Irish Troubles Political Cartoons: An Analysis

Irish Troubles Political Cartoons: An Analysis The political cartoons about the Irish troubles drawn by a number of prominent cartoonists in the early 1970s differed sharply from the cartoons produced by artists during the peace process in the 1990s. Arguably this could be down to a number of factors. Firstly, cartoonists in the 1970s were much more likely to attack specific groups of people – the Irish themselves have been targets of British supremacist derision for several hundred years, and have been depicted in a derogatory light in cartoons since cartoons were first printed. Second, the situation was considerably more grave in the 1970s than it was in the 1990s – although the IRA were still established and effective in the 1990s, the 1970s saw the most bloodshed, and therefore, it must have been very difficult to perceive what was a complex and (to some) ridiculous situation in Ireland without knocking the Irish for propagating and sustaining this idea of religious sectarianism. The complex political situation in Ireland that had arisen as a result of four hundred years of religious complexity between the dominant British Protestant landowners, who held the political reins, and the oppressed Irish Catholics, ultimately had a great impact on the British interpretation of the Irish throughout the generations, and also upon the representation of the English in Irish journalistic literature and art. Thus, a particular view of the Irish came to be represented in the British media, which tended to emerge whenever there were specific troubles within Ireland or else among the Irish in Britain. These stereotypes, especially of the Irish, can be said to be at their most potent during the time of the political troubles in Ireland. The resultant swathe of political cartoons that were printed on a regular basis in the daily newspapers in both Ireland and Britain, particularly during the political unrest and violence of the early 1970s, tended to push the Irish into a subcategory of their own, denied of their identity as autonomous individuals, subjected and represented by a more dominant political force, namely, the English. The history of the cartoon in respect of this tradition of Irish caricaturing is interesting, as it reveals a rich history of treating the Irishman as a figure of derision and ridicule – however, it is more interesting to note that this figure changed throughout the years and, especially with the increase of militancy among the grass-roots of Irish working class communities, saw the emergence of the cartoon depiction of the Irishman as a simian, bestial, uncivilised caricature, often wielding knifes and other implements, and driven by a fervid passion to kill, much like zombies from a horror film. The history of political cartoons goes back to the eighteenth century. However, technological developments in photography changed the nature of cartoons at the turn of the century, in many ways shaping the type of cartoon we see in newspapers nowadays: Fitzgerald, in Art and Politics (1973) argues that: â€Å"[The photograph] simply replicated the surface structure of life; it did not normally give it a depth of interpretation or meaning.† Thus, the photograph didnt entirely remove the need for the political cartoon, and in a sense, established the medium of the cartoon as a more biting representation of political and social malaises: â€Å"The political cartoon on the other hand sought to disrupt daily life, to make jokes and stage whispers and asides at the process if everyday life. [] The political cartoon was by its nature more subversive [than the photograph].† So, the nature of the political cartoon is to satirize and to comment upon, using visual imagery and caricature, the complexities of the cartoonists imagination / ideological persuasions. The effect of satirising political situations, and the placing of topical events into the medium of the cartoon, at least according to the cartoonists themselves, is largely arbitrary in its effect on the population: â€Å"Measuring the extent of the cartoonists influence on public opinion is a much more difficult, if not impossible task. [] Many cartoonists are [] dubious about its power.† Conversely, however, governments have always stepped in to control the production and the distribution of subversive cartoons. This suggests that they do possess a certain amount of impact when discussing or lampooning political leaders and people of significance: â€Å"French caricaturists of the 1830s who dared mock King Louis Philippe were fined and imprisoned; New York cartoonists criticisms of municipal corruption prompted government officials to attempt to pass an anti-cartoon law in 1897; and even in the modern era, when political cartoonists are prizes rather than prison sentences, satirists in totalitarian states have suffered harsh censure.† Indeed, some of the more subversive work of cartoonists have frequently stirred up controversy, especially concerning the representation of the Irish in British cartoons. In â€Å"The Irish†, by cartoonist for the Evening Standard, JAK, the representation of the Irish caused controversy that, with Ken Livingstones recent â€Å"Nazi† comments about the Evening Standard, continues to plague the political scene today: â€Å"none can excuse the fact that [The Irish] represents one of the most appalling examples of anti-Irish cartoon racism since the Victorian era. [] As a result of complaints made by many people in Britain, the Greater London Council, under its leader Ken Livingstone, withdrew its advertising from the Standard and demanded a full apology, which was refused.† The cartoon itself equates the Irish with death and barbarism, with the words: â€Å"The Ultimate in Psychopathic Horror: The Irish†. Although angered by the IRA bombings and the killing of innocents, this inability to describe the political complexities of the Irish, reducing them instead to a monstrous racial stereotype, not altogether unique in the cartoons of the time, tends to simplify, and thus promote Irish resentment during the period. However, in the second period I will be discussing in this piece, namely the late 1990s, the cartoons drawn by people like Martyn Turner during the peace process of the John Major and Tony Blair governments differ wildly from this tendency to demonise and / or denigrate the entire nation of Ireland – instead the cartoonists eye is drawn to subversive representations of the bureaucracy and the players within that complex and impenetrable political chess game that the Irish peace process became in the eyes of the public. The cartoons drawn, generally, seem less provoked by Irish or British resentment, and more represent a more benign form of political satire, that being the politics of government rather than the (sometimes militaristic) persuasions of the Irish population. The crude and hurtful Irish stereotype as barbaric, brutish and stupid are discarded – instead, the governmental players are the main focus for the satirists eye. There was a period in the early 1970s when an impending civil war in Ireland seemed inevitable, with clashes between British paramilitary and Loyalist groups in a state of near-war. â€Å"A number of paramilitary organisations were formed in Protestant working-class areas to counter-balance the activities of the Provisionals and carry out attacks on Catholic areas. As the IRA increased its campaign of shootings and bombings, 1972 became the most violent year of the Troubles with 467 deaths in Northern Ireland, 321 of which were civilian casualties.† The work of the cartoonists of the period assumed a similarly grave and polemical nature, as often the caricaturists and the cartoonists of the period would be divided between Catholic / Protestant, as well as down British / Irish lines. The problems with British intervention as â€Å"peacekeepers† culminated in the â€Å"Bloody Sunday† massacre of 30 January 1972, where British troops opened fire on unarmed catholic protesters: â€Å"It was in January 1972 that the British Army shot and killed thirteen civilians in Derry, writing another disaster into Anglo-Irish history. Bloody Sunday, as it was called, was commemorated twenty years later in 1992 with bitterness and anger.† The representation of the British paramilitary presence in Ireland divided cartoonists, and the culmination of the supposed folly of British intervention in Northern Ireland reached boiling point with Bloody Sunday. Thus, politics and ideology in 1970s reached such a stage that generalisation and ignorance about the Irish situation abounded, signalling a return to the grotesque caricaturing seen in Punch in Victorian times. The political complexities, difficult as they were to sum up in a simple argument, were thus heavily simplified by a number of British cartoonists, and this gross simplification often led to the demonisation of the Irish as a whole. This is demonstrated by both the cartoons of Cummings and in the highly controversial cartoon, â€Å"The Irish†, printed in the Evening Standard, in which all Irish citizens are tarred with the same brush. Again this differs greatly from the work of Martyn Turner, who I will focus on in greater depth; his cartoons are steeped in the complexities of the Irish situation, the bureaucratic and political turmoil of the Irish peace process in the 1990s, and its eventual resolution in a ceasefire. Thus, the body of Martyn Turners work in a sense tells us how the political cartoon, especially the market for this particular brand of political cartoon has changed from representing the opinion of the ignorant masses, to enlightening and stimulating an informed few. Martyn Turner strays away from the traditions of social stereotyping, choosing instead to focus on the political bureaucracy and its many players. His cartoons are effective on a number of distinct levels, and his work is predominantly concerned with satirizing political institutions and their players, rather than making sweeping and hurtful gestures about a whole group of people. Especially from the overtly racist work of the 1970s, we see a resurgence of the Irishman as a simian stereotype, who is either drawn to carnage and violence, or else is too stupid to conduct his own affairs with any degree of control. In Cummings work of the early 1970s, we see the Irish represented as racial stereotypes. In this dissertation, I will look firstly at the development of this stereotype, how it developed from an idealised representation of Ireland in the 18th century, to the myth of stupid, impulsive, apelike creatures in publications such as Punch in the mid-nineteenth century. From this I will then turn to representations of the Irish (and of the British involvement in Ireland) in the 1970s, looking especially at pieces of work that explicitly and blatantly attack Irish culture, using a stereotype that is both broadly racist, the only effect of which is to emphasise the lack of understanding and the bigotry in which a great swathe of British citizenry lived. History of Stereotypes in Cartoons James Gillray (1757-1815) is widely reputed as being the first great British cartoonist. In his work, the notion of the Irish as simian tends to prevail, and they, along with the French, are seen as barbaric, stupid, tokens of â€Å"otherness† that one tends to associate with any representation of a minority and / or, a barbaric outsider. In â€Å"United Irishmen upon Duty†, printed on 12 June 1798, Gillray attacks the dissident Irishmen: â€Å"It depicts the rebel United Irishmen as mere agents of destruction and pillage, without political or moral principles. [] The cartoon is one of several in which Gillray simianises the belligerent Irish.† Thus, the reduction of the Irish to bestial stereotypes has a long history, that frequently makes a return whenever there is a reason for projecting hatred or condescension onto the Irish nation. In â€Å"Paddy on Horseback†, Gillray encapsulates the view of the Irish as stupid. In the picture, the Irishman has unkempt hair and a protruding jaw, however, he still possesses human, rather than simian features: OConnor suggests that: â€Å"The early cartoons from the 18th century are openly racist, portraying the Irish as ignorant peasants barefoot, ragged and thick.† Indeed, the image of the Irishman as a figure to poke fun at, and to label as the typical â€Å"fool† of caricature continues in a rich vein in British cartoons dating from this period. Slightly later, George Cruikshank uses the Irish to poke fun at. In â€Å"The Two Irish Labourers†, which features two Irishmen climbing a ladder and getting mixed up, â€Å"George Cruikshank [] illustrates the antiquity of the English view of the Irish as objects of laughter and derision.† This cartoon isnt political in its persuasion, but merely points out that, traditionally, and as the millions of jokes and put-downs featuring Irishmen in the punchline, the Irish could be used effectively to represent a typical stupid or ignorant person, who gets things mixed up or wrong. Thus, the re-emergence of these traditional Irish representations in the 1970s, when contextualised in a rich history of Irish racism, isnt particularly surprising. Punch magazine, published in the 1840s, became widely famous for its derogatory representation of the Irish as silly, warmongering, and ignorant, and signalled another re-emergence of this historical Irish stereotype, this time, and thanks to the scientific identification of racial stereotypes, the Irishman became more linked to representations of the Negro in mass art than to the civilised, aristocratic Brit. Thus, in Harpers weekly in 1898, the Negro, with protruding jaw, upturned nose and large eyes, according to this very subjective illustration, actually equates the perception of the Irishman with the perception of the Negro. By contrast, the profile of an â€Å"Anglo-Teutonic† appears in the centre, and, with long nose, strong jawline and fairer hair, appears less simian in appearance. This representation of the Irishman as a Negro, who is frequently seen as being untrustworthy, rapacious and animalistic in persuasion, is resurrected by a number of cartoonists in the 1970s as an ideal way of explaining, or at least glossing over the complex nature of the Irish situation. In â€Å"What was so marvellous† by Cummings, he represents the current political situation in Ireland as a n exercise in British colonialism. Edward Heath and, then Home Secretary Reginald Maudling sit at a desk with a soldier on top of a map of Ireland. In the background, a soldier is seen walking through India, Cyprus, Kenya and Malaya. The caption underneath reads: â€Å"What was so marvellous about the rest of the British Commonwealth was that we could always leave it.† The superiority with which Cummings regards Britain in relation to Ireland is striking, insofar as it essentially depicts Ireland as a dispossessed, colonized country, and glosses over the significant problems that the presence of British troops in Ireland actually caused. Of course, this view has some historical significance. The governing elite in Ireland following the invasion in 1690 laid the foundations for a Protestant Ireland for nearly two centuries, and those in charge of Irish affairs were essentially protestants descended from English colonialists, using parliament to enact stifling and repressive legislation against the catholics, which culminated in removing the right for catholics to own land. This of course led up to the potato famine, which killed millions. Thus, the colonialist implications of Cummings cartoon flippantly portrays a reality in a fairly hurtful and bitter way. In Apes and Angels, an overview of how the caricature developed in British cartooning, Curtis Jr. suggests that: â€Å"During the first two-thirds of the nineteenth century the stereotypical Paddy or Teague of English cartoon and caricature underwent a significant change. In sharp contrast to the regular, even handsome features of the wild Irishman or woodkern of the Elizabethan and early Stuart period, such as may be found in abundance in John Derrickes The Image of Irelande, with a discoverie of Woodkarne, first published in 1581, and different too, from the brutish, slovenly faces of Irish peasants appearing in prints dating from the reign of George III, the dominant Victorian stereotype of Paddy looked far more like an ape than a man.† This reduction of the Irishman to animal is one that begins to return sporadically when the political situation gets grave once again in the 1970s. In these cartoons, often the complexity of the political situation is whitewashed, or else no attempt whatsoever is made to describe the Irish problem in terms of satire or a representation of different sectors of Irish society: conveniently, the Irish are placed into one single melting-pot, with no distinction or difference made between Catholicism, Protestantism, or of any of the different groups or classes that were at play in the turmoil that led up to bloody Sunday. Curtis Jr. suggests that the sudden stereotyping of the Irish may have been as a result of politics of a different type – namely, immigration: â€Å"There was nothing specifically Irish about a projecting lower jaw until the 1840s, when thousands of Irish immigrants were pouring into England and Scotland, most of them destitute and many of them diseased.† So, much like modern views and prejudices surrounding asylum seekers, as well as Jews in the 1930s, the right-wing presses also found their target in Victorian times, namely, the Irish. This introduction of class into the issue adds another level of complexity to the issue. Often, the fighting Irishmen are seen crammed together into terrace houses, itself a sign of working-class life and a form of living regarded by the more middle-class newspapers as being inherently intolerable, just as their barbarity was regarded as stupid, brash and ignorant in Victorian issues of Punch. Thus, Curtis Jr., says that â€Å"The antecedents of this stereotype were just as widespread as the conviction in England and Scotland that the Irish were inherently inferior and quite unfit t o manage their own affairs.† Indeed, the superimposition of ideas onto the Irish is in itself exacerbated by the caricaturing of the entirity of the Irish race, essentially robbing them of the individuality of their own voices and subsequently their own autonomy. Punch magazine spearheaded a movement to caricature and derogate the Irish in cartoons: â€Å"it soon became clear that Irishmen, in particular the more politicized among then, were the favourite target of both writers and cartoonists. Marion H. Spielmann, the chronicler of Punch, wrote that the comic weekly acquired a reputation for being anti-Irish during and after the 1850s.† An example of this anti-Irish sentiment can be found in John Leechs â€Å"Young Ireland in Business for Himself† (August 22, 1846), in which a grotesque monster sells blunderbusss next to the sign â€Å"pretty little pistols for pretty little children.† Thus, we are given the preconception that the Irish are violent, stupid and ugly. In John Tenniels â€Å"The Irish Frankenstein†, a sophisticated, British man tries to stave off a giant beast holding a bloodied knife. Thus, the bestial, simian qualities of the caricature emerge. This is especially pointed when the Irishman begins to demand autonomy: â€Å"When Irishman turned to political agitation and began to demand an end to British rule, then Punch changed his tune, and, according to Spielmann, the artists began to picture the Irish political outrage-mongering peasant as a cross between a garrotter and a gorilla.† Thus, perhaps the simionisation of the Irish stereotype is more as a result of the politicisation of the Irish working-class, which presumably the British cartoonist, especially one working for Punch, a deeply conservative publication, would feel threatened by. Thus, we have to also consider notions of class, as well as racial stereotyping: â€Å"The only Celt to be flattered and admired by Punchs cartoonists was Hibernia, the intensely feminine symbol of Ireland, whose haunting beauty conveyed some of the sufferings of the Irish people. In The Fenian-Pest, published in Punch on March 3, 1866, Hibernia turns to her sister, Brittania as a grotesque, derogatory rendition of an Irishman peers at her with animalistic desire. Wallach suggests that: â€Å"Tenniel, depicts the rebellious Irishmen, those troublesome people, as ape-like and unkempt. The main Irish character glares menacingly at Britannia, with his mouth agape and a sword-like weapon partially concealed under his coat. Behind him are other Fenians, chaotically amassed and presumably anxious to make trouble. Here the stereotype of Irishmen as violent, simian and disorganized reveals itself.† Indeed it is interesting the Hibernia, the only character that is celebrated in Punch, or at least not attacked on grounds of racial profiling, is one that is divorced from the traditionally masculine realm of political persuasion. In this particular cartoon, she is seen in the pose of desperately running from the Irish monster, and this traditional of derogation of the Irishman, especially the politicised Irishman, continues throughout history, making a controversial reappearance during the political conflicts of the 1970s. Cummings, who drew cartoons in the 1970s for the Daily Express, uses similar prejudices to generate humour in a situation regarded by the British as increasingly confused. In â€Å"Were pagan missionaries†, Cummings depicts a group of pagans, coming over the sea and saving the Irish from their imminent self-destruction. The caption at the bottom reads: â€Å"Were Pagan missionaries come to try and make peace among the bloodthirsty Christians.† The Irishmen are shown crammed together, on the opposite sides of a terrace block, and details include a lop-sided dustbin, and a sign in the middle of the street, reading: â€Å"Cage: To keep the wild animals apart.† Again we return to the generally held perception of Irishmen as a race of sub-human animals: â€Å"The Cummings cartoon reflects this British incomprehension in its depiction of primitive tribesmen arriving to reconcile the barbarous Irish, who seem intent on tearing each other apart. The racist implication is that black, presumably African, tribesmen are more civilised than the Christian Northern Irish, who have now slipped below even primitive pagans in their innate barbarity.† Thus, Cummings seems to extract his political humour mainly from the use of stereotype and conceptions of otherness. The British army is seen ironically as a pagan tribe, which obviously alludes to the primitive tribes that the Britishers colonised in the past. Therefore, the Irish are depicted as being even more primitive than this. Cummings cartoon ideas are steeped in the long tradition of pompous anti-Irish cartoons and jokes. â€Å"The cartoon [] reinforces stereotypical notions of the Irish as violent and blacks as primitive, and makes no attempt to convey any understanding of the underlying causes of conflict other than religious bigotry.† This is a reflection of a commonly held view about the political situation in Ireland. It seemed baffling to some of the British that two essentially Christian religions should be fighting, and the cartoons by Cummings highlights this innate superiority that the British has by portraying itself as heroes in trying to resolve the Irish conflict. Similarly, Cummings sides again with the British army in â€Å"How Marvellous it would be†, printed in the Daily Express, on 12 August 1970. Cummings naively treats the British influence in Ireland as completely benign. A beaten up solider stands between two monsters, one of which is wearing a t-shirt called â€Å"Ulster Catholics†, the other called â€Å"Ulster Protestants†. They run for each other, as the soldier, more diminutive in presence and, in case we didnt know his nationality, sports a Union Jack on his forehead. Over his head towers a plethora of miscellany – socks, broken bottles and rocks again, the two warring factions are apelike, bestial and violent in nature. The caption underneath reads â€Å"How marvellous it would be if they DID knock each other insensible!†. Thus, the patronising and condescending nature of the cartoon asserts itself more. â€Å"The implication underlying both cartoons is that the irrational nature of the Irish question can only be explained through some form of racial madness.† Indeed, the racial implications, coupled with the inability, or reluctance to try and articulate and represent the complexities of the Irish situation in an easily digestible format, assists in depriving Ireland of a voice – of seeing Ireland and the Irish as a colonised island, once more exacerbating catholic (and protestant – the shifting of parliament to Westminster had the effect of causing offence to both Unionists and building support in working class catholic areas for the I.R.A.) tensions; furthermore adding support to the notion that Britain was indeed an occupying force in Ireland, and that the only means from which the British could be removed from Ireland was through paramilitary force. Cummings later said that the IRAs violence â€Å"make them look like apes – though thats rather hard luck on the apes.† Of course, Cummings views on the IRA, their uses of violence and barbarism would never be particularly popular, but Cummings doesnt even try to consider their opinions, and lowers himself instead to racial stereotyping and bigotry. The cartoon by Cummings is rendered especially naà ¯ve by the events of Bloody Sunday. Of course, this stereotype has been resurrected many times since the 18th century, but, during Victorian times something in particular happened to the representation of the Irishman. According to Douglas, R., et al.: â€Å"The equation between militant Irish nationalism and a savage bestial nature achieved its apogee [] in the Punch cartoons of the Victorian era.† And this bestial nature was resurrected whenever war or conflict required an easily categorised and common enemy. Certainly the most politically controversial cartoon drawn during the Anglo-Irish conflict was â€Å"The Irish† by JAK, for the Evening Standard on 29 October 1982. In it, a bystander is seen looking at an enormous billboard poster. It says: â€Å"Emerald Isle snuff movies present the ultimate in psychopathic horror†, then in enormous letters underneath, â€Å"The Irish†. The image seems designed to both shock and to reinforce the traditional stereotype of the Irish as bestial and bloodthirsty. A horde of Irish stereotypes, bloated and bestial, wielding daggers, drills, dynamite, saws and other crude forms of weaponry all fight in a orgiastic frenzy over a hill of graves. The caption underneath on the poster says: â€Å"Featuring the I.R.A., I.N.L.A., U.D.F., P.F.F., U.D.A., etc. etc.†. Thus, every political group of every political persuasion is placed under the same violent and caricatured image of Irish barbarity. It is apparent that the cartoon would be controversial. â€Å"The Irish, featuring a cast of degenerate nationalist and loyalist paramilitaries, whose initials appear at the bottom of the poster. Not only is there no attempt to explain Irish political complexities or distinguish between different paramilitary groups, the cartoonist irresponsibly homogenises the Irish as a race of psychopathic monsters who delight in violence and bloodshed.† The political reaction to this cartoon had far-reaching implications, and the Evening Standard had advertising money cut from London Council, then headed by Ken Livingstone, if a full apology wasnt issued, which wasnt. It is apparent that the power of the cartoon to shock and to provoke resonates profoundly through political circles, certainly as regards the more overtly racist images of Irish paramilitary groups, that depict an Irish nation that is both stupid, confused, poor and drawn genetically to acts of barbarity and violence. â€Å"One notable feature of some British cartoons about the troubles is their tendency to resurrect the simian stereotype to present a view of republican and loyalist paramilitaries as sub-human psychopaths, a feature which merely served to perpetuate British ignorance and misunderstanding of the complex nature of the conflict.† Indeed, ignorance of the complexities of the political situation in Ireland, indeed, an absolute denial of the British influence and the disruption in Ireland, led to strengthening the anti-Irish fervour, and many cartoonists that used this idea for a cheap joke, may have done unnecessary harm to the establishment of peace among Loyalists, and the Irish in general already racked with anti-British tension. Although the cartoon cannot be justified entirely, it can certainly be contextualised by the political situation at the time the cartoon appeared: â€Å"[The Irish] appeared at a time when paramilitary violence showed no sign of abating and when Anglo-Irish relations were still strained as a result of the southern governments neutral attitude towards Britain during the Falklands war. In July, two IRA bombs in London had killed eight people and injured over fifty others.† Indeed, it is interesting that, when political and social situations are most strained, the simian stereotype re-emerges in cartoons. Overall, the simianisation of the Irish in cartoons has had a long historical legacy that dates back as far as the history of the political cartoon itself. In a situation of conflict, especially considering the supposed lack of knowledge surrounding the Irish situation in the 1970s, many of the cartoons represent this tendency towards returning to the historical stereotype of the Irish as bestial, monstrous sub-human, whose thirst for blood remains intrinsically linked to the racial characteristics of the people. The representation of the British presence in Ireland, especially with the work of Cummings, and JAK, is seen in turns as a fruitless endeavour designed to bring peace to a nation that stubbornly clings to the historical notion of religious difference, or else are innately drawn to barbarity. Although these were not the only cartoons represented at the time, and there were some more sympathetic representations of the Irish situation, that tried to explain in pictures and simple captions the complexity of a political situation in Ireland, this return to the overtly, explicitly racist was definitely a theme in the 1970s cartoons, and served either to reflect the general confusion prevalent at the time concerning the troubles in Ireland, or else exacerbated this confounded hostility towards the Irish in general that certain sections of the British population must have felt. Political Representations of the 1970s Crisis in Ireland The Irish representations of the conflict differ insofar as they offer the viewer of the cartoon a more balanced, albeit anti-British view of the political conflict during the crisis. Gerald Scarfe provides a more sensitive body of work than what was usual in the British press during the time of the political troubles in Ireland. In â€Å"Untitled†, printed in the Sunday Times on 14 March 1971, blood runs into a lake from three graves on a hill, there to represent the deaths of three soldiers, two of which were lured into a pub and killed by the provisional I.R.A., the militant arm of the I.R.A. A crack in the dam pours blood onto a peaceful community, and provides another perspective on the Irish troubles in the 1970s that go beyond that of stereotype, confusion and resentment, instead providing a sympathetic and tender view of the events. Indeed, the representation of the political struggles at the time, in cartoons could be both chillingly regressive, and inspired – of course, the Irish conflict polarised opinion, insofar as the lines could be drawn down difference between the British and the Irish, or else Protestant and Catholic fronts. This tendency to promote one particular view of the events highlights the struggle that cartoonists must have found when trying to find humour beyond the resentment and the anger at both the violence, which some people, especially in Britain, saw as unnecessary, and a particularly

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Self Actualization - 2433 Words

SELF ACTUALIZATION Self Actualization is the intrinsic growth of what is already in the organism, or more accurately, of what the organism is. Abraham Maslow Maslow studied healthy people, most psychologists study sick people. The characteristics listed here are the results of 20 years of study of people who had the full use and exploitation of talents, capacities, potentialities, etc.. Self-actualization implies the attainment of the basic needs of physiological, safety/security, love/belongingness, and self-esteem. Maslows Basic Principles: The normal personality is characterized by unity, integration, consistency, and coherence. Organization is the natural state, and disorganization is pathological. The organism can be analyzed by†¦show more content†¦He found that people undergoing peak experiences felt more integrated, more at one with the world, more in command of their own lives, more spontaneous, less aware of space and time, more perceptive, more self determined, more playful. Effects of peak experiences: The removal of neurotic symptoms A tendency to view oneself in a more healthy way Change in ones view of other people and of ones relations with them Change in ones view of the world The release of creativity, spontaneity and expressiveness A tendency to remember the experience and to try to duplicate it A tendency to view life in general as more worthwhile. Gemeinschaftsgefuhl Identification, sympathy, and affection for mankind, kinship with the good, the bad and the ugly, older-brother attitude. Truth is clear to him, can see things others cannotShow MoreRelatedThe Value Of Self Actualization1278 Words   |  6 Pageschallenge them. They live on through ignorance. It is obvious that people should question their beliefs and values as it leads to self-actualization, it creates critical thinkers and generates global awareness. Thinking critically about these beliefs also goes a long way in helping to dissolve these destructive values and to cultivate progressive ones. Self-Actualization is a theory developed and made famous by American psychologist Abraham Maslow in the 20th century. It was a concept that was meantRead MoreFinal: Motivation and Self-actualization B. Self-actualization1703 Words   |  7 Pages____, whereas needs are ____. a. external; internal b. a fixed action pattern; instinctual c. a biological need; social needs d. a safety need; self-actualization needs e. complex; basic 9. Beliefs, expectations, and goals are important concepts in which of the following theories of motivation? a. instinct theory b. drive-reduction theory c. self-actualization d. cognitive theory e. reward theory 10. Which of the following words best explains incentive theory of motivation? a. pulling us b. pushingRead MoreNew York During The 1920s1310 Words   |  6 Pageshuman to be self actualized. The self actualized person is not one of perfection but one who is on a search to understand and discover why their life is the way it is, from why â€Å"their feet hurt† to if â€Å"they do not like eggplant†. They take responsibility for their actions and try to be honest people in their search to figuring out their purpose in life. Surrounded by hate and anger, Baldwin is desperate for a place of comfort, and according to Maslow’s theory, Baldwin is moving towards self actualizationRead MoreHarlem, New York During The 1920 S1277 Words   |  6 Pageshuman to be self actualized. The self actualized person is not one of perfection but one who is on a search to understand and discover why their life is the way it is, from why â€Å"their feet hurt† to if â€Å"they do not like eggplant†. They take responsibility for their actions and try to be hones t people on their search to figuring out their purpose in life. Surrounded by hate and anger, Baldwin is desperate for a place of comfort, and according to Maslow’s theory, Baldwin is moving towards self actualizationRead MoreThe Principles Of Self Actualization991 Words   |  4 PagesThe following pages lay out the tenets of Self-Actualization Theory and the reasoning behind behavior that brings us closer to achieving our potential as evidenced by research done by Deci, Ryan, and Guay (2013). Central to this theory are the two sets of threes: three behaviors and three needs for achieving healthy well-being. Amotivation represents the antithesis of self-actualization and represents a failure to internalize experience. Congruent with these tenets is a study done by Shedlosky-ShoemakerRead MoreThe Concept Of Self Actualization878 Words   |  4 PagesThe concept of self-actualization, as discussed in the assigned article, is, at its core, a tool through which individuals ach ieve well-being by reaching their fully-functioning human potential. (Deci, Ryan, Guay, 2013). Although self-determination theory does not use the specific term â€Å"actualization† of human potential, it does suggest that the highest psychological state for an individual is to be â€Å"full functioning,† or using all â€Å"capacities for experience, connection, and proactivity.† (DeciRead MoreBarbara Kingsolvers Animal Dreams571 Words   |  2 PagesThe search for self-actualization in Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams Self-actualization is the greatness achieved by someone through his or her full potential. This can be done through one’s creativity, a deeper understanding of the real world and gaining independence. In Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams, The story focuses on the journey of self- actualization with the main character Codi. She was able to connect with peacocks to aid in finding her true self. She was also able to become moreRead MoreCarl Rogers And The Chicago Suburbs Of Oak Park1520 Words   |  7 Pagesrelate to those that they surround themselves with. He had believed that every person can achieve their goals, wishes, and desires in life. When that had occurred self actualization took place. This was his most important contribution to psychology, for a person to reach their potential a number of factors must be satisfied. Self Actualization according to Carl Rogers was, The organism has one basic tendency and striving - to actualize, maintain, and enhance the experiencing organism† He didn’t believeRead MorePlato and Aristotle Essay1465 Words   |  6 Pagesachieved by a life dedicated to excellence. This claim can be further developed by addressing the significance of pride. The overall idea is that a proud person functions better in society. He is able to use his best ability to achieve not only self achievement and fulfillment but also in the process achieve societal advancement and gain. This is not only good for himself, because he is able to actualize his own potential but it is also good for society as a whole. Aristotle tells us that thereRead MoreThe Process Of Self Actualization1473 Words   |  6 PagesThe Process Leading to Self-Actualization In the 1940s/50s psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a model that explained human motivation. This was the hierarchy of needs, which can be shown as a pyramid that has different levels of the needs of a human. At the bottom are basic needs for survival, and the higher levels are psychological needs. The highest level is self-actualization; the ability to reach one’s full potential and become the best person they can be (Adler, 8). All humans are capable

federalism Essay - 1209 Words

Federalism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The United States Government is beloved to all Americans, in the simple fact that all men are created equal and all men are given equal opportunity, to aspire to achieve success and make their dreams come true. Although the percentage of people who achieve all of their goals in life is fairly small, they have the freedom to chase them and America for the most part is a pretty content place. The â€Å"law of the land† that sets the standards for our rights and privileges is the U.S. Constitution. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As pretty and proper as the U.S. Constitution sounds, there has always been and always will be some conflicts and concerns about different laws and amendments and even values that†¦show more content†¦However with all the power that the President possesses there are also many limits set on him, including the length of time he is allowed to hold his job. However the President who runs the entire country, is appointed by the states. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This power and compromise is also included amongst the Congress. Each state appoints members of the legislature. Each state gets an equal numbers of electors in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The President is also required to take an oath before he takes over in office. â€Å"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, 1`protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.† Adams had the brilliant idea of Checks amp; Balances where he broke the government into three branches; the president, Congress, and the judiciary. Each of them had power but no one branch would be allowed to enjoy a monopoly of power. However when problems did occur each branch was allowed to put their two cents in and try to resolve whatever conflict that arose. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;However there are times when the Constitution puts its foot down, and prohibits power of the states . A big example of this is Article 1, Section 10. It lists all powers prohibited of the statesShow MoreRelatedFederalism And The Other Federalism849 Words   |  4 PagesI’ve researched different texts and different information on the topic of federalism to have a good understanding and knowledge of it. I found many sources of great information to learn about federalism and how it influences many countries in the world that we know today. My goal in this paper is to give a good understanding to what I’ve learned and give great detail on federalism and the other Federalism is when two or more levels of governments share the same power over theRead MoreEssay on Federalism1371 Words   |  6 PagesFederalism Federalism is a widely accepted system of government in North American cultures. To many North Americans it seems to be the obvious choice for all world governments, but this is not the case. In all honesty, federalism is a fairly unique form of government. Out of approximately two hundred nations on the earth one hundred and eighty states practice unitary forms of government, leaving only twenty or so as federal nations (Winchester, 1999). Unitary forms of government consistRead MoreDifferences Between Dual Federalism And Cooperative Federalism969 Words   |  4 Pagesdual federalism and cooperative federalism? Be sure to fully address what federalism is and why it was created. 1000 words. Dual federalism is a term used to describe a circumstance in which national and state governments are sovereign and equal within their constitutionally allocated spheres of authority. Federalism is a concept that refers to a system of government in which power is shared between the national and non-national governments. Cooperative Federalism is a model of federalism in whichRead MoreFederalism in India3277 Words   |  14 PagesFEDERALISM IN INDIA Federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution of India in which the Union of India is permanent and indestructible. Both the Centre and the States are co-operating and coordinating institutions having independence and ought to exercise their respective powers with mutual adjustment, respect, understanding and accommodation. Tension and conflict of the interests of the Centre and the respective units is an integral part of federalism. Prevention as well as amelioration of conflictsRead MoreFederalism Essay1956 Words   |  8 PagesFederalism The Constitution of the United States was drafted at a time when our country was in dire need of many answers to political and social questions. In addition to many other things, the drafters of the Constitution were concerned with solidifying our central government and the Constitution was intended to provide a solid structure from which our burgeoning nation could grow. The Constitution gave explicit powers to the federal government and provided the states with the Tenth AmendmentRead MoreFederalism Is Considered Centralized, Or Contrarily Decentralized Federalism?1881 Words   |  8 PagesFederalism can be perceived as quite complicated although, when explained can be quite simple. Its basic definition is that it is the share of powers between national and subnational governments. Canadian federalism was born along with the country in 1867 and has prospered ever since. Canada as a federation has evolved tremendously since its early years where it mostly started as a centralized s tate. After the World Wars, Canada progressed to become the decentralized country we know today. The resultsRead MoreFederalist And Dual Federalism1257 Words   |  6 Pagesthe individual states, most policy more closely reflected the peoples of the region. When it became clear that the Articles of Confederation were no longer working for America, the Federalists proposed a new system of Federalism, later named Dual Federalism, or â€Å"Layer Cake† Federalism. That system was based on the premise that there are two distinct, separate spheres of government, national and state. That new Federalist system of government based on the Federalist party ideals featured a strongerRead MoreFederalism Vs. Cooperative Federalism1148 Words   |  5 PagesFederalism is a critically important concept in helping to understanding the American political system. The Founding Fathers of the United States had to answer important questions on how to handle power and responsibility between the s tates and national government. They did not want to have a situation where the federal government had all the power. They had just fought a war against Britain because of that idea. However, they did not want each individual state doing essentially whatever they wantedRead MoreFederalism Vs. Cooperative Federalism1469 Words   |  6 PagesRight now the current form of Federalism that the United States uses today is called New Federalism, or Cooperative Federalism. Cooperative Federalism was created as a political model around 1937 that emphasized â€Å"teamwork† between the National and State governments. This was created to ensure that both governments would work together in order to provide services more efficiently in the Nation. This is why Cooperative Federalism is appealing to this day and still exercised, because the U.S. has stillRead MoreThe Federalism Of The United States1119 Words   |  5 PagesAmericans utilize the Federalism idea as putting into effect the Con stitution for Federal, State, and Local governments. These areas are served as different areas with different needs and goals within the federalist theory. The National Government has expressed powers over the nation and subjects that effect our nation. The State has limited powers that are involved within the State’s boundaries. The local government is expressed to help regulate the states. All together the governments make one

Martin Luther King Jr. - 2344 Words

Martin Luther King Jr. â€Å"I Have a Dream Speech† Martin Luther King, Jr: the name that will forever be known through out the generations. The man who changed history for the better. The man who led a march to demolish segregation, and changed thousands of African American lives. The man who gave a speech that was forever going to be remembered by thousands of people around the world. He was appreciated greatly that in honor for him and what he has done they created a holiday, which is known as Martin Luther King Day. Many people around the world celebrate it every year and will continue to celebrate it in his honor. On January 15, 1929; a baby named Martin Luther King Jr. was born. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia to the parents of Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta William King. He was the middle child of the three. Growing up, living in a world of segregation was difficult for him. He had to attend a different school than the whites, and eat different restaurants as them. There were numerous of things that King had to do that were separated from the whites. King attended a segregated public school and at the age of 15, he attended Morehouse College where he studied medicine and law then graduated in 1948. King soon enrolled in a program in Boston University where he met Coretta Scott. The young couple had wed and settled in Montgomery, Alabama where they had four children: Yolanda Denise King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King and Bernice Albertine King. In 1957,Show MoreRelatedMartin Luther King Jr.867 Words   |  4 Pagespeople, one of them is Martin Luther King Jr. He made the world a better place for black citizens by doing non-violence movements and marched the way to freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia as Michael King Jr., but changed his name to Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of Protestant Martin Luther. Through his activism, King played a pivotal role in ending the legal discrimination of African American citizens. During his childhood, Martin Jr.’s father stronglyRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr1194 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Simmons 1 Gabrielle Simmons Mrs. Fitzgerald Social Studies 8A 4/27/10 Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a well known and an inspiring man to all cultures of the world. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. King s views and believes helped African Americans through the 50 s and 60 s to the rights and liberties that was their right. King faced many obstacles on his journey, things like jail and even assassination attempts. Despite these obstacles,Read MoreMartin Luther King Jr.1078 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr., was a very strong person, constantly fighting for what he believed in, which was equality for African Americans. He was not scared to stand up and tell the world what he wanted for society. He was fearless and did everything in his power to prove a point. Martin Luther King, Jr., was the strongest individual of his time, for he fought until death, which proves how much he was willing to risk his life to make the world an equal place. Growing up, he had a very interestingRead MoreMartin Luther King, Jr Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pagesbe slaves, African-Americans saw a road trip to equality through the eyes of Martin Luther King, Jr. Even after being emancipated from slaves to citizens, African-Americans were not ready to wage the battle against segregation alone. The weight which African Americans carried on their back, was lightened when they began to see what Martin Luther King, Jr. brought to the table against segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the single most important African-American leader of the Civil Rights MovementRead MoreBiography of Martin Luther King, Jr745 Words   |  3 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born on in his mothers parents large house on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the second child, and was first named Michael, after his father. Both changed their names to Martin when the boy was still young. King JR was born into a financially secu re family middle class with that, They received better education in respect to most people of their race. King Jr, noticed this and this influenced him to live a life of social protestRead MoreEssay on Martin Luther King, Jr.591 Words   |  3 PagesMartin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born at home on Tuesday, January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents were Martin Luther, Sr. and Alberta King. He was born into a world where segregation was the law. Where his boyhood best friend, who was white, wasnt allowed to play with him once they started school. Where black people went to separate bathrooms, drank from separate water fountains, couldnt eat in whites only restaurants, and had toRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr.1144 Words   |  5 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. (January 15 1929-April 4, 1968) Brief Summary (of who MLK Jr. is): Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and an activist who led the civil rights movement in the 1950. He was a fundamental force behind the civil rights movement that ended legal segregation. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. But he was sadly assassinated in 1968 on a second floor balcony of Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee†¦ Childhood: Martin Luther was never poor. He lived with a middleRead MoreMartin Luther King Jr.2405 Words   |  10 PagesMartin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist, who led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. IN THESE GROUPS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNERS FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO DIED IN 1968 FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO WENT TO PRISON FAMOUS CAPRICORNS Show All Groups 1 of 19  «  » QUOTES â€Å"But we come here tonight to be saved from that patience that makes us patient with anything less than freedom and justice.† —Martin Luther King Jr. Read MoreMartin Luther King Jr. Essay1862 Words   |  8 Pagesbut the content of the character,† (Martin Luther King Jr,1963) Martin Luther King Jr. was a smart child and had a good childhood. He learned values from his parents, and Martin Luther King Jr was a man of much wisdom during his time. He was a major contributor to the civil rights movement, and those contributions have profound effect even today. Michael Luther King was Martin Luther King Jr’s name when was born. His parents changed his name to Martin Luther King when he was just a young boy. TheyRead More Martin Luther King Jr. Essay637 Words   |  3 Pages Martin Luther King, Jr. was perhaps one of the most influential person of our time. As the father of modern civil rights movement, Dr.Martin Luther king, Jr., is recognized around the world as a symbol of freedom and peace. Born January 15, 1929, King was the son of an Atlanta pastor. King accomplished many achievements during his life. He graduated from Morehouse as a minister in 1948 and went on to Crozer Theological seminary in Chester, Pa., where he earned a divinity degree. After that King

Cigarettes should be banned free essay sample

According to The New York Times, Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. ()Around 400,000 people die each year from smoking and that does not include the 50,000 who die from exposure to secondhand smoke or the 8. 6 million whose illnesses are caused by smoking. Smoking is harmful to the environment, the user and everyone around them and should be banned. Do people not care about the warning labels on cigarette boxes that read; Smoking Kills? So then why do people smoke? Most smokers started in their teens falling into peer pressure or trying to be â€Å"cool† and fit in. Others had parents that smoked, so they tried it to be like them. But after having just one cigarette they get addicted and continue smoking. The reason people get addicted is because nicotine increases your metabolic rate, so you burn more calories, causing some smokers to lose weight. We will write a custom essay sample on Cigarettes should be banned or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Some people think that smoking is the only way to lose weight, so they continue smoking (Which is a disorder all on its own). Smoking may also calm nerves and help increase concentration. However, this is usually an illusion perpetuated by the addiction cycle. When a smokers nicotine levels drop and they go into withdrawal, they may feel anxious and unable to focus. Once nicotine levels return to normal after smoking, their ability to focus returns, and her overall feeling of well being also returns. () Not only do you get addicted from smoking, you also get some pretty bad effects from it. Smoking Destroys Appearance. Film the noir movies make smoking look glamorous. The results from smoking are stained brown teeth, and a faul stench that permeates the hair, clothing and breath. Smoking deprives your skin of oxygen and nutrients, damages collagen and elastin and can leave your face as sagging and furrowed as a chow dog and it also prematures wrinkling of the face, body and inner arms. Those are just some pretty minor effects to what I am about to talk about. Smoking cuts life expectancy shorter, on average about 13 years. With all the chemicals in a cigarette it is a miracle it does not cut off more years. There are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Here a just a few: Tar, which gives cigarettes flavor, is the same thick black substance used to pave roads and driveways. Formaldehyde is the same stuff used to preserve dead animals. Cyanide is the main ingredient in rat poison. Lead is found in pencils and some kinds of paint. Acetone is a common ingredient in paint and nail polish remover. Ammonia is also in cigarettes. Hydrazine, a chemical used in jets and rocket fuel. Imagine, how much harm you do to your body every single time you smoke a cigarette. Every time you smoke, tar coats your lungs like soot in a chimney. The effects of tar in cigarette smoke include increased risk of bronchitis. Bronchitis occurs when the tissues of the brachial tubes become irritated and inflammated. This causes breathing to be harder than normal, resulting in a constant, hacking cough and wheezing. Emphysema is another risk of smoking. Emphysema develops when the air sacs at the base of tiny air passages called bronchioles gradually break down due to either a protein deficiency or smoking. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness, chronic coughing, fatigue and decreased physical activity ability. Emphysema eventually prevents oxygen entering the lungs from reaching the blood stream. Treatment cannot reverse lung damage from emphysema but can slow down the progression. Other risks of smoking include blood clots, high blood pressure, strokes, weight loss or gain, heart attacks, cancer and death. The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your heart rate and blood pressure, straining your heart and blood vessels. This can cause heart attacks and stroke. During withdrawal it slows your blood flow, cutting off oxygen to your feet and hands. Some smokers end up having their limbs amputated. Second hand (passive) smoke is just as bad as smoking first hand. It causes nonsmokers to breathe in the same nicotine and chemicals as smokers involuntarily, putting them at risk for the same health concerns. Theres no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Babies are especially at risk. Breathing in secondhand smoke increases the occurrence of ear infections, asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, cancer and SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. If youre a nursing mother who smokes, you should be aware of how you can minimize the effect your habit has on your baby. Even if you smoke away from your baby, nicotine and other cigarette chemicals still cling to your clothes and seep from your skin, making it more than likely that youll contaminate your home even if you smoke outside. Smoking is also associated with a reduced milk supply, early weaning and the prevention of the milk ejection. Nicotine makes its way into breast milk when you smoke. Nicotine can cause agitation, fussiness, restlessness and an increased heart rate in your baby. Never smoke while pregnant! Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, prematurity, spontaneous abortion, and death. Smokers can benefit so much from quitting. I believe that if the government were to make smoking illegal it could help quitting be easier for them. They can get so much from quitting. They would be saving a lot of money, they would also be praised by family and friends for quitting, they would have better relationships, they would feel better physically and mentally and emotionally, and they could live longer. Many people who have tried to quit but could not, try switching to low-tar cigarettes. That does not help in fact they are even worse because smokers usually take deeper puffs and hold the smoke in for longer, dragging the tar deeper into their lungs. Another thing smokers try to use in order to quit is a nicotine patch. The patches have enough nicotine they need to stay away from a cigarette but it is still harming their body. Another tool to get away from smoking is the e cigarette which is a smokeless electronic one. As the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes have not been fully studied, consumers of e-cigarette products currently have no way of knowing: whether e-cigarettes are safe for their intended use, how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use, or if there are any benefits associated with using these products. Additionally, it is not known if e-cigarettes may lead young people to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and lead to premature death. So it not advised to use them. With all the deaths and dieses that are due to smoking, it is interesting why the government has not banned them yet. It is a multi billion corporation but regardless it is harming the public. Why do we make such a big deal of suicide if smoking is the same thing, just a longer process. Why do we punish people that kill if we don’t do anything about cigarettes? Even the labels say SMOKING KILLS.