Laos: Iu-Mein Culture and Ceremonies :: Asia Asian

Laos: Iu-Mein Culture and Ceremonies What is Iu-Mein? Not many people have heard of the ethnicity Iu-Mein. It is a dialect from Laos. One of the traditions that Iu-Mein's have are ceremonies. Ceremonies are done with the sacrificing of a pig or chicken. Certain people may call it weird, and animal rights folks would call it animal cruelty, but in our culture, it is for healing and to pay our respects to our ancestors. The ceremonies are very sacred and are done by a shaman. A shaman in our culture is someone who can speak to spirits like a witch doctor. A pig or chicken is sacrificed depending on whether the ceremony performed is large or small. The shaman sets up the table with incense, paper made with circle imprints (money for the spirits), and a tea set filled with blessed water. After the pig or chicken is cleaned, it is set on the table and the shaman starts chanting or calling down the spirit. With a chicken, the ceremony usually takes about thirty minutes to an hour; with a pig, it can take an hour to an hour and a half. Ceremonies in the Iu-Mein culture are part of our lives. They are done as often as they are needed, but at least once a year. There are different kinds of ceremonies done for healing when someone is sick, for good luck for the year, weddings, and for death. Iu-Mein's believe in both good and bad spirits. Whenever someone is sick, we believe it is due to a hungry spirit. Our ceremony with the pig or chicken is meant to please the spirit by feeding them, paying them by burning paper "money," and by giving them water. There are all kinds of spirits that can touch a person to make them sick, like parents, grandparents, or any relatives who have passed away. There is not much about Iu-Mein culture in our history books, but books have been written about the Iu-Mein people.

Modern Frankenstein Essay

In today’s society there are many people that could be considered as ‘modern Frankensteins’. Scientists have made it possible for us to choose the sex of our child by gender selection, clone sheep-remember Dolly the Sheep? And of course, let us not forget the huge growth in cosmetic surgery. Have today’s scientist’s, like Frankenstein, gone too far in trying to create the perfect human? The following video charts Michael Jackson’s ever increasing cosmetic surgeries. This world renowned superstar wanted to have the ‘perfect’ face and science made this possible. But did they go too far? Based on this video and the text, is there a danger in wanting to achieve ‘perfection’? Do these forms illuminate the dangers of becoming ‘Godlike’ by changing your physical appearance (which is God given) and by creating life? Is Michael Jackson now the ‘modern monster’? He like Frankenstein’s Monster is isolated and not understood because of his frightening and grotesque appearance, but there is the underlying need for acceptance in a society that is very much focused on looks. Whilst you’re watching this video I want you to think about the following things and be able to complete the attached questionnaire. Parallels that can be drawn between Frankenstein and today’s scientists: Both are actively playing with life. Both wanting to achieve the ideal. Parallels between Michael and the Monster The Monster was created to be an ‘angel’ but his appearance did not match his personality. Frankenstein made a gross oversight by not making his creation look angelic, and as a result, he was marginalised, hated, feared, abused, taunted and unloved by society. Similarly, Michael has made himself a social outcast and extremely isolated by having too much cosmetic surgery. Both are products of maybe the extremes of the successful advances in science-science used in the wrong way but for good reasons. It is said on the video of Michael Jackson’s father Joe Jackson ‘that he wanted to create the right thing but did this in the wrong way. ‘ Much like Frankenstein. Both Michael Jackson and The Monster are concerned with acceptance. They have an overwhelming need for this because both want a life filled with peace, love and kindness, yet because of the way they look, this is almost impossible. Would you consider Michael Jackson to be a Monster based on his appearance? Would you consider Frankenstein’s Monster as a monster based on our understanding of what a Monster is and on what you have read? Do you have any sympathy for the Monster because he found it difficult to be kind and loving because he was met with so much hate because of how he looked? Do you think that the cosmetic surgeon who worked on Michael Jackson went too far? Is being a Monster based on one’s appearance or one’s personality? Think about comparing The Monster or Michael Jackson to someone like Hitler who did monstrous things? Think about whether you judge people based on their looks? Have you ever misjudged someone by doing this? Questions Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

Improving Self-Motivation in Employees Essay - 2027 Words

Organizational researchers see employee motivation as a fundamental building block in the development of successful businesses. A motivated workforce represents both a competitive advantage as well as a strategic asset in the current corporate world, which is why the issue of building self-motivation in employees has sparked interest in managers. It not only improves the business side of the organization, but does so by keeping employees’ needs met, which improves their well-being. First, the issue of employees’ motivation will be addressed. Second, the motivational theory that best applies to this issue will be described and assessed. Next, there are some research-supported solutions for the three main needs focused on in the theory.†¦show more content†¦The better approach is to encourage self-motivation in the workplace. In order to do this, the first issue to address is what kind of work environment will encourage their self-motivation. The Self-Determinati on Theory best describes what supports an individual’s tendencies to behave in an effective and healthy way which is why I chose it as the best theory to fit this motivational issue. This theory was developed by Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan and has been researched by many others all over the world. This theory is the basic idea that the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are seen as three universal needs for all individuals and can be applied throughout all aspects of their lives (Milyavskaya Koestner, 2011). This theory generally applies to activities that people find more challenging or interesting and Gagne and Deci argued that ‘a supportive work climate satisfied the fundamental psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness postulated by the Self-Determination Theory’ (Ryan Deci, 2000). A climate that satisfies these three needs can affect employees’ intrinsic motivation. 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