Friday, March 20, 2020

Free Essays on Interpetation Of Blakes Poems

The Human Abstract Blake’s poem, The human abstract, is a touching poem which attributes selfishness, cruelty, and other flaws on human nature. Blake goes on show how change can come about through finding of god. Once god is found, and holy fear sets in, the actions of deceit change and humility takes root. The poem starts with a series of short lessons. â€Å"Pity would be no more, if we did not make somebody poor; he continues â€Å"And mercy no more could be, if all were as happy as we.† Blake’s poem suggests human nature is responsible. By stealing, we are responsible for making people poor and by deceit we cheat people out of happiness. Blake’s poem follows up with more human flaws, â€Å"Then cruelty knits a snare, and spreads his baits with care.† This means to say if one holds a grudge, the negative feeling will eventually lead to expression through action. This yet again demonstrates the human nature. Blake, after exposing human sinful nature now comes to shows us the path of change through the fear of god. Blake now illustrates a person hitting bottom and discovers holy fears. â€Å"He sits down with holy fears, and waters the ground with tears; then humility takes its root underneath his foot.† Once he discover god he repents and humility takes root. This is to say one realizes his behavior and changes is unholy actions. He then goes on to say how one is mystified by God. â€Å"Soon spreads the dismal shade of mystery over his head; and the caterpillar and fly feed on the mystery.† This passage illustrates clearly the mystery of god by how a caterpillar transforms to a butterfly. There’s a simple lesson Blake is trying to teach us through this his poem. That is that people are really good. It’s just Human nature that sometimes leads us astray to fulfill our own selfish needs. Once we realize there’s a god and that he watches our every action, only then will the holy fear set in and bring about a... Free Essays on Interpetation Of Blakes Poems Free Essays on Interpetation Of Blakes Poems The Human Abstract Blake’s poem, The human abstract, is a touching poem which attributes selfishness, cruelty, and other flaws on human nature. Blake goes on show how change can come about through finding of god. Once god is found, and holy fear sets in, the actions of deceit change and humility takes root. The poem starts with a series of short lessons. â€Å"Pity would be no more, if we did not make somebody poor; he continues â€Å"And mercy no more could be, if all were as happy as we.† Blake’s poem suggests human nature is responsible. By stealing, we are responsible for making people poor and by deceit we cheat people out of happiness. Blake’s poem follows up with more human flaws, â€Å"Then cruelty knits a snare, and spreads his baits with care.† This means to say if one holds a grudge, the negative feeling will eventually lead to expression through action. This yet again demonstrates the human nature. Blake, after exposing human sinful nature now comes to shows us the path of change through the fear of god. Blake now illustrates a person hitting bottom and discovers holy fears. â€Å"He sits down with holy fears, and waters the ground with tears; then humility takes its root underneath his foot.† Once he discover god he repents and humility takes root. This is to say one realizes his behavior and changes is unholy actions. He then goes on to say how one is mystified by God. â€Å"Soon spreads the dismal shade of mystery over his head; and the caterpillar and fly feed on the mystery.† This passage illustrates clearly the mystery of god by how a caterpillar transforms to a butterfly. There’s a simple lesson Blake is trying to teach us through this his poem. That is that people are really good. It’s just Human nature that sometimes leads us astray to fulfill our own selfish needs. Once we realize there’s a god and that he watches our every action, only then will the holy fear set in and bring about a...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Gukurahundi -- Attempted Genocide in Zimbabwe

Gukurahundi Attempted Genocide in Zimbabwe Gukurahundi refers to the attempted genocide of the Ndebele by Robert Mugabes Fifth Brigade soon after Zimbabwe gained independence. Beginning in January 1983, Mugabe waged a campaign of terror against the people in Matabeleland in the western part of the country. The Gukurahundi massacres are one of the darkest times in the country’s history since its independence between 20,000 and 80,000 civilians were killed by the Fifth Brigade. History of the Shona and Ndebele There have long been strong feelings between the majority Shona people of Zimbabwe and the Ndebele people in the south of the country. It dates back to the early 1800s when the Ndebele were pushed from their traditional lands in what is now South Africa by the Zulu and Boer. The Ndebele arrived in what is now known as Matabeleland, and in turn pushed out or required tribute from the Shona living in the region. Independence Comes to Zimbabwe Independence came to Zimbabwe under the leadership of two distinct groups: the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (Zapu) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu). Both had emerged from the National Democratic Party in the early 60s. ZAPU was led by Joshua Nkomo, a Ndebelel nationalist. ZANU was led by the Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, a Ndau, and Robert Mugabe, a Shona. Mugabe's Rise Mugabe quickly rose to prominence and gained the post of prime minister on independence. Joshua Nkomo was given a ministerial post in Mugabes cabinet, but was removed from office in February 1982 he was accused of planning to overthrow Mugabe. At the time of independence, North Korea offered to train Zimbabwes army and Mugabe agreed. More than 100 military experts arrived and began work with the Fifth Brigade. These troops were then deployed in Matabeleland, ostensibly to crush pro-Nkomo ZANU forces, who were, of course, Ndebele. Early Rain That Washes Away Chaff Gukurahundi, which in Shona means early rain that washes away chaff, lasted for four years. It was mostly brought to an end when Mugabe and Nkomo reached a conciliation on December  22, 1987, and they signed a unity agreement. Although thousands were killed in Matabeleland and the southeast of Zimbabwe, there was little international recognition of the extensive human rights abuses (called by some an attempted genocide). It was 20 years before a report was undertaken by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and the Legal Resources Foundation of Harare. The Explicit Orders of Mugabe Mugabe has revealed little since the 1980s and what he has said was a mixture of denial and obfuscation, as reported in 2015 by TheGuardian.com in the article New documents claim to prove Mugabe ordered Gukurahundi killings. The closest he came to officially taking responsibility was after Nkomo died in 1999.  Mugabe then described the early 1980s as a â€Å"moment of madness† – an unclear statement that he has never repeated. During an interview with a South African talk show host, Mugabe blamed the Gukurahundi murders on armed bandits that were coordinated by Zapu and a few Fifth Brigade soldiers. However, recorded correspondence from his colleagues reveals that in fact â€Å"not only was Mugabe fully aware of what was going on† but the Fifth Brigade was acting â€Å"under Mugabe’s explicit orders.†