How to Cope When You are Alone on Christmas

How to Cope When You are Alone on Christmas Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print How to Cope When You Are Alone on Christmas By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Updated on July 28, 2019 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Johner Images / Getty Images You might be alone on Christmas for different reasons, such as the death of a loved one, living far from relatives, or because of social isolation. If you have social anxiety disorder (SAD)  and dont have close relationships with family or friends, loneliness at Christmas could be particularly hard. In general, there are three ways to cope with being alone at Christmas. First, you can address your mental state and how it is contributing to your loneliness. Second, you can find things to do on Christmas so that you feel less alone. And third, you can plan ahead so that you are not alone this time next year. Addressing Your Mental State Christmas is the perfect day to take the time to appreciate what you have in life, be it good health, a place to live, or food on the table. Having gratitude will also help you to move past anxiety, as you learn to live in the present moment and be mindful of your surroundings. One way to practice gratitude is to write down three things you are grateful for on this day. What if youre plagued by negative thoughts? If you feel like you dont know how to cope with being alone, ask yourself What would I do if I did know how to cope?  You have more power than you think over your thoughts and how they make you feel. You can choose to feel lonely because you are alone, or you can choose to feel grateful for the positive things in your life. That doesnt mean that you need to spend every Christmas alone; just that dwelling on the fact this Christmas isnt going to help matters. Reframing your negative thoughts is the basis of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder.?? 10 Tips for Coping With Loneliness at Christmas One way to cope with being alone on Christmas is to actually go out and do something productive. Rather than spend the day at home, alone, find something that you can do that fits with your mindset and mental state for the day. If you feel full of energy, and the weather is decent, maybe you might sign up for a 5k run. If you feel social, you might attend a church service to be in the presence of others. Below are some other ideas of things to keep you from focusing on the fact you are alone. Say Yes Perhaps you are alone this year because you turned down invitations. Call those people back and say yes. This is often a problem for those with social anxietyâ€"you turn down invitations only to regret it and feel lonely afterward. Volunteer One way to gain a better appreciation for the good things in your life is to get involved in volunteering. Volunteering during the holidays is a way to connect with others, boost your self-esteem, and bring joy to people who are less fortunate. Consider offering to help serve dinner at a soup kitchen, bring gifts to a childrens hospital, or visit lonely residents at a nursing home.?? If you feel nervous about doing these social activities, all the better; its a chance to test your boundaries and expand your social skills. In fact, research shows that practicing kindness may reduce your tendency to avoid social situations.?? Host an Orphan Christmas You are not the only one alone during the holidays. Plan an Orphan Christmas for those who have no one to spend the holiday with, or join a group of people in similar circumstances. If you feel anxious about reaching outâ€"consider that other people who are alone on Christmas may feel isolated, lonely, and nervous to call on you, too. Work If you enjoy your work, and you have the option to work on Christmas, spend the day being productive. This is a smart choice if your job involves interacting with coworkers or customers; being at work will help you to feel less lonely. If you dont have the option to work on Christmas, spend the day working around your home or on a project that youve put off for too long. Host an Online Christmas Do you have online friends? Do you have long-distance relatives? Host an online Christmas by setting up a Skype chatroom or Facebook group. People can drop in and out as they please, and you dont have to cook, clean,  or even get off the sofa. As an added bonus, youll have a chance to practice your social skills as you welcome new people to the group and catch up with old friends. Enjoy Solitude If being alone on  Christmas is unavoidable, plan a day for yourself. Buy something online to treat yourself, cook your favorite foods, and plan a movie marathon. Or, cut through the cliches and do something offbeat like learning a new language or starting work on the novel thats always been in your head. Christmas is a day to indulge in whatever makes you happy. How to Plan Ahead for Next Christmas Plan for a better future. If social anxiety has left you alone on Christmas, vow to visit your doctor in the new year and get a handle on your anxiety. If youve never been diagnosed, make a plan to share your concernsâ€"you can even hand a typewritten letter to your doctor if that helps. Social anxiety tends to be overlooked or mistaken for other problems, particularly because people with the disorder are not good at sharing how they feel. Use whatever means necessary to impress upon your doctor the severity of your symptoms. What to Do If Youre Having Difficulty Coping If you are feeling really down about being alone on Christmas and cant pull yourself out of it, reach out for help. Call a friend, family member, or a helpline. Regardless of whether you are physically separated from people on Christmas, you should never feel like you are lacking support. There are people who would love to hear from you and trained volunteers waiting to counsel you. A Word From Verywell While feeling socially isolated one day of the year may be common, finding yourself crippled by social anxiety more days than not may be a sign of a disorder. If youve not already consulted your doctor about severe social anxiety, be sure to make an appointment to discuss the possibility of a diagnosis and referral for treatment.

Hispanic Research Paper - 1034 Words

Approximately 1 in 6 individuals are Hispanic in the United States, and the population is expected to grow to 1 in 4 by 2035 (CDC, 2015). Given that, Hispanics are the biggest minority group in the US (CDC, 2015). The leading cause of death among the Hispanic population is heart disease and cancer responsible for around 2 out of 5 deaths (CDC, 2015). Hispanics have a 50% greater chance of death resulting from diabetes or liver disease than whites (CDC, 2015). Additionally, there are 3 times as more uninsured Hispanics than whites (CDC, 2015). According to the US average, whites are 15 years older than the Latino population, so prevention will greatly benefit the health of the Latino population (CDC, 2015). Furthermore, Hispanics have 24%†¦show more content†¦Elders are honored and valued for their opinion on urgent matters in the family (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). Not only family, but spiritualism is used for health promotion by prayer for the ill and dying (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). Hot and cold imbalances, magic, spiritual discipline, disturbance of internal organs, and mental and emotional problems are thought to be the cause of sickness and bad health (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). The theory of hot and cold directs Latinos to choose applicable treatment (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). To demonstrate, warm liquids are used for an individual with a cold, and child liquids are used for an individual with a fever (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). Not to mention, Hispanics also believe that illness and disease are caused by the paranormal and psychological disorders (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). Mal de ojo (evil eye) is believed to be caused by the look of animosity by a person (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014; Jarvis, 2012). Susto (fright) and ataque de nervios (hysteria) are provoked by traumatic incidents, crises, and powerful emotions (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). Folk healers such as curandero, spiritualist, yerbero, and sabador are still used, including home remedies (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). Curanderos use prayers, herbs, rituals, and laying of the hands as a form of health promotion (Edelman, Kudzma, Mandle, 2014). TheShow MoreRelatedEssay on Nursing Professional Organization802 Words   |  4 PagesA Nursing Professional Organization The National Association of Hispanic Nursing Name College Abstract This research paper is on The Nurse Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). I will explain the primary mission of this organization and it’s contributing factor and benefits to nursing. 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Also the paper will depict the results ofRead MoreDepression in the Latino Community1452 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"there are only 29 Latino mental-health professionals for every 100,000 Latinos in the United States, compared to 173 non-Hispanic white providers per 100,000 non-Hispanic whites.† Coming along this information completely amazed me, knowing that there is a vast difference between Latino and non-Hispanic white mental health providers is shocking. I am writing this research paper because I want to learn more of why the Latino community is vulnerable of being diagnosed with severe major depression.Read MoreAmerican Culture And Its Impact On American Society1599 Words   |  7 Pageshave Hispanics began to enter American Society and how have they assimilated or integrated to become part of it? Hispanics are a minority group who have overcome many struggles and stereotypes throughout history. 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In this paper, I will discuss perceptions of health and illness in the Hispanic community, examine the overarching issue presented in a video that I reviewed, discuss what can be done to overcome the issue in the video, and share a barrier that I experience in my nursing practice and how I overcome the barrier. Cultural Background of the Patient In the preparation of writing this paper, I reviewed several educational videos from the U.S. DepartmentRead MoreHealth Promotion Among Diverse Community1053 Words   |  5 PagesUniversity Family-Centered Health Promotion NRS-429V March 6, 2015 Hispanics are the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group, estimated to be 54 million living in the United States of America. (Office of Minority Health and Health Equity). They work very hard to make both ends meet and also to stay in good health. 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Going Up As A Young African American Girl - 856 Words

Going up as a young African American girl in Philadelphia was not always easy, however having a strong family structure, old fashion southern culture, and beliefs has molded me into the strong women that I am today. Now that I am a mother, following my family’s culture and beliefs are not always the easiest thing to do, because time has changed and I feel like I am forced to conform to the everyday social norms of America. Yes, growing up was not easy, but my family and youth kept me in the dark when it came to how society treats individuals of darker complexion, what to expect once I left the confines of my family and neighborhood, and how to befriend or interact with individuals of other racial groups. All of the things that I listed were things that I had to learn throw trial and error, which makes life a little harder than it already is. Having dark skin and long thick hair has always been things that I was proud of, because this was the way that all the women in my fam ily looked. My mother and grandmother always made me feel like being me or looking like me was the greatest gift in the world, however, I learned from the constant teasing and hair pulling from individuals in my 5th grade class that looking like the rest of my family was not seen as a good thing to others outside of my home. That is when I became truly aware of my differences and I believe those negative experiences changed the way I viewed my own self-worth and beauty. I am no long that confidentShow MoreRelatedThe Black Doll Test Was First Performed In The 1940S By983 Words   |  4 PagesAfro-American girls and giving them a white and a black doll with the purpose of identifying each one as either the good or the bad doll. The result was that every girl chose the black doll as the bad one and the white doll as the nice and good doll. 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Higher Pleasures Unique to Human Beings Free Essays

John Stuart Mill argues In utilitarianism that higher pleasures are unique to human beings. Higher pleasures are those pleasures that require some minimum of cognitive capacities to enjoy. More specifically, higher pleasures are intellectual pleasures while lower pleasures are sensual pleasures. We will write a custom essay sample on Higher Pleasures: Unique to Human Beings or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mill argues that animals are not capable of experiencing higher pleasures because animals are not aware of their higher facilities; animals lack the conscious ability to be curious, to achieve a sense of self-worth from volunteering. or to hold a deep and intellectual conversation. Mill successfully argues in utilitarianism that higher pleasures are not only distinct and unique to human beings, but are also more desirable and valuable than lower pleasures because human beings have higher facilities for happiness. â€Å"It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig dissatisfied,† (pg 18. ) Mill uses this example because human beings have experienced both higher and lower pleasures, and would not willingly switch from a life of hgher pleasures toa life of lower pleasures. Through controlled experiences, Griffen and Speck argue in New Evidence of Animal Consciousness that animals do possess some torm ot primary consciousness enabling them to experience these lower pleasures that Mill describes. Intellectual pleasures may be unique to humans, but sensual pleasures are now being examined and documented in animals. How do we, as humans, know with certainty that higher pleasures are more desirable and valuable than lower pleasures? Mill argues that higher pleasures are superior to lower pleasures with the following example, human beings know both sides of the question, while pigs only know their side of the question. Human beings nd animals have two very different ideas of happiness and content â€Å"It is indisputable that the being whose capacities of enjoyment are low, has the greatest chance of having them fully satisfied†¦ and they will not make him enw the being who is indeed unconscious of the imperfections, but only because he feels not at all the good which those Imperfections qualify† (page 18. ) Mill argues that no human being, who knows both sides of the question, would voluntarily go from a Ife of higher pleasures to a life of lower pleasures. Mill states that once a human being is ade aware of their higher pleasures, they would never be happy to leave a life of higher pleasures for a life of lower pleasures. Higher pleasures are therefore superior in kind to lower pleasures. We can think of levels of pleasure on a continuum, with lower pleasures, such as sex, food, and sleep on the lower end of the continuum, and higher pleasures, such as reading a book, volunteering, or seeing a good play on the higher end of the continuum. Human beings have experience both kinds of pleasure, higher and lower, and are therefore are qualified with the knowledge to distinguish that higher pleasures are more valuable and desirable than ower pleasures. In tne artlcle New Evidence 0T Animal consciousness, GrlTTen ana speck present evidence that support the idea that animals are capable of experiencing at least some level of consciousness. In the article, consciousness is described as â€Å"the subjective state of feeling or thinking about objects and events† (pg 6. The authors encourage us to think of consciousness also along a continuum, with basic consciousness on one end, and a â€Å"higher† form on consciousness on the other. The authors agree with Natsoula’s evidence that animals have some form of basic onsciousness, â€Å"Animals are sometimes aware of objects and events, including social relationships, memories, and simple short-term anticipation of likely happenings in the near future† (pa ge 6. However, animals do not experience a form of advanced or â€Å"higher† consciousness that is unique to humans. The chapter states that if animals are conscious, their conscious level probably varies from the simplest feelings to thinking about the common problems they can face, and ways to avoid it. As stated above, consciousness requires some form minimum of cognitive capacities, animals lack any form of cognitive capacities, leaving higher pleasures istinctively unique to human beings. The central question in the article is whether or not animals experience a form of basic consciousness, and if so, what is the content of their awareness, a question that can help us better understand them, their way of life, and what type of pleasures they experience. Referring back to Mill’s Utilitarianism, Mill argues that higher pleasures are more desirable and more valuable than lower pleasures. Utilitarian writers, in general, agree that higher pleasures are superior to lower pleasures because they place an emphasize on mental pleasures over bodily pleasures. And in general, Utilitarian writers agree that although you can enjoy more lower pleasures, you cannot consider quality alongside quantity; the level of your happiness should depend on the quantity of your pleasures. At this point, I think it would be fair to say that animals posses some form of primary or basic consciousness, perhaps the most simple evidence to support this claim can be found in Frith et al. ‘s study. â€Å"Gestures and movements can be made with a deliberate communicative intent†¦ This realization of the significance of communication as a source of evidence about conscious feelings and thoughts ntails a simple transfer to animals of the basic methods by which we infer what our human companions are thinking or feeling† (pg 12. ) Animals communicate a variety of thoughts and feelings, proving that they possess some form of primary or basic consciousness. And because animals possess some form of primary consciousness, it would be fair to say that animals experience some for of sensual experiences, or what Mill would define as lower pleasures. Another piece of evidence that supports the claim that animals posses some form of primary or basic consciousness, can be seen in Weir et al’s experiment. In this experiment, it is shown how birds communicate through their own distinct behavior; it is shown how birds are able to adapt to an experimentally given environment. Two birds were presented with a bucket full of food, the bucket was placed at the bottom of a transparent vertical tube that could not be reached without their beak’s alone. The birds were then presented with two wires, one with a straight end, and the other with a bent end that formed a hook. The food was much easier to obtain with the nook endea wire. I ne Temale Dlra was always presented wltn tne stralgnt end, ana he male bird was always presented with the hooked end; however, the female bird was able to adapt to her environment and bend the end of her wire so that her wire was also hooked at the end. When only two straight wires were presented to the birds, the female bird was able to adapt and bend the wire to better reach her food, without any example or lead from the male bird’s wire. Through this experiment, it is clear that the female bird was able to adapt to her given environment. Her primary consciousness accompanied her form of perception, and influenced her action. â€Å"She had no model to imitate and, to our knowledge, no pportunity for hook making to emerge by chance shaping or reinforcement of randomly generated behavior† (pg 12. ) It is clear to see that the female bird perceived her goals as desirable; she saw that she needed food, and she made conscious adjustments in order to attain her goal. Her primary consciousness influenced her form of action. Linking back to Mill’s Utilitarianism, lower pleasures only require a simple, primary form a consciousness. New Evidence of Animal Consciousness argues that primary consciousness is, â€Å"The state or facility of being mentally conscious or aware of anything† (pg 6. The article argues through controlled experiments that animals can possess a primary form of consciousness. And because animals possess a form of simple, basic consciousness, they also possess the ability to experience lower pleasures. Animal’s possess the full mental capacity to live their lives to facilitate the highest level of their lower pleasures. Higher pleasures are unique to human beings. Human beings possess the inapt mental capacity to experience a form of pleasure derived from our intellect. Higher pleasures require some minimum of cognitive capacities to enjoy; because human eings have high cognitive capacities, we are capable of reaching higher levels of pleasure than animals. In the book Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill, Mill argues that higher pleasures can only be experienced by human beings because we possess some minimum of cognitive capacities; and that lower pleasures, such as sex, food, and sleep, can be experienced by any living that has a primary or basic conscious. Through controlled experiences, it is argued in New Evidence of Animal Consciousness that animals do possess some form of primary consciousness enabling them to experience these lower pleasures that Mill describes. How to cite Higher Pleasures: Unique to Human Beings, Papers

Rise to Rebellion free essay sample

Sahara included these to give the book more PPTP, not to be historically accurate to the last words of dialogue. For example, there is no way anyone can know for sure what the sentry was thinking as he stood in front of the Custom House Just minutes before the chaotic start of the Boston Massacre. Sahara does not try to convey every event, Important incident, and factor that provided America with the Idea and courage for a revolution, but rather shows how each of the characters that are focused on responded to his or her time, and how they witnessed and experienced and impacted the enormous changes unfolding around them. The book begins from the point of view of the sentry who is guarding a building, but soon witnesses the Boston Massacre. Lawyer John Adams runs to the scene of the killing, but is told to go back home. He discusses the events with his wife, and the day after is asked to defend Captain Thomas Preston, who Is accused of ordering the troops to fire. We will write a custom essay sample on Rise to Rebellion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thomas Gage, the commander In chief of British forces, meets with Massachusetts governor Thomas Hutchinson and discusses removing the troops from Boston.Benjamin Franklin also discusses the events with Dry. Johnson. John Adams and Josiah Quince successfully defend Captain Preston. Ben Franklin is voted to represent Massachusetts in Great Britain, but Lord Hillsboro refuses him to take the position. Franklin now becomes a symbol for the colonial cause. After the ship The Gasped Is burned, King George Ill orders that all colonial officials had to be appointed by the king. Massachusetts citizens are outraged, and Adams calls for the Colonies to unite.Adams discusses with his wife that a revolution in the colonies now seems unavoidable and imminent. John and Sam Adams visit Thomas and Leash Hutchinson and try to convince them to stop trying to put non- British tea companies out of business, but the attempt is futile. Captain Hall of the ship the Dartmouth witnesses the Boston Tea Party. Upon Hutchinson removal, Thomas Cage Is given his troops along with the governorship of Massachusetts. British troops begin to take control in Boston, and Adams is chosen for the Continental Congress.When the Congress begins its session, Sam Adams fears that conservatives will take control; the Congress also hears reports that the British have destroyed Boston. To Cams relief, the conservative proposals are defeated and the congress ends, but accomplishes little. Lord Chatham meets with Franklin and discusses with him possible solutions to avoid war; later both Chatham and Gage receives a letter that he must arrest the principal actors in the promotion of rebellion. Paul Revere meets with Warren who tells him he must reach Concord to bring the news that the British are coming.Optician and his troops encounter resistance, and they are shot down. In a later battle the rebels faced the kings soldiers and drove them away. Optician, Graves, and Gage meet to discuss the most recent events. John Adams speaks to the chamber and proposes to elect George Washington as commander of the Continental Army. Back in Boston, Gage discusses with Clinton the plan to attack the Charleston peninsula. Warren is shocked to find that the town of Charleston is burning, and the battle of Breeders Hill begins.After the battle, Washington explain to General Ward that even though their men retreated they gave the British much more damage than they took themselves. In a combination of faith and optimism from the conservatives, the Olive Branch Petition was approved and sent to King George. Led by Admiral Graves, the town of Falmouth was burned to the ground by the British. The King rejects the Olive Branch petition. Word begins to spread that Norfolk has Just burned by the British and outrage spreads across the colonies.Washington begins to plan for the next attack, when Henry Knox arrives with a new supply of artillery; he then lays out his plan to his armys leaders, including Greene, Ward, and Knox, and the meeting is left with a rare optimism. At the next meeting of the Continental Congress Henry Lee gives his resolution. Adams, Jefferson, and Lee discuss the draft of the Declaration that Lee had written. It was only Maryland and New York that continued to vote against the Declaration. After Maryland finally decided to support the Declaration, twelve of the thirteen were in support.In the official vote New York delegates abstained from voting until instructed otherwise by their assembly, and the vote was unanimous. Celebration was shared among the colonies. Having a thesis statement may seem unusual for a historical fiction book, since students generally associate thesis statements with essays and term papers. But every writer has a purpose in writing what they write, and Jeff Sahara states his thesis in the To the Reader section before the novel begins. The thesis is, The Revolution itself was about not Just the power of armies, but the power of a people to decide their own future. Shards other purpose was to show the reader that, because of the actions of King George Ill and the British, the Revolution in the colonies was unavoidable. To support his thesis, he shows from several characters perspectives (most notably John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Gage) how the events from the beginning of the Boston Massacre perfectly set everything in motion for the American Revolution. Even as early in the book as chapter 1 1, John Adams discusses with his fife how ever since the Boston Massacre the Revolution is inevitable. Unless there is some radical change, unless some miracle brings these politicians to their senses, there will be a revolution. Sam has been talking about that for years. I thought he was a little insane. But he was only premature. And he was right. Its inevitable. There is no negotiation, no compromise, no reasoning. There are no rules. (Sahara 113) The evidence that the author addresses does support the conclusion, for, like many people predicted, The Declaration of Independence was signed and the Revolution began.Shards treatment of the subject is very convincing and effective, people, he does not include information that a certain character would not know at the time, and makes no references to people or events that have not yet occurred. The author was biased in his point of view, but his bias reflected the point of view of the character. For example in writing as Thomas Gage on page 253, he is excited to hear the news that the principle actors in the Revolution are to be arrested; but as Paul Revere on page 257, he is horrified at the news. 0 God be with you, Paul. You must warn them.Once the British reach Lexington 0 Doctor, I assure you. Ill awaken every man in every farm as I pass. By the time I get to Lexington, all of Massachusetts will know what is happening. (Sahara 259) Sahara does not provide the reader with a bibliography in which sources can be examined, but due to the general acceptance of the novel by critics and historians, there seems to be little chance of any blatantly false facts or ideas. Due to the novels impressive dialogue, carefully constructed characters, and historical accuracy I would say the book does make a contribution to the field of American History.

Alibr Essay Essays

Alibr Essay Essays Alibr Essay Paper Alibr Essay Paper Belonging Essay: â€Å"Sometimes it is hard to balance belonging to a group with keeping one’s own individual identity. † How has your study of the prescribed test and two texts of your own choosing either supported or conflicted with this idea? An essential element of belonging is one’s identity as it provides an understanding of the group to which one belongs. However, it is often difficult to retain one’s individuality while belonging to a particular community. This difficulty is evident in Sara Gavron’s film â€Å"Brick Lane† and Shaun Tan’s â€Å"Stick Figures† (Tales From Outer Suburbia), where both composer’s highlight the loss of individuality as a result of group conformation. In contrast, William Shakespeare’s play â€Å"As You Like It† demonstrates the converse as it highlights that it is possible to balance belonging to group while keeping one’s unique identity. As a result, by comparing the exploration of all three composers, a responder can enhance their understanding of the influences that affect one’s sense of belonging and identity. As one becomes part of a group an understanding of their own unique identity can often be enriched. This is evident in William Shakespeare’s play â€Å"As You like It† through Orlando, whose development of a sense of familial belonging empowers his own self-understanding. This is evident through the contrast between Orlando’s initial dejected state and final sense of status. This is evident through Orlando’s early despondence in the play in â€Å"in this world I fill up a place, which may be better supplied when I have made it empty. The impersonal tone associated with ‘a place’ alludes to Orlando’s own feeling of alienation and isolation as a result of a lack of connection with others. This is reinforced through the hollow connotations of ‘empty’ which accentuate Orlando’s lack of understanding of himself. However, this is contrasted with the conclusion of the play, as Orlando develops his sense of familial belongi ng with his brother Oliver. This sense of empowerment is evident in â€Å"you have my consent† where Orlando’s dominance is evidence through his approval of his brother’s wishes. This emphasises his enhanced status and identity, solely a result of his sense of belonging. As a result it can be seen that it is Orlando’s belonging to a group that nourishes his sense of identity. Antithetically, when a responder considers Sara Gavron’s film â€Å"Brick Lane† the converse of Shakespeare’s exploration becomes prominent. This evident when considering the character of Karim, a London-born Pakistani man. As a result of Karim’s cultural and religious heritage, he experiences a sense of alienation from the wider community as evident in â€Å"Go home Paki! † The derogatory term of ‘Paki’ compounded with the incensed tone created through the exclamation, Gavron demonstrates Karim’s social alienation. It is this isolation that yields his identity as evident in â€Å"this is my home. † The blunt nature of Karim’s statement highlights his resoluteness and confidence with his own unique multicultural self. Despite this, Karim’s identity begins to waver as he becomes part of a Muslim group that fights for understanding. This is evident through the contrast in costuming used by Gavron. Initially, she characterises Karim in a combination of western and Pakistani clothes, but as he joins the group, these western elements begin to disappear. This results in Karim conforming to the dress code of the other group members, implying the loss of his own unique identity as a result of his belonging. Hence, Gavron, unlike Shakespeare emphasises that one’s sense of identity can be lost through their connection with a group. In certain situations it is often difficult to retain a sense of unique identity while being part of a group. This is elucidated in Shaun Tan’s â€Å"Stick Figures† where the Stick Figures are shown to be alienated from their homeland due to industrialization. Tan emphasises that by belonging to this group of isolated individuals, a person can lose their sense of identity in â€Å"faceless clod. † The

American Presidents Who Owned Slaves

American Presidents Who Owned Slaves American presidents have a complicated history with slavery. Four of the first five presidents owned slaves while serving as president. Of the next five presidents, two owned slaves while president and two had owned slaves earlier in life. As late as 1850 an American president was the owner of a large number of slaves while serving in office. This is a look at the presidents who owned slaves. But first, its easy to dispense with the two early presidents who did not own slaves, an illustrious father and son from Massachusetts: The Early Exceptions John Adams:  The second president did not approve of slavery and never owned slaves. He and his wife Abigail were offended when the federal government moved to the new city of Washington and slaves were constructing  public buildings, including their new residence, the Executive Mansion (which we now call the White House). John Quincy Adams:  The son of the second president was a lifelong opponent of slavery. Following his single term as president in the 1820s he served in the House of Representatives, where he was often a vocal advocate for the end of slavery. For years Adams battled against the gag rule, which prevented any discussion of slavery on the floor of the House of Representatives. The Early Virginians Four of the first five presidents were products of a Virginia society in which slavery was a part of everyday life and a major component of the economy. So while Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe were all considered patriots who valued liberty, they all took slavery for granted. George Washington: The first president owned slaves for most of his life, beginning at the age of 11 when he inherited ten enslaved farm workers upon the death of his father. During his adult life at Mount Vernon, Washington relied on a varied workforce of enslaved people. In 1774, the number of slaves at Mount Vernon stood at 119. In 1786, after the Revolutionary War, but before Washingtons two terms as president, there were more than 200 slaves on the plantation, including a number of children. In 1799, following Washingtons tenure as president, there were 317 slaves living and working at Mount Vernon. The changes in slave population are partly due to Washingtons wife, Martha, inheriting slaves. But there are also reports that Washington purchased slaves during that period. For most of Washingtons eight years in office the federal government was based in  Philadelphia. To skirt a Pennsylvania law that would grant a slave freedom if he or she lived within the state for six months, Washington shuttled slaves back and forth to Mount Vernon. When Washington died his slaves were freed according to a provision in his will. However, that did not end slavery at Mount Vernon. His wife owned a number of slaves, which she did not free for another two years. And when Washingtons nephew, Bushrod Washington, inherited Mount Vernon, a new population of slaves lived and worked on the plantation. Thomas Jefferson: It has been calculated  that Jefferson owned more than 600 slaves over the course of his life. At his estate, Monticello, there would have usually been an enslaved population of about 100 people. The estate was kept running by slave gardeners, coopers, nail makers, and even cooks who had been trained to prepare French cuisine prized by Jefferson. It was widely rumored that Jefferson  had a longtime affair with Sally Hemings, a slave who was the half-sister of Jeffersons late wife. James Madison:  The fourth president was born to a slave-owning family in Virginia. He owned slaves throughout his life. One of his slaves, Paul Jennings, lived in the White House as one of Madisons servants while a teenager. Jennings holds an interesting distinction:  a small book he published decades later is considered the first memoir of life in the White House. And, of course, it could also be considered a slave narrative. In A Colored Mans Reminiscences of James Madison, published in 1865, Jennings described Madison in complimentary terms. Jennings provided details about the episode in which objects from the White House, including the famous portrait of George Washington that hangs in the East Room, were taken from the mansion before the British burned it in August 1814. According to Jennings, the works of securing valuables was mostly done by the slaves, not by Dolley Madison. James Monroe:  Growing up on a Virginia tobacco farm, James Monroe would have been surrounded by slaves who worked the land. He inherited a slave named Ralph from his father, and as an adult, at his own farm, Highland, he owned about 30 slaves. Monroe thought colonization, the resettlement of slaves outside the United States, would be the eventual solution to the issue of slavery. He believed in the mission of  the American Colonization Society, which was formed just before Monroe took office. The capitol of Liberia, which was founded by American slaves who settled in Africa, was named Monrovia in honor of Monroe. The Jacksonian Era Andrew Jackson:  During the four years John Quincy Adams lived in the White House, there were no slaves living on the property. That changed when Andrew Jackson, from Tennessee, took office in March 1829.   Jackson harbored  no qualms about slavery. His business pursuits in the 1790s and early 1800s included slave trading, a point later raised by opponents during his political campaigns of the 1820s. Jackson first bought a slave in 1788, while a young lawyer and land speculator. He continued trading slaves, and a considerable part of his fortune would have been his ownership of human property. When he bought his plantation, The Hermitage, in 1804, he brought nine slaves with him. By the time he became president, the slave population, through purchase and reproduction, had grown to about 100. Taking up residence in the Executive Mansion (as the White House was known at the time), Jackson brought household slaves from The Hermitage, his estate in Tennessee.   After his two terms in office, Jackson returned to The Hermitage, where he continued to own a large population of slaves. At the time of his death Jackson owned approximately 150 slaves. Martin Van Buren:  As a New Yorker, Van Buren seems an unlikely slave owner. And, he eventually ran on the ticket of the Free-Soil Party, a political party of the late 1840s opposed to the spread of slavery. Yet slavery had been legal in New York when Van Buren was growing up, and his father owned a small number of slaves. As an adult, Van Buren owned one slave, who escaped. Van Buren seems to have made no effort to locate him. When he was finally discovered after ten years and Van Buren was notified, he allowed him to remain free. William Henry Harrison:  Though he campaigned in 1840 as a frontier character who lived in a log cabin, William Henry Harrison was born at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. His ancestral home had been worked by slaves for generations, and Harrison would have grown up in considerable luxury which was supported by slave labor. He inherited slaves from his father, but owing to his particular circumstances, he did not own slaves for most of his life. As a young son of the family, he  would not inherit the familys land. So Harrison had to find a career, and eventually settled on the military. As military governor of Indiana, Harrison sought to make slavery legal in the territory, but that was opposed by the Jefferson administration. William Henry Harrisons slave-owning was decades behind him by the time he was elected president. And as he died in the White House a month after moving in, he had no impact on the issue of slavery during his very brief term in office. John Tyler:  The man who became president upon Harrisons death was a Virginian who had grown up in a society accustomed to slavery, and who owned slaves while president. Tyler was representative of the paradox, or hypocrisy, of someone who claimed that slavery was evil while actively perpetuating it. During his time as president he owned about 70 slaves who worked on his estate in Virginia. Tylers one term in office was rocky and ended in 1845. Fifteen years later, he participated in efforts to avoid the Civil War by reaching some sort of compromise which would have allowed slavery to continue. After the war began he was elected to the legislature of the Confederate States of America, but he died before he took his seat. Tyler has an unique distinction in American history: As he was actively involved in the rebellion of the slave states when he died, he is the only American president whose death was not observed with official mourning in the nations capital. James K. Polk:  The man whose 1844 nomination as a dark horse candidate surprised even himself was a slave owner from Tennessee. On his estate, Polk owned about 25 slaves. He was seen as being tolerant of slavery, yet not fanatical about the issue (unlike politicians of the day such as South Carolinas John C. Calhoun). That helped Polk secure the Democratic nomination at a time when discord over slavery was beginning to have a major impact on American politics. Polk did not live long after leaving office, and he still owned slaves at the time of his death. His slaves were to be freed when his wife died, though events, specifically the Civil War and the Thirteenth Amendment, interceded to free them long before his wifes death decades later. Zachary Taylor:  The last president to own slaves while in office was a career soldier who had become a national hero in the Mexican War. Zachary Taylor also was a wealthy landowner and he possessed about 150 slaves. As the issue of slavery was beginning to split the nation, he found himself straddling the position of owning a large number of slaves while also seeming to lean against the spread of slavery. The Compromise of 1850, which essentially delayed the Civil War for a decade, was worked out on Capitol Hill while Taylor was president. But he died in office in July 1850, and the legislation really took effect during the term of his successor, Millard Fillmore (a New Yorker who had never owned slaves). After Fillmore, the next president was Franklin Pierce, who had grown up in New England and had no history of slave ownership. Following Pierce, James Buchanan, a Pennsylvanian, is believed to have purchased slaves whom he set free and employed as servants. Abraham Lincolns successor, Andrew Johnson, had owned slaves during his earlier life in Tennessee. But, of course, slavery became officially illegal during his term of office with the ratification of the 13th Amendment. The president who followed Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, had, of course, been a hero of the Civil War. And Grants advancing armies had freed a vast number of slaves during the final years of the war. Yet Grant, in the 1850s, had owned a slave. In the late 1850s, Grant lived with his family at White Haven, a Missouri farm which belonged to his wifes family, the Dents. The family had owned slaves who worked on the farm, and in the 1850s about 18 slaves were living on the farm. After leaving the Army, Grant managed the farm.  And he acquired one slave, William Jones, from his father in law (there are conflicting accounts about how that came to happen). In 1859 Grant freed Jones.