech. These interruptions are called disfluencies and can affect people of all ages. Although more than 70 million people stutter worldwide, 3 million of them Americans, stuttering is the least common speech disorder. Children are affected by stuttering between the ages of two and five. Boys are twice as likelyRead MoreThe School Age Population Is Classified As Having A Speech Language Disability1583 Words   |  7 PagesDefine Communication Disorders (S/L). What percent of the school age population is classified as having a speech-language disability? ___19%____ Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines a speech or language impairment as a â€Å"communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, oral motor disorders, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.† A speech impairment involves a person s physical ability to correctlyRead MoreWhat Is Communication Disorder?2958 Words   |  12 PagesWhat is communication disorder? Picture a young boy trying to tell his playmates a story to the best of his abilities. As soon as he starts talking, his eyes start to twitch, his face is contorted with grimaces, his lips, limbs and torso are moving. To add the topping to the cake, his playmates start laughing at him. At such an age, this child is going to think he is abnormal and different from the norms of society. Whenever he speaks, he will have a moment of fear when approaching certain words

Occupational Health and Safety

Question: Explain about the Facts and term for Occupational Health and Safety? Answer: Employees always want a safe and healthy culture in the workplace. Thus, the employer should have key concern upon the health and safety measures in the organization for providing a healthy and safe culture. Culture can be defined as the organizational philosophy that pervades the regular activities in the workplace (Berlin et al. 2012). Health and safety are major aspects of organizational culture. Healthy and safe culture can promote the work efficiency of the employees, thereby leading to the success of the organization. This essay would be focused on the importance of occupational health and safety culture in the organization and its application within an organization. Schulte et al. (2012) depicted that, development of a strong safety culture has the greatest impact on the reduction of incidence and accidents in the workplace. For this reason, developing cultures should be the priority of the managers and supervisors. Safety culture includes the attitudes, beliefs, values and practices existing in the establishment. A healthy and safe culture can shape the behavioral attributes of the employees toward positive outcomes. There are a number of external as well as internal factors that help in building the safety culture in the organization. These factors include management and employees norms, values, myths, stories, policies and procedures in the organization, employees training and motivation, supervisor priorities responsibilities and accountability, management and employee attitudes, quality issues and production pressure (Farrow and Reynolds 2012). In an organization where a strong safety culture is provided, people feel responsible for and saf e in their job as well as employees attempt to go beyond their duty for determining the unsafe conditions and behaviors. After identifying unsafe conditions, people attempt to understand and reform behaviors for correcting them. The elements of a safety culture include commitment or buy-in at all the business levels, treatment as investment, training and information for all the employees, a system for detecting, controlling and preventing hazards, a blame-free environment, integration into continuous improvement process and celebration of success (Arezes and Swuste 2012). There are some basic principles that are important for building a safe culture and managing safety performance in the organization. These principles should be followed in the organization for promoting workplace health and safety. The first one is the establishment and observation of a written corporate safety policy. Next based on the policy, an independent safety review process would be created (Zanko and Dawson 2012). The first step of a safety management system (SMS) implementation is the establishment of safety policy for all the levels of business. Then the next principle would be the risk assessment procedure. In this context, the severity and foresee ability of product hazards would be identified and evaluated. Then a design would be reviewed for assessing the risk of injury after considering the environment, hazards and predictable use (Chu and Dwyer 2012). The system can incorporate proactive and reactive approaches for enhancing the overall risk management. The first attempt of the system would be the elimination of hazards if it is not possible; the system should attempt to reduce the chance of injury by providing protection against the hazard. At this point of risk assessment, the communication with each member of the organization is important (Ajala 2012). It is because, at this point, users should be warned about the product dangers and should motivate them to avoid injury. Through the effective communication and training of the employees, they can be promoted for using only safe products in the workplace. The system should monitor the performance of each member of the organization against the objectives set by the organization by maintaining the safety-related records in the organization. Continuous monitoring and reviewing of the safety culture and management in the workplace is the important principle for identifying any kind of safety related concerns before leading to severe consequences (Kuempel et al. 2012). In addition, prom otion is one of the most important principles for ensuring healthy and safe culture in the workplace through the transparent and effective communication channels in the organization. For managing safety in the workplace, a safety management system can be implemented after consulting with the members of the organization. For reducing injuries, accident, the Ideagen Safety Management software can be implemented in the organization. This software has the capabilities of identifying hazards, reporting the occurrence of incidence and accident, risk assessment, modeling and control automation, performance monitoring, audit management, policy and document control as well as CA/PA management (Farrow and Reynolds 2012). Through the implementation of this system, the risk of unsafe behaviors of employees can be reduced. Additionally, this software will be able to assess the implementations of procedures following the Health and Safety Act 1974, occupational health and safety act, 1990, health and safety regulations and the policies set by the organization (Zanko and Dawson 2012). Training is important for making employees aware of the internal health hazards. A safety team can be built, who will be appointed for monitoring and assessing any kind of incidence of the accident, injuries or any kind of unsafe behavior of employees. The reporting and the documenting system are essential for monitoring the incidents in the workplace. The safety team would review the non-compliance to the health and safety objectives set by the organizational policies and the offenses would be categorized. If the non-compliance can be mitigated through communication, the team would do it otherwise, according to the categories of unsafe behavior, appropriate penalties would be charged and employees will be rewarded according to their safe and cultural behavior that could be monitory, non-monitory or an annual appraisal (Ajala 2012). The safety culture in an organization can be influenced by both external and internal factors as depicted above. The internal factors help to shape the culture and behavior of the employees. The cultural factors have a major role health and safety measurement. The safety culture depends upon the some internal sub cultural factors; these include physical culture, behavioral culture, management and norm culture and ideological culture. All of those factors in a workplace make a healthy and safe culture in the organization. Additionally, some external factors affect or influence these internal factors, thereby contributing in establishing safety culture in workplace (Zanko and Dawson 2012). These factors include the national and state health and safety acts, social effects, industry environment and production or service demands. These factors can shape the culture through the involvement of safety culture. The internal and personal factors of employees can also influence the safety culture that can be influenced by the leadership culture. A leader can shape or influence the safety behavior of his subordinates, thereby ensuring healthy and safe environment (Farrow and Reynolds 2012). The communications, competence of employees as well as management communications are also other factors that influence safety culture. In conclusion, it can be said that safety is a key part of a corporate culture and it should be incorporated at all levels of business for providing a healthy environment to the employees. In this context, the principles of safety cultures included some factors, responsibility, leadership, trust, decision-making, training, constant assessment. Along with these factors, some external factors are also responsible for shaping the safety culture of the workplace. The essay revealed the principle steps in managing workplace safety. The identification of hazards, evaluation and appropriate protection against the potential hazards can be done through the clear communication and the establishment of a safety management team. Reference List Ajala, E.M., 2012. The influence of workplace environment on workers welfare, performance and productivity. InThe African Symposium(Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 141-149). Arezes, P.M. and Swuste, P., 2012. Occupational health and safety post-graduation courses in Europe: a general overview.Safety science,50(3), pp.433-442. Berlin, A., Yodaiken, R.E. and Hanman, W.A. eds., 2012.Assessment of toxic agents at the workplace: roles of ambient and biological monitoring. Springer Science Business Media. Chu, C. and Dwyer, S., 2012. Employer role in integrative workplace health management.Disease Management and Health Outcomes,10(3), pp.175-186 Farrow, A. and Reynolds, F., 2012. Health and safety of the older worker.Occupational medicine,62(1), pp.4-11. Kuempel, E.D., Geraci, C.L. and Schulte, P.A., 2012. Risk assessment and risk management of nanomaterials in the workplace: translating research to practice.Annals of occupational hygiene,56(5), pp.491-505. Schulte, P.A., Pandalai, S., Wulsin, V. and Chun, H., 2012. Interaction of occupational and personal risk factors in workforce health and safety.American journal of public health,102(3), pp.434-448. Zanko, M. and Dawson, P., 2012. Occupational health and safety management in organizations: A review.International Journal of Management Reviews,14(3), pp.328-344.

Infinitas free essay sample

I breathe movement. It courses through my blood like music does for musicians and paint for painters. Dance is what keeps me alive. People often say they live to do something, but I’m the opposite I dance to live, not live to dance. Yes, dancing runs my life. And yes, I am proud to say I chose it. I would be incomplete without dance. I have been dancing since I was three. I was one of those little girls in pink with bent elbows and dead feet. I had the laces sticking out of my shoes and tights that were baggy at the knees. And like all the other little girls, I thought I was the best ballerina in the world. My family came to my recitals and gave me flowers I now realize I never deserved. Company soloists are bombarded with flowers; I got a dozen roses for not crying on stage and actually remembering most of the steps. We will write a custom essay sample on Infinitas or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After my first year of ballet, I walked up to my teacher and demanded to know why I wasn’t on pointe yet. I wasn’t aware of the process of strengthening the feet and ankles, as well as the rest of the body. In every ballet I’d seen, girls were on pointe, so I had to be, too. As I continued dancing, I began to understand that I needed strength, both mentally and physically, to continue. As I improved, I reached that level of strength needed to go on pointe a dancer’s rite of passage. The day before my twelfth birthday I got my first pair of pointe shoes: Capezio Infinitas that lasted six months. I was ecstatic. I wanted to wear them every moment I could. Now, I can’t wait to take them off. I’ve gone through more styles than some gold diggers do husbands, although I think they get the better deal since pointe shoes cost $70, and I am still searching for the perfect shoe. Pointe shoes last about three weeks and my feet are sore more often than that, but I will never forget my Infinitas. At one point in my life, dance really was my only focus; school didn’t matter and friends didn’t understand. I was left out of things that I probably would have liked to do because everyone thought I was always at dance. Now I’m not as focused on dance. Yes, it is my life, but I choose how much it controls other factors. I have friends and make time for them, as well as for myself. From the typical little girl in pink, I have grown into a person somewhere between adolescence and adulthood. I know what I want and have the motivation to get it. I’m lucky. I have direction and motivation. I know the path to get where I want to be.

Visual Impairment Essays - RTT, Vision, Ophthalmology, Visual System

Visual Impairment Essays - RTT, Vision, Ophthalmology, Visual System Visual Impairment Vision Impairments People catergorized as visually impaired range from individuals with mild visual losses to those with low vision to those who are totally blind (Winzer,370). Vision impairments does not necessarily mean a total loss of sight. Some visually impaired person can detect light, others can see shapes and forms, and others can see nothing at all. Generally, many different problems that interfere the retina to form image or the transmission of retinal images to the brain can cause blindness or vision impairment. It can be heredity or caused by disease or damage after birth. In some cases a specific reason cannot be determined. There are four major types of vision impairments. The first type are refractive errors. It is cause by the change of shape or size of the eyeball, conera or the lens. Myopia (short-sighted) and hyperopia (long-sighted) are two common examples. People with myopia or hyperopia cannot focus image accurately on the retina. Another example is astigmatism, it is caused by the abnormal curve shape of the cornera or the lens. And it can cause distorted or blurred vision. The second type are ocular motor problems. It is caused by irregular movement of the ocular muscles that control the movement of the eyeballs. It leads to the inability for the eyes to control focusing objects. Strasbismus is an example. This condition effects about 2 percent (2 out of 100) of all young children. Strabismus is a lack of coordinated muscle movement or focusing ability between the eyes, causing the eyes to point in different directions. One or both eyes may turn inward (crossed eyes) or outward (walleye). The eyes, the brain area that controls vision, and the muscles attached to the eyeball are involved. It result in the child that looks in certain directions, double vision (sometimes), vision in one eye only, with loss of depth perception. Strabismus can affect both sexes, all ages, but it usually begins during early childhood, frequently before age 5. If not corrected through therapy or surgery, crossed eyes can result in permanent loss of vision. The third type are eye diseases, it is caused by damage or disease before or after birth to one or more structure of the eye (Winzer, 374). One off the most common causes of blindness is cataracts. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye that keeps light from reaching retina. Resulting in badly blurred vision, double vision, sensitivity to bright lights and change in color vision. One eye is often more seriously affected than the other. It may be cause by chemical change in the lens. The exact cause is still unknown, but there are many factors that can accelerate cataract formation.These include an injury, either from a blow to the head or direct eye injury, other diseases exposure to radiation of any kind (x-rays, microwaves, or infrared rays) long-term use of a corticosteroid drug. A child may be born with cataracts or develop them at an early age. These cataracts, called congenital cataracts, may be caused by a genetic disorder such as down syndrome or from a condition the mother had during pregnancy such as German measles. The fourth type are other defects such as color blindness, photophobia or albinism. Color blindness is a inherited vision disorder which is often found in male rather than in female. Persons who have color blindness do not have one of the three cone cells which are responsible for receiving either blue, green and red. Therefore, people with color blindness are likely to confuse with red and green. But the condition is not serious enough to connect with visual impairments. Albinism is a hereditary disease. It must be pass thorugh from both parents, each of whom either has albinism or is a carrier of that trait. Albinism affects the production of melanin(Winzer,379). A lack of melanin in the retina, iris and choroid will cause the pupil to become in deep red color, the iris will become in grey, light blue or pink. A person with albinism will also suffer from photophobia, which is the extreme sensitivity to light. Bright light may decreases the person's visual acuity and may blinds the persons with albinism.

Facts and Brief History of Oman

Facts and Brief History of Oman The Sultanate of Oman long served as a hub on the Indian Ocean trade routes, and it has ancient ties that reach from Pakistan to the island of Zanzibar. Today, Oman is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, despite not having extensive oil reserves. Capital and Major Cities Capital: Muscat, population 735,000 Major Cities: Seeb, pop. 238,000 Salalah, 163,000 Bawshar, 159.000 Sohar, 108,000 Suwayq, 107,000 Government Oman is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. The Sultan rules by decree. Oman has a bicameral legislature, the Council of Oman, which serves an advisory role to the Sultan. The upper house, the Majlis ad-Dawlah, has 71 members from prominent Omani families, who are appointed by the Sultan. The lower chamber, the Majlis ash-Shoura, has 84 members who are elected by the people, but the Sultan can negate their elections.   Population of Oman Oman has about 3.2 million residents, only 2.1 million of whom are Omanis. The rest are foreign guest workers, mainly from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco, and the Philippines.  Within the Omani population, ethnolinguistic minorities include Zanzibaris, Alajamis, and Jibbalis.   Languages Standard Arabic is the official language of Oman. However, some Omanis also speak several different dialects of Arabic and even entirely distinct Semitic languages. Small minority languages related to Arabic and Hebrew include Bathari, Harsusi, Mehri, Hobyot (also spoken in a small area of Yemen), and Jibbali. About 2,300 people speak Kumzari, which is an Indo-European language from the Iranian branch, the only Iranian language spoken on the Arabian Peninsula. English and Swahili are commonly spoken as second languages in Oman, due to the countrys historical ties with Britain and Zanzibar. Balochi, another Iranian language that is one of the official languages of Pakistan, is also widely spoken by Omanis. Guest workers speak Arabic, Urdu, Tagalog, and English, among other languages. Religion The official religion of Oman is Ibadi Islam, which is a branch distinct from both Sunni and Shia beliefs, that originated just about 60 years after the Prophet Mohammeds death. Approximately 25% of the population is non-Muslim. Religions represented include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Bahai, and Christianity. This rich diversity reflects Omans centuries-long position as a major trade depot within the Indian Ocean system. Geography Oman covers an area of 309,500 square kilometers (119,500 square miles) on the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula. Much of the land is a gravel desert, although some sand dunes also exist. Most of Omans population lives in the mountainous areas in the north and the southeast coast. Oman also possesses a small piece of land on the tip of the Musandam Peninsula, cut off from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Oman borders on the UAE to the north, Saudi Arabia to the northwest, and Yemen to the west.  Iran sits across the Gulf of Oman to the north-north-east.   Climate Much of Oman is extremely hot and dry. The interior desert regularly sees summer temperatures in excess of 53 °C (127  °F), with annual precipitation of just 20 to 100 millimeters (0.8 to 3.9 inches). The coast is usually about twenty degrees Celsius or thirty degrees Fahrenheit cooler. In the Jebel Akhdar mountain region, rainfall can reach 900 millimeters in a year (35.4 inches). Economy Omans economy is perilously reliant on oil and gas extraction, even though its reserves are only the 24th largest in the world. Fossil fuels account for more than 95% of Omans exports. The country also produces small amounts of manufactured goods and agricultural products for export - primarily dates, limes, vegetables, and grain - but the desert country imports much more food than it exports. The Sultans government is focusing on diversifying the economy by encouraging manufacturing and service sector development. Omans per capita GDP is about $28,800 US (2012), with a 15% unemployment rate. History Humans have lived in what is now Oman since at least 106,000 years ago  when Late Pleistocene people left stone tools related to the Nubian Complex from the Horn of Africa in the Dhofar region. This indicates that humans moved from Africa into Arabia around that time, if not earlier, possibly across the Red Sea.   The earliest known city in Oman is Dereaze, which dates back at least 9,000 years. Archaeological finds include flint tools, hearths, and hand-formed pottery. A nearby mountainside also yields pictographs of animals and hunters. Early Sumerian tablets call Oman Magan, and note that it was a source of copper. From the 6th century BCE forward, Oman was usually controlled by the great Persian dynasties based just across the Gulf in what is now Iran. First it was the Achaemenids, who may have established a local capital at Sohar; next the Parthians; and finally the Sassanids, who ruled until the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE. Oman was among the first places to convert to Islam; the Prophet sent a missionary south around 630 CE, and the rulers of Oman submitted to the new faith. This was prior to the Sunni/Shia split, so Oman took up Ibadi Islam  and has continued to subscribe to this ancient sect within the faith. Omani traders and sailors were among the most important factors in propagating Islam around the rim of the India Ocean, carrying the new religion to India, Southeast Asia, and parts of the East African coast. After the Prophet Mohammeds death, Oman came under the rule of the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates, the Qarmatians (931-34), the Buyids (967-1053), and the Seljuks (1053-1154). When the Portuguese entered the Indian Ocean trade  and began to exert their power, they recognized Muscat as a prime port. They would occupy the city for almost 150 years, from 1507 to 1650. Their control was not uncontested, however; the Ottoman fleet captured the city from the Portuguese in 1552 and again from 1581 to 1588, only to lose it again each time. In 1650, local tribesmen managed to drive the Portuguese away for good; no other European country managed to colonize the area, although the British did exert some imperial influence in later centuries. In 1698, the Imam of Oman invaded Zanzibar and drove the Portuguese away from the island. He also occupied parts of coastal northern Mozambique. Oman used this toehold in East Africa as a slave market, supplying African forced labor to the Indian Ocean world.   The founder of Omans current ruling dynasty, the Al Said  took power in 1749. During a secession struggle about 50 years later, the British were able to extract concessions from an Al Said ruler in return for supporting his claim to the throne. In 1913, Oman split into two countries, with religious imams ruling the interior while the sultans continued to rule in Muscat and the coast.   This situation grew complicated in the 1950s  when likely-looking oil formations were discovered. The sultan in Muscat was responsible for all dealings with foreign powers, but the imams controlled the areas that appeared to have oil. As a result, the sultan and his allies captured the interior in 1959 after four years of fighting, once again uniting the coast and interior of Oman. In 1970, the current sultan overthrew his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur  and introduced economic and social reforms. He could not stem the uprisings around the country, however, until Iran, Jordan, Pakistan, and Britain intervened, bringing about a peace settlement in 1975. Sultan Qaboos continued to modernize the country. However, he faced protests in 2011 during the Arab Spring; after promising further reforms, he cracked down on activists, fining and jailing several of them.

British Settler English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

British Settler English - Essay Example There is that brief period when every physical thing that represented 'home' is packed and sealed into cartons, leaving one feeling disoriented. Even after one has set up one's new home, the feeling of disorientation does not cease. It is followed by the process of adjusting to one's new neighbors. There are new values and new ways of behaving to be understood and internalized. We become the stranger in this landscape, and our neighbors may treat us with disdain. Perhaps it is because of the harshness of the new environment, perhaps it is because they cannot see us as part of themselves that they trouble us. Then, consider the concept of ownership and the practice of borrowing. We may have been used to thinking in terms of 'mine' and 'yours'. But the distinction gets blurred. And what is mine becomes yours. Perhaps after a while, we realize that the reverse doesn't happen. Finally, we have to resort to slightly manipulative ways to rid ourselves of 'good neighbors.' We eventually realize that we may have to do some borrowing ourselves, and neighbor has to come to neighbor's help. In the situations described by Moodie, a dose of humor is what helps one retain a sense of proportion and even sanity. Change-even for the better-involves discomfort.