Essay on Sidewalks of New York City - 1395 Words

Mitchell Duneier, a sociologist with a rather impressive curriculum vitae to his credit, spent five years of his otherwise privileged life keeping company with drunks, derelicts, drug addicts and the homeless on the sidewalks of New Yorks Greenwich Village. His purpose was not to exploit the individuals whose reason for being on these streets is to drum up whatever income they can by selling books and magazines; rather, it was to learn and understand why they were there. In the process of doing so, Duneier drew his arguments and methods mostly upon symbolic interactionism perspectives theories; his focus on shared meanings, deviant, `laws, individual (and social) interactions flourish throughout Sidewalk. The first†¦show more content†¦In maintaining their existences in sidewalk, those men must also continually create [more] meanings and devise ways to fit their actions together (Hughes, Michael et al. 23). This notion is best portrayed in sidewalk lifes jobs list. As lifes going on, they gradually invent numerous ways to sustain their habits, from magazine vendor, book vendor to panhandler, place holder, table watcher, mover, storage provider and laying shit out, each interweaves with others to form a concrete structure, in which ones function play a supporting role for the rest (81-108). However, no matter how tangled and distinct the jobs are, they all have one same function, to provide the sidewalk men a trade-off between crimes, the worthy enterprise and honest earning, the unworthy one (85). In that sense, its not so hard to see that the men of sidewalk have shared the same meaning of decency, which is, in this case, legal and moral earning. Similar to those living on the streets, members of higher social class have their own set of meanings. In pointing out the differences, and sometime conflicts between the two norms frames, common meaning set of middle (and higher) class members (Set 1) and sidewalk mens one (Set 2), Duneier emphasized deviant using interactionist perspective. The common deviant behaviors that pedestrian often used to accuse the men on sidewalk, according to the author, are: sidewalk sleeping, public urinating,Show MoreRelatedThe Concrete Garbage Heap : New York City940 Words   |  4 PagesThe Concrete Garbage Heap New York City is the centerpoint of thousands of films and pieces of literature, a city whose charm can be felt through words or pictures. Lights, brighter than life itself, blend with a cacophony of car horns and shouts to create an addictive mix of chaos. The glamour and sparkle of New York City is dramaticized to be an all encompassing feeling of wonder that one keeps with them for the rest of their lives. In the spring of this past year, the band program I participatedRead MoreEssay on Jane Jacobs836 Words   |  4 PagesThe Uses of Sidewalks: Safety and Contact Cities are generators of economic life and source of changes in the world. Thereby, Jane Jacobs in her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities puts into relief the role of cities on the social and economic levels, while denouncing the disastrous consequences of urban renewal programs. To that extent, in chapters 2 and 3, she discusses The Uses of Sidewalks†, arguing that over all people need safety and trust in their city. Therefore, first sheRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Great Gatsby 1533 Words   |  7 Pageslove for Daisy is revealed on the â€Å"sidewalk[which] was white with moonlight,† and â€Å"Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalks really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees†¦ and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder†(117). The sidewalk symbolizes Gatsby s true desire, which is to blime the social ladder due to the peculiarity of Fitzgerald comparing a sidewalk, which is an object one uses to travelRead MoreThe Death And Life Of Great American Cities And E.b1381 Words   |  6 Pagesanswer always seemed to be no. Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities and E.B. White’s Here is New York are writings that both discuss the theories of a successful and working city. In New York private and public spaces can often uniquely mix and overlap, but when used properly it is good and beneficial for the people of the city. Throughout both books the authors each express different ideas to how a city can benefit from private and public spaces. These ideas can be applied to myRead MoreTrip to New York City Essay example1014 Words   |  5 PagesTrip to New York City Getting prepared and ready to explore something new is just minor compared to the actual adventure for a senior anticipating the departure of their school trip. I was a member along with 30 other classmates of the co-curricular group called Business Professionals of America, a club organized through our school. Our teachers, club officers, and all of the members had been planning and fundraising for our trip to New York City for months. The excitement grew more and more asRead MoreEssay On Random People For Directions1099 Words   |  5 PagesRandom People For Directions New York is the ‘First City’ and Chicago is the ‘Second City’, and although Chicago is similar to New York, it is NOT New York. Therefore, people in Chicago are generally a bit nicer than people in New York and will help you with directions if you get lost. Getting around New York is complex like an abstract painting, very difficult to navigate, and people are generally extremely rude and do not want to help you, including police officers and local shop owners. ChicagoRead MoreNew York Essay873 Words   |  4 Pages* Essay When you associate anything with New York City it is usually the extraordinary buildings that pierce the sky or the congested sidewalks with people desperate to shop in the famous stores in which celebrities dwell. Even with my short visit there I found myself lost within the Big Apple. The voices of the never-ending attractions call out and envelop you in their awe. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a young child on a shopping spree in a candy store. Although your feetRead MoreWhy Do We Crave Trees, Parks And Fresh Air?1220 Words   |  5 PagesTitle: These Two Very Simple Things Could Save Your Life Category: Health Wellness Tags: sidewalks, parks, trees Summary: Why do we crave trees, parks and fresh air? Because it makes us healthier, happier and more alive. And it’s not just a state of mind. It also impacts our health, well-being and longevity. Article: There are two things, many rarely think about that play a huge role in longevity. While you may live in a community that is void of one or the other, it is truly in your best interestRead MoreEssay on Utopia785 Words   |  4 PagesThe Life That We’ll Never Live In our lives today, we take advantage of all the luxuries that are presented daily. Freedom alone is one of the greatest luxuries we possess as an American nation. In Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs and Utopia by Thomas Moore, we are presented two life styles, which some might consider very similar in various ways. Both authors focus on a peaceful living lifestyle, to better the people of the nation. Although some of their specific detailsRead MoreOne Place I Would Like to Visit on a Class Trip New York City1407 Words   |  6 Pagesclass trip New York City is the one place I would very much like to visit on our next class trip. New York City is very large and has lots of exciting and educational activities, such as going to the theater, museums, landmarks and shopping. New York City is located in the state of New York, only 30 minutes to Newark Airport in New Jersey. It makes a perfect place for a class trip. The tourist season runs the entire year, making visiting time flexible. New York City is usually packed

British Responsibility After 1763 Free Essays

By around the turn of 1760s decade a great controversy arose in the British parliament over whether to maintain the sugar colonies of the Atlantic Caribbean Islands and forfeit Canada or vice versa. The later had the advantage of a wealthy fur trade, while as mentioned the former was promising in the sugar industry. However, all ended in 1763 by the historic signing of the Peace of Paris which saw the proponents of the Canadian option win. We will write a custom essay sample on British Responsibility After 1763 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Going by the terms of the treaty, Britain was to benefit from all colonies of North America formerly under France. The regions to the east of Mississippi down to Florida (acquired from Spain) were also declared a British possession as per the terms of the treaty. In as much as the treaty favored Britain, it is important to realize that the cost of maintaining her possession in this area was in turn inflated. The expenses of maintaining, governing and also defending imperial wealthy had a negative impact on the economy of the Britons. This realization had in contrast to the expectation of British policy makers who had thought that the American colonies will be self sustaining. It became expensive for the government of UK to maintain the defense troops in the Canadian soil. Therefore in response the government budgeted to maintain about 8000 troops in North America alone and this was to be maintained by an allotment of the cost of ? 400000. This responsibility proved a burden to the royal government which was already being overburdened by its defense and war plans. Following this, measures to increase revenue were taken and by the following year (1764) George Grenville, prime minister then, introduced an act in parliament, dubbed the sugar act aimed at spreading the burden of empirial maintenance to colonies. As expected the colonialists rose in protest against these measures because they envisioned them as a shifted burden. The French and Indian wars provided a major lesson upon which the British ministry based its policy making in the process of quelling the North American Indians. The Indians who were now becoming a nuisance to the British ministry maintained that that the Ohio state belonged to them. After 1763 the rising resentments in the Ohio prompted the British government to ban settlement in the region to the west of the Appalachians. Dominion Status: Before the year 1763, the empire meant nothing more than a trade region. It provided a wider market and also a source of valuables such as fur from India and Canada, rubber from Liberia of West Africa and sugar from the Caribbean. However, after 1763 it signified dominion as well. The acquisition of empire never came with massive wealthy acquisition as might have been expected. As previously mentioned it brought with it an array of problems in the areas of defense, administration and even finance. The aftermath of the seven years of war (1756-1763) the administration of the empire and ministers back in England agreed unanimously the supremacy of the legislative parliament should be elevetated to have powers to repeal laws of the empire at large. In addition to this, the strong relation in the empire should be strengthened to facilitate the colonial empire to pay for their maintenance. Augmentation of Imperial Army in Ireland: The imperial ideas of the government back in London were clearly envisaged in the proposition by the British parliament to augment Ireland based army. However, with effect of 1763 there arose a problem in the ‘garrison’ and maintenance of the army, especially in the far away colonies. According to the ministers of the government in London, Ireland had the least opportunity of providing soldiers and recruits to the imperial army. The period between 1763 and 1767 saw the empirial demand for soldiers increase and therefore a quick source for more soldiers had to be sought. The British general who was to approach Ireland to supply extra soldiers had in mind that any indirect rule through Ireland officials would not by any means succeed. This conclusion by Townsend was as a result of a long and protracted persuasion of the Irish parliament to accept on the proposal to release recruits to the colonial empire. It was clear that any colonial indirect rule through Irish governors had to be discarded and replaced by the colonial official from England. This last proposal was accepted by the Irish parliament. However, the new system only came with increased responsibilities in terms of military regiments after 1763. French and Indian War: The French and Indian wars brought about policy changes in the ministry back in England. The American revolution of 1760 was sparked off by this policy which had its major aim to collect taxes for the empirical governance. Others still suggest that Quebec Act, which was followed by the proclamation of 1763, the issue of the stamp act, Townsend activities and duties and also the tea act of Bolton are seen as the major contributor to the rapid turn of events by the British towards the governance of the empire. Others on this least are the major wars against Indians and France, which are said to have financially affected the British ministry. These issues defined the British approach in the vast North American colony from 1763 to the final dismal of the North American by the independence of America in 1776. Quebec Act of 1774: This act was meant to increase the civil governance in the newly acquired colonies of North America, but as it turned out the act provided in some way for the extension of the territory under the Quebec government to western side, a territory that had been relinquished by the France in 1763. It therefore meant that the act violated the rights the colonists back in Canada considered their natural birthright. References: 1. Anderson, Fred. Crucible of War: The Seven Years’ War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754–1766. New York: Knopf, 2000. 2. Marshal, Peter. British Empire: The Cambridge illustrated history of the British Empire, Cambrigde University Press, 1999. 3. Cootes, John. Britain since 1700: Longman Secondary Histories, Longman Group Ltd, 1968. 4. Raimo, John W. Biographical Directory of American Colonial and Revolutionary Governors, 1607-1789. Westport, Conn. : Meckler, Books, 1980. How to cite British Responsibility After 1763, Papers

Communication in my Life Essay Example For Students

Communication in my Life Essay Good communications in our life is a necessity, however we lack of it almost everyday. Sometimes we dont even notice, when we speak in a certain tone, what kind of body language we use, and that starts an argument. Soon we get carried away and start ignoring the other person, and think that theyre wrong, and we are the only ones who have the right to be right. And sometimes we ignore the world around us and agree, which sometimes is a good strategy to avoid argument, but if we do it every time, we will be pushed down to the ground. But when we have good communications, it doesnt make us angry or upset, but rather happy and the conversations inspire us. I always thought of myself as a very aggressive person or a very passive person, considering on the situation. And in this activity I wanted to be a leader, as always, nevertheless I did not know the people very well, and was afraid they would ignore me. However after I heard them say I should be the writer, I felt encouraged and proposed my idea about voting. What this activity told me about myself would be that Im assertive, meaning I have my own opinions and can stand up for myself and listen to others ideas at the same time and respect them. Because usually I either keep my opinion to myself and join in the group, or try to persuade everyone, until they gave up. But this time I tried to say my opinions, and listen to others. There would be a lot of things that I would change, because I didnt do so well. If I could change something I would have kept a similar system, because it helped for a team to cooperate more, and for everyone to get involved, and for everyone to express their opinion even though they didnt say anything. However I felt like I was being more bossy and aggressive then I wanted myself to be, because at first everyone was still confused, and I took to much charge and wanted to get it over as soon as I can because we didnt have a lot of time to discuss it. And other thing that I would have changed would be to try and keep everyone focused on what was going on. In my family I would be more of a passive-aggressive just like almost every single teenager. I obey my parents, but at the same time I dont agree with them, even though I wouldnt express it. And the reason for that would be, theyre older than me, and even though I work, I am still dependant on my parents. I know that if I obey them, I will get on their good side, and will get something in return. However I dont act the same around my brother and a lot of times I am being aggressive, because he is younger than me and sometimes IÂ  expect for him to obey me, because I am older than him. But when I am with my friends I am more assertive, because I am willing to share my opinions, and listen to others ideas, too. Communication is our door to the world, however we decide what kind of entrance were going to make. Is it going to be small or big, aggressive or passive it is all up to us. We cant change ourselves in an instant; however we can do it over time. And when we fail, just putting our hands down isnt an option, we dont have to stand up instantly after a fall, but the most we can do is try.