A Cultural Breakaway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Cultural Breakaway - Essay Example Scott does not only present Kiowa traditional myths, but helps us to create and relate Kiowa culture. Through a well examined process of mentally forming a clear picture of traditional stories, Scott’s view on contemporary cultural life, the reader is placed at a point of being able to offer a personal appreciation of the fluctuating experience of Kiowa as a culture. Momaday fit into the historic times of the Indian society coming at a time of American imagination, not as the end of the long trail, but coming into full view as an Indian contemporary society. Momaday puts into context and relates to the audience his views. In his description he talks about how his ancestors are buried in that land so that he puts a claim on the land through his memory. The wild animals knew this very well, the weather was fast changing and winter was vividly fast approaching, it was during that time of the year that even the bravest of all animals had to seek warmth and comfort in order to shie ld itself from the adverse winter time. The cold is sharp and straight reaching even up to the bones chilling throughout the body. The branches of the tree turn bare and their beauty gone, as Scott puts it â€Å"that winter brings blizzards, hot tornadic winds.† ... Best captured in Hoffman’s own ideas â€Å"It is indeed a feeling whose shades and degrees am destined to know quite intimately, but at this hovering moment, it comes upon me like a visitation from a whole new geography of emotions, an annunciation of how much an absence can hurt.† We had moved into this new area some six months ago, when my family had to flee due to the great tsunami that made everybody move out of my former city to this new environment. Reflecting back at my childhood, I come across darkened imagination of the place where we had come from. Deep within me there is a feeling that I don’t want to be separated from my childhood memories, the sweet moments and the little jokes and games that we used to play with my friends at our countryside home. Every situation around me seems bleak offering no meaning, losing my childhood memories, my thoughts are stuck in a moody situation refused to move and think on. This kind of winter weather is indeed pure beauty, it surrounds trees and bushes. It’s a whole new form of world; the getaway. Several years have passed, it is now indeed a new culture and life for me, things are different now, at a friend’s party I meet a lady in her early twenties; who had also been separated from her childhood. They must also have apparently left China during that time, we talk issues of how a part of her has since then been missing ever since that time. Her journey as she vividly describes that â€Å"It was a long journey toward the dawn, and it led to the golden age† (Momaday 2), and along the way they have interacted with a different type of people that have in a much deeper sense influenced their culture and religion. That aspect of cultural

The Increasing Collaboration in U.S. Military Essay

The Increasing Collaboration in U.S. Military - Essay Example The challenges that they encounters in their quest to transform and adapt to more collaborative strategies are discussed. Areas that the military has attained success during its collaborative endeavors have been mentioned. Further, a clear description of collaboration is presented, including those involved with the military, the objectives of military in collaborating and the present status as well as the success measures. Introduction In military warfare, the world is increasingly embracing collective and collaborative efforts in accomplishing the military activities and practices effectively. Collaborative efforts are practiced in military command relations, joint operations, strengthening personnel and equipment, training and tactics as well as in fostering cultural relations. Collaboration develops best in environments where relationships are mutual and well nurtured (Bushe, 2010). In military operations and practices, collaboration with other stakeholders is perceived as problem atic because the military forces are compelled to certain demands with the collaborative partners. The collaboration partners may be perceived with element of suspicion, leading to reluctance in sharing information on matters of national security out of fear. Consequently, collaborative work in military is more pervasive and complex. The United States military forces are working toward increased collaborative methods because of their understanding of how to improve collaborative work. Growing U.S. Military Collaboration Description of Collaboration Collaboration is the practice and concept of bringing appropriate individuals jointly in productive ways with proper information to establish genuine goals and strategies for tackling the common issues of the collaborative organizations or communities. This practice or concept is practiced because it helps to deal successfully with complex organizational or community issues. Collaboration strategies can be used as a means of building soci al capital, sustaining a democratic society and transforming the civic culture of communities or regions besides being used to address public concerns. Collaboration requires that the shared issues be addressed through engagement, dialogue, inclusion and power sharing. Mutual learning is a basic concept in collaborative working. The collaborating partners mutually benefit from the relationship to realize common goals and objectives through sharing responsibilities, accountability as well as authority for achieving the set results. Collaboration involves sharing of information and knowledge by the partners, and cooperation and coordination to help achieve the objectives (Chrislip, 2002). Involved Parties Multiple stakeholders are usually involved in collaborative work with the U.S. military personnel, depending on the desired goals and objectives to be accomplished. The U.S. military collaborates with civilian interagency, such as civilians from U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agen cy for International Development (USAID) among other organizations. The civilian interagency helps the U.S. military personnel in counterinsurgency operations and activities. The interagency for example, helped the U.S. military through collaboration in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to facilitate reconstruction and development of the nations and advising the military on how to reach out to the indigenous communities (Green, 2012). U.S. military col