Research Assignment Paper On Therapeutic Recreation - 1925 Words

Research Assignment Paper On Therapeutic Recreation (Term Paper Sample) Content: Name:Institution:Year:Therapeutic RecreationTherapeutic recreation is a form of health practice that is focused on interventions to make people with disabilities to feel better (Robertson and Long 8). These interventions aim at improving their cognitive, social and physical functioning as far as any disability is concerned (Coyle and Shank 102). The definition of the word disability is not clear to many people. Disability is seen to involve a lot of other things other than what is commonly known and perceived by most people as a disability. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA 5) defines a person with disability as anyone that has physical or mental impairment which limits his or her performance in daily activities or a person who has a history or a record of such impairment, or anyone who has perceived others to have the same impairment  (ADA). This definition is broad and enables one to clearly characterize and define any disability. Any given particular form o f disability may have a particular cause. The causes are as varied as the forms of disability themselves. The various forms of disability may be as a result of birth defects, or genetic disorders or even accidents. A person may develop a form of disability at any time in their life. One may be born with a certain disability or may be involved in an accident that affects his or her mental and physical performance.People with disability require as much attention and treatment as normal people (Coyle and Shank 106). In the modern society culture influences the treatment and perception of people with disability. They are viewed differently by most people and some are not willing to interact with them. There is still some stigma that people with disabilities faced. The public should be informed that the disabled persons are valuable citizens who have similar and equal rights as them. They are also capable of making their life decisions and choices. This is however limited to certain situ ations as the nature of their disability may dictate. The medical field acts as model to other professions on how to treat the people with disability. Therapeutic recreation considers the patient in a general way and aims at restoration of the patients functioning (Robertson and Long 16). This is usually physical or mental in cases where possible. Some cases of disabilities are irreversible but if left on their own the persons condition deteriorates. The goals of therapeutic recreation are to increase the patients performance, reduce pain, and/or treat any permanent physical disabilities (Coyle and Shank 63). It is therefore important that an intervention be put in place to help the patient to live longer.Recreational therapy is a form of therapeutic recreation and it is the most common practice in this field. It is defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as a treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a persons level of functioning a nd independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition  (Coyle and Shank 16). Recreational therapy works towards the patients full restoration. It encourages partnerships between the patient and the specialist (Robertson and Long 121). It also encourages the patients to be self-determined and enable them to realize their self-worth. The patient is very important in the treatment process and his or her opinion always counts.The individuals with any form of disability are affected differently (Carter and Andel 358). This varies depending on the nature of the disability. The disability may impair the persons cognitive ability and even mental concentration if it is a mental disability (Robertson and Long 140). Physical disability may limit an individuals mobility and interaction with others. They are not able to get invol ved in daily life activities as the disability limits their limitations. Both physical and mental disabilities have an effect on the persons social interactions. People with disabilities may be discriminated against in several aspects. They are prone to embarrassments when they join their friends or age mates in given social activities. They may also suffer from public opinion; how the publics perception and view of persons with disability. A child with disability usually has poor developmental milestones compared to other children of the same age. Individuals with mental disability may have impairment in communication where they are not able to communicate effectively (Robertson and Long 214). Relaying of information by such people is usually compromised. He or she also may have a difficulty in remembering anything for example a doctors appointment. They also have a problem in adapting to new and unfamiliar environments or situations (Carter and Andel 116). These effects may furthe r affect other areas of their lives and hence affect their performance in the activities they get involved in. These include class, employment and even exercise.Individuals with any form of disability are found almost everywhere. There are no specific places where one may find them as any form of disability may affect all age groups; male or female. The disabilities are also not bias on race; the Hispanics as well as Caucasians can all get affected. There are certain conditions that may be more common among people of a particular race or gender but this is in a limited scope. Most of the forms of disability are widespread as the trigger agents may be found almost everywhere. For example, genetic conditions may occur anywhere in which there is a trigger agent that would cause a particular abnormality.There are several forms of disability and their management may vary only slightly depending on the nature of the disability. Therapeutic recreation involves several practices that aim a t helping the people with disability to recreate. Horticulture therapy is a form of therapeutic recreation that uses plant life (Robertson and Long 123). It uses various forms of horticultural products and metaphors that are usually linked with the experience of caring for plants. Horticulture therapy is widely applied for patients in physical rehabilitation (Robertson and Long 123). It provides a serene and peaceful environment that enables the person to connect with nature and heals the psychological aspects of their being. It also provides a chance for the individual to exercise his or her cognitive, motor and sensory-motor functions. Horticulture therapy is thus useful in engaging the individuals social competencies.Community reentry or re-integration is a form of therapeutic recreation that aims at introducing the patient back to the community especially after rehabilitation (Robertson and Long 123). It involves several activities such as field trips to the community and also h ome visits to enable the individual to get used to the real life. In the course of this, the therapeutic recreation specialist should be able to identify barriers to reentry and also equip the client with the skills necessary for the home and community life (Carter and Andel 412). The individual should be able to get involved in community and home activities easily after discharge. The people with disability should also be educated on leisure and informed on various leisure activities. These activities should be able to be of significance in enabling them recover both physically and psychologically. The leisure education provided should involve leisure awareness, leisure resources, social skills and activity skills  (Robertson and Long 123). Patients that develop impairments as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI) may experience social deficits and cognitive impairments. Special attention should be given to this category of patients.Exercise and fitness is another form of the rapeutic recreation that is of great importance to a large class of people with disability (Robertson and Long 123). Physical disabilities affect a persons mobility. The muscles are rarely stretched. These people should be informed of proper exercising techniques that can be as far-reaching as running around the field for a normal person. The dangers of sedentary living are far much greater for those with disability than for those without (Robertson and Long 123). Proper exercise modalities should be put in place for these people that would enable them to stay fit at all times. They should be advised on proper exercise and the precautions to be taken when engaging in that form of exercise.Muscular dystrophy is a group of chronic genetic diseases that lead to physical disability. The diseases are characterized by progressive degeneration and weakness of voluntary muscles (Robertson and Long 141). The disease occurs as a result of a mutation of a gene on chromosome X or it may be her editary. This causes a generalized weakness and deterioration of the muscles. In early life, especially for children below 2 years, signs of physical impairment ensue. These include weakness, loss of reflexes, difficulty sitting up and impaired breathing (Robertson and Long 141). As the disease progress the muscles usually become weaker and the breathing more difficult. Studies show that children with muscular dystrophy are usually wheelchair-bound by the time they reach age 12 (Robertson and Long 141). This condition not only causes physical impairment but also cognitive impairments. A balance should be struck ou...

Iron Thunderhorses Life Free Essay Example, 1250 words

Once in California Iron studied law and became a street lawyer and helped everyone who needed justice without discriminating anyone. Iron became involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM) and came under the observation of COINTELPRO, a branch of FBI which aimed at eliminating the anti war and other social activities in the 60s (Warrior, n.d. ). In 1976 there was an attempt made on his life due to which he decided to move to the Texas-Oklahoma border where he started a business with his Vietnam friends. His jail life began in 1977 when he was arrested in Texas and held incommunicado for approximately ten months. He was held responsible for the crimes committed by the local men who resembled him in appearance. Iron fought the wrong charges against him in propria personna and stood victorious in most cases. In 1978 he was severely beaten up on the orders of Assistant Warden. His head was shaved and his TRO, which prohibited the cutting of hair due to religious reasons, was also torn into pieces (Thunderhorse, 2006). In the 1980s he took his kidnapping charge to the Supreme Court and overturned it. We will write a custom essay sample on Iron Thunderhorse's Life or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now It was only in 1997 he came to know that his kidnapping sentence of 5 years has been surprisingly changed to 99 years. At that time the Texas government had passed a law, which did not allow the inmates access to their files. Due to this law Iron was unable to prove the fact that 99 years was a mistake. In 1981 his testimony to make Texas jails less cruel resulted in six assassination attempts on him (ACQTC, 2006). Iron’s physical condition was perfect when he first went to the jail. However, the torture and the non-provision of the medical aid at the jail and fighting in self-defense have made him virtually blind. Iron has complained of having corneal dystrophy, cataracts and open angle glaucoma. Authorities have refused to allow him a proper wash and medical check up after the pepper spray attack. The authorities were well aware of the fact that Iron was suffering from allergic rhinitis and sebhorric dermatitis, which prohibited the use of pepper spray. They also confiscated his medical pass that prohibited him to be hand cuffed behind his back due to his crippled arm (Warrior, n.d. ). Along with the problems mentioned above Iron suffers from high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, sleep apnea, and recurrent shingles. At the same time he has only one lung working. These problems were further worsened with the attempts on his life. Still he was not allowed to visit any doctor by the jail authorities.

Communication Is An Important Aspect Of Nursing As A...

Analysis of Communication Communication is an extremely important aspect of nursing as a profession. It not only provides the nurse with insight into the patient’s personal life and cultural preferences, but it helps the nurse to gather facts that may be imperative to treating the patient. Communication is both verbal and nonverbal; nonverbal actions often show the way a patient is truly feeling through their body language. A good interviewer will be able to recognize when verbal and nonverbal actions of a patient are incongruent and utilize the different forms of therapeutic communication: listening, touch, silence, and humor. All can be vital to building rapport with the interviewee. For the interview the interviewer met the patient at their home to give them a sense of comfort. The interview took place in the patient’s office; there was good natural light, a comfortable temperature, and a sense of privacy. It was quiet and the only distraction present was the patient ’s small dog, who stayed in the room and sat beside her. The interviewer sat at the same level as the patient and about four feet away to ensure the patient had personal space. Sitting at the same level allowed the interviewer to nonverbally communicate that they had time to listen and wanted to hear what the patient was willing to communicate. To open the interviewer addressed the patient by her surname and asked how she was doing. This small question made the patient smile and the interviewer could tellShow MoreRelatedNursing and Social Responsibility1468 Words   |  6 Pagesthe values of professions in general and nursing in particular† and that â€Å"the underlying constructs of social responsibility, communication and teamwork are woven into the fabric of nursing s history and its code of ethics†(Kelley,2008). Communication, social responsibility and teamwork, are an integral part of the nursing profession. These three attributes of the profession comes t hrough citizenship. This essay will discuss about citizenship with social responsibility, communication, and team workRead MoreNursing Profession: The Five Integral Components of Nursing Practice873 Words   |  4 Pagescomponents to nursing practice that reinforce the framework of the nursing profession. The conceptual framework pillars are the following: Caring, Communication, Critical Thinking, Professionalism and Holism. Further, Caring is an essential pillar in the nursing profession and is defined as embracing empathy for the patient and being able to interpret the principles of altruism, integrity, human dignity, autonomy and reflect sensitive, compassionate, safe and outstanding quality care. Communication is s processRead MoreNursing Paper on Peplaus Theory of Interpersonal Relations1734 Words   |  7 PagesHolzer Chamberlain College of Nursing Nursing 501 Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Practice Spring 2014 Nursing theory is important because it is the foundation and structure for the profession of nursing. There are many different types of theories and they all serve a specific purpose. Theories are important and valuable because they allow the nurse to understand and comprehend their role as a nursing professional. Theories also play a partRead MoreEssay about Historical Development of Nursing Timeline1050 Words   |  5 PagesDevelopment of Nursing Timeline Blesilda Galsim NUR/513 March 6, 2012 Noura Kassis Ed.D.,R.N. Historical Development of Nursing Timeline Introduction The evolution of nursing as a profession had showed through time that it is both an art and science. Before the 19th century, the military and religious orders are the ones who perform the duties of how nurses work today. As time went by, different events throughout history such as wars and epidemics had shaped nursing to its presentRead MoreEffective Communication For The Nursing Profession1493 Words   |  6 Pageson Effective Communication Skills in the Nursing Profession. Name: Carmela Alitin Student Number: n9713271 Unit: PYB007 Communication for Health Professionals Tutor: Aleana Green Tutorial: Thursdays 11am-1pm, Z-607 Word Count: 1,380 A Reflective Essay on Effective Communication Skills in the Nursing Profession â€Å"Effective communication is integral in every profession, but in nursing, it could mean the difference between life and death,† (E.S Alitin, personal communication, 31 March, 2016)Read MoreCommunication I Nursing Profession1033 Words   |  5 PagesWhy is Communication in the Nursing Profession Important? Meia BrownCM/107Kaplan University   Ã‚      Communication in the nursing professional is complicated process and the possibility of sending or receiving incorrect messages frequently exists. It is essential that we know the key components of the communication process, how to improve our skills, and the potential problems that exist with errors in communication. Good communication skills should be considered a basic requirement for any personRead MoreBailey Storms. Schwartz. Honors English 3. 1 February 2017.1624 Words   |  7 Pages2017 Nursing Debi Mazar once said, â€Å"A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares.† Anyone can be a hero, if they believe that what they are doing is serving others around them. So whatever job a person has, they have to believe in what they are doing. One might find these qualities in the career of nursing. In order to understand the profession of nursingRead MoreThe Caring Attribute Of Nursing1481 Words   |  6 Pages The Caring Attribute of nursing Introduction Caring is the foundation of nursing. Caring attribute is the essential modules to provide patients with the best care possible. The caring attribute of nursing consist of 6 c’s but this essay will focus on four C’s (compassion, competence, commitment and confident). Compassion is the ability of showing empathy towards patient. Competence is having the knowledge to produce a successful care. Commitment consists of taking a pledge towards patientRead MoreMy Personal Philosophy Of Nursing1454 Words   |  6 Pages Personal Philosophy of Nursing Kendra Jackson Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing October 8, 2014â€Æ' Introduction The nursing profession cannot be summarized using one word or statement. According to the American Nursing Association, nursing is â€Å"the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communitiesRead MoreThe Practice Of Nursing Profession Essay1309 Words   |  6 PagesNursing profession began in the ancient history, Phoebe was known as the first nurse which was mentioned in the religious communities. A discourse community is a part of many different arguments. The profession of nursing can qualify for this proposition. A career in the field of nursing has a wide variety of different positions in the medical arena. Nurses today can choose flexible schedule to fit their families needs and they are very in demand especially male nurses everywhere in the world with

My Lonesome Wonderland free essay sample

Dawn’s last sunlight daggers dripped through gaps in the grizzled ash-leaf maple. The day was languishing slowly, turning first a chalky white, then a pigeon-colored gray. Along the pallid backdrop of the calm lake my houseparent moved like a paper cut-out, undoubtedly lecturing a tired ear in her staccato Jamaican accent on the nuisance of my brief, unannounced escapade. Ensconced within the mossy cushions of my arbor, seconds slowed and stretched. Here, answers that normally slipped through my teenage fingertips untangled themselves in retrospective ruminations. Today’s topic: the elusive and inconclusive nature of my childhood. With the nostalgia of a high school senior I leafed through old and jaded memories. Flashback to a German airport, a young boy with unkempt John Lennon hair and muddy oblong frames waves apprehensively and flashes an unsure smile. His parents’ saline whisper of â€Å"Wir werden dich immer lieb haben† (â€Å"We will always love you†) lingers like a weight on his senses. We will write a custom essay sample on My Lonesome Wonderland or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Back then the world glowed with the hope of new beginnings, and the horizon somehow shone a more promising shade of pink. Little could I guess what it meant to sacrifice my childhood for a precariously uncertain future of college tennis. In the first few years, the humdrum choreography of my daily dance tumbled from early rises to bone-weary nights, a blend of monomaniacal banality and the fearful adrenaline highs of the gamble. I felt like a middle-aged man stuck in traffic. Alone in this new world of American football, Southern twang, and eight sweaty roommates following the same hazy dream of playing tennis in college, my shyness and foreignness placed me on the outer social fringe. I was on an unconnected hanging bridge, slouched at the edges in a frown. In those early years my only respite came in the eternal stories of Haruki Murakami and Pablo Neruda. A translucent fabric would dim the lights and faces around me, and I would enter the phonaesthetic jungle of Nabokov, the surreal inversions of Kafka, and the boundless fantasies of Carroll’s wonderland. The former triteness and arbitrariness of my actions soon became beautifully familiar, and while my day’s motions remained unchanged, the eyes with which I viewed them now saw wonder in the idiosyncrasies of my minutia. I hoped, in the words of John Updike, to â€Å"make beautiful the mundane,† and so I did, lone king of my castle of papier mache. My life gained an extra dimension, and I grew and healed vicarious scars in my lonesome wonderland. This fictive world was an escape from the anxieties of my childhood. But this sedation from the problems around me never healed anything. I was still alone, still drifting. What eventually saved me from further snorkeling through life in my mind was a chance encounter with a sad child. As I sauntered with glazed eyes through the hallway, I spotted the glimmer of a face I wore in lonelier times on a young girl. She had shoulder-length blond hair and a blue and white dotted dress. I stepped out of my self-absorbed wonderland and talked to her about her expectations, hopes, and fears. Slowly, like water might climb paper on an acrid day, my two worlds bled into each other. An unspoken tension eased in her, as if a simple conversation burned away a fragment of her teenage angst. Through all my mental excursions into unreal worlds, I could connect to her fears and help heal them, as all my fictitious surrogate parents had guided me through the early loneliness. Last year I joined the school’s cadet teaching program for a freshman fundamentals of writing class. It became an outlet for my newfound desire to assist younger students through their adolescent fears. This year, a friend and I are drafting the blueprint for a mentorship program to better integrate freshmen into the student body and give them a helping hand through the rough edges of childhood. I still have a foot in the rabbit hole, and occasionally, on days without sunlight, I imagine layered shades of turquoise in the sky and learn from people who never existed. My childhood was never about growth, development, or shedding my younger shell, but about seeing the world with a fresh, mature pair of eyes.

Top Six (Really) FREE Image Sites - The Writers For Hire

TOP SIX (REALLY) FREE IMAGE SITES With the Internet’s seemingly endless stream of images for any given subject, it’s hard to know which ones are free to use, and which ones are protected by strict copyrights. Seeing a large watermark on an image is generally a good indication that the image you are looking at is copyrighted. But what if there is no obvious copyright watermark? And what if you are able to click on the image and save it to your computer? Does that mean that you are legally permitted to use that image for your personal websites or blogs? The answers to these questions are not always clear, and even when you think you are following the right steps to make sure you are using an image that is not copyrighted, images that seem to be copyright free are sometimes only copyright free in certain situations. The Sticky Details of Copyright Laws Unfortunately, image copyright laws can be complicated to navigate. And violating those copyright laws can lead to penalties and expensive lawsuits. Sure, there is a chance that the image you use will never be discovered. But the reality is that whoever took that picture or created that image deserves to be properly credited and compensated for their work. That is where copyright licenses, and the laws that protect them, come into play. There is a huge array of different copyright licenses that control how and when images can be used. Some licenses are very restrictive, while others allow open and free use of the image. The trick is figuring out which license your image is covered by, and what that license allows and prohibits. For example, Flickr images are protected under eight different types of Creative Commons copyright licenses. The particular license used for each individual image is up to the discretion of whoever created or owns the image. So, when using Flickr images, it is important that you find out which Creative Commons license is applicable to the particular image that you wish to use. Types of Copyright Licenses While there are a number of copyright licenses out there, some of the most commonly found licenses are: All Rights Reserved: With this license, the copyright holder reserves all rights provided by copyright law. This includes the right to make copies, distribute the image, and license or otherwise exploit their work; no rights are waived under this license.Royalty Free: A royalty free license allows you to use the image without having to pay any kind of royalty. Royalty free images are generally found on stock-photo sites, where the royalty has been paid already through your membership to the site.Public Domain Work: Images classified under the Public Domain have been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law. This means that the image is free to be used for all purposes, without needing to seek permission or pay a fee.Attribution: If an image is covered by the Attribution license, it may be used for personal or commercial purposes, as long as the user gives proper credit, provides a link to the license, and indicates whether any changes were made to the original image.Attribution-ShareAlike: Like the Attribution license, this license allows free use of the image with proper attribution. It also requires that if you change or build upon the image in any way, you must distribute your contribution under the same license as the original.Attribution-NoDerivs: Again, this license follows the same rules as the Attribution license; however, if you make any changes to the original, you may not distribute the modified image.Attribution-NonCommercial: With the NonCommercial clause to the Attribution license, you may only use the image for personal use. The image may not be used for commercial purposes. Educating yourself on exactly what these licenses cover, and making sure you know which license pertains to your image, is imperative if you wish to avoid any possible copyright infringements. Penalties For Copyright Infringements Making the mistake of using a copyrighted image without permission can hold some pretty hefty consequences. First of all, it’s never fun to receive a scary looking â€Å"Cease and Desist† letter or an â€Å"Unauthorized Use Report† email. Even worse, though, is when those notifices are accompanied by a demand that you pay a license fee or face further legal action. And if you think you can get away with ignoring the notice and fee demand, think again! Failing to respond to the cease and desist can cost you a fine of anywhere from $200 to $150,000, plus attorney fees and damages. To top it off, the image owner can take it as far as using the DCMA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to get your entire site shut down. So, How do you Know if Images are Truly Copyright Free? The only way to know for sure is to check into the license for the particular image that you want to use. When using sites such as Flickr or Shutterstock, each individual image should have a licensing agreement that explains whether or not the image can be used, for what purpose it may be used, and whether or not there is a fee associated with its use. However, if you are simply doing a Google image search, the license information is not always easy to find. Often, it is nearly impossible to find out who actually owns the license for many of the images. And although it is possible to set Google parameters to show only copyright free images, there is no guarantee that the images that are shown are truly copyright free. For this reason, we recommend that you always choose your images from a site where licensing information is clearly posted and easy to understand. While there are many different image sites to choose from, these are our top six favorite sites for free images: https://www.pexels.com/https://burst.shopify.comhttps://www.reshot.comhttps://pixabay.comhttps://gratisography.com/https://pxhere.com/ Not only do these sites contain breathtakingly beautiful images, they all also clearly state that their images are available for both commercial and non-commercial use and that credit to the photographer is not required but is, as always, appreciated. And the best part? Sticking to one of these sites for your image searches will ensure that you can have peace of mind in knowing that you will not be in jeopardy of unknowingly committing a copyright infringement. **Note: While the sites we recommend do have copyright free images, it is always important to read the fine print before using an image. Although the image itself may be free to use, some of the things depicted in the images (such as identifiable people, landmarks, or trademarked logos) may have other copyrights or trademarks that require consent from a third party.

Lehrack, Otto. First Battle Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA Casemate, 2004

Lehrack, Otto. First Battle Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA Casemate, 2004 The topic of this book was the very first battle in the Viet Nam conflict, as fought by the American marines against the North Vietnamese. The actual thesis was that the Viet Congs underestimation of the United States military forces ability to rapidly and effectively deploy and fight, pretty much lost the North Vietnamese the battle, despite the fact that their intelligence was detailed and available early. The evidence that supported the books thesis was borne out by many eye-witness accounts, on both sides of the conflict.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Lehrack, Otto. First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2004 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The overall quality of this work was superior as it appeared very thorough and well-researched. It also was an interesting read. The value of this work could be considered to be of both historical and milita ry benefit, in terms of actual recorded events and military tactics and strategy. Battle planners and historians may also enjoy and benefit from reading this book. Even, for those who lost family members in this battle, it could prove to be a worthwhile read. Further, most exemplary was the authors research, including evaluation and review of command logs, along with perusal and analysis of the various interrogation and after-action reports. Then, too, the author spent much time on the actual battlefield, and also conducted interviews with various families and combatants on either side, from members of the Marine unit to the VC 1st Regiment. Lastly, his personal conversations with the participants at all levels, on both sides. Finally, his own Marine combat experience as an infantry company commander at that time speaks for itself. The quality of these sources were adequate and in some cases, superior. Everything appeared to corroborate the authors writing. This account is based upo n actual primary and some secondary research but also personal experience, of course, as mentioned earlier. Thus, the authors argument that the Viet Congs previous intelligence did not account for the rapid capability for the US marines to spearhead a most devastating and useful attack against them was quite creditable. Lehracks writing style and ability was such that the book was written clearly, and easy to read and follow, with plenty of action included, and sufficient background knowledge as gleaned from himself and his sources. As compared to our class activities, this student has observed that this reading was easier to get through than some others, and appeared to have adequate primary sources, as well as being sufficiently documented. A significant part of the appeal of this noteworthy book is due in part to its methodical you are there focus. The author places his audience right there in the geographical locale, at the particular time period, within the first two chapters. He therefore makes his point that the US slid right into this war, in increments, without much forethought, perhaps basing much action on current Cold War fears.Advertising Looking for report on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The highlights in the books account consist of the following events. A teen age North Vietnamese deserter informed the United States Marine commander that right near the village of Van Tuong, also located near another new US base, was in danger. For, encamped nearby was the 1st Viet Cong Regiment. Soon, intercepted radio chatter confirmed this fact. Since this situation was a direct threat to the base and, also presented the chance to decimate this slippery VC organization. So Lt Gen Walt determined to take the battle right to the enemy. His subordinate leader was named and it was the notable Colonel Oscar F. Peatross. The battalions to be employed were those at Chu Lai, the 3d Bn, Thi rd Marine Regiment, and the 2d Bn, 4th Marines. For reinforcements, Walt also requisitioned the amphibious 3d Bn, 7th Marines to join them, from the Philippines. A combined helicopter and amphibious assault was then employed. Secrecy and speed were and proved vital for success. So, in just three days, Starlite commenced. The Viet Cong then hurried to catch up and deployed anti-personnel mines, but these had no measurable effect. The battalions were able to land, leaving one unit in reserve. Tanks and UH-1 Huey gunships assisted in securing the hill off the beach, the first objective. Then, an enemy battalion had to be quickly routed, and additional assaults were launched. Corporal Robert OMalley, one of the primary heroes in the conflict, led his squad across a crucial trench and secured it, while fighting against scores of enemy. Although OMalley suffered numerous wounds, refused to stop and leave the battle. He managed to retrieve a number of his wounded troops. Then, the remainde r of India Company secured the village of An Cuong 2, which had been aiding and abetting the enemy. At about the same time, in the Hotel, 2/4, 1stLt Jenkins Marines managed to overcome an attack coming from the village of Nam Yen 3. LCpl Ernie Wallace cleverly and bravely discriminated the camouflaged enemy out from the local terrain, and dispatched at least 25 of them with his M60.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Lehrack, Otto. First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2004 specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another menacing machine gun nest was taken out by Cpl Dick Tonucci and one of his riflemen, PFC Ron Centers. They then proceeded to take out a second one, and also an enemy bunker. Then, a rifleman, LCpl J. C. Paul, provided covering fire for the wounded out in the open. He himself had been shot but had refused the medevac chopper. Unfortunately, he was hit with mortar rounds and small-arms fire, and eventually passed away, defending his men. There was significant collateral damage on another assault on Nam Yen 3, although the enemy themselves suffered significant casualties. Further Marine casualties took place as a supply convoy was ambushed. This happened again with yet another convoy. Choppers came to the rescue, but also came under heavy fire. Some friendly air fire support proved to provide some valuable support. With 200 or so wounded, the Marines suffered 54 mortal casualties. Nevertheless, all their forces- ground, air, ship, and artillery- managed to cause almost 700 dead Vietcong, the better part of several battalions. Both aviation and ground personnel had managed to dig in adequately, although much damage was suffered. Certainly, there were many heroes and military honors that day, for this first momentous battle. Thus, these Marines ended the Starlite Operation successfully and proved that they could fight guerri lla style, on yet another type of terrain, that of the jungle-heavy and swamp-laden vista of Viet Nam. And so began that lengthy and controversial conflict. Bibliography Lehrack, Otto. First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam Havertown, PA: Casemate, 2004.

Death in Popular Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Death in Popular Culture - Essay Example Today the type of media one uses and is exposed to defines the personality of the individual (Kearl 85). The media is subtle in its approach and yet so sublime in its execution that today it is the media that decides who is a hero and who is a foe. Because of its speed and interactivity today people use media to give meaning to the world objects and make perceptions about various phenomena. Media has the power of accentuating paltry issues and making them appear ever more significant to the masses. The stark imprints of media penetrate into our minds and shape our thoughts and behaviors and this is ultimately reflected in the society. This entire process along with its affects on the society is known as â€Å"popular culture† today (McKenzie 96). The popular culture in this contemporary world drives our thoughts and perceptions of different concepts in this world. Today we are subjected to movies, news, music, internet, games and a lot more under the banner of media. On the an terior media is of great help and use for us but on the posterior media is driving our opinions and have made our life materialistic and consequently we have become more hedonistic and pleasure loving, for instance we are least concerned today about the sheer truths and blunt realities of life. We hardly care about the deaths occurring in Africa of hunger or people dying of natural or human disasters in any part of the world. All we care about is us and the maximization of our pleasures. With this newly form or guise that we as human have entered ourselves into has actually served to distant us from the love of God and the meaning of life. Similarly popular media has also defined death and its meaning to us in the modern age. This will be discussed throughout the length of this paper in light of the views of different philosophers and thinkers. Thesis Statement Popular culture has transformed the meaning of death in the contemporary world, making death appear more materialistic and fascinating than meaningful and sublime. Kearl’s stance on the subject Kearl’s work is based on the impact that media has made on the people’s perception of death. Interestingly Kearl was keen enough to identify a certain shift in the media’s dealing with the subject of death after the World War II, since the Baby Boom age. Violence, murders and thrill since have been the new modes of entertainment used by directors for silver and golden screens. According to Kearl’s research an average American by the age of 16 have witnessed approximately 18,000 murders on different forms of media. This is where Kearl quantifies the impact of media on the perception of death among humans. Death has been dramatized so frequently and creatively that it has not remain something sedate and imminent. In fact media and media actors have made death appear to be an event, an extraordinary event. This can be understood by the example of fans of Sylvester Stallone, they se e him on the big screen so often that when they see him in reality, live, face to face they do not treat him like any other human, in fact they treat him like a super human and hence their reaction and behavior changes. Same is the treatment of death in today’s society under the influence of media. People hardly know of death’s face value all they know about this phenomenon is unnatural, unreal and conveyed through media. Since media incorporate internet, TV, print and all forms of communication tools therefore the concept of death carried by each