James Baldwin is an Epic Poet Essay -- Notes of a Native Son

James Baldwin; Epic Poet When studying humanity through the arts and literature one can?t help but notice that every civilization has a famous narrative or an epic. The epic marks the beginning of classical civilization in that it was the first form of literature to be written down from oral tradition. The epic tells of the glory of a society, of its? founding from the ruin of another or tells us of the experiences of a beloved hero. The common trait of any epic poem or narrative lies in the tragic hero, or the main character of the story. The hero represents a more than average member of society with a tragic fatal flaw. The narration ends with the hero?s downfall at the hands of this fatal flaw which reminds us of our weak human nature. The tragic downfall of the hero does not always manifest itself in the hero?s death but sometimes in his realization of a hard truth. Western culture has romanticized these heroes in more than just literature but in everyday life. I couldn?t help but notice the char acteristics of a tragic hero manifest themselves in a young James Baldwin as I read his essay ?Notes of a Native Son.? In this 20th century essay; Baldwin as the author uses the narrative of his experiences around the time of his father?s death to analyze his feelings on family, race and culture. Baldwin?s writing flows brilliantly between narrative and analysis in an almost epic fashion. Through my writing I would like to analyze the epic of the young James Baldwin and see what truths are hidden in the framework of Baldwin?s marvelous tale. After his fathers? death Baldwin reflects on him through stories and scenes of social unrest. In order to understand the character of James Baldwin we must first unde... ...He is forced to accept life as it is, an unjust world in which father and son, black and white cannot see each other as equals. One must accept this world because failure to accept it leads to hatred and despair and as we have seen hatred led to the destruction of his father. But on the same token he outlines another hard truth which is that one must not accept the injustice with lowered eyes, one must fight injustices. We as humans experience this sad reality everyday as the epic of human life and through his words at the end of the essay James realizes his humanity as well. We must all accept injustice but at the same time fight to change it, that is our duty that we owe to our fellow humans. Works Cited Baldwin, James. ?Notes of a Native Son.? 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84.

The New Economic Policy

How far were economic problems responsible for Stalin’s decision to replace the New Economic Policy in 1928 with the first Five-Year Plan ? There seemed to be various reasons why Stalin decided to replace the New Economic Policy with the first Five-Year Plan in 1928. These included economic problems, the role of ideology, a fear of invasion and political considerations. Although economic problems certainly were an important reason for Stalin’s decision, the most significant reason must have been political, since the consolidation of his power position had always been Stalin’s prime concern.The occurrence of economic problems presumably played a major role in Stalin’s decision to move away from the New Economic Policy (NEP), although it must be noted that, before that time, the NEP had had its, albeit limited, success: By 1925 the NEP had returned the economy to its pre-war levels, and by 1927 both agriculture and industrial production exceeded their pre-wa r level. However, the NEP had run into problems such as the scissors crisis in 1924 and the grain procurement crisis of 1927-28.For Stalin and many pragmatists who had supported the NEP because it had been working, the grain procurement crisis brought matters to a head. Russia was by 1928 still an economically backward country compared to the large economies of Western Europe and especially the USA. Farming methods still were fundamentally backwards and unproductive. In industry there was a genuine necessity for the economy to develop and compete with western competitors far ahead of Russia.Economic problems were likely to be a catalyst for the bold measures of the first Five-Year Plan, since Stalin felt that without it Russia would keep lagging behind. Ideological aspects too seemed to matter in Stalin’s decision making, although his own ideological position can be seen as somewhat blurred, since he used to frequently change policies according to what suited him best in his pursuit of a leading role in the Communist Party. For example, before his policy U-turn in 1928 Stalin had defended the NEC against opposition from the left wing of the Party.By 1927-28, when the NEP began to experience problems, Stalin sensed that stressing Communist ideological believes would gain him a lot of support. Many Communists, especially those of the left wing, saw the NEP as a retreat from Marxist, anti-capitalist principles and the urban working class resented the special position of the peasants under the NEP. Growing mass unemployment in the towns and food shortages combined with the ideological distaste felt by many Communists for the NEP and the Nepmen.This led Stalin to wage a class war against the peasants and the Kulaks in particular, branding those who would resist collectivisation as ’enemies of the people’ or ’enemies of the revolution. ’ Communist ideology played their part in Stalin’s decision making since it ensured suppor t not only from the Party but also from the workers and gave Stalin the moral grounds to prevail and secure control of the state. A fear of invasion must also have been influential in Stalin’s decision, as since back during the Civil War of 1918-21, when the western powers had clearly supported the ’Whites’, the Communists had a certain suspicion for them.Russia found itself in a far from ideal international climate during the late 1920s, which clearly suggested that the Soviet Union was surrounded by hostile nations which undermined its national security. Stalin seemed to have felt the necessity for both setting up self-sufficiency in food production and industrialise rapidly in order to built up the armed forces and prepare Russia for war against the capitalist powers, or, as he would say at a Party meeting ’Either we do it – or they crush us. Since under the NEP these goals were unlikely to be accomplished, a fear of invasion probably was an imp ortant motivator behind the shift to the first Five-Year Plan. Finally, and most importantly, political considerations led Stalin to replace the NEP. It could be seen as a continuation of the leadership struggle that had set in after the death of Lenin in 1924 and demonstrated Stalin’s victory over Bukharin, who was the leading advocate of the NEP. Stalin could show that he was able to apply his own policies and, in doing so, consolidate his position.The Plan would further gain him the support of the left wing of the Communist Party, which had been leaderless when Zinoviev, Kamenev and Trotsky were defeated and humiliated in 1927. In addition, he still advocated socialism in one country and therefore appealed to Russian nationalism. Self-sufficiency in food production and not being dependant on foreign grain imports was popular as it would make Russia appear stronger and save money which could be used to improve living conditions.Political considerations were of prime importa nce to Stalin since he knew that if he could deliver all these things, it would serve the basic aim of securing his leadership position for the time to come. Overall, while it was possibly a combination of all factors discussed that played a role in Stalin’s decision to abandon the NEP in favour of the first Five-Year Plan, political considerations must have been the major driving force.However urgent a resolution of the pressing economic problems was, Stalin had proven consistently throughout the leadership challenge of 1924-1928 that his basic aim was the consolidation of his power. He had repeatedly changed his policies to decimate both the left and right wing of the Party. Like so many times before, it is quite probable that his decision was yet another piece of opportunism. Had it not been for the unpopularity of the NEP among many Party members, it is questionable whether Stalin would have taken such bold steps.

Managing First-Line Patient Care

It is very important to keep the patients clean. Ill people would rather worry about coping to their illness than to bathe, brush teeth, and stay clean. That is why nurses should observe the patients whether they can clean themselves and assist them if necessary, especially in bathing. Hydrotherapy plays a vital role in managing acute and chronic diseases. Proper giving of bath gives a tonic, eliminative, and antipyretic action. The essence of giving bath is not just to keep the patients clean, but also to reduce temperature, to stimulate their body, and to make them relax. (Crawford, 1910) To stimulate patients, cold bath is advisable. When the patient needs to be relaxed, because of nervousness or anxiety, a warm bath should be provided. If the patient’s temperature is increasing and needs to be reduced, either warm bath or cold bath should be applied depending on the case. (Crawford, 1910) Warm bath will definitely help in reducing the stench of sweat and will provide freshness. If the patient is at the height of fever, bath is not advisable, especially the cold bath. Moreover, regular bath or cold sponging is not suitable for patients who are sick, bed ridden and elderly but a warm sponge bath can be applied instead.   (Kakkilaya, 2003) Hygiene is very personal, and individual’s practices of keeping themselves clean may vary according to one’s culture or religion. It is very important to make the patients meet their personal needs rather than to carry out standard routines. And also, the patient’s beliefs and privacy should also be respected. Patients may be bathed daily in the hospital but if the patient has a dry skin, bathing should be limited to once or twice a week to avoid further drying out of his skin.   (World Health Organization, 2005) For patients who can walk may be assisted by the nurse or family members to the shower or tub. Prepare a chair in the bathroom for the patient to sit on. Help the patient to wash and dry off, and in putting on clothes. In doing a bed bath, make sure all the doors and windows are closed, to protect the patient’s privacy. Prepare the basin of warm water, soap, clothes, bath blankets, and towels. Cleanse the face, ears, and neck. Next is the right arm, hand and axilla; repeat with left arm. Then cleanse the chest area.   Lastly, cleanse the legs and feet of the patient. Change the bath water once or twice. After bathing, change the bed linen. (World Health Organization, 2005) Next, I will discuss another bath procedure for patients called the Hot Sitz Bath, also known as the Hip Bath. This is done to relieve muscle contraction, to alleviate exudates, to speed up suppuration process and healing, and to lessen congestion and provide relief in the perineal area.   This is applicable for patients with hemorrhoids. (pobisnar, 2006) Do not use warm water if the patient already shows a sign of congestion. Monitor the patient is getting weak or fainting during the bath.When the patient has been positioned in the tub or chair; check if the thighs and legs are being pressured. Support the back of the patient all through out the bath. (pobisnar, 2006) Use the appropriate tub for the size of the patient, to make him comfortable while taking a bath. Prepare towels and bathmat, bath blanket, inflatable ring, and clean clothes. Prepare the linen in the bathroom. Only one-third of the tub should be filled with water. Check the temperature of water with bare hands, temperature of water should be between 105 °F and 110 °F (40.5 °C to 43.3 °C). Check all the necessary towels and inflatable rings, making sure these are just within reach to save time and effort. Make certain the patient is informed what the whole procedure is about and how it will be done. Then instruct the patient to undress, especially the hip is exposed. Before he goes into the tub, use a thermometer first and check the temperature of the water. A temperature of 43-46 ° C will create relaxation while a temperature of 34-37 ° C will help promote healing of wound. (pobisnar, 2006) Support the patient and position him appropriately. Make sure he is comfortable in his position. Put the bath sheet around the patient’s shoulders and wrap the ends over the tub to keep him away from chilling. In case the patient’s condition warrants, particularly when he is already vomiting, his skin is paling, and the pulse rate becomes faster, stop the bath. Warm water can be added to maintain the desired temperature but make sure the water is agitated by stirring it as hot water and added to prevent burns. Never leave the patient alone to ensure security of the patient. After fifteen to thirty minutes of bathing, assist the patient out of the tub, help him dry himself and cover him satisfactorily. Let him lie down to rest until normal circulation returns.   (pobisnar, 2006) The concept of giving bath is very necessary for nursing students, one of the basic concepts they should learn first for their careers. Though anyone, even not under the medicine field may also learn the proper procedure of giving bath to patients. Now, how these procedures can be effectively taught? People have different learning traits. We have different ways to absorb knowledge based on our personality and personal experiences. Basically, there are four types of adult learners: The commonsense learner, the dynamic learner, the innovative learner, and the analytical learner. The common sense learner must first practice and integrate the concepts into experience. The dynamic learner likes teaching himself and shares his knowledge with others. The innovative learner asks for reasons for learning and finds personal meaning in the instructions. Lastly, the analytical learner should be provided with information then integrates them, reflecting on concepts with application analysis. (Evans, 2007) First, present the concept using visual aids such as power point presentation, etc. Explain what is being taught and why the concept should be taught. Explain its application (the correct methods and rationale behind the procedures) and the opportunity to practice whether they can do it or not, especially for the students under innovative and analytical type. Then, prepare an activity related to the subject matter to make them experience the concept. For example, you can use a dummy to show the actual procedures or prepare a video clip of a professional practicing the concepts for proper presentation. Then give them a chance to practice it for themselves. Train them, until they all get the proper procedure. Interact with the participants, and focus on students who belong to the innovative learner type. Then solicit feedback and conduct a group evaluation to know how far they have learned from you. Teaching means communicating skills and knowledg, verbally giving instructions and offering presentations. Your students knowledge will depend on your ability to teach. (Evans, 2007) Works Cited Crawford, M. L. (1910). Why, When, and How to Bathe a Fever Patient. The American Journal of Nursing , 314-317. Evans, P. (2007, March 13). The adult learner: Training your labor force. Retrieved October 04, 2007, from http://www.thefabricator.com/ShopManagement/ShopManagement_Article.cfm?ID=1577 Kakkilaya, D. B. (2003). Is Bathing Contraindicated in Fever? Retrieved October 04, 2007, from Rational Medicine Org: http://www.rationalmedicine.org/bath.htm pobisnar. (2006). Nursing Procedure: Hot Sitz Bath (Hip Bath). Retrieved October 04, 2007, from Nurse’s Diary: http://nursediary.pid.com.ph/p16.htm World Health Organization. (2005). Daily Care of the Patient. Retrieved October 04, 2007, from WHO site: http://www.wpro.who.int/internet/files/pub/85/33-49.pdf