The Daily PANCE and PANRE Question 77

A patient with acute renal failure proves a urine specimen that demonstrates normal osmolality and sodium content. The urine contains no casts, but RBCs are present. Which of the following is the most likely etiology of this patient's acute renal failure? A. prerenal cause B. intrarenal glomerulonephritis C. intrarenal acute tubular necrosis D. intrarenal interstitial nephritis E. postrenal cause Answer: E, postrenal cause In pre-renal ARF, the sodium content of the urine would be decreased (because the patient is volume depleted, so the kidneys try to retain Na - less is in the urine) In intrarenal disease, the urine would contain casts. So, this is postrenal disease (usually a big prostate or stones) which would cause normal urine with rbc's. Help Support The Physician Assistant Life for FREE! This is provided as an opportunity for anyone who appreciates this email series to help support it painlessly. If you are going to be purchasing anything from Amazon.com (books, school supplies, etc.) simply start your next Amazon.com purchase byclicking here... it's a free way for you to help support the cause! Justclick over to Amazon. Then, when you make your purchase, Amazon will send a portion of the proceeds to The Physician Assistant Life. The money goes toward paying for one-time and ongoing costs (like equipment, hosting, backup services, etc.). Thank you for supporting the site and keeping this content free! If you are studying for the PANCE or the PANRE I recommend theseReview Books.

From Africa to Slavery in America - 887 Words

African slavery provided cheap labor for the proprietors, however most of the slaves suffered terrible conditions from the moment they were captured until their life ended. They lived and worked in horrible conditions. Many families’ lives were destroyed when they came to the Americas, and they had an enormous lack of rights and freedoms, such as a simple education. A large number of slaves that were brought to the Americas were captured when the villages were raided. Adults during the raids were captured by being bound and gagged and they would sometimes put infants into sacks. The overwhelming majority of slaves sold to Europeans had not been slaves in Africa. They were free people who were captured in war, were victims of banditry or were enslaved as punishment for certain crimes. (Digital History). After slaves were kidnapped they were put onto ships and taken to the Americas. The conditions of the slave ships were wretched. People were crammed side by side with not much room or food (Aboard a Slave Ship, 1829). There were two ways slaves were loaded onto the ships. One way was to take a lighter load of people, so more people who would survive by the time they got to the Americas, and there would be less disease on the ship. The second way was cram as many people you could, with the tactic that the more people they had, the more profit. This way was very unsanitary and all of the slaves on the ship had horrible hygiene because of it. Some captains would not even provideShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of Olaudah Equianos The Middle Passage1019 Words   |  4 Pagespractice of race-based slavery in the Americas is the fact that slavery existed in Africa during that time period and that Africans were complicit in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. What is fascinating about Olaudah Equianos discussion of the Middle Passage is that, as a man who had been enslaved in Africa prior to being shipped as a slave to the Americas, he was in a unique position to describe slavery in Africa with his introduction to European-influenced slavery in North America. His perception wasRead MoreSlave Trade673 Words   |  3 PagesSlave Trade Many times discussions about slavery examine the everlasting racial impact of the practice. However, the reality is that Africans sold Africans into the slave trade, which, at that time, was far more motivated by finances than by any underlying racial motivation. Looking at the Great Circuit, and how African traders and political leaders impacted the slave trade, one sees Africans playing a significant role in the early slave trade. However, there were differences in how the slaveRead MoreThe Interesting Narrative Of The Life Of Olaudah Equiano877 Words   |  4 Pageshis life. Equiano was from a small province of Africa called Eboe where they were well mannered and traditional. He grew up in a wealthy and established family with his mother, father, and siblings. During the course of Equiano’s life he had some good and challenging time, but through it all he endured it to the end. Throughout his life Equiano experienced what he feels like to be free and to be a slave. In the memoir forced, cruel, and child labor was depicted. Slaves in Africa were treated exceptionallyRead MoreThe Impact of Slavery on African Society Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesThe Impact of Slavery on African Society Slavery has played a strong role in African society from as early as prehistoric times, continuing to the modern era. Early slavery within Africa was a common practice in many societies, and was very central to the country’s economy. Beginning around the 7th century, two groups of non-African slave traders significantly altered the traditional African forms of slavery that had been practiced in the past. Native Africans were now being forced to leave theRead MoreThe Slavery Of African Slavery1128 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery is one of the most inhumane acts the world has ever known. Africans were kidnapped and forced into slavery by Europeans; they were separated from their families and forced to work on plantations. They were placed in unbearable conditions and the prevalent racism attached onto this system fueled the mistreatment and oppression of black people for years to come. The origins of the widespread African slavery in America as we know today started in early colon ial America when people needed cheapRead MoreThe Three Cs ( Christianity, Commerce And Civilization1172 Words   |  5 Pagesearly repatriation movement of African descendants from the Americas that they were looking for the â€Å"Black Nationality† by establishing an American colony in Africa. DuBois’ notion of double consciousness shed light on their dilemma in relation to Africa and Africans. The notion presents how the African Americans are perceived by the white Americans in the American society where the majority are whites. The difficulties experienced by returnees from the West regarding reintegration into African societiesRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Olandah Equiano1716 Words   |  7 Pagesprovides a view of Africa and the rest of the world from the perspective of either an African taken into slavery early in his life or a slave of African descent born in the British colonies. Olandah Equiano’s narrative reveals more about the African Diaspo ra than it does African history itself, particularly with his birthplace called into question. If he was born in Africa as he claims, Equiano’s narrative provides a primary source for the history of the slave trade in Africa and Nigerian historyRead MoreTransatlantic Slave Trade and the Effects on the American Economy1627 Words   |  7 Pageson the american economy Transatlantic Slave Trade The Transatlantic slave trade is a â€Å"wrenching aspect of the history of Africa and America† (Colin Palmer). The transatlantic slave trade transported African people to the â€Å"New World†. It lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. Slavery has had a big impact on African culture. The Africans were forced to migrate away from everything they knew, culture, heritage and lifestyles (Captive Passage). Coupled with they were faced with racism and overcameRead MoreThe Importance Of Slave Trade In Africa751 Words   |  4 Pages European nations shifted their interest from Africa’s gold to work due to many reasons; First they in need of cheap and large labor to match their products in their market. The African slaves were cheaper as compared to other continents and thus could be acquired in large numbers. In addition, African slaves were energetic and very resistance to infections and diseases. Besides this slave trade was being practiced in Africa and thus it was easy for the European nations to introduce the chattel slaveRead MoreThe Impact Of The Atlantic Slave Trade Influence Europe Economic Growth And Market Development Essay786 Words   |  4 Pagesand define slavery as a principal component for global capitalism until it was not longer profitable. The atlantic slave trade influence europe economic growth and market development to rapidly spread through the atlantic trade. It was a intense dependence on the triangular trade that made merchants made big profits at the expense of the exploited labour abroad. Merchants were involved in all three sides of the triangle trade that allowed the transportation of slaves from Europe to Africa where goods

The Privileged Position of Business Essay - 547 Words

The Privileged Position of Business Hudson first states what he believes to be the central assumption of the Pluralist description of American politics that there is no one dominant group in American Society. He argues that there is a dominant group, business. I agree that the pluralist ideology is wrong and that business is very dominant in our political society. He continues by stating that there are two faces of the political privilege of business. The first involves business actively manipulating the political system to obtain their political objectives. Hudson starts by stating that the first aspect, that of the active manipulating of the political system by business to obtain political objectives, can be divided into†¦show more content†¦I agree that there are many interest groups but a majority of them are in some way lobbying for business. I also believe that the majority of the people know that this is going on and dont like it and would like to see a change. Next Hudson discusses the businesses role in providing finding for elections. The business that contribute money can expect to be heard by the elected officials they have helped. He states that business dominates lobby groups as well as dominates the universe of campaign contributions. I believe that this gives businesses a huge advantage and also I believe that this is the major reason business predominates over politics in our society. And the more closely you look at this issue the more clearly you see the money these businesses contribute to candidates who are in effect already pro-business then they become even more for business when they know this will in all probability get them re-elected. I definitely agree that this poses a real problem and needs to be dealt with. In addition, business controls citizen access to information through ownership of the media. I agree with this completely. I was surprised to read that most of the mass communication industry is now concentrated in about twenty giant holding companies. The idea that newspapers and television are businesses themselves and project pro-business views is a given. But also other businesses pay for them throughShow MoreRelatedThe Pianist Analysis824 Words   |  4 PagesWladyslaw’s journey as the Germans swiftly strip the Jews of their rights, relocate them to a ghetto, and dehumanize their entire community. Throughout the course of The Pianist the filmmaker, Roman Polanski, visualizes the differences between the Privileged and the oppressed in Warsaw during World War II using a variety of cinematic techniques such as lighting and focus, and narrative elements such as Juxtaposition and character development. In The Pianist, there are a variety of characters that bothRead MoreContrasting Friedman and Lindblom on Economic Systems Essay examples1113 Words   |  5 Pagestheir â€Å"privileged position†. According to Lindblom, â€Å"the exercise of that authority is curbed and shaped by the concern of government officials for its possible adverse effects of business, since adverse effects can cause unemployment and other consequences that government officials are unwilling to accept. In other areas of public policy, the authority of government is again curbed and shaped by concern for possible adverse effects of business† (Lindblom page 178). As a result, business enjoysRead MoreComplexity of Privilege and Domination1682 Words   |  7 Pagesstatements in the whole book. Privilege creates a great divide between people. This can have a negative lasting effect, if not under control. Society has divided people into two groups: superior and inferior. The superior groups are the ones that are privileged in society and the inferior ones are ones that are underprivileged; however, there is a certain complexity that comes with privilege. There are so many different combinations of race, gender, class, sexual orientation or disability statusRead MoreGovernment Business Relations1518 Words   |  6 PagesGovernment business relations American businesses wield much political powers. This has been there for quite some time. Prior to the Civil War, some Americans worried less about the power of businesses. This was partly due to the fact that firms at this time were relatively small. This restricted the powers of the proprietors to local political arenas. When multinational corporations emerged in the late 19th Century the role played by businesses in the political scenes completely changed. TensionsRead MoreA Master s Program At Queen s School Of Business842 Words   |  4 PagesI am applying to the Master of Science in Management (MSc) program at Queen s School of Business to pursue my interest in Strategy and build a base of knowledge and experience that will position me to pursue a PhD. I currently attend a Master s program at Queen s School of Policy where I am studying Industrial Relations and completing an independent research project in Organizational Behaviour. While pursuing this course of study I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Kate Rowbotham and otherRead MoreThe General Themes Of White Privilege1287 Words   |  6 Pageswhite is the norm. It talks about how this socially accepted idea has oppressed and discriminated against anyone who did not fit the majority or privileged group, which continues that cycle of racism. Issues in this book brought to light, how white people take their mentality and actions for granted. This in return oppresses anyon e who does not fit the privileged mold of socially accepted white America. In promotes the reader to think about how racism is alive today in American culture. It exposes thisRead MoreThe Reluctant Fundamentalist By Mohsin Hamid And Lucy By Jamaica Kincaid Essay1650 Words   |  7 Pageshe is ashamed and annoyed because he also notices their â€Å"self-righteousness in dealing with those whom they paid for a service† (Hamid 21). Furthermore, Changez says, â€Å"I†¦found myself wondering by what quirk of human history my companions†¦were in a position to conduct themselves in the world as though they were its ruling class†(Hamid 21). Although Changez follows this by saying this may be an exaggeration, nonetheless, their actions left an impression on Changez and on the reader. A review from â€Å"TheRead MoreEssay on Class in Australia Today1059 Words   |  5 PagesMarshall, R.W. Connell and T.H. Irving will be considered. Connell Irving (1992) identify ‘class structure’ in Australia with the ‘ruling class’ owning property/business, and the ‘working class’ in the way of labourers whom ‘act together in resistance to the capitalists’. This is relevant today in Australia with the privileged having majority of the power and wealth. Moreover, exploitation of the ‘working class’ continue to maintain less power within the workplace less wealth. Connell IrvingRead MoreThe Success Of Corporate School Reform856 Words   |  4 PagesThe corporate school reform which has originated through political movement mainly has methods in which are taken from the political approaches. The fact that most of the school board members consists of those who professions in business instead of education is not favorable. The Failure of Corporate School Reform on page one states that the corporate school reformers try to â€Å"imagine public schools as private b usinesses, districts as markets, students as consumers, and knowledge as product.† If IRead MorePersuasive Essay About American Dream950 Words   |  4 Pagesminority does not help the situation. In most cases even being a woman has its problems. This includes white woman too. Being poor is also a huge problem. This condition alone excludes most of the population. The American Dream goes to those who are privileged . When a common pet is given a home and food it is basically guaranteed a good life. Success is promised; even though it s a pet and can only attain a certain amount of success. It would also help if the pet is a well loved breed. Nobody wants

Scooby Hat free essay sample

9:30 on a Saturday night, as I’m walking down fisherman’s wharf towards pier 39, I come across a store that was selling a colorful assortment of animal hats with long ear flaps that had small mitts at the end for the wearer to keep their hands snug in during the blisteringly cold San Francisco nights. Pandas, tigers, lions, foxes, bears, and virtually every other animal that could be made to look adorable enough for kids to annoy their parents for. Amidst approaching adulthood and facing decisions that will affect the rest of my life, the boy in me cried out for a bit of silly fun. But before I settled for the common animal hat that many people had, I wanted to walk along the long pier a little bit longer to see if any other stores had more flamboyant and unique hats. However, after walking nearly all the way to the end of pier 39, I found the same selection of hats in every store that I came across at the same exact price. We will write a custom essay sample on Scooby Hat or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I said to myself, this has got to be illegal! They’re price fixing! But then, at the end of the pier, I saw a bright neon mirage with an eerie glow that gave me the feeling that it would be different, that it would finally satisfy the now somewhat disheartened child in me. I walked in slowly, it was now 9:52, near closing time, and I desperately searched for that unique hat which I started to feel was nonexistent. I looked around and realized that no other people were in the store except for the cashier and me. After seeing the same mundane selection once again, I was ready to leave the store and go back to the apartment I was living in during my summer intern. However, one my way out, on a low shelf under some cliche San Francisco magnets, I spotted the object of my desires: a Scooby Doo Hat. The only unique hat within a 2 mile radius, I was sure of it. I walked home wearing the hat with dog ears and a goofy Scooby Doo face with a smug smile, admiring the clear night sky and the sounds of waves crashing as I walked home in the starlight. On the 3 mile walk home however, I began to think about the process through which I eventually bought such a unique hat. If I had stopped my earnest quest after being disappointed so many times by the banal stores, I would have never reached the end of the pier. It was on this long walk home that I realized it was my persistence and disregard of discouragement that has gotten me as far as I have throughout high school. After numerous unpromising practices for big tests and competitions and activities of the sort, I would eventually reach the pier at the end of the long path to reach my goals and beyond. However, just as any analogy eventually breaks down, so does mine. Unlike my trip to the store at the end of the pier, I don’t have to turn around once I reach one of my goals; I just keep moving forwards and focus on the other opportunities ahead of me.

Timespace free essay sample

One of the reasons this best of compilation is so good is because its more than just a nicely arranged package of Top 40 hits. Though most of Nicks solo chart-toppers are included, there are also a few overlooked gems from past albums that, apparently, Stevie and her record company felt deserved a place in this collection. These precious songs include Beauty and the Beast and Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You which are truly not only beautiful but timeless as well. Another reason this collection stands above the rest is the addition of three new songs to complement the old. And in these songs, Nicks enlisted four of rock musics most innovative for inspiration and guidance: Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Falcon who wrote Sometimes Its a Bitch for her and Bret Michaels (of the band Poison) who wrote Loves A Hard Game To Play, and Tom Pettys long-time friend and musical collaborator, Michael Campbell, who aids Nicks in Desert Angel, which was written for all the men and women who lost their lives during the Gulf War. We will write a custom essay sample on Timespace or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The new material is well written and, generally well executed; however, the spirit of this musical achievement resides in Nicks past accomplishments. Stevie Nicks post-Fleetwood Mac contributions to music are, arguably, her most prolific. Her 1981 debut LP, Bella Donna, not only topped the rock and pop billboard charts, but also gave her a new and separate identity away from Fleetwood Mac. Subsequent solo albums have all been million-plus sellers and combined have yielded a string of memorable hits, which include Edge of Seventeen, Stop Draggin My Heart Around, Stand Back, and Talk to Me. These, and many more, are offered here, and, due to a little technological manipulation, have been greatly enhanced in sound quality. In essence, this musical anthology is impressive. It showcases the contributions of one of rock musics most interesting female performers in a way that both flatters her unique style and adds depth to her commercial successes. n

Assisted Suicide

Assisted Suicide Free Online Research Papers Most of us are born into this world without pain and suffering. The trauma of our birth is usually is left only on our mother, and we hear about it every year on our birthday. More often than not we grow up and live our lives free from physical pain and suffering. Many of us will have the occasional broken bone or repair surgery during our life. These are often short recoveries, which allow us to live relatively pain free lives. As we enter the last stage of our lives where dying is the outcome, most of us expect not to suffer. While we walk the line on the issue of assisted suicide, we must ask ourselves if being alive is the same as living. If a person has stage four cancer and is in constant unbearable pain, doctors do what they can to ease their pain with medication. What if their pain can not be managed by medication and they want to end their suffering. How do we ignore their wishes and let them suffer ? We can not let people suffer Quality of life is more important than quantity of life. We end the lives of suffering animals whether they are pets or game that we eat. We obviously give more value to human life than we do animals, yet we won’t allow the animals to suffer. It does not seem logical to value human life the way we say we do, and not ensure that death is valued as much as life. How can we let people suffer when they are dying? Do we allow people to suffer because we want to avoid person confliction within ourselves or do we avoid being judged by the masses? Can we reflect on our own lives and the lives of our loved ones and say that we want to suffer when we die. Anyone who can feel pain will say they do not want to be in constant pain and do not want to suffer when they are dying. Those that want their suffering to stop by ending their lives, should be allowed to be assisted in how they leave this earth. The rules of who can be assisted in their death, must be clear and concise. There must be strict criteria for assistance to be given to someone who is terminally ill. There can not be room for doctors or family to hasten death for any other reason than that of the patient wishes. The application of the assistance would have to be regulated and safeguards placed to ensure the integrity of the assistance would not be compromised. Many people are taught to treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. As to this issue we do not treat others this way, we allow personal issues of beliefs cloud our thinking. On one hand we can look at assisted suicide as aiding in a murder. For most people murder is unacceptable and wrong so they are against assisted suicide based on that belief. If the intent is not to kill but to end suffering how can it be the same as murder? Ending the suffering of someone who is in pain, is a natural biological response that most people have within them. A mother cleans and bandages a skinned knee of her child when they fall off their bike. She may also offer a icepack or medication to aide and ease the child’s pain. A husband rubbing his wife’s back to help relieve her pain while she is in labor during child birth. The doctor that gives pain management medications also aides the women to ease the suffering and pain of childbirth. Yet we won’t help someone with end stage pancreatic cancer end their suffering and excruciating pain. It is absurd to consider making into law in which aiding in the death of our weak and suffering is accepted. As we open the door to assist people in ending their lives, we open the door for people to take advantage of those weak and suffering people. Doctors would be allowed to make judgment calls, providing lethal action when it is unwanted or unwarranted.† Considering legalization to be the first step on a slippery slope that ends with physicians exerting pressure on the elderly to be euthanized to free up a hospital bed, or even to doctors killing patients without their consentâ€Å"(Young, 2010. p. B.7 ). This also opens up argument of what is acceptable and what is not. Doctors swear an oath to do no harm and to not give anyone medications that they do not need to treat an ailment, so doctors assisting suicide are actually going against this oath. There are types of assisting in someone’s suicide. There is passive assistance and active assistance when a person helps in the suicide of another. While one is actively aiding someone in dying where drugs may be administered to hasten death, passive assistance is withholding treatment in order for death to occur naturally. Is there is a clear difference between removing a feeding or breathing tube, and actively injecting a medication that stopped someone’s heart. It is reasonable to say that giving someone something that ends their life, actually aides in killing them. Taking something away, means that there would be not benefit from having it in place. â€Å"If further care is unlikely to be of any therapeutic benefit, a physician is not obliged to continue therapy.†(Clarke Egan, 2009). Many would view this as being the same thing, as the end result gives you death. Along with passive and active assisted suicide, there are a few other areas of assistance that need to be looked at. The voluntary act of having someone aide you in killing yourself is knowing what is at hand.† A patient must understand the condition, prognosis, and proposed therapy, and be able to reason consistently and to act on the basis of such reasoning. A patient must be able to communicate their choice and the reasons for that choice and understand the practical consequences of their choice†(Clarke Egan, 2009). Involuntary assistance is one of the most important aspects of this issue, as this assistance is when a patient can not speak for themselves but for most instances, a family member makes the choice on the outcome of life and death for the patient. This issues poses several concerns. How can the hospitals and doctors be sure that the person in charge of making this crucial decision has the patients wishes or best interests in mind. Is this person the best one to making the decision and are their motives clear and unblemished? â€Å"Jennifer Allwood thought it would be merciful to smother her 67-year-old father who had cancer. He was able to fight back and survived†.(Clarke Egan, 2009). Making a decision that can not be changed and the outcome hazardous should not be allowed to be made legal. The issue of assisted suicide will likely be debated for a long time to come. Looking at what benefits that come from it seem silly, for a few people to die faster. With all of the technology and advances in pain management, the actual need for someone to need to kill themselves smaller than one may think. â€Å"Having considered both sides of the issue, our conviction is that, after all, it is far better for the welfare of society to let a few suffer, and not run the risk of creating crime and criminals. It appears to us that there is ample reason to dread that the practice of euthanasia would, in the long run, cause more harm than good. That is why the law, laboring as it always does for the good of majority, has logically prohibited it (Appel,2004). People have the right to decide how they want to die and there is no need for anyone to suffer as their life is ending. People have in the past made the choice to help others end their suffering in times when the person could not consent, but clearly was suffering and in excruciating pain. A woman was given a fatal dose of morphine when she was close to death in order to prevent further suffering. The case was that of an army colonels wife in New York State who had attempted suicide by removing all the woolen blankets and slow burning material off her bed, then lying on a heavy straw mattress and setting fire to it. The woman was a horrible sight to behold and was literally roasted alive; when she lifted her arm to shake hands with Kempster, the flesh dropped from the bone, leaving the forearm absolutely bare. A certain end was only a few hours away, every moment was torture of the most horrible kind, and the patient was shrieking with agony while waiting for death to relieve her from her suffering. The womans personal physician indicated that he intended to inject her with only ten drops of morphine; Kempster, called in to consult, advised him to fill the syringe-and when the personal physician refused to take responsibility for such a decisive step, Kempster took hold of the needle and administered the fatal dose himself.5 Not only did he believe he had done right-a judgment allegedly confirmed by the priest who had been called in to administer the womans last rites-but he expressed his firm intention, if necessary, to end actively the lives of other patients. Kempster said that he never went on a journey-and he [had] been all over the world-without taking with him the means by which to end the life of an unfortunate human being who might be injured in an accident beyond the hope of recovery, and whose sufferings were severe(Appel,2004). How can we turn our backs on the ones that are suffering when they can not come back from the road to death? We all deserve the right to die with dignity and free from pain. Three key points that support active assisted suicide are â€Å" the relief of intractable pain, the respect for autonomy and the closely related fear of a loss of dignity that accompanies the loss of autonomy†(Clarke Egan, 2009). Seventy percent of the people polled in a survey favored to â€Å"allow doctors to comply with the wishes of a dying patient in severe distress who asks to have his or her life ended(Jannetti, April, 2010). This percent is very high considering that in most states in the United States outlaw assisted suicide. The number of people who want it to be available must advocate that it is there for them if and when they need someone to aide them in dying, instead of suffering the pain that they may have to endure otherwise. Living is not the same as being alive and if more of us understood that premise then much of this argument may not need to be expressed. In the end, we must do what is best for the people who are suffering and adhere to their wants and wishes. We must honor them by allowing them to leave this world as free of pain and suffering as they entered it. References: Clarke D.L.,( 2009) MMed Sci, MBA. Department of General Surgery, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Complex Egan, A. SJ, PhD(2009). The Jesuit Institute – South Africa, Victory Park, Johannesburg Lachman. L (2010). Medsurg Nursing. Pitman:Mar/Apr 2010. Vol. 19, Iss. 2, p. 121-125 (5 pp.) Young, H.(2010)The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ont.: May 1, 2010. p. B.7 diamondgirl1228@yahoo.com Research Papers on Assisted SuicideArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Capital PunishmentPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyGenetic EngineeringThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Fifth HorsemanMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesHip-Hop is Art

Female Genital Mutilation Comparing Two Primary Source Articles Essay

Female Genital Mutilation Comparing Two Primary Source Articles - Essay Example The two articles; "Wanjiku: Life of A Traditional Woman" by Jean Davison and "National Bodies, Unspeakable Acts: The Sexual Politics of Colonial Policy Making" by Susan Pedersen have given great insight into the myriad aspects of the custom and the controversy surrounding it. Indeed, both the articles have made it clear that female circumcision had not only cultural significance but the political connotations of the issue had superseded its relevance or non relevance in Kenya, especially in the early and mid twentieth century. It was the time when female circumcision was an intrinsic part of socio-cultural dynamics of Kenya which had become synonymous with the identity of Kikuyu. As can be adjudged by Wanjiku's narration, the inhabitants were deeply rooted in the way of life the "Gikuyu" (i.e the cultural community) proposed. A very strong joint family structure was prevalent and their entire life was concentrated within their circles. Having said so, the custom of Irua which could be a barbaric vestige to our perception was as natural for them as a harvesting season festival or a wedding. The Irua was a custom of central significance to the Kikuyu life. The public ceremony marked a new phase in the life of women, it bonded those who were "initiated" very strongy and established a hierarchical structure in the community. Sir Grigg observed in one his letters to Sidney Webb at the Colonial Office," This faction, through its ill-advised attitude, done more than anything else to delay the emancipation of Kikuyu womanhood".1 Though there was some element of truth to this statement, I believe it is important to target the heart of the matter itself. What led to Irua or Clitoridectomy to occupy such an important position in the life of Kikuyu members in the first place What is the heart of the matter The real trigger As described in Pedersen's text, Historians have sidelined in detail how the estrangement and settlement of white population pockets," the establishment of adjoining "native reserves," the construction of a system of "tribal" authority often at odds with earlier political structures, and the deliberate use of taxation and legislation to restrict Africans' freedom to grow cash crops and to coerce them into wage labor left many Kikuyu with little of their "traditional" life, except perhaps the still-powerful rituals of clitoridectomy and male circumcision." 2 Not surprisingly, Irua became synonymous with Kikuyu pride and thus gained momentum as a tradition that signified national pride. The many sides of the coin The nationalist sentiments on the basis of this custom were fanned as the custom was not allowed to remain confined to the community. It soon catapulted into the pivot around which colonial and nationalist arguments and revolutions were based. While on one