The Institute Of Professional Sociologists Nigeria Essay Example for Free

The Institute Of Professional Sociologists Nigeria Essay Ever since Africa became a continent, most of her problems have been policy and policy management. First, it was the colonial policy makers who introduced the Indirect Rule system (as was the case of British colonial Administration) and the assimilation policy system (as was the case of the French colonial Administration).The Colonial masters adopted these policies largely because of administrative convenience and nothing more. They did not consider the social structure, the culture or the social thought of the African people. And it was little wonder that these policies left the continents in utter disarray. The people are still living under the burden of their consequences. The next anathema was the post-colonial imperialist policies that we term ‘Divide and Rule’. Many of the foreign policies relating to Africa in the past five decades fall within this spectrum. Today most policy makers, Governments and government apparatus in Africa seem to follow the trend of the colonial masters when formulating their policies .a case in point is the last fuel increment or subsidy removal in Nigeria. The people vehemently resisted the policy even if it were to their benefit. They would not want to know any long term or short term benefits or whatsoever. As long as the governments would not want to be people-centric, their policies will always meet with ardent resistance. Most policy finds their way through to the people who have little or no knowledge of the social thought or social systems as do the social scientists. Many politicians rely on armchair theorizing about what and what would or would not work. A policy made by a trial and error methodology does much harm, its makes the people as it were, a laboratory rat. Men are not rats and no one government or Authority should ever treat its people like one. That a particular ideas worked somewhere in the world, do not mean it can work else where. Man is enigmatic and so complex. Culture varies from place to place and globalization will not stop that. The differences among people may create the conflicts of interest, ethnic differences, xenophobia,’ we and they’ factors etc. However when properly perceived these seeming difference is a grand design of what forms the social systems, social thoughts, and the social structure of a people. If culture is a way of life of a people, which involves foods, clothing, Knowledge, idea etc why should someone force an Amala, or Tuwo (Local foods in Nigeria) into the throat of an Asian man? Who don’t know how they are made or how they are eaten? Meanwhile this is exactly what the colonial masters did. The indirect rule system and the system of Assimilation were forced through to the people, regardless they accepted it or not. And most Government in Africa inherited this ‘force it through attitude’. Their policies are tested on the people who they see as lab rats. And they are forced to accept it, whether they like it or not, whether it is compactable with their social systems or not. And because muscle and whips are exacted, the people accept it with malicious obedience. They accept the policy but break the rules. And as those who make these policies do all they can to make it work, those whom it is supposedly made for live how they have ever lived, and is making it not work. We now have is a cycle that has left the continent undeveloped for decades. The ways we proffer here are not exhaustive, as there are all other ways to solve the problem of underdevelopment in Africa. Meanwhile we present hereunder these measures that may revolutionize governance in Africa. The concept of research is almost alien to most African politicians. They wonder why their counterpart in the occidental and oriental worlds succeeds, and yet never know that research is the key to development. Social research in Africa is mostly either not founded or they are not encouraged. Worst still is the fact that most studies are being piloted by international donor/organizations who found these researches for their own sake. And their findings, whether real or doctored, becomes the only available data for all to peruse. If we most move ahead in Africa, governments and other agencies most begin to fund and pioneer research not just for its own sake, but for the sake of national or continental development . Social scientists are not just a group of academic puppets or parakeets as most politicians think. They have a good role to play in societal engineering, especially in developing societies of Africa. Instead of using the people as lab rats, the politician could use the knowledge and research ability of the social scientist, to orchestrate a pilot study or even a laboratory experiment for intended policies before they can be tagged a public policy. However the social scientist must avoid the temptation of using research as a propaganda tool. Rather He/she must hold sacrosanct the ethical value of the profession, and the confidence the people lay on him/her as a custodian of the social systems.

Comparing the American Dream of The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Nigh

  Ã‚   When the first settlers came to America many years ago, they found freedom and opportunity.   With hard work and determination an average man or woman could be prosperous.   This concept was not only revolutionary in theory, but has proven to be true for many successful individuals. This idea has come to be known as the American Dream. Its foundation was based on good ethics; however, with the passing of time it has become distorted.   The American Dream no longer stands for equal opportunity and hard work; it involves wealth, false happiness, materialistic possessions and high social status.   Individuals who have achieved the materialistic American Dream give the appearance of perfection.   However, for many, their lives are not as ideal as what they seem.   Issues such as sexual abuse, mental illness, alcoholism, adultery, greed and restlessness, affect the lives of even those who appear to live the American Dream.   In F. Scott Fitzgerald?s novels, The Grea t Gatsby and Tender is the Night, the characters Daisy Buchanan and Nicole Diver give the appearance of a charmed existence, but it is in fact flawed. Their apparently perfect but actually flawed lives are shown in their childhood, their marriages, their adult lives and their past relationships.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Daisy Buchanan was raised in a wealthy American family, and had the appearance of a perfect upbringing.   In reality, Daisy did live a ? white? (The Great Gatsby 20) childhood, pure and innocent.   In fact, her childhood was so ideal that even her friend, Jordan Baker commented, The largest of the banners and the largest of the lawns belonged to Daisy Fay?s house.   She was just eighteen, two years older than me [Jordan], and by far the most popular of all the young gir... ... what novel to look up.   Also, page number does not need the (p.). 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If you are using a quote four lines or longer, the quote should be separated from your text by indenting each line of the quote. The quote then does not need quotation marks. The indentation is enough to signal a quote. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Your thesis statement should be more detailed.   List exactly what you are going to discuss within your paper.   You have paragraphs concerning, Nicole and Daisy?s childhood, their marriage, their adult life and their past relationships.   All of these should be included in your thesis statement.   Their apparently perfect but actually flawed lives are shown in their childhood, their marriages, their adult lives and their past relationships.   This way, your reader will know what to expect from your paper.   Overall you have a strong paper that is well organized.   

Desert Solitaire: a Season in the Wilderness

The author of the book Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey, talked frequently throughout the book about the beauty of nature and ways that human beings are destroying the natural beauty of the world we live in. The way abbey views nature is in a way that is best experienced by actually being out in nature, taking a hike, horseback riding, or bicycling. He believes that people who use the luxury of their cars on camping trip will not get to experience everything that nature has to offer. Abbey sees the beauty of the natural world in a way that most human beings are unable to because they do not spend time exploring nature.From the very beginning of the book Abbey shows his love for nature and all his creatures when he befriends and gopher snake. Or when he was is in awe of the old moon-eyed horse’s wild manner, independence, and beauty. To stand by his love for nature he says â€Å"I prefer not to kill animals. I’m a humanist; I’d rather kill a man than a snake. † (pg. 20) Abbey believes that humans are destroying the beauty and wonder of nature and he is upset when he finds out they are planning to build a major road through Arches National Park.Abbey believes industrial tourism is becoming a bigger problem to all national parks. In abbey’s opinion he thinks motor vehicles should be prohibited on the grounds of any national monument. â€Å" we have agreed not to drive our automobiles into cathedrals, to concert halls, art museums†¦we should treat our national parks with the same deference, for they, too, are holy places† (pg. 65). Abbey believes that the only way to truly experience the beauty of nature is to walk through, bike ride through, or horseback ride through.As said before abbey is a humanist and has not sympathy for the elderly who travel to national parks for vacations, he says they â€Å"had the opportunity to see the country when it was still relatively unspoiled† (pg. 67). He also has no sympathy fo r children who are â€Å"too small to ride bicycles and too heavy to be borne on their parents’ backs. † (pg. 67) Abbey is able to see nature in a way that most people cannot. Most humans tend to overlook the little things, but abbey will see the beauty in it.Many people think rocks are dirty and ugly but abbey finds beauty in just their names, â€Å"the very names lovely – chalcedony, carnelian, jasper†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 74). While looking at the Delicate Arch most people would see it as just a big arch made out of rocks. But to abbey it is so much more than that. He compares it to â€Å"eroded remnant of a sandstone fin, a giant engagement ring cemented in rock, a bow legged pair of petrified cowboy chaps†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 44). Some people who view the Delicate Arch will find God while exploring, others will â€Å"†¦see only Lyell and the uniformity of nature† (pg. 5). To abbey the Delicate Arch and other objects of nature â€Å"remind us that out there is a different world, older and greater and deeper by far than ours†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 45) Even though nature is beautiful, calm, and serene it also has another side that is harsh, violent, and cruel. Abbey experiences this side of nature with blazing heat, sand storms, and a flash flood.When he find a dead tourist underneath a tree, which shows just how cruel the desert can be. But according to abbey the man was fortunate to have died the way he did, he envies him. To die in the open under the sky†¦before this desert vastness opening like a window onto eternity – surely that was an overwhelming stroke of rare good luck† (pg. 267). For abbey to envy the man for dying that way is another example of his love for nature. Most people would look at that situation as sad and unfortunate, but abbey sees the beauty and peace in it. Abbey also experiences the cruelness of nature when he himself is forced to spend the night alone in Havasu. Mother Nature can be a v ery cruel and evil woman who does not have sympathy for anyone.If a person is unfortunate enough to see this side of Mother Nature it can only lead to a sad ending. â€Å"Fatal. Death by starvation, slow and tedious. † (pg. 253) While most people have comes to enjoy the luxury and comfort of an industrialized society, Abbey has chosen to live the life opposite of luxurious and easy. He would rather rough it out in the desert than big in an air conditioned office. Abbey has experienced nature in a way most people will never have the opportunity to. He sees the world for what it was mean to be, all nature, nothing else.

Overview of the Four Islands of Japan